Having worked in the natural, organic and wellness (NOW) CPG industry and attended the Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) trade shows for nearly twenty years, I’ve witnessed meaningful growth and transformation. Over the decades, our industry has become more inclusive, more aware, and more supportive of women in leadership and decision-making roles.
When I first started, many of us jokingly, though not entirely joking, referred to the industry as a “boys’ club.” Women were often excluded from key decisions or overlooked for senior roles and as a young woman entering the field, I also experienced my share of condescending remarks, which proved significantly challenging, and at times disheartening.
I’m proud to say that much has changed.
One of the most significant shifts I’ve observed is increased workplace flexibility, particularly for mothers and this change is personal for me.
When my son was two years old, I decided to return to the corporate world and applied for a position at a large distributor. The role appealed to me in part because of its location and at the time, I was responsible for daycare and after-school pickups due to my husband’s longer commute. However, when I arrived for the interview, I noticed that the only woman present was at the reception desk. While that didn’t deter me from pursuing the opportunity, it was a stark reminder of how little representation existed.
During the interview, I asked whether I could begin my workday 30 minutes earlier in order to leave in time to pick up my children without incurring late fees and immediately the answer was a firm no with no room for compromise.
It was disappointing to say the least. It also told me a lot.
In that moment, I realized not only that I likely wouldn’t receive the job, but that I didn’t want it and that experience alone was a clear example of inequity in action.
Today, I see a very different culture, even within that same company. Flexible hours, empathetic leadership, and a broader understanding of work-life balance have become part of the conversation.
It’s experiences like this that serve as a powerful reminder that change is possible even when things feel unfamiliar.
While balancing career and parenthood remains demanding, it is increasingly achievable within corporate environments that value inclusion.
International Women’s Day is a time to acknowledge this progress.
It is also a time to remain vigilant. Recent developments globally, particularly south of the border, have been unsettling and, at times, discouraging. In Canada specifically, we are not immune to challenges.
The gender wage gap persists, with women in Canada earning approximately 75 cents for every dollar earned by men, according to the Canadian Women's Foundation.
Encouragingly, I see women-led brands within our industry actively addressing pay equity and transparency and their leadership is helping to set new standards.
Now and in the future, I hope to see even more men take ownership of this responsibility, demonstrating that supporting women, ensuring fairness, and advancing equity are not barriers to success but drivers of it.
Women are powerhouses.
There’s a saying: if you want something done, ask a busy woman. I would also add, pay her what she’s worth and offer her flexibility and other women may approach work differently, but when given equitable opportunity and support, they deliver extraordinary results.
On this International Women’s Day, let’s celebrate progress, and recommit to building workplaces where equity is not aspirational, but standard.
