The Women’s Executive Network (WXN) has named two Queen’s Law graduates –- Judy Goldring, Law’ 91, and Leslie O’Donoghue, Law ’88 -- as recipients of the 10th Annual Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards.
These awards, which celebrate the professional achievements of women across the country in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, named both alumnae in the corporate executive category. Judy Goldring is Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer for AGF Management, Toronto, and Leslie O’Donoghue is Executive Vice-President, Corporate Development and Strategy, and Chief Risk Officer for Agrium Inc. of Calgary.
Goldring, who joined AGF as general counsel in 1998, was named COO of the mutual fund company in 2009. Her job involves promoting AGF’s growth and ensuring it operates effectively. She also sits on AGF’s board of directors.
For women pursuing leadership positions, Goldring advises, “You have to work hard and seek out opportunities. Don’t just wait for someone to hand them to you. If you’re nervous and uneasy about that next opportunity, that’s good, because you’re going to stretch yourself.”
She also has advice for women who often worry about their shortcomings: “Know what you don’t know and get the necessary support and help around you. That way you won’t fail. Do it in all aspects of your life.” She admits, “I couldn’t do it without a husband who is supportive of the hours I work.”
Goldring says that because the role of corporate counsel has become much more interesting, it affords both male and female lawyers a great career. “It automatically provides a different kind of balance of lifestyle. You still have time pressures, but you have more control over your time.”
For the last 5 years, she has co-chaired the Toronto Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Ride for Research, which raises $3 million annually. She is also Vice-Chair of the Governing Council of her undergraduate alma mater -- the University of Toronto.
Goldring is complimentary about her Queen’s mentors. “My first year in law school was a real shift in thinking for me, and Dan Soberman, who taught me contract law, really helped me. Virginia Bartley was very open and willing and made me feel very welcome.”
For her co-winner Leslie O’Donoghue, this marks the third time she has been honoured with this WXN Top 100 award. Responsible for Agrium’s strategic direction and for implementing the company’s growth strategy, O’Donoghue has managed the fertilizer business’s operations around the world since joining Agrium in 1999. She explains, “We started out as a North American company, but we’re looking to grow in Europe, Asia Pacific and South America. It’s all about feeding the world.”
O’Donoghue established the Agrium Women’s Leadership Group, which has developed an internal network to help women in the company succeed. Like Goldring, she encourages women to take chances. “My first foray out of legal was terribly uncomfortable because all I knew was legal, but sometimes you need the confidence to step out and be okay with being a little bit uncomfortable. With hard work, you will find that you can do something just as well as the next person. It is also important to have the right support systems, people and culture around you to help you succeed.”
This year, O’Donoghue is co-chairing Calgary’s United Way Campaign. She is also a member of the Pembina Pipeline Corp. board of directors and the Queen’s Law Dean’s Council.
O’Donoghue attributes her confidence to several Queen’s professors, acknowledging that two of them, David Mullan and Mark Weisberg, had a huge influence on her. “When I arrived in first year, I was under-confident, and both professors were confidence boosters.”
As two of Canada’s Most Powerful Women, she and Judy Goldring are certainly paying that Queen’s experience forward.