BMath’86, Accounting and Finance
About Teresa
Teresa spent her career as a finance executive in food processing, consumer goods, manufacturing and automotive companies. Over the course of her career, she has served as the CFO for Clearwater Seafoods, Wescast Industries, McCormick Spices and SVP Finance for Maple Leaf Foods and VP Finance for Schneider Foods.
Teresa has been actively involved in her community throughout her career and served as Director and Treasurer of the Greater KW Chamber of Commerce, Director and Treasurer of Countryside Conference Centre Association, the Chair and Board Trustee of CMA Canada Research Foundation (of the Society of Certified Management Accountants of Canada), and Board chair of CMA Ontario and Board member of CMA Canada.
Teresa is currently active on several boards including the University of Waterloo, Walker Industries and Eden Valley Poultry.
Teresa is a University of Waterloo alumni, with a Bachelor of Math, Accounting and Finance Co-op degree and she is an FCPA, FCMA and holds her ICD.d designation through the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Teresa’s Perspective
As part of our series celebrating women who lead with purpose, we invited Teresa to reflect on what fuels her commitment to service, how her Waterloo Math experience shaped her path and the impact she strives to create in her community and around the world.
Leadership That Inspires and Gives Back
I think that the leaders around me have been my greatest inspiration. Watching their leadership, their quiet giving back to the community, their taking time to mentor or coach me and doing all the selfless things that benefit others around them set the bar and made it feel appropriate to pay it forward and do the same for others around me.
From Math to Leadership: Problem-Solving at the Core
It’s not common to think of building a finance and business executive career by starting with a math degree. Math was what I excelled at and loved before starting university, so when I was able to combine math with accounting and finance at Waterloo, that seemed like a logical choice.
The choices I subsequently made in my career were mostly driven by what I enjoyed doing versus what common practice might have suggested I should do.
Many years later, when I was interviewing for a Chief Financial Officer role, I was asked what value my math degree was. The answer was easy; it honed my problem-solving skills!
I love solving problems and that became a key signature during my career, and it carries forward in the way I focus on helping and serving others as well.
Paying It Forward: Mentorship and Collaboration
I’m not the type of person that keeps track of what I have accomplished or the impacts I may have had along the way. I’m too busy looking forward to what else I can do.
My story is more about listening to others and helping where I can. If I can share my experience or offer my skills to support a need, then it’s a win-win situation. The win for me is continuing to learn (no two situations are the same, there’s always a new problem to solve) and I’m paying forward for all the support, mentoring and coaching I have received throughout my career.
Most of that support came from male bosses and colleagues because there were not as many women in senior roles. I have made a point of being as accessible as possible to younger women and colleagues.One of the most powerful ways I have found is to create environments where everyone can express their opinions and ideas and participate in developing collaborative solutions.
Leading by Sharing What You Love
Reflecting on my experiences, I have learned that the easiest way to give is to share what you genuinely enjoy doing. It is natural, authentic and energizing. When giving feels like an extension of who you are, the impact becomes even more meaningful.