In this edition of Women in Business, women were interviewed who are employed in typically male-dominated industries or in a position that was historically filled by a man.

These women share their stories of being underrepresented in their field and leadership roles 乌鸦传媒� in the hope that their perseverance and success become the guiding light for the next generation of women in business, so they continue to break glass ceilings and meet their goals.

Women in Business shows who the movers and the shakers are in Kelowna and that there is always a space to share stories of successful women.

Carmen Rempel leads her team in a uniquely feminine way.

When she walked in the door at her new job, most thought she was the new secretary. When she started to unpack her things in the vacant executive directors乌鸦传媒� office, some did a double-take.

The new executive director of the Gospel Mission shelter in downtown Kelowna stepped into her role in June 2020, taking over for Randy Benson, who乌鸦传媒檇 held the position since 2001.

She took over a position that has, in the past, always been served by men. Now almost a year into her new position, Rempel reflected on her experiences as a woman in the role.

乌鸦传媒淚 was first welcomed with a bit of surprise because I think everybody was expecting a 45-year-0ld man, and instead this very young woman arrived on the scene. Having said that, I was welcomed immediately, enthusiastically.乌鸦传媒�

Rempel乌鸦传媒檚 presence has since resulted in a culture change in the office, located on Leon Avenue, close to Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 waterfront. This change has been welcomed by many. That said, she credited those before her for paving the road she now travels on.

乌鸦传媒淢y predecessor did an absolutely incredible job building this place up. But this role has been held traditionally by men. Not only because it乌鸦传媒檚 a leadership role, but also because it is a faith-based non-profit, and the church seems to be a couple of decades behind the rest of the world when it comes to embracing women in leadership.乌鸦传媒�

Being a woman in leadership will always come with challenges. In her experience, some people have a hard time taking direction or correction from a woman.

One of the immense challenges she faces as a woman in her role is that people 乌鸦传媒� especially men 乌鸦传媒� rarely apologize to her. Also, the public sometimes makes inaccurate assumptions.

乌鸦传媒淚f I take one of my direct reports out for lunch or out for a coffee, people will assume it乌鸦传媒檚 a date and will offer the bill to the man. And so that乌鸦传媒檚 always quite awkward when we have to explain to the server that this isn乌鸦传媒檛 a date, and that actually, I乌鸦传媒檓 his boss,乌鸦传媒� said Rempel.

However, in other ways, she said being a woman is a fantastic asset.

乌鸦传媒淲e work with a population that has extreme amounts of trauma, especially from early childhood. What I bring to this role isn乌鸦传媒檛 just my leadership skills; it isn乌鸦传媒檛 just my education in non-profit management; what I bring to this role is actually my whole person.

乌鸦传媒淚 am a mother. And I乌鸦传媒檓 a mother of traumatized teenagers. So because of that, the way I lead is actually in a very feminine way.乌鸦传媒�

When she started to make changes in the office, some questioned what she was doing.

乌鸦传媒淚 had to tell them simply; you have to understand that if I乌鸦传媒檓 going to be here, I乌鸦传媒檓 going to lead. I乌鸦传媒檓 going to lead as a woman. I乌鸦传媒檓 not going to do my best job to simply impersonate male leadership.

乌鸦传媒淚 am uniquely feminine, and unapologetic for it.乌鸦传媒�

One of her first changes was to give away her parking spot. With a lack of space, she gave it up to someone who needed it more. Now, she parks down the street in the parkade. Her next move; give away her office and embracing a more collaborative workspace.

What used to be her large corner office is now a meeting room 乌鸦传媒� filled with tables, chairs, and whiteboards for brainstorming.

Although much has already changed at the Gospel Mission, Rempel has more plans yet.

乌鸦传媒淩ight now, it乌鸦传媒檚 all about building a healthy staff culture, and building a healthy team where everybody actually works together for the greater good, putting others above themselves so that all of us can rise together. That乌鸦传媒檚 what we乌鸦传媒檙e trying to build here, and I乌鸦传媒檓 trying to lead by example in that way.乌鸦传媒�

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