In a recent Q&A, we spoke with Carmen Jeffery, Massey Henry Principal, about what this year's International Women's Day year's theme, "Give to Gain," means to her.
Carmen also reflects on how she brings the theme to life — both personally and professionally — from building supportive networks and community, to mentoring and advocating for women leaders across the industry.
Viewed holistically, and through the lens of my work, this year’s theme of "Giving to Gain" is about stewardship, not extraction.
In executive search, this perspective shifts the focus from "finding a candidate for a role" to "cultivating an ecosystem for a leader." When I advocate for someone, I am not just filling a seat — I am helping plant a seed.
What does International Women’s Day – and the theme of “Give to Gain” – mean to you?
Viewed holistically, and through the lens of my work, "Giving to Gain" is about stewardship, not extraction.
- Professionally: In executive search, this perspective shifts the focus from "finding a candidate for a role" to "cultivating an ecosystem for a leader." When I advocate for someone, I am not just filling a seat — I am helping plant a seed. Whether supporting a candidate through their career journey or providing honest feedback to a client about culture, the goal is to foster a more conscious, equitable workplace. It becomes a reciprocal cycle: the more we lift others, the more space we create for our own authentic selves to stand tall.
- Personally: I have experienced the impacts of mental health and health challenges that have directly affected me, and my immediate eco-system of loved ones and co-workers. I am also a mother of three daughters, aged 21 to 30, who have each navigated their own disruptive challenges while developing their careers.
- I am not alone in this. I have made it my mission to cultivate a sisterhood — a community of women friends and family who share safe spaces to face ourselves, each other, our world, and our work. Through these relationships, I’ve learned that my greatest strengths are not forged through isolation or force, but through honesty, authenticity, and the willingness to share my own stories and encourage others to do the same. When I "give" my vulnerability, I gain a deeper and more resilient connection to my own humanity.
What makes the difference in helping women step into leadership, especially in financial services?
From my conversations, the women who successfully shift the paradigm share three common traits:
- Mindful Self-Regulation: The most effective leaders are those who can regulate their nervous systems. Financial services is a high-cortisol environment. Women who hold space — who stay calm, grounded, and present when the market or the boardroom gets heated — demonstrate a kind of authority that is magnetic, not aggressive.
- Sponsorship over Mentorship: Mentors talk to you; sponsors talk about you. Reflecting on this, I would advise leaders: do not just look for advice; look for people willing to spend their intellectual capital to champion your advancement.
- The "We" Mentality: The women who truly lead are those who build networks and coalitions. They understand that by pulling other women up, they aren't losing their place — it strengthens the collective.
What advice would you offer to emerging women leaders who want to create change while advocating for themselves?
Your drive is not a finite resource to be guarded; it is a renewable energy that grows the more it is shared.
- Protect Your Energy as Fiercely as Your Career: You cannot advocate for your own growth if you are operating from a place of depletion. Cultivate practices that support your wellbeing; set boundaries, practice deep breathing before tough conversations, take time daily to practice art, yoga, reading, or cooking — something you do from a place of joy. When you treat your nervous system as your primary asset, you build foundation, not a house of cards that tumbles in crisis. You are a human being first; high performance comes from fueling your strength on multiple levels, not just work.
- Redefine "Change": Change does not always require dismantling a system from the outside. Prioritize empathy, integrity, and creating spaces where honest dialogue can occur. Ask questions that bring the human impact of decisions into focus and encourage opportunities for growth and strength that extend beyond the workplace.
- Find Your "Circle": No woman is an island. Find your community — not just for support, but for strategic partnership. When you surround yourself with individuals who understand your challenges and celebrate your wins, you become even more resilient.
A Closing Thought: I am inspired by helping women recognize the strength of their own feminine energy — and the idea that their professional ambitions can be fueled by it.
About Massey Henry
Executive Search, Coaching, Assessment, and Advisory Services
Ranked among Canada’s Top Growing Companies by The Globe and Mail, Massey Henry is one of North America’s leading executive search and board advisory firms focused exclusively on the financial services sector. With an experienced team of industry leaders and executive recruitment specialists, the firm combines innovation with sector expertise to provide clients with full-scope talent assessment, coaching, succession planning, and executive search services.
Michael Henry
Managing Partner, Massey Henry
John Sanders
Senior Partner, Board & CEO Services
Lisa Newey
Partner
Carmen Jefferey
Principal