Where can you find a volunteer council boasting a provincial court justice, a director of forensic accounting, and a head of industry at Google?
At McGill, of course! They’re among the talented McGill alumnae advising the University’s Women, Leadership & Philanthropy Initiative.
Colloquially referred to as the WLP, the Women, Leadership & Philanthropy Initiative aims to increase the representation of women in positions of leadership, governance and philanthropy. It’s currently active in four cities (Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and New York), and worldwide through LinkedIn.
“Women are going to control half the wealth in our country in a few years, and they’re going to play a very big role – in business, science, philanthropy, and society overall,” says Robin Fowler, BA’90, MEd’96, an advisory council member and current parent of two McGill students. Fowler is Vice President of the St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation in Toronto, and she’s been involved with the WLP since the very beginning.
A decade ago, Robin and other McGill alumnae asked: “How are there so many alumnae in Toronto not connected to McGill? How do we highlight the impact they’re having in their fields, and create opportunities for the next generation of students?”
Like all advisory council members, Fowler was one of those students. As an undergrad majoring in Russian Studies, she lived in the student ghetto, studied in the library, dropped in to Gerts, and made lifelong friends. “They were all highlights for me. McGill is an incredible place.”
It’s also where she began her career in philanthropy. As a student she worked in the Phonathon office, contacting alumni and parents for support of the University. She stayed on at McGill’s development office after graduation. “I saw the impact of fundraising firsthand,” says Fowler. “I only paid $570 in tuition as a student! Donors contribute to so many areas across the University.”
Women are going to play a very big role – in business, science, philanthropy, and society overall.”
When she left McGill to work in Australia, her mother encouraged her to write a will, “because you just never know.” Although still quite young at the time, she has no regrets about doing so – nor her decision to include a bequest to McGill. “It was a no-brainer. I encourage everyone to write a will and think about the places that have made an impact. For many, that’s their university.”
It's why she’s volunteering with the Women, Leadership & Philanthropy Initiative; contributing to their efforts to fund an Internship Award in the Faculty of Arts; and serving as a Planned Giving Ambassador to encourage others to consider a bequest to the University.
“Let’s all do our part and support the next generation of leaders. It’s so important, and it’s so easy to choose McGill.”