I was not the child who knew from the start that she wanted to be a doctor, or a teacher, or an astronaut. I went to school, studied hard, and discovered my interests, and my competencies. I always sought new challenges, even if they made me feel uncomfortable. What a great sense of pride when I conquered those fears. My passion for the public good led me to the government. And my quest to seek new challenges never ended, and here I am, in Switzerland, as Canada’s representative. 

That is a tough question, because I am not the poster child for gender inequality. As a child of Italian immigrants, born in French Montreal, with an English first name, I was already an outsider. But I never experienced abuse, discrimination and violence against me. And I thank my country, Canada, for that.
 
Sure, we were under-represented and the Boys’ Club was alive and well. But I was smart, trilingual and well educated. But that is not everyone’s story. Equality is fragile, and we need to remain vigilant that we do not backtrack and erase gains that we fought so hard to achieve. In times of crisis, the best and the worst come out: let it be the best for gender equality.

Be true to yourself. Don’t be afraid to follow your dreams. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Get women mentors. Stand up for yourself. Surround yourself with people who inspire and believe in you.