Finding belonging, finding her voice

What makes you proud to work at TC Energy?

“The people. I’ve built incredible relationships here, felt welcomed from the start and been given the space to grow, make mistakes and be myself. TC truly feels like family.”

—Joni Lei Cardona

When Joni Lei Cardona started her career, she was used to keeping her head down.

“Culturally, I would have been the timid one—saying yes to everything even if I was uncomfortable,” she says.

That instinct was shaped, in part, by her upbringing. Growing up Filipino in a more traditional, immigrant family environment, there wasn’t much space to explore different identities. “I didn’t know being gay was a possibility,” she says.

Early in her career in the energy industry, one unspoken question lingered: “Can I be myself?”

Several years later, when she joined TC Energy, that question still remained.

“At the beginning, there was that moment of, will I be taken seriously? Do I need to hide that I’m a gay woman on the construction site?” she says.

At the time, those conversations weren’t common in the energy industry. Inclusion wasn’t something she remembers being talked about openly. The culture was more “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

Small steps, lasting change

But over time, both she and the culture around her began to change—and she found her voice.

After 15 years with TC Energy, Joni Lei has built a career that mirrors that transformation. Starting as an Engineer-in-Training, she steadily took on new challenges, eventually stepping into her current role as a project manager with pipeline capital projects.

With each new experience, her confidence strengthened—and for Joni Lei, that personal growth was inseparable from her professional growth. 

“Being comfortable with who you are changes how you show up,” she reflects. “And when you show up more fully, it helps others feel comfortable doing the same.”

Joni Lei in the field.

Over the years, she witnessed a meaningful shift within TC Energy and across the industry, driven not by one defining moment but by supportive leaders, honest conversations and genuine relationships.

Joni Lei’s reason for staying at TC Energy is simple: our people.

“People amaze me; colleagues genuinely care,” she says. “TC truly feels like family.”

What began as a workplace became a place where she felt seen, valued and supported.

To her, belonging never came from a policy or a statement.

“You can make as many buzzwords as you want,” she says. “But is it actually being lived out day-to-day?”

That’s why she’s encouraged by the greater intentionality she has seen in recent years.

“There’s more intentionality now—making it part of how the business operates,” she says. “And it’s encouraging to see.”

Leading as one team

Today, Joni Lei’s leadership style reflects her experience. She understands how confidence and psychological safety shape the way people collaborate and perform at work. As a leader, she creates space for questions, different perspectives and authenticity.

“Success is a byproduct of a well-functioning team,” she says. “In order to contribute, people need to feel welcomed and valued.”

She’s also clear that the work is not done. Her goal is to make sure that sense of belonging is felt consistently everywhere—from office settings to field teams.

“I want to make psychologically safe environments normal no matter where you are,” she says.

Joni Lei is hopeful this culture continues to evolve—where authenticity is the norm, belonging is lived every day and people can show up to work as themselves.

She takes pride in knowing she can help shape that future—one team, one project and one conversation at a time.

Joni Lei and her wife, Hannah.