2023 Spring Issue - 44

ULI YOUNG LEADERS GROUP
industry. Together, we began the Women's
Leadership Initiative (WLI) committee,
another ULI affinity group designed to
support women and advance them in
leadership as well as within the ranks of
the Institute.
I can recall at the inaugural meeting
listening to all these accomplished women
telling their stories and thinking to myself:
How did I get here? More important, how
do I stay here? I will never forget what the
chair, Godyne Sibay, a leading partner at
McCarthy Tétrault, told me: " You're here
because you belong-and don't you forget
it. " In one quick conversation, I learned
the difference between a mentor and a
sponsor-the former gives you advice and
the latter provides you with support.
Another personal high note came in
2014 when I was recognized as a WLI
Champion by the WLI Championship subcommittee,
which focuses on spotlighting
influential women in Toronto real estate by
annually selecting a group of women who
exhibit leadership in real estate development,
land use, and city-building. I found
myself among award-winning architects,
public policymakers, and influencers and
was blown away by the caliber of women
in Toronto creating change in the real
estate market and inspiring younger leaders
such as myself to do the same. Every
year this group grows, demonstrating the
strength and diversity of the real estate
industry in the GTA.
Career Impacts
The impact of ULI has, of course, been felt
most keenly in my career journey. Over
the course of my career, I have worked on
more than 25 draft plans for subdivisions
and countless bylaws and site plans. I
have drafted several municipal documents,
including official plans, master
plans, comprehensive bylaws, and sustainability
plans.
Along the way, there have been a few
projects that stand out. Each in its own
way has helped prepare one part, or one
piece, of my skill set for the complex,
44
URBAN LAND SPRING 2023
The Atrium at the Hangar District is part of Toronto's redevelopment of Downsview Airport,
planned to be a " city within a city, " a globally recognized, mixed-use urban community in
the heart of one of the most vibrant and diverse metropolitan areas in North America.
multifaceted task of the redevelopment of
Downsview Airport.
In January 2011, I was part of a team
that completed the Hurontario-Main
Street Secondary Plan for the cities of Mississauga
and Brampton, Ontario. It was an
innovative achievement for its time in that
it brought together two municipalities and
a regional government. The plan integrated
rapid transit with higher-order mixed-use
development and enhanced urban design.
The goal was nothing short of a transformation.
A main street characterized by
low-density commercial sites would evolve
into a pedestrian- and transit-oriented
development consistent with the cities'
long-term vision and objectives.
The project involved extensive public
consultation, which prepared me for future
undertakings and also instilled in me the
importance of both communicating
and listening.
My subsequent work on the OakdaleMoffatt
Community Improvement Plan in
St. Catharines, Ontario, presented a different
challenge: how to incentivize activity
in a downtown area that was not attracting
growth. My time on the project proved
to be a master class in the relationship
among planning, economics, and social
needs. I came to recognize the importance
of incorporating new dynamism while
respecting the history of a locale.
In 2015, I left the consulting world
and joined a development company. This
proved to be a pivotal moment in my
career. For the first time, I was able to participate
in the full life cycle of a project-
from acquisition to occupancy. Thanks to
my work experience and my exposure to
ULI, I felt ready for the increased responsibility.
I felt ready to take on the role of
" quarterback. "
The Importance of Mentors
Reflecting on this time in my life, I feel
compelled to emphasize the importance
of mentorship in the career of any up-andcoming
development executive.
Howard Sokolowski, owner of Metropia,
a GTA development firm, was generous
enough to take me under his wing.
He guided me through the basics: the
importance of the deal, the art of the sale,
and so on. But he also challenged me to
place myself into the shoes of a potential
buyer-and put a priority on building
something that is truly a home, and not
PERKINS EASTMAN/BEZIER CG

2023 Spring Issue

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2023 Spring Issue