Using real data to effect meaningful change
Shereen Samuels has always been committed to creating an equitable and inclusive culture. Early in her career, she realized that the workplace was where she could do that best.
“It’s the place [where] we spend the most time in our lives,” says Samuels, who was recently appointed head of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) at Gowling WLG Canada LLP. “It matters almost more in the workplace than anywhere else.”
She has spent the last 20 years of her career helping advance equity and inclusion, pushing to change traditional workplace culture. “Our mental model as a society for what a workplace looks like goes back hundreds of years and is largely rooted in early industrial Britain. In twenty-first century Canada, that model is completely out of date.”
In her graduate-level research, Samuels developed a practical framework for increasing meaningful workplace inclusion. One of her primary insights was that rather than asking “what we need to do,” businesses must map out their desired end state as an inclusive workplace.
“You need to know where you’re going to progress effectively,” Samuels says.
Samuels went on to work in the post-secondary sector for over 17 years, building inclusive community resources, spaces, and programs. She then joined Gowling WLG Canada in late 2021.
Samuels was hired to expand and accelerate Gowling WLG Canada’s EDI mission and ensure that the core principles of EDI will be infused in everything the firm does – whether it is student recruitment, partnership admissions, proposals, or client work.
Samuels reports directly to the firm’s executive team, including recently elected CEO Steve McKersie, and works closely with several departments. She has a manager of EDI reporting to her.
“It’s a role that frequently finds me working cooperatively with our leadership team in Canada – as well as my colleagues overseas – to establish strategic priorities, pursue new initiatives, retool existing initiatives, and identify ways to strengthen the fabric of our firm culture,” she says.
Another priority for Samuels is ensuring office EDI teams have the tools, resources, and skills to pursue significant initiatives at the local level.
“Our seven offices across Canada play an integral role in implementing our EDI efforts and give us the opportunity to better understand and engage with the unique communities, networks, and institutions that define the cities in which we’re located.”
With a view to having an updated EDI strategy in place in the coming months, Samuels has been consulting with individuals across various departments to ensure that the strategy reflects the needs and aspirations of all firm members.
She says that for an EDI plan to succeed, particularly within a professional services context, it’s critical first to develop an internal sense of clarity, strength, and purpose.
“You must have a motivated and inspired workforce to develop exceptional client service,” she says. “There are no limits to what people will do for a workplace that inspires them.”
In EDI, that means avoiding the “minimum standards” approach to equity and inclusion.
“As a firm, we’re conscious of the importance of effecting meaningful, tangible change that will actually affect people’s lives,” she says. “It’s essential that the initiatives we pursue be approached thoughtfully and authentically, and never in a self-congratulatory way.”
The key to cultivating this kind of change is data. Samuels says the firm has a two-pronged approach to gathering data, involving nuanced conversations and surveys with members about the workplace environment and collecting anonymized demographic information as people join the firm.
Together, this qualitative and quantitative feedback continues to inform the firm’s EDI programs, policies, and practices while positioning it to respond to increasingly sophisticated client demands.
“It’s important that we’re able to provide accurate, intersectional data about our teams and the leadership at our firm,” says Samuels.
Despite these efforts, Samuels says a significant gap remains in Canada’s legal profession for EDI benchmarks.
“As an industry, if we’re trying to drive toward a defined future state, it’s hard to know what that looks like without sector-wide benchmarks.”
Samuels says, however, that Gowling WLG Canada has made meaningful progress over the years. For instance, its initial focus on improving gender-based metrics has already paid off. Following an extensive review of its partnership admission processes by Deloitte in 2019, the firm set a goal of 30 percent women in the partnership by 2020, which it exceeded.
“That shows that our firm is committed to changing the structures, enhancing the processes, and having the necessary conversations so that we can continue to sustainably flourish and break new ground in the years to come.”
Spotlight
Since she joined the firm, this work has taken many different forms – including implementing mandatory anti-racism training across Gowling WLG’s Canadian offices, collaborating with the Canadian Centre for Gender & Sexual Diversity to expand the firm’s pro bono gender-marker and name-change initiative, and executing the firm’s Reconciliation Action Plan, launched in 2020.
She says the conversations that underpin programs like these are not always straightforward – but that is the point. “A big part of my job is to help our firm continue to build the muscles to engage in sensitive conversations and face nuanced topics head-on.”
Gowling WLG is an international law firm built on the belief that the best way to serve you is to be in tune with your world, aligned with your opportunity, and ambitious for your success. With legal professionals around the world, we provide our clients with in-depth knowledge in key global sectors and a suite of legal services at home and abroad. We see the world through our clients’ eyes, and collaborate across countries, offices, service areas, and sectors to help them succeed, no matter how challenging the circumstances.
Company Profile
1500
Number of legal professionals
7
Countries with Gowling WLG offices
120
Firm members certified in mental health first aid
Bio
Spotlight
Milestones
Company Profile
Years of Experience
21 years in equity, diversity, and inclusion
Favourite quote:
“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid” – Audre Lorde
Fast Fact
Samuels is a first-generation immigrant – her parents are South African and born in Zambia
Shereen Samuels
Head of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI)
Shereen Samuels has worked to foster equitable and inclusive workplace cultures for decades and is excited to harness that experience in her new role at Gowling WLG Canada LLP
Read on
“A big part of my job is to help our firm continue to build the muscles to engage in sensitive conversations and face nuanced topics head-on”
Shereen Samuels,
Gowling WLG Canada
“It’s essential that the initiatives we pursue be approached thoughtfully and authentically, and never in a self-congratulatory way”
Shereen Samuels,
Gowling WLG Canada
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Spotlight
Fundserv is the indispensable connectivity hub for the Canadian investment industry. Headquartered in Toronto, we electronically connect Manufacturers, Distributors, and Intermediaries, enabling them to buy, sell, and transfer investment funds. With more than 100 employees, Fundserv serves hundreds of members—executing up to 63 million yearly network transactions—and provides online access to more than 70,000 investment fund products.
Established in 1993, Fundserv is a private corporation that is owned by the industry we serve. Our 10 shareholders are a cross-section of Manufacturers, Distributors, and Service Providers who represent our members.
We operate using a cost-recovery model, meaning any unused profit may be rebated back to our members. In addition to our network and applications, we lead and facilitate industry committees and working groups that promote automation initiatives and establish the industry’s electronic standards.
By ensuring every trade is processed timely, accurately, and securely, Fundserv has rightfully earned a reputation for service excellence—a hallmark of more than 25 years in the investment industry.
Company Profile
“A big part of my job is to help our firm continue to build the muscles to engage in sensitive conversations and face nuanced topics head-on”
Shereen Samuels,
Gowling WLG Canada
“It’s essential that the initiatives we pursue be approached thoughtfully and authentically, and never in a self-congratulatory way”
Shereen Samuels,
Gowling WLG Canada
Years of Experience
21 years in equity, diversity, and inclusion
Favourite quote:
“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid” – Audre Lorde
Fast Fact
Samuels is a first-generation immigrant – her parents are South African and born in Zambia
Karen Adams
President and CEO at Fundserv
Before becoming CEO of Fundserv, Karen Adams held a variety of leadership roles around the world – and she learned that listening and understanding are key to both providing service and developing talent
Read on
Share
Share
Spotlight
Fundserv is the indispensable connectivity hub for the Canadian investment industry. Headquartered in Toronto, we electronically connect Manufacturers, Distributors, and Intermediaries, enabling them to buy, sell, and transfer investment funds. With more than 100 employees, Fundserv serves hundreds of members—executing up to 63 million yearly network transactions—and provides online access to more than 70,000 investment fund products.
Established in 1993, Fundserv is a private corporation that is owned by the industry we serve. Our 10 shareholders are a cross-section of Manufacturers, Distributors, and Service Providers who represent our members.
We operate using a cost-recovery model, meaning any unused profit may be rebated back to our members. In addition to our network and applications, we lead and facilitate industry committees and working groups that promote automation initiatives and establish the industry’s electronic standards.
By ensuring every trade is processed timely, accurately, and securely, Fundserv has rightfully earned a reputation for service excellence—a hallmark of more than 25 years in the investment industry.
Company Profile
Years of Experience
21 years in equity, diversity, and inclusion
Favourite quote:
“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid”
– Audre Lorde
Fast FacT
Samuels is a first-generation immigrant – her parents are South African and born in Zambia
Karen Adams
President and CEO at Fundserv
Career highlight
Before becoming CEO of Fundserv, Karen Adams held a variety of leadership roles around the world – and she learned that listening and understanding are key to both providing service and developing talent
Read on
“A big part of my job is to help our firm continue to build the muscles to engage in sensitive conversations and face nuanced topics head-on”
Shereen Samuels,
Gowling WLG Canada
“It’s essential that the initiatives we pursue be approached thoughtfully and authentically, and never in a self-congratulatory way”
Shereen Samuels,
Gowling WLG Canada
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2013
2014
2020
2021
Spring 2022
Fall 2022
Created a tool for framing equity and inclusion change work in workplaces called the Meaningful Inclusion Matrix.
2013
Began doing EDI learning sessions structured around the Meaningful Inclusion Matrix to municipal, corporate, and non-profit organizations across western Canada.
2014
Concluded three successful terms as chair of the Calgary Public Library board’s governance committee.
2020
Joined Gowling WLG Canada just as the firm was rolling out a new internal EDI survey and demographic census.
2021
Supported the launch of mandatory anti-racism learning sessions across Gowling WLG Canada, forming a foundation of shared understanding and language to engage in long-term change work.
2022
Spring
Will finalize firm-wide consultation for the development of a refreshed EDI strategic plan.
2022
Fall
Milestones
2013
2014
2020
2021
Spring 2022
Fall
2022
Created a tool for framing equity and inclusion change work in workplaces called the Meaningful Inclusion Matrix.
2013
Began doing EDI learning sessions structured around the Meaningful Inclusion Matrix to municipal, corporate, and non-profit organizations across western Canada.
2014
Concluded three successful terms as chair of the Calgary Public Library board’s governance committee.
2020
Joined Gowling WLG Canada just as the firm was rolling out a new internal EDI survey and demographic census.
2021
Supported the launch of mandatory anti-racism learning sessions across Gowling WLG Canada, forming a foundation of shared understanding and language to engage in long-term change work.
2022
Spring
Will finalize firm-wide consultation for the development of a refreshed EDI strategic plan.
2022
Fall
Milestones
Using real data to effect meaningful change
Using real data to effect meaningful change
Copyright © 2022 Key Media
Advertise
About us
Contact us
Privacy
Terms of Use
Submit your move
Canadian Lawyer subscription
Canadian Lawyer InHouse subscription
Newsletter
Digital editions
Authors
External contributors
Editorial board
RSS
Law Times
Canadian Law List
Lexpert® Rising Stars
Canadian Law Awards
2013
2014
2020
2021
Spring 2022
Fall
2022
Created a tool for framing equity and inclusion change work in workplaces called the Meaningful Inclusion Matrix.
2013
Began doing EDI learning sessions structured around the Meaningful Inclusion Matrix to municipal, corporate, and non-profit organizations across western Canada.
2014
Concluded three successful terms as chair of the Calgary Public Library board’s governance committee.
2020
Joined Gowling WLG Canada just as the firm was rolling out a new internal EDI survey and demographic census.
2021
Supported the launch of mandatory anti-racism learning sessions across Gowling WLG Canada, forming a foundation of shared understanding and language to engage in long-term change work.
2019
Spring
Fall 2022: Will finalize firm-wide consultation for the development of a refreshed EDI strategic plan.
2022
Fall
Milestones