Yolande James | Executive Director, Diversity and Inclusion, Radio-Canada | Implementing Gender Equity and Supporting Women’s Growth in the Workplace

This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling is having a special conversation about gender equity in the workplace, and her guest is Yolande James, Executive Director, Diversity and Inclusion, for French-language broadcaster Radio-Canada. A lawyer and mediator, Yolande James became the first Black woman elected to Quebec’s National Assembly in 2004, and the first person from the Black community appointed to a Government of Quebec cabinet position when she was named Minister of Immigration and Cultural Communities in 2007. In her role, Yolande leads Radio-Canada’s inclusion and engagement initiatives, providing support and guidance to departments and teams on their diversity and inclusion projects. She also helps the public broadcaster achieve its diversity recruitment, promotion and development targets. This conversation takes place just as we release a special report about gender equity in the workplace, along with our partners at Randstad Canada. In today’s world, where talent scarcity, an aging population, and a borderless, tech-driven, post-pandemic business context make up our reality, it comes as no surprise that building an inclusive, equitable and accessible working environment yields better results in terms of performance and engagement. But do companies really practice what they preach? For Canadian women, things are not as glossy as companies might make them appear. According to national research conducted by Randstad Canada, women feel the pace of change is slow. Despite increased awareness around equity, women say they still aren’t offered the same opportunities as men. In this conversation with Yolande James, we explore how and why implementing gender equity ensures a work culture where everyone can thrive, and where women can feel like the proper elements are in place for a positive experience that supports their growth. For more about our report on gender equity, head to thebrandisfemale.com.

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