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Professional growth is fundamental at Canada Life

When Christian Robins left Canada Life Assurance Company in 2017 to explore new pathways, he missed working with the company almost immediately.

Thankfully, the door remained open, and in 2019 he rejoined the organization in the emerging artificial intelligence department.

“I missed the people, the friendships, the opportunities — that was enough to try and find an opportunity to come back,” says the product owner, AI business solutions.

Coming from a group sales management background, Robins had some of the big-picture skills the department was looking for and the company was ready to train him for the rest.

“They appreciated the work I had done previously and were happy to have someone come in with some industry knowledge,” he says. “It’s been a collaboration.”

The experience crystallized how Canada Life — which takes care of one in three Canadians through insurance and financial services — also takes care of its employees.

“It’s important to invest in people’s careers from day one,” says Colleen Bailey Moffitt, executive vice president and chief human resources officer.

“What sets us apart is knowing that employees have different needs at each point in their career journey. When they can see the variety of opportunities and leverage them to grow their capabilities, they can perform at their best and reach their full potential.”

Employee growth is nurtured through a wide range of formal development programs and employee resource groups for young professionals, women in leadership and more.

Tuition reimbursement is also available to employees looking to pursue college and university courses or industry-recognized certifications.

For Robins, who was pursuing his MBA during his first tenure with Canada Life, tuition reimbursement spoke volumes about how the company cares for its employees. “I was very grateful to come into a brand new organization and see the trust they had in me by helping to cover some of the costs of my education,” he says.

Supporting employees is an obvious choice for a company fortunate enough to have many high-performing, talented employees begin their careers with Canada Life, Bailey Moffitt explains.

“We want to ensure our employees are empowered to continue their career journey here,” she says.

Employee growth isn’t only about what someone can accomplish within Canada Life, however. Employees are given one paid volunteer day to give back to the charity of their choice.

“Giving back is knowing you can have an impact inside and outside of work and encourages employees to discover what matters most to them,” says Bailey Moffitt.

Robins remembers swinging hammers with his team on a volunteer day together for Habitat for Humanity. “It was so much fun,” he recalls. “Not only were we building homes for those in need, but we had a chance to connect in a whole new way.”

Ensuring people have room to grow in their careers is fundamental to well-being, and is also completely individual, Bailey Moffitt explains.

“Career growth doesn’t have to be a linear, upward journey,” she says. “There are so many different opportunities within Canada Life to grow your career in a new direction.”

That has been the case for Robins, whose career has evolved with an employer that inspires confidence and collaboration but also makes room for the person behind the position.

“Canada Life understands that people are more than our roles,” he says. “The culture recognizes people’s unique needs beyond the office.”