Lean Into the Discomfort, Be Who You Are, and Buckle In: Thoughts On My First 90 Days as Catalyst CEO

Last month, nearing the end of my first 90 days as CEO of Catalyst, I was in Toronto to present at the 2024 US-Canada Summit. I had been invited by the?CEO of the Bank of Montreal, Darryl White (who is on the Catalyst board) to speak on a panel with Jonas Prising and Jason Kenney moderated by Mona Malone . Looking back, I see this event as a microcosm of all that I’ve gone through since I began the CEO position just over three months ago.???

In short, it was an incredible few days, filled with the entire range of emotions—confidence, joy, and pride mixed with a dose of worry and fear. ?

This was an event aimed at bringing Canada and the United States together as trade, security, and policy partners. (Take a look at the impressive array of speakers and topics.) Everyone in the room was a heavy hitter: high-level political leaders from Canada and the US; policy makers in the arenas of trade, investment, and national security; and CEOs of multibillion dollar corporations, many of which are Catalyst Inc. supporter companies. Discussion centered on complex issues like geopolitics given global conflict and labor and technology trends in a fast-changing world.?

I was there to talk about a topic I love and know well: driving an equitable future of work. The conversation included the business benefits of creating respectful, rewarding, and inclusive workplaces, approaching AI with an equity lens, and promoting empathy as the critical future of work skill.? (I deeply believe in the work I do—but it was largely different from the intense discussions being held at this Summit!)???

While I felt privileged to be there, at times I felt like a fish out of water. I knew deep down that I deserved to be in the room. Carla Harris , a senior advisor at Morgan Stanley and a long-time inspiration to me, has said that “If you have been invited to the room, you belong in the room.” Yet at the same time, my Inner Critic spiked, and sounded like this: “What am I doing here with all these power players? What can I really contribute?” I became aware of the voice in my head, and paused, trying to find compassion for myself. I thought, “Be who you are. You don’t have to feel comfortable in the room to be in the room. Buckle in and enjoy the learning and the experience.”?

And so, I worked my way through it. It was uncomfortable, but it turned out just fine, as it almost always does. And I met some wonderful people.?What I know for sure, yet still need to remind myself, is that nerves aren’t indicators of worthiness. They are signals that I’m continuing to grow and develop as a leader, and feeling challenged is a sign I’m on the right path.???

It was a striking difference from the previous day, when I met our Canada staff for the first time and took them to lunch. I was back in my more comfortable CEO role, sharing my vision and observations, and listening for their perspectives. Then, I went to the Canadian Stock Exchange and rang the closing bell along with a large group of representatives from Catalyst supporter companies and our Catalyst Honours Champions. (We’ll be celebrating them October 7 at Catalyst Honours, join us!) Here I was surrounded by new contacts who were excited about Catalyst and committed to our mission. It was “my place.”

My point? This is how it has been the entire first quarter of this CEO job. Sometimes I have felt confident and on top of the world. Other times, not so much. I was nervous at my fireside chat at the Catalyst Awards in early March, when I was introduced to the global Catalyst community by Accenture CEO and then Catalyst Board Chair Julie Sweet. In the ensuing weeks, I went on to speak in Atlanta, then New York, Chicago, and Toronto. I gain more confidence and comfort every time.?

I share this because I want women (and men) to know: This is what all big transitions feel like. When we feel uncomfortable, we can still take deep breaths, buckle in, and do what we need to do. We can see it for what it is: a new experience, a chance to listen, to learn, and to grow. We can remember to be ourselves. And we can do our best.

I am so grateful for my wonderful job at Catalyst and the many, many people and organizations who are helping us continue to grow our impact, as we have for 62 years.?