This month we introduce you to DiverseCity Fellow Alumnus Todd Minerson, a proud ELN Member and currently the CEO at Parker P. Consulting.
We asked Todd to share his leadership journey & insights below!
Q: What motivated you to join the ELN and/or apply to the DiverseCity Fellows Program?
I was a part of the very first DiverseCity Fellows cohort. We called it the Guinea Pig class, we were a pilot project! I heard about it from my then Board Chair, and was over the moon to get accepted. It was a challenging time to find development activities that helped me extend beyond the non-profit network.
Q: How has your involvement shaped your leadership journey?
Aside from the enduring, and supportive connections that were created in that experience, I learned a lot about the need to work across sectors to make transformative change. Tapping that collaboration and finding innovative solutions has been a huge part of our efforts here at White Ribbon to launch Parker P. Consulting – a social enterprise owned by White Ribbon – to bring gender equality solutions to the private sector.
Q: Why is diverse leadership important?
Without diverse and inclusive leadership, no organization or institution can reach their full potential. I’m reminded of a speech Bill Gates made in Saudi Arabia to a gender segregated audience. He was asked if the country could be a technology leader by 2030. I’ll paraphrase his answer, but it was “as long as half of your population can’t access leadership opportunities in business, you’ll never get there.” You can imagine which side of the audience erupted in cheers!
Q: What is one characteristic that you believe every leader should possess and why?
My leadership philosophy has always been – find the best people to surround yourself with; build, share and communicate a vision; and focus on how to help them be the best they can be.
Q: Tell us about one of your favourite places in the GTHA to visit/go – why is it your favourite?
My favourite place in the city has to be the Evergreen Brickworks. The Farmer’s Market, the Container Market, hiking, skating, and great play spaces for our kids I love the way we have reclaimed part of our history, put a focus on sustainability, and made an amazing space in the heart of the city.
Q: What is a hobby/talent of yours that people may not know about you?
A few people in the CivicAction network have met my alter ego – DJ Moe Funk. I have a passion for collecting records, and sharing my rare groove collection with the world!