Click here to download a fact sheet and a photo of the five women
MONTREAL, Jan. 29, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Starting today, January 29, and for the next 100 days five senior businesswomen will each take on a challenge that they hope will inspire women in Quebec to achieve their professional ambitions. Until May 15, Sophie Brochu, Marie-Josée Lamothe, Isabelle Hudon, Isabelle Marcoux and Kim Thomassin will share their progress with the public as each of them works towards achieving a goal she has set for herself. This initiative is just one part of L'effet A, an innovative multiplatform program designed to provide women with the tools and practical advice needed to not only encourage them to pursue their career goals but also to reach for new heights.
The project is piloted by O'Dandy, a content creation workshop that develops multimedia platforms for generating positive community impact. O'Dandy began by inviting Isabelle Hudon to help shape the underlying vision for L'effet A. The movement then gathered momentum and now there are five women in executive-level positions, working together towards creating a lasting change in the professional lives of women in Quebec.
Despite the major breakthroughs that women have achieved in the workplace, they are still under-represented in senior management roles and on boards of directors. In fact, research conducted in 2011 and 2013 by Catalyst shows that the presence of women, particularly on boards of directors, makes a difference in a corporation's profitability.
However, in Quebec, fewer than 20% of leadership roles are held by women. L'effet A hopes to serve as a source of inspiration that will drive women's ambition and encourage their advancement in business and in the community.
L'effet A - The Five Challenges
Sophie Brochu, President and CEO of Gaz Métro: As part of a major rally to benefit the Herstreet organization, Sophie will mobilize hundreds of women from diverse backgrounds to raise awareness about the issue of homeless women.
Isabelle Hudon, Executive Chair, Sun Life Financial Quebec and Senior Vice-President, Client Solutions, Sun Life Financial Canada: Isabelle's challenge is to identify, motivate and contribute to the advancement of the next generation of Quebec businesswomen. In cooperation with 10 business leaders, they willgive 20 willing and dynamic young women the opportunity to help advance their careers with support from a business leader who will also sponsor their career development.
Marie-Josée Lamothe, Managing Director, Branding, Google Canada: Marie-Josée will with work with women for them to learn the necessary IT and technology skills to build their self-confidence and help with their return to the workplace.
Isabelle Marcoux, Chair of the Board of Transcontinental Inc.: Isabelle will implement and expand an existing program which trains, equips and supports women to advance into senior management. She is also currently building a professional networking group for these future senior managers.
Kim Thomassin, Managing Partner at McCarthy Tétrault: Kim will help develop negotiation and leadership skills for university-level women. She hopes to give them the tools they need to achieve success in the early phase of their careers and earn a better salary.
About L'effet A
L'effet A – the A stands for Ambition — is a Quebec-based initiative that seeks to build women's professional commitment and give them the courage to aim higher and take tangible action for themselves. It is also a promise, made by a generation of women to themselves, to change the equation of their relationship with their work, money and the community. For more information, visit www.effet-a.com.
About O'Dandy
O'Dandy is a content creation workshop that develops multimedia platforms for generating positive community impact. L'effet A is supported by the O'Dandy editorial team.
SOURCE L'effet A
Emilie Dutil-Bruneau, NATIONAL Public Relations Inc., Bus: 514-843-2370, Cell: 514-654-3180
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