Briefly introduce yourself: What is your role and what are some unique parts about it?
I work as the Sourcing & Procurement Lead in the purchasing department based in Toronto (headquarters). As my title illustrates, I am involved with sourcing and procuring: From searching, finding suppliers, and contacting them to maintaining a productive chain of vendors and procuring goods and services to meet organizational needs. Unpredictability along with the ability to face different challenges and find appropriate solutions creatively is what is happening in my department day by day.
How do you see the value of teamwork in your everyday work?
When faced with challenges that might even be precarious, being surrounded and supported by a team with solid knowledge and experience becomes a game-changer. They make the transition very smooth and effortless.
I would like to take this opportunity to give credit to Eugene Capoccia (Purchasing Associate) especially for my growth and achievement so far. He committedly exemplified it by pouring his wealth of knowledge and wisdom on me that's from his almost 30 years of experience. I can't overemphasize this: When your team thrives, you thrive too!
You joined the company quite recently. What are some of the (pleasant) things you found about the company that you didn't expect?
First, I was pleasantly surprised by the welcoming of the entire office. Everyone I met not only at the office but also from the job sites welcomed me with open arms. Then, I was again pleasantly surprised and challenged at the same time to push myself to newer, higher levels of excellence.
If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it, what would it say and why?
"Never give up hope: Things can get better"
It’s not so simple at times as life can change fast or unexpectedly, and it reveals who we really are especially when we hit rock bottom. Keep a positive mind and give yourself time to process everything. Small steps will lead to large strides in the future.
What advice would you give to a smart, driven college student about to enter the "real world"? What advice should they ignore?
Before you determine whether the piece of advice you just got is good or bad, think about how it can expand your capacity. Never pass on the opportunity to educate yourself further or to learn something new. You never know when you'll be able to apply it. Don't be afraid of trying new things in life, just because you don't enjoy something doesn't mean you can't with being open to new ideas. Absorb as much information, knowledge, and advice from your experiences as combined they can become a very powerful tool to use or to help someone else!
How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a "favorite failure" of yours?
Failure does not mean that you did not succeed. As it’s how we choose to see the final outcomes that matter. And to be honest, a significant portion of the failures that I have experienced were not failures at all: They were valuable guidelines to lead me!
I can't think of a specific 'favourite failure' because each and every failure I had mattered. I learned that as long as I am trying and learning. I will always go through difficult times so the best thing I can do for myself is to stay positive and resilient. As long as I stick to my values, moments of frustration will ultimately make me stronger and wiser. That is my confidence.