KIRSTINE STEWART AUTHOR

‘‘ Digital revolution has created a new reality that demands a new style of leader with attributes and perspectives that make women the natural front runners.”

T T railblazing her way from transforming Canadian broadcasting to orchestrating digital strategies for the social media titan Twitter, Kirstine Stewart continually reimagines leadership amid the digital revolution. She’s a powerhouse expert working at the crossroads of media and technology, renowned for her knack for turbocharging revenue performance, boosting profitability, and spurring expansion across global markets.

Kirstine is no ordinary leader – she cultivates hyper-engaged teams, fostering an environment where overachievement becomes the norm, not the exception. As an acclaimed author, groundbreaking innovator, and cherished mentor, Kirstine doesn’t just personify women impacting the future through technology; she embodies the force driving it. A Pioneer’s Journey Kirstine’s illustrious career began modestly when she applied for a position as a Girl Friday at a film distribution house. Despite being a novice, her drive and determination propelled her through the ranks and she rose from her Girl Friday position, and became President of Distribution – while still under the age of 30.

Kirstine went on to a career filled with leading business positions; first heading up the international channel business for Hallmark Entertainment, next at HGTV and Food Network establishing household name stars of design and lifestyle. In 2006 she took on the role leading Programming at CBC Television in 2006, injecting much-needed critically

acclaimed hits like Heartland, Dragon’s Den (Shark Tank), Murdoch how women have been labeled – as multitaskers, as communicators, as Mysteries and Schitts Creek, and soon rose to the highest position at CBC empathetic – those are incredibly valuable traits now.” heading up all programming and operations at the network for television In her book, she underscores the importance of collaboration, emphasizing (news, sports, entertainment) cable broadcasting, radio and digital, that successful leaders cannot simply dictate from the top. Instead, overseeing 5,000 employees across the country. everyone’s opinion and expectations should be valued within a company. Kirstine reflects: “I think that sometimes it is a matter of what you project This perspective highlights her belief in inclusive leadership, where when you finally have the role. Being a leader isn’t just about being at the diversity of thought is seen as an asset rather than a challenge. top. How you function in that role, the opportunities you give to others, With an outlook on leadership as a journey, not a destination, one of how you are a leader is important, much more important than actually Kirstine’s powerful quotes states: “Being a leader isn’t just about being at getting to the role.” the top. When you get there, you’re not finished; you’ve only just begun.” A testament to this philosophy, she became the first woman and This emphasizes her belief that leadership is a continuous process of youngest person to head the CBC, revitalizing the network’s primetime growth and giving opportunities to others. Reaching a leadership position ratings. An equally illustrious tenure at Twitter followed, leading the is not an endpoint but a beginning of a journey to empower others and company’s expansion in Canada-and later overseeing North American make impactful decisions. media operations. Leveraging Technology for Positive Impact Her work in digital leadership continued at companies like Diply, where under Kirstine’s guidance the content publisher was named Even as technology continues to evolve at an exponential rate, Kirstine EY Young Entrepreneur of the Year, won Next Media’s Digi Awards has seized the opportunity to drive its utilization in new, impactful ways. Company of the Year, and ranked first in Deloitte’s Fast 50 Tech Growth She is energized by the ways technology has accelerated content creation Companies in Canada. and storytelling, leveraging it for greater inclusion and representation across the media landscape. Her vast expertise across media and technology saw her recruited to serve as Head of Future of Media, Entertainment, and Sport at the World Through her roles, she leverages technology to democratize access Economic Forum (WEF) in 2018. Over the following two years, she to information, creating a platform for diverse voices and narratives. oversaw a portfolio of over 50 of the largest media-related companies in By ensuring that a wide range of stories is told and heard, she uses the world and worked with the CEOs of member companies like Tencent, technology as a force for inclusivity and representation. WPP, Google, P&G and more. As she succinctly puts it: “To me, it’s around how we take advantage of Kirstine currently sits on several private and publicly traded boards this moment. If this is our turn and there are opportunities that haven’t including health tech Think Research, sports gaming Rivalry Corp existed in the past, how do we make sure that door doesn’t close? How do and serves as Chair of the board of Blink49Studios in Los Angeles and we, as leaders, create opportunities for the people in our workforce? How Toronto. She is actively committed to social change through her work do we start claiming space? I think there is space out there for women that with organisations like the Coalition of Innovation Leaders Against there never was in the past.” Racism (CILAR) and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). As an adviser to early-stage tech companies, Kirstine uses her knowledge She is an active mentor at Toronto Rotman School, Creative Destruction and experience to help them harness the potential of technology Labs, and advises a number of early-stage tech companies. effectively and responsibly. She contributes to a tech landscape that is dynamic, ethical, and diverse. Rethinking Leadership Kirstine represents a leadership model that views technology as a tool for Kirstine’s best selling 2015 book, ‘Our Turn,’ published by Random House, economic growth and a platform for social change and empowerment. delves into the possibilities of female leadership in a world already undergoing significant change. She articulates: “Digital revolution has Pioneering the Future created a new reality that demands a new style of leader with attributes As Kirstine continues to champion a new model of leadership and and perspectives that make women the natural front runners.” leverage technology for greater inclusion and impact, her journey serves She advocates for a departure from traditional leadership, placing a higher as a testament to the emerging influence of women in the world of value on empathy, communication, and multitasking. Kirstine argues: “I technology. It’s clear that the future of tech is bright, with leaders like think there’s an opportunity to lead differently because businesses have Kirstine at the forefront, ensuring that the era of change is not just upon to be run differently. No longer can you just sit and dictate from on high us but here to stay. how a company is going to be run. Flexibility, collaboration, the ability to move things forward are incredibly important, and if you think about kirstinestewart kirstinestewart14