As a woman who has excelled in a male-dominated industry, Natalie Dakers has some advice for other woman who aspire to reach their leadership potential.
"The most important thing is to get comfortable with being uncomfortable," the 2017 Influential Women In Business recipient said at the awards luncheon on Wednesday. "That's been my world, and it's not necessarily a bad world, but sometimes it's been tough."
Dakers is the founding CEO and president of Accel-RX Health Sciences Accelerator and was honoured with the Business in Vancouver award in part because of her role in "spinning out" more than a dozen health sciences start-ups. She's also the founder of the Centre for Drug Research and Development.
It wasn't a coincidence that the awards were presented on International Women's Day. Dakers took the opportunity to acknowledge "these incredible women doing incredible things" who joined her on the dias at Waterfront Fairmont.
"The older I get, it really resonates how proud I am to be a woman... It's been through my relationships with women that I've learned so much."
She also noted that "I wouldn't be where I am if I wasn't passionate about what I do." But being uncomfortable is part of that, and you have to see the possibilities in everything you do. As well, "truly think hard about where you want to spend your time because life is short.
"The fundamental thing is that I surround myself with people I respect and who respect me and together we'll do great things together."
You can read Business in Vancouver's profile of Natalie Dakers here.
