Month: May 2023

Ensuring women are represented in all levels, including leadership positions is crucial to a company’s success – from building gender equity, to fostering an innovative environment. It also helps businesses continue to inspire and create access for generations of women leaders to come. Women make up 47% of the workforce and hold 23% of executive positions – yet women of color consist of only 13% of the C-suite roles.

Increasing representation and access for women in the workplace is a topic Dr. Tiph Turpin, Global VP of Employee Communications, has been passionate about her entire career. Faced with a lack of representation in her own field, she has dedicated her time to mentorship, advocacy, and equal opportunity in corporate spaces. We were able to connect with Tiph and learn more about her journey and guidance for other women and women of color who aspire to be in leadership.

Tiph Turpin is a PRWeek 40 under 40 honoree who leads global employee communications at Expedia Group. She delivers award-winning communications and manages her teams as an impact-first organization that develops internal storytelling about Expedia Group’s business strategy, sharing what it means for travel to be a force for good.

On Choosing Expedia Group and Travel

Tiph was drawn to the travel industry and Expedia Group’s vision to lead transformation through technology, especially given the way pandemic changed the way people approach travel.

“After the height of the pandemic, there was a new meaning to travel. We’ve seen the impact travel can have, to open apertures for how we view each other, experience the world, and it can shape how we see our own potential. Being part of this passion for travel and technology drove me to join Expedia Group. There is a real spirit to run toward change and run toward innovation here.”

On the Journey to VP

Tiph experienced continued career growth since joining Expedia Group in 2021 – from Senior Director to VP – is a considerable jump to make in anyone’s career and that can have a big shift in management objectives. She shares how focusing on being a great leader to her team has been a key part of her success, and how other companies can foster growth in their teams.

“In order to fully appreciate all aspects of your employees, you need to go deep into what someone wants to contribute and how they want to contribute. It’s important that you understand your employees as individuals and be clear on how you and that person measures success.”

Tiph shared that companies need to be more aware than ever that success looks differently for each person, and the ways success is measured need to evolve. But how do we identify that?

“We start with feedback. We are in a new era in the tech ecosystem and businesses need to hold space for success to look differently for each person. One of the ways individual contributors can do this, and identify if they’re ready for the next step in their career as managers or leaders, is to collect feedback.”

“Keep getting feedback from that 360 angle and understand your business scope. Make sure you have a good mix of sponsors, personal champions and mentors.”

On Women Navigating Imposter Syndrome

Many of us have had moments of doubt – whether you’re positioning yourself for a pay raise or beginning a new job. Imposter syndrome can be the fear and discomfort of ‘not checking all the boxes’ or not being ready/worthy of an opportunity. It is often felt disproportionally by marginalized groups such as women and people of color due to years of systemic bias and exclusion. Tiph shares advice on battling these notions.

“If you’re a woman and you’re not sure about your own readiness, you need to know that it’s not just you. Countless studies have shown that women don’t apply for opportunities unless they feel over-confident in their abilities to match the job description. It’s important to recognize that notions like this can hold us back – both individually, and as a community. Use the feedback from your circle of sponsors, mentors, peers and managers.”

“Don’t let yourself feel stifled if you don’t check all the boxes and propel yourself in the direction that is right for you.”

On Prioritizing Balance 

During the pandemic, many parents saw firsthand how career ambitions and family aspirations needed to be renegotiated and prioritized. For Tiph, this is when she learned some of the best advice she got in her career.

“When I came back from maternity leave [the first time], I found myself working around the clock, hyper-focusing on getting as many tasks done as possible and emailing at all hours of the day. The advice I got from a fellow parent and mentor was that I needed to reassess how I measure my value, and impact.

At that time, I felt my impact was the volume of work I was outputting. But as you grow in your career you need to think about how to become more efficient. The hours may be less, but you learn how to make your efficiency skyrocket.”

On Finding Mentors to Help Redefine Success

Sometimes, it takes an external pair of eyes to push us to the next level of our performance. Tiph shares that mentors can be the catalyst for these career changes. 

“You need to reevaluate how you determine success. Mentors can be very helpful in asking these types of questions with you:

1. What does amazing delivery look like? 
2. How am I a differentiator in the workplace? 
3. How do I troubleshoot my current blockers? 
4. How might I improve my efficiency?” 

Tiph also shares that it’s important to address and be specific on what a mentor looks like and push yourself to grow into the leader you want to see. “Sometimes, people don’t think of themselves as a mentor. But we each have something unique we can provide to others– be it counsel, or advice. People need to step into that more, no matter your level! There’s always space for being able to lift other folks as we climb.” 
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Learn more about the power of travel as a force for good at Expedia Group, our Travel Community, and how you can join us.

Volunteering is a big part of our culture, which makes us and our communities stronger. Last year, employees tracked over 105,000 volunteer hours in SunCares, Suncor’s employee giving program, for sharing their time, talent and energy with their community.

This year’s theme for National Volunteer Week, which ran from April 16 to 22, is volunteering weaves us together. The theme highlights the importance of interconnecting by volunteering.

Volunteer week is also an opportunity to celebrate SunCares Changemakers—Suncor employees who go above and beyond in their community, volunteering their expertise, time and financial contributions in a meaningful way throughout the year. Each Changemaker is able to name a community organization of choice to receive a one-time donation of $20,000 from Suncor or the Suncor Energy Foundation.

Here are your 2023 SunCares Changemakers!

Sergii Melnikov, Fort McMurray, Alta.

Where Sergii’s donation went:

$20,000 to the Ukrainian Catholic University

Sergii has been a dedicated volunteer for years, and when his community of Fort McMurray needs support, he’s the first one to step up. When Russia invaded Ukraine, Sergii made a significant donation to organizations in Ukraine to support the people defending the country. Sergii also supported the formation of YMM Stands with Ukraine committee, a partnership between the Ukrainian Cultural Society and the Oil Sands Rotary Club of Fort McMurray. He has helped over 100 newcomers to the Wood Buffalo area settle into their new community, while also hosting a Ukrainian family since March 2022.

Christie Courtland Joseph, Calgary, Alta.

Where Christie’s donation went:

$20,000 to Girl Guides of Canada, Alberta Council, Calgary Chapter

Christie volunteers many hours as a Deputy Area Commissioner in Calgary with Girls Guides Canada and is a leader of her own unit. Over the years, Christie has instilled confidence and competence within Guiders and youth. Christie has organized fundraising opportunities to ensure units in Calgary have the funds to engage in learning opportunities, and taken youth on trips to Switzerland and Vancouver Island to hike a portion of the West Coast Trail. Closer to home, Christie organizes camping weekends where she facilitates backpacking and canoeing skill development. Christie is also evaluating existing processes and facilitating feedback sessions with guiders and District Commissioners to set up the organization for the future.

Linda (Jinling) Xiang, Calgary, Alt.

Where Linda’s donation went:

$20,000 Western Canada Hubei Association

Linda is the Chair and President of the Western Canada Hubei Association (WCHA), which provides the Hubei community in Western Canada a space to celebrate their culture, connect with one another and access resources and support. Through the WCHA, Linda offers mentorship to students and new grads and organizes virtual lunch and learns for the broader WCHA community. During the pandemic, Linda also helped raise funds to purchase and donate medical supplies to front-line medical staff in Wuhan, China, and distributed food to members of the Calgary Chinese Community. Earlier this year, Linda received a Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal in recognition of her commitment to community.

Michael Vickers, Fort McMurray, Alta.

Where Mike’s donation went:

$5,000 to Canadian Mental Health Association$15,000 to St. Aidan’s Society

Mike is an avid volunteer in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo who supports seniors through St. Aidan’s Society, provides training and mentoring for umpires throughout the baseball season, and volunteers on the board of directors at the United Way of Fort McMurray and the Canadian Mental Health Association Wood Buffalo chapter. He often finds ways to bridge Suncor and community through organizing slo-pitch fundraising events and talking about mental health within Suncor.

Deborah (kâkike manitohkân iskwew) Green, Calgary, Alta.

Where Deb’s donation went:

$7,000 to Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society$7,000 to Be the Change$6,000 to Stardale Women’s Group

Deb is making a difference within Suncor as well as in the Calgary community and beyond. A volunteer with many organizations focused on advancing reconciliation, Deb is an Indigenous rights advocate, keynote speaker, a singer and drummer in an Indigenous matriarch’s hand drum group who have led marches, rallies and gatherings, and fosters an Indigenous women’s monthly sharing circle of over 500 Indigenous people. Deb’s efforts have made changes at all levels of government, within corporations and in the lives of those around her, including resulting in a Calgary landmark being recognized as the Field of Red Ribbons in honour of missing, murdered and exploited Indigenous people. Last year, Deb was recognized by the Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth as a changemaker for the positive change she’s making in community and will be the recipient of a 2023 Esquao Award from the Native Women’s Association of Canada in May.