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IGM Financial inspires people to stay long term

Michelle McDonald clearly remembers her first day with the IGM Financial Inc. family of companies. After graduating from college, she worked for two different banks over a two-year period and says she expected her new job would be similarly short-lived.

So, when a woman sitting nearby — an 11-year veteran of one of Winnipeg’s largest and most established employers — told her that employees who reach the two-year mark tend to stay for the long term, McDonald had a ready response.

“I told her, ‘That will never be me!’” she recalls. McDonald was still trying to decide if the financial services sector was right for her.

Turns out her new colleague, who stayed with IGM until she retired, was right. More than 37 years later, McDonald is a senior manager on the IGM marketing team, where her responsibilities include supporting the production of IGM’s public disclosure documents and managing the development of all IGM-related marketing materials.

McDonald says she thoroughly enjoys the demands of ensuring financial information is presented in an engaging way that complies with the strict legal and regulatory requirements for a public company. She acquired the requisite expertise and found her passion for the work as she advanced through different roles in a variety of IGM departments.

“I love the work I do,” McDonald says. “That’s one of things I really appreciate about IGM. You’re always encouraged to find what you love to do. You always feel supported.”

Chief human resources officer Cynthia Currie says IGM has a strong corporate culture of putting people first. “Our approach emphasizes collaboration and inclusion. This helps contribute to a productive work environment where everyone is empowered to succeed.”

For example, IGM provides an extensive range of online and in-person training and development programs to support employees’ growth. This includes everything from business and communication skills to helping employees identify their unique talents and strengths.

“Employees benefit when they try different things and are open to learning,” Currie says, adding that IGM continually evaluates the programs and looks for additional opportunities to serve employees’ ever-changing needs.

IGM is one of Canada’s leading wealth and asset management companies, and includes Mackenzie Investments and IG Wealth Management. The companies operate separately but share corporate functions.

McDonald’s immediate team for example, has employees in Toronto and Montréal, as well as Winnipeg. In addition to disclosure reporting, her team handles media relations, community engagement and sponsorship, and translation services.

But whatever the job title or location, IGM does its best to ensure employees share many of the same experiences, McDonald says. This includes weekly newsletters, monthly town hall meetings with live Q&A sessions, and even fun seasonal social events such as Summer Sizzle.

IGM Giving Week also allows employees in Winnipeg, Toronto and Montréal to connect with their colleagues as they spend a few hours supporting IGM’s local charity partners.

It’s just one of many initiatives that reflect IGM’s commitment to giving back to the communities where employees live and work, Currie says. As well as supporting more than 1,000 local charities, IGM partners with non-profit organizations that focus on serving underserved groups across the country, including Indigenous people, seniors, women, youth and new Canadians.

In partnership with Prosper Canada, for example, IGM supported members of 28 Indigenous communities across Manitoba and Ontario with financial guidance and training. The program has enabled more than 1,000 individuals to access $6 million in income and benefits.

For McDonald, the positive impact of such community-based programs is yet another reason to be a proud long-term employee with IGM.

“I’ve never thought of working elsewhere,” she says. “I’m looking forward to celebrating my 40th anniversary!”