HAMILTON, Ont. - Four panelists have been announced for McMaster University Athletics' 'Women in Sport and Leadership Event' taking place virtually Monday, March 8 from 7-9 pm. Presented by RBC, this event aims to inspire Marauders everywhere, to talk about the issues, challenges and barriers women in sports and positions of leadership are facing on a daily basis.

Panel moderators Briana Wice (women's field hockey) and Bennett Swan (men's volleyball) will drive the discussion among four incredible women who are making a difference in their respective fields. 

This year's panel discussion will touch on equity gaps and how to be part of the solution, transitioning from school to the workplace, mentorship and networking in a digital environment, and much more. 

"This conversation goes beyond just pursuing gender equality in the workplace" says Wice, a fourth-year kinesiology student and Co-President of McMaster's Varsity Leadership Committee. "We'll talk about the importance of creating spaces that are inclusive for women, LGBTQ+, BIPOC… everyone."

"Taking steps forward toward gender equality is certainly not the responsibility of just women" describes Swan, who encourages men of all ages to listen first, and then join in the conversation.

"In order to be an ally," adds Wice, "men need to be aware of these barriers and how they can challenge them."

Attendance for Women in Sport and Leadership presented by RBC is free - register now.

Panelists

Jahaan Blake

Jahaan Blake, Sports Executive turned Career Coach, helps high-achieving women in the Sports and Entertainment Industry who feel stuck, frustrated, and defeated find their voice, and tackle whatever is keeping them from getting exactly what they want out of their career. 
 
During Jahaan's 18 years of working in sports, including working for three major league teams (Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Chicago Cubs), her favourite part of the job was helping others see their full potential - so she made a business out of it. Whether her clients want to break into sports, take their performance to the next level, or own a place at the executive table, Jahaan provides customized coaching programs to accelerate their career. 
 
Jahaan is also the host of the Game of Her Own podcast which highlights the inspiring journey of influential women working in the Sports & Entertainment industry. These candid interviews offer unique advice and strategies to help empower women in the industry. 

Peggy Capitain

Peggy Capitain is the Senior Manager, Future of Work & Culture and she leads key talent strategies to ensure RBC thrives in the rapidly changing world. Excited about the endless possibilities in the future of work, she actively champions new ways of thinking and workforce innovation through her thought leadership. During her tenure in Human Resources, she led many high-impact programs that aimed to unleash employees' potential. They include: diversity and inclusion initiatives to increase the representation of women and visible minorities in leadership roles, work-integrated learning strategies to help young people navigate the school to work transition, as well as the enterprise reskilling strategy to help employees build relevant skills and thrive in the new world of work. Since joining RBC over 18 years ago, she has held several progressive roles at RBC in many areas, including Retail Banking, Advice Centre, Enterprise Operations, and Human Resources.
 
Peggy is a dedicated community leader and has led many successful fundraising campaigns helping advance women and children's holistic well-being. In recognition of her contributions and achievement in her communities, she was the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and the RBC Global Citizen Award in 2017.
 
In her spare time, Peggy enjoys exploring new adventures with her husband and son. To fuel her curiosity and love of learning, she sought higher education and graduated from the Executive MBA program with Ivey Business School at Western University in 2019.

Melissa Pool

Melissa Pool is the University Registrar at McMaster as well as a proud double graduate with an Honours Bachelor of Arts and an MBA.  She began her career in the private sector working for two leading global institutions: Celestica Inc., a multinational electronics manufacturing services provider, and Sciex, a supplier of life science analytical technologies. This instilled in her an enduring interest in the application of technology to business. She returned to McMaster 10 years ago to become its Registrar during what has been an exciting time of growth and change.  Her passion for technology led to a partnership with the Faculty of Engineering culminating in McMaster becoming the first Canadian university and only one of a few in the world, to offer digital diplomas, anchored by blockchain technology. 

Melissa has always loved sports and has been active for as long as she can remember.  Her first and enduring love is volleyball; though you are now more likely to find her on a bike, either on a mountain or in a triathlon which makes her knees much happier.   You can also find her proudly cheering on her triathlete husband or her two speed skating sons.

Liza Smith-Vedder

Liza Smith-Vedder has extensive experience in marketing, advertising, and sales across a diverse range of industries. 

She is committed to helping professionals leverage the tangible benefits of marketing to build their organizations. She is a passionate advocate for pay equity and has worked with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), Women's Hockey Life, Her Soul Shot and the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association on partnerships and awareness initiatives. 

Liza leads a team of marketing advisors at CPA Site Solutions who are dedicated to helping accounting and financial professionals use digital marketing to grow their firms and achieve their goals. She has a MS in Historic Preservation from the University of Vermont and a BA in Communications and Media Studies from Purchase College.

Register using the link below:
https://mcmaster.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_CBfSilkzTTq_yPGI-VESfA