Sheelagh Whittaker

As the first female CEO of a company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (Canadian Satellite Communications Inc.), Sheelagh jokes that her meme is that of a professional breath of fresh air.

She is particularly proud of leading the licensing competitions for Cantel (now Rogers mobile) and CBC NewsWorld.

From her early days as a federal anti-trust Investigator, a management consultant, and CBC executive, she went on to be CEO first at Canadian Satellite Communications (Cancom) and later EDS.

The rough and tumble of an international business career has made Whittaker more, rather than less, humble about her insight and experience. Nevertheless, she can never resist offering her opinion, if asked. She is even writing a book about some aspects of it all.