Interview
with an HR Hero:
Nutshell
■■ First job: Summer day camp counsellor at age 13
■■ Childhood ambition: To be a brain surgeon and find a cure for MS
■■ Best boss and why: I don’t have one best boss. There were positive aspects I took from each
along the way: visioning skills, thought leadership, team building and influencing techniques.
a In ■■ How do you spend your time away from work? I work out six days a week. I love the theatre
and I like to read and spend time with family and friends. I’ve volunteered on several boards as
well; I love working with at-risk youth. ■■ Current source of inspiration: I have two: my father and my daughter. In both cases, it’s about
persistence and resilience. My father went bankrupt twice and rebuilt himself each time; he’s
had multiple heart surgeries and is thankful to be alive every day. My daughter has a dream to
be an actress. She has a focused goal, an action plan and she never gives up – she’s determined
that one day she will be in LA and she’ll have an Oscar.
■■ Best piece of advice I ever got: Take advantage of every opportunity and explore what’s possible.
Take the less travelled route. I tell that to my kids all the time now.
■■ Favourite music: Pop – it’s great to exercise to. I listen to a lot of Katy Perry right now, because
my daughter is obsessed with her.
■■ Last book you read: The Three Laws of Performance by Steve Zaffron and Dave Logan
74 ❚ FEBRUARY 2014 ❚ HR PROFESSIONAL