Lessons learned from a decade at Export Development Canada (EDC)
- lydiasaikali
- Nov 3, 2024
- 6 min read
On September 2, 2014, I entered the Export Development Canada building at 150 Slater Street. The excitement was palpable as I realized my home was just down the street from work in downtown Ottawa, a stark contrast to the lengthy commute from my previous job in the west end. Stepping into the expansive lobby, I was struck by its grandeur, the impeccable attire of the employees, and their seemingly cheerful demeanor. Pride swelled within me for securing this position, coupled with a mix of nerves and anticipation for my new role as a Service Desk Associate at the Productivity Hub.
It's hard to believe that was a decade ago.
Nowadays, the lobby hardly catches my attention on the two days I'm required to be in the office. The commute from my home, that I was able to purchase in the east end, is a frequent subject of my complaints. However, I feel secure in my position as Senior Program Manager in Small Business and Partnerships, where I support three frontline teams. What excites and fills me with pride are no longer the superficial aspects of my career at EDC—the architecture, the well-dressed colleagues—but the mission we're dedicated to and the talented people I get to work with every day. I take pride in EDC's commitment to helping Canadian business owners expand and thrive internationally and in the support I, and my colleagues, contribute to this mission.
As someone who values annual reflection, it was important for me to take some time to reflect on this career milestone and to share some insights I have learned in my 10-year career journey.
Start before you're ready
Over the past ten years, I've had the privilege of transitioning through several roles within the company. I began my career in IT and within two years, I moved to the business side as a Senior Associate, supporting our insurance clients in account management. In both roles, although I lacked some qualifications (I have written before about securing the IT role), I didn't let it stop me from applying and, ultimately, securing the positions. My eagerness to acquire knowledge has been the cornerstone to my success in pursuing any new role. It's something that I wish more people, especially women, understood. You don't have to be 100% qualified for the job to apply for it. You must, however, possess the drive and determination to figure it out when you've been presented the chance!
There is more than one way to network
If you're an extrovert like me, talking to people is never a problem. However, for most people, the idea of walking up to strangers and introducing yourself is on par with telling someone how much you weigh. You could do it, but you probably don't want to.
Fortunately, what I have learned is that networking doesn't only happen in those stuffy conference rooms. It can happen every day, in every interaction you have with someone. When I first started in the Productivity Hub, I had the privilege of speaking to anyone and everyone who had an IT problem. As I addressed their immediate issues, I initiated conversations, inquiring about their roles, career paths, and what they enjoyed about their work. This allowed me to learn about different places within the business that I might want to explore and allowed the people I was serving to feel comfortable in what is normally a very stressful situation (no one likes computer problems, am I right?).
Build your brand
If there's one takeaway from this post, let it be this: your personal brand at work is crucial. If you're reading this and thinking: "But I don't have a personal brand", I promise you, you do. Your personal brand at work is how people feel about working with you. How you confront challenges, celebrate victories and how you make other people feel when they're around you. If this concept is new to you, a good first step is to ask your colleagues to describe you in three words and then to reflect on their responses. If the description others have of you aligns with your self-image, continue on your path. If there's a discrepancy, it may be necessary to invest more time in cultivating the brand you aspire to have.
For me, I aspire to be a person that others trust, who collaborates and welcomes the ideas of others. I want to be a person who values other's differences and who always brings a fun-loving attitude to everything I do. Luckily for me, I have been told this is the feeling that I give those around me, and it has been reflected back to me in the opportunities I have been afforded and the doors others have opened.
Don't be afraid to offer a different opinion
Anaïs Nin said, "We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are" and I believe this is such a beautiful way of looking at the world. When you're new to a role, you're so focused on trying to assimilate into it that you don't realize that your newness brings something invaluable—a new perspective. Through our own individual life experience, we each see things a little (and sometimes very) differently.
In the various roles I have held, I have often been one of the "only". In my IT role, I had no formal experience, but I was very interested in technology and could provide the perspective of the end user. This perspective was invaluable for writing help guides which would be used by end users and also in providing a level of service which welcomed them to learn about how they could improve their ways of working. Additionally, as I got to work on many IT projects, I noticed that I was often one of the only women (and youngest) in the room. I didn't, however, let this stop me from offering my opinions and insights which were often (to my surprise) welcomed and implemented. Did this feel easy the first time? Absolutely not. But, like a muscle, the more you use it, the stronger it gets.
Relationships are everything
On average, individuals dedicate one-third of their lifetime to work, often leading them to interact more with colleagues than with their own families. Jim Rohn's notable quote emphasizes the impact of the five individuals we spend the most time with on shaping our overall persona. Therefore, the relationships we form and the company we keep play a crucial role in determining our well-being and satisfaction in the workplace.
Throughout my career, I have met so many different people at EDC. Fortunately, my first role afforded me the opportunity to talk to everyone and anyone who had IT troubles. But more than that, I seized opportunities to immerse myself into different contexts. I volunteered a lot—at employee conferences, at our annual charitable campaign, and also as a member of the Women@EDC employee resource group. In these environments, I engaged with colleagues I wouldn't typically encounter, forming relationships that spawned mentors and sponsors, ultimately shaping the trajectory of my career these past 10 years.
My advice to young professionals (or anyone really) is to find ways to immerse yourself in your company. Volunteer for special projects to broaden your scope beyond your current responsibilities. This way, you can connect with others and demonstrate your capabilities. No one is going to know what amazing talents you possess if you never show them! Also, the person who volunteers with you today, might just be the hiring manager for your next career move. Build the connections before you need them!
Halford E. Luccock said, "No one can whistle a symphony. It takes an orchestra to play it." Although the last 10 years of my career have been mine, I would not have been able to achieve the success I have without the support of my leaders, colleagues and friends. Therefore, special shoutouts must go to some key individuals without whom this would not be possible.
To Casandra George—my lifelong friend and someone who I happen to follow from company to company. Thank you for going first and for introducing me to a company that surpassed every expectation.
To Eric Laflamme—the leader who took a chance on the girl with no IT experience and who opened doors that I wasn't even aware could be opened. Thank you for whispering (and shouting) my name in rooms I was not present in. Thank you for seeing my potential when I lacked the experience and for challenging me to see the forest through the trees.
To April Reilly—the leader who fought for me to get what I deserve. Thank you for believing in me and for fighting with HR (jokes but also not haha) to get me to the level I was operating at. Thank you for being the leader I could vent to and who cared immensely about me as a person and not just as your employee.
To all the colleagues who challenged me and the ones that fueled my fire to prove them wrong. Thank you for being part of my career story and for inspiring me to work hard and play harder. I am grateful for each and every one of you and the lessons you taught me.
And finally, to Export Development Canada—the company where I have spent the last 10 years of my life. Thank you for being an organization that is constantly changing and challenging us to grow and find new ways to support Canadian businesses. I am thankful for the opportunities I have had to grow, to innovate and to surround myself with incredibly smart people. Cheers to the last 10 years and to many more to come!
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