Last week, Axis Connects saw nearly 1,300 people gather for a dazzling evening of recognition at our annual Calgary Influential Women in Business Awards. Our sixth and largest ever CIWB Awards gala saw guests come dressed to impress and raise a glass for the people in our city driving change in Calgary’s business landscape.
The evening celebrated impact, leadership and influence and called for ongoing progress toward gender equity in the workplace.
“We’re not done,” said Axis Connects co-founder Heather Culbert in her opening remarks. “Leadership still needs more women, the C-suite still needs more leaders, and equity still needs all hands on deck.”
“What really matters is the momentum, the shift, the groundswell. Women are rising, and organizations are realizing it’s not just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do.”
Culbert explained that our mission at Axis Connects is simple: we’re about elevating women, enabling board access and influencing the systems that create lasting equity. We know systemic shifts only happen when we all work toward change, and last week’s gala served as an inspiring reminder of the incredible group of people working on shaping a brighter and more equitable future in business.
Celebrating this year’s bold and brilliant women and allies in business
As this year’s six honourees were presented with their awards they offered words of wisdom, advice and insight into their inspiring journeys. The honourees’ speeches followed similar themes of the courage it takes to be bold and exceptional, the importance of a strong support team, the kindness and heart it takes to be a good leader, and optimism for the future of women in business.
Allison Grafton, President of Rockwood Custom Homes and winner of the Small/Medium Enterprise Award, kicked off the evening with a dynamic speech urging women to believe in themselves and to remember that success is not always a personal achievement but that it’s often due to the remarkable people that you’ve chosen to be a part of your journey.
Sue Tomney, CEO of YW Calgary and winner of the Social Enterprise Award, reminded us to take a moment to recognize the incredible things and progress happening.
Alison Jackson, Managing Partner of EY and winner of the Professional Services Award, embodied the phrase she often says, “To be exceptional, you need to be willing to be the exception.”
Shelley Powell, Senior Vice President of Operational Improvement & Support Services at Suncor Energy, moved the room during her acceptance speech for the Large Entreprise Award. As she stood on stage, she recalled James Keller’s quote, “A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle,” and took a moment to acknowledge everyone in the room.
“For any of the candles in the room waiting to be lit, I want you to sit up, lean in, and let me share my light with you now. Let this be your start, let this be your middle, let it be the final push to the end, let it be whatever you need it to be, wherever you are at. Light your candle, and let this be your moment as well,” she said.
Retired CEO of Keyera Corp., David Smith, is this year’s Male Champion Award. He emphasized the need to advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, now more than ever, and how diversity in leadership is good for business.
Lifetime Achievement Award winner Hilary Foulkes took the stage and captivated the audience in her acceptance speech, reflecting on the span of her career. Now an independent board director, Foulkes spoke of the progress she has seen for women throughout her four-and-a-half-decade career but stressed that we still have work to do and that diversity in leadership will make us better.
“A leader has both the courage to make tough decisions and the humility to listen. She is not necessarily setting out to be a leader, but she becomes one with the quality of her actions and the integrity of her intent. Leadership is in all of us — it comes in bold corporate moves and in small impactful deeds: a thank you, encouragement, speaking up for someone else. In this age of rage, acts of kindness cost us nothing and are remarkably influential,” she said.
“Our collective progress can not be taken for granted, and we are witnessing this before our very eyes. So, grab your shoes — steel-toed boots, sneakers, stilettos — be bold and surround yourself with really good people and keep building the career that you want on your own terms, and I know you’ll fuel an influential and rewarding life.”
To nominate an influential woman who champions equity in business for the 2026 CIWB Awards, visit axisconnects.com/ciwb-awards.
