b'BUSINESS LEADERSTheCHANGE r e e r e m a r k a b l en d e f y T hI n d i g e n o u s w o m ec h a l l e n g e s t o b u i l d MAKERS i m p r e l s s i v i e c a i r e e r s a n d s e r v e a s n s p r i n g r o l e m o d e s f o r o t h e r sBy Sarah B. HoodW e live in a time of instability. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic,oldbusiness paradigms were crashing, newtechnologieswere proliferating, and the millennial generation was beginning to assert itself in the marketplace. In the midst of this transformative shakeup, Indigenouswomenaregainingastrong foothold in the business world. We look at three of these prominent and successful women: all are change makers and all share an immutable belief in the strength of Indigenous women everywhere to build successful careers and inspire others to do the same.LEAP OF FAITH:ALICIA DUBOISAlicia Dubois is a classic example of an Indigenous woman who worked hard to build a successful and meaningful career. This past September she was appointed to lead the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation (AIOC), an organization that bridges the gap between Indigenous groups seeking commercial partnerships in the natural resources sector and provides up to $1 billion in loan guarantees. Prior to that, she was vice president Indigenous markets at CIBC.It took grit and determination for Dubois to come so far, and it wasnt always easy. Early on, she had to muster the courage to defy family expectations. I was raised in a family where education was not really a priority for me because of my gender, recalls Dubois, who also serves as the CCAB Board co-chair. To break out of that expectation was really challenging. Im sure people I went to high 8A CCAB PUBLICATION2020'