From Breaking Barriers to Building Boards: How This Entrepreneur is Elevating Women in Leadership

By Sarah Walker

One of Dr. Deborah Rosati’s favourite childhood memories is going to work with her father.

“He was in newspapers, and I used to go with him into the office. As I got older, I took on part-time work like delivering papers and administrative tasks,” she says. “I absolutely adored it.”

Her father was a Dutch immigrant who came to Canada when he was 14-years-old. Her mother emigrated from Scotland when she was 19 and, as Deborah tells it, was fiercely independent, attending college in her 30s while still managing a bustling household.

“Growing up in such a strong and educated environment — especially one that was so supportive of women — taught me a lot,” she says. “I witnessed how determination and growing a career contributed to living a passion-filled life.”

Fast-forward to today, Deborah is an award-winning entrepreneur and corporate director. She currently chairs the board of Profound Impact and has led and served on numerous special committees with various mandates, including going public, going private, restructuring and special investigations.

“In the ’80s, as a chartered accountant, I was often mistaken for the secretary,” Deborah recalls. It was something that happened even as she worked her way up the corporate ladder — whether that was as a manager, chief financial officer, venture capitalist, CEO, or board member. “I was almost always the only woman at the table, so I knew I had to show up. I had important things to say. I wasn’t going to let anyone else define me. I [knew I] deserved to be there.”

She began to realize that women needed support to feel the same way, which is how Women Get On Board, Inc. and Women Funding Women Inc. came to be.

According to the TD 2023 Canadian Women and Philanthropy Report, women are set to control close to 47 per cent of wealth by 2030, which means, “it’s time for more of us to be put into leadership positions,” Deborah says.

“I see very accomplished women leaders who would be phenomenal board candidates, and they might hold themselves back by saying ‘I don’t have financial expertise’ or a variety of other buts,” she adds. “We have to stop doubting ourselves. It’s why I became so passionate about creating a course for women to give them the skills, power, and courage to serve on boards.”

Today, Women Get On Board is nearing 1,000 members.

Deborah adds: “I believe in the power of three when it comes to these types of positions. One woman is token; two is presence; and three is giving us a voice.”

Deborah started Women Funding Women alongside Sherry Shannon Vanstone and Lara Zink for a similar reason. “Less than two per cent of venture capital goes to women founders,” says Deborah. “It’s unbelievable. Collectively we came together to build an ecosystem to help fund women because if we can empower them to secure funding, then we’ve done our job. It’s about paying it forward.”

Deborah describes her career in three stages: the first being “setting the foundation, much like schooling” — learning the ropes and building her expertise; the second focused on working and advancing; and now, the third stage is all about giving back. With a chuckle, she admits she doesn’t have all the answers to success: “I’ve stumbled a few times and had to pick myself up,” she says. Yet, she offers valuable advice for women looking to grow their careers.

First, find allies — especially male allies.

“When I was the only woman at the table, most of my allies were men,” Deborah shares. “My sponsors were men. I had support, and because of them, I never felt I had to change who I was.”

Second, don’t take things personally.

Deborah recalls an instance in her 20s when a boss suggested she look into a public speaking class — “I thought I was a fine public speaker!” — because she was about to give some big presentations to senior executives. Once she got over her hurt pride, she learned a lot from the course. “You can get overwhelmed emotionally if you take things too personally,” says Deborah. “Always remember it’s business, and that your allies are there to help you out.”

Third, be always learning.

This is especially true of how companies work internally, whether it’s governance, processes, or financial frameworks. You can learn through courses, seminars, attending lectures and conferences, or by networking. “I’ve always entered into areas where I was uncomfortable, so I could learn,” she shares. “You should always be learning more about yourself as a leader and as a person, and how to improve your career.”

Fourth, network authentically.

“Networking can be overwhelming, so I always tell women to start small,” Deborah advises. “That could be as simple as following someone on LinkedIn and liking their posts. Just be deliberate and be yourself. Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not. You deserve to know these people. At an event, resolve to meet one person instead of the whole room. It will get easier if you’re kind to yourself and don’t feel overwhelmed.”

Lastly, give back.

“My goal is to connect, promote, and empower,” she says. “I’ve been at the top of the corporate ladder, so I see my role now as helping to accelerate and empower the next generation. All the work I’m doing is about sending the elevator down to the next generation of women leaders to help them rise up. By doing that, we’ll truly be able to make a difference in the world.”