WHO
Emma Horgan, Vice President of Human Resources, Maple Leaf Foods.

WHAT
Martial arts.

WHEN
“There are a number of reasons I love martial arts and have continued to pursue it on and off over 15 or so years.”

WHERE
“I became a black belt in karate in the UK and after moving to Canada started tae kwon do, in which I hold a “black tip” belt—two away from a full black belt.

WHY
“Any martial art is excellent for fitness, and the pursuit of your next belt means you always have a goal to strive towards to keep you motivated. You learn self-defense in the process, which is good for anyone—particularly women.

I was relatively early in my career when I started karate and was one of few females in a very male-dominated environment. It played a significant role in the development of my confidence and ability to hold my own personally and professionally. The other thing I love are the values that are embedded in the practices and approaches. There is a huge emphasis on respect, discipline, a competitive spirit to always push yourself further than you think you can go while also valuing humility, and an extremely high sense of community. I remember being struck by how similar some of these things are to Maple Leaf Foods’ leadership values!”

Read more about Horgan and Maple Leaf Foods here.