Caroline Codsi

A passionate and strategic leader, Caroline Codsi has had a successful career in the corporate world of over 25 years including the past decade in VP and SVP roles within major organizations.

Caroline founded Women in Governance in 2010, a not-for-profit organization with mission to encourage women to develop their leadership, advance their career and access executive roles and board seats. Women in Governance’s programs have a deep and concrete impact for gender parity in Quebec and across Canada through major events, mentoring programs and governance trainings. WiG also helps companies to close the gender gap in the workplace through its unique Parity Certification, offered in Canada (and now in the United States) and developed with the probono support of McKinsey&Company. McKinsey&Company are also involved in the evaluation of applications with the additional support of Mercer and Willis Towers Watson.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau nominated Caroline on the National Committee for Gender equality and Mayor Valérie Plante on the City of Montreal’s Business Committee.

A graduate in Foreign Languages and Civilizations from Université Paris-Diderot (Paris-VII) as well as in Human Resources from HEC Montreal, Caroline also completed the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD)’s Program at McGill.

Born in Beirut, Caroline was only 7 years old when the war started and 22 when it ended. A Citizen of the world having lived on three continents, Caroline is fluent in 4 languages and can understand 6.

A highly sought-after speaker, Caroline has addressed audiences across Canada as well as internationally on the issue of gender parity (Paris, London, New York, Lima, Casablanca, Mexico City, New Delhi, Bahrain, Dubai, Rekjavic, St. Petersburg, New York, Washington, etc.)

Believing firmly in the importance of giving back to the community, she has sat on many boards and committees and has received numerous awards from the Quebec Business Women Network, the Arab Women Trophy and Premières en Affaires, among others.

Caroline was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, Top 75 Canadian Immigrants, and Top 20 Diversity Leading Figures in Quebec. She is also the recipient of a Gender Equality Award by the United Nations’ Women Committee, a Leadership Award from Quebec’s Federation of chambers of commerce (Mercuriades) and a Leader of the decade for diversity & inclusion award from New Delhi’s Women Economic Forum.

Some of the distinguished international guests that Caroline has interviewed in a public setting:

 Hillary Clinton, Former Democratic Party Candidate, interviewed twice (United States)  Her Royal Highness, Princess Sarah Zeid (Jordan)  Craig Smith, Political strategist for Bill & Hillary Clinton (United States)  Marlene Schiappa, Secretary of State for Equality between women and men (France)  Tarana Burke, Founder of the #MeToo movement (United States)  Winnie Byanyima, Oxfam International Executive Director (Uganda/ UK)  Anne-Marie Leroy, SVP of the World Bank (Washington)  François Perol, CEO of Banque Populaire et Caisse d’Epargne (2nd largest bank in France)  Marie-Jo Zimmermann, Member of Parliament, author of quotas Law Copé-Zimmermann (France)  Louise Fréchette, Former Vice-secretary general of the United Nations (USA)  Dr. Joanne Liu, International President of Doctors Without Borders (Canada/ Switzerland)  Katja Iversen, CEO of Women Deliver (United States)  Dr. Joanie Bewa, Founder of the Young Beninese Leaders Association (Benin)  Maggie Henriquez, CEO of Krug Champagne, LVMH division (France)  Dany Laferrière, Best-selling author and academic (inducted into the Académie française) (Haiti/Canada/France)  Joanne Lipman, author and former Editor-in-Chief of USA Today (United States)  Sally Helgesen, Best-selling author and the world’s premier expert on women’s leadership according to Forbes (United States)  Clara Gaymard, former President of GE France, and former Chairperson of Women’s Forum (France)  Diane Côté, Chief Risk Officer at London Stock Exchange (UK) Some of the distinguished Canadian guests that Caroline has interviewed in a public setting:

POLITICS :  Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister (Canada)  François Legault, Prime Minister (Quebec)  Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs (Canada)  Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance (Canada)  Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance (Ontario)  Caroline Mulroney, Attorney General of Ontario and Minister of Francophone Affairs  Jean Charest, Former Prime Minister of Quebec  Dominique Anglade, former Vice-Premier of Quebec  Monique Jerome-Forget, former Minister of Finance (Quebec)  Françoise David, Co-Founder of Quebec Solidaire  Helene David, Former Minister of of Higher Education and Status of Women  Veronique Hivon, Co-Leader of the Parti Quebecois  Melanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and Francophone Affairs (Ministre du Tourisme, des Langues officielles et de la Francophonie (during her run for Mayor)

Business :  Aldo Bensadoun, Founder of ALDO Shoes  Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, CEO of Via Rail  Robert Tessier, Chairman of the Caisse de Depot et Placement du Québec  Monique F. Leroux, President of the International Cooperative Alliance and Chairperson of Investissement Québec  François Jean Coutu, CEO of PJC Jean Coutu  Françoise Bertrand, Chairperson of the Board of Via Rail (When she was Chairperson of Quebecor)  Katie Taylor Chairperson of the Board of the Royal Bank of Canada  Helene Fortin, Chairperson of Loto-Québec  Charles Brindamour, CEO of Intact  Heather Munroe-Blum, Chairperson of Canada Pension Plan Investments, and former Principal of McGill  Guy Cormier, CEO of Desjardins  Suzanne Bergeron, President of Sodexo  Jacques Goulet, President of Sun Life Canada  Robert Dumas, President of Sun Life Quebec  Nadine Renaud-Tinker, President of RBC Quebec  Claude Gagnon, President of BMO Quebec  Isabelle Marcoux, Chairperson of the Board of Transcontinental  Eric R. Lafleche, CEO of Metro inc.  Susan Kudzman, Chairperson of the Board of Yellow Pages  Kim Thuy, Best-selling author