Women's History Month Spotlight - Jeanette Jackson

For Women's History Month, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade is celebrating prominent women in the Greater Vancouver business community. Our next profile in our series features Foresight Canada 's Chief Executive Officer, Jeanette Jackson ?? .

What inspired you to pursue your line of work?

From a young age, there were always two things that got me excited or put a fire in my day to day: business and climate change. At just 8 years old I was delivering papers before taking on an ice cream bike job at 10. In my early teens, I started to be drawn to nature and the effects of climate change. This fed into my first venture right out of university with a cleantech startup. Even through the ups and downs, it always felt right to be starting, building, and scaling businesses that address climate challenges. I wake up every morning loving my work.?

Is there a female role model or mentor who helped you in your career?

Unfortunately there is not one particular female role model or mentor that helped me in my career. My role models have been very diverse and dynamic in terms of sector, area of expertise, and time in the workforce. I try to be vulnerable and open to learning from everyone I connect and collaborate with. With that said, supporting my mom and daughter have always driven me to work hard and be the best I can be.

What is your favourite part about living and working in Greater Vancouver?

Greater Vancouver is always the place I love coming home to after a business trip away. Being in a place that lives and breathes the ‘live, work and play’ mentality really sets Vancouver and BC apart.

What is the biggest challenge facing our region right now?

The biggest challenge I see is a lack of collaboration or small groups starting new things rather than building on or supporting something that is already out there. I think we could, as a region, set a few BIG HAIRY AUDACIOUS GOALS and have more effort, hours, and money focused on these to make great outcomes happen. And for generational challenges, it's all about climate change. How can BC be the first net zero province??

What do you think Greater Vancouver needs more of?

We have a labour shortage in Vancouver. Creating opportunities to more easily welcome workers to the province could help a lot of industries. More broadly, we also have some big issues around food costs and profiteering. Can and should governments step in more boldly on this? Perhaps.

What is the biggest challenge for women in the workplace today?

I don't think there is one particular challenge for women in the workplace. My perspective is that, while some businesses are making great strides to have equity across the organization, some are still very behind. I encourage strong organizations with clear equity and inclusion to work together to increase impact and build messaging on the importance and realities of equity in the workforce so that we are equally moving up and can have the greatest impact in the areas, communities, and sectors we serve.?

What is one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?

I think people would be surprised to learn that I am equally as introverted as I am extroverted. I love being out and about in the community and networking, but I also love taking a few days at home to get work done and have space to think.??

Have you seen how women are treated at work change as equality is discussed more openly?

As a female leader, I have always fostered equal treatment of people from all backgrounds, genders, or ages. Setting that tone from the get-go has left little space for mistreatment, and training new staff and partners on cultural alignments ensure that everyone I work with treats everyone fairly — no exceptions.

What is the most important lesson, business or otherwise, life has taught you?

Compared to many of my friends and colleagues, I have taken risks at a young age. I now see they are a bit nervous about taking risks, even if it would make them happier. A lesson I share with my daughter and her friends is that it is healthy and timely to take risks around entrepreneurship or try something you are passionate about when you are young. Less to lose and less stress than if you have a family to take care of.

What do you know now that you wish you had known at the start of your career?

You never know where people you meet will end up in their careers. Always be open, collaborative, and respectful — even if you don’t agree on a particular topic or direction. Someone you never expected can become your partner or best ally.

A member of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, Foresight is Canada’s cleantech accelerator. Foresight supports the identification and validation of cleantech opportunities and the successful commercialization of solutions. The team brings together innovators, industry, investors, government, and academia to address today’s most urgent climate issues and supports a global transition to a green economy.