LEADING WITH AUTHENTICITY: A JOURNEY OF GROWTH AND EMPOWERMENT
Sharon Rupal, Senior Vice President at OpenRoad Auto, has built a career grounded in operational leadership, adaptability, and a strong commitment to developing people. Her professional journey reflects a steady progression through increasingly complex leadership roles, shaped by firsthand experience across operations, human resources, and enterprise oversight in a fast‑evolving industry.
“At every stage of my career, I’ve believed strongly in promoting from within. The most fulfilling part of leadership is seeing people grow into roles they may not have initially envisioned for themselves.”
Sharon began her career in general retail, where she enrolled in a management training program that provided early exposure to frontline operations, performance expectations, and team leadership. As her responsibilities expanded, she moved into human resources, developing a strong appreciation for how organizational structure, talent strategy, and culture directly influence business outcomes. This dual exposure laid the foundation for her future leadership approach of balancing people-centric thinking with operational discipline.
In the mid‑2000s, Sharon joined OpenRoad Auto as Director of Human Resources during a period of organizational growth. In this role, she focused on strengthening people practices while ensuring alignment with operational priorities. Her understanding of operations allowed her to connect strategy to execution, ensuring that policies, processes, and leadership development initiatives were practical and business focused.
“Perfection often gets in the way of progress,” she says. “If we wait for ideal conditions, we risk losing momentum. Progress is made by moving forward, learning as we go, and building on what we’ve already achieved.”
After several years in HR, Sharon accepted a new challenge, stepping into a General Manager role at OpenRoad Infiniti Langley, followed by leadership positions at larger‑volume dealerships including OpenRoad Mazda and OpenRoad Lexus Port Moody. These experiences deepened her expertise in dealership performance, customer experience, and financial accountability, while reinforcing the importance of strong leadership teams and consistent execution.
As her scope expanded, Sharon was appointed Area General Manager and later Vice President of Regional Operations, overseeing a portfolio of luxury European brands. She also led the launch of a standalone used‑car operation, anticipating shifts in consumer buying behaviour and introducing a service model designed to better meet evolving customer expectations.
Most recently, Sharon was appointed Senior Vice President at OpenRoad Auto, providing enterprise‑wide leadership for the organization’s corporate services, including Human Resources, Information Technology, Business Technology, Business Development Centres, Marketing, and Internal Communications across British Columbia and Ontario. The role is focused on aligning people, process, and technology to business strategy.
“At every stage of my career, I’ve believed strongly in promoting from within,” Sharon says. “The most fulfilling part of leadership is seeing people grow into roles they may not have initially envisioned for themselves.”
Her leadership philosophy is grounded in authenticity, clarity, and pragmatism. Sharon believes confidence comes from understanding one’s strengths, being clear about the value one brings, and making informed decisions without striving for perfection.
“Perfection often gets in the way of progress,” she says. “If we wait for ideal conditions, we risk losing momentum. Progress is made by moving forward, learning as we go, and building on what we’ve already achieved.”
Sharon also speaks candidly about inclusion and representation in leadership. She encourages women to recognize the value of their perspectives and to lead in ways that feel authentic, rather than conforming to existing norms.
“Your contributions don’t need to look like anyone else’s to be meaningful,” she shares. “Different perspectives strengthen decision‑making and lead to better outcomes for teams, customers, and organizations.”
One lesson that has remained constant throughout her career is the importance of learning from a wide range of experiences. Sharon believes leadership is shaped as much by observing what not to do as by identifying behaviours worth emulating.
