March is Women’s History Month, a chance to reflect on the past, celebrate the pioneers who’ve led us this far on the path to equality, and renew our focus on dismantling the barriers that still hold women and girls back. For each of us, it should also be personal.

When I look back at my life and career, there are many guiding mentors who have shaped my journey. To mark Women’s History Month, I want to share their stories.

My path can be traced back to lessons I learned from my mother, Theresa. She lives according to one principle: that our most lasting contribution to the world is what we do for children, our own and those in need. She came from humble roots. Growing up, she knew what it was like to want for things perpetually out of reach. Mom remembered every act of kindness, every gesture of humanity bestowed on her, and she paid it forward many times over. She became an outreach worker, helping young people get off the streets, and then a teacher, helping students with special needs. She poured her energy into me, my brother, and our charity, WE, when it was a fledgling group of young people.

I’m a better parent, better man and better equipped to fight for what is right because of my mother’s example.

When I was 16, I appeared on Oprah Winfrey’s show to talk about building schools in developing communities and got an unexpected crash course in entrepreneurship. She was the first CEO I ever met, a bold leader and one of the first people outside of our family to believe in my brother and me. But her support came with a catch and incredibly high demands. Oprah would say, “It’s easy to do good—it’s hard to do it well.” She taught us about sustainability, measurement and finance. She helped me discover what it takes to truly make a difference—not just good intentions but clear metrics and streamlined operations.

Michelle Douglas has been the chair of our charity’s board of directors for ten years. In that time, she’s reminded me of the lesson she taught the entire country: that sometimes we’re called on to do the right thing even if it’s challenging or unpopular. Canada owes her a debt of gratitude for pushing back against prejudice and taking the Canadian Armed Forces to federal court over their discriminatory LGBTQ policies. The judge’s order paved the way for an overdue apology, recently announced memorial and compensation for the thousands of people whose careers were ruined because of their sexual orientation.

In our increasingly cynical world, Michelle often says that we must ignore the naysayers on the sidelines and remain true to our values. She’s guided me through countless hard decisions and her example is one I strive to live up to.

Gender equity remains a frustratingly distant horizon. Women’s History Month is a reminder of that, and of the long path we must walk to get there. It’s also an opportunity to reflect on the personal ways, big and small, that we’ve all been made better by the women in our lives.