Feminine leadership: the women who inspire Winston
There's no shortage of "boss ladies" in Quebec, and if we had our way, this article could run for 12 pages. Among the exceptional women we've had the pleasure of discovering, some stand out from the crowd. So here are the top 4 (5) women we find brilliant, resilient and downright inspiring.
Andréanne Marquis
It's fair to say that the young woman has come a long way since her stint on Occupation Double in 2012. While others have been content to ride the wave of their recent notoriety, the businesswoman behind Womance, Andréanne Marquis, has broken away from the label and founded a company imbued with authenticity and totally consistent with the values she holds dear.
Womance was born out of her love of fashion and her desire to make it easier for women to feel good by offering them what they really need. A successful gamble, if the many successful projects on the young woman's roadmap are anything to go by: 1 online boutique, 2 physical boutiques, a cosmetics line, a second-hand boutique and, most recently, a line of maternity clothing enabling women to live the Womance experience during this important period in their lives.
Consistency as a guiding principle
Responding to a need and offering a service is a challenge in itself, but building a company that is coherent and in line with its values is another. When it comes to caring, proximity, passion and inclusion, here are some concrete examples of the initiatives Andréanne has put in place to live them out on a daily basis.
A line of clothes adapted to everyday life, offered in just the right sizes and formats.
Body diversity on the website
Suppliers chosen for their expertise, passion, ethical and ecological values, and respect for the highest labor standards
Reusable, biodegradable and compostable packaging
An annual investment in the community through causes close to her heart
Free access to feminine hygiene products and menstrual leave for employees
Of course, she could have achieved the same success without all these initiatives, but by focusing on consistency as a common thread, Andréanne is betting on a stronger, more lasting connection with her customers, and that's really inspiring.
Brigitte Jalbert
CEO of Quebec-based Emballages Carrousel, Brigitte Jalbert doesn't project the stereotypical image of most business leaders.
This business woman does what few do openly: she embraces her emotions and shows her humanity and vulnerability to her employees. In the world of work, we have the bad habit of believing that a person in a decision-making position, especially a woman, must be strong and unshakeable. In Brigitte Jalbert's case, however, her greatest strength is to be human.
After reading the biography of this business manager, La PDG qui ne pensait jamais le devenir, our colleague Marc-André fell head over heels in love. An inspiring read, not for what we learn about the company, but rather from the point of view of Brigitte Jalbert herself, as a woman manager, but also as a person. In an interview on the February 28, 2022 issue of Pénélope, one tiny quote sums up this woman's inspiring management style: "I have the impression that happy people perform better. That's what [motivates] me, more than the numbers”. It's no coincidence that Emballages Carrousel scores highly on Glassdoor (4.6 stars out of 5): the authenticity and sensitivity of its CEO are solid foundations on which to build a lasting company.
Jacqueline Simoneau
Maybe her name doesn't ring a bell. If I tell you that the Paris Olympic Games will be her third. That she is currently world champion in her sport. That the Montrealer overcame many obstacles to get where she is today, but resisted to prove she could do it. Jacqueline Simoneau is a professional artistic swimmer.
She has been a member of Team Canada since 2012. Every one of her performances is moving, but meeting this young athlete is even more so.
She's part of the RBC Olympic team, which is how our colleague Andrée-Anne met her. Jacqueline was giving a talk at an event she was organizing. She was pure and authentic. It was clear that her values were aligned with her actions. Her story is inspiring. It shows that we have to work to make our dreams come true. That nothing is too much for us if we try hard enough.
She is a spokesperson for Coeliaque Québec, a sufferer herself, and an ambassador for the Make a Wish Foundation and the Fast and Female organization. She is currently completing her studies in podiatry at UQTR. All at the same time. Sometimes it's hard to keep two work meetings going simultaneously...
Michèle & Véronik Bastien
The most innovative sisters in the outdoor industry in Quebec, are back with Parmi Lifewear, their new brand of technical clothing that combines performance, fashion, and comfort.
Launched in 2022 in Mont-Tremblant, Parmi pushes the boundaries of cycling and outdoor clothing with an approach driven by innovation and motivated by inclusivity and versatility. The leadership and expertise of the Bastien sisters (who were behind the Peppermint brand) give Parmi an irresistible momentum for a young brand.
"We aim to declassify an industry that has become increasingly specific and niche in terms of use. It's as if the outdoor industry has taken a highly specialized turn, leading consumers to have a shirt for every activity and accumulate products. This ends up limiting people from trying a new activity under the pretext that they don't have the [appropriate clothing]."
-Véronik Bastien (quote from La Presse Affaires)
Their years of joint experience in strategy, alliances, partnerships, and marketing communication benefit the new brand with a strong and unique positioning and support from influential players in the industry. In this sense, Parmi is a brand of its time, of our era, and reflects its founders: intelligent, sustainable, transparent, and creative.
Photo crédits:
Andréanne Marquis: Womance
Brigitte Jalbert: Offered
Jacqueline Simoneau: Team Canada
Michèle and Véronais Bastien: La Presse
