Lululemon founder Chip Wilson once told Business in Vancouver he did not see the value of business networking events aimed solely at women.
“Would you ever see similar events for men?” Wilson asked (See “Value of women’s business leadership events questioned” – Issue 987; September 23-29, 2008). “If you don’t see them for men, then, it’s either a marketing ploy or I think it’s not the right thing to do.
Wilson had just hired Christine Day to head the trendy yoga-wear maker and stressed he had no problem having women in charge.
“Gender becomes important if you want intuition on your board as opposed to fact finding. That is, I think, the separation between men and women.”
Perhaps it is because of comments like these that organizers of the Women in Leadership Forum on October 21 are making it clear they welcome men as well as women to this year’s event.
Indeed, there will likely be more men at this year’s event at the Four Seasons Hotel than there has been in past years.
For example, A&W Food Services of Canada CEO Paul Hollands will join Loblaw Co. Ltd. CFO Sarah Davis and ATCO Ltd. and Canadian Utilities Ltd. president Nancy Southern on a panel moderated by former B.C. finance minister Carole Taylor.
BNN anchor Howard Green will also give a keynote address.