Blaize Reich | B3
Sage Baker | B4
Shannon Rogers | B5
Jill Schnarr | B6
Judy Brooks | B7
May Brown | B12 Lifetime Achievement Award
Sponsored by
B2
Influential Women in Business awards
BUSINESSVANCOUVER February 19–25, 2013
Influential leadership Passion in the boardroom leads to long-term success By sheryl gray news@biv.com
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ina Osen loves to influence others. As president and CEO of Hub International Insurance Brokers (Greater Vancouver), she can call the shots for all decisions. But that’s not where she takes her pleasure. “I want to contribute to the personal success of the people that I have the pleasure to work with,” said Osen. “If I can help a young member of our sales team, or drive a new revenue opportunity to a client, that is how I seek to influence.” Osen is passionate about people and has developed a leadership style that is supportive and empowering. Her ultimate goal in working with her team is to coax out the very best of each member and become as passionate about their work as she is about them. “Somet i mes t hat m ay be coaching someone on my team to achieve a better outcome,” said Osen, “or setting a course of action when times are challenging.” Staff at Hub International are all part of Osen’s lineup, and she strives to keep them connected and headed in a common direction. Nancy MacKay believes that many female leaders prefer a team approach as they strive toward collective success. As CEO of MacKay CEO Forums, she works with top-level leaders across Canada in peer learning groups. The peer groups benefit from best practice discussions, learning from others’ successes and failures, and being part of an inspirational leadership team. “When women seek to influence others, they often approach in a collaborative way,” said MacKay. “Women tend to put extra focus on gathering input from others.” MacKay doesn’t believe that a collaborative leadership style necessarily increases a leader’s
Tina Osen, president and CEO, Hub International Insurance Brokers (Greater Vancouver): contributing to employees’ personal success | Dominic Schaefer
Nancy MacKay, CEO, MacKay CEO Forums: “women tend to put extra focus on gathering input from others”
Ken Martin, president and CEO of Pacific Blue Cross: successful leaders will effectively match each situation with an appropriate style | Dominic Schaefer
If I can help a young member of our sales team, or drive a new revenue opportunity to a client, that is how I seek to influence
MacKay, exerting influence is a tactic associated with leadership, and that can be executed in many ways. Ken Martin, president and CEO of Pacific Blue Cross, agrees that neither men nor women have an influential edge, whether it’s colleagues, clients, or decisions. Like MacKay, he believes that influencing is just one aspect of the complex function of leadership, and that effective leaders must be able to use a variety of approaches as necessary. “Leadership styles are situational,” said Martin. “A time of financial crisis requires a much different leadership style than a period of rapid growth.” Longterm leaders will experience a range of situations through the evolution of a business, and the successful ones will effectively match situation with style for best outcome. In business leadership, males and females can’t be categorized into gender-specific styles. Situation will dictate leadership style before sex does. Martin
does believe that men and women bring different perspectives to their leadership roles. Life experiences, values and education shape individuals, and that uniqueness is carried along in all aspects of life. “I know many women in senior leadership roles,” said Martin. “What impresses me about them are the same things that impress me about strong men in leadership roles.” Top of Martin’s list are inclusiveness, transparency and openness, which mesh with Osen’s desire for success through collaboration with team members from the bottom to the board room. And success through influence has come to Osen, who was honoured in 2011 by Business in Vancouver as an Influential Woman in Business. Osen returned to the award program this year as one of the judges. “They are changing the landscape of their industries,” said Osen of the 2013 honourees, “while giving back to their communities in a significant way.” •
[] Tina Osen President and CEO, Hub International Insurance Brokers (Greater Vancouver)
ability to influence, but that it is one way of achieving positive end results. MacKay’s work with successful CEOs gives her a broad range of individuals to consider when identifying common traits of influential leaders: 1. Well-connected in both male and female circles 2. Effective communicators who deliver clear messages 3. Passionate and determined to effect action “Good leaders inspire people around them to take action,” said MacKay, “and that’s 360°.” For
Business in Vancouver’s Influential Women in Business Awards recognize women who are successful business owners or leaders, are influential leaders in their industry and the business community at large, commit time and resources to mentor other women in business, and contribute their expertise on corporate and not-for-profit boards. 2013 marks the 14th year BIV is honouring B.C. businesswomen. This year, the recipients were chosen by a panel of four judges, including three previous IWIB winners: Lois Nahirney, executive vicepresident, corporate resources, Teekay Shipping Tina Osen, CEO, Hub International Kari Yuers, CEO, Kryton International Paul Harris, president and publisher, Business in Vancouver This year’s honourees will be recognized on March 6 at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel. For details please visit www. biv.com/events/biv/iwib.
Influential Women in Business awards
BUSINESSVANCOUVER February 19–25, 2013
B3
Blaize Horner Reich
Commanding performance Honing expertise in technology and its enormous consequences for business
Five Questions
By Jerry Eberts news@biv.com
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s a leader in the information, communications and technology sector, Blaize Horner Reich studies the effects and ramifications of the evermore-complex world of information technology on today’s business. “Her work is particularly relevant to understanding how IT practices can be used to improve firm performance,” said Daniel Shapiro, dean, Lohn Foundation professor, Simon Fraser University. “At SFU, she has been an important part of our evolution into a modern and successful business school, the Beedie School of Business,” said Shapiro. “Blaize was instrumental in creating and building our Information Systems group, now one of the most respected areas of its kind, and recently ranked in the top three in Canada. “She helped create and design our unique management of technology MBA, a program which now plays a prominent role in our strategy. As associate dean, she was instrumental in the launching of the Segal Graduate School of Business.” Highly active in the business community at both local and national levels as a board member and director of business, academic and professional associations, Reich (pronounced reesh) is also an award-winning teacher. As the RBC Professor of Technology and Innovation, she took national leadership in creating the business technology management (BTM) program. As academic lead, she worked with employers from the Canadian Coalition for Tomorrow’s ICT Skills to build the framework of the BTM system. According to Shapiro, this program “will have profound effects on the sector for decades.” “My overall goal is to help organizations use technology more successfully,” said Reich. “I do that by serving on boards, teaching executives and undergrads in IT and project management and by researching areas of IT governance and projects. So I have a big playing field.” Among the boards on which she serves are the CIO Association of Canada, the Vancouver chapter of the Canadian Association of Management Consultants and the Information and Communications Technology Council. Reich is also a board member of several international academic journals and is responsible for the dissemination of research on business, technology and management. These include the Project Management Journal,
What accomplishments are you most proud of? Apart from seeing my children follow their dreams, it would be making the successful transition from entrepreneur to academic.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced? I took a job that was advertised under false pretences. It was a wonderful position and I learned too late that I would have to quit and try and reposition my career. It was a lesson in playing hardball, but I didn’t have a racquet.
Would you make different career decisions if you were you starting out today? Actually, no. Each move has capitalized on some things I already knew and added another dimension. So it’s been a continual learning process.
What’s one business lesson you’d like to pass on to others? These days, you really don’t know what will happen to your job or your company. I tell my students (and myself) to find work where you can learn new skills and knowledge; don’t let yourself get pigeonholed just because you are good at a particular task. Keep moving forward.
To what extent do you think there are still glass ceilings for women in business — or in the world of academia? Depends on the business and the academic institution. In the public sector, women can rise to the top. At the Beedie School of Business, there are many women full professors and in the university there are several female deans. But that’s not true of everywhere – it depends on the culture.
Blaize Horner Reich: “my overall goal is to help organizations use technology more successfully” | Dominic Schaefer
It sounds trite, but if you want to be successful, the easiest path is to do what you love to do
[] Information Systems Management, the Journal of Strategic Information Systems and the Journal of Information Technology. Reich is committed to helping women in business succeed. She has served for years on the board of the local chapter of the Women’s Executive Network; she helped create a permanent endowment for a female entrepreneur at SFU. Asked if concern about the role of women in business is still relevant, her answer is well considered. “In some sectors in some firstworld countries, no. In most of the rest of the world and in some sectors in the industrialized world, it is still a concern that we aren’t tapping into the full array of talent we have,” said Reich. “For example, membership of females on boards of directors is still hovering around 10% in Canada – that’s simply too low for other voices to be heard. “I think you need a critical mass of leaders to be women in order to achieve a good balance. Maybe it’s 20%, maybe a bit more, but once you are over that hurdle, merit drives your hiring and advancement decisions to a greater extent than in less balanced
organizations.” She is also a mentor, a role she finds very rewarding: “I love the opportunity to give back as I work. I mentor lots of people – students, academic peers, friends. The reason I can do that is the real joy of an academic life – you work with smart people, you are surrounded by new and exciting ideas and you get to learn and teach all the time. That’s pretty fun! “Some people are getting discouraged that their education doesn’t result in a job that challenges them,” said Reich. “There are several causes – downsizing, people working longer and technology changing the workplace. So it’s a tough world out there. I think, on the part of students, the result will be a more careful decision about what education to pursue. And on the part of educational institutions, a greater willingness to connect education with the workplace so students are better prepared to make the transition successfully.” Her advice to those starting out is straightforward. “Follow your passion. It sounds trite, but if you want to be successful, the easiest path is to do what you love to do,” said Reich. “You’ll put in the effort to be great at it and someone will want what you have to offer. “If you can align your work with your values, you will avoid a lot of the cognitive dissonance that people feel when they do what their parents or peers tell them they should do. Follow your dream.” •
Sponsor’s Message
Congratulations winners On behalf of the Certified General Accountants Association of British Columbia’s (CGA-BC) nearly 15,000 CGAs and CGA students, I am pleased to congratulate all those who were recognized as part of Business in Vancouver’s ‘Influential Women in Business’ Awards. These women serve as important role models and the contributions they have made to their organizations, to business in B.C. and to their communities deserve to be celebrated. The CGA designation has always been a popular choice for those looking to advance their careers in finance and accounting because of its flexible, online education program, which allows them to work full-time while they complete their studies. The designation’s popularity among women is undeniable: in recent years the majority of CGA graduates in B.C. have been women who consider the designation to be excellent preparation for leadership positions in business. We are pleased to sponsor these awards and we wish all those who were honoured continued success. Sincerely,
Candace Nancke, FCGA Chair of the Board of Governors Certified General Accountants Association of British Columbia
B4
Influential Women in Business awards
BUSINESSVANCOUVER February 19–25, 2013
Sage Baker
Eyes on the horizon Victoria high-tech CEO brings a broader picture to her business By Michael Bernard news@biv.com
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ictoria CEO Sage Baker remembers well doing one of her first big financial deals in the “man’s world” of high-tech business. “I was the only female and I was much younger than everyone else in the boardroom. One of the gentlemen – a lawyer I hadn’t met face to face yet – sat down and looked at me and said, ‘Are you going to take notes and get coffee?’” A six-foot-one former high school basketball captain, Baker stood up, shook his hand and identified herself as the Sage he had been dealing with from afar. The lawyer, clearly embarrassed, sheepishly said, “Oh, I had no idea,” then offered to have his assistant provide any clerical help. Baker, now leader of the Victoria-based Q5 Innovations, dismisses the episode with more a musement tha n i rritation, noting that in the fast-moving world of business, “everyone is making snap judgments out of necessity.”
But she still sees it as her res p on s i bi l it y to c or re c t t h e stereotype. “There is a requirement as a woman to be known as a brain behind what you are doing because in those male-dominated [high-tech] industries there is a reliance on young attractive girls to play more of a support role. In fact, Baker and her company are building a business based on exploiting the shortsightedness of a marketplace that makes snap judgments about companies with innovative products to sell. She bills herself and her colleagues as “pollinators” – well-connected experts who hunt out entrepreneurs with promising products and ideas and bring them together with investors who have “patient” money. Those investors understand that there are greater financial rewards if you take the long view of a company’s potential. One such product her company of five staff is working on is Detect POL, a real-time polarization difference imaging camera, which helps to improve images capture in challenging environments such as smoke and turbid
Sponsor’s Message
Congratulations honorees Women entrepreneurs are one of the fastest growing segments of the Canadian economy and represent a growing economic force. This year’s recipients are a testament to the broad range of talent we have in this Province. On behalf of all of us at Vancity we extended our congratulations to all of the honorees. Your passion and perseverance and the contribution you provide to help to shape and change both the nation’s public and private sectors through the work you do is cause to celebrate. As Canada’s largest credit union, we’re committed to support women in leadership roles including those women on our executive leadership team and our board of directors. They help set the tone for Vancity being a womanpositive financial institution as we all work together to make the communities where our members live and work even better.
Five Questions What accomplishments are you most proud of? Being involved in leading large corporate transactions has always been satisfying as there is a ton of team-based hard work and an immediate result, and through this I’ve been fortunate to be able to work with some amazing people.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced?
Q5 Innovations CEO Sage Baker: “we’ve got a capital market system that is inherently flawed” | Dominic Schaefer
water. The “intellectual property,” as she describes each of her projects or portfolios, often turns out to have applications and markets that go beyond the entrepreneur’s original concept. Q5 spreads its own business risk by keeping active on a stable of about 10 projects at any one time. “We’ve got a capital market system that is inherently flawed,” she said. “We have investor bases that are focused purely on shortterm financial metrics. I have seen it time and time again – I’ve done more than $3 billion in financial transactions – and a lot of times the shortcoming of that business is the short-term financial focus. Her company’s name Q5 comes from the notion that good things can happen when you look beyond the myopic modus operandi of pleasing shareholders four quarters a year to a “fifth quarter.” “We though of Q5 as that hypothetical fifth financial quarter that never actually shows up. We build the business and run the business with our eye always on that horizon. It’s more strategic than the day-to-day of financially pleasing your shareholders.” Baker’s rise to CEO before 40 is a long way from her humble beginnings in Greenwood, a former bustling mining centre that turned quiet after gold and copper were mined out in the early 1900s. Several kilometres from the town of 700, her parents eked an existence out of the land. “We didn’t have any electricity, so you don’t watch TV. You read a lot of books. You learn how to provide for yourself and be selfsufficient. “It taught me what I didn’t want to become,” she said, adding a detail that proved prescient. “I d id n’t k now wh at t he
corporate world was but I was sure that was what I wanted to do. Someone asked me when I was six what I wanted to do, and I said I wanted to run multiple businesses.” Baker said being raised by her “back to the land” parents made her feel different growing up, a sense amplified by her height and plain-speaking confident manner. “When you don’t fit in, you lea rn to adapt, you lea rn to evolve. And you learn to step inside circles where you don’t necessarily belong.” Baker graduated with honours from Queen’s University’s MBA program. Since then, she’s had a string of accolades and more than $3 billion in major deals forged in a succession of high-level positions with U.S. and Canadian companies. She was a finalist for the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliances 2012 Peter Brojde Award for Canada’s next generation executive leadership. Her leadership was recognized by the Vancouver Island Advanced Technology Association, which bestowed on her the Innovative Excellence Award for business process. She is also a member of the Alliance of CEOs in the Bay Area of California One axiom she has learned on the way is to “like the taste of your own blood.” It was an initially cryptic message that she soon discovered meant biting her tongue and listening. “There are a lot of times where people speak just to hear the sound of their own voice – they want to be seen to be smart, they want to be seen as providing the answer,” she said. “It took me a while in my career to stop doing that for the sake of proving myself [and to focus instead] on understanding. •
Preconceptions and assumptions – people make immediate judgments of others, over time I have had to learn that it ultimately didn’t matter if these assumptions about me were inaccurate, as a leader of a large project or a company it was my responsibility to understand these and find ways to quickly and accurately adjust.
What career decisions would you make differently were you starting out today? I try to live life being aware of the potential impact of my decisions (positive and negative), thus making it easier to live with the consequence of those choices – so even when these lessons are painful, I don’t think I would change a thing as it has all been a part of my journey.
What’s one business lesson you’d like to pass on to others? Know yourself, control yourself, give yourself – selfawareness combined with execution and purpose can drive amazing results and a satisfying life path, but always remember that it is your path and no one else’s. Stay true to yourself.
Is it still relevant to focus on the success and role of women in business? We have all read the statistics that show that a diversified workplace leads to better outcomes and results. Yet, unfortunately, within most executive roles and boards of directors in the corporate world, women are still a minority. There are of course many contributing factors to this discrepancy and ultimately any role should be filled by the best person for the job; however, encouraging diversity will help increase open and collaborative workplaces for which we will all benefit.
Influential Women in Business awards
BUSINESSVANCOUVER February 19–25, 2013
B5
Shannon Rogers
Well suited Global Relay’s success a testimony to lawyer’s acumen By Peter DeVries news@biv.com
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s a young lawyer getting her sta r t at McCarthy Tétreault, one of the biggest of Toronto’s Bay Street law firms, Shannon Rogers would have told anyone that she had just stepped on the legal escalator. Her law degree would, in time, be put to broader use in her current role as president and general counsel at tech giant Global Relay, but she admits she didn’t see it coming. “If you were to tell me that one day I would be president of a global technology company I would have never believed you.” Looking back now, she can see that the case for a career shift was on the docket all along. After graduating from the University of Victoria, she travelled in India for a year, spending five months volunteering at Mother Teresa’s Home for the Destitute and Dying in Calcutta before returning to Canada to study law at McGill University. No surprisingly, her interest in law was global. “I loved international development work.” Following graduation, her work with the big firm left her feeling disillusioned. Her father’s advice was also global; he counselled her to take a broad approach to her life goals. “As he one day pointed out, ‘I didn’t tell you to go be a lawyer at a big law firm. I just told you to get the legal ticket.’” “I realized I have to take this ticket and do what I want with it. I wasn’t in the city I loved, and I realized I was on the wrong side of the board table.” She returned to Vancouver, and although she continued to practise law to pay the bills, she kept watch for other, more global, opportunities. Around the same time, a friend, Warren Roy, was trying to build a technology compliance and archiving company. The business interested her, and in her spare time she helped Roy, drafting contracts and providing other legal and writing services. Rogers’ immersion into the business grew both gradually and inescapably. “I started liking it so much. More than my day job as a lawyer.” Roy eventually
March advertising deadline: February 18.
Five Questions
What career decisions would you make differently were you starting out today?
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
I love where I’ve ended up, but it took me a long time to figure out how to use my legal background in a way that I felt passionate about. It took me a while to figure out that it was the business side that I loved more than the legal side.
The biggest accomplishment by far, what I’ve put the last 10 years of my life into, would be Global Relay. It was a 3% fledgling startup when we began. Now we have 225 employees. Part of that pride comes from the fact that we built the business based in Vancouver. That’s not an easy thing to do.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced?
President and general counsel at Global Relay, Shannon Rogers has found a niche application to bridge her law degree with business | Dominic Schaefer
If you were to tell me that one day I would be president of a global technology company I would have never believed you
[] convinced her to join the team. In the beginning, money was sparse. “I probably went the next two years, at least, without a salary,” she said. “I realized I had started with a company that was struggling, that had no money and [that] couldn’t get any venture funding.” The ongoing struggle to make the company successful was daunting. “If I knew how hard it was actually going to be, I don’t know if I would have done it.” But she and the others on the team dug in and persevered, and once the company began to turn a profit in 2006, everything changed. Clients started knocking on their door. The company’s quickly growing success had as much to do with a rising need in the corporate marketplace for data storage solutions as it did an increase in regulatory practices governing data archiving, e-discovery and compliance among financial
institutions that stemmed from the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis of 2007 and onward. “We were a pioneer in cloud [storage] as a service,” said Rogers. By cla i m i ng that n iche, Global Relay set itself apart. The company now archives data for some of the world’s largest banks and registered hedge funds in over 90 countries. Now, Rogers provides direction on issues of legal and corporate governance as ubiquitously as she secures clients. It’s a sound fit. “At Global Relay, we sell legal. It’s compliance and archiving of messaging for legal purposes.” Being able to speak with the authority afforded to her by her legal training sets her above the rest in the field. Profit Magazine named her the the No. 1 female entrepreneur in Canada in 2011, and No. 2 in 2012. In 2007 she was also included in Business in Vancouver’s Forty under 40, and Lexpert named her one of the top 40 lawyers under 40 in 2006. But Rogers is perhaps best defined by a story from her childhood when her father helped her succeed in getting the prestigeous Brownies/Girl Guides Canada Cord Award. “He said, ‘Be strategic in how you go about this,’ and I followed that.” She became the youngest girl in Canada at the time to get the award. •
For more information on advertising contact: Katherine Butler office : 604-688-2398 toll free: 1-800-208-2011 e-mail: kbutler@biv.com
The flip side of that. Growing a global technology company in Vancouver; sourcing and hiring the right staff, people who can keep pace with the speed at which we’ve grown, and outpacing our competitors, including IBM, HP, Google and Microsoft, in technology development.
What’s one business lesson you’d like to pass on to others? You always have to follow your passion. Everyone wants to find it; you have to stick with it until you do.
To what extent do you think there are still glass ceilings for women in business? I think men actually love to work with women. They want to work with smart women who can go with the flow, who they feel comfortable with and who they can do business with.
Sponsor’s Message
Applauding our Women Leaders Fasken Martineau is pleased to join Business in Vancouver and our co-sponsors in celebrating all women in business at the 14th anniversary of the “Influential Women in Business Awards.” Women in leadership positions add value and create legacies through their contributions to our business environment. Invariably these women have overcome corporate challenges and have juggled their many competing priorities with great success. They bring their unique perspective and important influence to corporate boards, to agencies and to the business community at large. At Fasken Martineau, we recognize the importance of supporting events and initiatives that promote and celebrate the successes of women in business. Influential women in business bring significant and distinctive leadership to our business communities. Their persistence and determination sets an example for all business people, ensures future opportunities for the next generation of women in business, and provides them with a goal to reach new heights in their careers. On behalf of Fasken Martineau, I congratulate the winners and commend the achievements of all women who are leading the way in business.
William Westeringh, Q.C. Managing Partner
B6
BUSINESSVANCOUVER February 19–25, 2013
Influential Women in Business awards
Jill Schnarr
Woman in harmony An inspiring symphony of business and community, career and family By sheryl gray news@biv.com
J
ill Schnarr gave up her goal to achieve a satisfactory worklife balance several years ago. It was impossible to keep work from encroaching on her personal life, and just as challenging to keep her home life out of the office. She couldn’t be happier with her decision to stop fighting that battle. “I used to think it was either/ or, that work and personal life were separate, and it was up to me to find balance,” said Schnarr, Telus vice-president of community affairs. “Now, I think about work-life harmony.” Schnarr has worked with Telus for more than 20 years, advancing through the ranks from customer service manager with then-BC Tel Mobility Services to her current role overseeing community engagement initiatives across Canada. Rapid changes in technology have altered the business of Telus throughout Schnarr’s tenure with the company. Technological changes have made it possible for her to achieve the harmony of a blended
professional and personal life. “Technological changes mean it’s no longer about face time at the office; it’s about performance and what you accomplish,” said Schnarr. “This gives life much more flexibility – one doesn’t have to suffer because of the other.” As VP of community affairs, Sch n a r r s p end s much t i me blending business with pleasure. She considers herself lucky to hold a job that is all about community and giving back. Adding value into communities across Canada is personally meaningful to Schnarr, and has also become part of Telus’ company culture. “Our community engagement program is much more on the personal side of what I do,” said Schnarr. “This is really part of our culture: we have tremendous CEO support, and our retirees and team members are awesome. Last year they gave 565,000 volunteer hours in the communities where they live.” Schnarr is responsible for engaging more than community: she is a facilitator for Telus’ Taking the Stage course. The mentoring program is meant to
Proud to Celebrate Women Business Leaders Women’s Enterprise Centre is proud to celebrate the 14th Annual Influential Women in Business (IWIB) award winners. We are pleased to sponsor the event and partner with Business in Vancouver to recognize these talented women business leaders. We congratulate all the 2013 IWIB nominees and award recipients. Congratulating the nominees and winners of the IWIB 2013 awards, Laurel Douglas, CEO of Women’s Enterprise Centre, says, “The award winners are exemplary role models for aspiring women entrepreneurs.” Women’s Enterprise Centre is the leading business resource for BC women who are starting, growing or purchasing a business. Our team of professionals provides business loans, skills training, advice, mentors,
resources and a supportive community to help women start, grow and succeed in their business. Our loans have helped almost 500 BC businesses start or expand, creating over 1,600 jobs, and generating over $1 billion in economic activity in the province. Our business advisors have provided over 47,000 business advisory sessions and our workshops have helped address changing needs of over 18,000 women entrepreneurs. Visit womensenterprise.ca to learn more about our services, workshops and events.
Five Questions What accomplishments are you most proud of? Our cause-marketing campaign Go Pink. With exclusivity for the pink BlackBerry, we donated $25 for each one sold, raising $2.5 million. We raised funds across Canada for mammography machines at local hospitals. The success of this program showed how customers really wanted to be involved in a program with tangible results.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced? Jill Schnarr, vice-president, community affairs, Telus: good leaders see community engagement as a way to engage employees, to increase diversity and decrease inclusivity | Dominic Schaefer
inspire women to step up and lead, with confidence. Through her mentorship of more than 100 participants to date, she has found huge value in meeting personally with the diverse groups of female staffers. “We talk about common issues like gender inequality, but we talk about how to make things better by addressing issues together,” said Schnarr. “Women really do want to work together and support each other.” Sch n a r r s upp or t s m a k i n g things better through her actionoriented approach to problems. Her first manager at Telus, Al Wilson, forced an “a-ha moment” through his direct style of communication. Schnarr recalls visiting his office on a particularly stressful day during Telus’ launch of high-speed Internet and throwing up her hands in the despair of the moment. Wilson had no interest in fixing her crisis. “Stop bringing me problems, and start bringing me solutions,” Schnarr recalled Wilson saying. “Something clicked, and I realized, that’s what I’m here for. I became very action-oriented, and I now work on building alternative solutions instead of escalating problems.” These days, Schnarr looks to her family for inspiration. She finds her sons, aged 12 and 13, constantly provide her with fresh insights about the world as they see it, having grown up in the technological age. “We stop seeing things,” said Schnarr, referring to everyday
Technological changes mean it’s no longer about face time at the office; it’s about performance and what you accomplish
[] Jill Schnarr Vice-president, Community Affairs, Telus
sights of people downtown with outstretched hands and caps. “My son once gave his $40 spending money for a Canucks game to a homeless man. He couldn’t understand how someone could not have a home, but he told me that the man needed the money more than he did.” Schnarr’s influence in supporting communities, and the people in them, has spanned her harmonized life. Schnarr has a vision to use her celebrated influence to ensure a greater good for all segments of community that Telus supports. Next on her professional bucket list: to inspire a collective local moment to recognize the social challenges that Vancouver faces as a city. She aspires to bring together government, business, non-profits and community and work as a collective to bring some humanitarian relief at a local level. “It would be amazing to be a catalyst for this local project,” said Schnarr. A business leader tuned in to collective power: m u s i c to t h e c o m m u n i t y ’s ears. •
Accepting limitations of a project. Al Wilson helped me to focus on strategy: nail down a plan, and draw the line. Know that you can’t do it all, and make clear what will be done and what won’t.
What career decisions would you make differently were you starting out today? I used to think that work and personal life were separate and I needed to achieve a balance. I wouldn’t have spent so much energy trying to manage work and life as separate components.
What’s one business lesson you’d like to pass on to others? Telus CEO Darren Entwistle taught me an important lesson about underperforming employees: “You get what you tolerate.” This is true in work and personal life – if you settle for this standard, you’ll never be happy in your life.
Is it still relevant to focus on the success and role of women in business? I believe in the power of good leaders, regardless of gender. For collective success, leaders play a role, but they must rely on collaboration across the company.
Influential Women in Business awards
BUSINESSVANCOUVER February 19–25, 2013
B7
Congratulations!
Business in Vancouver celebrates BC’s most influential women in business every year.
Winners from the past 13 years include some of BC’s most talented business leaders. Profiles available online at biv.com/people
is Hurry: Tshout! event sell
Sage Baker, Founder and CEO Q5 Innovations, Inc. Judy Brooks, board member, advisor, speaker Blaize Reich, RBC Professor of Technology and Innovation, Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University Shannon Rogers, President & General Counsel, Global Relay Jill Schnarr, VP, Community Affairs, TELUS
WHEN March 06, 2013 11:30 am - 2:00 pm WHERE The Fairmont Waterfront Hotel 900 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC
Lifetime Achievement Award winner:
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Influential Women in Business awards
BUSINESSVANCOUVER February 19–25, 2013
Judy Brooks
A purposeful life Blo Blow Dry Bar co-founder finds new fulfilment in influencing the next generation of women entrepreneurs By Noa Glouberman nglouberman@biv.com
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elieve it or not, Judy Brooks isn’t really into hair. “People ask me what they can do if they’re having a bad hair day and I have no idea what to tell them,” joked the vivacious 49-year-old. “But if you want to know how to start your own company, I might be able to help you.” Brooks is a co-founder of Blo Blow Dry Bar Inc. – a wildly successful chain of specialty hairstyling salons that Brooks launched with her daughter, Devon, and another partner in 2007 before successfully selling her shares in 2010. Her real passion, she says, is business. As such, earning a spot among Business in Vancouver’s six Influential Women in Business Award winners for 2013 is particularly meaningful. “It’s like wow, I belong to this business community that’s such a part of my heart and I’ve actually made a difference,” she said. “T hat’s what I’m most proud of.”
Brooks, who describes herself as a “serial entrepreneur,” launched her first company – workplace injury prevention program provider BodyLogic Health Management – “out of necessity.” “I was a young mum looking to go and work and, as it happened, my work was to create something,” she said. “I’ve never had the feeling of not being in control of my own destiny, of being a cog in the wheel. So when I saw a gap in the marketplace, I decided to fill it myself.” Without formal business training, Brooks picked up the skills she needed to run her own business “along the way.” “I was just following my heart, doing what I was passionate about,” she said. “Then I started noticing that hey, I’m not too bad at this. I guess it came naturally.” Looking back, however, Brooks admits that having someone to guide her and to bounce ideas off of would have been valuable when she was taking her first steps as a businesswoman. “I didn’t really have mentors in my business life; my husband
Sponsor’s Message
On behalf of CBC British Columbia, I would like to express my sincere congratulations to all the inspiring women who are being acknowledged here today. These women have shown leadership, vision, and have contributed tirelessly to their communities as much as they have to their industries. From the technology sector to education to the entrepreneurial space, women today are breaking boundaries and creating new frontiers for us all to conquer. Vancouver has a diverse and complex economic and social fabric. Today’s honourees have proven to not only successfully navigate through this, but also play an instrumental role in shaping our city as one of the most viable and desirable places to live and work. CBC is proud to share the stories and successes of these leaders, and other British Columbians, who work hard to achieve excellence in their field, and as individuals. The women here today are part of an exceptional group. We congratulate you again for your leadership and tenacity and look forward to honouring many more exceptional women in the future. Sincerely, Johnny Michel Managing Director CBC British Columbia
Five Questions What accomplishments are you most proud of? Sticking to what I know is right – even when it is not the easiest path. What is the biggest challenge you have faced? There have definitely been what some might call adversities, but all the tough stuff is what has given me my best skills. Business is messy; life is messy. Messy, but good.
What career decisions would you make differently were you starting out today?
Forum for Women Entrepreneurs interim CEO Judy Brooks: “when women come to me now one of the first things I do is start putting them in contact with people that can help them with financing”
likes to joke that I wou ld n’t have listened to one anyway,” she laughed. “Now that I’m in a position where I can be a leader to other young entrepreneurs, particularly young women, I can see how having that resource of information and experience, of someone who’s already been there and done that, is a really great asset.” As interim CEO of Vancouver’s Forum for Women Entrepreneurs – a not-for-profit organization that supports women who are venturing into new business opportunities – Brooks says the opportunity to pass her knowledge to a new generation makes her feel “awesome.” “It forces me to be clear and honest,” she explained, adding that, when it comes to mentoring, she’s more than happy to share her past slip-ups. “My first two businesses were B2B, and I didn’t have to have a lot of financing because you can keep your costs contained at the very beginning and then move through building your business and your infrastructure at the same time,” Brooks said. “With Blo it was a different scenario. What I didn’t realize there was … I financed it myself, and we opened three brick-andmortar stores in the first year. That was a challenge.” Now, when entrepreneurs ask her for advice, one of the first things she does is puts them in contact with people who can help them with financing. “That’s been my mantra for the last couple of years: figure out financing,” she said. “I’m all about getting adequate financing and understanding, depending on
Wow, I belong to this business community that’s such a part of my heart and I’ve actually made a difference
[] Judy Brooks co-founder, Blo Blow Dry Bar interim CEO, Forum for Women Entrepreneurs
your business model, what that really means.” Building relationships, Brooks continues, is also key. “Something I would have done earlier in my own career is reach out into the community more,” she said. “My businesses at first involved working outside of Vancouver and outside of the business community here, so I didn’t have those relationships that are so important to both personal and business growth.” When asked what continues to fuel her after years of success, Brooks says she’s constantly pushing herself beyond her comfort zone. “As a leader, whether it’s your own organization or someone else’s, you have to evolve. I’m at the point where I want to do things differently, because evolving means you don’t stop at one stage or age and say, this is it, I’m quite perfect here,” she said. “You come up against things you’re not used to, maybe even nervous or frightened about, and you go for it. That’s how you grow.” •
I would have found relevant organizations or groups to join early on. I really didn’t reach out into or become part of the local business community until I was building Blo. My first two businesses were far more international, with little presence in my own backyard. Blo was a consumer brand with big profile and it opened a world of relationships I didn’t have before – people I would now consider peers, friends and loved ones.
What’s one business lesson that you’d like to pass on to others? Keeping checking in with yourself: is this what you want now? Is this the way it should be now? Business plans, processes, leadership and, most importantly, you – they all need to evolve.
To what extent do you think there are still glass ceilings for women in business? As an entrepreneur this was not part of my experience enough to really be relevant. But I do believe the numbers, which show is there is still inequality. While women are being marginalized in the world and places exist where women don’t have a voice, there is still a problem. We have responsibility for one another’s experience, both within a business and within a community.
Congratulations
Blaize Horner Reich RBC Professor of Technology and Innovation Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University
Innovation Engaged. SFU’s Beedie School of Business salutes Blaize for receiving Business in Vancouver’s 2013 Influential Women in Business Award. Her outstanding research, teaching and industry engagement reflect our commitment to responsible leadership and community impact, and a belief that diversity in business spurs powerful ideas and innovation.
beedie.sfu.ca Engaging tHE World
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B10 BUSINESSVANCOUVER February 19–25, 2013
Influential Women in Business awards
Lifetime achievement award—May Brown
Opportunity welcome Teacher, coach and Vancouver politician continues to feel for the little guy By Jerry Eberts news@biv.com
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eing in at the start of TEAM (the Electors’ Action Movement) in 1968 – along with future mayors Jack Volrich and Art Phillips – May Brown wanted to help create a party for all. In fact, Brown said, “The basis of TEAM was to be as inclusive as possible. It was no [single] political party. We had COPE, NDP, L ibera l, Con ser vat ive [members].” Having been a women’s field hockey coach at the University of British Columbia for many years, Brown knew something about the playing fields and facilities of Vancouver. So her election to the Vancouver Parks and Recreation Board (which she led for two years) was a natural. Elected in 1972 to the park board, Brown discovered she had a taste for municipal politics. In 1976 she ran for Vancouver city council and was elected. She served for 10 years. “TEAM was an interesting experiment,” said Brown. “We need a party like TEAM today. It would be well received.”
Brown’s success in politics followed a career as a coach and teacher at UBC. A staunch advocate of women’s field hockey and synchronized swimming, Brown was a faculty member at UBC’s School of Physical Education and Recreation – today called human kinetics. Though her primary function at UBC was as a teacher, Brown excelled as a coach of the field hockey team and her teams twice won city league titles, as well as consistent wins at the U.S. Pacific Northwest tournaments. A former member of the UBC women’s field hockey team remembered Brown fondly: “We all responded to her. You can’t say enough about her.” Brown has modestly said her own strength as a coach was “building a great team spirit and loyalty to the group. “I loved the coaching at UBC. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Even all these years later I love to meet former students.” She taught until 1955, just before the birth of her second child, returning in 1961 to complete work on her master’s degree in physical education.
“I always regret seeing any opportunity where people aren’t treated fairly” |
Dominic Schaefer
The BOARD and staff of Women’s Enterprise Centre CONGRATULATE the 2013 IWIB nominees and award winners! We are proud to work on behalf of people who care about women in BC who aspire to create, acquire, sustain, or expand a successful business. We ensure that:
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• Successful women entrepreneurs and the contribution of womenowned businesses are recognized by society; • Women of all ages, ethnicity and life stages view business ownership as a valuable career option; • Women have the confidence, support and access to role models and mentors to realize their business potential; • Women have access to the capital and resources which are key to the development and success of their businesses.
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Influential Women in Business awards May Brown May Brown falls into the category of national treasure. She has had tremendous influence on the communities she has served, the organizations she has contributed to and on individuals like myself. I can’t count the number of times I have said I want to be just like May when I am 80 or 85 or 90 or 93. She continually reminds us all about what is important, how to look at thinks through the eyes of others and our responsibility to both the communities in which we live and work and ourselves. May has been a trusted adviser, a confidant, a critic (in a good way) and an advocate for so many of us, and this Lifetime Achievement Award is an honour that she overwhelmingly deserves. Congratulations, May, and thank you for all you have done. Nancy McKinstry
We need a party like TEAM today. It would be well received
[] May Brown
At this same time, she and husband Lorne Brown wanted to find a way to combine their interests in education and the great outdoors. In 1961 — a busy year for Brown — they founded Deka Wilderness Camp in B.C.’s Interior. The pair would own and direct the camp for 15 years. (Today the camp is owned and operated by the YMCA.) Her views on politics might seem idealistic in today’s cynical world, but her record in office bears out her beliefs – at least for her own time as a city councillor. “I always regret seeing any opportunity where people aren’t treated fairly,” she told Business in Vancouver. “The key thing about TEAM was it was peopleconscious. We thought things through and took a long-range view. “Today, city politics is about dealing w ith so much in the short term. Vancouver could benefit from a dose of long-term thinking.” Brown has always been a good example for other women – in sports, business and politics. “ Women h ave to h ave t he
opportunities,” said Brown. “Certainly, the glass ceiling is still there. But that means women just have to work harder to find or make the opportunities they need.” Asked if the role of women in politics has changed, Brown replied, “Very much. Women were in the political scene when I first became involved, but more so today. Any governance is better if there are both men and women working together. Both are important; you need balance.” Much honoured by her city, province and country, Brown has been acknowledged for her contributions by the UBC Alumni Association, the BC Federation of Naturalists, the Canadian Association of Physical Education and Recreation and the BC Sports Hall of Fame. She has also received the Order of British Columbia and the Order of Canada. Brown said that at the age of 93, she’s had to make a few concessions on her activities. “When I hit 90, I thought maybe I shouldn’t be on the ski slopes – not with all the snowboarders around,” she said. Instead, she prefers gentler pastimes, such as treating herself to a half-hour of relaxation, taking in the view from her picture window, a glass of sherry in hand. Asked what the most enjoyable aspect of her professional life has been, Brown paused thoughtfully. “The most enjoyable aspect was getting the job done,” she finally replied. “It doesn’t matter which job we’re talking about. Just getting it done.” •
Awards information including a nomination form preview is available at
Five Questions What are your proudest accomplishments? Establishing Deka Wilderness Camp for boys in the Cariboo region of B.C. And I loved coaching at the University of BC. It was a thoroughly enjoyable time and, even all these years later, I love to meet former students of mine.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your career?
BUSINESSVANCOUVER February 19–25, 2013
undergraduate degree at McGill (BSc in physical education). I moved back to Vancouver and taught and coached at UBC for about eight years. I did finish my master’s degree in physical education, though it was difficult at times because I was at home with two young children.
Would you make different career decisions if you were starting out today? I’m happy with the decisions I made then. I don’t think I would change anything.
I wanted to get my degree and I had to make that opportunity. I had already received my Loden_SoulSpace_seattlemag_1-2vert_01.pdf
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What’s one business lesson you’d like to pass on to others? Know your facts. It is important to understand every situation in which you find yourself.
Is it still relevant to focus on the success and role of women in business? I have seen the evolution of women moving outside the home to be more active, in both business and politics. Given the opportunity, women are equally fit as men, but women have to be more active and they have to have the opportunities.
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B12 BUSINESSVANCOUVER February 19–25, 2013
Influential Women in Business awards
Previous winners 2012 Wendy Grant-John, executive adviser*, aboriginal client services, Deloitte Jill Leversage, financial consultant Lois Nahirney, executive vicepresident, corporate resources, Teekay Launi Skinner, CEO, First West Credit Union Kari Yuers, general manager, Canadian operations, Kryton International Elizabeth Harrison, partner, Farris, Vaughan, Wills and Murphy LLP; BIV Lifetime Achievement Award winner
2011
Evaleen Jaager Roy, principal, Jaager Roy advisory Amiee Chan, president and CEO, Norsta International Tracy Redies, president and CEO, Coast Capital Bev Briscoe, owner, Briscoe Management; BIV Lifetime Achievement Award winner
2010 Janet Austin, CEO, YWCA Vancouver Ida Goodreau, corporate director and former CEO, LifeLabs and Vancouver Coastal Health Sarah Morgan-Silvester, chancellor, University of British Columbia Cybele Negris, co-founder, Webnames.ca
Christine Day, CEO*, Lululemon Tina Osen, president and CEO, HUB International Insurance Brokers
Janine North, CEO, Northern Development Initiative Trust Julia Levy, corporate director, cofounder, QLT Inc.; BIV Lifetime Achievement Award winner
2009 Julia Kim, vice-president, Phillips Hager North Investment Management Tracey McVicar, managing director, CAI Capital Management Colleen Nystedt, president and CEO, MovieSet Inc. Jane Peverett, corporate director Tamara Vrooman, CEO, Vancity Carole Taylor, former finance minister of B.C. and B.C. MLA; BIV Lifetime Achievement Award winner continued on page B14
Thank you to the many nominators and nominees. We are proud to be associated with you. *Honourees’ titles indicate their position at the time they were awarded.
Jill Schnarr
Supporting dynamic leadership. At TELUS, we believe that empowering women to reach their full potential leads to stronger business performance; a diverse and inclusive team; and a culture that better understands the customers we serve. Congratulations to Jill Schnarr, our Vice President – Community Affairs, on receiving an Influential Women in Business award.
telus.com/community © 2013 TELUS. 13_00070
Congratulations honourees. Vancity recognizes the value women entrepreneurs bring in strengthening the business community and the economy. This year’s recipients are a testament to the broad range of talent we have in British Columbia. Thank you for leading the way and showing us what’s possible. To learn more about how we can help support your business, visit vancity.com or your local community branch.
Make Good Money (TM) is a trademark of Vancouver City Savings Credit Union.
Influential Women in Business awards
B14 BUSINESSVANCOUVER February 19–25, 2013
grow
Previous winners Continued from page B12
Centre your business in a strong, liveable, healthy community HIGH TECH BUSINESS PARKS
MAJOR POST SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS
Go to Burnaby’s Economic Development Strategy 2020 online www.burnaby.ca/eds2020 or contact the Planning Department at 604.294.7400 to learn more.
2008
2004
Laura Hansen, president, Image Group Inc. Catherine Roome, COO, BC Safety Authority Lisa Pankratz, president, chief compliance officer, Mackenzie Cundill Investment Management Patrice Pratt, chair, Vancity board of directors Wanda Costuros, corporate director Barbara Rae, co-founder, Dekora Staging, corporate director; BIV Lifetime Achievement Award winner
Barbara Maple, general manager, Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre Nancy McKinstry, vice-president, Odlum Brown Catherine Osler, communications consultant Sue Paish, managing partner, Fasken Martineau Faye Wightman, vice-president, external relations, University of Victoria
2007 Shushma Datt, founder, president and CEO, i.t. Productions Ltd. N.J. (Dee) Millerz, vice-president, finance, administration and human resources, JJM Group Elise Rees, partner, Ernst and Young LLP Elizabeth Watson, owner, Governance Advisory Services Sue Adams, co-owner, Bevendale Enterprises Inc. Grace McCarthy, former politician; BIV Lifetime Achievement Award winner
2006
Fasken Martineau is a leader in supporting women in business. We’re proud to sponsor the Annual Influential Women in Business Awards. Fasken Martineau is a leading international business law and litigation firm with over 770 lawyers doing business around the world.
Kazuko Komatsu, president, Pacific Western Brewing Co. Roslyn Kunin, principal, Roslyn Kunin and Associates Alice Laberge, former president and CEO, Fincentric Corp. Judy Rogers, city manager, City of Vancouver Anne Stewart, partner, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP Lis Welch, vice-chair, Welch Group Wendy B. McDonald, BC Bearing Group; BIV Lifetime Achievement Award winner
2005 Debra Lykkemark, owner, Culinary Capers Sandra Stevenson, CEO and president, Sport BC Karen Flavelle, owner, Purdy’s Chocolates Pat Jacobsen, CEO, TransLink Eva Lee Kwok, CEO, Amara International Investment Doreen McKenzie Sanders, executive director of Women in the Lead; BIV Lifetime Achievement Award winner
VANCOUVER
CALGARY
TORONTO
OTTAWA
MONTRÉAL
QUÉBEC CITY
LONDON
PARIS
JOHANNESBURG
2003 Jill Bodkin, founder, Golden Heron Enterprises Anne Lippert, founder, Lippert Investments Martha Piper, president, University of British Columbia Anne Sutherland, head, B.C. and Yukon division, RBC Royal Bank Naomi Yamamoto, founder, Lasercolour
2002 Judy Bishop, founder, Bishop and Co. Frances McGuckin, consultant, owner of SmallBizPro.com Carole Taylor, chair, Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Linda Thorstad, executive director, Vancouver Economic Development Corp. Shannon Byrne, president and CEO, Paradata Systems
2001 Mobina Jaffer, president, YWCA of Canada Lucille Johnstone, head, B.C. and Yukon division, St. John Ambulance Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia, president and founder, Absolute Spa Group Susan Mendelson, owner, Lazy Gourmet Lynn Warren, radiologist, founder of the Vancouver Breast Centre
2000 Nancy Greene, co-owner of Sun Peaks’ Nancy Greene Cahilty Lodge Maureen Chant, Jim Pattison’s assistant Julia Levy, president and CEO, QLT Inc. Gerri Sinclair, president and CEO, Ncompass Labs Inc. Nancy Stibbard, owner and general manager, Capilano Suspension Bridge
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