Women in Law Leadership Academy
Education programs designed to provide women in law with the knowledge, skills, and networks necessary to thrive personally and professionally throughout their career.
Strategic Decision Making
April 11th & 12th, 2025
This program will challenge participants to tackle a real world ‘problem of practice’ which is a barrier, challenge, or opportunity that is meaningful to them in their career. Participants will apply the knowledge, tools, and skills learned throughout this course to help them strategically assess and address their problem of practice in a collaborative and engaging environment. Participants will leave the course with a proven framework and the confidence to strategically address professional barriers, challenges, and opportunities.
Program participants will leverage the collective insights and experiences of industry experts, facilitators, and other participants in order to:
- Explore barriers and opportunities for strategic decision-making for women in law
- Achieve consensus on group protocols
- Explore frameworks and models for approaching challenges
- Define and articulate a business or leadership problem or opportunity
- Take a stakeholder-centric approach to defining value
- Identify strategies and resources to activate an action plan
About This Program
This program will be delivered in person in a collaborative environment and will include presentations, panel discussions, facilitated group discussions, and small group discussions. Program content and discussion will be built on the content contained in the assigned pre-readings. To get the most out of the program, participants are encouraged to complete all pre-reading assignments in advance.
The program is designed to be transformative in nature meaning participants will be given opportunities to build new skills, consider new perspectives and approaches in a low-stakes environment. As such, we encourage participants to take this opportunity to actively engage in the process, explore, experiment, and have some fun!
As part of this program participants will identify a ‘problem of practice’ which is a barrier, challenge, or opportunity that is meaningful to you in your career. Using the knowledge, tools, and skills developed through this course participants will prepare and present an action plan for addressing their particular problem of practice. More details will be provided throughout the program.
Through this program, participants will:
- Audit, explore, define, and activate a personal leadership style and vision
- Invest in developing a diverse professional network to support participants in their leadership development
- Learn how to build and lead a more effective and inclusive team
- Discover how to approach business and leadership challenges strategically and authentically
See our two day program schedule here:
The WILL Academy Leadership Program is a collaborative and transformative Alberta-based, in-person program developed to provide women in the law with the knowledge, skills, and networks necessary to thrive personally and professionally throughout their career.
Our Faculty Include:
Dr. Nadia Delanoy
She is the Director of Student Experience and an Assistant Professor in the University of Calgary’s Leadership, Policy, and Governance Department. She has also been running her consulting firm since 2006, with an emphasis on strategy planning and execution, program development and evaluation, leadership training, and digitization. She also facilitates professional development and learning sessions in these areas and speaks nationally and globally in areas related to leadership, change management, technology-enhanced learning, and educational development. She holds an MBA and a PhD with a concentration on business and technology, as well as extensive professional experience in the field of education and learning. In her consulting role, Nadia has worked with organizations such as Nutrien, the Calgary Stampede, CN, and Old Sun College. Her research areas include leadership development, policy implementation, change management/leadership, innovative pedagogies, and technology-enhanced learning. Nadia is currently conducting applied research with the Haskayne School of Business on artificial intelligence and generative AI to help business and accounting students develop digital and AI literacies and leadership competencies to aptly contribute to the workforce. With her unique expertise, Nadia has worked across the university with the Schools of Business and Law, and with the University of Calgary, Department of Sustainability.
Kyla Sandwith
With 25 years legal industry experience, Kyla is a lawyer turned legal operations consultant. She is the founder of De Novo Inc. and helps clients design their legal operations for better financial results and happier lawyers, team members, and clients. She has a Masters in Law Firm Management, is a Fellow of the College of Law Practice Management, and is a Senior Consultant and Scholar in Residence at the Legal Lean Sigma® Institute. Working with clients across the industry she has a breadth of experience in operationalizing strategy and managing projects towards successful completion. Kyla is also passionate about developing the next generation of professionals and teaches Leadership for Lawyers at the UCalgary Faculty of Law. Her course approaches leadership as a lifelong journey and focuses on active development of the foundational skills that support good leadership over the long term.
Women lawyers in leadership or those aspiring for a leadership role. This program is for all cis and trans women and non-binary people who are comfortable in a space that centres on the experiences of women.
This is a highly collaborative program where participants share and leverage each other’s knowledge and build a network of support. To achieve full program value for all participants, it is critical to engage fully and attend the full program in person. Due to the often sensitive nature of group discussions, virtual attendance cannot be accommodated. Certificates will only be awarded to those participating fully in the program.