Canada's Top 100 Employers (2025) Magazine - Flipbook - Page 18
18
( 2025 )
SPONSOR CONTENT
Employees energize their own careers at ABB Canada
J
ennifer Almeida had worked
for 16 years in the technology
industry when she applied for a
sales position at ABB Canada.
Parenting two young children
during the pandemic, she was
looking for a flexible environment
that would be challenging as well.
Three and a half years later, she
manages 30 employees in ABB
Robotic Services Canada.
“During the interview, we talked
about benefits and growing my
career,” says Almeida, now business
unit manager. “It was reassuring. I
never felt I had to withhold who I
am as a parent.”
“ABB fosters an inclusive
environment that promotes
growth. Talent is a rare
resource, and we are committed
to attracting, nurturing and
retaining our employees for
long-term success.”
— Katie Bessette
Country Human
Resources Manager
“ABB fosters an inclusive
environment that promotes growth,”
says Katie Bessette, country human
resources manager. “Talent is a rare
resource, and we are committed to
attracting, nurturing and retaining
our employees for long-term
success.”
Headquartered in Montréal, ABB
Canada is a technology leader in
electrification and automation. The
company creates products, solutions,
systems and services that increase
energy efficiency and reliability for
industrial, utility and infrastructure
customers across Canada.
ABB’s inclusive culture shows up
in many ways. Employees may join
various diversity, equity and inclusion committees. The company also
conducts an anonymous engagement survey that gives leaders an
idea of how involved employees feel
in their work. An engagement task
force analyzes the survey and works
to implement employee suggestions
and to improve the culture of the
organization.
Another way Bessette and her
team ensure inclusivity and growth
is through transparency. Almost 99
per cent of open job positions are
posted on an internal portal. “Even
if someone applies and isn’t yet the
right fit, the interview with a manager might lead to a development plan
and new projects,” she says.
Employees are encouraged to
own their career. “But it’s really a
dance between an employee and
their manager,” says Bessette. “We
ask that employees let their manager
know what they want to do and what
development they need to get there.”
Managers also recognize potential
and keep an eye out for the next
opportunity for their employees –
even if it is in a different department.
“We offer opportunities to work
with interesting technologies and on
game-changing products around the
globe,” says Bessette. “Some global
opportunities even allow employees
to continue to work from Canada.”
When Almeida was promoted
into her new role, she received development support in her transition
to becoming a people manager. She
has access to an external business
coach and a manager who mentors
ABB Canada offers its employees the opportunity to work with the
cutting edge technologies helping to build a sustainable future.
her through an open door policy and
brainstorming sessions.
In addition, the company offers
a global mentorship program.
Employees can apply to be mentored
and may get assigned to an ABB
leader in another region or country.
Almeida herself is a mentor in
the program. She does speaking
engagements with schools and
committees. “I share with younger
generations that ABB offers a great
deal of opportunity for someone
who is both curious and dares to
dream.”
Almeida recently spoke on
sustainability for the ABB Women
in Industry Committee. She’s one of
many employees educating others
on how ABB helps customers reduce
100%
compassionate leave top-up pay
emissions and increase renewable
energy use. True to its purpose, ABB
is also shrinking its own footprint
across products, systems, services
and offices.
“We have a sustainability committee that looks at everything, from
making sure we’re not printing or
copying unnecessarily to considering the packaging we’re using to
ensuring the lights are shut off when
we’re not around,” says Almeida.
“Many of our employees tell us
they feel they are making a difference,” says Bessette.
“I’m happy to go to work every
morning,” says Almeida. “The
people I work with are passionate
about our work. They’re like my
second family.” ¢
$
5,000
maximum unrelated
tuition subsidies
—
You can be who you want to be.
careers.abb
