Caroline A. Morrissette

What is the biggest challenge women are facing today and how do you overcome it?

The biggest challenges facing women today include gender discrimination, unequal access to opportunities, and balancing work and family responsibilities. To overcome these challenges, it is crucial to advocate for gender equality and allyship, and provide support networks and mentorship opportunities for women. Additionally, empowering women through education, leadership development programs, and fostering a culture of respect and equality are essential steps towards overcoming these challenges. Many groups out there are great resources and address these challenges by providing support. WLP is one of them. I might add that as a translation agency, we can contribute to these goals by ensuring that services and communications promote gender-inclusive language and support initiatives that empower women in all aspects of life.

How do you suggest one maintains growth, learning and development?

Maintaining growth, learning, and development is indeed an essential endeavour for both individuals and organizations to stay relevant and competitive. To achieve this, I promote continuous learning in my company by encouraging employees to take online courses, workshops, or seminars, or even engage in higher education. In doing so, I give them the opportunity to develop their keeps skills and I foster a culture of learning within the organization. As for me, I believe that mentoring and coaching can be a real game changer for the management. Having a mentor ensures you have guidance, support, and access to wisdom based on their own experiences. This mentor can also help you set clear and measurable goals for your business; this person can serve as a sounding board for ideas and make you accountable for reaching your goals. They can also help you review your progress and adjust strategies as needed.

What is the most important thing you have learned/observed that makes leaders effective and inspirational?

The most important thing that I have observed is a leader’s ability to lead by example. This can be truly powerful, because embodying your organization’s values means that people can rely on you. They will experience what you are promising, and it will add to your credibility. I would add that work ethic is also a major factor. When this is applied day in and day out, it inspires others to do the same. There was a time when I was consistently (very) early at work, and it helped me in getting a lot of work done. I saw that people in my team started to do the same. Their presence also motivated me to do more. Also, leading by example helps you earn the respect of others as you are able to do whatever you are asking others to do. This fosters a positive and supportive work environment where everyone feels valued and appreciated. In conclusion, leading by example is a powerful leadership trait that not only motivates and inspires others but also builds trust, respect, and loyalty among team members.

What healthy habits do you employ/suggest to maintain mental health and wellbeing?

Maintaining healthy habits is really difficult in today’s world, especially when everything goes so fast, and our days are so full with work, family, and friends. Recently, I came to the conclusion that if I do not take the steps to improve my quality of life, then no one is going to do it for me, and it will not change on its own. The first step I took was to stop working when it was time to eat. This allowed me to take the time to enjoy my food, and it almost felt like a mini-vacation. Preparing meal options and making sure I have access to healthy choices when I am in a rush helps to stay on track. Adding some exercises in the mix also helps me maintain a healthy balance. Luckily for me, my kids love to swim, and we hit the pool anywhere from 1 to 4 times a week for about one hour after work. I truly enjoy this hour of the day because I can laugh with my kids, get my mind off work, and appreciate the time we have together. They grow so fast… Also, asking for help or support when things get heavy is a real game changer. People love to help our others, and you can nurture your relationships with friends and family by returning the favour later on.