Category: Community News

Gender Equality Week at a Critical Time

In Canada, the fourth week in September marks Gender Equality Week, a time meant to highlight the progress being made towards equality and reaffirm the ongoing need to continue closing the gender gap. 

There’s no shortage of reasons why the week is important — consider the ongoing gaps in pay, workplace leadership representation and political participation — but what many may not know is that the gender gap is not only prevalent in established practices, it’s still appearing in new, modern systems, especially when we look at AI. 

Gender bias and AI

At a time when most people use AI, it’s vital to be aware that there is bias built into the system. A study by the Berkeley Haas Center for Equity, Gender and Leadership showed that nearly 50 per cent of AI systems demonstrated gender bias. The research found that women receive a lower quality of service when they use certain AI systems, such as voice recognition, since it doesn’t process women’s voices as well as it does men’s. It also demonstrated unfair use of information and opportunities, particularly during the job search process, such as hiring software and ad systems that deprioritize women’s applications. 

The bottom line is that existing gaps can significantly impact new systems. Who develops AI and the data used to create it results in the level of bias implicated, and there are gaps in both the data and the data science workforce. According to the World Economic Forum, women make up between 25 and 30 per cent of the AI workforce worldwide, and only about 15 per cent of the executive level. Not to mention the lack of adequate data on women in all fields.

If the lack of diverse gender perspectives within the development of AI-powered technology continues, so will the lower quality of services and biased decisions about jobs, credit, health care and more. 

Challenging the bias

Just as much as ongoing gender bias in AI poses concerning threats, flipping the script by taking action to dissolve the bias could pose significant benefits. UN Women says that “closing the gender digital divide could benefit 343 million women and girls, lift 30 million out of extreme poverty, improve food security for 42 million, and spark $1.5 trillion in global growth by 2030.”

Gender equality is at the heart of the solution to AI bias. It begins by advancing women in the workplace and continues with everyone assessing the data for outdated biases and misrepresentations. “The AI field needs more women, and that requires enabling and increasing girls’ and women’s access to and leadership in STEM and ICT education and careers,” states UN Women.

Gender Equality Week serves as a reminder that the work of opening doors for women and helping them excel in professional settings remains vital to closing the gender gap. When a larger diversity of people develops the modern systems we use every day, everyone benefits. 

Join the conversation on women’s advancement. Become an Axis member today. 

The Quiet Part Out Loud Podcast – Guest-Recommended Reading List

Every guest on The Quiet Part Out Loud brings their own wisdom – and their own favorite reads. Over time, we’ve built an incredible reading list full of leadership classics, inspiring memoirs, and unexpected gems. This page is your go-to resource for every book our guests have recommended. Bookmark it and come back often – we update it after each new episode!

Guest-Recommended Books

Leadership & Personal Growth

      • The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho

      • How to Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie

      • The Wealthy Barber – David Chilton

      • The Infinite Game – Simon Sinek

      • Anything by Brené Brown

      • Let Them – Mel Robbins

Business, Strategy & Ideas

      • How to Succeed – Malcolm Gladwell

      • Unbroken – Laura Hillenbrand

      • Poet’s Café – Historical fiction (current guest favorite)

Inspiration & Escapism

      • The Notebook – Nicholas Sparks

      • The Red Tent – Anita Diamant

      • Oh, the Places You’ll Go – Dr. Seuss

      • Memoirs by Rick Mercer, Mindy Kaling & more

Why We Love This List
These books have sparked ideas, shifted perspectives, and comforted our guests through challenges. Whether you’re a CEO, an emerging leader, or simply a curious reader, you’ll find something here to grow your mindset and refresh your spirit.

🎧 Listen to The Quiet Part Out Loud for the stories behind these books and new recommendations every episode. 

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Wins To Celebrate & Sobering Realities to Face: Annual Report Card on Gender Equity & Leadership

This week, Axis co-presented the launch of the Prosperity Project’s 2025 Annual Report Card (ARC) on Gender Equity and Leadership’s results, and it was an evening of eye-opening data, thought-provoking conversation and insightful takeaways.

Since 2021, the Prosperity Project has been collecting Canadian data on women’s representation in leadership, and the report is the most comprehensive and only report in the country to track women’s representation across four levels of corporate leadership. At this week’s event, the Prosperity Project, alongside Axis, shared this year’s results, and the data shows both progress and concern. 

“We learn more about the health of a system by its fractures, and that’s exactly what the Annual Report Card tells us today,” said Julie Savard-Shaw, Executive Director of the Prosperity Project, who was there presenting the results. “The overall picture looks steady, but look closer and you’ll see the fractures.” 

2025 at a glance

The 2025 ARC showed that, overall, women in leadership inched forward from 42.7 per cent in 2024 to 43.4 per cent in 2025, but representation is still below the 2022 peak of 50.9 per cent. Female representation in two of the four leadership levels (senior managers and corporate directors) dropped in the last year, and although women in the pipeline to senior management level increased by 1.2 per cent in the last year, it’s 9.2 per cent less than it was only three years ago. 

Across all leadership levels, Black women’s representation more than tripled from 0.6 per cent in 2021 to 1.9 per cent in 2025. Indigenous women experienced a decline from 3.1 per cent in 2021 to just 1 per cent in 2025. Women of colour (excluding Black and Indigenous women) saw the most significant increase, from 9.7 per cent in 2021 to 19.7 per cent in 2025. 

In the last year, the representation of women with disabilities dropped from 5 per cent in 2024 to 3.4 per cent in 2025, and 2SLGBTQIA+ women increased slightly from 1.6 per cent in 2024 to 1.8 per cent in 2025.

Savard-Shaw explained that the weakening pipeline to leadership may not just signify a pause in progress, but it indicates a possible reversal. “At first glance, the aggregate numbers suggest stability, but a deeper look reveals that the foundational support for future leadership is eroding,” she said.

What can companies do? 

The event concluded with a panel discussion between Savard-Shaw, Candace Newman, Senior Vice-President of People Services at Cenovus, and Dawn de Lima, Executive Vice-President of Corporate Services for TC Energy. 

“There are things that we can do as an organization to help people and meet them where they are, and we just have to build that into the fabric of what we do and how we do it,” said Newman. 

The panel highlighted some tangible actions that could help women’s workplace advancement, including checking internal bias; deliberating how your company recruits, and finding new ways to reach underrepresented groups in your recruitment; examining who is benefiting from your mentorship programs and ensuring they’re comfortable programs for all employees; partnering with organizations that are aligned with women’s professional advancement; and not taking your foot off the gas. 

“We cannot take our foot off the gas — that’s one thing I’ve learned over the years. We’re never there. What is ‘there’? What is ‘we’ve made it’? Because we’ve never made it. There have always been groups of people who are underrepresented and misrepresented, so this really is a journey that will be led by people long past anyone in this room,” said de Lima. 

Shifting internal work cultures was at the forefront of the conversation. Panelists and audience participants agreed it’s critical to ensure cultures promote the success of everyone, and sometimes that requires speaking up when you see discrimination, bias or microaggressions. Work flexibility consideration is equally important, and finding a balance that works for your company and your staff is key.

“I don’t believe that women need to go through the same hardship or heartache that I went through. You don’t need to suffer to advance,” said de Lima. “We, as a group of women and men who are allies, have a responsibility to make our workplace better for all of us.”

Savard-Shaw left the audience to contemplate its role in the future of women’s representation in the corporate landscape. 

“We have a clear choice right now: Do we take action and make sure the pipeline to leadership is replenished? Or do we do nothing, or keep doing what we’re doing — which is clearly not enough — and risk having the exact same people around the decision-making table that we had 10 years ago?” she asked. “Canada’s prosperity really depends on having women of all identities at the decision-making table. The research is clear: the more women you have — and the more identities you have — around the decision-making table, the more profitable your company is and the better the economy is.” 

Join the conversation on how to help strengthen the pipeline to leadership for all women. Become an Axis member today.

5 Ways You Can Keep Learning With Axis

Discover accessible ways to advance your professional growth as you enter the busy fall season.

September marks the end of summer, and for many, the beginning of a busy season. Kids go back to school, work picks up, events become more frequent, and it can feel, well, busy.Here are some accessible ways Axis can support your professional growth, despite a full schedule.

Listen to a podcast on your commute

One of the most efficient, and entertaining, ways to continue your professional development, gain some insight into personal growth and stay up to date on current events is to tune into a podcast on your way to work, an event or kid pick-up. Opt for something in your area of interest, like perhaps the Axis podcast, The Quiet Part Out Loud. Axis dives into real career conversations, covering topics like the gender pay gap and maternity leave, with insightful guests.

Learn something new over lunch

It’s not a happy hour — it’s a learning lunch! Axis’ Lunch With a Leader is back this month, designed to give members opportunities to gain insights from impressive leaders and make new connections with like-minded professionals. Axis hosts small groups of people at the Calgary Petroleum Club for some brain food and a delicious meal. Join the exclusive event over your lunch hour and engage in meaningful conversations where you can seek advice, guidance and mentorship from the leaders.

Stay in the loop

Stay connected with what’s happening in sectors that impact you. Prosperity Project’s Annual Report Card on Gender Equity and Leadership launches its results this month, giving you an idea of how women’s representation in leadership stacks up this year. Stay up to date with Axis newsletters for a recap once the results are public, or attend the live launch event on September 9 to be the first to know. Discover what’s helping progress women’s representation in the workplace and what’s not, and join the conversation on the economic and organizational benefits of advancing women in the workplace.

Expand your memberships, expand your network

Grow your network of professionals by joining a club or membership collective with other like-minded people. Whether you join the Axis Connects Members Experiences for a discounted price at the new Eau Claire Athletic Club for a little self-care or join a collective like Board Ready Women for events like the Board Readiness Series, a strong network of diverse professionals introduces engaging conversations, events and new opportunities.

Seek out a mentor

Mentorship is a key part of personal and professional development. A mentor may be able to help you remain accountable with check-ins throughout this busy fall season. The trouble is often finding a mentor — the Axis network of professionals is a great place to look. Become a member, prioritize attending events and workshops when you can to network and seek out someone you admire and want to learn from. You’ll gain new skills, guidance, advice and so much more.

As we enter what some view as the “real new year” with increased workloads, looming year-end goals and a back-to-work and school routine start, it’s easy to neglect personal and professional growth. Lunch-hour learning, effective time use and a motivating network can help you advance your career, even as your responsibilities pick up this month.

Join the network of other professional women scaling their careers. Become an Axis member today.

 

The Value of Unplugging

Learn why unplugging matters and how the Axis team put practice into play this summer.

In a hyperconnected, digital world, we are constantly stimulated by screens — checking our phones for work emails, scrolling social feeds or unwinding in front of the TV. Spending time offline, even just for a little bit, has a myriad of positive outcomes.

Reducing screen time has been shown to boost your mood and decrease stress levels. Minimizing your exposure to blue light, especially at nighttime, can help you sleep, leading to more restful nights. A digital detox can also have physical benefits, such as reducing eye strain and headaches. Most importantly, it’s a great way to reconnect with the things and people you love and come back to work, and a digital world, a little more charged.

Here’s how the team at Axis unplugged this summer.

Nuvyn Peters, CEO, Axis Connects

“On the heels of our Axis Stampede event, I took off to Iceland for five days with my daughter. We rented a campervan and explored the country: hiking, taking in breathtaking sights and soaking up the amazing scenery. It was a wonderful opportunity to step out of our comfort zones, connect with each other and fully embrace the adventure.”

Alexandra Stante, Executive Director, Axis Connects

“This summer, I was able to lean into the art of unplugging, something made possible by an amazing team that covers for each other. First, my husband and I dropped our boys off with my lovely mother-in-law and headed to the Gulf Islands to learn something new(ish) and complete our coastal cruising sailing certification. Because nothing says “relax” like learning how to dock a boat that doesn’t belong to you. Now, I’m on round two: a family adventure along Italy’s Adriatic coastline, soaking up sunshine, seafood and gelato-fueled explorations.”

Katarina Seckarova, Executive Director, Board Ready Women

“I spent a week recharging in Jasper — no emails or phone calls, just fresh air, serene lakes, and mountain trails. Disconnecting was incredibly refreshing, and I returned rested and reenergized. The scars left by last year’s wildfires were a quiet nudge to appreciate what we have, while we have it — a powerful reminder to step back, reset and reconnect with nature, and with ourselves.”

Claire Edwards, Program and Marketing Manager, Axis Connects

“This summer, I unplugged by swapping my laptop for lake views and a few (mostly) straight drives down the fairway. Mornings started with coffee on the dock, afternoons on the course or out on the boat, and evenings devoted to Okanagan wine ‘research’, purely for educational purposes, of course. Turns out the best way to recharge is fresh air, a little friendly competition, and just enough Wi-Fi to check the weather.”

Clara Weller, Project Manager, Axis Connects

“I unplugged this summer by spending my weekends hiking in the mountains, where there was no service, so I couldn’t check my emails and texts. I also made it a point to not do anything work-related from 5 p.m. on a Friday to 8 a.m. on a Monday morning.”

Alexis Berezan, Director of Programs and Partnerships, Axis Connects

“This summer, I visited Nova Scotia and PEI for the first time. Nothing helps me recharge better than seeing a new place. Two weeks of beautiful landscapes, sailing, lake and ocean swims — plus some heavy research of the local breweries, wineries and cideries — was absolutely amazing. The restorative powers of seafood chowder cannot be overstated. I also “supported the local economy” via some much-needed retail therapy and visited some historical sites to expand my knowledge of the region. I left with a deep appreciation of the beauty of Canada and gratitude to live in such an incredible country.”

 

5 Reasons to Attend the Public Launch of the Annual Report Card on Gender Equity and Leadership

Join us September 9 as we co-present The Prosperity Project’s Annual Report Card on Gender Equity and Leadership results and share essential data on the state of women in the workplace.

Every year, The Prosperity Project, a Canadian charity working to advance women’s economic future, surveys Canada’s top-performing companies by revenue to determine where women stand within four tiers of leadership. The report highlights gender inequities in the pipeline to leadership positions with the goal of addressing prevalent issues and finding solutions to propel women forward in the workplace.

On September 9, Axis will co-present the 2025 results alongside a panel of inspiring leaders showcasing the current state of gender equity and leadership in Canada. The conversation will highlight what’s changing, what’s not and how we can turn insights into meaningful action.

Here are five reasons to attend the report result launch.

Be the first to know
Hear the 2025 results first. Discover what Canadian organizations are doing to advance women, including Black, Indigenous and racialized women, and other equity-deserving groups, into leadership roles.

Gain perspective
The event will offer an impressive panel of leaders from participating organizations who will share what the data means in practice. They’ll discuss the challenges they’re navigating and the tangible steps they’re taking to create cultures of inclusion and accountability.

Leave with actionable information
Gain more than a look into what’s happening in the Canadian landscape of women at work —discover practical ideas, commitments and partnerships you can bring back to your own organization to drive measurable change in gender equity and intersectional leadership representation.

Connect with like-minded leaders
Axis events bring a wide range of diverse leaders together and offer unique networking opportunities. Meet and learn from others who believe that equity and prosperity go hand in hand and connect with those who are ready to move from conversation to impact.

Support vital research
The Prosperity Project’s Annual Report Card is essential to help underline problem areas for women at work, determining what’s working and what isn’t in order to offer effective solutions for change. Part of your registration fee funds next year’s research, ensuring we continue to work
toward an equitable future for women at work.

Register today.

Axis Summer Book Club

Photo by NataliaDeriabina from iStock. 

Discover 12 must-read books recommended by local leaders and executives.

Axis Connects’ new weekly podcast, The Quiet Part Out Loud, asks all of its guests their top three favourite books, and they don’t disappoint.

Here, discover books recommended by local leaders like entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den star Manjit Minhas, managing partner at EY Calgary Alison Jackson, Axis Connects co-founder Heather Culbert and some picks from the Axis team.

Wealth and financial management

Think and Grow Rich: Manjit Minhas’ all-time favourite book, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, is a self-help book that explores the principles of success and wealth. The book lays out a formula and specific steps to reach riches and success, and although originally published in 1937, Minhas says it “stands the test of time.”

The Wealthy Barber: David Chilton’s The Wealthy Barber lays out the basics of personal finance through simple guidelines to better manage your money. The book takes shape in a novel form, following the lives of a few characters while providing guidelines on financial basics, such as RRSPs, mutual funds, real estate and insurance.

Die With Zero: Bill Perkins’ Die With Zero flips the script on traditional beliefs of squirrelling your money away to ensure you can leave a hefty inheritance to your children. Instead, Perkins offers a different philosophy on living rich instead of dying rich and the value of creating experiences now.

Big ideas

The Let Them Theory: Recommended by Axis co-founder Heather Culbert, Mel Robbins’ viral book is a must-read for everyone looking to let go of the things they can’t control. Filled with empowering lessons and inspiring passages, The Let Them Theory will positively impact your relationships, bring you new perspectives and give you the power to create the life you love.

Never Split the Difference: Written by Chris Voss and Tahl Raz, Never Split the Difference is the ultimate book on negotiation, bringing readers into Voss’ career as the FBI’s lead international kidnapping negotiator. The book offers skills, tactics and strategies to become more persuasive that seamlessly transfer to your professional life.

Freakonomics: Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner examines a range of social issues, from cheating on tests to the organization of drug gangs, through an economic lens. It explores the incentive to increase wealth and its impacts on behaviour.

How to Win Friends and Influence People: Another book that has stood the test of time, How to Win Friends and Influence People, provides guidelines to help you create positive relationships. Dale Carnegie offers specific techniques on how to handle people, make them like you and win them over.

Invisible Women: Caroline Criado Perez exposes how data often fails to take into account women and the impacts it has on every part of our lives. From the design of pianos and transportation systems to medical research representation, Perez explores how we live in a world built for men, resulting in gender inequality.

Just for fun

The Notebook: Alison Jackson thinks everyone needs a little bit of escapism and romance in their lives. Nicholas Sparks’ The Notebook offers just that, with a tale of enduring love that survives despite class differences and extensive time apart. A classic romance, this beloved book is the perfect summer read for when you want to balance out the serious stuff and kick back with a love story.

Why Not Me?: Actor Mindy Kaling recounts stories of her life through a series of personal essays. Read the humorous and entertaining stories that depict her experiences navigating the dating scene and her journey in Hollywood, and all of the self-doubt, deep ambition and challenges that come with it.

The Nightingale: This harrowing international best-seller tells the story of two sisters on different journeys during World War II. Kristin Hannah reflects themes of survival, love, resilience and the strength of women during trying times.

The Briar Club: Kate Quinn’s murder mystery unveils the secrets behind the doors of an all-girls boarding school in Washington. In The Briar Club, loyalties are put to the test after a shocking murder takes place.

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An Exciting Launch at Axis’ Biggest Networking Event of the Year

Here’s what you missed at the 2025 Axis Connects Stampede Round Up, including a big announcement for what’s next at Axis.

This week, hundreds of leaders from Calgary’s business community gathered at the Deane House for the annual Axis Connects Stampede Round Up. Dressed in their best Stampede gear, leaders mixed and mingled and helped raise funds for YW Calgary.

As the hot sun shone down, changemakers made connections over cool cocktails and light bites, celebrated one another and raised a glass to the collaborative work being done to advance women in business.

The Honourable Tanya Fir, Alberta’s Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women, kicked off the afternoon by affirming the province’s commitment to increasing women’s participation in the Alberta economy and her support for organizations leading the change, like Axis.

As she looked to the crowd, she captured the essence of the event, saying, “This is what community truly looks like: businesses, leaders and organizations working together to build, drive change and uplift one another.”

Exciting things to come

This year’s event also included an exciting announcement from Nuvyn Peters, CEO of Axis Connects, who revealed Axis’ latest opportunity for members: Axis’ Member Experiences.

The Member Experiences program provides Axis members with exclusive access to events and unique offerings throughout the city, allowing them to extend community-building and networking opportunities beyond the workplace.

The first offering is a trial membership to the newly opened Eau Claire Athletic Club. This two-year invitation-only offering gives Axis members exclusive pricing to test out the new athletic club before committing to a full membership.

Peters also announced that this year’s Leadership Forum will be held on November 25 at the Calgary Telus Convention Centre, and early-bird tickets are on sale. The 2026 Calgary Influential Women in Business Awards nominations are also open.

Axis is looking to the future, with new events like the announced three-part Board Readiness Series in partnership with Board Ready Women, starting in September. Women will gain insider tips on board interviews, recruitment, etiquette and more, and registration is now open.

Don’t miss more events like this. Become a member today.

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Play Hard, Work Harder: Why Vacation Time is Good for Work

Photo by NataliaDeriabina from iStock. 

Who doesn’t love a carefree day spent in the sun with your kids, friends or even some spare time spent alone? For most people, this sounds like a dream, but for others, thinking of time away from work may be anxiety-inducing.

As we head into summer, not only is vacation important for overall happiness and well-being, but it also offers professional benefits. Time away can actually increase workplace satisfaction and productivity. Most employees return from vacation feeling rested with increased focus and engagement. Still, the majority of Canadians don’t use their vacation time — less than a third reported taking all of their allocated time off in 2024, according to an ADP Canada survey. And women are less likely to use their vacation time than men. With significant professional barriers already stacked against working women, there are many reasons why they may not take all of their vacation time, including feelings of guilt, an overly heavy workload, concerns about how colleagues and superiors may perceive it and the worry that it could hinder their career advancement. Taking time off isn’t solely the responsibility of the employee. Employers must also foster a culture where stress-free time off is possible and encouraged.

Three benefits to using your vacation time

Avoiding burnout

Not taking vacations can contribute to burnout. In a time when burnout levels are at an all-time high, taking prolonged breaks can help keep it at bay.

With the recent surge in work-from-home opportunities, research has shown that remote workers struggle to disconnect from work and are less likely to take a vacation than office workers. The flexibility that comes with remote work may actually lead to an increased workload, which can quietly contribute to burnout. In an article published by The Globe and Mail, Calgary-based organizational psychologist and podcaster Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett explains that women, in particular, are more likely to excessively prove their availability and accessibility in fear of losing the flexibility of working from home. As employers, it’s essential to acknowledge the risks associated with this mentality — like burnout — and promote the right to disconnect through uninterrupted vacation time and clear working hours.

Job satisfaction and well-being

Vacations offer opportunities for rest and relaxation, which, in turn, allow you to get back to work feeling more motivated, creative and appreciative of what you do. Positive work cultures that promote time off can also make employees feel more appreciated and supported outside of the office, leading to more job satisfaction. A Michigan State University article reported that 70 per cent of workers feel more satisfied at work when they take regular vacations, and there’s no denying that job satisfaction boosts work productivity.

Increased productivity

Returning to work rejuvenated enhances your problem-solving skills, focus and creativity. With less stress, you reduce your chances of getting sick, demonstrate more engagement and are better equipped to handle the challenges of work. Employees tend to have more energy and a more positive outlook post-vacation – vacations can increase performance by up to 80 per cent, according to researcher Mark Rosekind.

For leaders

As a leader, it’s just as important for you to take vacation — your well-being and productivity will benefit, too. Modelling this is an excellent way to create a culture where taking time off is viewed as a positive thing. Just as much as employees must take their time off, employers must ensure they feel comfortable and encouraged to do so. Review your policies and remind your employees that they have a right to disconnect and take all of their allocated vacation time. Ensure sufficient coverage so time away doesn’t add stress, and a little bit of enthusiasm and support for employees’ vacations goes a long way in showing your team that taking a vacation is a wonderful thing.

For more conversations on leadership and professional development, become an Axis member today.

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Burnout 101: For Mid- to Senior-Level Leaders

In our burnout series, we go beyond the idea that burnout is just about long hours, and confront it for what it is: a state of exhaustion that impacts how you think, work, feel and live. In this fourth and final chapter, we examine how burnout can present itself and what to do when you or your team are experiencing it.

It’s no secret that burnout predominantly impacts those with a heavy workload, but it’s not as simple as being too busy. Burnout is an all-encompassing state of exhaustion that can arise after prolonged stress. It can result from accumulated factors like not feeling recognized or valued, struggling to set boundaries or not having your boundaries respected, having too much to manage and the inability to gain control.

Dr. Valerie Taylor is the department head of psychiatry at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine. She researches links between mental illness and the body, and she knows how serious the repercussions of burnout can be. Burnout can impact your coping skills and ability to think clearly and can even take away the joy you get from your work. It can also pose significant health problems, like headaches and sleep and intestinal issues.

Burnout disproportionately affects women, and some female leaders face burnout because of the ongoing pressure of leading a team, rising above professional barriers placed against women and, oftentimes, taking on the majority of unpaid domestic work. Taylor explains how it’s easy to make yourself the last priority when you’re a senior-level professional, yet it’s critical to put yourself first, especially when you sense burnout coming on.

For leaders dealing with burnout 

Often, some of the pressure senior-level women feel is their own perception — they may not feel like they can take a holiday, occasionally leave work early or even mute their phone during non-working hours because they think it will be perceived negatively. Taylor says having trusted mentors is important so that you can ask how it might be viewed if you take time for yourself.

She says most mentors will probably tell you that not everyone works on weekends and “the people who are able to avoid burnout are able to do so because they can [take time away from work].”

Look at your team and the people supporting you, and find ways to delegate tasks. Be firm with whatever work-life balance works for you and ensure you make time for the things most important to you. “Working hard and being successful takes effort, but so does prioritizing yourself. People need to give themselves the same priorities and the same level of importance that they give to other things,” says Taylor.

What to do when your team is struggling  

As a leader, it’s important to notice when your team may be struggling with burnout and adjust the systems that lead them to burn out. Look internally at the small things, like how often you send out work emails and at what time, and the bigger things, like your company’s work-life balance expectations. Reflect on whether there are inclusive opportunities or resources for your staff to use when they feel frustrated.

“People don’t need work-social activities. They need to connect with themselves and their families sometimes. But they also need to be able to share frustrations if they think that they’re not being recognized,” says Taylor.

Ultimately, people need to know prioritizing themselves is important. They need to see their leaders modeling this behaviour and that their workplace encourages everyone to do this.

To keep up with more conversations on burnout and its impact on women in business, become an Axis member.  

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