Instagram Live with Meghan Huchkowsky

New year, new Social Distance Learning!

We're back with a fantastic line-up of not one, but TWO social distance learning Fridays to share with you this January. First up to help us kick off the new year: Meghan Huchkowsky, who shared her experience and wisdom on being LGBTQ+ allied in business and on boards⁠.⁠
⁠
Meghan Huchkowsky founded @doodledogsyyc along with her brother Corey in 2016 after a decade of working in Oil and Gas. Newfoundlanders turned Calgarians, they made it Doodle Dogs’ mission to support local and Canadian artisans while promoting healthy, fresh pet nutrition to Calgary’s pet parents. When Meghan isn’t overseeing three stores and a busy e-commerce, she can be found volunteering with the Alberta LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce where she sits on the Board as Director - Member Relations.⁠

If you weren’t able to catch the IG live, we’ve got you covered! Here are our top 3 takeaways:

Be Honest

For Meghan, being on the board for the Alberta LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce was her first role when joining the organization and she was no stranger to imposter syndrome. She explained, “I was very honest in the beginning in terms of saying ‘I’m not familiar with the systems you’re using to communicate with’ or ‘the systems you’re using to store documents’, ‘I’m actually not familiar with this marketing tool’”, she added “I think the best thing I did for myself and for them, the directors, was just being honest”. Be honest and ask questions because it becomes less intimidating, there's always someone wondering the same thing and it’s okay not to know the answer to things. The more honest you are about your gaps in knowledge, the more value you get out of it and the more value other directors get out of you.

The importance of strategic diversity of thought on boards

“Hiring diversly for work or volunteers is very difficult but has to be done strategically. It has to be done in a way that’s fair and kind and allows for the right person for the right fit in the right role but it’s about finding a way to put it in front of the right people”. Meghan adds, “we all, on the Chamber, have such different backgrounds, myself and another gentleman are both business owners but then we have law students, we have people who work for utilities companies, we have an MBA students, and these are all people that bring such good varied skill sets and they bring governance back and forth from their regular life to the Chamber as well”. 

When joining a board, you are making a commitment

As a board member, you make a commitment not only to yourself, but to your fellow board members and to the people and cause you serve. Meghan states, “good intentions come from long term consistency and dedication… It is a commitment you made to an organization and a cause”. She thoughtfully talks about knowing yourself first, thinking about your life and where you are going to be in five years. As Meghan delightfully said, “I think it’s important to be honest about your capacity and your mental health state”.

What it means to be an LGBTQ+ allied business

Meghan speaks to the importance of using gender neutral pronouns, she says, “when you use terms like ‘spouse’ instead of ‘wife’ or ‘husband’ it gives them the opportunity to use the pronouns they wish to use that you can then reference”. This is something they integrate into their policies, “everyone that gets a job at Doodle Dogs gets an employee manual and it basically has this LGBTQ+ and inclusivity policy. Instead of saying ‘hey guys’, say ‘hey folks’. It takes a lot of training, I practice it everyday at work”. Being an LGBTQ+ allied business, means generating trust and ensuring that everyone feels comfortable and safe, “when I do one-on-one consoles with board members we have conversations about what is a safe space, because a safe space for one person isn't necessarily a safe space for another ''.

Shout out to Meghan for taking the time to chat with us! Also, thank you to everyone who tuned in and participated with meaningful questions for our guest. 

For those of you who want to hear more meaningful conversations such as this one - and we know you all do - make sure to follow us on Instagram @directhernetwork to get a chance to engage live in our latest Social Distance Learning instalment with more inspiring female leaders.