Vancouver Women in Male-Dominated Industries

In 2025, The WIMDI Speaker Series is inviting engaging speakers each month to give interactive talks on topics that help women kill it at work.
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Welcome to Talk 8 of 13 - Embodied Practices to Cope with Your Workplace
Tom dazzles the room with the company’s next amazing strategy. Everyone’s so impressed, you could hear a pin drop. And all you think is, He just stole my idea! You feel your face start to flush, tears well up in your eyes, and the lump in your throat gets bigger and bigger.
*sigh* just another Tuesday

What if instead of spending the afternoon suppressing your bubbling rage, you were able to regain your centre in a matter of minutes? What if you had the tools to self-regulate and harness the energy of the emotion without getting pulled into it? You’d be back in your work brain and plotting your triumphant return to the boardroom before you can say that’s my idea damnit!

The ability to find the message from the emotion as we navigate our workplaces and transform it into something productive is an essential skill for women working in male-dominated industries. This talk will focus on giving you tools to manage the stress of working in stifling, micro-aggression-filled workplaces. We’ll cover:

• What happens to your body when you are surrounded by jerks
• How our breathing patterns change in response to stress
• Tools you can use to influence your subconscious mind – and stop your nervous system from getting hijacked!
• A short yogic practice you can do anywhere (even at your desk!) to help you re-gain your self-worth and brain real-estate after being triggered.

The goal of this talk is to give you concrete tools you can use to move away from distress and reconnect to your inner strength.

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Yogacharini Maitreyi
Yogacharini Maitreyi is a practical Mystic and the founder of Arkaya. When in Vancouver, she trains teachers & healers in the 500 hr Arkaya teacher training. She has taught a wide variety of people internationally for the last 25 years. She brings a calm and lightness to the teachings & classes and encourages people to tap into play.

Maitreyi consults and trains companies on wellness issues, holistic health and organic management. She trains them in the science and art of self- and stress-management. She is passionate about holistic self development and does life enhancement coaching for top management and decision makers. She has been a key note speaker for audiences of 800 and above and trained over 60 companies.
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Timeline of Our Fun Event:

• 5:30 pm – Meet
  We’ll meet up at David Lam Park in Yaletown, by the David Lam Park Fountain (above the public washrooms, near the corner of Pacific and Homer).
• 5:45 pm – Networking & Icebreakers
  The event starts with mingling, socializing, and small-group networking.
• 6:00 pm – Event Begins
  The talk starts! Most talks contain interactive elements, question prompts for you to complete, or other activities that make multi-tasking difficult. Get out your notepad and prepare to soak up some knowledge.
• 6:45 pm – Guided Gentle Exercise
  Our speaker will guide us through gentle yogic and breathing exercises. These can be done seated or standing, so if you have forgotten a blanket or yoga mat you can still join in. No special attire or level of athletic ability is required.
• 7:30 pm – The End of the Night!
  We’ll exchange cards, phone numbers, facepages, myfriend accounts, tweetster, instapics, snaptexts, tictaks, or whatever it is that the kids are using these days to stay in touch – and then head home!

See Where We're Meeting:

We've got a virtual preview of our event area, so you can see exactly what to expect in terms of ground conditions, elevation and accessibility.
WIMDI David Lam Park Event Walk-Through

Covid Cautious? We’ve Got You!

• This in-person event is being held outdoors to reduce risk for our covid-cautious, and immunocompromised members.
• For anyone who wants to add outdoor masking and practice 6+ feet of social distancing, we’ll have a special covid cautious walking pod so you can socialize safely with other folks who are masking and distancing too.
• Worried about being the only one in a mask? You won’t be alone! WIMDI’s founder Holly is committed to wearing a mask with any WIMDI member who wants to so you have an automatic friend and ally.
• Need anything else to make it as safe as possible for you to join us? Drop Holly a note at hello@wimdi.com and we’ll make a plan so you can have a great (& safe) time with your fellow WIMDIs!

Attendance Notes:

1) Gender:

This event is open to individuals of any gender identity.

2) What to Wear:

Come in whatever clothing you are most comfortable in, or happen to be wearing that day. There will be a breathwork component to this event, so it's recommended to wear clothing that won't restrict your chest and lungs if possible. Bring a blanket or yoga mat if you have one. Not to worry if you don't have one or forget, you'll still be able to participate. Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen if it's a hot, sunny day.

3) Children:

WIMDI events are for parents too! We know childcare can occasionally be a challenge, but we don't think that should stop you from connecting and learning with us. WIMDI doesn't offer childcare at our events, but we'd love you to bring your little one along with some quiet activities to occupy them. Suitable for ages 0+

4) Code of Conduct:

By attending this event, you agree to adhere to WIMDI's code of conduct, which you can find at wimdi.com/code-of-conduct-and-policy.

5) No Selling, Pitching, or Finding Your Next Client:

Our events are different than most traditional events. They're not focused on entrepreneurs, and aren't a place to pitch your business or service. Our first priority is making sure our community gets to connect with each other and it's no fun when everyone is trying to meet their next client.

6) Privacy & Photography:

WIMDI will not be taking photos at this event, but individual participants may take photos during the event. We understand that some of our members may not be comfortable having their photo taken, and we don’t want this to stop anyone from attending. We will organize a group photo at the start of the event for anyone who wants to take one, so anyone who’s not keen to be photographed can opt-out. For the rest of the event, attendees may only take photos of people if they have explicit verbal consent of everyone in the photo frame. This event will NOT be recorded for YouTube.

7) Donations to PAFNW (Pacific Association of First Nations Women)

As part of this event we have the option of donation to the Pacific Association of First Nations Women for their scholarship fund for Indigenous women and girls. This is a concrete way - beyond land acknowledgement - to redistribute some of our collective financial privilege to support Indigenous women.
*WIMDI uses an inclusive definition of women that means "people who are in a gender minority in their field". This includes trans individuals, genderqueer, agender, intersex, two spirit, and non-binary folks. If you are not sure if you are included, please err on the side of attending our events! Feel free to reach out to the Organizer, Holly Burton, with any questions and for an automatic welcoming face and first-friend at any WIMDI event.

This summer we’re teaming up with our friends at Tech2Step for Friday evening networking fun.

Join us for an evening of fresh air, movement, networking, chit-chat, and strategy sharing between women in male-dominated industries.

Here's the plan:
5:30 - 6:00 pm – Meet
We’ll meet up in front of The Drop at Coal Harbour (1055 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC V6C 0C3).
6:15 pm – Walk/Roll
We’ll go for a 45-minute walk or roll along the beautiful Coal Harbour seawall, heading west towards the Westin Bayshore, chatting up a storm and meeting your new WIMDI besties.
7:00 pm – Ice Cream
We’ll head over to Uno Gelato Café (1055 Canada Pl #36, Vancouver, BC V6C 3T4) for summer-friendly frozen treats and more outdoor socializing
8:00 pm – The End of the Night!
We’ll exchange cards, phone numbers, facepages, myfriend accounts, tweetster, instapics, snaptexts, tictaks, or whatever it is that the kids are using these days to stay in touch – and then head home!
Hope to see you there!

Holly Burton
WIMDI Founder & CEO + Executive Coach for Women in Male-Dominated Industries
e: hello@wimdi.com
w: wimdi.com
p: she/her

Specific Mobility Accessibility Needs? Join us!

• If you use a mobility aid (wheelchair, scooter, cane, walker, etc), are bringing kids and a stroller, or have any specific needs around pacing, we are happy to have you join us – and we’ll happily meet you where you’re at in terms of route or pace.
• Route: We’ll be walking and/or rolling along the seawall starting at The Drop in Coal Harbour. We’ll be doing 45-minute there-and-back routes heading along seawall walking paths of Coal Harbour, heading West towards the Westin Bayshore. The path is fully paved and mostly flat in both directions.
• Accessible Washrooms: Canada Place, which is open until 11:00 pm on Friday nights, has accessible washrooms.
• Parking: The closest parking to our meeting place is located at Vancouver Convention Centre - Centre W Lot, and the nearest mass transit hub is one block away at Waterfront Station. Additional information about transit, accessible parking can be found here: https://www.vancouverconventioncentre.com/visiting/getting-here
• Transit: The nearest mass transit hub is one block away at Waterfront Skytrain Station (Expo & Canada Line). Additional information about transit, accessible parking can be found here: vancouverconventioncentre.com/visiting/getting-here

Additional information about planning your trip via transit can be found here: Translink Trip Planner

Covid Cautious? We’ve Got You!

• This in-person event is being held outdoors to reduce risk for our covid-cautious, and immunocompromised members.
• For anyone who wants to add outdoor masking and practice 6+ feet of social distancing, we’ll have a special covid cautious walking pod so you can socialize safely with other folks who are masking and distancing too.
• Worried about being the only one in a mask? You won’t be alone! WIMDI’s founder Holly is committed to wearing a mask with any WIMDI member who wants to so you have an automatic friend and ally.
• The Ice Cream portion of the event will be mask-off time (for obvious reasons), so you may or may not plan to participate in that part, depending on your personal risk tolerance. But we’ve planned that part of the event after the walk, so you can join us for only the first part of the event and still have a great time.
• Need anything else to make it as safe as possible for you to join us at Walk, Talk & Ice Cream? Drop Holly a note at hello@wimdi.com and we’ll make a plan so you can have a great (& safe) time with your fellow WIMDIs!

Attendance Notes:
1) Gender:
WIMDI Walk, Talk & Ice Cream networking events are restricted to those who do not currently identify as cisgender men. These events have limited attendance and often involve personal discussion, debate, and advice specific to dynamics underrepresented minorities in these industries experience. We are happy for cisgender men to learn and participate in WIMDI conversation at most of our other events, but we reserve the networking events as a space for women* to connect with each other freely and openly.
2) Code of Conduct:
By attending this event, you agree to adhere to WIMDI's code of conduct, which you can find at wimdi.com/code-of-conduct-and-policy.
3) No Selling, Pitching, or Finding Your Next Client:
Our networking events are different than most traditional networking events. They're not focused on entrepreneurs, and aren't a place to pitch your business or service. Our first priority is making sure our community gets to connect with each other and it's no fun when everyone is trying to meet their next client.
4) Privacy & Photography:
WIMDI will not be taking photos at this event, but individual participants may take photos during the event. We understand that some of our members may not be comfortable having their photo taken, and we don’t want this to stop anyone from attending. We will organize a group photo at the start of the event for anyone who wants to take one, so anyone who’s not keen to be photographed can opt-out. For the rest of the event, attendees may only take photos of people if they have explicit verbal consent of everyone in the photo frame.
5) Donations to PAFNW (Pacific Association of First Nations Women)
As part of this event we have the option of donation to the Pacific Association of First Nations Women for their scholarship fund for Indigenous women and girls. This is a concrete way - beyond land acknowledgement - to redistribute some of our collective financial privilege to support Indigenous women.
*WIMDI uses an inclusive definition of women that means "people who are in a gender minority in their field". This includes trans individuals, genderqueer, agender, intersex, two spirit, and non-binary folks. If you are not sure if you are included, please err on the side of attending our events! Feel free to reach out to the Organizer, Holly Burton, with any questions and for an automatic welcoming face and first-friend at any WIMDI event.