Give To Gain - A Recap Of Femme Alliance Network's International Women's Day Conference 2026.
80+ attendees. One keynote. Two curated panels. A clear call to turn connection into access, influence and action.
On March 14, 2026, Femme Alliance Network (FAN) brought together more than 80 attendees for Give to Gain: The Power Exchange, its International Women’s Day gathering in Calgary. Despite the cold, women showed up to exchange expertise, build networks and explore how collective support can advance careers, businesses and leadership.
Global News Calgary attended and covered the event, bringing these conversations to a wider audience. The gathering demonstrated FAN’s strength as a Calgary women’s organization mobilizing community leaders, entrepreneurs and partners around women’s economic empowerment and equitable access to opportunity.
From Participation to Decision-Making
During her interview with Global News, FAN Founder and Executive Director Chinomso “Nomso” Nnadi delivered a clear message: women must move beyond being mere participants to become contributors, decision-makers and policymakers.
She called on women to create their own pathways when access is not freely offered—and to open doors for others as they advance. Representation must extend beyond being present in a room to influencing its decisions.
For newcomer and racialized women especially, this means ensuring their expertise is recognized, their voices shape policy and their leadership ambitions are supported by real opportunities.
Panel One: Stewarding Power Through Leadership, Economic Empowerment, Community, and Technology.
Milena Radakovic (Canada Ambassador, WEDO), Simisola Obasan (Councillor, City Of Airdrie) and Nomso Nnadi brought together perspectives on leadership, community, economic empowerment and technology to examine how women can use influence responsibly and expand access for others.
The panel’s focus connected directly to FAN’s call to move from mentorship to active sponsorship. Advice matters; recommending a woman for leadership, making an influential introduction and advocating for her when decisions are made turns support into opportunity.
The challenge was clear: lead with courage, share access and hold the ladder steady for the next woman.
Panel Two: Building Businesses—Access to Finance, Governance, and Enterprise Growth
Chioma Ihekwoaba-Ufodike (FCPA), Alla Brisky(TD Women in Enterprise) and Amaka Onwubuya (Futurpreneur) centred the second panel on the foundations of sustainable enterprise: access to finance, sound governance and business growth.
This focus placed women’s entrepreneurship within the wider economic empowerment agenda. Building a business requires more than ambition—it requires access to capital, informed decisions, strong structures and networks that connect founders to opportunity.
The call to support women extended into business spaces: refer their services, make strategic introductions and create pathways to customers, partnerships and resources.
From Mentorship to Sponsorship
Keynote speaker Paula Calderon and special guest Hon. Leela Aheer are women who stand for reciprocity and sustainable advancement and this was the resounding theme throughout the conference.
The central call was: move from mentorship to active sponsorship. Advice matters. Recommending a woman for leadership, referring her business, making an influential introduction and advocating for her when decisions are made turns support into access.
The discussions also challenged the expectation that women must give endlessly to succeed. Generosity should build collective opportunity without demanding exhaustion or self-sacrifice.
The response from attendees was overwhelming. Women reported making significant changes in their lives following the event. Attendees also connected directly with panelists to pursue partnerships and mentorship—exactly the outcomes FAN hoped to generate. These reported experiences demonstrated the value of bringing women together with purpose: connections that extend beyond the room and translate into action.
Partnership Announcement: FAN and WEDO Canada
The event also marked the announcement of a partnership between Femme Alliance Network and WEDO Canada, reinforcing a shared commitment to advancing women’s entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.
The announcement underscored the gathering’s call to action: turn connections into collaboration and build partnerships that expand opportunities for women.
An Intentional Venue, a Wider Community
Hosting at YW Calgary was intentional. Its work supporting women experiencing domestic violence, including through shelter services, grounded the gathering in a critical principle: women’s safety, dignity and economic independence are interconnected.
FAN also welcomed The BOND Awards team from Toronto, whose mission is to amplify immigrant excellence across the diaspora. Their participation extended the exchange beyond Calgary and reinforced the importance of recognizing immigrant leadership and contributions.
Local Action, Global Priorities
The event embraced the “Give to Gain” International Women’s Day campaign while reflecting the UN’s separate 2026 theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.”
Its focus aligned with SDG 5: Gender Equality, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. These priorities took practical form through conversations about leadership, employment access, entrepreneurship and collaboration, with particular attention to women facing intersecting barriers.
Connections That Led to Action
Special guest Hon. Leela Aheer contributed to a gathering grounded in honest exchange and collective advancement.
FAN thanks TD Women, Calgary Foundation, Futurpreneur and YW Calgary, alongside its speakers, emcee Nash Chaparro, volunteers, creatives and event contributors.
The call continues in workplaces, business spaces and communities: recommend a woman, sponsor her advancement, support her business and share access. Hold the ladder steady for the next woman and challenge the barriers in her way.
When you rise, lift others
-Nomso Nnadi, Founder & Executive Director
Become a FAN member and join a community turning collective support into lasting opportunity.
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