Magic Moment: November 2015- Niall Haggart, EVP at The Daniels Corpration, called to ask if I would be interested in returning to work at Daniels following almost 15 years at home raising my children.  I feel so fortunate to have resumed my career with my work experiences bookending my time with my family. My message to anyone who decides to pause their career is that you can do so and successfully return to work- maintain your network of contacts and you never know who may champion your return to work!

Key Influence: There are many people, junior and senior to me, all of whom embodied qualities that I admired and tried to adopt to make me a better professional.  Of note, Niall Haggart at Daniels who has championed me and supported my career in so many ways, including returning to work part-time after the birth of my first son.

Key lessons:  always ask as many questions as possible; dig deep to understand; be open to taking on tasks that at first seem beyond your purview- you will be pleasantly surprised by what you will learn.

Next Big Challenge As An Industry: Affordable housing- This is personal for me; how will my teenaged children be able to afford housing in Toronto? It is on every one of us to determine how we can contribute to providing affordable housing and act on it, rather than paying it lip service.  This will require creativity and collaboration to find solutions.

On Championing Others… I am often contacted by young people interested in a career in real estate development and I always take the time to meet with them and share my passion and enthusiasm.  I remember those who met with me when I was starting out- now it is time to pay it forward.

Secret Talent: I have none – no secrets here!

One word that captures you: Tenacious