Alumna Maya Roy makes change as leader of YWCA Canada

Maya Roy (social work ’04) believes in paying it forward.

Now CEO of YWCA Canada, Roy recalls being challenged by her professors to think bigger, beyond grad school in Canada. “I had created my own internal glass ceiling,” she explains. “They saw my interest in international issues and pushed me to think bigger. Because of their support, I earned my master’s at the London School of Economics and saw the financial crash of 2007-2008 from the inside.”

A professor also encouraged Roy to look at decolonization and reconciliation work, bringing in Indigenous ways of knowing and being that she now uses every day. Another professor demonstrated the value of coaching youth into jobs. Roy adopted that dedication to mentoring and encouraging others, and she’s driven to make tangible changes in the moment and on the ground.

“Part of a leader’s role as coach, especially as newcomers or women of colour or LGBTQ alumni, is to find ways to support each other and help people transition to work,” Roy says. “The world is changing so rapidly, and those of us in leadership positions won’t have all the answers. Students today are learning new and valuable skills we need in the workplace.”

Roy draws from her experiences in her role at the YWCA. She has a track record of advocating for gender equity, both locally and internationally, that goes back to starting a youth centre in Newmarket.

Her work has taken her to Thailand, Brazil, India, South Africa and the U.K., helping non-governmental organizations support human rights and violence prevention in marginalized and disadvantaged communities. More recently, Roy represented the YWCA on the Canadian Gender Equality Advisory Council to the G7, where she chatted with French president Emmanuel Macron about cyber bullying.

With the YWCA celebrating its 150th anniversary, 2020 is a big year.

“While we’re celebrating our achievements, we still have a lot of work to do,” Roy says. “My goal is to build on the vital work YWCA Canada was founded on and make a difference. Community needs are greater than ever, and globalization is rapidly knitting us together. We have an emphasis on providing support to newcomers, work around gender identity, decolonization and building a safe, secure place for people across the country.”

This story was first published in Ryerson University Magazine January 2020. To read more, visit Ryerson University Magazine (external link) .