Breaking the Broken Rung: Melanie de Guzman’s Blueprint for Mid Career Women’s Advancement
My guest today is Melonie de Guzman. With over 15 years in digital media and a passion for driving workplace equity, Melonie has built a career at the intersection of leadership, mentorship, and professional development. I co-founded Rogers Women in Tech, launching its first cross-Canada mentorship program to support women in STEM. As a speaker, I’ve been invited to share insights at the University of Toronto, George Brown College, McMaster University, Queen’s University, Toronto Metropolitan University, Shopify , and was the closing keynote speaker at the first WomenTech Network conference. Beyond speaking, I’ve dedicated my time to mentoring and shaping industry programs. I’ve mentored for Women in Film & Television (WIFT-T), Girls in Tech, and served as a judge for Mentor of the Year at WomenTech Network. I also contributed to programming at WIFT-T and currently serve as Director of Events at Lean In Canada, helping create spaces for professional women to connect, learn, and grow. Now, I help organizations build sustainable mentorships, book clubs, and leadership development programs, so employees can focus on their careers without sacrificing their nights and weekends.. In this episode we discuss women in leadership, women in tech, the broken rung, career strategy, invisible labor and mentorship.
Website - https://www.meloniedeguzman.com
IG - https://www.instagram.com/meloniedeguzman
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/meloniedeguzman/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@meloniedeguzman
In this episode you will learn:
1. Why building a career ecosystem beyond your job is so important.
2. Don't wait til you feel ready to take the step, confidence is a by-product of taking actionable steps and how to do that.
3. How to stop the invisible labor trap and prioritize work that impacts your KPI Reviews.
“Let's talk about what is that traditional career path that we're all talking about. For me, I define it as you're getting a degree, you're finding a full-time job that you love, you're doing good work, you're climbing that corporate ladder."- 00:02:18
“We all heard about the mental load at home, right? The invisible labor of women that happens in the workplace too, right?" - 00:28:33
"When it comes to your job or your next job, don't think about your job as, say you're trying to find a job, as a goal and that's a mindset that so many people go to Oh, if I can only get that manager role, if I only get, no. Think about it as your next job is a tool.” - 00:58:37
Empowerography Live Conference 2026 | April 24th - 26th | Toronto, Ontario
The Empowerography Live Conference 2026 is more than an event, it’s a 2.5-day in-person experience designed to help women reconnect to their voice, their power, and their next chapter.
From April 24–26 in Toronto, women from around the world will gather for deep conversations, powerful storytelling, hands-on workshops, and real human connection. This is a space where growth happens, clarity is found, and transformation begins—not through surface-level motivation, but through lived experience, shared wisdom, and intentional action.
If you’re craving community…
If you’re ready to be challenged, inspired, and supported…
If you feel that pull to step into more of who you truly are…
This is for you.
🎟️ Tickets are limited.
👉 Learn more and secure your spot at https://shorturl.at/NtvVF
Contact Brad:
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