Lean In Calgary | Lean in Canada

About Our Chapter

Lean In Calgary is Canada’s newest city-wide chapter and is expected to launch in 2019. Founding Chapter President, Susan Elford, APR, CPCC, PCC is leading this charge and spent her first six months in the role researching the needs of the Calgary community, conducting public consultation and visioning sessions for the future of the chapter and hiring key volunteer positions. For the first year of launch, the Calgary Chapter has four main areas of focus: Events, Volunteers, Visioning Sessions and the Calgary Community. Through two visioning sessions held in late 2018, diverse women representing all sectors called for a program tailor-made to Calgary’s unique market. With this feedback in mind, a core volunteer team of seasoned and well-positioned volunteers was formed to fulfill this need. For 2019, the Chapter’s goal is to hold three networking events to introduce the Lean In vision to key stakeholders while establishing a strong presence within the Calgary community.

"Lean In Canada has provided me with an amazing opportunity to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences in a great venue."

- Ami Patel

Team

Susan Elford

President

Alison Pidskalny

VP, Partnerships

Cheralee Rutledge

Head, Finance

Cara Tobin

Head, Marketing & Public Relations

Rhonda Macdonald

Head of Programs

Sarah O’Halloran

Head, Circles

Susan Elford

President

Susan Elford is a Leadership Coach to career-loving women and PR Strategist to not-for-profits and small businesses. President and Sole Proprietor of Elford Communications and Susan Elford Coaching & Consulting, Susan stepped away from her corporate communications career in late 2002 to launch Elford Communications. Prior to launching her business, Susan’s career in communications served at senior advisory levels in the provincial government of Newfoundland, building communications programs for energy companies in Canada, and as a senior consultant in agency work that served clients in telecommunications, government, energy and private business. When Susan looks back at her career highlights, she is pleased that they all reflect what happens when good communications planning meets a commitment to succeed: authentically showcasing her clients.

Susan’s passion for building community and effective, strategic communications programs that showcase her clients authentically, has seen her developing the not-for-profit community in Calgary and supporting the growth of her small business clients through hands-on training and coaching and fostering their capacity in marketing and communications. Susan’s passion for community extends beyond her business and you will find Susan actively volunteering with her children’s schools and sports as well as with her professional development organizations and community association. Susan is thrilled to put President, Lean in Calgary, at the top of this list and is excited about building capacity in women leaders in this way.

Susan’s corporate and personal coaching clients include leaders in organizations across Canada. Her leadership coaching work focuses on building the careers of professional women who want all that life and a fulfilling career can offer them, from wherever they choose to serve: from the workplace, from their businesses or from their homes.

Susan is academically trained and holds two university degrees, one in English and the other in Public Relations. Susan is also certified by the Canadian Public Relations Society, the International Association of Public Participation and the Coaches Training Institute.

On the personal side, Susan has lived in Calgary for 20 years, is married and has two almost teenage daughters. She spends her free time outside as much as possible, running, skiing and walking her adorable dog.

Rhonda Macdonald

Head of Programs

I am a Communications and Change Management professional with over 20 years of experience in the not-for-profit, radio, telecommunications, agriculture and energy sector. When I look back at my education and career history, I am proud of what I have accomplished to date (and I’m definitely not done!).

I have taken some of the less traditional routes to get where I am today. I began my university career at the age of 24 as a “mature student” after taking seven years off from high school (my original plan was to take one). I graduated with my Bachelor of Arts in Communications (Honours) from the University of Calgary. To make the most of my university career, I created my own opportunity and developed my own hands-on or personalized work terms through my four-year program. Through that, and since then, my portfolio has broadened to include strategic communications planning, leader and employee engagement, change management, electronic communications, process improvement, brand and reputation management, crisis communications and digital transformation. In my current role as Manager, Transformation Projects Communications with Suncor, I am proud to be working within a broader transformation management office that is a catalyst for accelerating transformational change across the organization.

I pride myself on being a strong collaborator, community builder and ambassador. As a born-and-raised Calgarian, I am proud of my city and want to contribute to its success and to others having the same opportunities and experiences I have had. I volunteer and participate in a few professional development associations and am active within my children’s schools and sports activities. Lean In Calgary is my newest venture and I am proud be a part of this amazing team to help foster “a community of professional women empowering each other to build purposeful and fulfilling careers.”

When I’m not at the office, I love spending quality time with my partner and my two teenage boys who help inspire me to bring my best every day! Speaking of inspiration, I have a sign on my desk that reads, “Being a person is getting too complicated…time to be a unicorn!” Take the less traditional route and dream on…think “what if…?”

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