The well-deserved Overall Winner of the Woman of the Year the Americas 2023 award is Sheila Quintus, Vice President & Assistant Treasurer at Medtronic.

Sheila gained a B.S. in Accounting from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, and an M.B.A. in Finance from Lehigh University. She began her professional career in the audit practice of PwC, after which she spent over ten years working for Merck & Co., Inc. holding positions within technical accounting, manufacturing and joint venture finance, R&D finance and strategic portfolio management, and treasury.

Sheila joined Medtronic in 2010 and since then she has had responsibility for every area of treasury, including global financing, capital structure development and execution, foreign currency risk management and cash concentration.

During her time at Medtronic, Sheila has been involved in several transformative changes. These have included managing the complexity associated with the company’s acquisition of Covidien, as well as the resulting integration and foreign currency risk management challenges.

More recently, she sponsored the firm’s ‘Future of Treasury’ initiative, which involves redesigning certain of Medtronic’s treasury structure and processes in line with best practices. The transformation project has saved the company around US$500,000 per year.

Role model, sponsor and volunteer

Alongside her considerable technical achievements, Sheila has long acted as a role model, both professionally and personally. She is passionate about using her voice and resources to raise awareness of social, economic and racial inequity and to inspire and encourage others to take action and make an impact.

Within Medtronic, Sheila has participated in several diversity and inclusion initiatives, through which she has served as a sponsor and friend to several professionals at various stages of their careers. She is also a strong supporter of Medtronic’s Early Career Rotational Program, which provides opportunities and guidance to associates as they look to advance their careers.

In addition, Sheila serves as Executive Sponsor for the Muslims & Friends Employee Resource Group at Medtronic – a role which introduced her to the Al-Maa’uun not-for-profit organisation in North Minneapolis, which provides food support, employment and other basic needs for members of the North Minneapolis community and across the city. She is also a member of the African Descent Network and the Women’s Network Employee Resource Groups at Medtronic.

Sheila also serves on the Board of the Urban League – Twin Cities (ULTC), which aims to provide platforms, pathways and programmes for African descendants to overcome racial disparities and achieve equitable outcomes. Sheila served on the ULTC’s Strategic Planning Committee and is the current chair of the Programs Committee.

Sheila is active in her church, and volunteers with other members at Sharing and Caring Hands, which serves the poor and helps the needy in Minneapolis. She is a volunteer and visible supporter of My Very Own Bed, which also operates in Minneapolis.

Leading by example

As a leader, Sheila has introduced her teams and peers to the organisations she supports For example, she led a fundraising and supplies drive for My Very Own Bed and recruited members of her team to deliver new beds, bedding, books and stuffed animals to children transitioning to permanent housing in the Twin Cities. These team members have gone on to work with and for the organisation in their own ways—individually and as a team.

As an active member and champion of these networks and groups, Sheila is passionate about promoting their missions and helping with visibility, both within her personal network and across the broader Medtronic community. She uses her platforms to help support these groups, particularly during challenging times, and encourages others to follow suit.

In summary, Sheila is a strong leader who inspires both women and men in her personal and professional life. She has a unique passion for helping those around her by sharing her experience and expertise, and she empowers others to invest in themselves and achieve long-term growth. During times of difficulty, including the pandemic, Sheila has led with stability and leveraged new and emerging technologies.

Last but not least, she demonstrates empathy, authenticity and transparency, giving her team and others around her the confidence they need to embrace change.