The Weal: Women in leadership speak to SAIT students

Originally published on March 23, 2015 The Weal.

Four women who broke out of the traditional stereotypes in their industries spoke to SAIT students at the second Leadership Exchange event on March 12.

The event, organized by SAITSA, had an audience of about 30 and was at the Odyssey Coffeehouse in the SAIT Campus Centre.

“Leadership is very important at SAIT, so we are trying to do more events focused on that,” said Thao Nguyen, SAITSA’s vice president of student life.

Brigitte Matheson, SAITSA’s newly elected president, hosted the event and opened the discussion by asking the panelists about the importance of leadership.

The panelists emphasized the significance of mentorship and communication.

“Communication is huge,” said Carmen Thirsk, a graduate of SAIT’s Architectural Technologies program who now works at Ryan Murphy Construction.

“Being able to lay everything out on the table and getting everyone on the same level is key,” said Thirsk.

Karen Ryan, one of the other panelists and co-founder of Ryan Murphy Construction, hired Thirsk to help manage the business.

Ryan and co-founder Lara Murphy named their business after their names and purposely wanted people to assume a man was behind the company.

Thirsk told the audience she had some confused clients who have asked where “Ryan Murphy” is when they first met the team.

The company started after Ryan met Murphy at a construction site in Banff. The women realized they had the skills required to start their own construction business together.

“It is an industry dominated by men, so we are a bit unexpected,” said Ryan.

Ryan Murphy Construction has completed projects for companies such as Christian Dior and Milestones.

The two founders were named one of Chatelaine’s Top 100 Female Entrepreneurs in 2013.

“You have to go for what you want, even if you know it’s going to be hard,” said Thirsk.

Amelia Hurlbut, COO of CampusQuad and one of the other panelists, agreed.

“I learned everything I could,” said Hurlbut.

“I asked a lot of questions when I was starting out and then I felt more confident.”

Hurlbut has worked previously for Disney English, part of the Walt Disney Company.

Hurlbut told the audience that making connections and showing how hard they are willing to work would help them succeed.

“You can teach skills but you can’t teach attitude,” she said.

Chef Connie Desousa agreed and said no one could work in her kitchen if they didn’t want to be there.

Desousa is a graduate from SAIT’s Professional Cooking program and is the co-executive chef and co-founder of CHARCUT Roast House in Calgary.

“We’ve never hired someone who wasn’t 100 per cent passionate about what they’re doing,” said Desousa, who has appeared as a judge on Top Chef Canada.

After the panel, students were given the opportunity to ask questions and network with the speakers.

Alice Shi is a new media production and design student who attended the panel discussion.

“I’m very impressed by the personalities of these ladies.”