Chantal mentions she greatly admired her parents, both entrepreneurs in Sainte-Marie, in Beauce. “My father took over my grandfather’s wholesale workwear business. He developed and grew the company. My mother studied part-time for seven years to obtain a degree in gemology, while raising my two brothers and me. She studied at the same time as we did. She owned a jewellery store and wanted to perfect her knowledge to better advise her clients. My parents worked hard and with their lifestyle as an example, it seemed normal for me to have a demanding professional life while raising a family.”

Chantal’s parents introduced her to the realities of entrepreneurial life at a young age, but they also passed on their optimistic view of life. “For example, with my father, nothing is ever so bad. His gift to me was developing my confidence in people, in life. I never stay unhappy for a long time, even when something difficult happens.”

Chantal has been with RCGT for 21 years, at the Sainte-Marie office and explains the characteristics of a small regional office. “We don’t specialize, because our clients count on us to address a vast array of needs. We forge close relationships with SME owners. We carry out recurring assurance engagement, such as audits, but our involvement extends much further. Our clients know we’re there to support them as they progress. The diversity of our clients’ requests is what drives me.”

What do her team and clients say about her most often? “That I listen. I find that very gratifying, because I think that’s an important quality to nurture, at work and in our personal lives.”

Developing flexibility and open-mindedness

Chantal has boundless energy that she attributes to her healthy lifestyle. “Eating healthily and exercising are very important to me. I play ringette once a week, and depending on the season, I train a few times a week in the gym or I jog or swim. I’ve always been active. Since I have to be very organized as the mother of three children, I plan my activities in my schedule.”

In December 2016, a friend of Chantal’s suggested they sign up together for the Cap Fémina Aventure. “It’s an off-road rally in the Moroccan desert in teams of two, in a jeep or an ATV. There is also a charitable component to this 10-day adventure. Last year, it consisted in painting a school in El Fida, with the local population.”

“I had to move out of my comfort zone to raise funds! Soliciting funds is intimidating. My colleagues and my employer help me, and we were able to raise close to $22,000.”

She goes on to say, “During the rally, there were numerous opportunities for me to let go. I’m the type of person who likes to be in control, but in this context, that’s just not possible! When my teammate and I disagreed about something, we absolutely had to be flexible. We finished 13th out of 72 teams, and are very proud of our results.”

“You don’t always realize how deep-rooted certain habits can become. By agreeing to push myself beyond my limits, I discovered inner resources I never knew I had. And now, I can apply them every day,” Chantal adds.

“I was very excited about this offer. Everything was organized and I was ready to leave when I learned that my father had only three months to live. Without hesitation, I abandoned my plans for Paris. There was no doubt in my mind that my place was by my father’s side here in Montréal. I took a leave of absence to be completely available, free of the hassles of professional life, to enjoy what time was left with him. We talked a lot and I read to him often. Even in quiet times, we were close. We shared many loving moments together. In our busy lives focused on productivity, we often forget to slow down and appreciate the times when we can contemplate and share to find the strength we never knew we had.”

When Mireille arrived at RCGT in 2009, the young economist was thrilled at the opportunity to have SMEs as her clients. “SMEs create jobs in Quebec. I’ll never stop being impressed when I visit a factory. I find that Quebecers are bold when it comes to business! One of the reasons I love my job is that allows me to interact with a wide diversity of businesses because we have clients in so many sectors.”

Human ties above all else

Mireille is very enthusiastic when she talks about the ties she has with her team.

“We specialize in transfer pricing consulting services for cross-border transactions between affiliates. You don’t learn that stuff in school. Succession training is therefore very important. I love sharing my expertise with young people, I find them remarkable, open, friendly and united. Working with younger colleagues is enriching for me: they have a newer, more original vision.”

“I really enjoy working with my colleagues. Furthermore, we share the same values. For example, when I have to take care of my mother who’s getting on in years, they always ask how she is doing and are very supportive given my schedule constraints.”

Mireille believes that in addition to individual responsibilities, the issue of vulnerable elders deserves more thought. “The difficulties of reconciling work and family life aren’t only issues for people with young children; it also affects family caregivers. As a society facing an aging population, we’re going to have to ask ourselves what can be done to support people who are active in the work force and care for their less autonomous parents.”

What would Mireille like to accomplish when she has more free time? “I’d like to travel more, especially in places where I can dive and sail because I love water sports. For about two years now, I’ve taken an interest in primates, more specifically in orangutans, because their habitat is seriously threatened by palm oil production. On the island of Sumatra, in Indonesia, there’s a national park that serves as a huge sanctuary where orangutans can live without fear of poachers. I would like to visit that sanctuary,” she says with some excitement in her voice.

Geneviève was born in île d’Orléans. “While I was still in high school, I was working 20-30 hours a week. I couldn’t wait to be free, to make my own choices. I did well in school. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do later, but I knew what I didn’t want to do as a result of my part-time jobs. I eliminated health and pure and applied sciences, and decided that administration could pave the way for several career choices.”

She chose accounting and began her training in the Québec City office in 2000, staying on after obtaining her title. “Working in assurance taught me a lot. I especially enjoyed carrying out assignments for SMEs, where I was able to work in areas beyond audit, such as tax. It’s a great training ground.”

In 2002, one of Geneviève’s colleagues transferred to the Insolvency group and at the colleague’s urging, she made the move as well in 2003. “It suited me perfectly to discover a new field while staying with the same firm. I couldn’t see myself progressing any longer in audit.”

“I’ve only every worked at RCGT since finishing my studies, something I’m very proud of,” Geneviève adds.

Shortly after joining the Insolvency group, she was given the opportunity to start training to be a Licensed Insolvency Trustee. “I felt it was a good time to start this demanding program, which took three years at the time. You have to pass several exams to obtain the licence, including an oral exam before a jury.”

Reconciling work and family at the forefront

When discussing her lifestyle, Geneviève explains, “I’m not the type of person who plans far in advance. Actually, I’d find it kind of boring to know exactly where I’m headed. So far, my career path as been somewhat personalized and has been shaped by opportunities that presented themselves along the way here in the firm.”

She goes on to say, “That’s how I am in my personal life as well. When I was 30, I had no plans to start a family. Then, at 31, I had my first child and, six years later, there I was, with three.”

Geneviève has been working in the Reorganization & Recovery Group in the Montréal office for 15 years. “I moved to Montréal to be with the person who would eventually become my husband and the father of my children. Working a four-day week was the best option to balance work and family life. I want to develop professionally, but will not sacrifice my family life. At one point, I had to set matters straight and reaffirm that priority.”

Geneviève goes on to say, “For the past year, my role within the team has changed. Now, I spend more time supervising and supporting new staff. I serve as the intermediary between the team and partners. This structure boosts consistency and efficiency, making it easier to retain staff over the long term, one of our group’s priorities.”

How would she describe her leadership style in one word? “Simplicity. I prefer a relaxed setting, I have no interest in a formal hierarchy. Everybody gets the same attention. My door is always open, it’s a whirlwind in my office. My team members would likely tell you I’m very available and uncomplicated.”