An employee at Integrated Sustainability demonstrates a reclaimed water treatment system in Bridgetown, Barbados.Business Barbados
Conventional wisdom says that large companies usually provide more opportunities for employees to expand their skills and widen their horizons. But Frank Laxshimalla, manager of projects at Integrated Sustainability, would disagree.
Laxshimalla was hired 10 years ago as an electrical engineer at the Calgary-based company, which provides environmentally sustainable infrastructure for water, waste and energy projects in Canada and internationally. But he experienced several different areas of the business before landing in his current position.
“I’ve had the opportunity to play a number of roles, which has been great,” he says. “I’ve worked in business development and strategic development on the renewables side, engineering and project management. Each project presents different challenges, and it’s fascinating to take each one on.”
According to Laxshimalla, the company’s size – which is expanding due to some recent acquisitions – enables nimbleness, collaboration and innovation. “Because we’re a relatively small business, we have to work outside of our comfort zones, learn about other areas of expertise and band together to solve challenges,” he says. “And that speaks to the culture – there’s a lot of camaraderie.”
There’s also an open-door policy where employees feel encouraged to share their ideas with management, including president and CEO Stuart Torr. “Everybody can go and chat with the president about anything, any time,” Laxshimalla says. “It’s part of our culture, that ability to have open conversations and share what we’re doing with each other, both successes and challenges.”
Nick St-Georges, vice-president, international, echoes that sentiment. “If you have a passion to do something or an idea that’s innovative, Stuart will be a huge supporter,” he says. “You don’t get that in a lot of other companies. And being the size that we are means we can pivot and adapt quickly, which has been a huge plus.”
St-Georges, who has worked for Integrated Sustainability for eight years, was supported in his drive to expand the company’s operations to the Caribbean, where he runs its Barbados office.
“We were looking to diversify geographically, and that was my strong suit,” he says. “I was pursuing projects in the Caribbean, and it got to the point where the work seemed very sustainable, and our CEO asked me to make it permanent. I love what we do here. The projects have significant, life-changing implications, not only for local communities but for the marine ecosystem as well.”
Laxshimalla also values the company’s flexible workplace. “We easily navigated to a work-from-home situation during the pandemic, because that flexibility was already in place,” he says. “Our projects create great opportunities for staff to expand their skills in new markets and industries.”
The company has a family-oriented approach that fosters a healthy work-life balance. An above-average paternal leave top-up benefit, employee mentorship program and women-in-industry initiatives have encouraged more women to join the traditionally male-dominated industry.
“Our senior management team is 40 per cent female, which is way above the norm,” says St-Georges. “I think we have a very strong and healthy balance, and when we look to hire, it’s based on skills. It’s a great culture from that point of view.”
“There’s not a diversity barrier in any shape or form,” adds Laxshimalla. “It’s very open and level, and every opinion is valued. I’m proud of that.”
More from Canada’s Top Small and Medium-Sized Employers
Advertising feature produced by Canada’s Top 100 Employers, a division of Mediacorp Canada Inc. The Globe and Mail’s editorial department was not involved.