Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2026) Magazine - Magazine - Page 134
134
( 2026)
SPONSOR CONTENT
Visa Canada fosters engagement and feeling connected
W
hen Nicole
Chu started at
Visa Canada
Corporation
in June 2024,
her manager scheduled one on
one meetings with every member
of the Canada leadership team
and the key employees she’d
be working with. This made an
immediate impression on her.
“It signalled a culture where
people invest in each other and
where new voices are welcomed,”
says Chu, director of risk and
compliance. “The result was a
fast, supportive ramp up and
relationships that still help me get
things done across teams.”
There's a genuinely
collaborative spirit,
where people work
dynamically across
teams and geographies.
You feel that energy
and openness from the
moment you walk in.
— Michiel Wielhouwer
President and Country Manager
Chu says this collaborative and
inclusive culture extends to Visa’s
employee resource groups
(ERGs). She is the co-lead of the
Visa Asians Standing Together
(VAST) ERG. Since launching in
early 2025, VAST has held three
career fireside chats with senior
leaders, organized the office’s first
Mid-Autumn Festival celebration
and partnered with other groups
to deliver larger cultural events
Employee resource groups and committees at Visa Canada Corporation foster belonging and connection
within the organization.
— including Lunar New Year, Eid,
Ramadan and Diwali.
“VAST has elevated my impact
and growth. I presented our
activities at a town hall, hosted
fireside chats and collaborated
closely with senior leaders,” Chu
says. “Coleading an eight-person
volunteer team sharpened my
leadership skills — planning,
stakeholder management
and event execution. Visa’s
commitment to inclusion enables
that kind of growth. The steady
stream of positive feedback and
support from leadership keeps me
engaged and proud of the ERG.”
Michiel Wielhouwer, president
and country manager, says the
resource groups are an example
of fostering belonging. In
addition to VAST, the company
has Visa Young Professionals and
Visa Latin Connection. “These
groups, along with our employee
committees, play a pivotal role in
shaping our culture, making an
impact in our communities and
creating opportunities for talent
advancement,” he says, adding
that this engagement translates
into day-to-day work.
“Everyone is welcoming, curious
and eager to help you learn,”
he says. “There's a genuinely
collaborative spirit, where people
work dynamically across teams
and geographies. You feel that
energy and openness from the
moment you walk in.”
This helps create a place where
employees feel connected to the
work they're doing, Wielhouwer
adds. “Engaged employees are
more likely to contribute fresh
ideas and challenge the status quo,
which fuels innovation. It builds
trust and helps us retain our top
talent. People want to stay where
they feel heard and valued.”
To further help employees
thrive, Visa is undergoing a
major renovation at its Toronto
headquarters, which has seen
