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For Assiniboine, business is a force for good

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This article was published 19/03/2024 (562 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Vatsal Shah was an international student working part-time as a cashier at a grocery store when he met the chief people & brand officer, Kim Champion Taylor, of Assiniboine Credit Union Ltd. Their conversation was just the beginning of Shah’s experience with the encouragement that the company gives to people – even if, as in his case, they’re not yet on staff.

“She gave me her card, and I was in touch with her for a year and a half,” says Shah, now a financial account manager trainee. “Even though I didn’t know her, she kept up that communication with me, and once the opportunity came up, she helped me out.”

That kind of support, Shah says, is the norm at Assiniboine – something Shah has experienced again and again at the company. “We take the development of our very critical resource extremely seriously,” says CEO Kevin Sitka. “We spend a lot of time mapping out where employees are today, where they want to get to and what it’s going to take to help move them along. It’s a very intentional effort to ensure that happens.”

For Assiniboine, it all begins – as it did for Shah – with conversation, active listening and observational coaching. Employees are encouraged to participate in the company’s Emerging Leaders Committee, as well as the Credit Union Young Leaders of Manitoba. “It’s strengthening and building connections, deepening networks, developing leadership skills, ensuring knowledge and experience outside of the walls of our organization and obviously bringing those learnings back,” Sitka explains.

Assiniboine supports several other employee-led initiatives, as well – groups devoted to Pride, Black history, eco excellence, wellness, Indigenous leadership and, of course, social events. “They’re a celebration of diversity, equity and inclusion and belonging at Assiniboine,” he adds.

The Indigenous Leadership Circle, for example, is “an integral part in helping us with our journey of reconciliation,” Sitka says. “We were an early signatory to the Winnipeg Indigenous Accord, and it’s a key part of our organization and who we are in the communities we serve. And the same is true of the other committees as well.”

Assiniboine also has an extensive network of community partners so its employees can help outside of the organization. In one case, 25 employees are trained to deliver talks on basic financial skills as part of a financial literacy program in the wider community.

“They may even help people obtain their very first piece of official identification so they can gain access to financial services,” Sitka says. Some employees stay in contact with the people they have helped and watch how they progress. “It’s just so rewarding for employees to know that they provided that access to people who might not have otherwise achieved it.”

Shah appreciates the “family environment” and the easy communication and willing help from employees and leaders. And there are plenty of non-work opportunities with co-workers from all levels – from step challenges and Bike to Work events to regular potluck meals and free passes to community events.

“It’s not all work and no play here,” says Sitka. “There are many interesting things for employees to get involved in.” And, he adds, the company takes employee feedback seriously. Its annual survey leads to team-specific action plans on which leaders must report at year-end. “We aim to create and continually enhance an environment of shared values here, where all employees find the supports that allow them to thrive.”