The Canadian Black Standard (The Standard) unveiled a new all-Black woman-led Board of Directors at its signature event, The Huddle: A Playbook For Success powered by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) and NBA Canada, on Thursday, November 16.

Taking place at Cineplex Yonge Dundas VIP Lounge, the theme for this sold-out event is ‘Can You C-Us? Black Women Executive Leadership’, featuring an esteemed panel of Black women leaders, including incoming Board Chair Debra Christmas. 

"The time is now to lift and amplify the voices of Black women in business. We are incredibly talented thought leaders, who can engage at all levels of the corporate and entrepreneurial world and get things done. Our impact has yet to be recognized and The Standard is here to change that," said Debra Christmas, Board Chair for The Standard. 

The Huddle is about the ‘real talk’ of being successful at the intersection of gender and race. Host Savanna Hamilton (Sportsnet Raptors sideline reporter) will facilitate the conversation focusing on navigating leadership trajectory, challenging stereotypes with dignity, and acquiring strategies to overcome systemic barriers to rise professionally, personally, and authentically. The audience will engage and hear from Black women leaders including: 

● Angela White – MLSE, Senior Director, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion 

● Elisabeth Burks - Known Entity, CEO & Founder 

● Renee Laforet - Infrastructure Ontario, Senior Vice President, Transformation 

The official new board members represent decades of leadership in both marketing and governance. Hailing from British Columbia all the way to New Brunswick, seven dedicated and talented women have been elected to serve. The Standard’s 2023-2024 Board of Directors: 

● Debra Christmas - Chair 

● Robin Esale – Treasurer 

● Sherika Powell - Secretary 

● Allison Fraser – Director of Corporate Relations 

● Stephanie Gyles – Director of Marketing & Communications 

● Esther Ibang – Director-at-Large 

● Shelly-Ann Scott – Director-at-Large 

According to the recent ‘Women in the Workplace’ report by McKinsey & Co., women represent roughly one in four C-suite leaders, while women of colour represent just one in 16. The Standard is on a mission to change this statistic and elevate Black women in the marketing sector across Canada by educating, collaborating, and re-designing pathways to success.

MLSE and NBA Canada have supported The Huddle since the event’s first edition in 2020. Both organisations are deeply invested in the development and sustainable growth of The Standard across Canada, providing essential resources, expertise, access, and opportunities. 

“As an organization, it is important to us to support and uplift like-minded organizations that are also committed to creating space for marginalized talent and voices,” said Teri Dennis-Davies, Chief People and Inclusion Officer, MLSE. “We are proud to collaborate with The Standard and stand together as we celebrate and elevate influential Black women leaders in Canadian organizations and beyond.”