In celebration of Ada Lovelace, and of the achievements of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics),
Aviva Canada hosted its inaugural
Celebrating Women in IT event at its new head office in Markham last week.
The event was created as part of Aviva’s on-going commitment to diversity in the workplace and to promote awareness and support efforts and initiatives that advocate for gender diversity.
Lovelace was the world's first computer programmer and made such huge contributions in STEM that her achievements are celebrated on the second Tuesday of every October.
Although gender equality has come a long way in recent decades, a glass ceiling remains that hinders the progression of so many women in technology, insurance, and many other industries. It’s why events like
Celebrating Women in IT play such an important role in keeping these issues at front of mind.
One of the highlights of this year’s event was the heart-touching story of Clara Angotti, president and co-founder of Next Pathway.
Angotti relived her 25-year career as an entrepreneur in the IT industry. She imparted some invaluable lessons she’s learned along her journey, one of which is about the importance of corporate diversity.
"The optimal work environment is inclusive and respectful of our differences," Angotti said. "I don’t view Next Pathway as a woman-led IT firm; I see a collection of smart, talented individuals working towards a common goal of excellence.”
Angotti also shared her strategies in finding the right work-life balance, as well as the importance of making mistakes.
She shared the stage with a group of female panellists who are currently making their mark in the IT industry. They included Nyla Ahmad (SVP Enterprise Marketing, Rogers), Claire Cornwall (Partner Assurance, PwC), Caroline Gayle (Managing Director Application Services,
Accenture), Shelly Lowe (Vice President Enterprise & Commercial, IBM), and Elaine Basque (Vice President Consulting Services, CGI).
Meanwhile, The Roundtable founder and president Glain Roberts-McCabe facilitated a session on career building. Coming from the human resources industry, Glain provided the participants with insights on how to develop strong leadership skills and also shared her top tips for career success, leadership blind spots and ways to avoid a derailment.
"We had a fantastic line-up of accomplished leaders who really brought to life the challenges that women may face in progressing their careers,” said
Aviva Canada CIO Ben Isotta-Riches, who was one of the driving forces behind the event. “I came away feeling really inspired for the future of women in IT and our business."
With an impressive turnout and stellar feedback, Aviva Canada is already planning on launching similar events in the future. "Creating more gender diversity in the organization requires us all to actively take part in the conversation to drive the change," Isotta-Riches said.
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