This event is SOLD OUT!
Join us for the sixth edition of Disruptive Dialogue, a half-day experience designed to challenge the status quo and elevate real-world women’s leadership across corporate, community, and grassroots sectors.
This year’s event explores the question: What does investing in women’s leadership look like?
Whether you’re looking to grow your leadership skills, connect with like-minded changemakers, or support local women-led initiatives, this is the place to be.
Event Details
- Location: Bayview Yards, 7 Bayview Station Rd, Ottawa, ON K1Y 2C5
- Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025
- Time: 8:30 AM Registration | 9:00 AM–12:00 PM Program
- Tickets: $35 (Individual) | Group bundle available (get recognition and reserved seating for your organization)
Be in the room where the dialogue happens
This isn’t your typical leadership event. Each year Women United brings vital conversations to the forefront and amplifies the voices of local experts and those who embody our impact pillars.
Hear directly from individuals empowering women in leadership and the future of our communities—from boardrooms to grassroots movements.
Disruptive Dialogue is for you if you are ready to:
- Gain actionable leadership insights
- Spark new connections and build your network
- Learn about the impact of Women United
- Be inspired by leaders driving change in our community
Don’t miss out on the conversation, connection and community.
What we will be talking about:
Corporate Impact
Inside the movement to transform workplaces.
Community Impact
Frontline wisdom from women who lead under pressure.
Leading from the Grassroot
The transformational power of community changemakers.
You’ll leave the event feeling ready to embrace your own leadership, support others in your organization, and be inspired by your community.
Meet the speakers
Corporate Impact Panel
Community Impact Panel
Vice President, Canada – Senior Leadership and Executive Coach, Pourquoi Pas
Moderator
About Women United
Women United is a powerful, local network of changemakers who believe in the power of collective action to create a more equitable future for women, girls, and gender-diverse people across East Ontario.
Backed by United Way East Ontario’s research and partnerships, Women United strategically invests in programs that address root causes—like gender-based violence, poverty, economic inequality and leadership gaps.
Through Women United, our donors and members support:
- Survivors of violence access culturally appropriate therapy and support
- Young mothers receive parenting and wellness resources
- Women in low-income communities access leadership training and childcare
- Newcomer women gain employment skills and financial independence
Last year alone, over 2,600 individuals were supported through Women United-funded initiatives. From grassroots grants to system-level investments, your participation helps fuel the collective action it takes to build a more equitable future for all.
We can’t wait to see you at Disruptive Dialogue 2025!
Reasons to send employees
Employers, this is an opportunity to invest in your community while supporting your employees. Here are some reasons to send your employees to Disruptive Dialogue:
- Invest in employees’ personal and professional growth
- Demonstrate the organization’s commitment to equity and leadership
- Boost community visibility and brand alignment
- The potential for event recognition and reserved seating when a ticket bundle is purchased
Ticket Bundles
Community Builder Bundle: $200 for 6 tickets
Looking to empower the women in your workplace or community? The Community Builder Bundle is a unique and meaningful way to invest in both employee development and community impact
Includes:
- 6 General Admission tickets
- Reserved seating with your company name
- Recognition as a values-aligned organization committed to equity and leadership
Want to bring more than 6 attendees? Simply add General Admission tickets to your order. Your company name will be displayed on all reserved seats.
Questions or custom requests? Reach out to jbrown@unitedwayeo.ca
Sponsorship Opportunities
Put your values in action and gain visibility as a champion of women’s leadership. We’re currently inviting sponsors to join us in delivering this impactful experience.
Want to sponsor? Contact us: jbrown@unitedwayeo.ca
Help promote the event
We would love your support to spread the word about how others can join us at Disruptive Dialogue through individual ticket purchases, sponsorship, or ticket bundles. Please consider sharing with your network.
Supporting Sponsors
 
													Johanne Delves
Vice President, RBC
What does investing in women’s leadership look like for you?
“For me, investing in women’s leadership is very personal. I’ve benefitted from mentors and sponsors who saw potential in me along my career journey and I felt that it was my responsibility to do the same for other women to thrive.
It’s about creating safe, inclusive spaces where women can lead with confidence. Representation matters, and when women see themselves reflected in leadership roles, they see what is possible.
When we invest in women’s leadership, we invest in our future and the long-term success of our business.”
Jennifer Cross
Director, Regional Development, Chandos Construction
What does investing in women’s leadership look like for you?
“Investing in women’s leadership is about more than equity—it’s about unlocking the full potential of our cities and industries.
Through my work with City BuildHERS, I’ve seen how powerful it is when women are given a seat at the table to imagine, fund, build, and invest in the places we live. Too often, the voices shaping our communities have not reflected the diversity of those who live in them.
By elevating women, we bring new perspectives, fresh ideas, and innovative solutions to the challenges of growth and development. For me, investing in women leaders means creating space for collaboration, resilience, and vision that benefits everyone. It is about building pathways, not just projects—ensuring that the next generation sees leadership that looks like them and knows their voice matters. When women lead, our cities thrive, and our future becomes more inclusive, sustainable, and strong.”
Sonya Shorey
President & CEO, Invest Ottawa
What does investing in women’s leadership look like for you?
“Investing in women’s leadership means building intentional ecosystems that empower women to lead, innovate, and scale. It’s about creating access to capital, networks, mentorship, and opportunity, especially for women in tech and equity-deserving groups. It means embedding women’s leadership into strategy, culture, and decision-making, not as an initiative but as a core value.
Through programs like SheBoot and International Women’s Week, we foster a community where women founders thrive. True investment is about amplifying voices, breaking barriers, and ensuring women are not just at the table, but shaping it.”
Jenny Chen
CEO & Founder, Catalais Consulting
What does investing in women’s leadership look like for you?
“Investing in women’s leadership means rebalancing power.
It’s ending the assumption that women aren’t ready – we’re capable and have always been here. True investment isn’t a side program or a silo; it’s leadership, culture, and strategy with women woven into the DNA of every decision and every table.
The goal was never to reach the table and stay the only one, it’s to grow the table so every woman, especially those from racialized and immigrant communities, can lead. If women are half the world, decisions made without us cannot truly represent the world.”
Jessie Lee Wallace
Executive Director, Volunteer Ottawa
What does investing in women’s leadership look like for you?
“Firstly, investing in women’s leadership needs to be about creating the conditions for a community that can surround emerging, new and existing leaders. In part, we do this through creating mentorship and mentee opportunities, sharing experiences and networks. Women, especially from equity-deserving groups, need intentional opportunities to access resources and greater networks. Myth-busting and acknowledging that there is more than one way to lead is also part of the process.”
Adrienne Vienneau
Executive Director, Christie Lake Kids
What does investing in women’s leadership look like for you?
“Investing in women’s leadership in the nonprofit sector in my experience is about creating spaces for others to be truly authentic and learn at the same time. Mentoring those up-and-coming and giving them unrestricted support to be themselves and not like me or anyone else before us. Investing in the whole person so putting their families first and helping to identify creative ways they can contribute – big or small.
It’s also critical to amplify strong female leadership beyond our own walls. It’s important to shine a light on others making a positive impact, so there’s multiple people to look up to and learn from. Goal setting and formal professional development is wonderful if you have the funds, and if not always make it a priority to listen well, make space, encourage stretching out of comfort zones, and ask lots of open-ended questions. Helping others to soar is priceless.”
Suzanne Obiorah
CEO, Somerset West Community Health Centre
What does investing in women’s leadership look like for you?
“For me, investing in women’s leadership means creating a space where women can grow with authenticity, vulnerability, and support — on their own terms. It’s about fostering environments that hold a deep respect for each woman’s unique leadership journey.”
Deirdre Freiheit
Vice President, Canada – Senior Leadership and Executive Coach, Pourquoi Pas
What does investing in women’s leadership look like for you?
“Women leaders are problem-solvers. We’ve faced systemic barriers our whole lives and work intentionally to dismantle them. Investing in women’s leadership means supporting our success through education mentorship, coaching, flexible work environments, fair compensation, and opportunities to amplify our voices. Women CEOs in Canadian nonprofits earn up to 20% less than our male counterparts. That’s unacceptable in a field that values equity. Employees at all levels in most nonprofits are underpaid. Changing this is not optional and women can lead the charge. We must continue to champion diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, including diversity of thought and experience. Not everyone has access to the networks, resources, or platforms that amplify their voice. We need to build those platforms intentionally and invest in emerging leaders while honoring the deep experience already in the sector. Both can and must coexist.”
 
								 
								 
								 
								 
													 
								 
								 
								 
								 
								 
								 
								 
								 
								