National Post - Financial Post Magazine
Emerging Leaders Awards
Recognizing women between the ages of 30 to 45 years, who have been targeted for successive leadership positions within their organizations and have a proven passion for learning and innovation
REGIONAL CHIEF KLUANE ADAMEK
B.A., MBA Yukon Regional Chief, ASSEMBLY OF FIRST NATIONS
BIO: Regional Chief Kluane Adamek (Aagé) is a proud northerner and citizen of Kluane First Nation. The youngest-ever woman AFN Regional Chief, Kluane is passionate about supporting and creating spaces for the voices of youth and women in leadership, and committed to climate action and nourishing and protecting mother earth. Kluane has advised federal leaders and represented First Nations perspectives on the environment regionally and globally.
ON MOTIVATION: I am constantly inspired by the many Indigenous women that have come before me who have blazed the trail for myself and other young Indigenous women to step into our power.
MY RAW COURAGE: I AM unapologetically an Indigenous Woman. I am Fearless. I am me.
ANDREEA AMARIEI
MSC, PRM
Associate Vice-president, Wealth Governance and Control TD BANK GROUP, TD WEALTH; Nominated as: Associate Vice-president, Trading Business Management, TD BANK GROUP, TD SECURITIES
BIO: Andreea Amariei is a banking executive with more than 20 years' experience and a successful track record leading regulatory and industry change. Andreea strives for better outcomes for women and minorities in finance. She established development opportunities and strategic partnerships throughout TD. Andreea is on ACCES Employment's Leadership Advisory Committee and has built programs for job seekers from diverse backgrounds to overcome barriers and integrate into the Canadian job market.
MY RAW COURAGE: Who am I? I AM RESILIENT. I am an immigrant and proud Canadian, someone who took calculated risks and overcame many obstacles, and the working mother of an amazing five-year-old daughter.
POWER SONG: “Under Pressure”, Queen with David Bowie.
DR. TRACIE AFIFI
PHD
Professor,
UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA
BIO: Dr. Tracie Afifi is a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Childhood Adversity and Resilience and a Professor in the Departments of Community Health Sciences and Psychiatry at University of Manitoba. She is Director of the Childhood Adversity and Resilience (CARE) Research Team. Dr. Afifi's primary research interests are in child maltreatment, mental health, intervention and prevention. She has received $33.18 million in research funding and published 160 peer-reviewed journal publications.
MY RAW COURAGE: Determined. I am determined to do the work even when it is hard. I am determined to find the answers even when there are barriers. I am determined to help children live their lives free from violence.
ON WHAT MAKES A LEADER: A leader is someone who recognizes the potential in the people around them and provides individuals with the opportunities to foster success.
POWER SONG: “Rebellion”, Arcade Fire.
LENA AZZOU
Chief of Staff, METROLINX
BIO: Lena Azzou is the Chief of Staff at Metrolinx and on a multidisciplinary team leading the largest transportation investment in Canada's history. She helps keep the complicated worlds of $80 billion in construction projects, the operations of GO Transit, UP Express and PRESTO, and corporate management in balance. Lena's passionate about advocating and celebrating women's accomplishments in the transportation and infrastructure industry as Executive Sponsor of the Metrolinx Women's Network.
MOST IMPORTANT CAREER LESSON: That you don't have to be the loudest voice in the room in order to make an impact. As a leader, it is critical to create an environment where people are able to bring their authentic selves and diverse voices to the table.
ON WHAT POWERFUL MEANS: Being powerful is about influencing decisions, and doing good with the voice you have. Regardless of your role or where you are in your personal life or career path, using your time and voice to influence and make a positive change, makes someone powerful.
ONOME AKO
B.A, Msc
Chief Executive Officer,
ACTION AGAINST HUNGER CANADA; Executive Director
AMREF HEALTH AFRICA IN CANADA
BIO: Onome Ako leads Action Against Hunger Canada, which fights hunger worldwide. Onome brings her passion for community-led approaches for the human right to food through fighting hunger and malnutrition. She is Chair of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Partnership for Women and Children's Health (CANWACH) and on the advisory committee for Centennial College International Development program. She was named to the 2020 Canadian Women in Global Health list.
ON MOTIVATION: Seeing life through the eyes of my five-year-old daughter.
MY RAW COURAGE: I AM Bold because I take risks.
POWER SONG: “We are the Champions”, Queen.
LINDSAY BARBER
Director Product Management and Product Knowledge,
MASCO CANADA LIMITED; President,
BELIEVE ARMY
BIO: Lindsay Barber began her career at Masco Canada in customer service, and held roles in forecasting, analytics, sales, and is the Director of Product Management, overseeing Masco Canada's plumbing portfolio. With her late husband, Steve Barber, they founded “Believe Army” in 2011. Steve was diagnosed with ALS at the age of 24 and Believe Army was built to raise awareness about ALS, and raise funds for patient care and research.
ON MOTIVATION: Steve, my husband who passed away two years ago this month. He lived every single day to the fullest and never, ever gave up. Any time I feel down, or think about how difficult things are, I remember how he lived and how I want to live as well.
POWER SONG: “Firework”, Katy Perry.
DR. SUZANNE KEARNS
FRAES
Associate Professor,
UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO; Founding Director,
WATERLOO INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE AERONAUTICS
BIO: Dr. Kearns is an aviation professor who teaches and conducts research at the University of Waterloo. A former airplane and helicopter pilot, she is an internationally recognized thought leader within the aviation industry. She founded and leads the new Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (WISA) as its Director, with a mission to be the world's leading hub for sustainable aeronautical research, technology, and education.
MOST IMPORTANT CAREER LESSON: Work hard, but stay true to your own personal integrity.
ON MOTIVATION: Impact - knowing that the work I do is of service to the people and industry that I am passionate about.
ON WHAT POWERFUL MEANS: To be the pebble that starts a ripple effect, mobilizing people and ideas to build on that foundation with their own creativity and energy.
CHELSIE MCKNIGHT
Director, Channel Strategy and Programs, TELUS Small Business, TELUS
BIO: Chelsie has led large teams across diverse job functions at TELUS. As Director, Channel Strategy & Programs, she oversaw a massive transformation of the sales channels to meet post-pandemic reality, while raising over $90,000 for her hometown hospital. She is the recipient of a TELUS Leadership award from the CEO, a Community Champion award for her dedication to volunteerism, and an Emerging Leader Award from Victoria University, at the University of Toronto.
MOST IMPORTANT CAREER LESSON: When you stop learning it's time to move on.
MY RAW COURAGE: I AM resilient. I excelled at work, raised money for a hospital, cared for my two-year-old, then gave birth to my second child during a pandemic and I'm still standing!
POWER SONG: “Back in Black”, AC/DC.
DR. CAROL LIAO
Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for Business Law,
PETER A. ALLARD SCHOOL OF LAW, UBC; UBC Sauder Distinguished Scholar,
DHILLON CENTRE FOR BUSINESS ETHICS, UBC; Principal Co-investigator
CANADA CLIMATE LAW INITIATIVE
BIO: Dr. Carol Liao is a renowned leader in corporate law and sustainability. As Director of the Centre for Business Law, she provides thousands of professionals with cutting-edge legal education. She is UBC Sauder Distinguished Scholar of the Dhillon Centre for Business Ethics and Principal Co-investigator of the Canada Climate Law Initiative, mobilizing efforts towards sustainable business and decarbonization. Committed to diversity in leadership, she is winner of the Influential Women in Business Award.
ON MOTIVATION: My three daughters and envisioning the world I want for them and future generations.
MY RAW COURAGE: Undaunted.
DR. MELANIE MORRIS
M.D., FRCSC
Pediatric Surgeon and Pediatric Urologist, WINNIPEG CHILDREN HOSPITAL; Associate Professor, UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA
BIO: Dr. Melanie Morris is the first Indigenous pediatric surgeon/urologist in Canada and pioneered a state-ofthe-art program in pediatric urology in Winnipeg. An anti-racist activist, she was appointed Lead of Indigenous Health at the Children's Hospital, the first academic leadership role of its kind in Canada. Recognized nationally as a leader in child health, her passion for creating equity and justice is evident in her life as a mother, wife, runner and environmentalist.
MOST IMPORTANT CAREER LESSON: Always make new mistakes, be empathetic and kind, never be satisfied with the status quo, and do the hard work even when you are tired.
ON WHAT MAKES A LEADER: Bravery.
ON WHAT POWERFUL MEANS: Leveraging your own unique self to create a better planet.
CORA MCGUIRE-CYRETTE
B.A., M.B.A. Executive Director, ONTARIO NATIVE WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION
BIO: Cora Mcguire-cyrette is dedicated to reclaiming Indigenous women's leadership. She led provincial Summits to End Violence Against Aboriginal Women, counselled the Provincial Anti-human Trafficking Strategy & participated in the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls. She is an Ogichidaa-kwe from her community and a wife, mother and grandmother removing barriers for future generations. She is dedicated to amplifying Indigenous Women's voices with programs, policies and international forums.
ON MOTIVATION: Indigenous women standing together in the fight for reclaiming ourselves, our families and our communities.
MY RAW COURAGE: My Ancestors. I come from strong Indigenous women who have created a path before me that has allowed me to be who I am today.
SADAF PARVAIZ
CPA, CA
Global Inclusion and Diversity Leader, GHD
BIO: Sadaf is the Global Enterprise Inclusion & Diversity Leader at GHD. Sadaf sits on the Executive People Leadership Team and is also a part of the Strategy and Transformation Leadership Team. Sadaf is leading the I&D strategy across GHD with over 200 offices globally and over 10,000 employees with presence across the US, Canada, UK, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East, Philippines and Singapore.
MOST IMPORTANT CAREER LESSON: Your career isn't a race but a journey. There will be pitstops, detours and even dead ends so it's important to surround yourself with a strong support network. And everyone's journey will be different so you shouldn't compare your journey to someone else's and it's never too late to choose a different path.
POWER SONG: “Survivor”, Destiny's Child.
VÉRONIQUE PROULX
EMBA
Senior Vice-president, CANADIAN MANUFACTURERS AND EXPORTERS; Chief Executive Officer, QUEBEC MANUFACTURERS
AND EXPORTERS
BIO: Véronique Proulx joined Québec Manufacturers and Exporters (MEQ), a division of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME), in 2015. She was appointed Vicepresident Corporate Affairs and Strategy in January 2016 and ultimately assumed the role of President and Chief Executive Officer in September 2017- becoming the first woman to hold this position. Véronique has also been appointed to CME'S national leadership team as Vice-president National Communications & Marketing.
MY RAW COURAGE: “I AM strong” : I have the courage to challenge status-quo, I believe we can do things differently and do more good.
ON WHAT MAKES A LEADER: Someone who inspires to do the right things while looking out for the others.
ON WHAT POWERFUL MEANS: Influence in order to bring positive changes.
CLARICE WARD
Project Manager, Specialty Contracts Division, MELLOULBLAMEY CONSTRUCTION INC.; Board Director, SKILLS ONTARIO; Board Director, WINSETT - CANADIAN CENTRE FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, TRADES AND TECHNOLOGY
BIO: Clarice Ward is a Project Manager, Specialty Contracts at Melloul-blamey Construction. An advocate for the extensive opportunities within the construction industry, and a powerful voice for equity, diversity and inclusion, she serves on the Board of Directors for Skills Ontario and WINSETT (Women in Science, Engineering, Trades and Technology). Clarice was the first woman to receive the prestigious Premier's Award in 2019 for the Apprenticeship category; Colleges Ontario's highest honour.
ON WHAT POWERFUL MEANS: Being powerful means having the confidence and ability to make a meaningful impact on one's surroundings and to relentlessly pursue self-actualization.
POWER SONG: “The Times They Are A-changin' “, Bob Dylan.
KASHMERA SELF
AVP, Strategy & Emerging Solutions Delivery, INTERAC CORP.
BIO: Kashmera is a financial services leader championing diversity and collaboration. She leads strategy and goto-market on emerging solutions for Interac and within the innovation ecosystem in Canada. Her focus is on digital/social commerce, open banking, data sharing and blockchain, leveraging her 20 years of experience across industry-leading brands. Kashmera‘s passion is to innovate for social good. She is a transformative thought leader, in Canada and abroad, who drives impactful change.
MOST IMPORTANT CAREER LESSON: The art of never giving up. Nothing should ever hold any of us back from exploring opportunities. When you knock on a door and no one answers, learn, adapt and move to the next door until one opens.
MY RAW COURAGE: I AM ENOUGH and because it took me introducing this book to my children for me to realize and be able to admit to myself that I too am enough.
POWER SONG: “Time for Livin' “, Sly and the Family Stone.
SARA SON HING
BSC, MBA
VP, Retail Delivery Model & Advisor Role Strategy, RBC
BIO: Sara is leading the advancement of RBC'S retail banking delivery model, advisor role strategy and conduct operating model. Since joining RBC in 2004, she has held progressively senior roles in client-facing, sales management, operations, risk management and strategic teams. Sara is passionate about volunteering, mentoring and making an impact.
MY RAW COURAGE:
I AM flawed and learning. Recognizing that you can be flawed and wrong opens up opportunities to explore new ideas and continuously learn. This is especially important when we think about recognizing and addressing our biases; it's life-long work that has potential to make a huge impact.
ON WHAT MAKES A LEADER: A true leader has the creativity and vision to imagine a better world for others, and the courage to make it happen, especially when it gets hard.