Veronique Chayer
Director, Strategic Communications and External Relations, Previan
📍Quebec City, Canada
If you could describe yourself in one word, what would that be and why?
I am driven! To me, that is the best word to combine my high energy and mu overall motivation. And I believe my drivenness is closely linked to my desire of creating impact: in mu personal life, in my professional life, in my community.
Pledge 1% provides a framework for businesses to do good. Do you think it’s important for today’s corporate leaders to prioritize social impact? If so, why?
I believe there is a strong connection between social impact and vision/purpose. Down the line, our team members are willingly taking part in our activities because they feel connected to how we present ourselves to the world. Social impact, and the way we are intertwined with our people, our communities and our environment plays a big role in the big "why" we do things and why people chose to be on that professional journey with us.
Do you give back to the community with your team and work? If so, what does this look like?
Definitely! The Community Month is a not-to-be-missed event at Previan. Just last year, in September, over 30 volunteering activities were organized by my team throughout the globe. We're talking parks cleaning, food banks, toy-drive, restauration of marshes. The Pledge 1% - Time Portion, is materialized via the Community Month and other volunteering activities that employee can decide to take part in. On my side, apart from the activities we organize, I donate blood and I do mentorship with younger women.
What’s the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Be Kind. Be Fair. Be You. (in French, by a former boss)
This year’s International Women’s Day themes are focused on investing in women and inspiring inclusion. What can we do to make today’s workplaces more equitable and inclusive for women?
It is a very wide thing, and a very important thing. Of course, it starts with the creation of safe and respectful work environments, with zero-tolerance policies (discrimination, harassment, etc.).
And, maybe a little bit of my best piece of advice could be applied: Be kind (family-friendly benefits, flexible work policies, foster culture of mentorship, etc.), Be fair (equal pay policies, gender diversity in hiring and promotion, development programs for women, etc.) and Be You (embrace diversity, create employee resource groups, etc.)
What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?
Probably forged by my day-to-day job, but I would encourage women starting their career to develop strong communication skills, as effective communication is essential in the workplace. And that communication is composed of verbal and written skills, of course, but that it also includes the capacity to listen actively and empathetically.
Be Kind. Be Fair. Be You.
What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?
I am looking forward into continuing Previan's journey with Pledge 1%, seeing all our efforts transform into a global movement and surpass our numbers overall (amount donated, hours of paid volunteered time off, overall impact on our communities), etc. And, on a more personnal level, as a mom of college-aged twin girls, having those conversations where they share with me all their dreams about what the future looks like in their eyes.
