Throughout the month of June, I had the opportunity to work alongside Janelle Bieler as Adecco Canada's CEO for One Month. During my time at Adecco, I sat down with Janelle to discuss how diversity in the workplace plays a part in shaping our future and how to lead transformative change. Here’s what came out of our conversation.
Women in Leadership
When I first joined Adecco one of the first things I noticed was how the Canadian leadership team was composed of mostly women. As a young person, this was refreshing to see. I am grateful that the opportunity to be Adecco’s CEO for One Month has allowed me to work in a place where women have a seat at the table.
Mylene Tu: How important is it for women to have a seat at the table and be given opportunities to lead?
Janelle Bieler: It is extremely important for women to have a seat at the table and lead because for so long we haven’t had those opportunities. When we look at workplaces today, we see that the world has shifted considerably for women in the workplace. Trailblazing women have paved this path for us, and it is critical that women continue to uplift other women. When we pull each other up and have the confidence to ask for support, everyone wins.
MT: Looking beyond just women in the workforce, how does diversity play a role in shaping the future of work?
JB: Diversity of thought is just as important as making sure you have representation and inclusion across the workforce. The differences in backgrounds, experiences, cultures and more, help us adapt to how the world is changing due to technology and other factors. When we think about diversity and equity in the workplace, we should be making opportunities available for all people so that everyone has a chance to move forward, receive equal pay, and receive training and mentorship. When we think about inclusion, if individuals do not feel like they can be their authentic selves every day, then you lose the efforts made on diversity. Diversity, equity, and inclusion must come together to create change in a company. That being said, sometimes we are quick to look externally to improve on DEI but we also need to evaluate the workforce and look internally to see if there are ways to promote and provide opportunity to those already in our organization. In the last 6 months alone, Adecco has promoted around 20% of our people as a way to strengthen our current workforce.
Transformation in a Time of Change
As CEO For One Month, I joined the team during an interesting time when operations were bustling and teams were ramping up for one of the busiest times of the year. Under Janelle's leadership I was able to watch her lead with a people-first approach to transform the organization into a more efficient team.
MT: What has been a key to success when leading Adecco Canada through transformation while in a pandemic?
JB: The pandemic has been an opportunity for us to shake things up and think not about how we will react in the short term but how we can evolve and move forward. Transformation at Adecco ties into this and has allowed us to reevaluate how we are working and what things we can change. We have looked at transformation through the lens of,
“How can we set up a way of working for our people that is more effective than before.”
The biggest keys to success in this time of change have been:
- Over communication around what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.
- Leading with empathy by always putting ourselves in the shoes of those who are directly impacted by the changes.
MT: We’ve seen that many companies have been facing turnover as we enter the “new normal.” What should employers think about in order to stay competitive in the job market?
JB: Employee engagement is crucial when it comes to retention and staying competitive. The pandemic has given people the opportunity to reevaluate their own workplace to understand “is this what I want to be doing?” and “how has my company been supporting me?” To address this, organizations must equip their managers and leadership on how to check in with their team around mental health and really understand how their employees are doing. Organizations should also consider the social impact and social movements that have been occurring in the world. Individuals are looking to work for companies that are authentic and represent ideals that are in-line with their own.
Reflecting on CEO For One Month
My experience at Adecco has been one-of-a-kind. Through the various meetings, projects and people, I have been able to learn more about what it takes to lead and take action. Despite this being a learning opportunity for myself, this was also a learning opportunity for Janelle.
MT: What were your biggest learnings from myself and the CEO For One Month program?
JB: With this being the first time I have worked with a CEO For One Month, it made me more mindful of my calendar. Having another person join me in every meeting made me think more deeply about the impact of each meeting and what could be changed to make things more efficient. Similarly, you have helped me think differently about communication across the organization. Whether that be how we communicate remotely and build community, how meetings are facilitated, or how townhalls are run - having that fresh perspective has been really valuable.
MT: What was your favourite part of the program?
JB: My favourite part has been the check-ins we have at the end of each day where we discuss what you learned or observed that day along with your goals. I’ve enjoyed being able to mentor you and help you look at your career as a whole.
MT: Do you have any final words of advice for other young people out there or future program applicants?
JB: Whether it is the CEO For One Month program, a mentorship relationship, or any other opportunity, the more you put yourself out there and engage with people in different fields and levels, the more equipped you will be on what you want to do in the future. These opportunities as well as things as simple as chatting with new people will provide you with a greater diversity of thought and keep you well-rounded.
The CEO For One Month experience has challenged me and provided me with opportunities to make an impact within a large organization. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to work at Adecco and with Janelle this past month. It has been an amazing journey and I am ecstatic to see what the future holds for myself and Adecco.
About the Author
Mylene Tu was chosen from a talented group of students and young professionals in Canada to be the country’s CEO for One Month. A social entrepreneur based out of the University of Waterloo, Mylene is in her third year of Management Engineering with a minor in Entrepreneurship. Mylene is co-founder and CEO of Lumaki Labs, an EdTech start-up on a mission to revolutionize the future of work through virtual internships.
Follow Mylene’s journey as Adecco Canada’s #CEOforOneMonth here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mylenetu/
Instagram: @ceo1m_mylene