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5 |Friday, March 10, 2017 | O A K V IL L E B E A V E R | www.insideHALTON.com A bbey P ark hosts sixth an n u al IW D b re a k fa s t by Nathan Howes Oakville Beaver Staff Hold on to your dreams. That' s what Oakville resident Kinsey Powell, an RBC Royal Bank commercial account manager/investment banker, advised as keynote speaker at Abbey Park High School (APHS)' s sixth annual International Women' s Day (IWD) breakfast Wednesday, March 8. The event was organized by APHS' Young Women in Readership Council (YWLC) to mark IWD and celebrate the achievements of women while calling for greater equality The theme of the breakfast was Be Bold For Change. It featured Powell' s presentation and a roundtable discussion with attendees. Powell joined RBC Royal Bank, as a summer student and bank teller when she was 19. Now, at 23, she specializes in the not-for-profit sector for downtown Toronto and the GTA. Powell sat down with the Oakville Beaver after the event and expanded on her remarks. "If I was to define feminism for myself, standing together is the theme. We're at a disadvantageous position in society, in political spaces and economic spaces. Speaking up and standing with one another is how those systems change," said Powell. "There is nothing more powerful, more inspiring and more cool than a group of women coming together and saying, W e're standing up At left, Devon Penfold, 16, left, and Hannah Crowley, 16, at Abbey Park High School's sixth annual breakfast cel ebrating International Women's Day Wednesday, March 8. At right, guest speaker Kinsey Powell. |Nikki Wesley /Metroland | Nathan Howes/Metroland for one another and we're going to move forward as a group." While significant progress has been made on women' s rights over the years, "we still have a long way to go," Powell said. "We still have not reached parity in politics, we have not reached parity in society, we have not reached parity economically. In my books, that is not acceptable." March 8 is about "celebrating women for women," Powell said, and to highlight those who've made a difference, often through adversity Powell noted she is inspired by her grandmother - the "coolest person to grace God' s green Earth," she told the audience. Powell' s grandmother lived in extreme poverty in Toronto and was removed from school to work at a gun factory at an early age. "Extreme poverty is hard enough to break, let alone as a 15-year-old girl. She has been a huge source of inspiration for me." "There are a lot of challenges she faced in her life that really put my challenges into perspective. I was fortunate enough that my grandmother played a really big role in raising me. She acted as a third parent to me," Powell told the Beaver. Powell paid tribute to "trailblazers" before her, and friends and family who support her. The first female commercial bankers and executives at firms such as RBC are those Powell referenced as the trailblazers. "A lot of those women have turned into mentors of mine. Having a really authentic and amazing mentor relationship with them has been impactful for me on a personal level, but professionally, as well," said Powell. "It has been a very valuable experience to have those kinds of sponsors and champions inside the organization." She said she also has an "incredible" group of friends who try to inspire each other in their aspirations and goals, whether it' s personally or professionally Powell also wants to give back to the next generation to "keep that reciprocal cycle" of female mentorship and advancement. To help young women move forward in life, Powell recommends students find a female champion to exchange ideas and conversations. She also advises to never give up, to work hard and not to compromise your dreams. "Don't compromise on your dreams or what you w ant... if you have a dream, don't give up on it." Let Your Natural Beauty Shine Through At Any A ge NON-SURGIGALOFFERS Laser S kin R e ju ve n a tio n Acne Treatment Laser Hair Removal Photofacial Skin Resurfacing T h in k in g o f R e t ir in g ... Som eday? L e t 's T a l k . Visit our website to sign up for a free consultation Peter Watson MBA, CFP, R.F.P., CIM , FCSI Jennifer Watson B.A. S C h eDr Douglas Grace In je cta b le s: Botox Fillers/Juvederm Skin H e a lth M a n a g e m e n t: Facial Peels Latisse Comprehensive Skin Care Analysis Sclerotheropy ZO Skin Health Medical Grade Facials N o n -S u rg ic a l B o d y C o n to u rin g Vanquish Exilis GRACE CLINIC V o t e d # 1 F a c ia l and PLASTIC, R EC O N STR U C TIVE & LASER SURGERY B.SC. M.D. F.R.C.S.C Plastic, Reconstructive, & Laser Surgeon 289 768-2683 |200-481 JOHN ST., BURLINGTON jWWW.GRACECLINIC.CA C o s m e t ic P las tic S u r g e o n in 220 Randall Street, Downtown Oakville 905-842-2100 peterwatsoninvestments.com O a k v il l e , B u r l in g t o n and H a m il t o n