Alumni Spotlight - Heather Tulk
Heather Tulk, B. Comm. (Co-op) (Hons.)’92 and current vice
president residential markets for Aliant is leaping up the career
ladder. After receiving the Top 40 under 40 honour in 2003, her
career has hit another new high. Recently she was named as one of 16
women from around the world to receive membership in the Leadership
Fellows Program of the International Women’s Forum (IWF).The IWF, a global women’s organization of leaders whose membership includes high-profile individuals such as Hilary Rodham Clinton and Kim Campbell, invites 12 to 16 women per year with exceptional leadership potential to become foundation fellows. “It’s important to have organizations such as the IWF because there aren’t a lot of programs that target a mid-career type of role,” said Ms. Tulk, who is honoured to receive such an award. “Although there have been great strides made over many years, in terms of the number of women enrolled in programs like commerce, engineering, and medicine and the number of women entering the work force, there still has not been a lot of progress for women in senior leadership roles. A program like this fellowship is really targeted at making sure that women in mid-career positions can continue to succeed and move forward in order to increase these numbers.”
The fellows are teamed up with an IWF mentor and receive ongoing leadership training including customized week-long educational programs at Harvard University and Cambridge University. Ms. Tulk is also thrilled with the opportunity to share this learning experience with others and the ability to be linked to so many influential women throughout the world.
She feels women are more likely to question themselves on their own leadership ability and she is no exception. As a leader to more than 2000 employees, Ms. Tulk believes strongly in the importance to learn from your own mistakes. “You have to realize that you will make mistakes and you’ll make them again. You have to be willing to forgive yourself.” She is guided by a favorite quote of hers from Henry Ford. He said, “Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.”
She also sees the importance in recognizing the achievements and hard work of others. “I’m inspired by the technicians we have who will leave their homes at night in 30 below temperatures to solve a client’s problem, while most of us are home bundled up by a warm fire at night. It’s noticeable when you meet people who want to make things better.”