Hello Toronto!

I'm excited to get started in my role as the Greater Toronto Office Managing Director at Accenture. I'm truly grateful for this opportunity and I want to start by acknowledging the original people of the lands on which we live, learn, play, and work on today.

Our workplace is on the traditional territory of the Wyandot (wen-dat), also known as Huron, and the Haudenosaunee (hoe-deh-no-SHOW-nee), now known as the Six Nation Confederacy. We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that this land is situated upon the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation Treaty lands and Territory, covered by Treaty #13 (1805), the Toronto Purchase.

I love this city. Toronto is more than just a city; it's a global economic powerhouse where growth, innovation, and communities come together to create a vibrant place to live and work.

Here are some facts you may not know about our city ...

• Toronto is magnetic: Toronto contributes to nearly one quarter (23%) of Canada's GDP, ranking as the second-largest financial center in North America, only surpassed by New York. It also holds the 20th position on The Global Power City Index, celebrated for its ability to attract people, capital, and enterprises worldwide.
• Toronto is filled with human potential: With the current Greater Toronto Area population standing at 7 million, it is anticipated to grow to 10 million by 2051 -- making it one of North America's fastest-growing metropolitan regions. More than half of Toronto's residents are born outside of Canada.
• Toronto is a reinventor: Toronto is Canada's leading center for education, research, and innovation. Ranked 5th on the Global AI Index, it demonstrates its commitment to investment, innovation, and implementation in Artificial Intelligence. Our city is also home to internationally-renowned educational institutions and entrepreneurs building Canada's next generation of growth companies.
• Toronto is biodiverse: Toronto's tree canopy helps combat air pollution from urban activities. According to the Global Green View Index, Toronto's Tree Canopy (street and not including parks) covers 19.5% of the city, surpassing New York (13.5%) and London (12.7%).

In my role, I’ll be building on the strong foundations that our past Office Managing Director Piyush Bhatnagar has built and working closely with our outstanding Local Market Teams across Toronto and Mississauga to serve our people, clients, and communities and deliver 360? Value.

We aim to bring innovation and growth to the forefront, especially with the possibilities that technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) promises for our future. Our efforts will revolve around three areas, coordinated by our local Market Lead Luke Speers .

1. People Experience: Led by Siva Naganathan , we are committed to creating an environment and workspaces where our talented individuals thrive, harnessing the power of our Employee Resource Groups.
2. Community Inclusion: Led by Krish Banerjee , we aspire to strengthen urban inclusion through collaborations and partnerships within the vibrant Greater Toronto community.
3. Market Growth: led by Theresa Ebden, MBA , we drive growth through innovation, benefiting our clients in all industries, and more broadly, our region as a whole.

To celebrate and learn more about our city we will be launching a #CityLove series that explores how we make Toronto's potential shine even brighter!

This is where I need your help! In the comments section please tell me about your favorite aspects of Toronto and what makes this city magnetic for you. Are you a foodie? Sports fanatic? Or perhaps you're drawn to the diverse neighborhoods, athletics, lakefront, or the tech and startup ecosystem? Whatever it is that makes Toronto special to you, let's celebrate this city together – now, and in our very bright future.

#SharedSuccess #TOtallyAwesome #CityLove #Toronto #Mississauga #GTA

More about Karen Forward:

Karen is a senior advisor specializing in talent and organization strategy associated with business transformation, based in Toronto. She is open to speaking engagements and promises to bring an interactive, insightful session anchored in real-world experiences.

Note: The views expressed in this post are Karen's own and do not represent the opinions or views of any organization or entity. She is a big sharer so If you would like to quote or use snippets from this post for other purposes, please let her know.

References:

1. Toronto at a Glance – City of Toronto
2. https://www.mississauga.ca/
3. WEF_C4IR_GFC_on_Cities_Inclusion_2022.pdf (weforum.org)
4. https://www.mori-m-foundation.or.jp/pdf/GPCI2021_summary.pdf
5. The Global AI Index - Tortoise (tortoisemedia.com)
6. City of Toronto Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Performance Report
7. Treepedia :: MIT Senseable City Lab