Actuality¹⁴⁸

As part of Black History Month, the Jeune Chambre de commerce de Montréal is spotlighting some inspiring stories.

Meet Sybile Yao, JCCM ambassador.

Your background is in event management and business development. How did you become an impactful intrapreneur in these fields?

After obtaining my master's degree in event management and public relations, I moved from Paris to Montreal in 2017. To adapt to this new environment, I quickly realized the importance of expanding my network, which led me to volunteer with the JCCM.

The JCCM quickly put its trust in me, and that's how I managed to make an impact in my network. I rose through the ranks: first as a volunteer project manager, then as volunteer director of the events committee and volunteer director of the ARISTA competition committee.

Each role equipped me with strategic and operational skills, giving me the opportunity to pilot innovative initiatives and build relationships. As a result, I've shone a light on a number of initiatives and programs, while spreading the message that when you arrive in a new city, it's possible to integrate and rebuild everything.

My involvement with the JCCM then led, three years ago now, to the position I hold today in events and partnerships at an international financial institution.

How do you see your role as ambassador?

Being an ambassador means embodying and sharing the values and opportunities offered by the JCCM. My role consists of inspiring the Montreal business community through my experience and raising awareness of various issues.

What impact would you like to have as an ambassador for the JCCM and in general?

As an ambassador, I want to promote three areas:

• Francophonie in the business world: encouraging collaboration with French-speaking partners as a vector for international links and opportunities.
• Women's leadership: promoting and supporting women in business, particularly in decision-making roles.
• The power of networking: demonstrating the importance of building and maintaining relationships to nurture professional and personal development.

Promoting the French-speaking world is one of your priorities. How can the French-speaking world be a lever of development for young professionals in Montreal?

Francophonie is much more than just a means of communication: it's a real catalyst. By promoting the Francophonie, we open the door to rich exchanges with other French-speaking communities around the world.

For young professionals in Montreal, this means..:

• A broader network that facilitates access to new opportunities and better integration.
• A shared identity that reinforces cohesion and belonging to an international community.
• An opening onto diversified markets, where a shared language and culture facilitate interaction.

How do you think equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) can be better integrated into organizations' HR practices?

Several Montreal organizations have made great strides in EDI in recent years, but its integration must be seen as an ongoing process. Although each organization has a different starting point and different means, it is through actions taken on a daily basis that we can transform EDI into a lasting asset and a lever for innovation, so that it becomes a reflex for everyone.

The JCCM is well positioned to continue carrying this message.



What advice would you give to young professionals who want to make an impact within their company?

To make a real impact, it's essential to stay true to yourself and your values, and dare to take the initiative:

• Find what makes you tick: on a personal level, find a cause and get involved on a daily basis.
• Look for an environment that values commitment, that will make you want to get involved and that will enable you to make an impact every day.
• To bring about positive change, encourage dialogue and openness, listen to your colleagues, create a climate of collaboration and welcome new employees.

Even small gestures, repeated consistently, can help transform a company's culture over the long term.

In your opinion, what are the challenges facing the next generation of entrepreneurs in the years ahead?

Business succession is at the crossroads of several major challenges that require agility and resilience:

• Mental health and well-being: in an unstable political and economic context, the pressure on employees is increasing, making it essential to create work environments that support psychological well-being. It is crucial to build on one's network and normalize discussions around mental health.
• Environmental challenges: global warming is forcing the next generation of business leaders to think about our environmental impact. This requires openness, ongoing education on ecological issues, a willingness to innovate and to implement concrete actions, even on a small scale.

My advice would be to listen to yourself and stay true to yourself through it all. Being true to yourself means being true to your values, and having the feeling that you can make a difference in your day-to-day work.