Why Join the Women’s Leadership
Initiative?

Women in the social impact sector carry invisible weight every single day, expected to lead with clarity, compassion, and strategy, even when the system isn’t built to support them.

You’re navigating high-stakes missions, short-staffed teams, budget constraints, and emotionally heavy work and doing it all while trying not to fall apart in the process.

Sound familiar?

  • You're the go-to for everyone else… but who is checking in on you?
  • Your calendar is full, your inbox is worse, and your actual capacity? If feels non-existent.
  • You’re constantly walking the line between “making it happen” and completely burning out.
  • You’ve been told to set boundaries… by people who expect you to always be available.
  • You can’t remember the last time you had a full breath, a clear thought, or a meeting that didn’t leave you feeling overwhelmed by “next steps.”

The Woman’s Leadership Initiative was created for you.

This isn’t about powering through. It’s about leading in a new way, with support, clarity, and community.

We’re done with martyrdom disguised as leadership.

We’re reclaiming capacity. Redefining success. And leading differently, on purpose.

You deserve this. Our sector needs you.

1

Format

Live virtual sessions + optional in person meet up

This meet up will be a post event celebratory meet up and will be fully optional.

2

Weekly Commitment

90 min session / 30 min
homework

3

Cohort Size

8 spots only

4

Price

$799.00 plus HST

CohortDates (11:30am - 1:00pm ET)Status
Lead with Purpose CohortFor more information including upcoming dates and registration, please click here.OpenRegister Now!
Inspire with Impact CohortFor more information including upcoming dates and registration, please click here.Closed

Seats are limited to 8 leaders per cohort – secure your spot today.

Weekly Focus

Each week explores a core leadership theme, building toward clearer purpose, empowered collaboration, and a confident, values-driven leadership path.


  • Co-create and Protect our Space

    Together we will create a space where compassion, vulnerability, trust and personal growth will enhance our ability to develop relationships, identify our strengths and build our leadership practice.


  • Lead from our Values

    Whether your leadership is focused on family, work or play – we start with you. Craft a compelling personal purpose statement and lead from within. Get to know yourself and others on a whole new level.


  • Inspire Purpose and Presence

    Lead with a sense of purpose and bring your inner leader to the forefront to lead with presence, passion and love. Allow yourself to engage in opportunities to lead collaborative, mission-aligned change as your most authentic self.


  • Encourage Emergence

    Built trust, create spaces where others have the opportunity to let their own leadership emerge, celebrate heart-led wins to deepen competence and confidence.


  • Peer Review & Reflect

    Present your leadership challenge, participate in reflective peer review and refine your path forward. Determine how to bring this learning into your lived experience.

What You’ll Walk Away With:

A personal leadership vision anchored in your values and organization’s mission

Stronger emotional resilience and the courage to lead with vulnerability

Sharper decision‑making & authentic communication
skills

A trusted peer network of like‑minded women leaders ready to support and collaborate

Your Facilitator, Maryann Kerr, MA

Meet Maryann Kerr, a seasoned leader with 40 years in the social-impact sector and 25 years in senior roles. A certified Kouzes & Posner coach, she’s passionate about helping women lead with purpose, trust their wisdom, and build thriving, values-driven teams. Her approach blends heart, strategy, and deep self-awareness to create lasting impact.

  • 40 years in the social‑impact sector
  • 25 years in senior leadership
  • Certified Kouzes & Posner coach

“My north star is simple: grow people, grow impact. I help women trust their earned wisdom, build strong networks, and co‑create workplaces where everyone can thrive.”

What Past Participants Say

“Participating in Maryann’s Women’s Leadership Initiative was a transformative experience. It helped me recognize the importance of alignment and deepened my desire to lead not just with encouragement, but with inspiration. Maryann’s approach is rooted in profound self-awareness, which she models with grace and conviction. In a sector where staff often leave due to poor leadership, Maryann stands out as a guiding light—her heart, experience, and unwavering commitment to growing empathetic, heart-led leaders is exactly what the social impact space needs. She doesn’t just teach leadership—she lives it.”

— Katherine Smart, Generosity & Impact Advisor, Abundance Canada

“Participating in this program not only helped me better understand my strengths as a leader, but gave me a model of leadership to aspire to that is built on equity and community. I am so grateful for my learning with Maryann and implement it frequently.”

— Samantha Summers, Senior Development Officer, Kids Help Phone

“Before joining Maryann’s women’s leadership cohort, I often second-guessed myself. Leading a small charitable organization often feels isolating. I was juggling staff, boards, donors, community needs, and a young family all while wondering if I was getting it ‘right.’ This program was a turning point. Over five weeks, I learned to trust my instincts and lead in a way that truly aligns with my values. Maryann created a safe space where I could be honest about my challenges, and the conversations with other women in the cohort were transformative. I walked away with practical tools, a deeper sense of confidence, and a leadership practice that feels authentically me. I’m not trying to fit into someone else’s mold of leadership anymore—I’m leading in a way that feels natural, grounded, and effective.

— Elizabeth Dalgleish, Executive Director, Gilda’s Club Toronto

“I recently had the opportunity to participate in a Women’s Leadership Initiative facilitated by Maryann. As someone working in a leadership role within the non-profit sector, I was intrigued by the idea of a women-centered program tailored specifically to the unique challenges and realities we face in this field.

We often juggle multiple responsibilities, and finding a group of like-minded women was not only refreshing but also deeply empowering. Maryann created a judgment-free, supportive, and educational space where we could share experiences openly, learn from one another, and reflect on the kind of leaders we are—and aspire to be.

As a facilitator, Maryann is warm, flexible, and incredibly adaptive to the needs of her group. She strikes a thoughtful balance between theory and hands-on practice—all while fostering a genuine sense of connection, even in an online setting.

Maryann did a remarkable job of building a close-knit, supportive community. I would highly recommend any of her future groups to women leaders who are looking for an inspiring and empowering space to grow personally and professionally.”

— Isabelle Prosnick, Executive Director, BGC Dawson

“When I first joined Maryann’s Women’s Leadership Initiative, I was just starting my nonprofit journey. Full of vision, but unsure of what I didn’t yet know. As someone who tends to think outside the box, I needed guidance that wouldn’t box me in but would instead help me see both my strengths and blind spots clearly.

Maryann did exactly that. Her insight, empathy, and deep understanding of leadership helped me develop the confidence to lead my organization with purpose and authenticity. The program wasn’t just about frameworks or strategy; it was about clarity and understanding who I am as a leader and how to build something meaningful and sustainable. That experience helped me see myself differently, and leave behind the “imposter syndrome,” I carried so readily on my shoulders.

Looking back, that experience was pivotal. It gave me the grounding I needed to grow as a leader and the courage to lead differently, with heart, intention, and conviction.”

Amina Mohamed, Founder & Executive Director, Cameras For Girls

“I wholeheartedly recommend the Women’s Leadership Initiative from The Medalist Group. This program, led by the thoughtful and skilled Maryann, was both energizing and enriching. Being surrounded by a cohort of accomplished women created a uniquely supportive environment, one that encouraged honest conversation, reflection, and real connection.

What made the experience so valuable was the thoughtful blend of introspection and skill-building. The program helped me clarify my leadership vision, reconnect with my values, and grow in confidence, all while honing practical leadership tools like communication and performance management.

For women navigating the complexities of leadership in the nonprofit sector, this is a deeply worthwhile and empowering investment.”

—  Gillian Doucet Campbell, MA, CFRE, Founder of Impact Generosity

Ready to Lead with Greater Purpose?

Join a cohort of mission‑driven women who are reshaping the social‑impact landscape.

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