Within these walls where Olympic hearts come to gather, you are welcome, accepted, and respected. Here, no matter who you are or where you come from, you are at home, regardless of your sex, sexual orientation, race, marital or family status, gender identity or expression, sex characteristics, age, colour, disability, political or religious belief or non-belief. All we ask is that you be excellent, respectful, accountable, fun, and brave.
These are the words that are plastered on the wall of the entryway of the Canadian Olympic Committee and Foundation offices. The words that greet me everyday as I step through the front doors. It is uplifting knowing I work for an organization with these values.
In the wake of International Women’s Day, it is particularly inspiring. Sport is becoming more and more inclusive every day; the number of women in sport is growing; the number of women in executive roles is growing. The Rio 2016 Olympic Games had a record-breaking 45.2% female participation, which is expected to rise to 48.8% for Tokyo 2020. The 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires was the first fully gender balanced Olympic event, not only in terms of the athletes, but also within the Organizing Committee and across the sport coverage. A testament of how the landscape is continuing to improve.
Looking at my career in sport, I have had more female coworkers than males, yet it has been mostly males who filled the executive seats.
Women who are in executive roles are often associated with terms such as “bossy” or “mean.” My colleague recently told me she was reading a book called Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office. Why not? Since when is being nice a sign of weakness or bad leadership?
Young women and men need empowering, approachable mentors. Leaders who are as inclusive and inspiring as the message etched on the walls of our office. I encourage women to challenge the norm, to aim for the top, to change the world – and to be nice while doing it.
Sami
