Women in Leadership Foundation:
Barinder Sandhu Discusses How WIL is Making Positive Changes
In 2019, women held 29% of senior management roles — a number which broke all previous records for years past. Although this progress merits celebration, current statistics persistently highlight a continued disparity. With women representing less than one-third of all senior-level leaders, there remains a considerable power imbalance in sectors across the board.
Barinder Sandhu, Evergreen Pharma Solution’s CEO and Founder, is impassioned to close this gap. Her unique skill set, effective work ethic, and proven track record have won her the reputation as a trusted leader in the pharmaceutical industry. Her professional experience as a CEO and founder in a male-dominated industry has cemented her passion for making change.
In her journey to help other women reach their full potential, Barinder Sandhu has found the Women in Leadership Foundation’s community an especially empowering network. Here, she explains what WIL does and how its members are working diligently to transform the business landscape for women in all industries.
Showcasing Women Leaders
According to the foundation’s website, WIL was first formed in 2001 when Maya Kanigan noticed that very few women were hired to speak at industry conferences. Upon further researching the issue, Kanigan was troubled by the lack of women in leadership roles which extended across most sectors.
Inspired by her findings and impassioned to make a change, she created a collaborative initiative that sought to showcase female leaders through inspiring, empowering programs. As a result, she founded WIL — an organization that seeks to bridge the existing gender gap in senior-level hiring.
Since then, WIL has actively and aggressively worked to make positive change. The foundation’s first program visited 22 universities from Canada’s Northern coast to its Western coast. These events featured career forums, speakers, resources, and recruiters. Most importantly, they spotlighted the importance and power of female leaders.
Since its initial program, WIL has facilitated forums, projects, and presentations across Canada that seek to equip women in all industries to successfully claim leadership positions. Over the years, more than 50,000 women have participated in the foundation’s programs and benefited from its initiatives.
Providing Resources
In its commitment to helping women advance into leadership positions, WIL does not just connect women to each other; it also works diligently to connect female professionals with businesses that are dedicated to building diversity in their leadership teams.
Barinder Sandhu highlights the foundation’s career portal as an invaluable tool. Its curated collection of job listings helps female professionals find and apply for positions with companies that mindfully implement inclusivity in their hiring practices.
Through its “Best Employer Program,” WIL also works to recognize and celebrate companies that demonstrate support for the advancement of women within their organization, making it easier for female professionals to find career opportunities in which their skills will be optimally valued.
Harnessing the Power of Mentorship
Mentorship is a collaborative relationship that helps more experienced, successful professionals support other women on their leadership journeys. To help women from diverse backgrounds realize their potential and develop the skills necessary to fill leadership rolls, the Women in Leadership Foundation created an award-winning mentorship program.
The program, which spans 5 months, matches qualified professionals to rising stars on a 1-to-1 basis. Its goal is to cultivate close-knit professional relationships that helps women share resources and grow together through all stages of life.
The mentorship program was first piloted in the late 2000s. Since then, its 1,900 graduates have consistently reported positive results and heartfelt gratitude for its impact on their careers. By graduation, 90% of mentees report boosted confidence in the workplace; 40% report having made professional connections that helped them later land a job or advance their career; 90% report they returned to work and excelled more quickly than they could have before.
As described by Barinder Sandhu, WIL’s mentorship program is proof of what can happen when women work collaboratively to support and invest in each other on an individualized, one-on-one basis.
