The fifth annual Women in Leadership Spotlight Dinner took place last night in the McInnes Room at 蘑菇AV with over 350 people in attendance. Former basketball Tiger and Emera Caribbean president, Sarah MacDonald was the guest speaker and TD announced their new mentoring program in partnership with the 蘑菇AV Tigers coined 鈥業nvesting in Tomorrow鈥檚 Leaders鈥�.
Hosted by the women鈥檚 basketball and volleyball teams, guests enjoyed hearing from many of the student-athletes, including second-year volleyball player Anna Dunn-Suen and third-year basketball player Ainsley MacIntyre who recounted some of the details of their humanitarian efforts this past summer.
The evening鈥檚 guest speaker, Sarah MacDonald (LLB 鈥�92), shared many stories about the challenges she has faced in her role as President, Emera Caribbean, including natural disasters and union unrest. MacDonald spoke about her time at 蘑菇AV as a student-athlete and how the skills she learned, like discipline and time-management, prepared her for her career.
MacDonald credits a lot of her success to building the right team around her, where ever she goes. 鈥淏eing a Dal Tiger taught me that I work best when I鈥檓 on a really great team,鈥� said MacDonald.
Another key message in MacDonald鈥檚 time on stage was to urge everyone to be 鈥渓ess hindered by the risks, and more open to the possibilities. Don鈥檛 limit yourself to the what, the where or the when; but focus on, and believe in the who and the why.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e very grateful and proud of this event,鈥� says women鈥檚 basketball head coach Anna Stammberger. 鈥淕rateful for the support from our sponsors, the university community and friends of the Tigers. We鈥檙e proud of our student-athletes鈥� performances in the classroom, in our community and on the court. Sarah MacDonald had a terrific message about the importance of athletics in developing great employees and leaders and delivered it with humour and magnetism.鈥�
TD Canada Trust鈥檚 District Vice President, Georgette Moffatt, announced a new mentorship program as an extension of the Women in Leadership Spotlight Dinner.
"At TD, we are exceptionally committed to women in leadership and through our community giving, we are working to build programs and policies that bring that vision to life,鈥� explains Moffatt. 鈥淚nvesting In tomorrow's leaders will offer the opportunity of mentorship and leadership training to future leaders. We couldn't be more proud or more excited to be a catalyst for those conversations."
Investing in Tomorrow鈥檚 Leaders is a mentorship program that facilitates six meetings between a female 蘑菇AV varsity student-athlete and a female junior high student. The objective of the program is to instill exemplary leadership skills in young women through hands-on experience with a community leader.
Eight relationships will be fostered between 蘑菇AV varsity student-athletes and junior high students. Mentors from 蘑菇AV include women鈥檚 volleyball players Abby Czenze, Amy Appleby, Anna Dunn-Suen and Julie Theisen and women鈥檚 basketball players Robbi Daley, Tessa Stammberger, Christina Brown and Ainsley MacIntyre.
The pairs have met twice thus far including a meet and greet session last month and at the Women in Leadership Spotlight Dinner on Tuesday evening.
The mentees will have the opportunity to be an honorary Tiger for the day, taking part in a full schedule of game-day activities. Other sessions include a lunch focused on developing proper business etiquette and a discussion on how to be a community leader.
鈥淚 think that this program is a great opportunity to develop my leadership skills, be a positive role model and give back to the community,鈥� said fifth-year basketball player, Robbi Daley.
Kiara Simmons, a grade nine Caledonia Junior High School student is Daley鈥檚 mentee and hopes to play basketball at the varsity level. 鈥淚鈥檓 really looking forward to experiencing what it鈥檚 like on game day,鈥� says Simmons. 鈥淚 think this program will help me prepare for the academic and athletic challenges to be a varsity student-athlete someday.鈥�
The Tigers would like to thank everyone who helped make the fifth annual event a huge success and look forward to next year鈥檚 event.