Breaking Barriers with BoG Vice-Chair Beth Creary
Beth Creary’s life story has a novel-like way of unfolding, filled with aspirations, unexpected twists, and a deep commitment to leadership and gender equality. As a young girl, her dream was to become a teacher or a writer, fueled by her love for reading. However, life had different plans. Encouraged by a roommate, she took the LSAT, scored an exceptional grade, and found herself on a path to law school at the University of Ottawa. This pivotal decision, which started as a dare, put her on a path her towards a distinguished legal career, eventually leading her to important roles in her professional life and as a volunteer on the Board of Governors at Carleton University where she holds the position of vice-chair.
Her journey through law school was marked by unique experiences, including working as a flight attendant. Necessitated by the practical needs and expenses of student life, she accepted
a position as a flight attendant for local flights. This experience taught her valuable lessons in adaptability and safety and introduced her to her own ability to juggle multiple responsibilities and embrace life’s opportunities.
March 8th holds special significance for Beth as she truly believes in the importance of acknowledging the immense contributions of women to global progress and resilience. Beth advocates for gender equality, emphasizing that inclusive leadership is enabling people of all genders to reach their full potential. “Allowing all genders to grow into their full potential, will build a strong leadership base that would benefit our region, our country, the world.” However, despite the advancements in gender parity, there is still some work needed to be done in many parts of the world and in various sectors. In her over 35-year career, Beth encountered gender biases, and obstacles particularly in her early years in a private law firm. Being determined to succeed, and being a team player, she transformed these challenges into opportunities, excelling in roles that were often overlooked by male colleagues, and ultimately developing a unique client base for her firm with the utmost attention to detail that made her stand out.
The best advice Beth received, which became a guiding principle in her life, was simply to “just be yourself, because it’s been working so far”. These straightforward and simple words of wisdom, shared by a colleague and a role-model, helped her navigate the complexities of her profession with authenticity, confidence, and assertiveness.
When asked which famous women she’d like to have a dinner with, the vice-chair replied that she finds inspiration in figures like Maya Angelou, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Michelle Obama. And the reason is simple: their pragmatic approach to life and leadership, rooted in doing what’s right, resonates deeply with her core values and beliefs. These women exemplify the everyday inspirational journey of simply moving forward and in doing so achieving goals. For Beth, enjoying one’s work is crucial to achieving professional goals, satisfaction and success. She advises others, especially women, to trust themselves and embrace continuous learning as a foundation for effective leadership. As she puts it:
“Like what you do, trust that you know what you’re doing and don’t be afraid to ask for advice.”
As for the qualities of a successful leader, she believes the top three are resilience, empathy, and creativity. These traits enable leaders and changemakers to adapt to challenges, lead effectively, and think innovatively. Beth’s own proven approach to leadership balances professional assertiveness with breaking stereotypes. As she recalls, growing up in a family that did not adhere to traditional gender roles helped her develop a perspective that all leaders, regardless of gender, should be viewed and valued equally and that leadership qualities transcend gender. When it comes to women in positions of leadership, Beth emphasizes that benefits include willingness to try new and creative approaches to problem solving and effective collaboration. She believes that women’s contributions complete and “round-off” the leadership function, bringing a necessary openness to change and innovation.
When asked about juggling professional and personal life, Beth advocates for not being afraid or embarrassed to get help when needed and making personal choices that are important to oneself in spite of the expectations of the surrounding social circle. As Beth recalls:
“I was the first working woman in my family to go back to work after I had my babies. And it was very stressful because I felt that sort of criticism from the motherhood side of the house and then the criticism on the working side of the house; that you must go home when you have a sick child. I think one of the biggest learnings with this experience was knowing that you should get help and it’s okay to have help. Sometimes you must make decisions, and those are always going to be personal and not easy, and sometimes they should be just for you.”
Beth’s story is a powerful illustration of breaking barriers and stereotypes, embracing diversity, and leading with authenticity. She hopes that her journey from a young dreamer to a respected leader and advocate for gender equality will inspire others to pursue their goals with determination and a commitment to equality.
Looking towards the future, Beth hopes for a world where gender equality is so normalized that it no longer requires active discussion.