Thoughtworker Spotlight: Stefanie Pavarin-Tomé

Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

Life goes on, and if you’ve ever been to one of Stefanie’s events, you’d know that it always seems to go a little bit slower leading up to the next one. Whether cooking up new and exciting ways to elevate Thoughtworks events or baking up a batch of her habit-forming red velvet cupcakes, she has an undeniable knack for leaving people wanting more. This is likely since whether she’s orchestrating a Thoughtworks event in the hundreds or an intimate evening with a dozen partners, everyone in attendance feels like family. And when she’s not travelling the globe or roaming the city, you’ll likely find her occasionally glancing at her favourite product throughout the day. Can you guess what it is? This and more in this week’s edition of Thoughtworks Spotlight.

Tell us a bit about the projects you’re working on?

Just so we’re clear, this will be a time-barred response. As Events Marketing Manager at Connected, I’ll be at least knee-deep in various projects on any given week. At the moment, however, I’m: 

• Planning our team holiday party ⛄
• Managing Event partnerships with both Mobey Forum and the DesignX Design Leadership Summit
• Planning Global Day of Coderetreat Toronto 2022 (happening at the Connected office tomorrow!) 
• Planning a fun event to officially kickstart 2023! 

But ask me again in a couple of weeks, and that list will likely have changed.

What’s the most interesting challenge about the project?

I think one of the most interesting challenges with my projects at Connected is constantly finding new and exciting ways to elevate our events. I’m grateful to be a part of a team (shoutout to the growth team) that embraces trying new and sometimes out-of-the-box ideas. I’m constantly challenged to bring our events to the next level.

Where did you work before Connected?

Before Connected, I worked at IG Wealth Management as an Event Manager, where I was part of a small (but mighty) team of event professionals who planned a variety of events for IG Consultants. And before that, I worked as a Senior Events Coordinator at Lift & Co., planning Canada’s largest Cannabis Conference and Expo. Fun fact – my old office was next door to Connected, and I often wondered what Connected did, how I could work there, and if they hired event managers (look at me now…dreams really do come true! ✨).

What achievement are you most proud of in your career to date?

While I’ve got my eyes more focused on what’s ahead, I’d have to say I’m most proud of leading the 2019 Canadian Cannabis Awards planning. It was the first event of its size (500+ attendees) that I led the planning and execution, and it allowed me to gain experience in areas of event management that I didn’t get to do in my day-to-day. Seeing the months of planning come together on the night of was amazing and a feeling I’ll never forget.

Do you have a mantra you live by?

“Life goes on” it’s something I am constantly reminding myself of, or at least trying to.

What do you love to do outside of work?

Outside of work (oh yes, I have a life outside of my beloved Connected), I love to bake and decorate cakes. I started baking and decorating cakes in university when I didn’t know where I wanted to go with my life, and I never looked back – except for the whole events manager part. Recently, I also started teaching baking/decorating classes at Le Dolci. Like with events, I love to see the end product. When a client sees their cake, the feeling never gets old. PS. I make the best red velvet cake (you can ask anyone on the CXG team or anyone who’s ever tried one )

Family and friends are always a constant in my life. I’ve been really fortunate (most of the time) to grow up in a tight-knit Italian family, so family gatherings and spending time with my nephews and niece are very important to me. I also love my friends, and you’ll usually find us out and about in the city, trying new restaurants, shopping, going on long walks, binge-watching Netflix, the list goes on – not unlike life!

I also love to travel. This year I was able to spend (an extended) month in Barbados, have a 5-year University reunion in Kelowna, spend a weekend with some friends in Chicago, visit my brother in Halifax, and take my first Connected trip for an event to Vancouver. Although I don’t usually get to travel as much as I’d like to, I’m hoping to cross off some more bucket list destinations in 2023, mainly Greece and Croatia!

If you were stuck on a deserted island, what album, movie, and book would you take with you?

Album – Take Care – Drake (really any Drake) 

Movie – She’s the Man (a CLASSIC, IMO) 

Book – Any of Rupi Kaur’s books

Describe yourself in three words. 

Creative, Organized, Outgoing…my friends and family would describe me as ✨sassy✨ as well! (Correction – that description isn’t limited to friends and family but is more inclusive of anyone she meets).

And finally, what’s your favourite product and why? 

My favourite product right now is my Apple Watch (I say right now because I feel like this changes often). I love that I can have the majority of the features of my phone on my wrist, which makes it very convenient to stay connected while on the go, especially if my phone is tucked away. My favourite feature is definitely the fitness tracking; it helps motivate me to get up and move and brings out my competitive side.