Message from Caroline Codsi
Women in Governance celebrates 15 years of concrete action for inclusive leadership. The honored companies demonstrate that integrating equity, diversity, and inclusion means building a future that is more efficient, fairer, and more human.
Published on Sep 15th 2025 | Updated on Nov 21st 2025 2 min read.
Dear Guests,
Welcome to our Annual Recognition Gala, celebrating an exceptional milestone: the 15th anniversary of Women in Governance! Fifteen years of mobilization, meaningful initiatives, and sustained commitment to building a more equitable and above all, a fairer professional environment for everyone.
Over these fifteen years, we have seen progress: organizations and leaders have transformed their practices, broken down barriers, and encouraged new generations to lead differently.
This year, we proudly celebrate the exemplary involvement of nearly a hundred certified organizations, whose impact through the Parity Certification™ touches over one million employees across Canada and the US. Often coming from historically male-dominated sectors, these organizations prove that it is possible to reinvent corporate cultures, implement actionable policies, and open leadership pathways to both women and men without compromise.
Yet, we cannot ignore the challenges that remain. Gender representation and pay gaps persist, and worrying setbacks observed elsewhere in the world remind us that gains in equity are never guaranteed. But we firmly believe that the collective momentum we have built over the past 15 years prevents any regression. The coming years will be those of irreversible transformation, where equality will no longer be an objective, but an evident reality.
This is not just about social justice. In a context where companies must diversify their markets and innovate to remain competitive — especially given the uncertainty and polarization we are currently witnessing in the United States — gender equality has become an essential strategic lever. It requires vigilance, courage, and determination from leaders, as well as a collective willingness to evolve mindsets and structures. That is why our mission remains more essential than ever: to guide organizations toward true and sustainable equity at all levels. And as part of this necessary diversification — after expanding into the U.S. in 2020 — we are now preparing to launch Women in Governance in France in 2026.
Tonight, we honor those who refuse to accept the status quo and demonstrate that investing in equality is investing in performance and the future. Your presence here is proof that together, we can accelerate progress and create environments where success depends entirely on talent and merit.
Thank you all for your unwavering support.
Caroline Codsi, Founder and Chief Equity Officer of Women in Governance
