CKCA’s presidential address: “I have seen incredible resilience in this industry”

Amrita Bhogal, President of the Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association, addressed the participants of the CKCA 2026 Spring Regional Conference, held May 12-14 in Hamilton, Ontario. Here are the president’s remarks about leadership and the work of the CKCA.

For every CKCA event I have always focused on sharing a key learning and over the weeks as I was gathering my thoughts for tonight, I kept asking myself one question: “How do you summarize a journey that changed you while you were living it?” And honestly… I’m still not sure you fully can.

When I stepped into the role of President of the Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association, I thought leadership would mostly be about direction, decisions, and helping move initiatives forward. And yes, there was a lot of that. But what I didn’t expect… was how personal the journey would become.

There were moments where I felt completely confident walking into a room. And there were other moments where I left meetings replaying conversations in my head wondering, “How could we better handle that” and “how could we put procedures or policies in place for future leaders” Especially during some of the advocacy work.

I never imagined this role would involve conversations with government, navigating industry pressures, balancing different perspectives, and trying to help carry important messages forward on behalf of so many people.

At times, it felt heavy. Because I cared deeply. And I think that was one of the biggest lessons for me.

Leadership is not about having all the answers.

There were many moments where I genuinely did not know the answer. But I learned I didn’t need to know everything. I needed to listen carefully. I needed to stay curious. I needed to bring the right people/subject matter experts together. And sometimes, I simply needed to create space for people to feel heard. That became one of the things I am most proud of during this journey. Not just the work we accomplished — but how we approached it. Making sure voices were heard. Listening fully before acting. Trying to bridge gaps instead of deepening them. And helping move conversations forward in a way that respected both experience and new perspectives.

Because when people feel heard, something changes. Walls come down. Ideas open up. People begin contributing differently. That belief is what inspired things like the HR roundtable this past year. Not because we needed another meeting on the calendar… But because our industry needed a place for people conversations too.

Conversations about leadership, culture, hiring, retention, and the realities businesses are navigating every day. And watching those connections begin to form across companies and across Canada reminded me how powerful community really is.

I also realized throughout this experience that leadership carries a responsibility far beyond the moment you are in. There were many conversations where I found myself thinking not only about the issue in front of us, but also about what we were building for the future.

How could we handle challenges better? What processes, policies, or structures could we put in place to support future leaders and strengthen the association long after our own terms ended? That perspective began shaping how I approached meetings, discussions, and decision-making. I became increasingly aware of the value of every minute people were giving to the table and the importance of using that time intentionally to move conversations forward in meaningful ways. Over time, I found myself focusing less on reacting to the moment and more on helping create clarity, alignment, and long-term progress. And I think that is one of the biggest things this role taught me: Leadership is not just about guiding people through today’s decisions. It is about leaving things stronger, clearer, and more supported for the people who come next.

Leadership is not just about guiding people through today’s decisions. It is about leaving things stronger, clearer, and more supported for the people who come next.

As a first-generation Canadian, raised by parents who immigrated here to create opportunity for their children, I grew up understanding the value of hard work. But one of the greatest gifts they gave me was confidence in using my voice and the encouragement to stay grounded in my personal values. Thank you for your supporting my leadership journey at CKCA over these years. Your presence at the events has been greatly appreciated. I know I’ve made my family proud, but I also hope that in some small way, I’ve helped create visibility for other women, and for members of the Indian and Punjabi community, to see that there is space for them in leadership within our industry too. Because representation matters.

And sometimes simply seeing someone step into a role helps others believe they can as well. Standing here tonight, I realize how much of my leadership journey has really been about helping create that same space for others. Encouraging people to contribute. Helping people feel included in conversations. Making room for different perspectives, generations, and ideas.

Because the future of this industry will not be shaped by one type of leader. It will be shaped by people willing to listen, adapt, collaborate, and continue learning from one another. And honestly… that gives me a lot of hope.

I have seen incredible resilience in this industry. I have seen generosity, innovation, mentorship, and people who genuinely care about what they are building — not just in their businesses, but in their communities and teams. And I feel incredibly grateful to have experienced this chapter alongside all of you.

As I transition into the role of Past President, I do so feeling proud of what this community continues to represent. Some of the best parts of this journey were the conversations behind the scenes the problem solving, the debates, the moments of alignment, and the shared care for where this industry is headed.

This year brought more change, complexity, and challenges than many of us anticipated, and while there is still important work ahead, I think tonight is also a moment to pause, reflect, and feel proud of everything we have navigated and overcome together.

To our board of directors, thank you for your continuous support. Behind every strong association is someone doing countless hours of work behind the scenes. From emails late into the evening, to stepping up again and again whenever support was needed, she has been a steady presence throughout an incredibly demanding year. Thank you to our Executive Director, Sandra Wood.

And I think if I could leave one thought behind tonight, it would simply be this: Leadership is not really about titles.

Titles eventually change. What lasts is how people experienced you. Did people feel heard? Did people feel respected? Did people feel encouraged to step forward too? That is the kind of leadership I hope I have brought to this role. And it is the kind of leadership I know will continue long after my presidency ends.

As our Vice President Luke Elias and I have worked very closely together, and I’ve seen firsthand his commitment to innovation, collaboration, and moving our industry forward. As many of you know, our “Leader of Robotics” brings not only vision for the future, but also a leadership style grounded in curiosity, connection, and progress and I know the association will be in great hands.

And to the association, thank you for your trust, for your support. And thank you for allowing me to be part of this journey with all of you. It has truly meant more to me than I can fully put into words.

The Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association (CKCA), established in 1968, is a national trade association representing the kitchen cabinet industry in Canada. CKCA works to inspire progress and innovation in the industry, by promoting excellence, facilitating continuous improvement and working to ensure high standards for design and manufacturing are upheld.

For more information:
Sandra Wood, CKCA Executive Director
sandra@ckca.ca
613-493-5858