5 lessons from 5 years leading HP Canada

As all of us can appreciate right now, a lot happens in a single year. Let alone five. For me, 2021 marks my fifth anniversary at the helm of HP Canada. As I reflect on this milestone, I have compiled lessons that I have learned along the way and wanted to share them in hopes that other leaders can benefit or relate.

1.    Paying it forward pays off

As a champion of women in technology and leadership, I’ve dedicated a lot of time to sharing my experiences and empowering others, whether that’s speaking on stages at conferences such as Women Deliver or working with our partners to set diversity, equity and inclusion goals.

While I hope my perspective has a positive impact on others, the truth is that I benefit from these experiences too. Throughout my time at HP, reverse mentorship is something I have practised regularly as it gives me an opportunity to see solutions and opportunities from a different perspective. My time mentoring a business student through CEOx1Day comes to mind, which acted as a powerful moment for reverse mentorship. Taking the opportunity to see solutions and ideas through a fresh lens, while offering guidance based on my experience, is an invaluable exchange.

2.    How we do things is just as important as what we do

As a leader, I hold myself accountable for creating change that combats racial injustice. Recently, I had the privilege of becoming a founding member of the Coalition of Innovation Leaders Against Racism (CILAR) joining as the Chair of the Job Opportunities pillar. I have also had the great fortune to pledge and attend the BlackNorth Summit 2020 as part of my commitment to creating pathways for the BIPOC community and ending systemic racism.

Actions prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion at the highest levels of business leadership while cultivating relationships with a diverse base of suppliers, retailers, partners, and customers worldwide benefits everyone.

3.    Doing well by doing good go hand-in-hand

One of the things I am most proud of has been witnessing firsthand that when you do the right thing, business will follow. Sustainable Impact is a core of our business and in 2020, we saw Sustainable Impact initiatives help HP win more than $1 billion in new sales.

We achieved this by leading with sustainability, through our closed-loop recycling programs, purpose-driven partnerships, and a sustainable portfolio of products to drive a low-carbon, circular economy. The next step, in becoming the most sustainable and just company by 2030, includes sharing our wealth of knowledge and resources with others in our partner community. That’s why we recently launched HP Amplify Impact, a first-of-its-kind sustainable impact program to help partners develop long-term plans on climate change, human rights, and digital divide.

4.     Bring your authentic self to work – and empower others to do the same

I talk a lot about being my B.E.S.T. (better every single time) self with my teams. One way that I do this is by leading with authenticity. When people are their authentic selves, they thrive and bring new thinking to the table unlocking a richer workplace culture.

Being authentic is directly related to our ability to be vulnerable. In the early years of my career when the industry was largely male dominated, being vulnerable was perceived as being weak. I have found that embracing the discomfort of vulnerability is where real growth happens. When we empower ourselves and others to be true to who we are, amazing things happen. When this philosophy is applied to business, we grow, our employees grow, and the business grows.

5.    Lead with empathy

According to a recent RBC report, more than 20,000 women left the workforce between February and October. Mothers with children under six only made up 41 per cent of the labour force in February but account for two-thirds of the departure. We need women to come back to the labour market to achieve the growth rates required for our economy to recover but there isn’t one solution that suits everyone. That’s why it's so important to practice empathy and offer flexibility. It means having policies that can accommodate those looking after children, elderly or ill family members without stigmatization.

It is often the hardest times that bring out the best in us, and the ability to do things we never thought we could. I’m proud our HP Canada team has truly risen to the unique challenges of the pandemic to serve our customers and keep our culture thriving.