PM ConneX Kingston. Leadership: The Power to Change the Status Quo
Presentation Title
Leadership: The Power to Change the Status Quo
A Discussion Panel with Industry Experts and Reflection on Lived Experiences
Session Abstract
Project outcomes are shaped not only by plans, tools, and timelines, but by team dynamics established from the top. This session explores why diversity in representation and accountable leadership matter, and what that means for project teams working in the realities of today’s complex culture. Through a candid panel discussion drawing on diverse lived, cultural, and professional perspectives, speakers will examine how inclusive leadership can strengthen team engagement, improve project performance, and drive business success. Designed for project managers and leaders at all career stages, this discussion uses PMI-style action plan to guide people and processes toward meaningful change.
Program:
Venue: Fractal Workspace Midtown, 945 Princess Street, Kingston, ON
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Recognize the impact of leadership behaviors on team dynamics, engagement, and project outcomes beyond traditional tools and processes.
- Understand the value of diversity, representation, and lived experience in strengthening project performance and decision‑making.
- Apply inclusive leadership principles to create psychologically safe, accountable, and high‑performing project teams.
- Identify practical strategies for addressing bias, power dynamics, and cultural complexity within project environments.
- Reflect on personal leadership practices and identify opportunities to challenge the status quo and drive meaningful, people‑centered change.
PDUs
- Ways of Working – 1 PDU
- Total 1 PDU
PRESENTER: Nancy Dionne, P.Eng.
Nancy Dionne is a Professional Engineer and graduate of the University of Waterloo having practiced for over 25 years. She is the founder of INSITE Project Consulting Inc., a firm specializing in project management and civil engineering solutions for land development projects across non-profit organizations and the private real estate sector. Her work focuses on delivering projects that create lasting social impact. Nancy continues to lead her company with a strong representation for women in engineering leadership positions in male-dominated fields, and fosters workplaces built on respect and equity. Through her platform, she champions collaboration and leverages her expertise to solve complex challenges while helping communities and like-minded professionals thrive.
https://www.linkedin.com/company/89757764
INSITE Project Consulting Inc. – Project Management, Civil Engineering, and Technical Services
Panel Speakers
1.Erica Gray
Erica Gray is a Senior Project Manager and Team Lead at Cambium Inc. with over 20 years of experience leading complex environmental projects. Erica brings a people focused approach to project management, recognizing that strong outcomes are driven not only by technical rigor, but also by trust, accountability, and effective team dynamics. She currently leads a high performing project team and is actively involved in advancing business development, mentoring emerging professionals, and guiding teams through change. As the first person in her family to earn a university degree, Erica’s career has been shaped by resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous growth. She is passionate about inclusive leadership and representation within project teams and believes that creating space for diverse perspectives strengthens engagement, improves performance, and delivers better results for clients and organizations alike.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericaagray/
2.Shannon Smadella, MBA
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Shannon Smadella is an award-winning social impact entrepreneur, Founder and CEO of Aurora Impact Foundation, and organizational and strategy consultant with over two decades of experience leading complex projects and initiatives across corporate, nonprofit, and social impact sectors. Shannon has advised hundreds of organizations across national and global contexts, supporting growth, scaling, and transformation by aligning strategy, stakeholder engagement, and human rights due diligence. Her work in women’s leadership focuses on equipping leaders to navigate uncertainty and redefine leadership beyond traditional models, with an emphasis on advancing psychologically safe, inclusive environments, ethical decision-making, and sustainable, human rights-centred impact. Shannon holds an MBA and has conducted research on ethical leadership and governance in emerging sectors. She is certified in Business and Human Rights and contributes to United Nations initiatives on human rights and gender equity.
https://www.shannonsmadella.com/
www.linkedin.com/in/shannonsmadella
3.Trevor Mayoh
Trevor is a disruptive diversity, inclusion and violence prevention consultant who focuses on transformative projects around the world. Trevor works with government and corporate partners on deconstructing gender norms and creating innovative violence prevention programming. He possesses unique expertise from working with professional sports, hospitality, technology, extractive and post-secondary organizations internally and externally to help foster more inclusive, safe and successful environments. Trevor is a regular commentator on Newstalk 1010 programs and has been featured in numerous print, radio and television media throughout North America.
