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New certificate program helps further the pace of women’s advancement and success

Posted on June 19, 2013

QSB and Women of Influence partner to address Canada’s productivity gap 

TORONTO, ON –  June 19, 2013 Women are not advancing at an acceptable rate in senior management ranks despite years of effort, and they continue to opt-out of major firms in frustration.  To address this challenge, Queen’s School of Business and the Women of Influence Advancement Centre have partnered to develop a unique certificate program aimed at strengthening women’s professional skills. 

Corporate Canada is suffering a productivity gap because it is wasting a valuable asset—the human capital of women. The facts are irrefutable: only 5% of Fortune 500 companies are led by women and women only constitute 15% of senior management and board ranks. 

“It is time to step up our game to provide aspiring women with more of the tools, networks, and credentials they need to succeed,” said Carolyn Lawrence, President and CEO, Women of Influence Inc. 

The Executive Certificate in Leadership program from the Women of Influence Advancement Centre and Queen’s School of Business brings together a carefully selected group of leaders, coaches and resources to prepare Canada’s aspiring women leaders to elevate their influence, tap into their passion for increased performance, and achieve new levels of organizational impact.

Recent research focused on corporate Canada’s top women executives revealed that to advance their careers, women need to further develop their abilities in decision making, effective influence, resilience,  personal resource development, cross-gender peer bonding and networking, and focusing on quick wins that build trust and resources. 

“The Executive Certificate in Leadership provides ambitious women an ideal platform for developing these much-needed professional skills,” said Barbara Dickson, Managing Director of Executive Education at Queen’s School of Business. 

Executive Certificate in Leadership
Directed specifically at women who have completed an undergraduate degree and are advancing through the ranks of management, the six-course curriculum combines topics that promote proactive business leadership, in such areas as personal branding, executive presence, effective team building, networking and influencing, finance and innovation. Courses will be both women-exclusive and mixed gender, giving women the opportunity to build their insights, relationships and networks. 

To provide the ultimate flexibility for women to work around competing priorities, certificate courses are offered in half-day to two-day formats and can be taken a la carte. The program is also affordably priced; nearly half the courses cost less than $500, and special incentive pricing is also in place. 

“The program was designed so that participants don’t have to take too much time away from home or ask employers to sponsor a big ticket item in order to advance,” said Lawrence. 

The leadership, human capacity and affluence of women are the factors that will influence the paradigm shift needed in business and society at large if Canada is to retain and advance its competitiveness in the global marketplace.  Affluence builds infrastructure and provides the resources to develop skill levels that lead to breakthroughs and innovation. 

“We need to advance the momentum of change for women and shatter the proverbial glass ceiling from both sides,” said Lawrence.