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Some career paths veer off the beaten track. Jonathan Perrier perfectly embodies this principle.
From a young age, Jonathan was driven by his desire to help others and his first job was working as a nurse. Very early on, he was also interested in the business world. That’s why he decided to enroll in management studies, all the while doing night shifts at the hospital.
This demanding schedule enabled him to get a Master’s degree and then be hired as a junior at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton in 2009. Immediately, everything was falling into place and, “I realized that what really fired me up was solving complex problems and dealing with constantly changing situations,” he explains.
For seven years, he climbed the corporate ladder, working his way up from consultant to manager. His versatility in his field of expertise quickly became one of his strengths.
Having achieved the Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification, a management methodology based on quality and efficiency, Jonathan was able to apply his expertise in organizational continuous improvement to a wide range of clients, including education institutions, municipal services and government bodies. He has even successfully applied his approach to institutions such as the Régie des rentes du Québec (now Retraite Québec).
Driven to the front line during the pandemic
In 2016, the healthcare consulting market was going through challenging times and Jonathan decided to leave. “I was 33 and I felt that I could contribute tremendously to the healthcare sector and that I still had a lot to learn about management.”
After briefly being self-employed, he returned to the healthcare system in the spring of 2017 to work at the CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal. On the day the pandemic started, March 13, 2020, Jonathan found himself heading its emergency services, overseeing 2,000 employees and 23 managers in a time of national crisis.
“Daddy, when are you going to play with me?”
The pressure of the job and 80-hour weeks eventually took their toll on his family life. “One day, my seven-year-old son looked at me and said, crying, ‘Daddy, when are you going to play with me?’ That’s when I realized something had to change.”
“I asked myself where I had been most fulfilled professionally and how I could do a stimulating job without sacrificing my family life.” The answer was clear: at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton.
Now Practice Vice-President, Business Transformation Consulting, at the firm, Jonathan feels right at home. “What attracts me to consulting is that assignments have a defined duration. And each mandate brings unique challenges, since every organization is different. What’s more, I’m surrounded by exceptional talent that comes together to form a remarkable team.”
Building a practice for the future together
His greatest source of pride? Since returning to the firm more than three years ago, he has worked with his colleagues to help evolve the business transformation practice.
“Collectively, we have enriched our expertise, refined our support strategies and developed talents within the team,” he explains. Today more than ever, it is a strong and innovative team that serves a growing number of organizations across all sectors.
With projects in every Canadian province, the business transformation team now occupies a strategic position with a highly diverse client base, including healthcare organizations, educational institutions, municipal governments, government departments and agencies, and private sector companies.
A vision focused on impact
Jonathan looks to the future of his practice with ambition and confidence, knowing that it is well equipped to address the complex challenges faced by organisations across all sectors.
His vision is to develop this expertise collaboratively, giving each member the opportunity to contribute to this growth and realize their full professional potential.
From his unique background, Jonathan Perrier has retained the ability to effectively orchestrate teamwork and remain calm in emergencies, qualities he developed while working as a nurse.
While his career has taken a turn toward business transformation consulting, his commitment to making a significant difference for organizations and individuals remains the cornerstone of his professional approach.
By transforming businesses and institutions to become more efficient and human-centred, he creates work environments where everyone can thrive and give their utmost.