HSBC Corporate Executives Awards

Recognizing women who hold senior positions in Canadian companies, pension funds and co-operatives

CARRIE BAKER

Chief Communications Officer CANADA GOOSE

BIO: A dynamic communications strategist with a passion for creative storytelling and solving key business issues, Carrie Baker serves as Chief of Staff to the President and CEO, leading strategic cross-functional projects, and Chief Communications Officer, where she directs global internal and external communications and government relations, and oversees corporate citizenship and global security. She was instrumental in managing the communications strategy for Canada Goose throughout its IPO process in 2017, bringing the brand’s story to life for investors and consumers alike.

SUCCESS IS: The freedom to do things differently, authentically, with people you love and have fun with, who respect you for who you really are.

ADVICE I WOULD GIVE MY YOUNGER SELF: Don’t be afraid to be rejected – early and often. Have an opinion and voice it. Do one thing more.

MONIKA FEDERAU

Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer INTACT FINANCIAL CORPORATION

BIO: Monika Federau leads the development of the corporate strategy and oversees the execution of the annual strategic plan for Canada’s largest property and casualty insurer. She is also responsible for communications, government and media relations, corporate social responsibility and environmental, social and governance. Monika serves on the boards of UNICEF Canada, the Interactive Advertising Bureau of Canada, and is ViceChair of the board of Toronto Finance International.

EARLY, LASTING LESSON: It’s okay to ask for help. It accelerates your understanding. More often than not, it creates a positive connection with the person because you are reaching out to tap their expertise.

ADVICE I WOULD GIVE MY YOUNGER SELF: Take more chances.

POWER SONG: “The Champion” by Carrie Underwood.

ELIZABETH (LIZ) BULLER

President and

Chief Executive Officer SCARBOROUGH HEALTH NETWORK

BIO: Elizabeth Buller brings more than 30 years of health-care senior leadership, both in Ontario and British Columbia, to her role. Prior to joining Scarborough Health Network in July 2017, Liz was President and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health Centre Toronto, where she was instrumental in the voluntary merger of three hospitals to create Unity Health Toronto. Liz holds a Nursing Degree, a Masters in Health Administration and is a member of the Canadian College of Health Leaders.

EARLY, LASTING LESSON: Face fears head on and go for it.

ADVICE I WOULD GIVE MY YOUNGER SELF: Believe in your voice and speak with confidence. Your voice is your more precious tool.

POWER SONG: “Man! I Feel Like A Woman” by Shania Twain.

JUDI HESS

Chief Executive Officer COPPERLEAF

BIO: Judi Hess leads a Vancouver-based software company that provides decision analytics to companies managing critical infrastructure. Under her leadership, Copperleaf was named one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies by Deloitte, and one of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures. A two-time WXN Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 winner, Judi was recently named one of B.C.’s Most Influential Women, the BC Tech ‘Person of the Year’ and winner of Business in Vancouver’s BC CEO Award.

EARLY, LASTING LESSON: Success often comes to those who are determined and focus on creating value.

ON BEING DESCRIBED AS POWERFUL: It’s great to see the word “powerful’ associated with women in a positive way.

ROLA DAGHER

President and Chief Executive Officer CISCO CANADA

BIO: “Leadership is an action not a position” is a philosophy that guides Rola Dagher on her leadership journey. Rola’s focus on empowering people, inspiring customers and impacting Canada defines the person she is: a servant leader. Since joining Cisco, she has built a business that is recognized as a top performing country worldwide for the company, as recognized by Cisco International. She is quick to credit the success to a people-first culture that has brought Cisco multiple awards including one of the Best Places to Work in Canada.

EARLY, LASTING LESSON: You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only option you have. Life is an opportunity for you to impact and enable others. It owes you nothing, take each opportunity and take every chance you have to make the most of it. Create your own story, and define your destiny.

KAREN HUTT

President and

Chief Executive Officer NOVA SCOTIA POWER INC.

BIO: Karen Hutt has been with the Emera companies since 2001. Through progressively senior roles, she has led a range of customer, strategy, business growth and regulatory initiatives in markets throughout North America. Karen is passionately focused on bringing the customer into the centre of every conversation and helping prepare Nova Scotians for the changing energy landscape. She currently serves on the Acadia University Board of Governors and is a member of the International Women’s Forum Atlantic chapter.

EARLY, LASTING LESSON: Time is your most precious commodity so figure out what has to happen now and what can wait for tomorrow. A good to-do list is the key to sanity.

SUCCESS IS: Doing work you enjoy and having a life beyond that allows you to “show up” at your very best.

ARIELLE MELOULWECHSLER

Senior Vice-President, People, Culture & Communications AIR CANADA

BIO: Under Arielle Meloul-Wechsler’s leadership, Air Canada has been regularly recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and among the Top 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures in Canada. Arielle holds a Civil Law degree from the Université de Montréal. She was elected President of the Airline People Director’s Council in March 2017, the first woman to lead this international HR organization.

EARLY, LASTING LESSON: It is more important to know what you don’t know than know what you know.

ON BEING DESCRIBED AS POWERFUL: It makes me proud for everyone who has helped me get here. Mentors, team members and family.

SUCCESS IS: Empowering others.

ADVICE I WOULD GIVE MY YOUNGER SELF: Embrace your mistakes. They are a gift.

PINA STARNINO

Vice President

FEDEX EXPRESS CANADA

BIO: Pina Starnino leads a team of more than 5,000 FedEx Express Canada employees at more than 60 locations across the country. She was appointed to her current role in 2006 and is the first woman to hold this post in the company’s history. Under her leadership, FedEx Express Canada has implemented a transformational operations excellence strategy to drive superior service and customer satisfaction. Pina serves as a board director for two charities: Make-A-Wish Québec and Operation Warm.

EARLY, LASTING LESSON: Never forget where you came from. It has helped keep me grounded and authentic throughout my career.

SUCCESS IS: Being happy with my accomplishments – both personal and professional – and the positive impact and contributions I am making to humanity.

POWER SONG: “Woman’s World” by Cher.

CATHERINE MILUM

Head of Wealth Sales, Wealth & Asset Management, Canada, Manulife Investment Management

MANULIFE

BIO: Catherine Milum is a customer-obsessed sales leader. As a member of the wealth and asset management leadership team in Canada, Catherine is responsible for the wealth sales strategy, which includes hiring, training and motivating the sales teams that distribute Manulife’s wealth products. As one of the few female leaders in the wealth and asset management industry, Catherine is a champion for attracting, promoting and retaining female talent to create a better balance.

EARLY, LASTING LESSON: Have empathy. Try to walk in other people’s shoes.

ON BEING DESCRIBED AS POWERFUL: It gives me inspiration to effect more change.

ADVICE I WOULD GIVE MY YOUNGER SELF: Enjoy the moment.

POWER SONG: “Lose Yourself” by Eminem.

MELANIE TEED-MURCH

Chief Executive Officer

ONROUTE Nominated as President

TOYS R US AND BABIES R US CANADA

BIO: Melanie Teed-Murch has more than 23 years’ experience in Canadian mass specialty retail. She was recently best known for her journey leading Toys R Us Canada to steady ground as a new Canadian owned company. As ONroute’s new CEO, Melanie has been tasked with building a team focused on infrastructure, customer needs and commercial initiatives to accelerate growth. She sits on the board of the Retail Council of Canada and the Jays Care Foundation and believes in the power of giving back.

EARLY, LASTING LESSON: Walk your own path and stay true to yourself. Make every moment count and leave your mark on people you meet.

ON BEING DESCRIBED AS POWERFUL: I strive every day to be someone who cares about others and sets an agenda to be an agent of change. I want to inspire my team to act and make a difference in people’s lives, to see more, be more, do more and achieve more.

JAGODA PIKE

President and

Chief Executive Officer HOMEWOOD HEALTH INC. and HOMEWOOD HEALTH CENTRE

BIO: A member of the Ontario Bar, Jagoda Pike was previously Publisher of the Toronto Star, President of Star Media Group and President of the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games Bid. A former chair of the McMaster University Board of Governors, Canadian Newspaper Association and Trillium Health Partners, Jagoda is a two-time Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 winner and was named one of Canada’s most influential women in sport.

SUCCESS IS: I see success in two ways. I look back on my experience as an immigrant to Canada, as a child who had to take English as a second language. The journey from there to where I am now, that feels like success not so much for me, but for my family and for my parents who had the courage to leave their home country. The second way I define success is when the people I work with do something great.

LEAGH TURNER

President CERIDIAN

BIO: Leagh Turner is an established global technology executive with a proven ability to drive growth by building high-performing teams focused on delivering meaningful value to customers. As President of Ceridian, Leagh is responsible for increasing revenue worldwide while overseeing the company’s go-to-market strategy and field efforts. Previously, Leagh was Global COO at SAP. She is a motivating public speaker and mentor to emerging leaders and a board member of Plan International Canada. She is passionate about volunteering both at home and abroad.

ON BEING DESCRIBED AS POWERFUL: “Powerful” is an interesting word. I’ve always placed more stock in roles than titles, because what you do within the role matters far more than the titles. I’m choosing to see it as a sign of what I can do for others and less about what I’ve accomplished.