At first glance, it appears women in the corporate world have a lot to celebrate. In North America, they occupy around 30% of corporate positions, and between 1980 and 2018, they experienced a 45% increase in real wages. Clearly, it’s time for a rousing cheer and a round of bubbly.

Not so fast. According to the National Partnership for Women and Families, the wage gap for female workers has once again widened to 75 cents over the past fiscal two years, representing a three-cent decrease in real pay per hour for women. (And let’s be real, 30% is a long way from half.)

“More women are being forced to make difficult decisions about their careers,” said Heather Odendaal, founder and CEO of WNORTH in an interview on the subject with Ms. magazine. “This is especially true for women who find themselves part of the ‘sandwich generation,’ caring for both children and aging parents.”

She notes that women’s workforce participation is influenced by caregiving responsibilities, which points them toward lower-paying jobs that have flexible work arrangements.  This was a game-changer for women during the pandemic.

“Without corporate and policy-level support for flexible arrangements, we risk undoing years of progress in closing the gender wage gap,” she said. “The financial strain of balancing these responsibilities without adequate societal support continues to push more women into lower-paying, part-time or less secure jobs, further widening the wage gap.”

Bridging the gaps—including those relating to pay, power, promotion and freedom from discrimination—is a key tenet of the WNORTH Conference, which is back in full for April 30 to May 2, 2025 at Fairmont Chateau in Whistler, BC. Speakers include Virgin United founding CEO Jean Oelwang and Rose Marcario, former CEO of Patagonia. Part business retreat, part conference, expect events like the Scandinave Spa Social, connect dinners, pilates, plus panels and plenty of connection points.

Use code BCLEAD25 for to save $200 on your registration. Learn more about WNORTH, read up on the other incredible keynotes, and register here.

Beyond Barriers: Accelerate Growth, Inspire Change

This year’s theme is a call to women leaders to converge with the aim of transcending obstacles, driving personal and professional development, and championing transformative change.

“Beyond Barriers: Accelerate Growth, Inspire Change leads us on a journey as we explore the art of lifting each other to new heights, creating a landscape of success woven together by mentorship, shared experiences and the strength of a united community,” Odendaal says. “Prepare to be inspired by keynotes, engaging workshops and mind-expanding roundtables led by globally acclaimed speakers and visionary business leaders unraveling the core of inclusion, community and mentorship.”

Participants are invited to delve into three streams, starting with the world of Social Impact and learning to integrate social responsibility into their corporate strategy, aligning business objectives with community needs to drive sustainable growth and positive impact. Another area of focus is AI Empowered Leadership, which looks at how to integrate AI in Leadership roles as well as how it can be harnessed to drive innovation. A third will be Closing the Gaps, which examines the existing disparities and gaps in gender equity and how to collaborate on actionable solutions to bridge the gender power gap globally.

“From the greater perspective, many of the women who come to WNORTH are mid-level or scaling entrepreneurs who, ideally, will be in positions of power and executive leadership       in the next 5 to 15 years,” Odendaal says. “Our purpose is giving them the tools to lead differently, with empathy and sustainability in mind.”

Speakers put collaboration and sustainability first

Jean Oelwang, founding CEO of Virgin United, has for 20 years been instrumental to founding some powerful organizations including B team, The Elders and Planetary—global working groups that are changing the world in big ways.

“As a keynote, Jean will be setting the tone that collaboration is the way forward,” Odendaal says. “Traditionally, female leadership hasn’t had a collaborative approach. Because there are so few spaces for women, they tend to be highly competitive.

“Her book, called Partnering, is about forging deep connections that make things happen.”

Also speaking is Rose Marcario, partner at Regen Ventures and former CEO of Patagonia. She is one of the world’s most distinctive and innovative chief executives, a leader in responsible business and a champion for stakeholder capitalism.

“Rose’s organizations are driven by social impact, and she has an excellent reputation for advising companies on environmental impact,” Odendaal says. “She is also simply a brilliant woman with a very powerful message.”

Celebrating a Decade

WNORTH is proudly celebrating ten years of bringing women together for learning, networking, education and empowerment, and the team is recognizing this milestone by going bigger this year, switching venues to the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. The team is also digging through the archives for some of the activities that received rave reviews in years gone by.

Fan favourites, like the Scandinave Spa Social (spoiler alert: talking is allowed!) and après activities, like group hikes, a sound bath and a private tour of Curve, the newest exhibit of women carvers on the Northwest Coast at the Audain Art Gallery, are on the table.

“There is a big focus on getting out of the ballroom and into nature to connect,” Odendaal says. “That’s the beauty of holding WNORTH in Whistler. Trying to get to a conference in the city where you live can be a challenge. As a destination women’s leadership conference, attendees can leave life behind and immerse themselves in the experience.”

Use code BCLEAD25 to save $200 on your registration. Learn more about WNORTH, read up on the other incredible keynotes, and register today here.