The Case for Equality
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About the Leader
Shauna Olney
Former Chief of the Gender, Equality and Diversity Branch of the International Labour Organization
- Achiever®
- Input®
- Learner®
- Developer®
- Relator®
Shauna Olney is an employment and human rights expert with 30+ years of experience, including over two decades at the International Labour Organization (ILO), where she was Chief of the Gender, Equality and Diversity Branch. She led the ILO’s Women at Work Centenary Initiative, producing new research to support a transformative gender equality agenda. A member of the Advisory Council of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, Olney began her career as a lawyer in Canada, specializing in industrial relations, labor law and human rights, and worked at the Supreme Court of Canada. She studied law at the University of British Columbia and as a postgraduate at the University of Oxford. She was a deputy member of the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment; was named one of Apolitical’s 100 most influential people in gender policy; and has published widely on equality, labor rights and non-discrimination.
"I will work as many hours as it takes."
Having incredible stamina, Olney will work into the night to complete a task. As her Achiever matures, she often sees the need to combine it with her many relationship-building themes to create successful teams and get important work done at various levels of an organization.
"You have to go deep, but also broad."
At first, Olney used her Relator to build tight-knit groups of trusted colleagues, but as her Relator developed, she sought to prevent being siloed by broadening her circle of relationships. This allowed her to more successfully complete large important projects.
"Mentoring is one of the most important things you can do."
Having always had mentors, Olney jumps at every opportunity to be a mentor herself. She attracts mentees who are values driven and have a burning desire to change the world. In these relationships, she tries to listen for the hidden spark of passion that can be developed.
"I need to know as much as I can — and analyze as much as I can."
When she writes, Olney will do abundant research before writing a single word. Her Input compels her to gather all the necessary information, analyze it and discuss it with other people. After that, the writing process is swift and effortless.
"I would never stay in a job if I ever stopped learning."
With a voracious appetite for learning, Olney believes she should be able to learn something new every day at work. She has been able to satisfy this aspiration by learning from the people around her — her peers at the ILO or the university students she now teaches.