​Repeat and threepeat for Linda Mantia and Judy Goldring

When it comes to naming Canada's Most Powerful Women, two Queen's Law alumni are becoming familiar faces. The annual listing by the Women's Executive Network, an organization based in both Canada and Ireland as a "leading organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of women in management, executive, professional and board roles" names women from across Canada in a number of categories. Since it began its Top 100 Awards program in 2003, the organization has grown to nearly 20,000 members.

Judy Goldring Law ‘91, a winner in the Corporate Executive category in 2012 and 2013, and named to the Corporate Directors category this year, appreciates not only the award, but the potential for outreach and influence it brings. "We both recognize that this is a great opportunity to be leaders within our respective communities, and it's really important for younger women to see what opportunities there are for women in business and women in law, to see what they can achieve."

Listmate Linda Mantia Law’92, named in the Corporate Executive category in 2013 and in the Trailblazers & Trendsetters category this year, agrees. "It's a privilege to win any award," she says, "It's really nice to meet younger women who read a little about you: they feel comfortable sharing their stories, their challenges. I'm not somebody who personally seeks the limelight, but it feels good to know you are changing things for the good."

Both of them, on campus to provide a guest lecture in Dean Bill Flanagan's Business Associations course, agree that Queen's provided some fundamentals to set them on their award-winning courses. "I got a ton out of all the experiential pieces that Queen's has to offer," Mantia says. "My two most powerful memories are the clinical correctional program and then the moot court. I don't believe I would have been hired to my first job if it weren't for these." The moot court, in particular, provided Mantia with valuable opportunities to make connections prior to graduation. "Not to put too much pressure on people," she says, "but your first job sets your whole course, the way you learn, so for Queen's to be able to set you up so you can meet practitioners, and not just in the job interview, it really is very positive."

Goldring, by contrast, can testify that Queen's Law offers much more than experiential learning. "I didn't do as much experiential work," she explains, "but I do think that the learning that you get from a great foundational legal education, which is what Queen's Law offers, is just critical. It allows you to think differently. I think the legal profession itself is a great way to have an entry-level role, providing young women with the opportunity do a number of different things. Look where Linda's career has gone, and mine, and they've moved in such different directions. Those fundamentals really gave us the resources to do that."

“I was delighted to welcome both Linda and Judy back to Queen’s Law as guest lecturers in my Business Associations course. We had a great discussion in the class about diversity on boards of directors and the challenges of recruiting and retaining more women to serve on Canada’s leading boards,” said Dean Flanagan. As sources of inspiration to young women across the country -- and as guests on-campus, working directly with students in the classroom -- it's clear that both Goldring and Mantia are using both their lessons learned at Queen's and their status as some of Canada's most powerful women to not only be leaders at work, but in life as well.