By Karin Mizgala, Co-Founder and CEO Money Coaches Canada
As I reflected on the upcoming International Women’s Day, I started thinking of all the trailblazing women before me with deep appreciation for the battles they fought and the victories that have been won. While I am impatient for the day that there is full equality for all women and minorities, my historian husband often reminds me that there has been unprecedented social change in an incredibly short blip in history.
It is true that even one generation before me, it would be almost unheard of for a woman to run a successful business, own a home, manage her own investments or even get a credit card without her husband’s signature (that didn’t change until 1974).
While I thank the many strong women that have come before me, my first and most ardent “feminist” supporter was a man – my father, Tony. I never for one minute experienced anything other than full and unconditional support for any goal or ambition I had. I was never treated any differently from my brothers and was always encouraged to reach as far and wide as I could imagine. I followed in his footsteps, earned an MBA from his alma mater, and eventually became a business owner like he did.
I realize that my experience was not necessarily common, but thinking of my father and his unwavering support does give me hope (especially in darker times), that there are a lot of “good guys” who are supporting women to be strong, equal and valued contributors in a society that desperately needs diverse perspectives.
This was said so beautifully by Kavita Ramdas, Director of Open Society Foundations:
“We need women who are so strong they can be gentle, so educated they can be humble, so fierce they can be compassionate, so passionate they can be rational, and so disciplined they can be free.”
I know that’s what my Dad would have wished for me and for all women.
On behalf of Sheila, myself and the Money Coaches Canada team, we honor and acknowledge all those who are boldly, or quietly, advocating for a more inclusive, loving and compassionate world.
