BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Alex Leduc
Secretary
“I think of myself as a catalyzer: a person who can bring it all together. Connect the right people, with the right technology, in the perfect configuration, and we become more than the sum of our parts. Do that, and there is nothing we can’t solve.”
As Engineering Director of Major Projects, Alex considers himself an ambassador for the company. “I am a diplomat for GCM, and my diplomatic tools are humility, humour, and an open mind. Technical skills are necessary but not sufficient. It’s the human element, in my view, that makes the difference.”
“On the other hand, human skills alone are not enough either. You need technical mastery to excel.” For Alex, technical mastery shows up as a talent for seeing the whole, the ability to quickly identify the main challenges in a project, and then determine where a team’s energy should best be spent. “I do feel I am able to visualize what success looks like, often in ways that account for problems that may not be obvious at first, but that can sink a project if not dealt with. At GCM, we are good at seeing all these important, less-than-obvious details.”
Alex also has a knack for communicating the best path through complex projects, using clear and simple visualizations, in ways that unlock a team’s ability to execute. “I do my best to see the big picture, and then, as clearly as I am able, communicate that to the client. Until I can give clarity to the client, I will not be comfortable.”
In his workplace interactions, Alex approaches every challenge with a positive attitude, and he appreciates people who do the same. “Positive energy is what drives progress.” A former mentor once taught him the value of always going the extra mile. It’s what makes the difference between good results and great. “It’s about helpfulness. As professionals, all of us at GCM will do whatever is necessary to get the job done. And with that spirit of helpfulness that GCM is known for.”
For Alex, positive energy is also how you build a culture of creativity and achievement. “I like to see teams celebrate success, with that happiness that comes from doing a difficult thing well.” As a participative leader, doing difficult things well means establishing the right forums and communication channels so that all the required detail is available, in the appropriate format, to make the right decisions about major projects.
But it can also be as simple as a successful technical meeting. “An effective project meeting, for example, can be a real joy. When you can cut through the noise and make the meeting efficient, useful, and positive, it creates a sense of fun. It’s not just business: it’s a human experience.”
“That’s one of my biggest goals – to make every interaction at GCM a smooth, well-organized, and productive pleasure to participate in.”
“On the other hand, human skills alone are not enough either. You need technical mastery to excel.” For Alex, technical mastery shows up as a talent for seeing the whole, the ability to quickly identify the main challenges in a project, and then determine where a team’s energy should best be spent. “I do feel I am able to visualize what success looks like, often in ways that account for problems that may not be obvious at first, but that can sink a project if not dealt with. At GCM, we are good at seeing all these important, less-than-obvious details.”
Alex also has a knack for communicating the best path through complex projects, using clear and simple visualizations, in ways that unlock a team’s ability to execute. “I do my best to see the big picture, and then, as clearly as I am able, communicate that to the client. Until I can give clarity to the client, I will not be comfortable.”
In his workplace interactions, Alex approaches every challenge with a positive attitude, and he appreciates people who do the same. “Positive energy is what drives progress.” A former mentor once taught him the value of always going the extra mile. It’s what makes the difference between good results and great. “It’s about helpfulness. As professionals, all of us at GCM will do whatever is necessary to get the job done. And with that spirit of helpfulness that GCM is known for.”
For Alex, positive energy is also how you build a culture of creativity and achievement. “I like to see teams celebrate success, with that happiness that comes from doing a difficult thing well.” As a participative leader, doing difficult things well means establishing the right forums and communication channels so that all the required detail is available, in the appropriate format, to make the right decisions about major projects.
But it can also be as simple as a successful technical meeting. “An effective project meeting, for example, can be a real joy. When you can cut through the noise and make the meeting efficient, useful, and positive, it creates a sense of fun. It’s not just business: it’s a human experience.”
“That’s one of my biggest goals – to make every interaction at GCM a smooth, well-organized, and productive pleasure to participate in.”
