WeWorkingWomen

Save the Date!

The 2026 WeWorkingWomen Grand Impact Awards will be taking place Sunday October 25 at Toronto‘s beautiful Granite Club.

We look forward to celebrating Chinese Canadian women making their mark in diverse ways including business, entrepreneurship, social impact, arts and culture and much much more. We hope to see you there!

Last Saturday WeWorkingWomen held a special Gratitude Garden Party surrounded by summer sunshine and greenery. Hosted by HC Realty at a beautiful estate, this was a special opportunity for active sponsors and supporters to spend a relaxing afternoon together.

Many thank to HC Realty for the wonderful hospitality, and to our lovely musicians and vocalists who made it such an unforgettable afternoon!

As Asian Canadians, how can we best prepare ourselves for the future of work? Disrupted by technological advances and economic challenges, it is an increasingly complex environment to navigate. How do we stay competitive, energized and fulfilled in the workplace?

This panel moderated by George F, Executive Director Enlight - Young Professional Division of CPAC, invited three Chinese Canadian executives, Daisy Gao, Elaine Yingyi Han and Jennifer Sun, AIRS - Certified Professional Recruiter to share their views.

All first generation immigrants to Canada with diverse career paths in ESG, accounting and corporate finance and Human Resources, our audience enjoyed our panelists’ honest sharing and was inspired to learn how about each executive’s recipe for personal and professional success.

"Foremost Chinese Canadian politician", "the first Toronto mayor of Asian descent" and a "prominent figure in progressive politics" in Canada - all labels that describe Olivia Chow's professional achievements, but don't come close to describing her as a human being.

Mayor Chow is nearly 70 years old this year and as vibrant as ever. What is her backstory, and how did she come to be the powerhouse we know today? WeWorkingWomen was thrilled to have the opportunity to ask Mayor Chow our pressing questions and get to know the personal story behind one of Canada's most accomplished public figures of Chinese heritage.

Read the article by Xiaoxi (Cynthia) Wang, translated from the original Chinese below!
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/weworkingwomen_foremost-chinese-canadian-politician-activity-7470888448569040896-2ukn?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAJuKjgBhTGmOuLQ428BO-xfjAJainRf-IA

How can we support more Asian Canadians to advance to leadership positions?

This panel moderated by Loewe Ke, invited three Chinese Canadian executives, Mo Chen, MBA, Helena (Qiaoshan) Yu and Jason Zhu, CPA, CGA, PMP to weigh in with their reflections. !

Here are some gems from our wise speakers:

1. Being a leader is not restricted to the most senior titles. Many of us have the opportunity to exercise leadership in different roles and we should seize these opportunities to create impact and help others become the best versions of themselves.
2. Don’t underestimate the power of connecting with your roots and your cultural community! When we give up pieces of ourselves in order to belong, it’s easy to end up somewhere we don’t want to be. Having clarity around our self identity is a source of strength for career development.
3. As Asian Canadians, and as women in the workplace, we often find ourselves facing bamboo and glass ceilings. It’s important to take stock of what traits each of us has, share our unique visions and values, and use them as tools to influence others and propel ourselves forward.
4. Take action! As Asian Canadians, many of us are brought up to be humble and play it safe. Instead of always waiting for the green light, sometimes we need to take bold action in order for our ideas and potential to be seen. You can apologize later!
5. Yes we are all feeling threatened by AI, but there are many skills that humans still do best. Emotional intelligence, cultural literacy, empathy, effective communications, relationship building with our colleagues and clients etc. - the path to leadership roles still relies heavily on these abilities.

Thank you to our fantastic speakers for sharing their wisdom!

ChineseCanadian

What percentage of Canada’s populations is of Asian descent? And what are the common perceptions of Asian Canadians in the workplace?

These were the two opening questions posed by our Asian Heritage Month Leadership Forum keynote speaker Janet Lin, SVP & Chief Information Officer, Equitable Bank.

Even as Asian Canadians are Canada’s fasting growing population group, we are the most hired and the least promoted group in corporate North America.

WHY?

“The thing that Asian parents taught their kids to be proud of is what actually destroyed their careers.” Be respectful. Be hardworking. Be humble. Be quiet.
Too often, Asian employees are not perceived as the leaders. It is not that we are not qualified or hardworking. It is that we are not seen.

A C suite leader and prominent women in tech, Janet’s words resonate with us even days after the forum, “A career viewed as holding back is a career that quietly disappears, no matter how qualified you are. The system doesn’t reward quiet competence, it rewards visible competence.”

Thank you Janet for so candidly sharing your insights, experience and constrictive advice. We are grateful for your continued commitment to the growth and development of our community!