Toronto’s Most Influential: Life Advice from Kirstine Stewart, VP of Media, Twitter

Tonight, fifty of the city’s biggest movers and shakers will be revealed at Toronto Life’s Most Influential party, hosted at Four Seasons Hotel in Yorkville. The hotly anticipated powerlist will hit newsstands November 19th. As a teaser, we’ll get up close and personal with a few individuals from the list that intrigue us most, starting with the formidable Kirstine Stewart.

Before she was the VP of Media for Twitter, Stewart was the head of English Language at CBC, revitalizing the network with risk-taking productions like Dragon’s Den, The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos, and Little Mosque on the Prairie. She’s also a mom, an author, and a wonderful person to connect with at a cocktail party when you’re looking for real conversation.

Stewart is gutsy, firm, innovative and graceful; to anyone, her career journey would seem wild and impressive, but for those of us working in media, her tenacity and interesting path is incredibly inspiring. Like heading to Europe and ending up in South Asia, Stewart’s career journey has been full of unexpected twists and turns. If you aren’t already following her, you should most definitely should be.

What lesson did you learn at an early age that you refer to now?

You can tell what someone’s really like by how they treat wait staff.

Who impresses you?

Youth today impresses me – they are more worldly and connected to events around the globe. They have opinions and aren’t afraid to act on them.

What qualities do you admire in a colleague?

Industriousness and integrity.

What are you striving for right now, professionally or personally?

Innovation and constant learning. We learn best when we’re immersed in an environment with diverse perspectives, so I’m always seeking ways to inject that into everything.

What spaces in Toronto inspire you?

The Toronto Island airport – departure lounge. Toronto is a gateway to so many spectacular places and yet you can look back at that skyline and know it is the best place of all.

What space in Toronto comfort you?

The Toronto Island airport – arrivals. Because then I’m back home.

What change would you like to see in our city?

Better transit. We are a growing vibrant city that chooses to frustrate its citizens and visitors by trapping them in traffic.

What’s your best advice for individuals who are feeling uncertain of their next step?

Only you know what’s best for you – let your conscience (and your instinct) be your guide.