Human resources dynamo Caroline-Anne Tylko wasn’t looking to change jobs when a colleague contacted her out of the blue about an executive management position that had opened up, thinking it might be of interest to her.
She was very happy where she was and with the work that she was doing. She did agree, however, to have a conversation with the hiring company, which led to some initial meetings, which led to her accepting the new role offered to her as vice-president of human resources at ADGA Group.
The Ottawa-based company provides technology solutions in defence, professional services and security. It’s grown to more than 800 employees and independent consultants since Françoise Gagnon became CEO in 2014, taking over the leadership of the company.
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“I was really taken by their vision for the business and HR’s role in that vision, and their focus on people and on the overall work experience,” said Tylko, who was formerly with General Dynamics Mission Systems Canada for seven years as director of global total rewards, mobility and systems.
Tylko has worked in her field for 25-plus years for a range of companies, including Reader’s Digest, IWK Health Centre, Newbridge Networks, Spirent Communications and General Dynamics. She considers herself lucky to have been with some world-class organizations with progressive views toward HR.
The job offer from ADGA came at an interesting point in Tylko’s life. At 58 years old, she had to ask herself whether she was up to switching to one more company.
She was.
“It’s exciting to be making a change at this point in my career,” said Tylko, who’s originally from Montreal, has a degree in communications from Concordia University, and is also fluent in French and Spanish.
“I saw this as an opportunity to bring all the experience that I had gathered over all these years and apply it to a much broader position. It’s about bringing everything I have to the table, to work with a great team in a new environment.
With a start date of July 5, Tylko says she’s feeling motivated and inspired.
“I want to get in there, I want to learn about the organization, I want to meet people,” she said.
Her passion for human resources is obvious when she speaks about the constantly evolving field. HR appeals to Tylko’s analytical side by requiring her to examine trends, predict future work environments and build a business strategy with executive management. There’s also the satisfaction she gets from influencing people’s progress in their careers through programs, initiatives and policies.
“One of the things that’s very, very important to me as a leader of people is that my primary job is their development and, if I’ve done a good job, they’re going to surpass me, they’re going to achieve way more than I was able to by the end of my career.”
In HR, no two days are the same, she continued. That’s been especially true during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has turned the office environment upside down.
“My view is, we’re going to have to be even more agile as HR and as organizations,” she said.
In Ottawa, there’s a wonderful community of progressive HR professionals shaping the future of human resources, said Tylko, who has accrued a long list of people whom she respects and admires.
“There are so many really great people out there,” she stressed. “I am who I am by virtue of having had incredible mentors, incredible colleagues and a network of incredible HR folk. To me, I’m not where I am without all of these people.”
Featured placements from Boyden
Asad Hanif has been named vice-president of acquisitions at InterRent REIT. He spent the last five years at Realstar Group, a vertically integrated property and investment manager focusing on multi-family and hospitality in Canada and the UK. Hanif is also a designated chartered accountant, and spent the first seven years of his career at KPMG in Toronto.
Also joining the InterRent team is Catherine Hebert, who brings more than 25 years’ talent management experience as a business leader, consultant and coach to her new role as the REIT’s new chief talent officer. She has worked for CowaterSogema International Inc., Brookfield Renewable and MD Physicians, while also supporting local not-for-profits through her own business – CHS Coaching and Consulting.
James Jarrett has joined Tiree Facility Solutions as vice-president of operations. An experienced multi-disciplinary leader, Jarrett enjoys translating high-level strategy into business operations and processes that provide value across an organization. Jarrett has 15 years of progressive planning and operations experience at some of the world’s largest engineering services and consulting firms including AECOM and WSP. He brings a wealth of knowledge in real property through his experience leading teams and budgets on a range of complex infrastructure projects.
People on the move across Ottawa
GoFor, a provider of last-mile, on-demand and same-day delivery services and logistics, has selected Ian Gardner to succeed Brad Rollo as CEO. Rollo, founder of GoFor, was diagnosed with cancer last year and will transition to chief strategy officer. He will also remain executive chairman of the board.
RBC has announced a new senior executive on its regional team to lead business financial services. PEI native Justin Schurman will take over the role of regional vice-president for business financial services, serving commercial clients. His predecessor, Andrew Arnott, is now managing director of the bank’s corporate client group, managing RBC’s most complex and significant client relationships. Arnott serves on the board of the Ottawa Board of Trade and is co-chair of its CEO Council.
Deloitte Canada has announced the recent appointment of former deputy minister of finance Paul Rochon as an executive advisor. Based in Ottawa, Rochon will provide strategic advice on projects and engagements related to the firm’s financial advisory practice, focusing on infrastructure, energy transition and digital identity.
Mhiran Faraday has been named executive director of Ottawa Chamberfest. She was most recently manager of the Banff International String Quartet Competition and Festival.
Nicolas Barbeau has joined ADGA Group as director of space solutions. He previously worked at Honeywell as general manager of the firm’s payloads and mission division.
Crypto4A has named John Scott as CEO. Scott has served as chair of the company’s board of directors for the past three years.
Hootsuite has hired Manish Kamra as senior vice-president of software development. Kamra brings more than 25 years of experience in software R&D to the role and most recently served as vice-president of software development and head of CENX product development at Ericsson’s Ottawa office.
Grace Xin has left her long-time position as executive director of the Somerset Street Chinatown BIA to join nonprofit organization Ottawa Community Foundation as vice-president of philanthropic services and community building.
Ottawa landscape architects Aaron Hirota of Architecture49 and Cameron Smith from Public Services and Procurement Canada have been elected to the Council of the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects.
CBRE has announced that Louis Karam has been named senior vice-president and managing director of the firm’s office in the capital. He takes over for Shawn Hamilton, who left the company last November and is now Canderel’s vice-president of business development for the National Capital Region.
People on the Move is a monthly feature highlighting Ottawa-based professionals, managers and executives starting new positions. Want to see your appointment featured? Share your news with caroline@obj.ca.
People on the Move is supported by Boyden, connecting great leaders with great companies in Ottawa, across Canada and worldwide. Explore executive insights, human capital trends and talent solutions here.
