SHELAGH Ell
Calgary,AB
Summary
With over 20 years of experience in various industries, I am a strategic outcome-focused executive who leads the talent strategy for ATCO group, a diversified global corporation that provides energy, logistics, and infrastructure solutions. I hold a Master's degree in Organizational Development from the University of Calgary and I am also a sessional instructor for the same university, teaching courses on recruitment and selection and training and development.
My core competencies include talent management, recruitment, performance management, leadership development, executive coaching, employee training, workforce planning, human resource information systems, diversity and inclusion, and more. I am well-versed in HR platforms and systems, as well as implementing initiatives for employee engagement, culture transformation, well-being, global mobility, and diversity, equity and inclusion. My leadership philosophy revolves around creating a healthy and productive work environment that maximizes individual and organizational potential. I am dedicated to making a meaningful impact by developing and driving the business talent agenda that aligns with and supports the overall business strategy and people plans.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director, HR Talent Practices
ATCO Group
10.2019 - Current
- Serve as strategic trusted advisor to senior leadership, providing guidance and consulting on effective talent practices & strategies such as succession, leadership and training, well-being and employee engagement & experience in support of business unit KPIs.
- Lead development and execution of business aligned talent strategy & roadmap to identify, grow, mobilize and retain critical and key talent.
- Engage regularly with senior leadership to gain insights and assess department strategies and goals to provide recommendations and solve for customized talent strategies.
- Create & establish future focused platforms, training and development programs that support business values, culture and employee experience.
- Identify appropriate metrics to measure effectiveness of talent strategies initiatives in partnership with people analytics team.
- Oversee and manage 15 employees to ensure processes and procedures related to design, marketing and communication guidelines are sustained and compliant; including COVID safety protocols.
- Create annual budget and develop comprehensive plan to accomplish talent practices objectives while staying within budget.
- Foster a growth mindset and psychological safe team environment allowing people to speak up when needed - with relevant ideas, questions, or concerns.
- Work closely with organizational leadership, including board of directors, to strategically affect direction of operations for talent practices.
- Oversaw operations and provided corrective feedback to achieve daily and long-term goals.
- Worked closely with organizational leadership and board of directors to guide operational strategy.
Sessional Academic Instructor
University of Calgary
05.2020 - Current
- Instructor for fourth year university students. Topics include: organizational behaviour, talent acquisition and training & development.
Director, Organizational Development
Parkland Fuel Corporation
7 2015 - 07.2019
- Responsible for the global strategy and execution of HR talent practices. Specific areas of focus include recruitment, leadership development, executive coaching, employee relations, change management, performance management, employee engagement, employee experience, HR analytics, Human Capital Information Systems, succession planning, workforce planning, compensation and benefits.
- Managed and lead a team of 5 managers, 15 employees and 8 contractors whose geographies span North American.
- Responsible for the integration of the people strategy for complex mergers & acquisitions including retail.
- Accountable for talent analytics to understand organization position (industry and market) in order to ensure competitive offers, strategic alignment and cost efficiency while maximizing value.
- Support corporate and operational departments with talent practices functions. 90% satisfaction rate and 85% usage rate of talent programs.
- Developed compensation practices across the organization to ensure equitable pay practices, incentives and programs.
- Served as a strategic trusted advisor to senior leadership, providing guidance, constructive feedback, and consulting on effective leadership and building teams in support of the business.
AVP, Learning & Development
FGL Sports Ltd
1 2012 - 7 2015
- Responsible for the Canadian strategy and execution of talent management and leadership development at FGL Sports & Canadian Tire enterprise. Specific areas of focus include performance management, employee engagement, employee experience, human capital information systems, leadership, learning & development, workforce planning, change management, employee relations, and succession planning.
- Managed a team consisting of 1 manager, 5 employees and 3 contractors that spanned across all Canadian geographies.
- Assisted various business groups with building and staffing as it related to processes and systems during acquisitions.
- Worked with managers to create departmental HR support and programs to increase skill and performance of employees at all levels.
- Assisted in creating a culture where management and employees partner with human resources to proactively solve workplace issues.
- Developed diversity initiatives and goals for the organization.
- Coached business leaders on how to lead their teams, navigate and resolve employee relations issues and managed programs that helped develop employees.
- Provided insightful data to guide decision making and offer proactive solutions for retail learning and development.
Regional Manager, HR
Intact Insurance
0 2009 - 1 2012
- Delivered various HR programs including strategies related to performance management, employee engagement, learning & development, total rewards and leadership.
- Managed a team consisting of 1 manager and 4 employees that spanned across western Canadian geographies.
- Created and sustained relationships with key leadership stakeholders across Western Canada and contributed to the overall organizational development and leadership strategic plan.
- Established and implemented organizational HR strategies by identifying and researching HR best practices and developing HR programming with approved budgetary allocations.
- Built and leveraged relationships at all levels of the organization to fully understand business issues and the employee relations strategies that support objectives, and provided coaching and direction as appropriate.
- Supported organizational growth through the development of effective recruitment and selection initiatives and ensured successful integration of new employees through proper onboarding and orientation.
Director, Business Development
Morneau Shepell
0 2008 - 0 2009
- Responsible for client relationship management for multiple Western Canadian corporations. Presented new products and services and enhanced existing relationships.
- Managed sales campaigns for top opportunities in the insurance domain. Met and exceeded targets year over year.
- Worked directly with large corporations (over 5000 employees) and insurance companies to create proposals & contracts for employee assistance programs (EFAP).
- Identified and qualified customer needs, developed sales strategies and negotiated and closed profitable projects with a 85% success rate.
- Maintained an extensive knowledge of competitors, their offerings and their presence in assigned territory.
- Developed, defined, negotiated and closed sales. Demonstrated ability to meet sales goals.
- Built relationships with HR executives, cultivated and partnered relationships and established as a trusted adviser.
Regional Sales Manager
ATB Financial
0 2006 - 0 2008
- Managed, coached, and mentored 16 financial planners to obtain maximum benefit through recruiting, training, organization and leadership.
- Provided relevant and complex needs-based advice to high net worth customers, effectively delivering on the client experience.
- Partnered with Branch Managers to provide informal leadership to the sales team.
- Maintained a satisfactory profit/loss ration as identified by regional pre-set operational standards for the sales department.
- Developed in collaboration with operations and senior management, the strategies for the introduction of new products/services to the marketplace for the purpose of increasing our marketshare in wealth & estate planning.
Director, Market Development
Freedom 55 Financial A Division Of London Life Insurance Company
0 2003 - 0 2006
- Managed, coached and mentored 16 financial advisers in the Alberta Region to obtain sales goals.
- Responsible for sales targets, pricing strategies and components of product mix with a goal to grow revenue and net profit.
- Researched and customized service proposals for clients in investment and insurance.
- Communicated regularly with territory, regional and strategic managers for daily support and strategic planning for accounts.
- Developed and executed both short and long range sales plans and programs in conjunction with operations and senior management, to ensure the profitability and growth of the region's products.
Senior Financial Advisor
CIBC
0 1993 - 0 2003
- Investment portfolio Management for high net worth clients.
- Helped clients plan for and fund retirements using mutual funds and other options.
- Created yearly business plan and identified target customers.
- Managed client portfolio by providing dedicated relationship management, complex financial services support, and exceptional client service.
- Provided sound advice at every customer interaction, meeting the needs of the customers by offering advice based on their total financial situation and possessing a thorough knowledge of customer life cycle needs.
- Exceeded specific individual and team based business goals were met.
Education
Master of Education - Leadership
University of Calgary
Calgary, AB, Canada2005
Bachelor of Arts - Business and Communications
The University of Texas At Arlington
Arlington, TXSkills
- Demonstrated success in leading, mentoring and coaching teams
- Impact orientated leader capable of delivering on corporate objectives
- Advanced skills in communication, facilitation, and negotiation
- Creator of change agility, design thinking and innovative leadership & learning programs and practices
- Empathetic, creative, visionary, results-orientated and adaptable leadership style
- Ability to analyze problems, explore alternative solutions and implement talent strategies aligned to business plans
- Build talent bench strength and organizational capabilities to deliver business strategy that demonstrates company values and elevates talent to meet future needs
- Proven track record of collaboration with key business stakeholders
Certification
- International coaching certificate
- Insights Discovery
- Skilled Presenter
- Certified Financial Planner
Affiliations
- Neuroleadership Group
- CEB
- Canadian Conference Board
- Bersin by Deloitte
Accomplishments
- Finalist (top 4) for best psychological & well-being program in Canada 2021 and 2022 by introducing new initiatives, protocols and support for ATCO.
Interests
Volunteering : I volunteer on the weekends at the women's shelter
Yoga : I consistently attend weekly yoga classes
Music & Art : I enjoy drawing and listening to music
Traveling : I've visited more than 6 countries in the last ten years through active travel that include triathlons and biking adventures
Timeline
Sessional Academic Instructor
University of Calgary
05.2020 - Current
Director, HR Talent Practices
ATCO Group
10.2019 - Current
Director, Organizational Development
Parkland Fuel Corporation
7 2015 - 07.2019
AVP, Learning & Development
FGL Sports Ltd
1 2012 - 7 2015
Regional Manager, HR
Intact Insurance
0 2009 - 1 2012
Director, Business Development
Morneau Shepell
0 2008 - 0 2009
Regional Sales Manager
ATB Financial
0 2006 - 0 2008
Director, Market Development
Freedom 55 Financial A Division Of London Life Insurance Company
0 2003 - 0 2006
Senior Financial Advisor
CIBC
0 1993 - 0 2003
Master of Education - Leadership
University of Calgary
Bachelor of Arts - Business and Communications
The University of Texas At Arlington