From corporate boardrooms to political arenas, women are demonstrating their capabilities, lighting the way as role models, and proving that exceptional leadership transcends gender.

Reflecting on my career in diplomacy, there were very few female role models to look up to and even fewer whose lives I aspired to lead. The generation of female leaders before me often had to sacrifice marriage and children to pursue careers mirroring their male counterparts. Limited support and strong social pressures left many women facing the tough choice between motherhood and marriage or education and a career.

As a historical context, before 1976, the select few women working at Canada’s then-Department of Foreign Affairs were barred from foreign postings once married. This was both an artificial barrier to entry, but also an outdated belief that women couldn’t focus on two things at the same time. But today, in modern Global Affairs Canada, the country proudly embraces a feminist foreign policy, with women representing half of all Canadian ambassadors abroad, and female ministers leading both the foreign affairs and trade portfolios. There is a dedicated effort to bring more women to leadership roles, marking a significant departure from the challenges of the past.

Canada is a pathfinder with its Feminist Foreign Policy and Feminist International Assistance Program. It took me a minute to get my head around it, but it’s actually brilliant. In simple terms, Canada champions gender equality and women’s rights globally across all aspects of international engagement, from trade and defence to security and human rights. For instance, Canada won’t negotiate a new trade deal unless it explicitly reflects the rights and benefits of women.

The core principle is clear: empowering women and girls is vital for creating a more peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous world.  In this enlightened era of diplomacy, women aren’t just breaking through glass ceilings, they are charting a path toward a more equitable and harmonious world.

“When women thrive, humanity thrives”.