• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Johanne Bouchard

"The Leadership Whisperer" : Fostering healthy individuals and healthy organizations.

  • About
    • About Johanne
    • Latest Press
  • Services
    • Services
    • The Pivotal Leadership Trio
    • Boards
    • CEOs
    • Executive Teams
    • REMIA
  • BonneFire
    • Join BonneFire
    • BonneFire Inspiring Guidance & Teaching Excerpts
    • BonneFire Intimate Chat Excerpts
    • BonneFire Members
  • Work
    • Client Success Stories
    • Partial Client List
  • Blog
    • BonneFire Inspiring Guidance & Teaching Excerpts
    • BonneFire Intimate Chat Excerpts
    • Publications
    • Boards
    • Board Blogs in French
    • Business Column for Explore Big Sky
    • Board Diversity
    • Inspiring Newsletters
  • Contact
    • Email
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter

On Being WISE Women – and Men

WISE women

Last week, I had the great pleasure of speaking to a group of science and engineering students from the Lassonde School of Engineering at my alma mater, York University. Called “W.I.S.E.”  (Women In Science and Engineering), the two-month-old club was established to be an empowering support group. This group knows there aren’t as many women as men in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). (A recent statistic shows that women entering these studies is at a stagnant 17-18%.) They care about the future, about making their mark and about having a positive impact. They want to be leaders who do the right thing and, in being leaders, they want to understand how they should prepare for the future.

The club members are smart. They’re excited. They want to succeed but, at the same time, they see a future that is wide open with possibilities, and they want to make good choices. They are welcoming of support and guidance regarding how to maximize their potential, how to remain grounded and confident when confronted with fears, disappointments and uncertainties, and how to manage their lives, both now as students and later as working women and men…

Yes, the exciting part is that W.I.S.E. is really for everyone, even though it was founded by women. Male students are part of the group and were also in attendance for my presentation. Both men and women want to be clear about how they can achieve their own potential and support each other in doing so.

It was truly inspiring for all of us to exchange together. I was invited to present to the STEM students to share a glimpse of my path to becoming a successful leader, mentor and bonding specialist; insights on how to break the glass ceiling; suggestions on how to succeed in a technology field; and what should every woman can do today to become an effective leader of tomorrow.

We had a full house, while I had a full agenda! When I graduated in 1980, I was a minority. The number of women enrolled in computer science was quite low back then, and the students were keen to hear about my experiences. They were pleasantly surprised to hear that my journey had not been a straight path, and that I didn’t let tragedies and challenges define me.

In sharing about my journey, I wanted to inspire the students about the influence family values and education have had in my life, my academic education and events that shaped my career. I spoke of how the fulfillment of my life today has been greatly defined by the fact that I’m reflective.  I have most often created my own role, defining my own path. Trusting my inner guidance,  I thrived in creating, leading new initiatives, applying myself and always following my heart.

I mentioned that I had lost my father when I was 2 and a half years old and that my college years were some of the most difficult years in my life: I was learning English as a second language, I was away from home and greatly isolated. I still managed to do my four-year degree in three years and landed a great job at Shell Oil upon graduation.

I believe that not letting circumstances define you is key. Of course, you need to feel your emotions and be aware of what hurts you and seems insurmountable. But through it all, you need to find the courage to peel the layers that make moments heavy, in order to get in touch with who you aspire to be and be confident that you can be all that you are.

I mentioned that my mother has been and is my greatest inspiration. In the face of challenges, she urged me to not develop a thick skin but to be courageous, grounded, compassionate, transparent and humble. My mother gave me the confidence to know myself. She sensed that I knew what I was good at and supported me in expressing my own talents. She always believed that I could do anything I wanted to do. She never made the fact that I was a science-oriented student a gender issue.

I shared with the students that self-knowledge is important in leading ourselves, in taking the time to know ourselves and what we are naturally good at, and in understanding what is not innate in us. Based on that level of awareness, we should not force ourselves to be who we are not. And, while we think we are on the path that we are passionate about, we can’t shy away from addressing challenges.

In your life– at school, in relationships and with your career– you will mess up. Sometimes you won’t meet the expectations placed on you. You might even follow a path that wasn’t really meant for you, and one day wake up to find yourself in unfortunate circumstances. In each case, you have the responsibility to yourself to look out the window to the future, decide how you want to be in that future, and move on. Doing the right thing isn’t always the easiest path, but it’s a path you can stand tall on. We must be inspired to be who we aspire to be.

Reflect, improve, go forward and do the right thing. No WISE women, or men, have room for anything less in their lives.

It was a privilege for me to present to the students, to begin a new relationship with them as their new supporter, and for them to trust me. Here are some of the testimonials they sent me right after our meeting:

Johanne is very approachable, and this event was an eye opener on how to sustain women in science and engineering fields. Tackle the deep rooted fears! Together with the guidance of Johanne, I am sure W.I.S.E will create a platform to make women successful in their endeavours!
-Manjeet Kaur, W.I.S.E. Co-founder

I walked into the room not knowing what to expect and only having this vague idea of who Johanne was. I was intrigued by her professional title cause I had never heard of anything like it before, but after she spoke to us I realized why she was so successful in her career and what made her stand out. She left me feeling inspired, motivated and invincible. All the small thoughts in my head of not being able to do anything vanished, and I knew I could do anything.
-Rahma Shakir, W.I.S.E. Co-founder

The conference meeting with Ms. Johanne Bouchard was extremely influential and helped me to realize the possible outcomes I can achieve in my academic and professional life. Being treated as a potential intellectual leader rather than a mere student was immensely uplifting and encouraging. Johanne’s warm and humble response to all the questions really helped me to see things in a different perspective, and I thank Ms. Bouchard for this.
-­Farzia Dilawar Khan, W.I.S.E. Public Relations

I enjoyed not only the encouraging and resonating stories shared by Johanne, but also the insight she kindly contributed about supporting the growth of the others. The conference was truly remarkable, like many more, I came out of the conference feeling empowered. I’m so grateful in having a developing community that vision to become stronger together, hand in hand, and am very proud to be part of W.I.S.E. to propagate that courage and motivation.
-Rose Zhou, W.I.S.E. Secretary

I felt very tired when I came to the event due to the large amount of work, lack of sleep, etc. But Johanne made me realize, that I am not the only one who has to study a lot -­‐she finished her degree in three years, away from home, and learned English from scratch. …And, at the end of the day, it paid off. It inspired me to keep going, and keep learning French, just like she learned English. Also, the event was organized very well technically.
-Tetiana Sitiugina, W.I.S.E. Public Relations

The event was great. Johanne shared her experience with us, and I found it inspiring. I hope it was inspiring for the rest of the people present in the room because it really shows that there is no disadvantage being a woman in the field of science and engineering. All you need is perseverance, the will to continue. I hope as a man I will be able to contribute to the W.I.S.E. program as well.
-Md Zahed Hossain

I thought it was very interesting because I’ve never been to a Skype conference before. It was really inspiring to see someone who went through the same program that we’re doing now, who became so successful. It motivated me to keep going when I was feeling overwhelmed by exams. It was also an opportunity tp reflect on myself and see if I’m trying my best. She talked about how she struggled with English when she first came to York and I feel like everyone has something that they struggle with. It really made me feel better knowing that I’m not the only one and that things will get better. It was also a good opportunity to make connection. I think you guys did a very good job organizing this event!:)
-Alicia Hong

I came to the event not really knowing what to expect, but I sure was glad I came. It was nice hearing the views of someone who has achieved so much in her career, and I have learned quite a significant amount. I especially like the point she made about the education system and wish more people shared a similar view and walked towards making science even in elementary school more appealing. The event was definitely worth it even though it was an online Skype call.
-Ishfaaq Jookhun

What really intrigued me was when Johanne described how leaders should not be forceful, but powerful and wise. I left her conference feeling just that. She is an inspiration to all women in the male dominated fields of science and engineering.
-Riley Bristo

I thought the event was really helpful in getting students involved in decision making. Johanne was very lovely and patient. She shared her wisdom and vision with us. And that’s something money can’t buy.
-Simon L

Johanne Bouchard

Johanne Bouchard, a serial entrepreneur and former high-tech marketing executive, is a governance and leadership advisor to boards, CEOs, executives and entrepreneurs, as well as an expert in board composition and dynamics. An accomplished author and blogger, Johanne has published a number of eBooks, and her articles have been published in Ethical Boardroom and NACD's Directorship. She is an advocate for STEM, increased diversity in the boardroom and patients' rights.

More Posts

Related

1 Comment Filed Under: Speaking Engagements Tagged With: speaking engagements, WISE, women in engineering, women in science, York University

Comments

  1. Erin says

    November 18, 2014 at 1:56 pm

    Wow, this sounds amazing! We often speak of the gender gap, color gap etc. in my classes and it’s good to know we have advocates outside of the educational field. Nicely done, Johanne.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Explore the BonneFire Community

BonneFire is a yearly subscription with 12 monthly offerings inspiring self-mastery and transparent leadership in service of both the individual and the collective, for healthier individuals and healthier organizations.

Members also receive two half-hours of one-on-one coaching with Johanne. 

Each month has a unique theme that guides the focus of each month’s inspiring guidance and teaching. Members receive one email the first week of each month consisting of:

bonnefire iconPulse Check

 

bonnefire iconReflection

 

bonnefire iconPractice

 

Each month, Johanne chooses a theme and determines the focus for that month’s inspiring guidance and teaching pulse check, reflection and practice.

Click here to learn more!

What I Write About…

  • Blogs in French
  • Boards
  • BonneFire Inspiring Guidance & Teaching Excerpts
  • BonneFire Intimate Chat Excerpts
  • Business Column for Explore Big Sky
  • Diversity
  • Newsletters
  • The full blog

Sign up to receive emails from Johanne:

The meeting was fantastic. It was an undisputable success. The interaction was superior and beyond what anyone could have thought was possible. Everyone embraced you and your skills in ways that I have never seen before. I learned a lot about the process and it has been very meaningful. It illuminated me into focused actions. It galvanized the entire executive team across the five business units. Really exciting…

- Audit Chair

Johanne, the offsite was terrific and you did a fabulous job leading us through some very challenging tasks. I have great faith in our leadership team. I’m glad the learning and collaboration will continue.

Excellent meeting.

Amazing meeting. Loved it.

- GMs of Business Units

You did a very good job. I like the process, like the rigor, like the completeness and the sensitivity with which you presented tough issues. I like the individual profiles and how they lead to both learning for me as well as opportunity for team building.

- Independent Director

I recommended you for this task because I felt that the depth of inquiry and the thoroughness of your approach are important to bring the Board to a new level of quality and interaction. I found your work very complete and am glad that you brought to the surface a number of issues that have to be addressed to improve our effectiveness as a Board. Your observations and recommendations go to the heart of what makes a Board a team (and what gets in the way).

- Governance Chair

Johanne has an innate ability to bring out the best in all whom she touches. She practices what she preaches – patience, courage, generosity, wisdom and humility. Her contributions have positively impacted our Company and working environment and will result in increased profitability and shareholder value.

- CEO

Johanne is truly exceptional at what she does. I've worked with many consultants over the years, and what sets her apart is the combination of her right- and left-brain skills. She knows how to listen, catch unspoken cues, instill trust and openness, while also being focused on the substance of the issues, the complexities of the situation and challenges, and the business issues that have to get solved. She is direct and candid while also unusually sensitive. By applying these skills, she helped us analyze what was going on in our business, shed light on the core management and governance issues, and facilitated our discussions among the decision makers about the next steps to take. I would work with her again in a heartbeat.

- Independent Director, Governance Committee

I have seen Johanne's skilled handling of important executive interfaces and her ability to quickly get to the heart of the issues and lead to results. That certainly happened here. I found that even in cases where the participants thought they had good communication we reached new levels of connection and candor, all helping us be most efficient at a time when that is most important in our company.

- Senior Vice President

Johanne has provided a mirror into myself. Helping me to step back and view my actions and true feelings. By her perceptive and insightful questioning she enabled me to look within. Just being able to speak openly about myself was most helpful. Without question this awareness is leading to positive change both personally and professionally. I find myself a more effective participant with both my direct reports, peers and my Board.

- CEO

I thank Johanne for her clarity and quick ability to cut through the clutter. She made a huge difference. I have grown a lot. Johanne’s exceptional wisdom for defining and supporting the needs of clients were a real asset to us. Johanne is exceptionally gifted at understanding how to balance and focus for success. I highly recommend her to any company looking to grow.

- CEO

Thank you so very much for the day of focus for our team. We really needed it and I do not believe we could have done it without you. You are such a wonderful friend of ours. I personally left feeling inspired and clear. You are a beautiful person to facilitate those connections.

- CEO

Thank you for such a productive session. It was wonderful to have your support and focus in connecting the team. Your constant guidance in finding clarity is a true gift for our organization.

- CEO

The time spent was of tremendous help to me personally as it gave me a chance to review all aspects of our operations. Johanne's attentiveness and level of support was remarkable. Her sense for the big picture will keep us all focused on the right priorities.

I can't thank Johanne enough.

- CEO

Johanne Bouchard is a pioneer and a leader who brings to the process of executive coaching and strategic planning a focused, high-energy and highly- effective approach. In a short time and in a seemingly effortless manner, she leads an individual or a team to a crystal-clear understanding of their core values, their goals and a path to achieving them.

- CEO

Johanne has a remarkable ability to inspire others to share with perfect honesty, overcome their own barriers, and find greater clarity for their purpose. Her dedication to her work comes from a sincere passion for guiding others in their quest for successful leadership and life skills. Johanne's encouraging style supports rather than leads, promotes as opposed to advises.

- REMIA participant

Thank you very much for your kindness, warmth and thoughtfulness for our team. Your team building session was beautifully on point, and done very constructively.

- CEO

Johanne is an outstanding professional with exceptional coaching skills. She is insightful and a very effective communicator.

- Ken Coleman- Board Chairman, Saama Technologies and special advisor to Andreessen Horowitz Venture Capital firm

Johanne worked with our board at Accelrys to enhance our effectiveness. She provided tremendous value and insight in a very collegial manner.

- Jeff Rodek - Former Chair and CEO of Hyperion, Former President and COO Ingram Micro 

Johanne Bouchard is a unique consultant and advisor who brings clarity to high urgency situations in short order. She has served several of the companies I am involved with as a Board member in various assignments including Board 360, Executive Team assessment, leading and facilitating strategic planning sessions, and CEO coaching. In all these assignments she has displayed dedication, creativity, depth, and an unerring focus on reflecting the reality of the situation and presenting it as such to the client, with concrete suggestions for improvement and increased efficiency. I highly recommend Johanne.

- Ricardo Levy  - Lecturer at Stanford, former Chair, former Chairman and CEO of Catalytica  

If you have an organizational leadership problem to solve (the bigger the better) and need a tireless, objective collaborator to assist, challenge and drive you (and she WILL drive you), work with Johanne. And if you welcome the friendship that will grow from that experience, you couldn't do better.

- Steve Snyder - Former EVP/GM CBS Interactive Games, Music and Sports

Johanne's work is, in a word, spectacular. She digs in on a project like no one I know, she is thorough, thoughtful, and does superb "inquiry" work early in a project. She brings a wealth of experience to her projects, including marketing expertise, consumer research, management and leadership insights, and insightful summaries of the issues. Her work is honest, clear, clean, and useful. She is a truth-finder and a truth-teller. Johanne is an intense, yet calm and measured expert - she knows where to look, what to ask, and how to propose key points and plans of action. Her logistics and organizational skills are world class, and her follow up is superb. As you can read, my professional opinion of Johanne is of the highest level. I believe she can excel at virtually any assignment or challenge presented.

- John Hamm - Strategy and Leadership Advisor, Former VC, Former TCG - The Chasm Group Advisors and Former CEO

I have known Johanne since the times she was building BOSS when helping high-tech executives and companies with globalization and International market development. She was a pioneer in her field helping American companies not treating International as an afterthought. She was an invaluable trusted advisor to senior executives and CEOs in need to succeed in Europe and in need to adjust their leadership style to grow their organizations overseas. I recommend Johanne to CEOs and Executives as a partner when significantly challenged to take their organizations to new levels. She has broad operating, marketing and leadership experience and a proven track record to continually deliver results. Her dynamism is infectious/inspirational.

- Philippe D’Argent - Former Senior VP Dell Europe, Former Senior VP Toshiba Europe

  • About Johanne
  • Services
  • Collected Work
  • Contact
  • BonneFire
  • Privacy
  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2023 · JohanneBouchard.com

 

Loading Comments...