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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022 BCBUSINESS 57 TANYA GOEHRING Brick by Brick ERIN SEELEY WANTS TO LEAD YWCA METRO VANCOUVER FROM BEHIND E rin Seeley's first memory of being a leader goes back to assigning roles in a preschool play. "I was always an organizer or convener," she laughs. Before she joined nonprofit organiza- tion YWCA Metro Vancouver as CEO this past June, the Powell River native spent 15 years in public service. She held various roles spanning immigration, labour market programs and real estate regulation. She served as the executive director of immi- gration programs for the provincial gov- ernment, as senior VP at the BC Financial Services Authority and as CEO of the Real Estate Council of BC. "I've been passionate about child care, women's economic opportunities, as well as affordable housing," Seeley maintains. She is on the board of Little Mountain Neighbourhood House, a social services organization based in the community she lives in. "[Joining the YWCA] was a way to marry my leadership experience and my community advocacy." Being involved with the immigration sector for a decade exposed Seeley to the elaborate challenges newcomers face in Canada. During the Syrian refugee crisis of 2015-16, her dedication to helping foreign families settle sharpened against the rising number of new arrivals. She found her niche in addressing big policy questions: "How do we meet the basic needs of women in our society? How do we empower them economically?" The higher she climbed the leadership ladder, the bigger the problems on her plate. When the pressure to get stories from the ground up to government officials grew, Seeley learned the value of working on the deliv- ery side of programs and giving "fearless advice" to policy-makers. "I don't know if birth order is every- thing, but I'm from a long line of female firstborns," Seeley says. "I always felt empowered by that in my life and felt like I had an opportunity to use my voice. To lead as a woman, where you can be caring but also decisive, firm and bold, those are things that I've aspired to be." She's been exhibiting those qualities from a young age. Seeley pursued a bach- elor's degree in political science and His- L E A D E R S H I P WHO ARE YOUR ROLE MODELS TODAY? My family and friends—my husband and my two smart teenagers in particular, as well as my support network of amazing friends. I'm inspired by the way they think deeply and care about the world, and work hard to make a positive impact. HOW DO YOU HANDLE CRITICISM? It used to sting, but I've learned to get past the emotion and see how valuable it is. Giving and receiving feedback is a huge part of my leadership style and the people who take time to give thoughtful, constructive criticism often care the most.