INTACT Professionals Awards

Recognizing women who are professionals in practice and play a leadership role within their organizations

BEATA CARANCI

Senior Vice President and Chief Economist

TD BANK GROUP

BIO: Beata Caranci provides strategic vision as well as economic insights to TD leaders and clients within the U.S. and Canada. She leads a team of economists who produce a wide range of analysis and forecasts for the bank’s planning process and regulatory requirements. For more than a decade, Beata has demonstrated her passion for diversity through research that drives awareness and policy prescriptions on labour market challenges affecting women.

EARLY, LASTING LESSON: Own your mistakes as much as your successes. The quicker you acknowledge and learn from the mistakes, the faster you can discover the successes.

ADVICE I WOULD GIVE MY YOUNGER SELF: Trust your judgment more and pause for moments more.

LEANN HACKMAN-CARTY

Chief Executive Officer ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS ALBERTA

BIO: Leann Hackman-Carty has worked on Canada’s most expensive disasters, including the Southern Alberta floods and Fort McMurray wildfires. She produced the Community Toolkit for Economic Recovery and Resiliency and brought economic resiliency training to Canada. As Canadian President for the Institute for Sustainable Development, she works with global experts on community recovery and resiliency efforts. She authored the Master Your Disaster books and hosts MYD Global’s YouTube channel where she talks “all things disaster” weekly.

ON BEING DESCRIBED AS POWERFUL: To me “power” is not about control. It is about having the ability to make a positive difference in a particular area. It is about having knowledge, a network and experience to draw on and being able to bring it all together and apply it effectively.

OLGA FARMAN

Managing Partner, Québec Office

NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT CANADA LLP

BIO: Olga Farman successfully manages one of the largest law offices in Quebec City. As managing partner with a global firm, she is heavily involved with the firm’s national management and strategy while maintaining her own specialized business law practice focused on governance, life sciences, health and technology law. She is a pillar of the community in her home town of Quebec City and is dedicated to advancing young associates in their careers.

EARLY, LASTING LESSON: You cannot be ambitious and succeed without the help and support of others. I believe in my own voice and I am confident that I will reach my goals, but the strength of my family, my team, my firm, my community gives me the real power to accomplish greater things.

SUCCESS IS: Being myself and making a difference; my own unique difference.

POWER SONG: “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten.

DR. JAN HUX

President and Chief Executive Officer DIABETES CANADA

BIO: Dr. Jan Hux is an accomplished strategic leader who brings exceptional insight into the Canadian diabetes epidemic. Trained as a general internist and health services researcher, she is recognized as a leader in diabetes epidemiology. In her role at Diabetes Canada, she provides strong executive leadership as the organization sharpens its focus on delivering population impact through investments in prevention, diabetes management and research.

SUCCESS IS: About “how” rather than “what”. Did I do my best with the opportunities before me? Did I operate with integrity and generosity?

ADVICE I WOULD GIVE MY YOUNGER SELF: Be selective about the voices you allow to define you. Listening to the nay-sayers will prevent you from accomplishing your best.

MALINI GIRIDHAR

Vice President, Business Development & Regulatory, Gas Distribution & Storage ENBRIDGE GAS INC.

BIO: Malini Giridhar leads a team of employees passionate about delivering affordable, environmentally responsible energy solutions that are affordable and lower environmental footprint. She is also responsible for external communications, stakeholder relationships and regulatory outcomes. Malini cares deeply about practising inclusive leadership and mentorship. When she is not at work, Malini enjoys travel, spending time with her family and friends and listening to Indian classical music.

EARLY, LASTING LESSON: In any negotiation, observe and understand motivations before exercising influence. On being described as powerful: I think of it as soft power, the ability to achieve outcomes by persuasion rather than by force.

ADVICE I WOULD GIVE MY YOUNGER SELF: Don’t let society dictate what you can achieve.

KARIN KIRKPATRICK

Chief Executive Officer FAMILY SERVICES OF GREATER VANCOUVER (FSGV)

BIO: Karin Kirkpatrick is an established leader and was previously the CEO of a B.C. crown corporation, CEO of the Real Estate Foundation and Assistant Dean at the Sauder School of Business. She is a Director of Family Services of Canada and the Civic Affairs Committee at the Vancouver Board of Trade. Karin was an appointee to the Judicial Council of BC. In 2012, she received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.

EARLY, LASTING LESSON: When I was 10, my grandmother took me on the bus downtown to go to Woodwards for lunch. When we arrived back home, she realized she had forgotten to pay. We hopped back on the bus (at least an hour one way) to pay the bill. My grandmother was worried the woman who served us would have to pay the tab herself. I learned both honesty and empathy. When I have tough decisions to make, I wonder what my grandmother would do. Make honest decisions and be empathetic to their impact on others.

SHEILA MACPHERSON

Senior Partner, Yellowknife office LAWSON LUNDELL LLP

BIO: Sheila MacPherson practises law in both the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. She routinely advises and represents both the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Nunavut. She is the former President of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, past Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, and Law Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. Sheila is the happy wife to Bryan and proud mother of 18-year-old Shiri, nursing student and cancer survivor.

EARLY, LASTING LESSON: As a young lawyer, I learned the power of women supporting each other through sharing information, mentoring, being cheerleaders and generally lifting each other up. Adopting a collaborative approach in the work environment has been a game changer, allowing for much more enjoyment in the practice of law.

SUCCESS IS: The little things. Making a difference day by day. Not a big splash but quietly making a difference.

DIANE MCCURDY

President and Chief Executive Officer MCCURDY FINANCIAL PLANNING INC.

BIO: Diane McCurdy CFP is a financial adviser, visionary, educator, author, speaker and community volunteer. Author of How Much is Enough?, Diane leads one of the largest independent financial planning firms in Canada and has held leadership roles in numerous financial planning associations. She is frequently interviewed as a financial expert on television and in print media throughout North America. Diane is an Honorary Colonel with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

EARLY, LASTING LESSON: Seek advice, but ultimately trust yourself.

ON BEING DESCRIBED AS POWERFUL: Powerful means you are giving of yourself. You help to create success in others.

SUCCESS IS: Being comfortable in who you are.

ADVICE I WOULD GIVE MY YOUNGER SELF: Do your personal best.

PATRICIA MCLEOD

QC ICD.D, Board Chair and Corporate Director CALGARY CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION (CALGARY CO-OP)

BIO: Patricia McLeod, QC, is a lawyer and corporate director with extensive governance and strategic planning experience. She has been General Counsel, Compliance and Ethics Officer, Privacy Officer and Vice-President of Corporate Responsibility and practised corporate/ commercial, compliance and privacy and securities law with regulated and unregulated utilities, insurance and property development companies. Patricia was a Top 100 winner in 2018 and she is currently the Board Chair of Calgary Co-op, and a Board Director of Canadian North, Air Inuit, the Beverage Container Management Board and Alberta Innovates.

ADVICE I WOULD GIVE MY YOUNGER SELF: Make a thousand little mistakes. That’s how you will learn and grow. Be gentle on yourself when you make those mistakes because it will all turn out okay.

SYLVIE RODRIGUE

Ad.E, Partner and Head of Torys’ Montréal Office TORYS LLP

BIO: Widely recognized across the country as a leading litigator, Sylvie Rodrigue is the Managing Partner of Torys’ Montréal office. Called to the Quebec and Ontario Bar, she has been defending high-profile class actions across the country for more than two decades. An active member in the legal community, she played a leadership role in the development of various policies, is committed to advocacy, mentorship, diversity and the advancement of women. Designated Advocatus Emeritus, she is a twotime Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 winner.

SUCCESS IS: As Maya Angelou so eloquently said, “Success is liking yourself, loving what you do, and liking how you do it”.

ADVICE I WOULD GIVE MY YOUNGER SELF: Trust your instincts and be confident. Be wise and embrace new learnings each day but know that you belong here and have a voice. Make sure to have a mentor; proper guidance cannot be underestimated.

MANJIT SHARMA

Chief Financial Officer GENERAL ELECTRIC CANADA

BIO: Manjit Sharma leads a broad portfolio as GE Canada’s CFO. In addition, she’s part of the National Executive, Director of GE Canada Company and Chairwoman of the $2 billion GE Pension Investment Trust. Manjit’s career spans diverse industries where she has built global teams, transacted M&A activity, built-out a $250 million GE Brilliant Factory, delivered BD initiatives and new product introductions. A believer in community, she mentors young professionals and serves on the YMCA GTA, JA and Ontario Chamber of Commerce boards.

EARLY, LASTING LESSON: Don’t let others define who you are or limit you. When someone says you “can’t”, believe in yourself and make it happen.

SUCCESS IS: Knowing I have travelled through my career with my authenticity, values and integrity intact … never compromising.

ADVICE I WOULD GIVE MY YOUNGER SELF: Never regret a decision after the fact, remember it was made with the best intentions and information at hand.

PATRICE WALCHWATSON

Senior Managing Director, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary CANADA PENSION PLAN INVESTMENT BOARD (CPPIB)

BIO: An established executive and corporate lawyer, Patrice Walch-Watson leads CPPIB’s global legal, compliance and corporate secretarial functions. Prior to CPPIB, she was a partner at Torys LLP advising leading public, private and government businesses in strategic business, finance and governance matters. A member of the Advisory Council to the Dean of Queen’s University Law School, Patrice is also a member of Legal Leaders for Diversity and Inclusion. At CPPIB, she is a champion of cultivating a psychologically healthy and safe workplace.

EARLY, LASTING LESSON: Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

SUCCESS IS: Being comfortable with who you are and being proud of the life you have lived (so far).

ADVICE I WOULD GIVE MY YOUNGER SELF: It’s important to carve out space to think about yourself, what you want to accomplish and where you’re going.