Inclusive Workplace and Supply Council of Canada (IWSCC)’s Post

That's a wrap on day one of DEFY 2024, Canada's largest supplier diversity conference! I've been up since 4:45am (because kids) and have done over 14K steps (because conference + going back and forth to see said kids), but I couldn't pass out without quickly sharing a highlight from the day. Heck, I would daresay this would even qualify as a new life highlight. Core memory made. It was the hardest, most nerve wracking thing I have done in a long time, but I had the opportunity to share a snippet of my story in front of the 350+ conference attendees. Now pre-pandemic/pre-kids Darcy would've had this in the bag. Post pandemic, postpartum, sleep deprived, overwhelmed, and overstimulated Darcy was a massive knot of nerves only being held together (and in) by a pair of Spanx. I was crippled by anxiety, imposter syndrome, and everything else under the sun - to the point that I almost didn't do it - but as a good entrepreneur I put the biz first and did it simply because if I don't talk about Bowda Creative Co., no one else will. My oldest son who is 3, knew we were travelling to Montreal for a conference, and he was pretty bummed he couldn't go. He kept saying "mama I want to go to the conference too". So, I had a radical idea to bring him up on stage with me, because if you want to have conversations about diversity and accessibility in business, I wholeheartedly believe parents should be a part of the equation. Also because this is my life now. I am building a business while raising babies, and since I am a human not a robot, these two things and identities intersect. I wanted to transparently demonstrate the challenges working women (and parents), particularly entrepreneurs, face. Also that when you support a small business, you are supporting real people. Real families. Real children's lives and futures. It could have went any which way because toddlers, much like life itself, are unpredictable. But Deacon did great. He stood by his mama, and danced, smiled, played with his truck - he charmed the crowd like only he knows how. As for me? I wouldn't go as far to say I did great - I have a hard time admitting that, and well to be frank, I basically blacked out. I barely have any recollection of what I said. But I did it. I didn't want to, but I did, and that in and of itself is worth celebrating. I had somewhere between 10-20 folks come up to me with kind words about how well we did, how meaningful it was, and one gentleman even went as far to say I was extremely articulate. Excuse me sir, did you not read the part where I've been up since 4:45? I would hardly use articulate to describe myself, but am so flattered that he did. As a self proclaimed perfectionist, it's not often I can openly say I'm proud of myself, but damn I am proud of myself today. Thank you Inclusive Workplace and Supply Council of Canada (IWSCC) for the opportunity, truly.