Shelley Gray: Women Redefining Skilled Trades

Host Lisa Laronde interviews Shelley Gray, the CEO of SkilledTradesBC about her journey in leadership as a woman in the trades. They dive into the significance of representation, the unique challenges women face in male-dominated fields, and effective strategies to attract and retain women in skilled trades.

Shelley and Lisa discuss the crucial need for supportive policies and environments that foster inclusivity, emphasizing the roles of allyship and mentorship. They highlight how authenticity and empowerment in leadership can transform industries, stressing the importance of visibility and celebration of women's achievements. 

The discussion touches on the value of diversity and the importance of challenging one another to grow. Shelley shares her experiences and insights on mentorship and the need for more women in boardrooms. She offers practical advice for young leaders, inspiring them to pursue careers in trades.

The episode wraps up with a powerful commitment to continue advocating for women and promoting careers in the skilled trades, making this a must-listen for anyone passionate about diversity and inclusion in the workforce.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction and Background

(01:49) Breaking Barriers: Women in the Trades

(04:11) Redefining Work-Life Balance

(07:57) Creating a Supportive Environment

(09:49) Changing the Narrative

(12:09) The Impact of Skilled Trades

(15:16) The Power of Allyship and Mentorship

(21:44) Creating Space for Leadership to Look Different

(23:33) The Value of Diversity and Challenging One Another

(26:29) Increasing Women's Representation on Boards

(27:00) Embracing the Messiness and Having It All

Find out more about Shelley Gray: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelley-gray-a7033231/

Shelley Gray is the Chief Executive Officer of SkilledTradesBC (formerly the Industry Training Authority), a Crown Corporation responsible for managing, supporting, and promoting British Columbia’s trades training and apprenticeship system. As the first woman to hold the position of CEO at SkilledTradesBC, Shelley is highly motivated to work towards creating a more inclusive skilled trades and apprenticeship system that reflects our diverse population.

Shelley’s strategic leadership style is backed by 20+ years of experience driving business results through the implementation of customer-focused strategies for some of Canada’s top public and private sector organizations. Recently, her leadership was recognized by YWCA as a Women of Distinction nominee (2021) and by Business in Vancouver as an influential leader on their inaugural top 500 leaders list (2021).

Shelley sits on industry Boards and Committees, including the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeships, Vancouver College, and the Vancouver Board of Trade Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council. In addition, she is a volunteer mentor with Minerva BC, an organization that is dedicated to advancing the leadership of women and girls.

She has a Bachelor of Arts in International Business from the University of Alberta, a Leadership Development Certificate from UBC Sauder School of Business, and INSEAD Executive Leadership Certificate in Driving Value through Business Acumen, and recently received her ICD.D.

Shelley is very inspired by the early intervention work of LDS, which allows each student the ability to see and realize their full potential from early on in their life. She knows first hand how important it is for young learners to know their options won’t be limited by their learning strengths and stretches.