MERCEDES-BENZ Emerging Leaders Awards GWEN MADIBA CAROLYN MCPHERSON XIAOYU MAVIS SHANG

Recognizing women between the ages of 30 to 40 years, who have been targeted for successive leadership positions within their organizations and have a proven passion for learning and innovation

FRANCES DONALD

Managing Director, Chief Economist & Head of Macro Strategy MANULIFE

BIO: Frances Donald has become a key player in taking Manulife to the next level as an investment leader, using a unique blend of insight and irreverence to help position the company as a fresh thinker and thought leader in the Canadian and global investment space. Her candour, humour and incisive yet accessible analysis has made Frances a trusted voice and sought-after expert, both within Manulife and externally with the Canadian and global media.

EARLY, LASTING LESSON: Luck is when opportunity meets preparation.

ON BEING DESCRIBED AS POWERFUL: I feel humbled. When you’re given more than you need, build a longer table, not a higher fence.

ADVICE I WOULD GIVE MY YOUNGER SELF: Sometimes courage doesn’t roar. Sometimes it is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying ‘I will try again tomorrow’.

President EQUAL CHANCE

BIO: Gwen Madiba is an award-winning international speaker, host, artist and women and children’s rights advocate who has dedicated her life to empowering women, children and youth in Canada and abroad. She is the co-founder of the Equal Chance Foundation, the Canadian Black History Month Gala and founder of the Safara fashion show in Ottawa, celebrating African cultures and providing a great opportunity for young designers. From 2014 until 2016 she was the official representative of the Honourable Nelson Mandela’s family in North America and occupied the position of Mandela Legacy Ambassador in North America.

ADVICE I WOULD GIVE MY YOUNGER SELF: Life is a marathon, not a race; take your time, for what is meant for you will always be for you. There are no words of discouragement or amount of hate that can ever stop what is meant for you.

POWER SONG: “Hall of Fame” by The Script.

JUSTINE JANSSEN

Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives CERIDIAN

BIO: Justine Janssen leads Ceridian’s most critical growth and strategic programs. She helped scale Ceridian’s flagship software, Dayforce, from a tech startup, through a merger with Ceridian, into a leading global human capital management platform. Her efforts have included product and program launches, and leading culture change and business simplification to turn Ceridian into a high-growth tech company. Justine recently managed Ceridian’s 2018 IPO, which marked the largest technology IPO ever in Canada. She was named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2019.

EARLY, LASTING LESSON: You alone decide how you show up and experience life. You choose whether each challenge before you is adversity or opportunity.

ADVICE I WOULD GIVE MY YOUNGER SELF: Fear is a huge roadblock for people, but confidence can be built like a muscle. Practise doing little things that are uncomfortable so that you can build confidence to take on bigger, scarier risks.

Associate Vice President, Backyard Living and Seasonal CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LTD.

BIO: As a results-driven, customer-focused lifelong retailer, Carolyn McPherson has spent her career developing programs and executing business strategies to reinvent the customer experience while delivering financial growth. Since joining Canadian Tire in 2006, Carolyn has held progressive roles within merchandising and store support that have been anchored in building market disrupting strategies, collaborating across the dynamically changing organization and executing a meaningful and radical instore experience for customers across the country.

EARLY, LASTING LESSON: Treat every meeting as if it is a job interview. Pay attention, be prepared and always ask a question.

ADVICE I WOULD GIVE MY YOUNGER SELF: The thing that comes most easily to you is probably also your superpower, so embrace it and lean into it. It will be what differentiates you from everyone else.

TEVI LEGGE

Vice President Everyday Financial Services Nominated as Managing Director Everyday Financial Services

ATB FINANCIAL

BIO: As one of Lethbridge’s Top 40 under 40 and one of Alberta’s 60 She-Innovators, Tevi Legge is a pillar in the province of Alberta. Through her vulnerable and transparent leadership style, Tevi is a courageous leader at ATB Financial and an ATB President’s league winner, which represents the top one per cent of achievers in the company. Tevi is an advocate for gender equality, a mom of three boys and wife, with a double degree from the University of Lethbridge.

EARLY, LASTING LESSON: It’s not what you do, it’s how you do it.

ON BEING DESCRIBED AS POWERFUL: I feel humbled.

ADVICE I WOULD GIVE MY YOUNGER SELF: Always lead with an abundant mind and an open heart.

POWER SONG: “Run the World (Girls)” by Beyoncé.

Vice President, Pricing & Analytics RBC INSURANCE

BIO: Xiaoyu Mavis Shang grew up in China and came to Canada in 2000 as an international student. She embraced both Eastern and Western cultures as she completed her education and progressed her career in Canada. Mavis leads the teams that set the pricing for the majority of RBC Insurance’s products. She’s a professional Actuary (FSA) and holds a Masters of Mathematics degree from the University of Waterloo. She serves on a number of industry committees offering her professional opinions and technical expertise.

EARLY, LASTING LESSON: Never say never.

SUCCESS IS: Waking up everyday feeling like smiling.

ADVICE I WOULD GIVE MY YOUNGER SELF: Don’t try to avoid failure; embrace it and learn from it. It’s better that you have a taste of it sooner rather than later.

HÉLÈNE TIMPANO

Senior Vice-President, Operations KINROSS GOLD CORPORATION

BIO: Hélène Timpano is a high-energy mining executive with a track record of advancing complex projects. Hélène oversees the following global functions: maintenance, supply chain, HR operations, continuous improvement & innovation and strategic planning. Known for her ability to win over anyone and everyone, she has played a central role in many company-wide transformations. Hélène holds three degrees including an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management.

EARLY, LASTING LESSON: On a class trip to a mini-putt course, I accidentally clubbed my classmate in the head when it was time for me to take my shot (thankfully she was OK). Lesson learned: don’t get so mired in the details that you lose the big picture.

SUCCESS IS: Needs to be lasting. It means changing things for the better and seeing that change stick, even once you turn your attention to other things.

ZOYA ZAYLER

Canada Inclusion & Diversity Lead Accenture

BIO: Zoya Zayler drives Accenture Canada’s inclusion and diversity (I&D) strategy and provides the organization with strategic direction to achieve its I&D goals. A thought leader in this space, she has empowered Accenture to turn inclusion and diversity commitments into actionable practices that have advanced inclusivity and resulted in sustainable change. Zoya was recognized as the 2019 Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion D&I Practitioner of the Year and one of Human Resource Director’s 2018 Top 22 Most Promising Young HR Professionals in Canada.

SUCCESS IS: Ending each day feeling like I am a better version of myself than I was yesterday.

ADVICE I WOULD GIVE MY YOUNGER SELF: Be confident in your authenticity and embrace your uniqueness.

ANNESLEY WALLACE

Senior Vice-President, Pension Services and Communications OMERS

BIO: Annesley Wallace has developed a highly successful track record as a leader across various industries and roles in engineering, finance and pension fund operations. Annesley leads a team that delivers exceptional services to 500,000 pension plan members across Ontario. In addition, she is responsible for OMERS organizationwide communications and global brand strategy. Prior to Pensions and Communications, Annesley was a Managing Director at OMERS Infrastructure, responsible for a multi-billion dollar portfolio of investments across energy, transportation and social infrastructure sectors delivering long-term value for the pension fund. She is a director on the boards of Bruce Power, Alectra Utilities and Infrastructure Ontario.

EARLY, LASTING LESSON: Hard work, dedication and a focus on engaging others drives results.

ADVICE I WOULD GIVE MY YOUNGER SELF: Take risks and always be willing to try new things.

TARA WILSON

Senior Vice President and General Manager INCOME ACCESS (PAYSAFE GROUP)

BIO: Tara Wilson has almost two decades’ experience in the tech sphere and 16-years-plus expertise in operational leadership within the payments and marketing sectors. She is both a mentor to others, helping them reach their maximum potential, and an advocate for diversity and inclusion, promoting the needs of women in the workplace and other frequently disempowered groups. Tara was recognized with the 2018 Silver Stevie Award for Female Executive of the Year in Canada.

EARLY, LASTING LESSON: Build strong, respect-based relationships with your peers and reports.

SUCCESS IS: Overcoming the fear of failure and being able to recognize the opportunity that exists in trying again.

POWER SONG: “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone.