AlexandraStante – Axis Connects

Changing the System and the Self: Women in the Workplace and the Inner Game

McKinsey’s Women in the Workplace 2025 report makes one thing clear: progress for women at work is stalling. Career support remains uneven, advancement pathways are opaque, and many talented women are reassessing what success and leadership truly mean. These findings point to persistent structural and cultural barriers—but they also raise a deeper question: how do women navigate, influence, and ultimately thrive within these systems?

To explore the other side of the equation—the self—McKinsey has also conducted research on the inner game of women CEOs, based on interviews with early-tenured women CEOs. This research examines the internal shifts these leaders had to make to succeed in their roles, including how they reframed confidence, power, visibility, trade-offs, and identity as leaders. Together, these two bodies of work offer a more complete picture of what it takes to advance women in the workplace: change in the system, and change in how individuals engage with it.

In this session, Johanne Lavoie and Aalia Ratani—McKinsey partners and leaders of AWE Canada—will bring both perspectives together. Grounded in the latest Women in the Workplace research and insights from the inner game of women CEOs, they will share a Canadian lens on the data and explore what these findings mean in practice. The conversation will blend evidence with lived experience, offering practical insights on sponsorship, visibility, confidence, and choice.

This is not about “leaning in” harder. It is about understanding the rules of the system, grounding in a clear inner purpose, and making intentional choices about how you want to show up, lead, and grow next.

- Date: March 13, 2026
- Location: Calgary Petroleum Club, Devonian Room
- Tickets: $50, includes light refreshments

Lunch with a Leader featuring Beckie Scott

Step into a rare and inspiring afternoon with Beckie Scott: Olympic champion, trailblazing advocate, and one of the most respected voices in Canadian sport. This exclusive lunch event offers a unique opportunity to connect with a leader whose impact reaches far beyond the podium.

As a three-time Olympian and the first Canadian to win an Olympic medal in cross-country skiing, Scott carved her name into history at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Her athletic achievements alone place her among the most accomplished Nordic skiers our country has ever produced.

Today, Scott is celebrated not only for her Olympic triumphs but for her unwavering commitment to integrity, equity, and the power of sport to transform lives. As the Founder of Spirit North, she has championed sport-for-social-development across Canada, empowering Indigenous youth through movement, play, and community connection. Her leadership on the global stage, particularly during her tenure with the World Anti-Doping Agency, earned her international recognition for her courage, clarity, and principled advocacy for clean sport and athlete rights.

Now serving as CEO of Nordiq Canada, Scott continues to shape the future of sport by strengthening high-performance pathways and driving values-based change across the national system.

Her extraordinary contributions have been honoured with induction into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, and Canadian Ski Hall of Fame, along with the Alberta Order of Excellence and multiple honorary doctorates.

Limited seating is available for this exclusive lunch, don’t miss out.

- - Date: February 19, 2026
  - Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM MST
  - (Guests are welcome to stay until 1:30 PM for optional networking)
  - Location: Calgary Petroleum Club
  - Room: Wine Cellar
  - Cost: $50 + fees and GST

Beckie Scott

Beckie Scott is one of Canada’s most respected leaders in sport, recognized nationally and internationally for her achievements as an athlete and advocate. A three-time Olympian, Scott made history at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City by winning Canada’s first-ever Olympic medal in cross-country skiing. She competed at the 1998 and 2006 Olympic Winter Games and remains one of the most accomplished Nordic skiers in Canadian history.

An Olympic champion and Officer of the Order of Canada, Scott is the Founder of Spirit North, Canada’s largest sport-for-social-development organization, working to improve health, wellness, and education outcomes for Indigenous youth through the power of sport and play.

Following her athletic career, Scott rose to become a leading figure in anti-doping, chairing the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Athletes’ Commission and playing a prominent role during the Russian doping scandal, where she was acknowledged globally for her principled leadership and advocacy for integrity, athlete rights, and clean sport.

Scott currently serves as the CEO of Nordiq Canada, the national sport organization for cross-country skiing and para nordic skiing, where she is focused on strengthening high-performance systems, and driving values-based organizational change.

Her contributions to sport and society have been widely recognized. She is an inducted member of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, and Canadian Ski Hall of Fame, and is a recipient of the Alberta Order of Excellence. She holds Honorary Doctorate degrees from the University of Alberta, the University of British Columbia, and Mount Royal University, and is a frequent CBC Sports broadcast analyst.

Lunch with a Leader featuring Jenna Kaye

Get ready for an energizing and insight‑packed afternoon as we welcome Jenna Kaye, one of Canada’s most dynamic and trailblazing business leaders – and one of Axis Connects’ founders.

Jenna is a powerhouse across finance, innovation, and diversity. As the CEO and Founder of Odyssey Trust Company, Jenna leads Icebook Investments Corp., co‑founded Tetra Trust Company – Canada’s first regulated crypto custodian backed by Coinbase – and co-founded Axis Connects and Corporate Diversity Consultants, both dedicated to advancing diverse leadership.

With an MBA/LLB from Dalhousie and experience practicing law nationally, Jenna brings sharp insight into regulated finance, crypto, governance, and building inclusive executive pipelines.

Count on bold insights, real‑world leadership wisdom, and a fresh look at the future of finance. Limited seating is available for this exclusive lunch, don’t miss out.

- - Date: February 4, 2026
  - Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM MST
  - (Guests are welcome to stay until 1:30 PM for optional networking)
  - Location: Calgary Petroleum Club
  - Room: Viking Room
  - Cost: $50 + fees and GST

Jenna Kaye

Jenna Kaye is the CEO and Founder of Odyssey Trust Company. She is the first female founder of a Federally Regulated Financial Institution.

Jenna is also a Principal of Icebook Investments Corp, a family office with over $20 million of capital invested in early-stage companies across a wide variety of industries), a Founder and Director of Axis Connects Corp., a diversity and inclusion non-profit organization, and Corporate Diversity Consultants, a consulting firm for public issuers providing governance, recruiting and pipeline building solutions to increase diverse representation at the board and c-suite levels.

Jenna has a passion for deregulated finance and cryptocurrency and is the Co-Founder and Director of Tetra Trust Company, Canada’s first regulated crypto custodian, backed by Coinbase (NASDAQ: COIN). Ms. Kaye has an MBA/LLB from Dalhousie University and practice law at a national law firm.

2025 Year In Review

Every year, we pause to reflect on the work we’ve done, the progress we’ve made, and the impact we’ve created together.

This year’s report highlights the measurable outcomes of our programs, partnerships, and advocacy. It showcases the stories behind the numbers, the people behind the progress, and the momentum we’re carrying into the year ahead. Most importantly, it demonstrates how our mission is translating into real change in our community.

Thank you for your support of Axis in 2025, and we look forward to an amazing 2026!

Read the 2025 Year In Review Here

Lunch with a Leader featuring Adam Legge

Join us for a conversation that could change the trajectory of your leadership journey. This exclusive mentoring lunch features Adam Legge, President of the Business Council of Alberta and one of the province’s most influential voices in business, public policy, and economic development.

For more than two decades, Adam has been at the helm of high‑performance teams and transformative organizations. From revitalizing the Calgary Chamber into an award‑winning global leader, to shaping economic strategy as Vice President and Chief Economist at Calgary Economic Development, Adam has built a career defined by vision, impact, and results.

A lifelong student of economics and history, Adam brings a rare blend of strategic insight, practical experience, and deep curiosity about what makes organizations — and people — remarkable. He is the author of Making Remarkable and a trusted advisor to multiple Calgary-based companies and community organizations, including the Calgary Counselling Centre and Vibrant Communities Calgary.

Valuable for emerging leaders or seasoned executives, this intimate lunch is your chance to learn directly from a builder of organizations, a champion of shared prosperity, and a thinker who believes deeply in the power of teams to create something extraordinary. Don’t miss out.

- - Date: January 28, 2026
  - Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM MST
    - (Guests are welcome to stay until 1:30 PM for optional networking)
  - Location: Calgary Petroleum Club
  - Room: Trophy Room
  - Cost: $50 + fees and GST

Adam Legge

Adam is the President of the Business Council of Alberta. He has worked with the founders since Day 1 of the organization to create something new and unique—an organization of business leaders advocating for shared prosperity and a better life for Albertans.

Adam has spent over two decades building and leading high-performance teams and organizations in business, public policy, and economic development. He is a life-long student of economics and history and believes strongly in the ability of a team to create something remarkable.

He was the 18th President and CEO of the Calgary Chamber where he transformed a struggling organization into a national and international award-winning entity. He was previously a Director at the Haskayne School of Business, and Vice President and Chief Economist at Calgary Economic Development. He is the author of Making Remarkable.

Adam serves on the boards of the Calgary Counselling Centre and Vibrant Communities Calgary and sits on the boards of several Calgary-based private companies.

Complete your Axis Connects profile for a chance to win!

Dear Axis Connects Member,

As we continue enhancing our member experience and strengthening the insights that drive our work, we need your help to ensure your Axis Connects profile is complete and up to date.

This information helps us:
– Understand who is in our community
– Tailor programming, opportunities, and events
– Strengthen our research and reporting
– Demonstrate collective impact to partners and sponsors
– Create meaningful pathways for women in leadership

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STEP 1: Locate your member activation email from Axis Connects

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If you can’t find it, email hello@axisconnects.com and we will resend it!

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🎟️ Enter to Win Two Tickets to a 2026 Lunch with a Leader

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We will draw one winner who can select any Lunch with a Leader session in 2026.

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Thank you for helping us build a stronger, more connected, and more informed community of leaders.
Your participation directly strengthens the work we do together.

— The Axis Connects Team

Leadership Forum 2025 Round-Up

On November 25 leaders in all sectors across the city joined us for the fourth annual Axis Connects Leadership Forum, powered by ATB.

The day offered bold conversations sparked by a full slate of exciting speakers. More than 550 mid-to senior-level professionals gathered to forge deeper connections, inspire collaboration, and empower each other to elevate gender diversity in the workplace.

Missed the Forum? Here’s a recap.

Dr. Scott Tinker kicked off the day with a fireside chat moderated by Canada Powered by Women CEO Tracey Bodnarchuk. They explored the moral importance of energy access, energy’s connection to economic empowerment, and the role Canadian energy can play in strengthening global security and opportunity.

Vassy Kapelos, CTV’s Chief Political Correspondent, offered honesty, humour, and fierce intelligence to her keynote and fireside chat.

“Vassy was by far the best part of the whole day — her candidness and vulnerability in discussing leadership, her experiences, and the consequences of them were truly inspiring and thought-provoking. Those are the types of conversations that can’t be easily found, but are among the most valuable” – forum attendee.

The morning breakout sessions were absolutely packed!

Leaders filled every room to dive into today’s most urgent conversations, from power and influence (Joanna Shea) to AI bias (Danielle Gifford), to Alberta’s evolving economic landscape (Heather Exner-Pirot and Rob Roach).The afternoon breakout sessions sparked some of the most honest and impactful conversations of the day.

Dr. Erin Brennand and Dr. Jayna Holroyd-Leduc reframed leadership through the lens of women’s biology and life transitions.
Geoff Bertram (TD Securities) and Marnie Smith (Russell Reynolds) shared candid stories from high-stakes environments where trust, clarity, and resilience matter most.
And in a packed room, Judith Athaide and Sue MacKenzie pulled back the curtain on what really happens inside the boardroom, strategy, service, and evolution.

In the afternoon, Hetty Pye (Russell Reynolds Associates) took us into The Artemis Effect: Redefining Succession Pipelines for the Future. From systemic bias to the future of CEO succession, she brought bold truth, clarity, and actionable insight. Her talk was recorded live as part of the Quiet Part Out Loud podcast.

Anthony Viel, CEO of Deloitte Canada, closed off the day, sharing his insights on diversity as a driver of growth, AI and the future of work, and how inclusive leadership has shaped culture and engagement at Deloitte.

The day concluded with a networking reception sponsored by TC Energy.

Thank you to everyone who made this incredible day possible: the speakers, moderators, sponsors, market vendors, volunteers and guests. We cannot wait to see you at the next one!

Missed out on this year’s forum? Become an Axis member today, and get the news first for future events.

Become a member - it's FREE!

Women Who Sleigh: Holiday Party 2025

Join us for a fun, festive holiday reception celebrating all the ways we sleigh all year long. There’s no formal programming and no pressure: just good vibes, great conversation, and a chance to unwind and connect with fellow Axis Connects and BRW members as we close out the year.

Pop in as you can, stay as long as you’d like, and kick off the holiday season with a little sparkle, a little laughter, and a whole lot of sleighing. 🎉

December 9, 2025

4:00-7:00pm

Barbarella Bar, 240 8 Ave SW

Lunch with a Leader featuring Roselle Gonsalves

LWAL GlueUp Banner Roselle Gonsalves (1)

Join us for a powerful conversation with Roselle Gonsalves, PhD, Head of Inclusion & Reconciliation at ATB Financial, whose work is reshaping how organizations engage with equity, belonging, and Indigenous reconciliation.

A transformational leader, storyteller, and bridge-builder, Roselle brings over 15 years of experience across social services, consulting, and post-secondary education. At ATB, she leads systemic efforts to embed inclusion and socio-economic reconciliation into the heart of corporate culture. Her academic depth—anchored by a PhD from the University of Calgary—explores immigrant identity, Canadian multiculturalism, and intersectionality, offering a rich lens on the complexities of belonging.

Beyond the boardroom, Roselle’s leadership extends to sport and civic life: she serves on the Board of Governors at Curling Canada, represents Canada at the World Curling Federation, and advises Boston College’s Centre for Corporate Citizenship. Named one of Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40, she’s also the author of the Amazon bestseller The Ordinary Turned Precious: A Quest for Belonging.

This session is more than a talk—it’s an invitation to reflect, connect, and reimagine leadership through the lens of inclusion and reconciliation. Don’t miss it!

- - Date: October 24, 2025
  - Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM MST
    - (Guests are welcome to stay until 1:30 PM for optional networking)
  - Location: Calgary Petroleum Club
  - Room: Trophy Room
  - Cost: $50 + fees and GST

Roselle Gonsalves

Dr. Roselle M. Gonsalves is Head of Inclusion & Reconciliation at ATB Financial, where she leads systemic efforts to embed equity, inclusion, and socio-economic reconciliation with Indigenous communities across the organization. A transformational leader, storyteller, and bridge-builder, she brings over 15 years of experience advancing equity and belonging in sectors spanning social services, consulting, and post-secondary education.

Roselle holds a PhD from the University of Calgary, where her research explored immigrant identity, Canadian multiculturalism, and intersectionality. She serves on the Board of Governors at Curling Canada, represents Canada at the World Curling Federation, and sits on the Executive Advisory Board at Boston College’s Centre for Corporate Citizenship.

Named one of Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2022, Roselle is also the author of The Ordinary Turned Precious: A Quest for Belonging, an Amazon bestseller. She makes her home in Mi’kma’ki, now called Nova Scotia.

Lunch with a Leader featuring Alison Jackson

Join us for an intimate lunch session with Alison Jackson, Managing Partner of EY Calgary, whose career journey is a masterclass in leadership, strategy, and community impact.

Since joining EY Canada, Alison has been at the forefront of transformative work in mergers, acquisitions, governance, and taxation. As Calgary’s Managing Partner, she brings deep expertise and a bold vision to the region’s business landscape. Her dedication to service is reflected through board roles with the Calgary Public Library, United Way Calgary and Area, Simpson Centre and more.

This is a rare opportunity to hear directly from one of Calgary’s most respected business leaders—on navigating complex change, building resilient teams, and leading with purpose. Come with questions, leave with insights.

- - Date: October 9, 2025
  - Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM MST
    - (Guests are welcome to stay until 1:30 PM for optional networking)
  - Location: Calgary Petroleum Club
  - Room: Cardium Room
  - Cost: $50 + fees and GST

Alison Jackson

Alison Jackson joined EY Canada in 1998, became a Partner in 2007 and has served as Managing Partner of the EY Calgary office since 2019. As Managing Partner, she leads in the areas of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, business transformation and risk, governance and taxation. She has completed several executive education programs at the Kellogg School of Management of Northwestern University, the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University and the London School of Business, in addition to completing the Directors Education Program with the Institute of Corporate Directors. Alison has served on the boards of St. Paul’s University College, the Ontario Association of Triathletes, the Calgary Public Library and the United Way Calgary and Area.