Magic Moment: A major defining moment in my life was making the decision to leave the security of a career that I really enjoyed to strike out on my own. I wasn’t exactly sure where that decision was going to take me and I knew there was significant risk of failure, but I was energized by the thought of creating something absolutely unique and based on my passions and professional experience to date.
Next Big Challenge As An Industry: To our credit, our city-region has been a magnet for people from all over the world and we have a diverse economy, including a world class tech sector. We have seen decreasing housing affordability and increasing inequality as major challenges brought to the forefront as a result of the current crisis. As an industry – we need to continue to bring more housing supply to market but also provide a variety of housing options to allow for people at a variety of price points, ages and demographics to be able to live within vibrant neighbourhoods.
Secret Talent: speed reading!
On Championing Others… As we are building a technology company in the city building space, I am very much aware of the need for diverse voices at the table. Our team has an incredible variety of professional and life experiences behind them and we have 50% gender representation both throughout the staff and in senior management. I also hear from young professionals starting their career paths and from people who are contemplating a mid-life career shift – I set aside some time every month to connect with them and share my story to give them an alternate narrative they might not have considered.
One word that captures you: Tenacious – I am remarkably determined and will come at a problem from a variety of angles until it can be resolved.
erin September 4th, 2020
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Magic Moment: Starting my own business in 2019 was definitely a magic moment in my career and life. With just the right mix of confidence and nerves I have been navigating this entrepreneurial journey amidst a pandemic, economic slowdown, civil unrest and I can say while it has been challenging it has been far more rewarding. Being responsible for your own livelihood is an enormous amount of responsibility but it allows you to feel empowered and energized by each day – as ultimately it is in your hands.
Key Influence: My sister, Saleema. My sister is the ultimate trailblazer and started her entrepreneurial journey way before me. Her example inspired me to always strive for excellence, to not be afraid and to chase my dreams no matter how big or outrageous they may seem.
My mom. My mother has influenced me immensely as she came from humble beginnings and without having completed her high school education before coming to Canada, with two young kids at home she decided she wanted to go back to school and pursed a career as a Chiropodist. She now has a thriving private practice as she nears retirement and she stands as my constant reminder that everything is achievable with hard work, determination and faith in yourself.
Next Big Challenge As An Industry: It is certainly an interesting time to be in our industry and I think we have numerous challenges ahead including the reimagining of the office, affordable housing solutions and ultimately building cities that work for the way in which people work and live, which are now a lot more intertwined. Now is a very important time to be in the industry, it is a time where we can collectively build cities that will be inclusive, innovative, affordable, technology-enabled and sustainable and I for one am excited to be hands-on in the rebuild.
Secret Talent: Not sure if this counts as a secret talent but I would say I have a very photographic memory. This means I remember vivid details about what people have worn, where we have dined, what we ate, what time of day it was (you get the idea) and I can extend that memory back pretty far…
On Championing Others… Championing women in our industry has now become part of my DNA. Having experienced first hand some of the challenges being a women in a male dominated industry has brought, I have always strived to use the platforms I have to use my voice and my time to champion women. At the moment, one of those platforms includes Toronto CREW. As the current President, it is my mission each day to ensure that I am using that platform to help my fellow CREW members be at their best. To ensure we provide continual opportunities to learn, mentor, lead and ultimately champion each other throughout our career journeys in the industry.
One word that captures you: Hard to choose one word but I have been told by many that I am approachable. I feel it is an appropriate word as I am always open to meeting new people and am genuinely interested in learning people’s stories and finding ways to help or collaborate.
erin August 27th, 2020
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Magic Moment: As a legacy initiative from the 2018 G7 Summit held in Quebec City, I had the opportunity to partner with a consortium of leading institutional investors to create a solution that will address growing climate change and social inequality by stimulating investment in global infrastructure. This initiative evolved into a pioneering education program known as the Sustainable Infrastructure Fellowship Program. The Program seeks to bridge the growing global infrastructure deficit in emerging markets by building the capacity of senior government leaders to better prepare and structure infrastructure projects that are sustainable over the long-term and use different forms of private capital. A program like this is premised on knowledge sharing among investors, governments, and leading practitioners – a feat which at the time had yet to be executed on such a global scale. As Academic Director, I viewed this challenge as an opportunity to innovate, interact with a variety of dynamic and global city builders, and question the status quo of infrastructure delivery and finance. In under eight months, I led the conception, development and delivery of an intense and best-in-class experiential executive academic program for 13 senior government officials originating from five continents. This program proved to be a resounding success and continues to grow to encompass more participants from more countries while also evolving to reflect new thinking on sustainable infrastructure investment.
Key Influence: Godyne Sibay. Find opportunities to get a seat at the table and showcase your value. Once there you can introduce meaningful change by creating opportunities for others to participate as well.
James McKellar. We can redefine problems to identify meaningful solutions. Often what seems to be impossible can become possible by questioning our assumptions. We often do not know what we are capable of until we try.
Next Big Challenge As An Industry: How do we emerge from a global pandemic stronger – physically apart but socially closer – with a common goal to be more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient to future change?
Secret Talent: I am a tea-enthusiast and enjoy creating new blends.
On Championing Others… I am a firm believer that individuals from a variety of perspectives can thrive in the industry. As an educator, mentor, practitioner, and champion for future leaders, I actively seek opportunities to introduce new members of the industry. For example, for the past five years I have encouraged and accompanied each female student in my real estate and infrastructure graduate courses to the annual WIN CCPPP Breakfast. This offers an opportunity for students to meet other successful women in the industry, develop confidence to network, and explore the range of career opportunities that are available. In addition, I teach my courses in a way that are skills based which empowers students to speak up, hone their negotiation and presentation capabilities, and to showcase their talents to a range of external industry leaders who offer feedback and mentorship. I also speak at events that advocate for leadership roles for visible minorities and encourage current and former students to engage in their active career development. Sherena recognizes the importance of training and mentorship and has served as a mentor and role model to many professionals who are now well recognized in the field not only in Ontario but also in Canada. She has positively impacted the career of those she mentored and many of them are now in senior roles in various institutions. In addition, her unwavering belief in the need for a broad range of voices at leadership tables and in the infrastructure sector has given Sherena a respected reputation as not only a mentor and sponsor but also as an advocate and agent of change for many.
One word that captures you: Trailblazer – I am not afraid to walk a path less traveled.
erin August 12th, 2020
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Magic Moment: There have been so many moments that have shaped my journey. One moment that makes me smile is the first time that I flew over a stormwater management pond that I had designed and as I looked at it from above I could see how lines that I drew in CADD became part of the landscape of the earth. It was a very satisfying feeling to see something tangible that I had helped create, and now I can scroll around google earth satellite with my kids and better show them a little bit of what their mum does, which makes me smile.
Key Influence: My dad has to be my number 1 mentor. He is so calm, smart and patient and one of the key lessons, or mantras I guess, that I gained from him is ‘measure twice, cut once’. Which can be applied to so many things in life.
I have had a few key mentors throughout my career who have encouraged and inspired me. I remember a piece of advice/encouragement that was given to me early in my career by one of my mentors ‘People invite you to meetings for a reason, you have value to add, have the confidence to share your thoughts’ and that has really stuck with me over the years.
Next Big Challenge As An Industry: The ability to bring on supply of housing to support the growth in the GTA in a timely fashion and being able to fund the required infrastructure to support the growth. Working with municipalities and the province to find different ways to support major infrastructure funding beyond the current model.
Secret Talent: I don’t know that I have a particularly secret talent but I love to cook (and I get pretty good reviews on that)!
On Championing Others… I try to enable people to grow in the way that I was enabled. Provide opportunity and direction but let people forge their paths – while ensuring that they are feeling supported along the way.
One word that captures you: Determined.
erin August 12th, 2020
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Magic Moment: My magic moment occurred when I was 19. I had graduated from high school and was working full-time for a year to save money for hairdressing school and to pay off my new car. In November of 1987, my dad came to me and said ‘I’m taking your brother to the Labourer’s Union…are you coming?’ I decided yes and off we went. He had been encouraging me for a couple of years to get into construction. That began the journey for me. A few months later, I decided that I loved construction so much that I would take a carpentry apprenticeship instead of hairdressing. I was young and ambitious. There was no stopping me. Ten years later I was given the opportunity to become a Superintendent. The day I joined the construction industry changed my life. I have never looked back!
Key Influence: Lisa Kurina. Lisa and I worked on a project together 18 years ago. She became a role model to me and a friend. We became mothers during the same project. I ran into her a couple years later and we talked about how we manage and jugle all the demands of our careers and families. She taught me to set boundaries and not feel guilty about it. It still took a very long time for me to learn to practice that fully but eventually I did and it really made the difference in feeling successful in both aspects of my life.
Dean Xuereb. Dean was the lead Project Superintendent that I worked with and was mentored by, during 12 of my 22 years as a Superintendent. He is very demanding but also very driven by his passion. He taught me so much over those years and became one of my biggest fans. I too am very driven by my passion for this industry.
Next Big Challenge As An Industry: We need to encourage youth and especially women to explore construction careers. We are losing many talented people to retirement and there are so many shoes to fill. The opportunities are endless and most of our youth don’t even know what is available to them or they and their parents have misconceptions about our industry that we need to change.
Secret Talent: I was a competitive dancer when I was young and I figure skated. I like to cook and bake, and I can sew. I made my prom dress and my ‘Maid of Honour’ dress for my brother’s wedding many years ago. I’ve made a few Halloween costumes for my kids too!
On Championing Others… I have often spoken to students in schools from JK to grade 12 about careers in construction. I participated as a mentor many times in the Skills Ontario events for girls in grades 7-10. More recently, I have spoken as a mentor for the Girls Can Too summer camp program, and for the Girl Guides. I was a keynote speaker at the Carpenter’s Union Graduation Ceremony in 2019. During the 2018/19 school year I encouraged my daughter to do a project about Skilled Trades geared toward encouraging youth to consider the various career options available in the construction industry. We visited the Carpenter’s Union training Hall and met nine female apprentices in training courses that day. I invited her shop teacher and the grade 12 class enrolled in the Specialist High Skills Major program for Construction to tour a major project I was working on in 2019. I shared my story with them, and after the tour we went to visit the Carpenter’s Training Centre. I want to continue to influence these young people to enter the construction industry. I have been a mentor to many students and peers in our company.
One word that captures you: Passionate!
erin August 12th, 2020
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Magic Moment: I was a consultant for the City of Toronto and we had commissioned a demographic study of Toronto’s changing population. We needed the report to help leverage resources and support, but it was collecting dust. I contacted the Toronto Star and their first demographics reporter, Elaine Carey and the next weekend the headline on the cover of the Toronto Star was “Minorities set to be Majority – 52% of Toronto non-white.” The headline became a catalyst for change and city council took notice. So did I. And I begin to realize the power of media.
Key Influence: My Aunt. One of my first, and most impactful mentors is my aunt who worked at B+H Architects and later founded her own successful design firm in Toronto. My aunt was my introduction to the world of design but more importantly she taught me the nuances of being a woman in business.
Next Big Challenge As An Industry: I think we’re having fractured conversations that are impeding our ability to really drive change because they are impeding our ability to build a cohesive and strategic narrative for the region. The resilient growth in the GTA should be recognized as a singular success story. That’s not to suggest that we aren’t without our faults and failures. But when you take a long view at the change that has happened in the GTA over multiple decades, it’s hard to find a suitable comparison in North America. We have the expertise locally to address the gaps and if you engage with all the disparate parties involved in development, it’s evident that we also have the willingness. But we’re stuck in our own bubbles. We need more collaboration and to break down walls between the industry and the general public. Engagement doesn’t have to be confined to zoning applications. There is an opportunity and need to build better relationships between the private development industry and the public at large.
Secret Talent: I’m a long-distance swimmer.
On Championing Others… At kg&a we’re in a position to help our clients tell their stories. One story we always love telling is all the exciting ways woman are driving innovation in real estate. There is a growing number of smart, inspiring woman in positions of leadership, ranging from entrepreneurial self-starters, to senior executives at large corporate firms, from sustainability experts, to planners and designers. We’ve most recently helped tell the story of the all-female development team working on Reina Condos. We’ve highlighted the senior leadership at B+H. We’ve profiled female entrepreneurship at Q4A. And we’ve helped program a panel of female thought leaders in the realm of sustainability with the ULI earlier this year, to name a few.
One word that captures you: Singular. I never like doing the same thing twice.
erin August 12th, 2020
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Magic Moment: The first time I lost a client. Back then, it felt catastrophic at the time. How could I keep consulting?! Little did I know at the time how instrumental that it would be in shaping my attitude towards ‘failure’. While I still get bummed when we miss a proposal or try something new that doesn’t work out, I am now quick to identify how can we learn from the experience and do better next time.
Key Influence: Oprah. A resilient black woman who overcame adversity to help others. She has been a true leader, promoting literature, self-improvement, mindfulness, and spirituality. I am an avid fan of her podcasts and am grateful for the diverse perspectives she brings to light.
Adrien Deveau. Adrien established a genuine work culture that recognized the strength of individuals towards a greater whole. His personal interest in me and my career growth boosted my confidence early in my career and was a great contributor to my successes. I am very grateful for the interest and support Adrien has provided over the years.
Next Big Challenge As An Industry: The real estate industry is at a crossroad. There is an immediate need to change how we build. In North America, we are currently using 5 planet’s worth of resources. We need to demonstrate that we can profitably create places where people live happy, healthy, equitable, lives within our planet’s capacity. And we need to do it now.
Secret Talent: I am an active yogi and yoga instructor. It took me years to realize how much my ‘day job’ benefits from investing in my physical, emotional and spiritual well being. I use teachings from my yoga and meditation work every day to be a better human.
On Championing Others… Integrating sustainability isn’t just environmental, it is also social. In our practice, the key to social sustainability is building a culture ‘relational fitness’ – where all voices are heard and respected. I practise this every day and regularly mentor others. I have a special interest in providing a boost to those with less privilege.
One word that captures you: Nimble. As a change agent, I am constantly learning and working on how to inspire others to build better.
erin August 12th, 2020
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Magic Moment: I froze on stage for what felt like hours (was probably a few seconds) when I spoke at TEDx Toronto in 2019. I didn’t know how I would recover from the embarrassment. The magic moment was when a colleague stopped me a week later to tell me how impressed he was at how I managed to restart as if I’d never stopped. This was an important reminder that what we think of as a failure can actually be seen as a great success. This experience definitely strengthened my resolve to try even in the face of fear.
Key Influence: My dad believed in hard work and a strong work ethic. He believed in trying new things and standing up for change even in the face of resistance. He taught me that taking the time to understand the other side of the argument respectfully was critical to ensuring buy-in to the solution’s success.
Next Big Challenge As An Industry: The rate of change is accelerating. Big data, the internet of things, climate change, the aging population – these are all part of the changing landscape in which we are living and working. We are in an industry that is ripe for change. Part of thinking about our future is thinking about how these changes will impact all the businesses within our ecosystem, not just our own. How can we help one another through this transition and build better value together?
Secret Talent: Singing while riding my bike
On Championing Others… So many people took the time to mentor me throughout my career, not just to teach and encourage me, but to make space at the table for me and to openly recognize the value of my work. Now I have the opportunity to do the same for others and it is an opportunity that I learn from everyday.
One word that captures you: Self-aware.
erin August 12th, 2020
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Magic Moment: My decision to article at the City of Toronto changed the entire trajectory of my legal career. I always knew I wanted to be a public sector lawyer, but wasn’t exactly sure in what capacity. During my articles at the City I was exposed to Planning Law for the first time and as a result found my niche.
Key Influence: Anna Kinastowski, former City Solicitor for the City of Toronto. After my articles, Anna hired me into the Planning Law section when she was the Director of the group. Her high expectations and standards encouraged me to become a better lawyer. She championed me through the first 15 years of my career.
John Paton, former Director of the Planning Law group. John was my other boss for the first 15 years of my career. His quiet intellect and incredible knowledge of municipal governance helped shaped my approach to being a lawyer and a public servant.
Next Big Challenge As An Industry: In my opinion the two major challenges we face are affordability and climate change. We must figure out how to provide affordable housing for everyone in urban environments. It’s not simple, but it has to be done not only to address homelessness, but also climate change. Everyone should be have choices about how to get to work or school. This also means expanding our public transit systems – another big challenge. For me this is as much about equity as much as it is about protecting the planet.
Secret Talent: Word games and trivia. I’m a real nerd.
On Championing Others… I try to keep an open door and open mind. I want people to feel they can talk to me, ask me questions and for my support. Given my current management role at the City, my focus is mostly on mentoring younger lawyers. I hope they feel they can reach out to me if they need advice or a champion.
One word that captures you: Someone once called me tenacious and I decided I like it. Sounds so much better than stubborn.
erin August 12th, 2020
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Magic Moment: Getting an architectural job position based mostly on my dance portfolio. Ted Shore (Quadrangle), who interviewed me back then, understood the value of a parallel career in dance and how these skills were transferable to architecture.
Key Influence: Richard Stevens. Architect and founder of our transit architecture studio in IBI Group who instilled a responsibility to prioritise the passenger experience when doing transit design.
Bernardo Benitez. A renowned Mexican choreographer who guided and encouraged me on establishing a relationship between my dance and architectural careers.
Next Big Challenge As An Industry: I answer this during a world pandemic, and this is at the top of the list of challenges now. How to design public places that can continue to allow us to connect safely? As designers, we have a huge responsibility to think ahead, creatively, and with a health lens.
Secret Talent: Ikebana.
On Championing Others… I seek to raise the bar and to inspire others with my actions.
One word that captures you: Play. I enjoy instigating moments of play and humour when working, opening a door for creativity.
erin August 12th, 2020
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