A national movement designed to re-imagine how women live, work, and lead.

What is Heartwork?

Heartwork: Advancing Women in Business & Leadership is a national systemic change initiative led by Conscious Economics and supported by Ministry of Women and Gender Equality Canada.

It was designed to uncover the unique barriers and re-imagine the complex realities that diverse women navigate every day across both corporate and gig economies in Canada.

What is Heartwork?

Through a powerful integration of:

Research

Cross-sector Collaboration

Art & Storytelling

Policy Co-creation

Scalable Systemic Solutions

Through a powerful integration of:

A New Approach to Systemic Change

What makes Heartwork different is not just what we study—but how we study it.

A New Approach to Systemic Change

What makes Heartwork different is not just what we study—but how we study it.

Moving Beyond Data to Human Experience

Traditional research captures numbers. Heartwork captures lived reality.

We explore:

Because behind every statistic is a woman navigating real pressures across her body, her family, her finances, and her future.

Moving Beyond Data to Human Experience

Traditional research captures numbers. Heartwork captures lived reality.

We explore:

Because behind every statistic is a woman navigating real pressures across her body, her family, her finances, and her future.

Art as a Vehicle for Change

We believe change doesn’t happen through information alone— it happens when people feel something. By partnering with gender diverse & women artists across Canada, we turn policy to life & make systemic issues impossible to ignore.

We transform research into art through:

Original Music

Film & Documentary

Visual Art & Photography

Poetry & Storytelling

Fashion & Creative Expression

Art-Forward Policy Zines

Digital Media Campaigns

Art as a Vehicle for Change

We transform research into art through:

Co-Creation Through Design Thinking

Heartwork brings together voices across:

Community and grassroots organizations
Corporate and industry leaders
Policy and systems change actors
Artists and creatives
Individuals with lived experience
Intergenerational perspectives

Through a design thinking approach, we co-create solutions that are:

Multi-dimensional
Inclusive
Grounded in lived experience and collective insight

Co-Creation Through Design Thinking

Heartwork brings together voices across:

Community and grassroots organizations
Corporate and industry leaders
Policy and systems change actors
Artists and creatives
Individuals with lived experience
Intergenerational perspectives

Through a design thinking approach, we co-create solutions that are:

Multi-dimensional
Inclusive
Grounded in lived experience and collective insight

The Impact So Far

Across Canada, Heartwork has engaged:

200+ women through deep listening sessions
44 corporate & community organizations nationally
1687+ survey respondents nationally
Representation from every province and territory

What We’re Hearing
Women are not just facing challenges, they are navigating systemic strain.

94% report experiencing burnout or mental health strain
80% are balancing caregiving alongside professional demands
74% express concerns around personal and economic safety
94.4% report ongoing experiences of sexism

These are not isolated issues.
They are structural patterns shaping the future of work.

The Impact So Far

Across Canada, Heartwork has engaged:

200+ women through deep listening sessions
44 corporate & community organizations nationally
1687+ survey respondents nationally
Representation from every province and territory

What We’re Hearing
Women are not just facing challenges, they are navigating systemic strain.

94% report experiencing burnout or mental health strain
80% are balancing caregiving alongside professional demands
74% express concerns around personal and economic safety
94.4% report ongoing experiences of sexism

These are not isolated issues.
They are structural patterns shaping the future of work.

Explore the Heartwork Journey

Heartwork I: Advancing Women in Leadership

This first phase focused on diverse women working within corporate Canada, exploring the barriers to advancement and the realities of sustainable leadership.

Heartwork I: Advancing Women in Leadership

This first phase focused on diverse women working within corporate Canada, exploring the barriers to advancement and the realities of sustainable leadership.

Key Themes:

Burnout and mental health challenges
Overperformance culture and chronic pressure to exceed expectations
Ongoing experiences of sexism and racism
A disconnect between stated commitments and lived experiences within leadership
Work-life imbalance and competing demands
Intergenerational tension and evolving workplace expectations
Invisible labour and emotional taxation

Key Solutions:

Full company-wide pay transparency
Expanded workplace wellness benefits, including caregiving and lifecycle supports
Flexible, lifecycle-informed work models
Redefining leadership metrics to include emotional intelligence (EQ)
Cluster hiring to create more accessible and sustainable leadership pathways

Explore:

Watch the Film

Listen to the Song

Read the Zine

Listen to the Podcast

Key Themes:

Burnout and mental health challenges
Overperformance culture and chronic pressure to exceed expectations
Ongoing experiences of sexism and racism
A disconnect between stated commitments and lived experiences within leadership
Work-life imbalance and competing demands
Intergenerational tension and evolving workplace expectations
Invisible labour and emotional taxation

Key Solutions:

Full company-wide pay transparency
Expanded workplace wellness benefits, including caregiving and lifecycle supports
Flexible, lifecycle-informed work models
Redefining leadership metrics to include emotional intelligence (EQ)
Cluster hiring to create more accessible and sustainable leadership pathways

Explore:

Watch the Film

Listen to the Song

Read the Zine

Listen to the Podcast

Heartwork II: Advancing Women in Business

This phase expanded the lens to women navigating precarious, independent, and creative work across the gig economy.

Heartwork II: Advancing Women in Business

This phase expanded the lens to women navigating precarious, independent, and creative work across the gig economy.

Key Themes:

Income instability and unpredictability
Lack of benefits, protections, and safety nets
Economic and personal safety concerns
Burnout and ongoing mental health strain
Loneliness and isolation
Caregiving responsibilities alongside inconsistent income cycles

Key Solutions:

Live-Work Collective: reimagining housing through affordable, community-driven live-
work spaces
National Advisory Council: positioning gig workers at the center of policy co-creation
Burnout Recovery Program: lifecycle-informed training for sustainable work and long-term wellbeing
The Share Collective: peer-based networks for financial and care support
Safe Gigs Initiative: advancing safety, mobility, and protections for independent workers

Explore:

Watch the Film

Listen to the Song

Explore the Policy Zine

Key Themes:

Income instability and unpredictability
Lack of benefits, protections, and safety nets
Economic and personal safety concerns
Burnout and ongoing mental health strain
Loneliness and isolation
Caregiving responsibilities alongside inconsistent income cycles

Key Solutions:

Live-Work Collective: reimagining housing through affordable, community-driven live-
work spaces
National Advisory Council: positioning gig workers at the center of policy co-creation
Burnout Recovery Program: lifecycle-informed training for sustainable work and long-term wellbeing
The Share Collective: peer-based networks for financial and care support
Safe Gigs Initiative: advancing safety, mobility, and protections for independent workers

Explore:

Watch the Film

Listen to the Song

Explore the Policy Zine

Heartwork III: Economic Safety & Sustainable Leadership (Current Phase)

We are proud to be advancing Heartwork into its next phase, building on key challenges identified in earlier iterations. This phase focuses on two urgent and interconnected areas.

Economic Safety & Financial Autonomy:

Financial control, coercion, and income-based vulnerability
Gaps in protections across gig and financial systems

Women’s Health & Sustainable Leadership

Burnout as a barrier to long-term earning and leadership
The impact of caregiving, lifecycle changes, and chronic stress

Stay tuned for upcoming tools, research, and opportunities to get involved.

Voices from the Movement

“As a single mother with a six-year-old, I want to be the best mom I can be while also moving my business forward as a foundation for my daughter. It feels like a constant tug of war. Full—but deeply meaningful.”

— Anonymous, Saskatoon

Voices from the Movement

“Gig work means you have to constantly be ‘on.’ To others, it can look like you’re unavailable or disorganized, when in reality you have too much work and not enough support. What shows up as criticism is often a misunderstanding of how hard you’re trying to hold it all together.”

— Anonymous, Montreal

Voices from the Movement

“Because of the limited recognition women and creatives receive, many of us spend our time and money upskilling to fit into available jobs—instead of building careers around what we’re actually passionate about.”

— Anonymous, Calgary

Voices from the Movement

“As an immigrant gig worker, it’s incredibly difficult to access grants or build any kind of safety net for myself.”

— Anonymous, Toronto

Voices from the Movement

“The arts and culture sector is often treated like the overlooked child of the economy. Financial institutions are still hesitant to support self-employed artists.”

— Anonymous, Montreal

Voices from the Movement

“On paper, everything looks progressive. But in practice, the support isn’t there when you actually need it.”

— Anonymous, Corporate Leader

Voices from the Movement

“I didn’t step back because I lacked ambition. I stepped back because the pace was unsustainable.”

— Anonymous, Senior Manager

Voices from the Movement

“You’re expected to lead like you don’t have a life outside of work—and live like your career isn’t demanding everything from you.”

— Anonymous, Director Level

Voices from the Movement

“There’s a constant pressure to prove your value, even when you’re already overperforming.”

— Anonymous, Corporate Employee

Voices from the Movement

“We talk about wellbeing, but the systems still reward burnout.”

— Anonymous, Corporate Leader

Join the Movement

Heartwork is not just research. It is a growing national ecosystem for change. Whether you are:

✨ A woman navigating work and life
✨ A corporate leader
✨ A policymaker
✨ An artist or creative
✨ A community builder

There is a place for you here.

Subscribe. Participate. Collaborate.

👉🏼 Join the movement
👉🏼 Stay updated on new releases
👉🏼 Be part of shaping the future of work

Join the Movement

Heartwork is not just research. It is a growing national ecosystem for change. Whether you are:

✨ A woman navigating work and life
✨ A corporate leader
✨ A policymaker
✨ An artist or creative
✨ A community builder

There is a place for you here.

Subscribe. Participate. Collaborate.

👉🏼 Join the movement
👉🏼 Stay updated on new releases
👉🏼 Be part of shaping the future of work

Our Heartwork Champions & Partners

A national movement designed to re-imagine how women live, work, and lead.

A national movement designed to re-imagine how women live, work, and lead.

What is Heartwork?

What is Heartwork?

Through a powerful integration of:

Through a powerful integration of:

A New Approach to Systemic Change

A New Approach to Systemic Change

Moving Beyond Data to Human Experience

Moving Beyond Data to Human Experience

Art as a Vehicle for Change

Art as a Vehicle for Change

Co-Creation Through Design Thinking

Co-Creation Through Design Thinking

The Impact So Far

The Impact So Far

Explore the Heartwork Journey

Explore the Heartwork Journey

Heartwork I: Advancing Women in Leadership

Heartwork I: Advancing Women in Leadership

Heartwork II: Advancing Women in Business

Heartwork II: Advancing Women in Business

Heartwork III: Economic Safety & Sustainable Leadership (Current Phase)

Voices from the Movement

“As a single mother with a six-year-old, I want to be the best mom I can be while also moving my business forward as a foundation for my daughter. It feels like a constant tug of war. Full—but deeply meaningful.”— Anonymous, Saskatoon

Voices from the Movement

Voices from the Movement

“Because of the limited recognition women and creatives receive, many of us spend our time and money upskilling to fit into available jobs—instead of building careers around what we’re actually passionate about.”— Anonymous, Calgary

Voices from the Movement

“As an immigrant gig worker, it’s incredibly difficult to access grants or build any kind of safety net for myself.”— Anonymous, Toronto

Voices from the Movement

“The arts and culture sector is often treated like the overlooked child of the economy. Financial institutions are still hesitant to support self-employed artists.”— Anonymous, Montreal

Voices from the Movement

“On paper, everything looks progressive. But in practice, the support isn’t there when you actually need it.”— Anonymous, Corporate Leader

Voices from the Movement

“I didn’t step back because I lacked ambition. I stepped back because the pace was unsustainable.”

— Anonymous, Senior Manager

Voices from the Movement

“You’re expected to lead like you don’t have a life outside of work—and live like your career isn’t demanding everything from you.”

— Anonymous, Director Level

Voices from the Movement

“There’s a constant pressure to prove your value, even when you’re already overperforming.”

— Anonymous, Corporate Employee

Voices from the Movement

“We talk about wellbeing, but the systems still reward burnout.”

— Anonymous, Corporate Leader

Join the Movement

Join the Movement

Our Heartwork Champions & Partners

Join Our Free Trial

“As a single mother with a six-year-old, I want to be the best mom I can be while also moving my business forward as a foundation for my daughter. It feels like a constant tug of war. Full—but deeply meaningful.”

— Anonymous, Saskatoon

“Because of the limited recognition women and creatives receive, many of us spend our time and money upskilling to fit into available jobs—instead of building careers around what we’re actually passionate about.”

— Anonymous, Calgary

“As an immigrant gig worker, it’s incredibly difficult to access grants or build any kind of safety net for myself.”

— Anonymous, Toronto

“The arts and culture sector is often treated like the overlooked child of the economy. Financial institutions are still hesitant to support self-employed artists.”

— Anonymous, Montreal

“On paper, everything looks progressive. But in practice, the support isn’t there when you actually need it.”

— Anonymous, Corporate Leader