Participate to the online award ceremony on March 18, 2021.
Impact
After an impressive career in Montréal’s finance sector spanning more than 15 years and culminating with the 2008 financial crisis, Milla came to believe that the traditional finance model was inadequate, being limited to taking only financial issues into consideration.
Milla Craig thus became a Canadian pioneer in the area of responsible investing, and particularly as a visionary of value-added accounting for environmental, social and governance issues (ESG) for both investors and companies.
Twelve years ago, Milla Craig established Millani, an ESG integration consulting firm based in Montréal that works all across Canada. Initially focused on investors, the firm now offers independent, cutting-edge advisory services to many leading companies, business leaders, corporate boards and stakeholders in the capital markets in Canada.
While building Millani, Milla Craig also cofounded, directed and chaired the Finance and Sustainability Initiative (FSI), a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to develop Montréal as a centre for responsible investment, bringing learning and talent development to the forefront through creation of synergy between investors, businesses and universities. In 2018, FSI merged its operations with Finance Montréal, evidence of the organization’s success. Milla continues to co-chair the executive committee to this day.
Milla Craig also sits on the board of directors and the nominations committee of the Responsible Investment Association (RIA).
Innovation
In 2008, Milla Craig started up her own company, Millani, at a time when very few people were sensitive to the emerging integration of environmental, social and governance factors in Canadian business decision making. Despite significant skepticism from her peers, she persevered. Today, 12 years later, those peers now describe her as a visionary.
In 2010, Milla cofounded the Finance and Sustainability Initiative (FSI), contributing to its development as a leader in the sustainable finance sector in Canada.
In 2017, Milla Craig was asked to develop and deliver a presentation for TEDxMontrealWomen, a forum recognized for its selection of thought-provoking visionary speakers. She seized the opportunity to educate her audience on the power of their investments to bring about social change. Today, Milla Craig is in demand as a speaker across the country.
Milla Craig is a member of IWF (International Women’s Forum), a select network of businesswomen from across the globe, and helped organize a conference on the connections between the economy, the environment and society. She also chaired the committee that dealt with water matters for a number of years. She also chaired the committee that dealt with water matters for a number of years.
She also sits on the advisory boards of several innovative organizations, including:
- Artistri Sud: a social enterprise that supports women’s empowerment around the world
- Ecofixe Technologies: a company specializing in wastewater sanitation through energy-efficient and chemical-free biological treatment
- Sam and Diana Scalia Sustainable Real Estate: a Concordia University program designed to coach students on the future of real estate, as sustainable development becomes an increasingly important consideration in the sector
- Metrio: a business that offers a software solution and expertise to accompany businesses throughout their entire sustainability reporting process
Engagement
Milla Craig places a great deal of importance on the values of transparency, open-mindedness and collaboration. She is a consensus builder who is always looking for ways to help the people around her. In particular, she is keen to connect the various members of her vast network and willingly lends a helping hand to those who are trying to bring their projects to fruition.
Milla Craig is also discreetly involved in mentoring and coaching others. Every week, she takes the time to meet individually with new contacts looking for advice, readily sharing her ideas, opinions and views.
Over the years, Milla has provided professional development mentorship to many women and men and continues to be a mentor to her team and other community members.
Inspiration
Above all, Milla Craig inspires others through her passion and sincere desire to create a positive impact with every initiative she undertakes, whether professional or social.
Her courage as a woman entrepreneur, but also her willingness to venture into unexplored areas of her field, is a source of inspiration for many in the business community.
Her perseverance in successfully accomplishing projects in a spirit of collaboration and excellence is motivating to her partners and colleagues.
Milla Craig also has a remarkable ability to explain the complicated issues in her areas of expertise, enabling her to bring various stakeholders together around a common vision while remaining open to the diverse perspectives and opinions of those around her.
Finally, Milla Craig is just as inspiring outside her professional sphere. She always finds a way to make quality time for her family and close ones, while maintaining balance in her mental and physical health. Her vision is conveyed at her company as well, where she emphasizes work-life balance and personal development for her employees, all while underscoring the importance of giving back to the community.
