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end of this year is now looking at a 43% Her current role in Learning and
turnover primarily due to attrition and Development & Diversity, Equity &
retirements. Inclusion centres on people allowing
“We weren’t prepared for it,” she says. her the opportunity to assist Gerdau in
“The challenge alone was enough; its move towards fostering not only a
however, the changing labour climate learning culture, but also a supportive
adds another layer of complexity. There and inclusive environment.
have been a lot of moving parts of how we “We’re (Gerdau) very young in our journey
look at attracting, and retaining people, and we have lots of room to grow,”
and having them be successful.” Strong says Tracy, noting many parallels exist
leadership has always been a strength in the methodologies she used in her
at Gerdau, which is something Tracy previous role in project management and
continues to appreciate. maintenance planning. “Often people
“People don’t quit organizations, people look at HR as just labour relations but
“I had to really make a choice about my quit leaders,” she says. “When I think of that’s just one portion of it. There are
investment with the resources - money the leaders that I’ve had in my career, only many other parts. Valuable parts, that
and time - that I had and the reality of one stands out as a leader I would not are key to any organization meeting their
what I could continue to do,” she says, want to emulate.” objectives.”
referring to her post-secondary ambitions. As a self-described ‘helicopter mom’ with a
Genuine empathy and authenticity from
However, despite the fact she excelled a leader are key, Tracy says, to ensure busy 10-year-old son, and a stepdaughter
in an administrative and accounting role the best success from any team or wrapping up her final year at Georgian
with a local manufacturer, market forces department. College, in the Veterinarian Technician
resulted in a downsizing, which led her to “Being a leader to me isn’t knowing 100% program, Tracy is very appreciative
Gerdau to cover a maternity leave. about everything. To me, being a leader that Gerdau values work-life balance.
“After my contract ended, they offered is knowing how to get the best from the She reflects on all the opportunities
she’s had to grow both professionally
me a position to stay on,” she says, noting people around you because we all have and personally, and how the company
those early days were tough since the gaps in our abilities and skills as well as in continues to open doors.
company was still relatively new to North our behaviours, and soft skills,” she says.
America and was struggling as it began to “The best leaders are behind their teams, “I would say I’m a lifer with this
implement changes. “But they have very not in front of their team. You lead from organization purely because I became
good methodologies of how to manage the strengths of your team.” a lot of the person I am today through
all the processes. It felt like so much at Gerdau; through the culture, and the
the time but then the success started Tracy says having a variety of great experiences and my mistakes,” says Tracy,
happening. It became really clear to me mentors throughout her career has been who encourages other women to pursue
that’s how things should be done.” a big benefit. all available opportunities presented.
To enhance the efficiencies even “I’ve been fortunate to have had a lot of “Know who you are and really look to see
where your opportunities could be and
advocates and allies when I didn’t know
further, Tracy says the company not how to be an advocate for myself, or felt don’t let someone else define your path
only exchanged ideas with other steel I had the value or the place to actually or your value.”
companies and conducted fact-finding speak up because I was spending a lot of
missions to Japan to study the steel time proving it was OK that I was the only
making process but has also looked at woman in the room.”
how other companies outside of steel
operate, including Amazon and Google.
“We’ve always valued people,”
she says. “That has been a core
value or principle with Gerdau
since Day 1. Our organizational
culture has always been people
strong.”
That approach inspired Tracy to go back to
school part time, completing the Human
Resources Management program at Simon
Fraser University. It’s also an approach
that has clearly been working, she says,
noting until recently the company has had
no real turnover in many years and by the PHOTOS BY BRIAN RODNICK

www.cambridgechamber.com Winter 2024 41