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Honouring the Canadian Trailblazers from The SustainabilityX® Magazine's Global 50 Women in Sustainability™ Awards
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Summary
The "What's Your X Factor: Bold Leadership Shaping the Future of Sustainability" webinar, held on November 26, 2024, celebrated Canadian women recognized in The SustainabilityX® Magazine's 3rd annual Global 50 Women in Sustainability™ Awards 2024. This article encapsulates the event's essence, highlighting the awardees' unique 'X Factors,' their contributions to sustainability, and the significance of their leadership in driving environmental and social impact.
On November 26, 2024, The SustainabilityX® Magazine, in partnership with Magali Depras Consulting, hosted a special webinar titled "What's Your X Factor: Bold Leadership Shaping the Future of Sustainability." This event honoured the Canadian women featured in the magazine's 3rd Annual Global 50 Women in Sustainability™ Awards, celebrating their bold leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing environmental and social impact.
About the Webinar
Co-moderated by Supriya Verma, founder of The SustainabilityX® Magazine, and Magali Depras, founder of Magali Depras Consulting and one of the distinguished awardees, the webinar provided a platform for Canada's leading women in sustainability to share their unique 'X Factors' - the spark, leadership trait, or driving motivation that defines her impact in sustainability. Each awardee discussed the driving motivations along with practical insights and lessons from their journeys.
The Awards and Their Significance
Announced on October 14, 2024, under the theme "Embrace Boldness," The SustainabilityX® Magazine's 3rd annual Global 50 Women in Sustainability™ Awards recognized fearless and innovative women leading transformative change across the globe. Read the official press release.
The 2024 edition honours those who have dared to challenge the status quo, driving initiatives that make a tangible impact in areas such as renewable energy, environmental justice, corporate sustainability strategies, and policy changes. View the full awards list.
HAVE YOU READ?
Canadian Awardees and Their 'X Factors'
The webinar featured several Canadian awardees who shared their unique motivations and insights:
Pamela Shainhouse, President & Founder, The Shainhouse Group
Kim Perrotta, Executive Director, CHASE - Canadian Health Association for Sustainability and Equity
Magali Depras, Founder & President, Magali Depras Consulting Services Inc
“My 'X factor' lies in a lifelong commitment to sustainability as an international executive and now as a business owner. From the start of my career in a Scandinavian packaging company with sustainability at its core, I recognized the critical need for solutions that protect the environment and serve society. This sense of purpose fuels my vision, courage, and ability to inspire others to build sustainable business models. I am driven to lead by example and to empower others with the insights needed to make impactful change."
Emily O'Brien, Founder & CEO, Comeback Snacks
Manjusri Misra, Professor & Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Sustainable Biocomposites, University of Guelph
Sadaf Taimur, Sustainability Scientist/Director of Sustainability & Circularity at Goodwill Industries, Ontario Great Lakes
"With a South Asian upbringing, where resourcefulness was second nature, I grew up seeing how ingenuity and grit could turn scarcity into opportunity. This foundation taught me that bold ideas are the seeds of change, shaping my 'X factor': the courage to champion innovation, transcend boundaries, and empower others to pursue shared sustainability goals. As I ventured beyond my comfort zone, traveling to diverse corners of the globe, I embraced advocating for unconventional solutions that defied the status quo. By fostering collaboration and valuing diverse perspectives, I witnessed the transformative power of collective effort in driving advancements in sustainability. Empowering others has been key to amplifying this impact, creating a ripple effect that extends far beyond individual actions. Today, boldness fuels my leadership in sustainability, inspiring meaningful change and cultivating a future where courage, empowerment, and collaboration are the cornerstones of lasting solutions."
Helene V. Gagnon, Chief People & Sustainability Officer, CAE
"My 'X factor' that fuels my bold leadership in sustainability is to be a change agent. I leverage collaboration and simplify 'why' we are pursuing decarbonization targets approved by SBTi as well as using an internal shadow carbon price to take into account the carbon impact of our growth decisions."
Catherine Abreu, Director, International Climate Politics Hub
"My 'X factor' is rooted in an unwavering belief in the power of collective action to drive systemic change. I am fuelled by the urgency of the climate crisis, the strength of communities advocating for justice, and the deep understanding that a livable future demands bold, inclusive leadership. My motivation comes from amplifying voices often underrepresented in decision-making spaces and crafting pathways that bridge global climate ambition with grounded, equitable solutions. It’s this blend of purpose, collaboration, and tenacity that inspires me to keep pushing boundaries for a sustainable and just world."
Lisa Bate, Global Sustainability Leader & Net Zero Carbon Strategist, Bate Sustainability Inc
"My motivation is to do all I can to promote, define and deliver triple bottom line Net Zero Carbon pathways, systems and technologies so People, Planet and Profit can all win. As recently evidenced at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, climate-driven damage was linked to tangible economic growth opportunities to drive actions to decarbonize industries and make buildings and cities more resilient. This win-win spirit seems to resonate globally, so I think we have a stronger chance of success."
Isobel O'Connell, Strategic Partner, METAGNOSIS Consulting Inc
"With the rise of internal activism, where employees are urging companies to take a more proactive stance on environmental and social issues, my 'X factor' lies in serving as the bridge between two worlds—technical or impact-focused practitioners on one side and traditional business-oriented leaders on the other. I thrive on bringing these perspectives together by crafting and translating narratives that resonate with both sides. Guided by the interconnectivity of challenges—especially climate and social issues—I focus on seeing beyond isolated problems to uncover holistic, impactful solutions. Sustainability is not merely a social or environmental initiative; it is smart business – a real convener. When approached thoughtfully, it becomes a powerful tool to convene stakeholders, drive innovation, and create lasting value. The best sustainability advice I ever received was during the beginning of my career many years ago: 'Focus on impact. Don't put limits on yourself or others. Find the people who lift you up and empower one another'."
Jeanette Southwood, VP, Corporate Affairs & Strategic Partnerships, Engineers Canada
"Many of us may be familiar with the quote 'You have to know where you came from to know where you're going.' We all take different paths. I was the first person in my immediate family to attend university. When I was very young, my parents emigrated with me and my sisters from South Africa during the time of apartheid. Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa which lasted until the early 1990s. It was a time when the colour of a person’s skin and that of their ancestors determined a large part of their present and future – from where a student could go to school to where a child could sit on the bus or drink from a water fountain. My family was classified as coloured – part Black and part white. For me, it was experiences such as these that formed my lens for sustainability – and my lens for the dimensions of sustainability including environmental, economic, and social. These experiences formed the seed of my 'X Factor'."
Each awardee's story highlighted the diverse pathways to leadership in sustainability, offering valuable takeaways for those passionate about driving environmental and social progress.
The Impact of the Webinar
The event attracted a diverse audience, including senior professionals, students, aspiring leaders, and individuals committed to sustainability. The discussions underscored the importance of bold leadership and the unique qualities that drive impactful change in the sustainability sector. Attendees left inspired by the awardees' stories, equipped with practical insights to apply in their own sustainability endeavours.
The insights and stories shared by these remarkable women during this webinar continue to resonate. Their 'X Factors'—the unique motivations and leadership traits—serve as beacons for others striving to make a difference in sustainability. As we reflect on their contributions, we are reminded of the power of bold leadership in shaping a sustainable future.
For more information about the awards and future events, visit The SustainabilityX® Magazine's website.
About The SustainabilityX® Magazine
The SustainabilityX® Magazine is an award-winning, digital, female-founded, and female-led non-profit initiative bringing the environment and economy together for a sustainable future through dialogue. Founded on May 8, 2016 and inspired by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals by Canada’s Top 30 Under 30 in Sustainability Leadership awardee, Supriya Verma, the digital media initiative focuses on approaching the world’s most pressing challenges with a holistic, integrated, systems-based perspective as opposed to the traditional and ineffective siloed approach with a single lens on interdisciplinary topics like climate and energy. This initiative ultimately seeks to explore how to effectively bring the environment and economy together through intellectual, insightful dialogue and thought-provoking discussion amongst individuals across sectors taking an interdisciplinary and integrated approach to untangling the intricate web of sustainability.
The SustainabilityX® Magazine is based upon the four pillars of sustainability: Environmental Stewardship which emphasizes improved environmental health, Economic Prosperity which emphasizes economic growth without the element of capitalism, Social Inclusion which emphasizes EDI for BIPOC and LGBTQ communities and marginalized, vulnerable populations, and Just Governance which emphasizes the equal rule of law via responsible political leadership to create fair systems for all. Identifying the diverse factors involved in sustainability, how they interact and how the disciplines are interconnected will help accelerate local, national, and international sustainability goals – in simpler words, aligning with The SustainabilityX® Magazine’s mission of bringing the environment and economy together for a sustainable future through dialogue for a sustainable future. Whether you have a background in science, engineering, business, law, politics, media and entertainment, or beyond, your voice matters.
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The SustainabilityX® Magazine is a proud member of the Sustainable Journalism Partnership, serves as a cause-based media partner for various events such as WIRED Impact, and officially delivers remarks at international conferences such as UNESCO’s annual World Press Freedom Day Conference. SustainabilityX® is a brand of the non-profit social business SPSX Group.
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