Urmilla Mahabirsingh
Partner • She/Her
Urmilla brings 20+ years’ experience leading recruitment, talent acquisition, and career coaching services in the not-for-profit, private, and public sectors. She has worked in complex, dynamic environments, and has created innovative programs that have enhanced recruitment efficiencies, as well as diversity and inclusion in recruitment. She has also supported organizations with their compensation and onboarding programs, and over the years has contributed to her clients’ organizational strategies and growth.Migrating to Canada from Trinidad and Tobago over 25 years ago, Urmilla has helped numerous executives, internationally trained professionals and newcomers to Canada along their career trajectory. She has hired thousands of professionals in a variety of industries and across functions, including Engineering, Healthcare, Information Technology, Logistics and Pharmaceuticals.
Committed to making a difference and influencing positive change, Urmilla takes an active role in the community and empowers people to do their part in creating a more inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable planet.
Urmilla is a graduate of the Human Resources Management Program at Sheridan College, and is a member of the Human Resources Professionals Association.
Organizations we partner with
Bata Shoe Museum, Canadian Council for the Arts, CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals, City of Toronto, David Suzuki Foundation, Fasken, Genome Canada, George Brown College, GTAA, Humber, IMCO, Kids Help Phone, Luminato, McMaster University, MLSE, OICR, Ontario Presents, ROM, Sankofa Square, Sick Kids, TD Bank, TTC, UHN Foundation, United Way Greater Toronto, University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, University Pension Plan Ontario, York University
Clients Served Include
Urmilla's Insights
Browse Urmilla's latest posts featuring reflections, analysis, and practical perspectives on leadership, organizational culture, and the evolving world of work.
Professional Development / Urmilla Mahabirsingh
Elevating Talent Management and Recruitment with Yoga: Cultivating Mindfulness and Wellness
In the demanding world of talent acquisition and management, professionals often face high stress and complex challenges. Yoga offers a powerful tool to cultivate balance, resilience, and mindfulness, enhancing both personal well-being and professional effectiveness. By integrating practices like deep breathing, meditation, and targeted poses such as Mountain Pose or Warrior Pose, professionals can reduce stress, boost creativity, and improve communication. This article explores how yoga can empower talent managers to navigate their roles with composure and innovation, fostering a healthier work-life balance and driving organizational success.
Leadership / Urmilla Mahabirsingh
Stewardship in Action: Corporate Responsibility and Policy Implications
In this article, Urmilla Mahabirsingh explores what responsible business leadership looks like today. She explains why environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues are still essential, even as some companies shy away from them. Drawing from Canadian regulations, climate disclosure frameworks, and Patagonia’s business model, she lays out how boards and senior executives can stay focused, transparent, and aligned with their values. For companies that want to build long-term trust and success, she argues, stepping back from ESG is not an option.
Future of Work / Urmilla Mahabirsingh
Bringing People Along: Human-Centred Leadership in the Age of AI
In this article, Urmilla Mahabirsingh reflects on the responsibility of HR leaders to guide ethical decision-making in an era where AI is advancing faster than regulation or public understanding. She explores the risks of using AI without proper oversight, the need to actively prevent bias, and the emotional toll of accelerated digital workplaces. She highlights the importance of designing inclusive systems that bring everyone along. The article calls on HR professionals to protect trust, fairness, and human dignity as technology reshapes the future of work.
Industry Trends / Urmilla Mahabirsingh
From Rigid Rules to Real Strategy: A Diasporic Perspective on Hybrid Work
What if hybrid work isn’t just a logistical issue—but a lens into how inclusion, trust, and leadership really function? Drawing on new research and her own diasporic perspective as a Caribbean-born woman of Indian heritage working in North America, Urmilla Mahabirsingh maintains that hybrid strategy is about far more than presence—it’s about purpose. This article explores how organizations can move beyond mandates and proximity bias to build hybrid models that reflect how people truly live, work, and thrive.
Sustainability/Stephanie La
Green AI: The Role of AI in Sustainability
Green AI emphasizes the importance of balancing innovation with environmental responsibility, addressing the significant environmental and ethical challenges posed by AI development, such as high carbon emissions, energy consumption, and data privacy concerns. While AI offers transformative benefits, including climate change prediction, pollution monitoring, and public health insights, its rapid advancement often prioritizes speed over sustainability. By adopting Green AI practices—such as energy-efficient algorithms, renewable energy sources, and sustainable development goals—organizations can reduce their environmental impact, align with sustainability objectives, and foster long-term growth while contributing to a more sustainable and equitable future.
Leadership/Melissa Sumnauth
The Importance of Pronouncing a Name: An Act of Inclusive Leadership
Names are not just labels; they are powerful reflections of identity, culture, and history. In this article, Melissa Sumnauth explores the significance of correct name pronunciation in leadership and organizational culture. Drawing on her experience in executive coaching, executive search, facilitation, and people & culture she illustrates how mispronunciation can function as a microaggression and a barrier to inclusion, while intentional effort to say names correctly fosters dignity, belonging, and trust. With practical tools and a call to action for leaders, this article reframes name pronunciation as a vital practice in advancing equity and respectful engagement.