Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions recently hosted a powerful internal webinar in honor of International Women’s Day, bringing together six leaders from across the organization for an honest discussion on leadership, growth, bias, and the responsibility we all share in advancing equity. Moderated by Jennifer Purdie, Associate Director of Client Programs, the session highlighted not only the achievements of the women on the panel, but also the supportive, inclusive culture ELM Solutions continues to foster.
This year’s theme, “Rights, Justice, Action for All Women and Girls,” served as an anchor for the group’s reflections on what it means to lead with purpose and to advocate for others.
Reflections on the International Women’s Day theme
The panel opened with powerful personal thoughts on this year’s International Women’s Day theme and what it represents for women in leadership today.
Karen Sinclair, Head of Global Customer Operations and mother of two daughters, shared her hope for a future where her children experience true fairness—equal pay, equal expectations, and the ability to pursue opportunities without having to fight for them.
Tracy Petracca, Head of Account Management, underscored that leadership means advocating for others and reflected on how profoundly it can impact a career when someone uses their voice to open a door, something she now strives to pay forward.
Allison Berlin, Associate Director of Product Marketing and mother of two sons, spoke about modeling inclusion and equity so her children grow up understanding how to champion those values themselves.
Sierra Burris, Director of Sales Operations, reflected on the impact of this theme as her daughter navigates high school and begins shaping her vision of what’s possible and who she can become.
Angie Ball, Director of Client Success Management, shared the joy of watching her granddaughter boldly pursue a dream once rarely available to girls—professional hockey—underscoring how far opportunities have come, and why continued advocacy matters.
Together, their reflections underscored a shared message: advocacy, equity, and opportunity aren’t just aspirations. They’re responsibilities.
Formative career moments shape leadership style
The panelists shared formative career moments that shaped their leadership styles. Karen reflected on early assumptions that excellent work alone would lead to advancement. She learned instead that building a supportive network, her “work family,” is essential for navigating corporate environments. Tracy spoke candidly about times she wasn’t valued early in her career. Those experiences now fuel her commitment to building inclusive teams where everyone feels seen, heard, and supported.
A deeply resonant portion of the webinar focused on managing difficulties. Sierra shared a moment many women recognized: presenting an idea to silence, only to hear it celebrated when repeated moments later by a male colleague. Her calm, confident reassertion of her idea shifted the tone of the meeting and reinforced her presence in the room. Angie shared a mantra she uses in moments of doubt: “Hold, please. I will right my ship momentarily.” It’s a reminder that pauses and reflection are vital tools for resilience.
And Allison called for retiring a persistent misconception once and for all: that women are “too emotional” for leadership. Emotion should not be confused with emotional intelligence, she reminded us. The latter is a leadership strength, not a weakness.
How to build a more inclusive workplace
To close the webinar, each panelist shared one action we can all take today to help build a workplace with greater equity and inclusion:
- Karen: Listen actively—really listen.
- Tracy: Create space for someone who may not take it themselves.
- Allison: Notice patterns of bias and disrupt them.
- Sierra: Be intentional about who gets heard.
- Angie: Help others find balance and feel safe saying “no.”
Together, their guidance served as a reminder that inclusion is intentional. Equity is active. Progress requires all of us. At ELM Solutions, we are proud to support women leaders at every stage of their journey and committed to fostering a workplace where everyone’s voice is valued and respected.
