October 2026 | HER Collective Note
A little more grateful. A little more reflective.
October always feels a little more reflective for me.
With Thanksgiving coming up here in Canada, it feels like a natural time to pause. Not just to think about what we’re grateful for, but about the people, experiences and opportunities that have shaped the year behind us.
I’ve been thinking about gratitude differently.
We often express gratitude by looking back and thanking the people who opened doors, made introductions, encouraged us or believed in us.
But perhaps another way to honour what we’ve been given is to pay it forward.
A few weeks ago at MPI’s theEVENT in Vancouver, I facilitated a conversation around a question that has stayed with me:
You have a seat at the table. What will you do with it?
I recently explored this question a little deeper — read the reflection here →
Maybe it’s making an introduction. Sharing an opportunity. Mentoring someone. Saying someone’s name when they aren’t in the room. Or simply noticing the person standing on the outside and inviting them in.
This Thanksgiving, I’m especially grateful for the people who have done those things for me.
And I want to be even more intentional about doing the same for others.
So I’ll leave you with two questions this month:
Who are you grateful for?And perhaps more importantly...
Whose journey can you positively impact next?
With gratitude,
Connie Cay-Santos
HER Community Member Spotlight:
Empowered Leader | Small Actions. Big Impact.
This month, we’re celebrating HER Seat at the Table Empowered Leader Danielle S. Russell, CAE, C.Dir., as she reaches an incredible milestone — the 250th issue of Tuesday Thoughts on October 28.
What began more than five years ago as a single post has grown into a community approaching 1,000 subscribers, three volumes of The Tuesday Thoughts Companion, speaking opportunities, and hundreds of ideas encouraging people to take meaningful action.
But what I appreciate most about Danielle is what she chooses to do with her voice.
Danielle is a valued leader within our community and someone I often turn to for perspective, advice and support. Her bold words of wisdom challenge us to think differently, while her natural ability to spotlight others helps people connect, take action and amplify their impact.
Danielle is a wonderful reminder that impact doesn't always require one big gesture. Sometimes it comes from showing up, sharing what you know and doing something meaningful and consistently.
Congratulations, Danielle, on 250 Tuesday Thoughts! Thank you for continuing to share your voice, your wisdom and your impact with all of us.
Paying It Forward
At HER Seat at the Table, we believe momentum grows when we create opportunities for others.
That’s why we’re beginning to explore more intentional ways to Pay It Forward connecting established leaders and organizations with Emerging Voices who may not otherwise have the same access or opportunity to participate.
This isn’t simply about attending an event. It’s about creating access to education, mentorship, meaningful conversations, relationships and opportunities that can positively shape someone’s journey.
Paying It Forward can take many forms. It might be helping someone access a HER Seat membership or program, making an introduction, sharing an opportunity, offering your time or opening a door.
Because access matters. What we do with our access matters even more.
If you’re interested in helping us grow this initiative, as an individual or an organization, I’d love to hear from you.
UPCOMING EVENTS
October 22 | Special POP-IN + AHA with Nicole Dubé
Stop Talking Yourself Out Of It!
Overcome Your Hesitation & Lead
This month, we’re doing something a little different.
Instead of our regular October 21 POP-IN, we’re bringing POP-IN + AHA together for one special two-hour experience on October 22 from 12:00–2:00 PM ET.
We’ll start with time to connect as a community before diving into an interactive conversation with Nicole Dubé, Owner of Dubé Media and Creator of STORYOSITY™
Together, we’ll explore the hesitation that can hold us back, the stories we tell ourselves about why we’re not quite ready, and what can happen when we stop talking ourselves out of the opportunities in front of us.
Come ready to connect, reflect, ask questions and share.
One community. One conversation. One special two-hour experience.
Our Little Hidden Gem: The HER WhatsApp Community
Did you know you don’t need to be a paid HER Seat member to join our WhatsApp Community?
It’s FREE to join and open to women who want to stay connected, contribute and support one another between our gatherings.
Use the community to share an opportunity, ask for help, make an introduction, celebrate a win, invite someone for coffee — or simply join the conversation.
You don’t need to wait for the next HER Seat event to connect.
This isn’t a space for sales pitches or self-promotion. It’s a space for connection, generosity, opportunities and support.
If you’ve been quietly following along, jump into the conversation. And if you haven’t joined us yet, we’d love to have you.
Connect • Share • Ask • Support
A HER Note:
Before You Go...
As we move toward the end of the year, I have one more ask.
I want to see our Pay It Forward initiative grow.
I know there are incredible women within our communities and networks who could benefit from greater access to mentorship, relationships, learning and opportunities.
And I know there are people and organizations in our community who may be looking for a meaningful way to give.
If you have room to give and would like to help create an opportunity for someone else, please reach out. I’d love to talk about what Pay It Forward could look like for you or your organization.
And if there is an incredible woman in your network who you believe could benefit from this kind of opportunity, I want to hear about her too.
It doesn’t have to start big.
Sometimes it starts with one person deciding, “I can make room for one more.”
Let’s create more seats together.
With gratitude,
Connie Cay-Santos
CEO & Founder
CAY VII INC | HER Seat at the Table
If this newsletter resonated with you, we invite you to share it with someone who would benefit from joining the conversation.
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