Women in Municipal Finance Series: In Conversation with Tara Baker, Sandy Calandra, and Shelley Stedall
March 8th was International Women’s Day, created as a call to action for the fight for global equal rights of women and girls. The day is also used to celebrate the progress and accomplishments of women and acknowledge the trailblazers that exist today. This year, MFOA hosted a lively panel discussion featuring trailblazers in the municipal finance sector: Tara Baker, Sandy Calandra, and Shelley Stedall.
The panel
included candid discussions on career development and practical tips on
breaking barriers and fighting against insecurities. This article is a brief
summary of the highlights from that discussion.
On Fighting Self-Doubt and Imposter Syndrome
Sandy: My mentors have always told me to be my authentic self and to believe in myself. Social media can create a perception that everyone has life figured out, but the reality is that we all face self-doubt. Surround yourself with people who encourage you and help you build your confidence.
Shelley: I experienced self-doubt when I took on roles outside of my comfort zone. But speaking to other people who were already in that role taught me that they felt the exact same fears and self-doubt. Talking to other people is so helpful in those times, and when you are able to be comfortable in your role you can help others do the same, and that is a rewarding feeling.
Tara: To quote an article, “imposter thoughts are the gap between what other people think you are capable of and what you feel prepared for”. I really love that thinking. You should start to see yourself through others eyes, and if other people believe in you, then you should believe them. Surround yourself with people who support you.
On Work/Life Balance
Shelley: When working in smaller municipalities, to move up in your career requires physically moving locations. This can be really difficult when you have a family and you need to consider not just your career path but your home life. You need to remember to be happy.
Tara: What a lot of women trying to have a family life struggle with is the break in their career and feeling like you’re missing out. I actually interviewed for my current role soon after having my second daughter. But I have a supportive husband, which is part of why I am able to dedicate my time to work. The largest hurdle is trying to focus on work, you need to develop the skill to focus on priorities and focus your time on the most important things. Recognizing that work isn’t always 9-5 helps too.
Sandy: Work/life balance means something different for everyone. There are days when you achieve the balance and others where work gets the best of you, but you need to be kind to yourself on those days.
On Making Your Voice Heard
Tara: It’s important to remember to not take an issue personally if someone disagrees with your opinion. It’s also important to pick your battles and be thoughtful in the issues you believe in. When you feel it is important to speak up, being prepared can help you be confident.
Sandy: Walk into tough conversations feeling confident. I feel confident when I’ve done my research and tried my best to learn from others. Also remember that there is power in being calm, cool and collected, especially in times when conversations can get heated.
Shelley: Do not be afraid to ask questions and just be yourself. Listen to what others say and never be afraid to be wrong, sometimes being wrong can lead to learning moments and great discussions.
Encouraging Staff to Build Skills and Confidence
Shelley: It is important to conduct goal setting exercises with staff. Find out what they want to do and let them know what opportunities exist. Also, promote networking! It is really important to show your staff what positions are available out there.
Sandy: You can find yourself in roles that are transactional and you have to create your own growth opportunities. Look at the tasks you’re assigned to and try to improve through best practices, talking with others, etc. Those incremental growth pieces can lead to something really great.
Tara: I like to remind my staff that we can all be leaders in our own roles and areas of expertise. Encourage your staff to take something outside of their comfort zone and try new things, you often can do that without the need to change levels or jobs.
Advice for Implementing Change
Sandy: Embrace change, it happens all the time and brings opportunity to learn, grow and try new things. Going through the pandemic and Peel’s dissolution and reversal, it showcased how resilient we can be and the importance of coming together with your team in times of change. Go with the flow, embrace it, and learn from it.
Tara: Change isn’t about you, it’s about the people in the roles that will be impacted by change. Consider how they will be impacted and listen to them. I recommend taking a change management course, it can really open your eyes to what you should think about as a leader.
Shelley: Change can be really exciting and you have to maintain positivity with change. Also remember to be empathetic to people who are going through change. Change can really affect people, so talk to people and listen to their concerns.
MFOA would like to thank our panelists for sharing their experience and knowledge on the panel. Over the coming months, MFOA will continue our “Women in Municipal Finance” Series with profiles of other trailblazers in Ontario’s municipal finance sector. Stay tuned next month!
