She’s been a federal MP and minister for a decade, has held some of the most demanding portfolios in Canadian politics, and still calls Montreal home with obvious pride. In keeping with this Glamada-themed edition, which celebrates boldness, style, and achievement, I sat down with Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly to talk about confidence, women in leadership, and why she thinks this city is the greatest on earth. Catch the full conversation on my pod-cast, The Brand is Female.
GROWING UP, WERE YOU ALREADY THINKING OF A CAREER IN POLITICS?
I always had that feeling, even if I didn’t fully understand what politics was. Nobody in my immediate family was in politics – though I later found out both my great-grandfathers were mayors of small towns in Quebec, so clearly there’s something in the DNA. Eventually I just decided to go for it. Running for mayor of Montreal was a bit chaotic, very gutsy — but the rest, as they say, is history.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED OVER THE YEARS ABOUT YOUR OWN POWER?
I think more about impact than power. Politics is genuinely entrepreneurial – you have an idea and you make it happen. Whether it was the Arctic Foreign Policy or the global talent attraction strategy I’ve been pushing now, it always comes back to the same question: how do we change people’s lives?
WOMEN IN POLITICS STILL FACE REAL SYSTEMIC BARRIERS. HAS THERE BEEN A MOMENT WHERE THAT ALMOST DISCOURAGED YOU PERSONALLY?
Social media has a lot to do with it. The nastiness is organized — I’ve worked on foreign interference long enough to recognize it. It takes a real psychological toll. What I’ve had to learn is how to draw a clear line between the public figure and the person. That line is everything.
WAS THERE EVER A MOMENT WHERE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT GIVING UP?
Many. Absolutely. But I’ve always been able to differentiate between what touches me personally and what comes with the territory of being a public figure. Having that distinction in your mind is what keeps you going.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO WOMEN DEALING WITH IMPOSTER SYNDROME?
Don’t let the imposter win. I’ve sat across from political leaders from around the world — nobody has it all figured out. Perfect scenario does not exist. What matters is that you trust yourself enough to try.
HOW DO WE INSPIRE MORE WOMEN TO RUN FOR OFFICE OR STEP INTO LEADERSHIP?
Women usually need to be asked six times before they say yes to running. Men? Once. What I tell women is: trust yourself, see the impact you can have, and then figure out the organization. The rest follows.
AND MONTREAL — WHAT DOES THIS CITY MEAN TO YOU?
It’s my roots. My family is here, my neighbours, my life. I love the arts, the entrepreneurial energy, the beautiful contradiction of the place. After everything I’ve seen in the world — I still think Montreal is the greatest city on earth.
For more on Mélanie Joly, visit her official profile at Canada.ca and follow her on Instagram and X @melaniejoly. For more on Eva Hartling, tune into her podcast The Brand is Female and follow @thebrandisfemale.