Allan Sperling

Allan is one of those lucky people who discovered a field he loved early on – Human Resources – and has devoted his entire career to working in it. After graduating from the University of Toronto with an undergraduate degree in Political Science, and a Masters degree in International Relations, he began working at a small human resources consulting firm. “I soon realized that Human Resources was exactly where I wanted to spend my career.”

Thirty years later, Allan has gained experience as an HR Executive, Consultant, Coach and small business owner, working with leading organizations, in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean. He has partnered with clients of all sizes, in many sectors of the economy from major financial institutions to specialized small businesses, professional services firms and not-for-profits.

Allan’s down to earth approach recently helped a professional services client understand its employee cost structure and significant performance issues. He designed a new job ladder and job descriptions, created and rolled out a performance management program, and updated their compensation structure.

With another client in the financial services sector, his interventions led to a dramatic change in the company culture and a major reduction in employee turnover from 60% to 12%.

“I have worked in all the key areas of Human Resources and enjoy them all: organization assessment, change management; employee relations, the design and delivery of programs to enhance company and individual performance; talent acquisition and management; succession planning, compensation.”

In addition, Allan has facilitated workshops and spoken about various leadership, people management and change topics for corporate clients, at professional associations and conferences in Canada and abroad, and teaches people management skills to the next generation of HR practitioners and business leaders at the college level.

Karen Todd

With almost 20 years experience in senior Human Resources consulting roles in financial services, Karen’s last corporate role was Vice-President, Human Resources, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, Canada where she led the change from a “command and control” culture to one focused on customer service and employee engagement. The troubled business returned to profitability.

Earlier in her career, Karen had a life defining experience after accepting a promotion to a leadership role at the same time as her husband’s four boys aged 4 to 21 moved in – three of whom had learning disabilities. As she struggled to balance the demands of career and family, a wise Vice President told her, “Karen, if I had to report to you, I’d be on the first train out of here. No one can live up to your expectations, not even you.”

“He held a mirror up, forcing me to realize it wasn’t ‘others’ who needed to change – it was ‘me.’”

Just when Karen thought her child rearing days were over, a beautiful little girl with Down syndrome arrived. Karen now speaks regularly with 3^rd year medical students about prenatal testing and parenting children with special needs and is a volunteer Director on the board of the Canadian Down Syndrome Society.

As a small business owner and principal of her own consulting practice, Karen has worked with leaders of small businesses, not-for-profits and healthcare organizations.

Karen doesn’t shy away from the tough discussions and giving people the feedback they really need to hear. “I know from personal experience that honest feedback, given from the heart, is truly a gift. Leaders who are able to recognize, unleash and leverage the full potential of their people, will always reach their goals!”

Hugh MacDonald, CHRP

Hugh grew up on the Niagara Peninsula surrounded by old battlefields and fortifications. Fascinated by conflict, he has made a career managing workplace relationships and employee communications. He has advised and coached hundreds of managers, executives and business owners on how to improve their negotiation and influencing skills, handle difficult conversations, work effectively with others and create high performing work groups.

Before starting his own business, he was head of global HR operations for CIBC where he managed hundreds of HR specialists in Toronto and New York and provided oversight for a $300 million outsourcing arrangement and a billion dollar payroll. Having said this, his HR and management experience covers a lot of ground … from start-ups to not-for-profits and from international corporations to neighbourhood businesses.

He is a former Chair of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Society for Training and Development – Canada’s largest association of workplace learning professionals and he is also a certified HR professional. Hugh has an MA in conflict management from the school of peace and conflict studies at Royal Roads University and is a graduate of the general management program at the Richard Ivey School of Business. He teaches communication, leadership skills and negotiation courses as an adjunct professor at the department of management at the University of Toronto, Scarborough Campus.

Hugh’s passion is working with managers one-on-one. “I spent most of my career working with leaders on their day-to-day people management challenges. These are often the issues that make or break a business … and what is needed is not a bunch of theory or textbook answers … but a practical, real-world solution. That’s the true value of MyHRdepartment.”