Chris Guerette, CEO of the Saskatchewan Realtors Association, won’t be doing any cartwheels in anticipation of International Women’s Day on Mar. 8. Like quite a few women, she’s lukewarm about that annual day of recognition.
“I struggle with the intent,” confesses Guerette. Her take is that celebrating women’s achievements should be part of everyday culture, rather than a publicity gambit trotted out one day a year.
Where the world of real estate is concerned, Guerette observes, “We actually are a diverse industry. How did we get to a point where there’s so little diversity in leadership?”
The industry pats itself on the back for generally getting a passing grade for gender equality where agents are concerned. But when it comes to high-level senior management positions, women are still underrepresented. As one of only three female real estate association CEOs at the provincial level in Canada—including Ontario’s interim CEO Sonia Richards and Prince Edward Island’s Peggy Donovan—Guerette is all too familiar with the discrepancy.
“But I’m proud of the board I serve. It’s balanced.”
Overcoming barriers to leadership
If confronted with sexism anywhere, “I don’t give it any space,” Guerette asserts. “We’re not doing ourselves any favours if we are victims.”
Instead, she opts “to counter bad behaviour with more of the behaviours we want to see.”
Asked to describe potential stumbling blocks to equity, Guerette stresses that women must push harder for more, or risk being “our own biggest barrier.”
Unapologetically asking difficult questions is important in this and any other situation where decisions are made, she finds. “I try to lean into what I call ‘healthy tension,’” she explains. Every time you’re around a table thinking, ‘Should I ask this?’ you need to speak up, she urges.
“We need to have tough conversations. It’s not personal. We can still go for a drink and celebrate afterwards.”
She admits that when she’s in a meeting and someone apologizes for asking a question, “I cringe.” It’s your job to ask questions and bring everything into the light, she insists.
Embracing challenges and pressures
That’s easier said than done, of course. But Guerette has a progressive perspective on challenges. “When I feel uncomfortable, I lean in. I don’t see challenges the same way as others. I enjoy them.”
She explains that she views pressure as a “privilege” that powers decisions and leadership. “It implies that people have high expectations” and are anticipating that you can deliver.
In her case, that certainly seems a reasonable assumption. She grew up in a community-minded family and recalls regularly attending board meetings at a tender age. She has a killer resume with over two decades of leadership experience in the real estate, not-for-profit, health, governance, and education fields. Her former roles include CEO of the Saskatoon and Region Home Builders’ Association, and COO at the Association of Saskatchewan Realtors.
She was a school board trustee. She also threw her hat into the political ring as a candidate for her riding during the province’s 2020 general election. “I lost. But it was a fabulous experience. I love door-knocking. You need to go to the door to find where people are at. You’re not going to get it by staying in the office. ”
A commitment to community and growth
In a news release at the start of Guerette’s campaign, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe congratulated her on being “a real leader in her industry,” working hard to build a strong economy and province “for many years now.”
That’s notably been her focus since moving from New Brunswick to Saskatchewan 25 years ago. “Overall, leadership for me is building community and a team that can power change,” says Guerette.
“Fiercely Saskatchewan” is how she describes her connection to this often unfairly overlooked underdog of a province, with its golden fields and tremendous untapped potential. “I get excited by projects and potential opportunities. But we can’t do it all. We have to be strategic.”
The comparatively low population density in the province is the biggest issue affecting growth, Guerette notes.
Concerns on other fronts include Canada’s increasingly rocky relationship with the U.S.
“The landscape is changing quickly,” while our relationship with the States is being redefined, states Guerette. There’s a silver lining, she adds, in Canada’s reawakened pride and patriotism. “People are hungry for bold defence and leadership.”
Looking ahead with an open mind
As for the future, Guerette claims she’s “just happy to serve.”
She’s unsure what she’ll be doing in 10 years. “I always felt that everyone else has a life plan and I don’t.”
But you’ll never find her lazing on a beach somewhere. “Oh no,” she laughs. “I’m not the type…I’m definitely not going to be doing nothing, that’s for sure.”