Your Circle

I recently introduced myself to someone new and had the opportunity to tell them about what I do, and the people I work with. The simple act of an introduction was a great reminder of the amazing community I have around me. 

Do you ever have those moments of pride that come over you as you think about or talk about your people?

Today, I wanted to highlight some of those people by looking at back my Courageous Leaders Series and re-sharing the interviews with you.

One: Elaine Lajeunesse

I first met Elaine about five years back at an educational networking event. At the time she was the Senior Vice President and Chief Risk Officer at TD Bank. She made a lasting impression in her thoughtful direct and clear nature. She had opinions, practical questions, and was genuinely curious about the people there, which made her stand out to me. She was an attentive listener. What made her different was that I felt she was the real thing; not there to be seen or add connections to her profile, but to learn and really connect. 

Read our interview here for a look into her commitment to clarity.

Two: Julia Salvini

As President of Salvini Consulting Inc. a transportation engineering firm, Julia Salvini is technically a highly skilled and experienced consultant with an impressive resume but in fact, she is much more than that.

There is a quiet strength of leadership almost indefinable that I see in Julia. She has a sharp sense of humor and is incredibly intelligent, but what made her memorable to me was her approach to how she does what she does. She is all about people - both in solving the transportation needs of communities and in how she views those she works alongside to accomplish these goals.

Read our interview here.

Three: Shawna Dennis

Shawna Dennis is the VP of Marketing & Communications for MD Financial Management (now an arm of Scotiabank). This is a well-deserved role for a true Marketing Communications professional. When I first met Shawna seven years ago, I caught a glimpse of her confident nature and ability to effectively communicate complex topics into interesting and engaging conversations with her audience when she spoke at a roadshow.

Shawna inspires me to be 100% myself which is what she says is the key to her success. Read more about that here in our interview.

As we begin our week, I encourage you all to take a moment of reflection and gratitude. Be proud of the work you do, and the awesome network you get to do it with. These people play a very important role.

Have a few extra moments? Give them a shoutout and let them know why they inspire you!