New Report: Majority of Canadian Women Professionals Don’t Think Traditional Networking Events Help Build Strong Connections

As Monday Girl gears up for its annual Toronto Summit on March 29, the 2025 Canadian Women’s Mentorship and Networking Report, in partnership with Environics Research, finds an overwhelming majority (83%) of Canadian professional women agree that they wish there were more networking events tailored towards women

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New research from North America’s leading digital networking platform, Monday Girl, in partnership with Environics Research, reveals a clear networking gap for Canadian women working professionals. Despite the growing importance of professional networking in today’s competitive job market – where AI and automation are reshaping industries – the report highlights that women continue to face barriers in accessing effective networking opportunities, with the majority (67%) of women working professionals finding traditional networking events awkward and uncomfortable, and most (60%) don’t think they help build strong industry connections.

The 2025 Canadian Women’s Mentorship and Networking Report highlights the following three trends:

Workplace Challenges and Safe Spaces
Over half (51%) of Canadian professional women are worried about major companies scaling back DEI initiatives, fearing the negative impact on their career development and progression. Additionally, the overwhelming majority (83%) express the need for more networking opportunities specifically designed for women, while nearly half (47%) are actively seeking safe spaces where they can feel supported in the workplace.

These findings highlight the ongoing challenges women face in accessing meaningful career growth opportunities and supportive work environments. Without dedicated efforts to maintain DEI initiatives, women may encounter greater barriers to advancement, ultimately limiting overall diversity in the workforce.

The Networking Gap
Over two-thirds (67%) of Canadian professional women find traditional networking events awkward and uncomfortable, and 60% don’t believe these events help build strong industry connections. Yet, networking remains essential for career advancement, with 86% of women considering it important for professional growth and 79% emphasizing its role in securing a new job.

Despite this, 68% agree that there are not enough networking opportunities specifically designed for women professionals. Without more inclusive and effective networking spaces, women may struggle to build the relationships necessary for career growth, ultimately limiting their professional potential and representation in leadership roles.

Mentorship and Career Support
Over eight-in-ten (85%) Canadian professional women view mentorship as vital to career advancement, but, despite this strong demand, only 15% currently have a mentor, and only 19% are actively searching for one.

These findings highlight a significant gap in mentorship for women professionals, as limited access to mentorship opportunities may hinder their ability to gain essential guidance, ultimately restricting their career growth and advancement.

Monday Girl Summit 2025
As part of its commitment to helping women build successful careers and make strong connections, Monday Girl is excited to bring back its annual Toronto Summit on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at the Fairmont Royal York. The highly anticipated event, which sold out in just minutes, will bring together over 400 ambitious women for an action-packed day of insightful fireside chats, exciting keynotes, networking socials, and career-changing connections.

This year's dynamic speaker lineup includes Teresa Resch, Canada’s WNBA President, Laurie May, Co-Founder and Co-President of Elevation Pictures, Ashley Graf, International Marketing Director of Squarespace, Sevaun Palvetzian, President and CEO of UNICEF, and more.

“As the data clearly shows, there is a significant networking gap for Canadian women professionals, and too many are struggling to find spaces where they can build strong industry connections that will make a difference in their careers, especially in today’s rapidly changing job market,” said Rachel Wong and Istiana Bestari, co-founders of Monday Girl. “That’s exactly why we created Monday Girl and our annual Summit – to bring together like-minded women and provide a platform where they can learn from top industry leaders, foster authentic connections and gain the support they need to drive real progress in their careers.”

For more on Monday Girl and the upcoming summit, visit joinmondaygirl.com. Media can apply for accreditation by contacting [e-mail] by Monday, March 24.

About Monday Girl
Monday Girl is a career networking platform dedicated to helping women build successful and fulfilling careers. Through exclusive mentorship programs, curated networking events, and expert-led career resources, Monday Girl connects ambitious women across North America with the support they need to thrive in their professional journeys. With a growing community of members across industries, Monday Girl is committed to fostering an inclusive and empowering space for career-driven women.

Methodology
The 2025 Canadian Women’s Mentorship & Networking Report is based on an online survey conducted by Environics Research between February 26th and March 10th, 2025. The online survey included 1,058 Canadian women, aged 18 to 65 years of age or older, working in professional services sectors (e.g., consulting, legal, accounting, marketing, advertising, PR, finance, IT, HR, sales reps, etc.). Quotas were set to oversample ages 25-35 and final data was weighted by age and province to reflect the national proportions of Canadian professional women in the labour force.