This One’s for the Ladies: Women of Influence Luncheon Event Recap

If you are looking to advance your career, or just live better as a young professional lady, you’re going to want to get involved with Women of Influence. For 20 years, the organization has been bringing together female leaders from across the continent to empower and connect women at all stages of their careers. This past week, the organization brought the Deloitte Women of Influence Luncheon Series to Calgary, and Notable was there. 

Over 300 guests were on hand at the Westin to hear from a panel of renowned experts on a topic that affects every one of us: women’s health. Hosted by faces familiar to anyone who has ever watched CityTV, Jill Belland and Laura di Battista kept things entertaining as the panel tackled some serious topics, from Alzheimer’s to obesity.

With an impressive resume as long as your arm in healthcare and promotion, Dr. Vivien Brown chaired the panel, sharing valuable advice for young professional women. She attributes her own success to being involved in mentorship and charity work, as well as being able to prioritize and let go of unnecessary commitments when new opportunities and life events arise.

Also on hand was the Founder and President of the Women’s Brain Health Initiative, Lynn Posluns, who informed us that Alzheimer’s will affect more women than breast cancer in our age. The whole panel was in agreement that maintaining to brain health should begin in your 20s, with key factors being mental stimulation, physical exercise, nutrition, social engagement and good sleep habits. 

At the end of the panel was a household name in the field of nutrition, Leslie Beck, a Registered Dietician and writer. According to Leslie, obesity rates are growing amongst young women between ages 20 and 39, which the panel agreed could all be linked back to stressful, “too busy to be healthy” lifestyles. Instead of offering to hold a secret key to staying thin, she continues to advise her clients on a back-to-basics approach, which includes making as many meals as possible at home focusing on using natural ingredients and controlling portions. Leslie also burst a few Clive Burger-loving bubbles when she suggested that women should only be consuming red meat two to three times a month.

The experts concluded by addressing the notion that women have historically been at the forefront of health promotion in their communities at the grassroots level, simply by being mothers and wives and providing for their families. Acknowledging the importance of this reality, these female powerhouses also suggested that more women should be moving beyond these traditional roles and pushing for professional positions in healthcare policy and leadership, which don’t necessarily require a medical background. Taking a stand to ensure that women’s health receives the specific attention it requires is all of our responsibilities, male and female. Leaving the room, you could almost hear a Girl Power chorus ring out, which by most accounts can be considered a lunch hour well spent.

#LYNL | (Live Your Notable Life)

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