Empowering women and celebrating their achievements is part of the message shared by the keynote speaker at the annual Chamber of Commerce International Women’s Day breakfast.
Jess Shorten is a Business Banker with ATB Financial and also one of the founders of the grassroots philanthropy group – Girlgang Kindness. Shorten shared with those in attendance at the annual Lethbridge and District Chamber of Commerce event what she calls her “non-traditional career journey” and her most recent adventure of becoming a mom to twin girls.
“I just wanted to share with everybody how challenging it all is in your day-to-day life and that we’re all facing these struggles, but as women, we can all come together and support each other,” she says.
Part of this was her sharing a piece of her pregnancy story, that included loss. She explains the reason she shared this is because many women go through different challenges during pregnancy and she wants to embrace it is a normal thing that happens.
“We need to talk about it more, be there for each other and do what we can through the hard times, even when it’s something as sad as loss. We need to talk about it and show up for each other and show that we’re all in it together.”
Another topic Shorten touched on multiple times during her speech was imposter syndrome. She told the sold-out room whether it was her job at CASA, the University of Lethbridge or even her current position at ATB there have been moments where she didn’t think she had the experience or the background to be in the position, but ultimately she pushed those fears aside, challenged herself and pushed forward. Now she is raising two little girls she says she wants them to grow up in a world where they can chase their dreams and do whatever they want to do.
“They should be able to get any job they want and be paid adequately for it and just have the best life they possibly can.”
Shorten says International Women’s Day is something that means a lot to her because it is raising the voices of women in the community and celebrating everything they do.
