Penny Izlakar is an experienced Senior Business Leader and Certified Records Manager, boasting more than 25 years in governance, compliance, and culture change initiatives spanning eight different industries. She earned her MBA with a focus on International Business and excels at integrating cultural and change initiatives with diverse and innovative approaches to solve organizational challenges. Currently, she serves as the Director of TIS Infrastructure Strategy & Modernization Program at Enbridge, where she also fulfills the duties of Chief of Staff to the Infrastructure & Cloud group.
Motivation to Speak at the Conference
Are you excited to speak at the Women in Tech Global Conference and what motivated you to join our community of 100, 000 women in tech, minorities, and allies?
I am absolutely excited to speak at the Women in Tech Global Conference. It’s a fantastic platform to share my enthusiasm for career development. Being a part of the WTN for the past two years has been an enriching experience, and I’m honored to have recently been appointed as the Enbridge Sponsor Chair. My motivation is fueled by a deep-seated passion for elevating others. This passion has grown stronger over the years, especially as I’ve come to understand the critical need for us, as women, to support and uplift each other.
In my professional role, which involves talent management and acquisition within a predominantly male team, the WTN has been a valuable resource. It has enabled me to connect with some truly remarkable women both in and outside of Enbridge, enhancing our teams hiring process and enriching our team’s diversity. Moreover, the network provides a platform for me to share my passion and help other women achieve excellence in their careers. It’s about harnessing our collective strength to create a more inclusive and empowering tech industry.
Background and Inspiration
Share with us about your background, your journey in tech, and what inspired you to develop your career in this direction?
My career has always intertwined with technology, albeit in less conventional roles. From the onset, I was deliberate in choosing a post-secondary path that incorporated technology. This decision led me to work across eight different industries, primarily within governance and compliance, where collaboration with technology teams was a constant element.
Three years into my tenure at Enbridge, I transitioned to the IT infrastructure side to focus on process optimization. Today, my responsibilities have expanded significantly. I oversee both the operational and capital financials of our team, as well as a capital portfolio team dedicated to project delivery. Additionally, I’m deeply involved in talent management and acquisition, which are key aspects of our team’s success.
My career trajectory has been intentional, setting me up to embrace challenges and roles that I hadn’t previously envisioned for myself. Before joining Enbridge, I made strategic moves across various companies and industries to position myself as a unique asset—a ‘unicorn,’ if you will—and it proved to be successful for many years. My experience at Enbridge has been transformative, allowing me to rotate through roles that have significantly elevated my career and facilitated substantial growth. It’s been a deliberate journey, one that I’ve navigated with purpose and strategy.
Why is the topic “Getting out of your own way: How to Build Your Personal Brand and Advance Your Career” important to you?
This topic is very close to my heart because I’ve seen firsthand how many talented individuals, both men and women, mistakenly believe that merit alone will propel their careers forward. In reality, it’s often not enough. My joy comes from guiding people to overcome their own barriers to success. There’s a profound satisfaction in mentoring and coaching others, sharing my insights, and watching them surpass their own expectations.
Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to have mentors who have supported and elevated me, helping me reach my current position and setting me on the path to future achievements. Now, I’m eager to pay it forward to those who seek it. I firmly believe that when we help individuals, especially women, to advance by overcoming their own obstacles, we’re not only benefiting them but also enhancing the organizations they’re part of.
Moreover, I’m passionate about offering a helping hand to other women, providing them with opportunities to accelerate their career growth, potentially even more rapidly than I did. When we empower people to unleash their full potential, to be ‘awesome,’ as I like to say, everyone benefits. It’s about creating a ripple effect of empowerment and excellence that transforms the entire workplace.
Who would you advise to attend the Women in Tech Global Conference and why?
I would advise any woman who is involved in the technology sector, regardless of whether they are in technical roles or not, to attend the Women in Tech Global Conference. It’s an invaluable opportunity to broaden one’s network and gain knowledge from other remarkable women across the globe. The conference is a platform for growth and learning, where attendees can connect with peers, share experiences, and draw inspiration from each other’s journeys. It’s about fostering a community that supports and empowers women to reach their full potential in the tech industry.