Penny Farinha

From growing up in a dairy farm to leading human resources in emerging tech sounds like an unlikely twist. Though it is the story that makes Penny, our VP of Human Resources, an ideal champion for the people and purpose of ecobee. Her upbringing fostered a lifelong appreciation for the power of community when it comes to building something, whether it’s the world’s first wi-fi enabled thermostat or the culture that inspires it. After all, the best idea can’t become something without the best people behind it. Since relocating to Toronto, Penny has built up not one, but two HR departments from the ground up for two separate startups, FreshBooks and VarageSale. She might be based in the city now, but she’s still an avid fan of the great outdoors, especially with her son and daughter in tow.