Helen Cole got twenty women to run for office, and seven of them won. She’ll still tell you she wasn’t sure she belonged in a campaign called Maverick. That gap, between what Helen has actually done and how modestly she carries it, tells you most of what you need to know about her. She won her own first election back in 1997 and served her community for nine years, then built The Jean Collective so other women could see themselves in rooms they’d been told weren’t for them. She’s clear about why: a mentor once saw more in her than she saw in herself, and she has been paying that forward ever since. Here’s Helen, in her own words.

It felt like one of the sillier things I’ve done. I applied to be a Maverick, and lo and behold, Anita accepted me and said I was definitely a Maverick.

I was so worried about this photo session. I felt like, “Who am I to do this? Why do I think I should be considered a Maverick?” I agonized over what to wear and how I was going to manage.

Amanda, Samantha, and I became friends while they did my hair and makeup. It was so fun.

Next came the wonderful opportunity to be photographed by the incomparable Anita. She checked the clothing I had brought and suggested which ones would work best. I ended up with some great photos.

Am I a Maverick? Anita says I am, because I birthed a successful organization and have run it for several years. It’s actually me and some fabulous volunteers!

What does being a ‘maverick’ mean to you?

To me, being a maverick means being willing to take a different path when the usual path does not feel right. It means trusting your instincts, asking difficult questions or taking some difficult steps, and sometimes standing alone until others understand what you are trying to build.

I have never been interested in doing things simply because that is how they have always been done. I want the things I do to have meaning. To me, being a maverick is not about being rebellious for the sake of it—it is about having the courage to act on what you believe could be better.

Tell us about a time you felt powerful, proud, or truly yourself.

I felt enormously proud when I won a municipal election in 1997 and went on to serve my community for three terms over nine years. I also felt truly myself when I served on municipal council. I discovered that leadership was not about having all the answers; it was about listening, asking good questions, doing the work, and being willing to make difficult decisions.

I felt that same deep pride when I created The Jean Collective in 2019, and again during the 2022 municipal election when 20 women in Lambton put their names forward for public office and seven were elected.

What legacy are you building or living?

I am building a legacy of women believing that their voices matter.

Through The Jean Collective, I want women to see leadership and politics differently, not as spaces reserved for a certain type of person, but as places where thoughtful, compassionate, and capable women belong.

The organization is named in honor of my mentor, Jean Macdougall, who saw possibilities in me that I did not yet see in myself. My hope is to offer that same encouragement to other women.

Legacy, to me, is not about being remembered for a title or an organization. It is about the women who take one more step because someone believed in them.

What message would you share with other women who are still finding their voice or their confidence?

You do not have to wait until you feel completely confident. Confidence often comes after you begin, not before.

Your voice does not need to sound like anyone else’s. You do not have to be the loudest person in the room to be a leader. You can lead with compassion, curiosity, integrity, and courage.

Pay attention to the things that keep calling you forward. Take one step. Ask one question. Attend one meeting. Put your name forward. Speak even when your voice shakes.

You may already be far more ready than you believe.

The London–Middlesex Women’s Leadership Conference

Helen’s next event is the London–Middlesex Women’s Leadership Conference, on Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Goodwill Conference Centre in London. It’s a full, hands-on day for women who want to build their confidence, strengthen how they lead, and connect with others from across London and Middlesex.

The day opens with a keynote from Christina Fox, CEO of TechAlliance, followed by a women’s leadership panel with Berkeley McQueen, Reagan Michiels, and fellow Maverick Melissa Maloney. In the afternoon, I’m co-leading a Personal Brand and Presence workshop with another Maverick, Shahmeen Sadiq. Tickets are $50 and include lunch, refreshments, and free on-site parking.

Get tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/londonmiddlesex-womens-leadership-conference-tickets-1996918209119

Find Helen

Helen is the founder and CEO of The Jean Collective, a volunteer-led social enterprise she started in 2019 to help women see themselves in leadership, politics, and community life. If she resonated with you, here’s where to find her.

• The Jean Collective: https://thejeancollective.ca
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-cole-0714/