Leadership in Motion: How to be an Inclusive Leader in Times of Change

Main AMA Page | FR

Featuring: Norma Domey, Sam Macharia, BGen Darryl Taylor

Co-hosted by Cathy Larocque and Samantha Moonsammy

Date and time: Wednesday, April 16, from 1:00 to 2:30 PM EST

Audience: Open to all Government of Canada employees

Link to join: Join the event

Event description

In times of change, leadership isn’t just about making decisions—it’s about fostering inclusivity, resilience, and connection. Join us for this Ask Me Anything event, where we dive into what it truly means to be an inclusive leader. Our panel of diverse public servants and Defence Team leaders will share real, unfiltered experiences, offering insights on navigating uncertainty, building trust, and creating environments where everyone can thrive.

This conversation will equip you with practical strategies to lead with empathy, adaptability, and impact. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage, learn, and take actionable steps toward more inclusive leadership.

Don’t miss this opportunity to join us on the Ask Me Anything stage and hear these powerful and sincere stories firsthand. Let’s celebrate excellence together!

Meet our panellists

Norma Domey, Former Vice-President, National Executive of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada

As 2019-2024 Vice-President of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), Norma Domey was the first Black woman elected to the National Executive of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada in its over 100-year history. As such Norma was representing over 80,000 public servants across Canada.

Norma was also the first Black woman elected to the National Executive of the Applied Science and Patent Examination Group (aka SP Group of PIPSC).

Norma Domey was a strong advocate with the largest ever Canadian delegation to United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York, New York where inclusion was the main focus of our discussions.

In these leadership roles, Norma provided inclusive opportunities.  She offered equal access to growth and development opportunities, mentorship, and leadership roles, promoting a culture where everyone has a chance to excel and contribute.

During her more than 30 years with the Federal Public Service as a Senior Scientist with Health Canada, and Environment & Climate Change Canada, Norma is well-known for her commitment to create improvements in the public service and moreover to be of service to others.

VP Domey earned an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and a Master of Science degree in Toxicology from the University of Western Ontario and is a Distinguished Toastmaster. She is the mother of three university graduates, grandmother of 5 active grandchildren, and a mentor to many.

Decades of the Public Service Employee Surveys confirm what we know to be true — racism, discrimination and lack of inclusion are serious issues within the Canadian public service. Norma Domey’s continued leadership will be essential in moving our Public Service Employees forward in an inclusive manner.

Sam Macharia, Executive Director, People Management and Community Engagement, Treasury Board Secretariat

Sam Macharia holds the position of Executive Director, People Management and Community Engagement, at the Treasury Board Secretariat. His team provides policy interpretation and advice on various policy tools for people management including, the Public Servants Disclosure Protection, Values and Ethics Code, Directive on Mandatory Training and Directive on Interchange.

Sam holds a PhD in Geomatics Engineering from the University of New Brunswick. His academic background includes a postdoctoral fellowship at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography and lecturing roles at the University of New Brunswick and Dalhousie University.

Sam Macharia considers his heritage an important part of his identity, his parents are Kenyan and his roots are in New Brunswick. He is an active member of the black, visible minority and persons with disabilities communities.

Brigadier General D.L. Taylor, Director General, Aerospace Equipment Program Management Division, Department of National Defence

Originally from Comox, BC, Brigadier General Taylor joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1989 attending Royal Roads Military College (RRMC), Victoria and the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) Kingston, graduating in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.

He has served across Canada, had postings to the US and Europe and has been deployed with the UN in Haiti and with NATO in Afghanistan. BGen Taylor has had the honour to serve as the Commanding Officer of 1 Wing Headquarters in Kingston, ON, and as the Commander of 16 Wing at CFB Borden.

BGen Taylor holds 3 Master’s Degrees in: Thermal Power; Political Science and Military Affairs; and National Resource Strategy.

BGen Taylor is currently serving as the Director General of the Aerospace Equipment Program Management Division.

Meet our Co-Hosts

Cathy Larocque, Values and Ethics Coordinator, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Cathy Larocque is a dedicated leader, speaker, and advocate for equity, well-being, and conscious leadership. With a wealth of experience in the public service, (almost 21 years!) she has navigated various roles where she has championed inclusive and values-driven workplaces.

Having personally experienced burnout, Cathy is passionate about fostering cultures that prioritize safe and authentic leadership. She has shared her journey through conferences, awareness sessions, workshops offering insights into resilience, self-awareness, and the power of connection.

Beyond her federal government expertise, Cathy is deeply involved in coaching and facilitating transformational retreats, guiding individuals towards empowerment, clarity, and self-trust. Her approach blends practical tools with a deep understanding of human dynamics, helping people break free from limiting beliefs and step into their full potential.

Cathy truly believes that inclusion starts with self-awareness and leading every aspect of life with intention. She is excited to be part of the Ask Me Anything event to share her perspective on how inclusive leadership can foster thriving, engaged, and purpose-driven teams, especially in times of change.

Samantha Moonsammy, L1 Diversity and Inclusion Section Head, Materiel Group, Department of National Defence

Samantha has the superpower of bringing people together, shining the light on others and helping them become their authentic selves. She is a leader in the Government of Canada as the founder of the Lifting as you Lead Mentoring Circles (LLMC) program - the largest group mentoring program for public service and Defence Team members. But Samantha is much more than that. Her layers include being a woman, mother, partner, daughter, sister, community builder and immigrant. Samantha helps others understand the ripple effect of their actions to make real change and impact on their careers, communities, and workplaces.

About the Ask Me Anything series

This session is part of a series of Ask Me Anything discussions that give us a platform to share stories, listen, ask respectful questions and continue on our journey towards more inclusive organizations.

As an individual, you can’t necessarily change where you live. You certainly can’t change your past, but you can adjust who influences you—through the authors you read, the music you listen to, the movies you watch, and the interactions with your community. The ‘Ask Me Anything’ series provides you with an opportunity to increase your perspective — to learn from the lived experiences of individuals who are bravely sharing their stories to help educate and move the public service towards a culture where equity is embedded.

The series also provides an opportunity for you to know that you aren’t alone. These experiences, especially the negative ones, are systemic and can happen all too frequently throughout the public service. The objective of shining this light is to continually increase the network of public servants ready to take action and move forward toward a culture of inclusivity and belonging.

Mission: Ask Me Anything series

We recognize that individuals are composed of a multitude of layers that make us who we are. We do not fit easily in one box or another and we can’t be neatly counted. We represent the mosaic of Canada.

It is important that we find value in each other’s experiences, differences, and unique characteristics. When we build our cultural competencies, we can work better together in our teams and respond to each other with relevance, empathy and compassion. By celebrating and sharing our authentic selves, we gain greater appreciation of each other and the diversity that surrounds us.

We know through diversity, that workplaces and communities are stronger, more successful, and resilient. And most important, it creates spaces of inclusion and fosters a sense of belonging at work where people feel valued.

We encourage others to have courageous conversations with their peers. Use the monthly Ask Me Anything sessions as an opportunity to have brave conversations in your workplaces with your teams.

#AMAChallenge

Here’s what you need to do:

• Invite your leaders and colleagues in your organization to an Ask Me Anything watch party, tune in live and watch the session together. Make sure it’s on their calendar.        
• Before the watch party, book an “After the AMA – Team Session” with your immediate team for the day after the event for 30-60 minutes. Share the resource guide and have these questions for discussion.

After the AMA: Team session discussion questions

1. What was my main takeaway? – Expand and share an amazing quote, story or moment
2. What made me uncomfortable/ what was one of my blind spots?
3. What is an example of systemic discrimination that I am aware of in my life?
4. What am I not going to do anymore?
5. How can I use my voice/influence? – both overtly/covertly
6. Where am I going to dig in and learn more?
7. How will I continue this conversation?

It is important that we find value in the experiences, and in the unique characteristics of each other. When we develop our cultural competence, we can work better together within our teams and respond to each other with relevant empathy and compassion. By celebrating and sharing our authentic selves, we gain a greater appreciation for each other and the diversity that surrounds us.