Leadership & Governance

Developing Black Women Leaders Who Shape Organizations, Influence Decisions, and Transform Communities

Pillar Overview

Leadership is the foundation upon which strong organizations, communities, and societies are built. The ability of individuals to influence decisions, inspire action, develop solutions, and guide institutions determines the direction of economic, social, and civic progress.

Across Canada, Black women continue to demonstrate exceptional leadership capacity in business, entrepreneurship, education, healthcare, technology, community development, government, and social innovation. They are founders, executives, professionals, advocates, educators, and community builders who contribute significantly to Canada’s social and economic fabric.

However, despite their talent, experience, and commitment, Black women remain underrepresented in many influential leadership and governance spaces, including:

The leadership gap is not caused by a lack of qualified Black women. It is often the result of systemic barriers, limited access to leadership networks, insufficient sponsorship, unequal advancement opportunities, and historical exclusion from influential decision-making spaces.

CBEE Women’s Leadership & Governance Pillar exists to create intentional pathways that prepare, connect, and position Black women for leadership influence across all sectors.

Through targeted leadership development, governance education, mentorship, sponsorship, and institutional partnerships, CBEE Women aims to increase the number of Black women who:

Lead organizations.
Serve on boards.
Influence public policy.
Shape communities.
Build businesses.
Participate in democratic processes.
Create transformative change.

The vision is simple:

A Canada where Black women are not only represented in leadership spaces but are actively shaping the decisions that define the future.

Strategic Objectives

The Leadership & Governance Pillar focuses on five strategic objectives:

Build a Pipeline of Black Women Leaders

Develop emerging and established leaders with the skills, confidence, networks, and opportunities required to advance into influential roles.

Increase Board and Governance Representation

Prepare Black women to serve effectively on corporate, nonprofit, public sector, and community boards.

Strengthen Executive Leadership Capacity

Support Black women professionals transitioning into senior management, executive, and C-suite positions.

Increase Public and Political Leadership Participation

Create pathways for Black women to contribute to public decision-making, policy development, and democratic leadership.

Establish a Sustainable Leadership Ecosystem

Create a long-term infrastructure where Black women leaders can learn, connect, mentor others, and collectively influence change.

Program 1: Board Ready Women

Preparing Black Women for Board Leadership and Governance Excellence

Program Overview

Boards of directors influence organizational strategy, accountability, financial decisions, leadership appointments, and community impact. Serving on a board requires more than professional success—it requires governance knowledge, strategic thinking, fiduciary understanding, and the ability to contribute effectively to collective decision-making.

The Board Ready Women Program prepares Black women professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders for meaningful board participation.

The program addresses the underrepresentation of Black women in governance spaces by creating a structured pathway:

Professional Experience → Governance Training → Mentorship → Board Placement → Leadership Influence

CBEE Women’s Leadership & Governance Pillar exists to create intentional pathways that prepare, connect, and position Black women for leadership influence across all sectors.

Through targeted leadership development, governance education, mentorship, sponsorship, and institutional partnerships, CBEE Women aims to increase the number of Black women who:

Lead organizations.
Serve on boards.
Influence public policy.
Shape communities.
Build businesses.
Participate in democratic processes.
Create transformative change.

Program Objectives

The Board Ready Women Program aims to:

Increase the number of qualified Black women serving on boards.
Build governance confidence and competence.
Expand access to board networks.
Connect women with board opportunities.
Support organizations seeking diverse governance talent.

Core Components

1. Governance Education

Participants receive training in:

Board roles and responsibilities.
Fiduciary duties.
Governance structures.
Strategic oversight.
Financial literacy for directors.
Risk management.
Board ethics.
Legal responsibilities.
Organizational accountability.

2. Board Skills Development

Participants develop skills in:

Strategic decision-making.
Executive communication.
Conflict resolution.
Committee participation.
Policy understanding.
Organizational evaluation.

3. Board Mentorship

Participants are connected with:

Experienced directors.
Corporate leaders.
Nonprofit executives.
Governance professionals.

Mentors provide:

Guidance.
Career advice.
Board preparation support.
Professional connections.

4. Board Opportunity Network

CBEE Women creates connections between participants and:

Corporate boards.
Nonprofit boards.
Advisory committees.
Government boards.
Community organizations.

Expected Outcomes

By completing the program, participants will:

Gain governance knowledge.
Improve leadership confidence.
Develop board-ready profiles.
Expand professional networks.
Increase access to governance opportunities.

Impact Indicators

Measurement includes:
- Number of women completing governance training.
- Number appointed to boards.
- Number of mentorship relationships created.
- Number of organizations engaged.
- Diversity improvement among partner boards.

Program 2: Executive Leadership Program

Preparing Black Women for Senior Leadership and C-Suite Success

Program Overview

Executive leadership requires more than technical expertise. Senior leaders must influence strategy, manage complexity, inspire teams, communicate vision, and make decisions that shape organizational success.

The Executive Leadership Program supports Black women professionals who aspire to:

Senior management roles.
Executive positions.
C-suite leadership.
Organizational leadership roles.

The program addresses barriers that often limit advancement, including:

Limited executive sponsorship.
Leadership visibility gaps.
Unequal access to strategic assignments.
Lack of leadership networks.

Program Objectives

The program aims to:

Increase Black women representation in executive roles.
Strengthen leadership capabilities.
Build executive confidence.
Develop strategic leadership skills.
Create pathways to senior decision-making positions.

Core Components

1. Executive Leadership Development

Training areas include:

Strategic leadership.
Organizational transformation.
Emotional intelligence.
Decision-making.
Innovation leadership.
Change management.
Crisis leadership.

2. Executive Presence Development

Participants develop:

Leadership communication.
Influence skills.
Presentation abilities.
Negotiation skills.
Professional visibility.

3. Career Advancement Strategy

Participants receive support in:

Career planning.
Leadership branding.
Sponsorship development.
Promotion readiness.
Executive networking.

4. Executive Mentorship

Participants connect with:

CEOs.
Executives.
Senior professionals.
Industry leaders.

Expected Outcomes

Participants will:

Increase leadership confidence.
Improve executive readiness.
Expand professional networks.
Pursue senior leadership opportunities.

Impact Indicators

Number completing executive leadership training.
Promotions achieved.
Leadership roles obtained.
Mentorship relationships created.
Employer partnerships developed.

Program 3: Public Leadership Program

Empowering Black Women to Shape Communities and Public Institutions

Program Overview

Public leadership involves influencing decisions that affect communities, institutions, and society.

Black women bring valuable perspectives to:

Community development.
Public administration.
Advisory roles.
Policy discussions.
Social innovation.

The Public Leadership Program prepares women to participate effectively in public leadership spaces.

Program Objectives

The program seeks to:

Increase Black women participation in public leadership.
Strengthen civic engagement.
Build community leadership capacity.
Increase representation in public institutions.

Core Components

Leadership Training

Topics include:

Public leadership principles.
Community engagement.
Policy awareness.
Advocacy.
Stakeholder engagement.

Community Impact Leadership

Participants learn how to:

Develop community initiatives.
Mobilize stakeholders.
Build partnerships.
Create sustainable solutions.

Public Speaking and Advocacy

Training includes:

Media communication.
Public presentations.
Advocacy strategies.
Storytelling.

Expected Outcomes

Participants will:

Become stronger community leaders.
Participate in public initiatives.
Influence community decisions.
Build leadership networks.

Impact Indicators

Number of women engaged in public leadership.
Community projects launched.
Advisory roles achieved.
Public engagement activities completed.

Program 4: Political Leadership Program

Preparing Black Women for Civic Participation and Political Influence

Program Overview

Political leadership plays a critical role in shaping laws, policies, budgets, and public priorities.

The Political Leadership Program supports Black women interested in:

Political engagement.
Public office.
Policy advocacy.
Democratic participation.

Program Objectives

The program aims to:

Increase Black women representation in political leadership.
Build political knowledge.
Develop advocacy skills.
Encourage civic participation.

Core Components

Political Education

Training includes:

Government structures.
Electoral systems.
Public policy.
Legislative processes.

Campaign and Leadership Skills

Participants learn:

Campaign strategy.
Public communication.
Community organizing.
Political networking.

Policy Advocacy

Participants develop skills in:

Policy analysis.
Public consultation.
Advocacy campaigns.

Expected Outcomes

Participants will:

Increase political awareness.
Participate in civic processes.
Pursue leadership opportunities.
Influence public conversations.

Impact Indicators

Number completing political leadership training.
Civic participation rates.
Advisory appointments.
Political leadership involvement.

Program 5: Governance Institute

Canada’s Premier Leadership and Governance Development Platform for Black Women

Program Overview

The CBEE Women Governance Institute serves as a flagship institution dedicated to developing future-ready Black women leaders across sectors.

The Institute brings together:

Leadership education.
Governance training.
Research.
Mentorship.
Networking.
Policy dialogue.

It creates a permanent ecosystem for leadership excellence.

Institute Areas of Focus

Leadership Academy

Developing:

Emerging leaders.
Mid-career professionals.
Senior executives.

Governance Academy

Preparing:

Board directors.
Advisors.
Committee leaders.

Policy and Civic Leadership Academy

Developing:

Public leaders.
Advocates.
Policy influencers.

Research and Thought Leadership Centre

Producing:

Leadership research.
Policy reports.
Best practices.
Community insights.

Expected Outcomes

The Governance Institute will:

Build a national network of Black women leaders.
Increase leadership representation.
Generate research on leadership equity.
Strengthen governance capacity.
Influence institutional change.

Strategic Partnerships

CBEE Women will collaborate with:

Universities.
Corporations.
Governments.
Professional associations.
Foundations.
Leadership organizations.
Community institutions.

Overall Pillar 1 Impact Framework

Area	Short-Term Outcomes	Long-Term Impact
Board Leadership	More board-ready women	Increased governance representation
Executive Leadership	Improved leadership skills	More Black women executives
Public Leadership	Stronger civic engagement	More community influence
Political Leadership	Increased political awareness	Greater representation in public office
Governance Institute	Leadership ecosystem created	Sustainable leadership transformation

CBEE Women Leadership & Governance Vision

CBEE Women believes leadership is not only about occupying positions—it is about creating impact, influencing decisions, and transforming systems.

Through the Leadership & Governance Pillar, CBEE Women is building a future where Black women:

Lead organizations.
Govern institutions.
Influence policies.
Shape economies.
Inspire future generations.

When Black women lead, communities rise, organizations become stronger, and Canada’s future becomes more inclusive, innovative, and prosperous.