Prioritize earning trust and respect over being liked. Above all, be kind. That’s what being a #PeopleFirst leader means to Valerie Peticca, Chief Human Resources Officer at Toronto Zoo.
Every month, I chat with a #PeopleFirst leader I admire and respect, putting them in the hot seat to learn more about their journey and the leadership lessons that shape them into the #PeopleFirst leaders they are today.
Who in the world 🌎 is Valerie Peticca?
Jane: What was your first job growing up, and what did you learn from it?
Valerie: My first job was as a server at Canada’s Wonderland.
At first, I thought I was signing up for one job, but it didn’t work out that way. I was a server, then a cashier, then the person at the back chopping vegetables. The restaurant business is fast-paced and there are always voids to fill.
Or as I saw it, opportunities to take on something different.
My biggest lesson? Be adaptable. Learn to make quick adjustments and be willing to fill the voids and take on new responsibilities as they arise.
Jane: Was there a defining moment in your early career that steered you towards a career in HR?
Valerie: It was more of a journey than a defining moment.
I’ve taken on jobs I never imagined I’d do. At one point I landed in IT as a desktop support technician – not my strength, but there was a void and I thought, “Sure, I’ll learn.”
Not every opportunity is great, but I’m grateful I took them because they made a difference in the long-run. Sometimes it meant moving from role to role, even taking a pay cut, but I believe in prioritizing long-term growth over short-term gain.
It was also during this journey, working in other roles, that I realized where my passion lied. I needed to get back to human resources.
Jane: What’s your favourite things about human resources?
Valerie: HR is black and white and gray all over. You can rarely give somebody an answer and have it be the only right answer. There’s a lot of ambiguity you need to be comfortable working with. It’s a challenge that deeply motivates me.
Leadership Lessons through Valerie’s Glasses 😎
Jane: Do you have a role model you look up to for becoming a better leader?
Valerie: My father has always been my inspiration.
As an electrician, I always say my dad kept the lights on for his family. He opened up his own company and did everything with such grit and resilience in an under-the-radar, humble way. Watching him take all those chances to give his family the choices and security he never had.
Even today, the only thing he asks of his children is “Please be kind.” That’s the way he lived his life. He’s my inspiration.
“The only thing he asks of his children is ‘Please be kind’. That’s the way he lived his life.”
Jane: What’s one thing you wish you’d learned earlier as a leader?
Valerie: Not everyone’s going to like you.
I used to think, “Everyone has to like me because I’m in HR.” But being “liked” usually makes you less authentic. Being trusted and respected is much more impactful.
Back to my dad, he always said, “Be kind.” I try to be kind to everyone, but kindness doesn’t always come back in this industry. You have to be OK with that. What is kindness? It’s actually respect and trust.
“Being liked usually makes you less authentic. Being trusted and respected is much more impactful.”
People and Culture at the Toronto Zoo
Jane: You’ve been at the Toronto Zoo for more than five years. What keeps you up at night as an HR leader?
Valerie: We have genuinely unique roles with specialized skill sets at the Zoo. Roles, such as veterinarians, there are few who have worked with the diversity of species in our care. Our conservation science and breeding programs? We’re the few organizations doing this work in North America. Very niche.
Building a succession pipeline for this critical expertise and knowledge – that’s what keeps me up. Where do we get the talent? How do we ensure we have a succession plan to preserve and build on this knowledge?
The thing is, people don’t often know about the work we do behind the scenes. We want to bring the back of the zoo to the front so everyone can see. We are a world-class zoo with world-class people. We need a world-class succession plan.
Jane: And how are you tackling the challenge of building a world-class succession plan?
Valerie: One way is our Career Pathways program. People don’t often see themselves in our story because they don’t think about all the opportunities here. Name a career, we probably have it. There are so many hidden careers here – conservation science, climate action, sustainability, bio-banking – things people don’t think about.
The Career Pathways program brings awareness to our community about what we’re doing and sparks interest for people to consider careers here. Everyone thinks about zookeepers – yes, that’s exciting – but there’s so much more.
Valerie’s perspective on #PeopleFirst Leadership
Jane: Bringing it full circle, what does being a #PeopleFirst Leader mean to you?
Valerie: I always go back to trust and respect. Remembering my father’s lesson about being kind as the foundation to building trust and respect. Make people feel valued and supported so that they are set up for success. Then they’ll take care of the organization.
Jane: Finally, I have to ask this all important question. As someone who spends a lot of time at the Toronto Zoo, what’s your favourite time of the year to be there?
Valerie: The fall. It’s fresh and the colours here are something special.
And if I’m having a stressful day, I love visiting our beautiful polar bears and sharing a moment to de-stress with our lemurs.
Thank you Valerie for sharing your stories and experiences as a #PeopleFirst leader with us.