How can Canada move forward in building a truly inclusive society in the face of growing polarization and resistance to DEI efforts? In this new episode of Inclusion Table Talks, CCDI's new sub-series of Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham, Anne-Marie sits down with Senator Andrew Cardozo, public policy expert, community leader, and champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Throughout his career, Senator Cardozo has held leadership roles across government, regulatory bodies, and civil society,...
Jun 27, 2025•41 min•Season 4Ep. 5
“How can we break the Bamboo Ceiling and build a more inclusive Canada? ” In honour of Asian Heritage Month this May, we are thrilled to welcome Teresa Woo-Pawn for this inspiring episode of Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham. As a trailblazer in human rights advocacy, Teresa made history by becoming the first Asian Canadian woman elected to the Alberta legislature. Throughout her career, Teresa collaborated with diverse communities across Canada to promote inclusivity and equitable representatio...
May 23, 2025•41 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Our latest podcast continues the new series, Inclusion Table Talks, which is included in our regular programming. In this episode, Anne-Marie Pham speaks with Jake Stika, Executive Director at Next Gen Men, about men's essential role in the DEIA ecosystem. Jake reminds us of the damaging impact of perpetuating our patriarchal system and how his organization is actively working to include men and boys not only for allyship but also benefactors whose life experiences are valued and important. Jake...
Apr 30, 2025•45 min•Season 4Ep. 3
CCDI is pleased to introduce 'Inclusion Table Talks', a new sub-series of our podcast: Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham. This series brings together CCDI's Employer Partners and thought leaders for in-depth discussions on the growing anti-DEI rhetoric and its impact on our collective vision of building a more inclusive Canada. We'll explore what DEIA truly is and isn't, address common misconceptions, and discuss the profound impact DEIA has had and continues to have on workplaces across Canada....
Feb 21, 2025•36 min•Season 4Ep. 2
As we enter 2025, CCDI is excited to launch Season 4 of Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham . In the first episode of the year, we reflect on the challenges we face in diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. Positive psychologist Kimberley Wakefield joins us to share insights and tips for how to navigate 2025 with good intentions and the skills needed to take care of our mental well-being. We start our conversation by defining positive psychology and how it differs from traditional psycho...
Jan 22, 2025•51 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Each year, on December 3rd, the United Nations observes the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a day dedicated to raising awareness of the barriers faced by individuals with disabilities. Systemic, cultural, and attitudinal challenges underscore the importance of creating inclusive and accessible environments. In this new episode of Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham, we are honoured to welcome Angela Bonfanti, President and CEO of the CNIB Foundation. Angela shares her invaluable in...
Dec 03, 2024•52 min•Season 3Ep. 11
In recognition of the International Day of Tolerance on November 16, we’re exploring the importance of fostering acceptance and understanding through meaningful conversations. In the latest episode of CCDI’s Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham, we welcome Sonia Sangha, Global Senior Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leader at IKEA, for a deep dive into tolerance in diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA). With over 20 years of experience shaped by global, national, and regional perspec...
Nov 16, 2024•37 min•Season 3Ep. 10
In today's episode of Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham, we engage in a necessary and thought-provoking dialogue on Islamophobia in Canada, a pressing issue given the complex and evolving geopolitical landscape, including current conflicts. We acknowledge that some listeners may find this discussion challenging and encourage you to proceed with care and self-compassion. Our guest, Mohammed Hashim, brings over two decades of expertise as a human rights advocate to shed light on these critical iss...
Oct 30, 2024•49 min•Season 3Ep. 9
As we approach the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, we are reminded of the collective responsibility to recognize the truths of our shared history and to actively engage in reconciliation efforts. Building a racism-free workplace is an essential part of this ongoing journey, and learning from the lived experiences of Indigenous Peoples is a key step forward. In this new episode of Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham, we are joined by Elijah Blackbird, Culture Manager at t...
Sep 27, 2024•40 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Happy International Youth Day! Today, we celebrate the power and potential of young people to shape a more inclusive and vibrant future. Our latest episode of the Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham podcast features Kevin Lawler and Rowan O’Grady from the Whiteboard Collective (WBC), who are passionately working to ensure that young people from all backgrounds have access to meaningful job opportunities. In this special episode, Kevin and Rowan share their inspiring vision for a society where yout...
Aug 12, 2024•34 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Episode 6: Show Notes This summer, with Canada's natural beauty on full display, we acknowledge and express gratitude towards the original caretakers of this land. Today, we honour them here on the Leader Talks Podcast and reflect on our journey of learning and unlearning for progress. Committed to truth and reconciliation, we've partnered with many like-minded organizations, including the very impressive Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA). In today's new ...
Jul 10, 2024•34 min•Season 3Ep. 6
June is the perfect month for critical reflection, as the various causes that we rally for and celebrate help us remember our commitment to fostering a more inclusive and equitable Canada. Today we are joined by one of Canada’s most prominent social entrepreneurs and foremost expert in Indigenous economic innovation and workplace inclusion strategies, Kelly Lendsay. As the Founder, President, and CEO of Indigenous Works (formerly the Aboriginal Human Resource Council), Kelly is geared toward inc...
Jun 18, 2024•43 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Célébrons la Journée internationale sans régime! Dans une société où les idées de corps parfait et d'objectifs de remise en forme sont constamment imposées aux gens sous la forme de soi-disant « conseils », elles sont également à l'origine d'un grand nombre de discriminations, de préjugés et d'inégalités sur le lieu de travail. Aujourd'hui, orientons la conversation vers la positivité corporelle et l'acceptation de soi, promouvons une relation plus saine avec la nourriture et rappelons-nous l'im...
May 06, 2024•31 min•Season 3Ep. 4
In honour of International Women’s Day, we’re using today’s conversation to take a closer look at women’s rights, and what is being done to elevate women’s voices from all over Canada. Joining us in today's episode of Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham is Shari Graydon, an award-winning author, speaker, print and broadcast columnist, and advocate for women’s rights. She is also the founder of Informed Opinions, a social mission project that seeks to amplify the voices of women and gender-diverse ...
Mar 08, 2024•43 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Getting a job is proving difficult for many who have immigrated to Canada, even for those professionally qualified. More needs to be done to ensure that new and immigrant professionals are given a platform to earn their keep, and the more diverse, equitable, and inclusive those environments are, the better! In observation of Black History Month, and to help us dive deeper into this topic, we are joined by Nketti Johnston-Taylor for our new podcast episode of Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham. Nk...
Feb 27, 2024•45 min•Season 3Ep. 2
What does it take to transform a company from having virtually no diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to implementing a comprehensive strategy that spans the entire organization? To help us answer this question, we are joined by Normand St-Gelais for the first episode of season 3 of CCDI’s podcast, Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham. Normand is Director of Corporate Responsibility at Sodexo, a dedicated long-term CCDI Founding Employer Partner. For Sodexo in Canada, his role encompasses Divers...
Jan 12, 2024•28 min•Season 3Ep. 1
In today's new podcast episode of Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham, we're delving into the intricacies of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We've noticed the profound impact this war has had on colleges, teams, and workplaces. Sorting through the vast amount of information available is challenging as it's tough to discern the facts from the misleading or inaccurate information circulating. Joining us today is Brian Carwana, Executive Director at Encounter World Religions Centre, to help...
Dec 13, 2023•35 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Today’s special episode of Leader Talks commemorates Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), which is an important observance on November 20th each year to honour the memory of the transgender people whose lives have been lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. To mark the occasion, we are joined by Marni Panas, a Canadian Certified Inclusion Professional (CCIP), human rights champion, and a sought-after keynote speaker who is dedicated to creating safer and more inclusive places where everyon...
Nov 20, 2023•28 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Islamic History Month, observed in October, is dedicated to commemorating, enlightening, educating, and fostering a deeper understanding among fellow Canadians about the diverse and valuable contributions of the Muslim community to society. In this new episode of Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham, we take a moment to celebrate the contributions of Muslims to Canada and discuss the many issues the community still faces. To help us unpack this nuance topic is Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s Special Repr...
Oct 27, 2023•54 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Today, we’d like to celebrate the incredible work being done in our country to promote and fight for gender-based health equity. However, this work is far from finished and there is still so much more to do. For instance, Canada is 30th out of 146 countries when it comes to the global gender gap index. While this statistic may not seem immediately harrowing, it still highlights the persistent and systemic barriers against gender equity in the country that require immediate correction. Joining us...
Sep 22, 2023•45 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Today, we are joined by thought leader and truth and reconciliation program facilitator Salena Starling, who is also the co-owner and president of Community of Big Hearts. Salena has personally been through Canada’s foster care system and, in this episode, she opens up about her journey. We discover how and why the foster care system disproportionately affects Indigenous youth and what needs to change to break stereotypes and address intergenerational trauma. Salena’s story illustrates the impli...
Aug 11, 2023•26 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Self-care refers to the intentional activities and practices that individuals engage in to nurture their physical, mental, and emotional health. Joining us today to help us understand the importance of self-care is Psychologist and Human Resources Consultant at Invictus Psychology and Consulting, Zuraida Dada. Zuraida is a seasoned psychologist specializing in adult individual therapy. She is known for her ability to create a warm, safe environment and provide empathetic, solution-focused care. ...
Jul 24, 2023•25 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Today's guest is Kai Scott, and he is here to share his experience and expertise on the subject of pronouns and inclusive language. Kai is the President and Gender Strategist at TransFocus Consulting and has a great amount of insight into diversity in the workplace, with a focus on guiding thoughtful, respectful, and impactful conversations. In our chat, we get into some of the crucial areas of this discussion, including how to respond and react to mistakes, necessary nuances, creating safer wor...
Jun 07, 2023•31 min•Season 2Ep. 6
In Canadian workplaces, many Asians are forced to grapple with the bamboo ceiling, which is a term that is used to describe how their growth and success within their organizations is hindered because of their ethnicity. Moreover, other harmful stereotypes (like calling Asians the “model minority”) mean that there is still much work to be done for Asians to feel completely welcome in their communities. We continue to highlight extraordinary individuals this Asian Heritage Month, and today’s guest...
May 23, 2023•41 min•Season 2Ep. 5
We are thrilled to welcome Brittany Gataveckas to the show as she helps us better understand Canada’s new 50-30 challenge. Brittany is the Manager of Social Sustainability at the UN Global Compact Network Canada, and her expertise as a project design and implantation specialist is critical in her work of helping Canadian organizations advance their gender equality, diversity, and inclusion. In our conversation, Brittany gives us a clear understanding of Canada’s 50-30 challenge and how this work...
Apr 20, 2023•38 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Women have been undervalued in the workplace for almost a century and a half! Today on the Leader Talks Podcast we are celebrating International Women’s Day with the incredible Kadie Ward to discuss gender inequality in the workplace. This episode is packed with some amazing insights into how women have been undervalued in work over the years, why legislation is essential in closing the gender wage gap, how gender diversity, equity, and inclusion create economic prosperity, and so much more! Kad...
Mar 07, 2023•28 min•Season 2Ep. 3
When it comes to women in engineering, Canada’s numbers are surprisingly low. They are substantially outperformed by countries like Panama and Colombia, both of which have near parity when it comes to the ratio of women to men in engineering (despite having to contend with far greater levels of instability than Canada). Our guest today, Claudia Gomez-Villeneuve, is uniquely qualified to talk on the topic of women in engineering in Canada, having emigrated from Colombia during her studies and ove...
Feb 10, 2023•45 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Canada is one of the most religiously diverse liberal democracies in the world, but unfortunately the level of religious literacy in the country is very low. This lack of understanding of different belief systems is the root cause of the high levels of hate crimes experienced by minority groups. Today’s guest, Brian Carwana (also known as the ReligionsGeek), is passionate about advancing religious literacy through contact theory. In today’s episode, he explains how his organization, Encounter Wo...
Jan 13, 2023•30 min•Season 2Ep. 1
In today's conversation with Ana Maria Desmaison Cornejo and Linda Espinosa Valencia, we are offered some amazing recommendations and expertise on the reality of working towards a better future. As the co-founders of Ventura Collective and individuals who have dedicated themselves to creating systemic change, our guests are uniquely positioned within the Canadian professional landscape to talk about the challenges we face in making real progress. We get to hear from Linda and Ana Maria about som...
Dec 09, 2022•41 min•Season 1Ep. 14
When recruiters from the Canadian Armed Forces looked at scrawny, 18-year-old Chinese-Canadian, Albert Wong, they voted that he would be the first person to fail basic training. He ended up serving for 39 years, and today he is a Citizenship Judge in the Greater Toronto Area. During this episode, Albert talks about the discrimination that he faced during his career as a result of his heritage and the color of his skin, and how he is using what he has learned from his experiences to effect system...
Nov 10, 2022•48 min•Season 1Ep. 13
