2023 Impact Awards winner: Sharon Mehta, JTI-Macdonald Corp.

DEI coordinator Sharon Mehta has been part of JTI’s DEI team since the beginning, acting as a driving force behind its creation and subsequent evolution. She brings to the role passion, enthusiasm and determination. With a thirst to learn and share her knowledge in an intelligent and engaging way, Mehta is credited with maximizing resources to drive excellence.   

JTI-Macdonald Corp.: Employee Resource Group (ERG)

Founded in 2019, JTI Canada’s DEI ERG is more than a committee, it’s a core element of the company’s culture, with a mission “to foster an environment where differences are amplified and celebrated as a competitive asset; where hidden barriers faced by particular groups or marginalized communities are identified, understood and dismantled constructively and equitably; and where, thanks to continuous top-down executive level support, psychological safety and the well-being of JTI’s people plays a central role in our overall business strategy.” 

In addition to celebrating, supporting and educating on a wide-range of important topics, the 20-plus person group is constantly evaluating and improving. In a recent survey, 97% of 207 respondents either ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ that people of all cultures and backgrounds are respected and valued at JTI Canada. 

“Our ERG plays a fundamental role in JTI Canada’s organization,” says head of legal, Tom Williams. “It experiments, it innovates, it sparks conversation, and it succeeds in achieving its goals, time and again.”