Surrey Schools hosts insightful and inspirational engagement for women in leadership
From left, Building Professional Capacity Director of Instruction Kristi Blakeway, Vancouver Airport Authority President and CEO Tamara Vrooman, and Chief Human Resources Officer Michele Radomski at an event for women in leadership, hosted last week by Surrey Schools. Vrooman shared her insights from her roles in public and private sectors, and how she has navigated both challenges and successes throughout her career.
Principals, administrators, managers, directors, superintendents – women are at the helm of numerous significant roles throughout the district. And last week, Surrey Schools had the privilege of welcoming Tamara Vrooman, President and CEO of the Vancouver Airport Authority, for an inspiring gathering of women leaders.
Organized by Chief Human Resources Officer Michele Radomski and Building Professional Capacity Director of Instruction Kristi Blakeway, the event saw Vrooman share insights from her remarkable career, offering an honest and thoughtful perspective on leadership, navigating challenges and embracing opportunity. Her experiences across both public and private sectors, and her many "firsts" as a leader, served as a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when courage, curiosity and purpose come together.
Vrooman's inspirational speaking engagement touched on her many "firsts" as a leader and managing complexity and change in her leadership journey.
“Hearing from a leader like Tamara – someone who has navigated so many firsts with courage and grace – is a gift,” said Blakeway. “But equally powerful is the reminder that the women in our own district carry remarkable wisdom and strength.
“Bringing those two things together is exactly what the day was about.”
Known for her commitment to innovation, community and social justice, Vrooman spoke candidly about leading through complexity and change, and the importance of staying grounded in values and authenticity. Her practical wisdom resonated with women at every stage of their leadership journey.
One of the most resonant themes of the conversation was the importance of speaking up – that staying silent in the face of an offhand comment, an ill-timed joke or a thoughtless gesture doesn't serve the next generation of leaders. Preparing for those moments before they arise, and knowing how you'll respond, is part of the work of leadership.
“When women in leadership come together to share their experiences honestly, the challenges alongside the wins, something shifts,” said Radomski. “These conversations remind us that we're not navigating this alone, and that the paths we're carving matter for the women who come after us.”
Just as meaningful was the opportunity for women from across the district to hear from one another – sharing their own experiences, challenges and successes. The conversation was rich, energizing and deeply affirming of the strength and breadth of leadership within our community.
We are grateful to Tamara for her generosity of time and spirit, and to all who participated in making this such a meaningful discussion.
