We are proud to be a part of such a vibrant community that has so many strong female leaders! The Nelson & District Women’s Centre has decided to pay tribute to the strong female leadership that enriches our community, both within the not-for-profit as well as business sector as success within every industry deserves acknowledgement and celebration.
Please read on to celebrate the success of Jennie Barron!
Name: Jennie Barron
Position: Chair, Mir Centre for Peace and Instructor, School of University Arts & Sciences
Q: What drew you to work in the education sector?
I am a lover of ideas and thrive in challenging, intellectually stimulating environments, surrounded by motivated people who work hard and feel passionate about their work – as so many educators do. In post-secondary, we have a lot of autonomy and can be creative in designing learning experiences for students. We love our students and feel tremendous gratification of seeing them learn and grow. And it feels great when someone tells you that your course or your support made a difference in their life.
Q: Have you faced bias or barriers in being a woman leader?
I suppose I must have, but it’s not something I think about much, to be honest. There are now so many women in leadership roles at the college, sometimes I wonder where all the men have gone! I was raised in a family of four daughters and that meant five women in the house – my poor dad! At least that’s what people always said. But he was most comfortable as a father of girls/young women and said he wouldn’t have it any other way. I also went to a girls camp and had leadership roles starting in high school. So, I guess I was very lucky to grow up feeling pretty empowered like that.
Q: What 3 qualities do women need to succeed as community leaders?
We need a kind of confidence that is different from men’s. I think it is a self-reflective kind of confidence. It doesn’t exist in isolation, and it isn’t blind to our limitations. It is humble but strong and determined, and very relationally aware. Secondly, I think we need skills of collaboration to partner and work with diverse colleagues and community members. Third, we need the courage to take risks, to go where maybe women haven’t gone before and do things a bit differently because we are women. We don’t want only to succeed in a man’s world but to work with others – including men – to change the world so it works better for people of all genders.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your work?
I love that it is so meaningful. I get to work on issues I feel passionate about. I also love the challenges it provides. It’s very diverse and there is always so much room for me to keep learning and growing and improving my skills in so many areas. I also love that it is people work. I’m very relationship-oriented and I love my colleagues. They make going to work and doing the hard work so much easier.
Q: What’s the best book you’ve read or film you’ve seen recently?
I recently re-watched Dr Strangelove (1964) with my 19-year-old son. I realize that might seem almost absurd in the current context amidst so much very real fear about nuclear war, but it’s clever satire and I really appreciate that. I’m also reading Jody Wilson-Raybould’s book, Indian in the Cabinet, and listening to her read it on Audible. Hearing her story in her voice is inspiring because I really admire her commitment to her people and to democratic ideals, as well as her integrity.
