Stéphanie Butt Thibodeau - All About Caring

For Stéphanie Butt Thibodeau, iA’s Work From Anywhere program was a great opportunity to join the organization without having to leave Ottawa, where she has lived for some 30 years.

While she went to Quebec City and Montreal to meet her teams in person, she can mainly work remotely, travelling for certain targeted events. “This flexible way of working opens up opportunities for iA to recruit talent from anywhere,” she says.

Stéphanie read up on her future employer before making the leap, after 27 years with Export Development Canada (EDC), a Crown corporation. “iA’s values—like community involvement and a focus on mental health and teamwork—are perfectly aligned with my own,” she is quick to add.

A numbers fan, she began studying accounting before moving on to finance and international trade. But human resources is where she has applied her professional and people skills over the past decade.

Developing an organizational culture where people can perform at their best is a priority for Stéphanie. “For me, it’s all about creating the right atmosphere, an inclusive environment,” she explains. “If employees feel they can make their voices heard, share their perspectives and grow through new challenges, they can really help the company achieve its goals.”

The organization’s women in business group, LGBT2Q+ committee and transformation projects are some of the initiatives where employees can get actively involved in their workplace.

Stéphanie is a camping and hiking enthusiast who loves travelling, something that has marked her career and family life. “I’ve been fortunate enough to go to about 50 countries,” she says. “When it comes to developing new markets, I love considering the human, cultural and interpersonal aspects.”

More than just an HR goal, mental health has become a core value for her since serving on the board of an organization that helps the families of people with borderline personality disorders. “That organization really changed our lives,” she shares. “It taught us how to support our daughter, who was diagnosed with the condition.”

With a new work family who cares about employee well-being, Stéphanie is excited about the future. “People are engaged, motivated, hard-working, highly professional. I’m energized by this new challenge and happy I can bring my experience to help build iA’s future.”