Jill Schnarr has led Canadian telecommunications company Telus through social innovation efforts that put purpose at their heart.

In early 2021, Schnarr launched the brand’s promise to “make the future friendly,” then increased media spending on Telus' social purpose campaigns from $10 million in 2020 to $40 million. Ultimately, the investment paid off: 62% of Canadians can now recall Telus' social purpose campaigns.

Schnarr also launched a $100 million social impact fund, the Telus Pollinator Fund for Good, which allocates 44% of its investments to women-led initiatives and 56% to startups led by indigenous and people of color.  

Schnarr hopes to continue encouraging others to invest in women and female-led initiatives. “It’s given me more of a sense of urgency to mentor and support younger women to help them reach their full potential,” she said.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Speak up even when you don't feel you have all the expertise on the issue. Many times I had some great ideas and opinions but I didn't have the confidence in voicing them. I now make a very specific effort to ensure we hear from everyone around the table.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken?

Deciding to go back to university at age 47 to get my MBA. Everyone was asking me why I would go back to school at that stage in my career. I was always passionate about going back at some point and then life got in the way. It turned out it was the best decision for me. Often I'd be sitting at the kitchen table doing homework beside my teenagers!

If you weren’t doing your current job, what would you be doing and why?

I would be running an animal shelter rescuing dogs and cats and helping them to find new homes. At my house, we have four cats and a dog, and my pets have been such a loving, caring, loyal part of my life. I would like to ensure other families get to experience such joy too, while also saving these pets from terrible circumstances.

What should the industry do to encourage more women and people of color into its ranks?

All companies should be required to build a diverse pipeline to ensure we are developing the skill sets and expertise of more women and people of color. At Telus, we have achieved 55% of females in our Leadership Now pipeline so that we can ensure more females in leadership roles in the future.

What is the biggest lesson you have taken away from the pandemic?

As long as you have broadband connectivity, you can work from wherever you are in the world. Face time at the office doesn't matter anymore. This enables us to dramatically expand our recruitment pool and geography to bring in more diverse candidates.