-Story and photography by Lia Crowe

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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Late one afternoon on a hillside east above 琉璃神社, I drove down a long driveway flanked by acres and acres of cherry trees loaded with almost-ripe, pink fruit. At the end of the drive, the land opened out onto a beautiful home and sweeping lawns perched on a precipice with incredible views of the Okanagan Valley and lake 鈥� the blue-grey clouds billowing up over the hills and rays of yellow sunshine cutting through like swords.

Stepping out of my car, I felt a sudden sense of peace created both by the land and the smiling face of Renee Wasylyk, who greeted me at the door. We sat in her elegant living room, complete with a grand piano, to chat career, life, style and where they all intersect.

Renee is the CEO of 鈥� but what does that really mean?

鈥淚鈥檓 the external face of the company and I have a role and responsibility to lead in terms of strategic planning. I also take a lot of responsibility for the cultural aspects of the company, our brand and reputation, the health of our employees and what we鈥檙e doing to support them as people and not just as 鈥榩roductivity measures.鈥� For me, that last part is a real focus. Outside of that I鈥檓 also the front face of the development arm, pushing projects forward. I鈥檓 not someone who sleeps 鈥� [I get] three to four hours per night 鈥� and I鈥檓 not tired.鈥�

As I reflect on that (being a person who can鈥檛 function with less than eight hours of sleep), Renee admits to working 80-100 hours a week, adding that the joke around the office is, 鈥淩enee works 20 hours per week鈥�while on vacation.鈥�

鈥淚 don鈥檛 believe in work/life balance; I believe in work/life integration. It鈥檚 about gaining fulfillment from all the aspects of the job and not needing to have separation. I do a lot of fun things 鈥� I volunteer on boards, I get to be active, go to gala events 鈥� some might see that as work but I see it as fun. Women will continue to be overwhelmed [trying to obtain work/life balance] until we reframe it, choose another perspective.鈥�

Within this perspective, I wonder which aspect of her work fills her cup the most. 鈥淚t is two things. One, I am a huge people person 鈥� being around people really energizes me 鈥� but the real juice in what I do would be the creative process. I love looking at a new piece of land and imaging what is going to go on here. What is it going to look like? How is it going to feel? How can people connect, how can a family play in the street, or how can they garden? For me, that process of imagination, bringing vision to life is absolutely one of the most awe-inspiring things I can do.鈥�

Moving on to the lighter side of life, style, Renee says she went through a style transformation in her early 30s.

鈥淚 wanted to stop dressing like a man, to be feminine and bring that to the boardroom. So I鈥檓 okay wearing a dress; I will always show respect by wearing a blazer when appropriate to respect the audience and to show up with a certain level of decorum. But having said that, I am very feminine. I will wear a suit with ruffles or lace details. I love when things move or flow and have a certain elegance to them.鈥�

Outside of work, Renee says, she鈥檚 most passionate about her three children. 鈥淚鈥檓 one of those working moms that has some guilt, so I perhaps overcompensate for that by being really present in their lives. I asked my kids what do I do really well as a mother and they said 鈥� 鈥榶ou give us wings and then you let us fly.鈥� If I accomplish nothing more as a mother than that, I will have succeeded.鈥�

What one quality would she like to pass down to her children?

鈥淧assion. I always say鈥� don鈥檛 follow your passion, follow opportunity and bring your passion. And with that you will be successful.鈥�

Fashion

Uniform: Dresses or anything black.

All time favourite piece: blouse.

Favourite pair of shoes: strappy sandals.

Favourite Daybag:

Favourite jewelry piece or designer: Semi-Precious Multi-Stone & 18K Yellow Gold Five-Strand Bracelet by Jaipur Collection.

Beauty

Necessary indulgence: Good skin care line.

Scent: Light Blue or L鈥橧mperatrice.

Must have hair product: .

Beauty secret: 鈥淚 use coconut oil for moisturizer.鈥�

Style Inspirations

Favourite Artist: .

Piece of art: Tearful Encounter by Thomas Barbey.

Favourite Fashion Designer: 鈥� 鈥淏eautiful and practical.鈥�

TV show character that inspires your style: Robin Wright in House of Cards or Kerry Washington on Scandal.

Life

Favourite local restaurant: or .

Favourite Cocktail/Wine: French 75 or an Old Fashioned.

Album on current rotation: If You Leave by .

Flower: Gerbera Daisy.

Favourite city to visit: New York or London.

Favourite Hotel: 鈥淚 am a 驳颈谤濒.鈥�

Favourite App: 鈥淚 wish I could give my phone away!鈥�

Favourite place in the whole world: Island of Capri: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 where to look if you can鈥檛 find me.鈥�

Reading Material

Fave print magazine: Elle or Glamour.

Fave style Blog: and .

Coffee table Book: by Brandon Stanton and Atlas of World Architecture by Sebastian Markus and Michelle Galindo.

Last great read: The Universe Has Your Back: Transform Fear to Faith by Gabrielle Bernstein.

Book currently reading: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.

Favourite book of all time: 鈥淚mpossible for me to pick just one!鈥�