Celebrating 10 Years of Women of Oakwyn

This year, Women of Oakwyn (WOO) reached an incredible milestone as we gathered in Whistler to celebrate the 10th Annual WOO Retreat.

For the past decade, WOO has been dedicated to creating a space where women can connect, learn, grow, and support one another. What began as a simple idea has evolved into one of Oakwyn’s most meaningful traditions—a community built on collaboration, empowerment, and the belief that when women support women, incredible things happen.

Against the breathtaking backdrop of Whistler, this year’s retreat brought together women from across Oakwyn and beyond for two days of inspiration, reflection, connection, and celebration.

Reflecting on a Decade of Impact

The retreat began with a welcome reception at Northlands Residences, where attendees gathered to reconnect with familiar faces, forge new relationships, and celebrate ten years of WOO’s impact.

The following day featured a thoughtfully created program focused on leadership, authenticity, alignment, wellness, and personal growth.

Throughout the day, attendees heard from an exceptional lineup of speakers curated by the event’s emcee Jenny Wun, Oakwyn Northwest Principal, who shared their experiences, expertise, and perspectives on leadership and living with intention.  Oakwyn Co-Founders Arlene Chiang & Morgan Browne, shared reflections on the deep purpose of WOO and the journey to get here today.

Melanie Levenberg brought energy and movement to the day, demonstrating how playfulness and presence can deepen our connections and enhance our leadership.

Emily Shimwell inspired attendees with her session, Permission to Be Real: The Starting Point of True Leadership, exploring how authenticity can become one of our greatest strengths as leaders.

Courtney Thomas encouraged participants to explore self-leadership and mindfulness through her session, Leading from Alignment, providing practical tools for navigating both business and life with greater clarity and purpose.

Erin Anderson‘s keynote, The Well Within, challenged attendees to recognize the wisdom, resilience, and capability they already possess, reminding us that our greatest resource often lies within ourselves.

The retreat concluded with a restorative sound bath led by May Globus, offering a meaningful opportunity to pause, reflect, and recharge before returning home. Attendees were given beautiful eye masks to best enjoy the session, provided by North Coast Naturals.

The Heart of WOO: Community

While the speakers delivered incredible insights, the true magic of WOO has always been found in the relationships formed throughout the event.

Over shared meals, meaningful conversations, and moments of vulnerability, attendees exchanged ideas, supported one another, and strengthened the connections that make the Oakwyn community so special.

Ten years later, WOO continues to serve as a reminder that success is not a solo journey. It is built through mentorship, encouragement, shared experiences, and the willingness to lift others as we climb.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

A special thank you to TD and Bell Alliance for their generous support of this year’s Women of Oakwyn Retreat and for the powerful stories shared by TD’s Poonam Chahal & Bell Alliance’s Lisa Niro.

Their partnership helped make this milestone celebration possible and reflects a shared commitment to investing in leadership, education, and community. We are grateful for their continued support and for helping create opportunities that empower women both within our industry and beyond.

We would also like to thank all of our event partners, vendors, speakers, and WOO 2026 Committee whose contributions helped create an unforgettable experience for our attendees.

Supporting the Next Generation of Women Leaders

As we celebrated ten years of Women of Oakwyn, we were reminded that creating opportunities for women extends beyond a single event.

Through the WOO x UBC Sauder School of Business Scholarship, WOO is committed to investing in the next generation of female leaders. The scholarship helps support women pursuing higher education and leadership opportunities, creating lasting impact for years to come.

We invite our community to join us in continuing this important work. Every contribution helps empower future leaders, remove barriers, and create opportunities for women to achieve their goals.

If you would like to support the scholarship fund, please consider making a donation and helping us continue this legacy of empowerment.

Donate to the WOO x UBC Sauder School of Business Scholarship: HERE

Looking Ahead

As we close the chapter on our 10th Annual Women of Oakwyn Retreat, we do so with immense gratitude—for the women who have helped build this community, for those who continue to champion its mission, and for everyone who believes in the power of connection, education, and support.

Ten years in, the mission remains the same: to create a space where women feel empowered to learn, lead, grow, and succeed together.

Here’s to the next decade of Women of Oakwyn.