Kruger Products making career growth comfortable for colleagues through teamwork
As Canada’s leading tissue manufacturer, Kruger Products is guided by its mission, “Making everyday life more comfortable” – for colleagues, customers, consumers and the communities in which the business operates.
For colleagues, career growth is experienced beyond the “comfort zone,” and with Kruger Products, you can go there with a supportive team.
With headquarters in Mississauga, Ont., and nine manufacturing plants located across North America, the company endeavours to make the uncomfortable more comfortable for millions of Canadians. The same is true at the company’s plants and offices, where Kruger Products colleagues step outside their comfort zone at work and take on new roles, accept greater responsibilities, and make moves to reach their goals.
Last year, when Madyna Kanouté stepped in as interim HR manager at the plant in Gatineau, Que., she questioned whether or not she was prepared.
“That was a goal for me, to become an HR manager,” she said. “I didn’t think I was ready, but I felt the trust in me and took the opportunity. There’s a big learning curve, but I’ve been able to try something new in a safe environment where I have the trust and support of my team.”
With the confidence instilled in her and from her own experience, Kanouté has had a successful 12 months as an HR manager, reaching her goal sooner than anticipated. As an HR manager, she’s been able to draw from her experience in prior positions to the benefit of all involved.
This is a common experience at Kruger Products, where colleagues are given opportunities to develop their careers and learn how other parts of the business work.
For HR business partner Alexandre Langlois Lalonde, who is currently on assignment at the site in Sherbrooke, Que., personal growth has come out of his experience learning from others and the trust that leadership has in him. He adds that Kruger Products has fostered a workplace that values feedback to help teams evolve.
“There’s a big culture of coaching at Kruger Products,” he said. “Your advice to other team members is better because you understand them. People are warm at Kruger Products, so they accept you wherever you’re coming from. You feel that you can make a difference, and they let you try to make a difference.”
It’s a sentiment echoed by Shamele Mahipalan, who works as an HR generalist in the corporate office. “Everyone is open hearted. Everyone has your back,” she said. “I really value that Kruger Products has allowed me to get out of my comfort zone from my day-to-day, meet new people and try new things,” she said. “It’s about trying to be the ‘next level of me’.”
At Kruger Products, colleagues are supported by a network of leaders and peers who invest in each other and learn from each other, stepping outside comfort zones to grow together.
Visit krugerproducts.ca/careers for more information.
