Photo by Jennifer Friesen.

I’m Silvia Pikal, a Calgary-based strategic communications leader with a track record of entering new environments, defining success and building the systems and structures that enable teams to produce excellent work—without sacrificing their well-being to do it. I’m a people-first leader who believes teams do their best work when leaders invest in their strengths, invert the pyramid and approach difficult conversations with curiosity rather than defensiveness. By empowering people and implementing strong editorial and communications strategies, I’ve produced award-winning work, doubled web traffic and boosted newsletter engagement to nearly 60%.

I hold a Bachelor of Communication in Journalism from Mount Royal University, am a proud graduate of the competitive Poynter Women in Media Leadership Program (2025) and recently completed the Creative Writing Certificate at the University of Calgary. I also serve as Chair of the Banff Book Discussion Weekend board, guiding strategy and overseeing planning of the organization’s annual event, now celebrating its 65th anniversary.

Outside of work, you’ll find me walking my rescue pup with my husband Derek, reading, practicing yoga, or eating my way through multiple sharing plates at a restaurant with friends. I also love to travel—highlights include watching the sunset from the top of Sacré-Cœur in Paris, stumbling upon a bamboo forest in Tokyo, swimming (at a safe distance) with a shark-attack-survivor sea turtle in Oahu, walking in the rain to The Strand bookstore in New York City and exploring London’s Christmas markets.