In celebration of International Women’s Day, the Odette School of Business hosted a panel discussion March 8 on the topic “Pursuing Passions and Inspiring Others.”

The all-female panel of speakers included:

• Laurie A. Tannous, cross-border attorney specializing in business immigration law and global human trafficking initiatives;
• Federica Nazzani, founder and managing partner of the Capital Assist (Valuation) accounting firm;
• Carolyn Brown, chief operations officer of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority; and
• Esraa Abdelhalim, assistant professor of information systems, Odette School of Business.

The discussion was moderated by Marie Campagna, Odette executive-in-residence and former vice-president of finance at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare.

The speakers shared their journeys to success despite the obstacles that many women face, including gender bias, discrimination, and balancing motherhood.

“They say there’s no room at the table,” said Tannous. “I just bring my own chair and make my own room at the table.”

Abdelhalim, who initiated the event, says International Women’s Day is crucial to showcase impact the impact of women: “This was an opportunity to celebrate and take the impact to a higher level by connecting women with women!”

Interim dean of the Odette School of Business, Ashish Mahajan, said, “Today, we not only celebrate the achievements of women but also reaffirm our commitment to creating a world where every woman is empowered to pursue her passions freely and without constraint.”