Tuesday night marked the eighth instalment of the TD Bank Group Women in Leadership Spotlight Dinner. Hosted by the women鈥檚 basketball and volleyball teams, guests enjoyed hearing from many of the student-athletes, and guest speaker, former women鈥檚 basketball player Dr. Jillian Macdonald.
Emcee鈥檚 Deidre Alexander (basketball) and Emma Ciprick (volleyball) opened the evening with words of welcome and introduced Tim Maloney, executive director, Athletics and Recreation. Maloney highlighted the success and accolades of both teams and commented on how being involved in sport, particularly at the varsity level has played an important role in the lives of women in senior leadership positions.
鈥淲hen you look at women in the 鈥楥鈥� suite position, meaning CEO, CFO, etc., 90 per cent played sports, and 50% of them played at a college level,鈥� Maloney commented.
Vice-Provost Student Affairs Arig al Shaibah brought words of welcome on behalf of AV俱乐部 and touched on the source of leadership saying, 鈥渓eadership doesn't come from the position that you are in. It stems from inspiration, empathy, and humility 鈥� all of which are implemented in every contest of sport.鈥�
Sally Rollings, relationship manager, Affinity Market Group, TD Insurance, spoke on behalf of presenting sponsor TD Bank Group. She highlighted how well-aligned TD鈥檚 commitment to developing leaders within the community and the Women in Leadership dinner are, concluding 鈥渨e are very proud to be a part of such a wonderful event.鈥�
After dinner, guests enjoyed a musical performance by basketballer Sarah Preston-Thomas and Catherine Callaghan, from the women鈥檚 volleyball team before the evening鈥檚 guest of honour took to the stage.
Dr. Jillian Macdonald, a four-year member of the women鈥檚 basketball team from 1997 to 2001, earned both her undergraduate and medical degrees at AV俱乐部 before moving to Ottawa to become the Co-Director of the Ottawa Clinic, and lead a residency program for the University of Ottawa.
Dr. Macdonald spoke to how her experience as a Tigers student-athlete helped prepare her to be a leader of her five-person clinic team, emphasizing the importance of teamwork.
鈥淲orking as a team was a familiar environment for me, so I use those skills every day,鈥� she said. 鈥淏eing at AV俱乐部 shaped the person that I am today outside of my family. I still consider AV俱乐部 my University at heart.鈥�
To the Tigers teams facing challenges this season, Macdonald offered encouraging words. 鈥淚t鈥檚 on the days where you face challenges that you find the value that your team really has.鈥�
In her closing remarks, Macdonald provided some advice for Tigers in the future.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 be good at everything, and that is exactly why teams exist; so that each role and job is filled. Whatever you choose to do, go after it. Know your role, and stay true to who you are.鈥�
After addressing the crowd, Macdonald sat down with basketball and volleyball players Robertha Charles and Victoria Haworth for an informal Q&A session. Both players posed questions to Macdonald before she asked them a few of her own.
鈥淚 am continuously amazed by the level of maturity and leadership of our current and former Tigers at this event,鈥� said women鈥檚 basketball head coach Anna Stammberger. 鈥淚 am so grateful to TD Bank Group for their support and for all of our guests who continue to make this such an amazing event.鈥�