Milestones in a career and life are a wonderful way of inspiring our emerging young leaders. Please share a proud or “magic moment” that shaped your journey?

I experienced a ‘magic moment’ when I recognized that career progression is neither linear nor singular. People have the ability to move up, move laterally, take a step back, and even leap frog. Early in my career, witnessing the career growth of my fellow classmates made me reflect on my career slower progression and made me feel bad about not being able to keep up. It was further stunted by two separate maternity leaves. Through hard work, determination, and making good career decisions, I was able to leap frog twice, and ultimately passed my classmates. This has made me recognize that career journeys are our own, and there is no ‘standard’ path to get there.

Who were your major influencers/mentors (up to 2) and what were the key lessons you gained from them?

1. Danny Klempfner. Danny is a kind, thoughtful, and curious person. She asks questions to probe not only the issue, but often the answer so you feel like you were able to resolve your own problems. She cares about the human side of the business, and is invested in the success of her mentees. It has been over 14 years since she was my mentor, and we still keep in touch. This speaks to the quality of relationship she can create out of a mentorship.
2. Ornella Richichi. Ornella was a mentor assigned to me at the company we both worked at. Ornella’s no-nonsense approach was at first intimidating, but ultimately appreciated in the context of working in a male dominated land development industry. She taught me that you cannot control what people say about you, you can only control your reaction. It wasn’t the answer I wanted to hear, but it has served me well throughout my career to trust my instinct, surround myself with good people, and ignore the negative people.

What do you think are the next big challenges we need to tackle as an industry and as a successful city-region? Are there specific things you think we should be doing to meet the challenges?

In my opinion, sharing stories (successes, but mostly failures) is so powerful when engaging with each other and the next generation. I think having the WLI Champions share their stories (through mentorships, fire side chats, or group discussions), helps to dispel assumptions, identifies common circumstances, and helps to see how people rise after a failure.

Tell us how you champion others in the industry.

I am a member of the board (Director, Mentorships and Jobs Day) at Toronto CREW. I am a mentor for the ULI Mentorships program 2025. I am the Chair of an internal community group called INSPIRE (Inclusive Network Supporting People in Real Estate) where I initiate and champion policies and events within Northwest Healthcare to elevate women and people of colour. I have informally mentored 5 people in the last couple of years – women and people of colour – who I had worked alongside in previous companies. Generally I am a vocal critic of injustices in the workplace and industry, and will usually call it out in the moment.

What is your secret talent no one knows you have?

I am a former football player of 16 years, playing on both the Offensive and Defensive lines.

What is the best word to describe you? And Why?

Honest. You will always know where you stand with me. The truth matters more than the outcome.