Monsef to encourage mentorship, growing local economy at upcoming Lindsay event

Mentorship helped shape Maryam Monsef many years ago – and now the former federal minister is encouraging local business leaders to take the same approach to help the local economy.

It’s not just a feel-good opportunity, she explains. It’s part of how to build a “resilient economy.”

Monsef will be in Lindsay on Sept. 12 at Launch Kawartha to deliver an interactive keynote address on about resilience. The event is co-sponsored by Launch and the Lindsay + District Chamber of Commerce.

“I remember walking into my first business networking event when I was just in university and feeling like I didn’t belong. What do I say to these people? I got into my own head,” the Peterborough resident tells the Advocate.

But Monsef was instead greeted by a couple of more established women in business who took her under their wing that day. “They were so kind, with big smiles and energy. They literally took me by the arm and introduced me to so many people.”

It was those conversations she had at the event that she calls the “beginning for me.”

“Those women believed in me before I even believed in myself.”

Now the founder and CEO of Onward, Monsef is a speaker, facilitator, convener and advocate who continues to advance her vision for a world where women and their families are thriving, according to her website.

In 2015, Maryam was elected as Member of Parliament for Peterborough-Kawartha and chosen to serve in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet. She has also served as minister for democratic institutions, minister for the status of women, minister of international development, minister of rural economic development and established Canada’s first full department for women and gender equality as its minister.

Monsef is looking forward to the opportunity to speak in Lindsay, saying it’s “so important to highlight women’s stories.”

What she learned living in Peterborough for close to three decades is that for smaller communities, a regional approach to economic development is what leads to resilient economies.

“People and neighbours and helping each other out. Neighbours stepping up to solve problems – that’s what holds economies together. It depends on us knowing one another.”

She says she shares the same goal as Vince Killen, executive director of Kawartha Lakes Community Futures Development Corporation (Launch Kawartha) and Terry Guiel, executive director of the Lindsay Chamber.

“The goal that Vince, Terry, and myself have is that people will leave uplifted…with practical tips, and a chance to build new connections,” Monsef says.

One of the things organizers are hoping for is that more established business professionals will bring one younger professional to the event to help open doors for them.

“For me, it started with people who believed in me. I want to do the same for others,” says Monsef.

The evening of food, drinks, keynote presentation, and networking is filling up fast. Get your tickets at launchkawartha.ca and choose ‘Events’ from the menu bar.