A woman from Oakville was listed as one of the winners for Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards this year.
Shilpa Arora is the general manager of DoorDash Canada, and she's been recognized in the Executive Leader category of the annual awards, which are given out by the Women's Executive Network (WXN).
Arora first moved to Canada 17 years ago as a trained architect and a business school graduate, in search of an M&A job. Over the past two decades, she has built a career spanning industries such as financial advisory, consulting, strategy, and operations. Prior to joining DoorDash in 2021, Arora held leadership roles at CIBC and Loblaw Companies Limited.
There are many traits about her job that Arora enjoys. On top of leading the company's national business strategy, growth and operations, Arora says she likes shaping the company's work culture, brand values and its presence in local communities.
"It's a very all encompassing role which I thoroughly enjoy," she said.
Besides the day-to-day operations, Arora is committed to making the workplace inclusive for everyone.
Earlier this year, on February 29, 2024, she launched the Leap Initiative—a mentorship program designed to be accessible and welcoming for all employees. The initiative encourages growth by pairing seasoned leaders with early-career employees, organizing networking events, and hosting 'Dash Talks,' inspired by TED Talks, where employees share insights and experiences. Arora believes that these elements make the program approachable and engaging for team members who are eager to learn and develop within the company."
Being one of the winners for Canada's Most Powerful Women has been validating for Arora.
"A person of colour and an immigrant has been able to make space for herself at a very prestigious role at a very prestigious company and being recognized for the efforts made," she said. "It almost feels like we've come to a place where progress is being made and this intersectional representation is being nurtured and valued."
Beyond the validation, Arora says this award is also personal.
"I have two young daughters. This is a great example for them and almost hopeful for them," she said. "They will not have to the hurdles that people in my generation did."