Contrary to popular belief, there is room for all of us at the top.
On March 4, organizational leaders and community champions will gather in pursuit of building a stronger, equitable business landscape in Southwestern Ontario.
TechAlliance, Pillar Nonprofit Network and SWO Angels, are thrilled to welcome learning architect, entrepreneur and renowned speaker, Dr. Rumeet Billan, for Smashing Barriers: The Tallest Poppy, an enlightening keynote on the barriers facing Canadian women in the workforce.
Dr. Billan is on a mission to design experiences that build resilient organizations. We sat down with her to find out how she’s doing it.
She’s a regular contributor to high-profile publications
Dr. Billan has designed and facilitated programs, courseware and training across a variety of industries and sectors, focused on mental health, workplace culture and the future of education. Her work has been featured in Forbes, The Globe and Mail, Thomson Reuters, and The Financial Post.
Her work helps organizations get the best out of their talent
Dr. Billan’s groundbreaking national research study on Tall Poppy Syndrome (TPS) revealed a silent systemic syndrome that happens to many women across Canada, across industries, and across sectors.
Understanding that this phenomenon is having a detrimental impact on women and their experiences in the workplace, Dr. Billan notes that “Organizations are not getting the best out of their talent, and addressing and tackling TPS is not a nice-to-do—it is a must-do.”
She’s focused on more than equality alone
When asked about her hope for International Women’s Day, Dr. Billan insists that conversations need to go beyond equality to focus on equity and equitable solutions. “There is a difference, and that difference will make all the difference as we tackle the barriers that women face in the workplace.”
She believes in the power of collaboration
“I recently heard, ‘collaboration is the new competition’, and I completely agree. Competition breeds TPS, and instead of having a scarcity mindset, collaboration allows us to work together in order to reach even higher heights. By building community, we can learn and grow together.”
She does all of this before 8:00 PM
As the CEO of Viewpoint Leadership, a psychological capital company that builds stronger organizations through resilience training, Dr. Billan’s days are filled with meaningful conversations with business leaders, industry professionals and community connectors.
Tackling issues that are often deep-rooted in bias and antiquated workplace norms, unsurprisingly, a good night’s sleep is necessary to be fully present. “I love the work that I do. Sometimes, it is difficult and disheartening for me to hear or read stories about what people face on a day-to-day basis. But I know, that we can work together to help.”
Interested in applying Dr. Billan’s findings to enable your organization? Join us at Smashing Barriers: The Tallest Poppy on March 4 at Museum London!
