Celebrating International Women's Day: An Interview with Janelle Janis
International Women’s Day (IWD) serves as a powerful platform that aims to showcase the resilience and accomplishments of women worldwide. This day of celebration is a reminder that all women, from all walks of life and ages, have a place and a voice in society, furthering the important work towards a gender-equal world that is free of bias.
Here at Explore Edmonton, our team proudly honours the exceptional contributions of our female Explorers, who continually bring innovative ideas and drive positive change in our organization and beyond. From our dedicated security personnel at the Edmonton EXPO Centre and the Edmonton Convention Centre, to our visionary leaders, our team is comprised of inspiring women who wholeheartedly dedicate themselves to making Edmonton a distinctive and welcoming destination for travellers worldwide.
We sat down with Janelle Janis, executive director, Event and Business Development, here at Explore Edmonton to talk about her experience working as a woman in leadership in the sports and event industry.
Why do you think it is important to celebrate International Women’s Day?
For me, it’s about celebrating the women, the policies and the organizations that have stepped up to pave the way for us and those that are actively creating more space for women in all facets of life. But it’s also about recognizing that we haven't reached our final destination yet and there’s still a lot of work to be done.
Growing up playing competitive soccer, I saw firsthand how boys were treated differently; from pre-paid jerseys to more ideal game times to all expenses paid for tournaments. Back then, we weren’t nearly loud enough. But we found our voice and we’re not afraid to use it anymore – in unison – and I love that.
Coming into the world of international sport events, it was shockingly clear that there were not enough women at the table, in fact, there weren’t even enough of us in the building. And it was startling to realize that when you walked into a boardroom, you simply weren’t afforded the same element of respect that your male counterparts received. We had to work a little bit harder, be a little bit more charming, laugh a little bit more, smile a little bit more. Women have no problem working hard – trust me, we’re going to do that anyway – just don’t tell us to smile while we’re doing it.
Celebrating days like International Women’s Day creates the much-needed space to give women the chance to take the ‘microphone’ and speak up – for them to share more stories about their own lived experiences and how they believe we can all help dismantle the systemic network of barriers that keep women from realizing their own economic prosperity and social freedoms.
It is incredibly inspiring to watch other women succeed, but it’s even more inspiring to have allies help us build more tables and chairs so that more women can join us.
How do you think the sports industry has evolved in terms of gender diversity and inclusion over the years?
I think we’ve taken enormous strides in the last few years, and it is so exciting to watch the progress and the movement that women’s sports are having. But the reality is, five per cent media coverage of women's sports is not enough. Likewise, the investment in women's sports falls short of what is needed to make actionable change in the industry.
At home, I have two young boys, and when we tune in to watch sports on television the programming predominantly features men's sports. This reflects a broader issue: the societal norm that women are underrepresented both on and off the field in high-level sports. I believe there is a whole other market out there for women’s sports fans that has yet to be saturated. As leaders in the sports space, we need to give women’s sports time to grow – just like we gave men’s sports time to grow.
What advice would you give to young women aspiring to pursue roles in the sports and tourism industry?
The biggest advice that I can give to women, is simply this: YOU CAN DO IT SCARED!
Reach out to leaders in your community and ask for a coffee; learn anything and everything you can. Get experience, push your boundaries, and become comfortable with being uncomfortable. Trust me, I still get nervous, but we are capable and powerful. I always remind myself that the women before us knew their voice mattered more than their nerves did – we should honour that.
There is nothing more powerful and empowering than a woman who is brave enough to raise her hand. Keep raising your hand – until you’re the one with the microphone. Then share it with the woman beside you.