1724 words – 13 minute read
As part of International Women’s Month 2026 celebrations, Invest Ottawa teamed up with Naomi Haile of The Power of Why Podcast to produce this special Featured Leader Series celebrating women leading in Ottawa.
Five inspirational leaders are selected each year to represent International Women’s Month (IWM). These featured leaders represent more than titles. They represent builders, connectors, and advocates, the people doing the often invisible work of strengthening our city’s foundation so businesses can grow.
They are role models who significantly impact our economy, community and society and embody the spirit, goals and values of IWM.
What does it take to be heard in rooms where decisions are actually made?
In a business environment shaped by volatility, scrutiny, and constant change, communication is often treated as a support function. Something to call in when a message needs polishing or a crisis needs managing. But the leaders who have real influence understand something different. Communication is not about words. It is about positioning, judgment, and trust.
In this episode of the Power of Why Podcast, Naomi Haile sits down with Amy MacLeod, Vice President of Corporate Communications at MDA Space, a global leader in space technology.
With more than 25 years of experience across technology, defence, and publicly traded companies, Amy has built a career translating complex business realities into clear, credible narratives that drive trust and alignment.
Her message is direct: if you want a seat at the table, you need to understand the business, not just the message.
This conversation is a roadmap for anyone looking to move from execution to influence, from support function to strategic partner.
This episode is for you if:
- You work in communications and want to be seen as a strategic business partner, not just an executor
- You are a founder who has not yet treated communications as a core business function
- You want to understand how trust and credibility are actually built with stakeholders
- You are operating in a high-pressure environment and want to lead with more clarity and composure
- You are exploring how AI fits into your function without losing strategic depth
- You care about advancing women in leadership and want to learn from someone who has helped shape that progress
Listen to Be a Good Comms Person, But Be a Better Businessperson with Amy MacLeod now:
The Power of Why: A Conversation with Amy MacLeod
In this episode, Amy MacLeod shares what she has learned from decades working at the intersection of business, leadership, and communication, and why the most valuable communicators are not the ones who write the best, but the ones who understand the business best.
Amy challenges a common misconception: that communications is primarily about crafting messages. In reality, she explains, it is about shaping how stakeholders interpret what is happening inside a company. It is about positioning, clarity, and consistency, especially when the stakes are high and the message is not easy to deliver.
One of the most powerful themes in the conversation is the idea of credibility. Credibility is not built through perfect messaging. It is built over time, through consistency, honesty, and the ability to connect information to purpose. Leaders who earn trust are the ones who tell the truth clearly, even when it is uncomfortable.
Amy also speaks candidly about why communications is often undervalued inside organizations. Too often, it is brought in too late, treated as a tactical function rather than a strategic one. The shift happens when communicators demonstrate business acumen. When they understand financials, operations, and market dynamics well enough to contribute beyond messaging.
As she puts it, the real unlock comes when people start asking for your perspective on topics that have nothing to do with communications. That is when you have moved from executor to advisor.
The episode also explores what this looks like in practice for founders and growing companies. For early-stage leaders, communications is often reactive. Something addressed only when necessary. Amy argues this is a missed opportunity. When treated as a core business asset early on, communications becomes a driver of credibility, alignment, and long-term value.
The conversation also touches on the evolving role of AI within communications. Amy offers a grounded perspective. While AI can support efficiency and output, it does not replace judgment, context, or strategic thinking. The real opportunity lies in how teams integrate these tools without losing the human insight that makes communication effective.
Finally, Amy reflects on leadership more broadly. From emotional regulation in high-pressure environments to the importance of trusting your instincts and not shaping yourself to fit roles that are not aligned. Her perspective is both practical and deeply human.
Be a good comms person, but be a better businessperson. That is the key to unlocking the strategic value as a comms person.” – Amy MacLeod
About Amy
Amy MacLeod is the Vice President of Corporate Communications at MDA Space, where she leads strategic communications for one of Canada’s most prominent space technology companies.
With 25 years of experience as a senior communications executive, she is known for shaping complex business, financial, and technical developments into clear, credible narratives that support leadership, influence, and organizational alignment.
Prior to joining MDA Space, Amy held executive communications roles across the technology and defence sectors, including Vice President of Corporate Affairs and External Communications at Seaspan Shipyards and Vice President of Corporate Communications at Mitel.
In 2018, she was appointed Mitel’s first Corporate Diversity Officer, leading global cultural transformation initiatives.
Earlier in her career, Amy worked in progressively senior roles at General Dynamics Canada, Alcatel-Lucent, and Newbridge Networks Corporation, and began her career as a political staffer on Parliament Hill.
She has served as Chair of the Board for the Kanata North Business Association and as a board member for the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for CADSI, the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries. Amy was also a finalist for the 2019 Ottawa Business Women of the Year award.
Connect with Amy
- LinkedIn: Amy MacLeod
- Website: MDA Space
- LinkedIn: MDA Space
Connect with Naomi
- Website: www.naomihaile.com
- LinkedIn: Naomi Haile
- Instagram: @naomiahaile
- Twitter: @naomiathaile
- YouTube: Naomi Haile
Explore IWM 2026
- Get involved! Visit the IWM 2026 event calendar here.
- Explore the Featured Leaders Series – collectively, these amazing women lead with purpose, champion inclusion, and actively mentor and support the next generation of founders and executives.
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