As the first female Managing Director, Marlene is making Pearson Canada a welcoming and inclusive place for women. She has ensured female representation is present on her leadership team, with 60% direct reports being women, and that women at Pearson and in the education space are prominently featured at internal and industry events. Marlene has championed opportunities for flexible working and celebrates International Women’s Day by hosting employee engagement events. She also sponsors team members to attend women’s conferences in leadership, and established the first chapter of the ERG for gender at Pearson outside of the US. Beyond Pearson, Marlene champions diversity and inclusion across the industry through her work with the Canadian Publishers Council. She mentors aspiring female leaders at Pearson and on the Pearson Student Advisory Board, and coaches educational female social entrepreneurs in the MaRS Discovery District. Marlene has spoken about her experiences as a woman in leadership at community and school events, and is training for a martial arts black belt, where she is mentored by experienced women and passes that on to younger female students, including her daughter.