Even with all of the advances women have made in business, executive level positions are still dominated by men.
B次元官网网址淲e have come a long way,B次元官网网址� said Cheryl Eason, Royal Roads UniversityB次元官网网址檚 newly appointed chief financial officer and vice president. But unfortunately, from what sheB次元官网网址檚 seen in the business world, women are still a minority in upper level positions and that continues to surprise her. B次元官网网址淪tudies have shown that organizations that have women as part of their executives do better B次元官网网址� companies are really recognizing the value of that.B次元官网网址�
Royal Roads is the fourth organization Eason has work for at the executive level.
B次元官网网址淗aving woman in higher level positions is the diversity that businesses should be looking at B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 been a bit slower than weB次元官网网址檇 like but I think we shouldnB次元官网网址檛 give up hope.B次元官网网址�
While originally from the Prairies B次元官网网址� mostly Manitoba B次元官网网址� Eason found herself landing in Langford back in 2006 after accepting a position with the B.C. Pension Corporation. Even though she had already been working at the executive level for roughly a decade, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to fulfill her personal dream of getting a masterB次元官网网址檚 of business administration. B次元官网网址淚 just thought something seemed to be missing from my career,B次元官网网址� she noted. B次元官网网址淚 could see how complex the business world was becoming.B次元官网网址�
However, scheduling was tricky with her professional and personal requirements. ThatB次元官网网址檚 how Eason first found her place at Royal Roads, the universityB次元官网网址檚 MBA program offered her the flexibility to continue working full time. What also intrigued her was how the cohorts worked together to share the lessons they had learned so they could be practiced in the real world. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a life changing experience,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 probably what opened the door to California.B次元官网网址�
Eason returned to Royal Roads University this February after leaving her position with the California Public EmployeesB次元官网网址� Retirement System (CalPERS). She was the first CFO in CalPERSB次元官网网址� 85-year history, and was responsible for financial accounting and reporting for a pension fund of more than $300 billion, an operating capital budget of roughly $1.8 billion and approximately 2,800 employees. It is the largest public pension fund in the United States and is one of the largest in the world.
But Eason wasnB次元官网网址檛 looking for a career change when she was approached for the position. In fact, she had every intention of retiring with the B.C. Pension Corp. B次元官网网址淭hey found me on LinkedIn B次元官网网址� so thereB次元官网网址檚 a plug for social media B次元官网网址� and they took an interest,B次元官网网址� Eason said, noting the opportunity intrigued her and she soon found herself down in California as one of three Canadians on the executive team.
She went with the intention of only staying for about three years. Roughly four and half years later when she heard about the position at Royal Roads, she jumped. B次元官网网址淚 thought this was just a great opportunity B次元官网网址� just to be able to give back to an organization that changed my life,B次元官网网址� she said.
While she credits Royal RoadsB次元官网网址� MBA program for giving her the confidence to tackle new professional roles, she noted having some guidance is also key. B次元官网网址淗aving a mentor for your career is really important B次元官网网址� woman should reach out to each other.B次元官网网址� While Eason noted some of her best mentors have been men, finding someone in the business world that can share some of their personal experiences just furthers your depth of education.
B次元官网网址淲e never stop learning. I always say donB次元官网网址檛 stop being curious B次元官网网址� and getting enjoyment out of what youB次元官网网址檙e doing.B次元官网网址�
