Dean’s Leadership Dialogues: Kathleen Taylor on Breaking the Glass Ceiling
In the most recent of the Dean’s Leadership Dialogues series, Dean Zwick led a thoughtful discussion on “Breaking the Glass Ceiling” which featured insights from celebrated alumna, Kathleen Taylor (MBA/JD ’84, Hon LLD ’14), Chair of RBC, former President & CEO of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and the newly appointed Chancellor of York University, effective January 1, 2023.
Kathleen Taylor is one of Canada’s most respected and dynamic business leaders who has “broken the glass ceiling” in not one but two male-dominated industries. During the session, Kathleen shared her experience about being the first woman to chair the board of a major Canadian bank along with the leadership lessons she’s learned over the course of a highly accomplished business career.
On the subject of being a woman in leadership, Kathleen Taylor said: “Accept your role model impact. If people see you do something, they know they can do it too”. When asked what makes an effective and valued leader, Kathleen added: “Never lead on the power of position, only on the power of example.”
The dialogue sessions provide an excellent opportunity to engage with one of Canada’s top business leaders on some of the key issues reshaping business today. All of the Dean’s Leadership Dialogues are recorded.