RIDING INTO THE FUTURE
That Beth Wilson is a threetime recipient of Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards, this time in the KPMG Professionals category, is a testament to the drive, tenacity and inspirational leadership she has demonstrated throughout her career.
Wilson is chief executive officer with Dentons Canada. She also serves on the firm’s global board and global management committee. An accountant by profession, she is the first CEO of a national law firm who is not a lawyer, which signals Dentons’ commitment to challenging the status quo. Wilson joined Dentons in July 2017 as an agent of change. In her short time with the firm, she has already implemented a new strategic plan specifically targeted toward exceptional talent, aggressive and profitable growth and operational excellence. The goal? To exceed client expectations of value and results.
Technology and new forms of competition are having a profound impact across the legal industry. These changes have moved services from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market. “In response, Beth’s progressive approach is helping to transform Dentons from a group of law practitioners motivated by billable hours, to trusted business advisers focused on service, transparency and value,” says Richard Scott, global vice chair and presiding member. “She has motivated the leadership team and partners to accept and embrace this new way of doing business.”
In Wilson’s words, “the end result is not about being the largest law firm. It is about being the law firm of the future and the leading law firm.”
To succeed in that quest, Wilson believes talent must be at the core. That is why she created the new role of chief talent officer and brought investment in Dentons’ people to the fore. A recently introduced company-wide engagement survey is helping to drive initiatives that further engage, motivate and develop talent at every level of the organization, while ensuring a diverse and harmonious working environment.
Wilson encourages her colleagues to challenge themselves. She is a disrupter who inspires her team to innovate and push boundaries in order to differentiate and deliver.
An avid cyclist for almost a decade, Wilson is no stranger to pushing her own boundaries. “My husband and I bought bicycles and took up road cycling about nine years ago. We began training, and six months later rode 200 kms over two days from Toronto to Niagara Falls in the Princess Margaret Ride to Conquer Cancer. It was an incredibly powerful experience. Learning a new sport and riding in such an emotional event was extraordinary. The following year we lost our best friend to brain cancer. We have continued to actively fundraise and participate in the Ride to Conquer Cancer every year,” she explains.
Wilson’s love of cycling has also benefitted her work life. “Cycling is like the new golf. I have ridden in many events with clients and other business contacts and found a whole new sub-culture for connecting with business associates who also love to cycle,” she says. “Cycling requires focus and discipline, but I also find that there is a rhythm to it which is almost meditative. It is a great way to reduce stress while staying fit.”
Wilson sees her greatest strengths as her ability to inspire others to see the art of the possible and help people to reach their full potential. She also admits to endless energy and a very strong work ethic.
Her personal passion, however, is to help women from all walks of life achieve their full potential. “I seek to understand their aspirations, challenges and doubts and work to build their confidence, provide stretch opportunities and support them where needed,” she says. “I am also a big believer in recognition and strive to provide personalized acknowledgement and appreciation at every opportunity.”
Leading by example is a key to motivating others, notes Wilson. “I do so by being true to myself and transparent about both the challenges of leadership and the incredible rewards,” she says. “I have learned that sharing the failures can sometimes be more instructive than the stories of triumph. A good sense of humour and a laugh can go a long way in helping other women through reallife challenges.”
Her approach is clearly paying dividends for the firm. Wilson joined Dentons half way through the fiscal year. She quickly mobilized the team and closed the year with financial results that exceeded targets. She implemented strong business processes to deliver integrated business planning, strengthen internal management reporting, and bring greater transparency. She is currently leading an initiative to accelerate billing and collection processes.
“Beth is also guiding investment in technologies that will help boost efficiency,” notes Scott. “This will not only help us remain profitable while effectively competing on price, it will help improve the quality of our services.”
Prior to joining Dentons, Wilson served as managing partner at KPMG in Toronto, wheresheledthelargestbusiness unit in Canada. Similar to the legal profession, auditing and consulting are undergoing significant disruption that is driving innovation in professional services. “A progressive thinker long before the industry caught up, Beth has always recognized that the major accounting firms have remained at the forefront of leading effective organizational change and implementing best practices in market engagement, business development, client relationship management, talent development and community leadership,” says Scott. “Her extensive experience and leadership are instrumental in shaping how Dentons responds to the disruption in our own sector.”
Wilson’s dedication to community is helping to shape the lives of others. She currently volunteers on the boards of the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Trinity College School, Woodgreen Foundation and Toronto CivicAction. In addition, Wilson was recently appointed to the advisory board of Catalyst Canada, where she continues to lead change and the advancement of diversity and inclusion. She actively promotes and encourages others to engage in their community to have an impact and pursue their passion and purpose.
Two years ago, as a testament to her work to help fight cancer, Wilson was the first woman to be appointed honourary chair of the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer in support of research at Princess Margaret Hospital. She helped lead the way to a breakthrough fundraising total.
Her strong leadership, advancement of women in business and commitment to community have seen Wilson recognized many times. In addition to her third win as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women, accolades include YWCA Women of Distinction; Top 25 Canadian Women of Influence; and Margot Franssen Leadership Award. Wilson is also an appointed fellow of CPA Ontario (Chartered Professional Accountants).
Her primary inspiration, says Wilson, is her mother. “Mom was very focused on her career as an educator and administrator in the public school system when I was growing up. I remember her studying for her Masters degree in the summers and taking on leadership roles in her profession. Dad supported her and took on a big role on the home front when I was young. My mom was a strong role model for being a successful professional, mother, wife and friend to many. She has always encouraged me to pursue excellence and she is my greatest champion.”
While her many business and community accomplishments have been recognized broadly, the two greatest achievements are her sons, says Wilson. “They have grown up to be wonderful human beings and they will change the world, each in their own way.”
I SEEK TO UNDERSTAND [WOMEN’S] ASPIRATIONS, CHALLENGES AND DOUBTS AND WORK TO BUILD THEIR CONFIDENCE, PROVIDE STRETCH OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT THEM WHERE NEEDED. I AM ALSO A BIG BELIEVER IN RECOGNITION AND STRIVE TO PROVIDE PERSONALIZED ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY.
— BETH WILSON, DENTONS CANADA LLP