About

Questioning one’s evolution as a person and a contributor at the service of others – whether your team, organization, or society – is a powerful frame to guide one’s personal, professional, and organizational journeys.

I believe that people thrive in workplaces where unconditional positive regard reigns. That is what I have learned in my 30 plus year journey as a C-Suite executive, corporate director, and management consultant. I have lived amazing professional highs – and grown from far less enjoyable experiences.

I have reflected on what made these so wildly different.

I have come to understand that organizational challenges are as much related to strategy, objectives, priorities, and resources as they are to people dynamics, trust, and emotional intelligence. It is the degree to which these elements are present or absent in workplaces that impacts individual wellness and organizational performance. They are absolutely connected. As a practitioner in management and human sciences I observe how this is true of all workplaces.

That is why I created NewLeaf in 2013 – to offer consulting services at the apex of business and human systems to help our clients achieve results in a well way. NewLeaf offers you an arsenal of diagnostics and benevolent solutions to get there.

Please reach out to me or my colleagues and share what’s on your mind. Sometimes all that is needed to make a difference is one conversation!

MJ is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and a Certified Workplace Investigator. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Ottawa and a Master’s in Human Systems Intervention from Concordia University. She is also a Certified Yoga Teacher.

It’s human nature to desire, and, therefore, to seek opportunities where we feel we belong. Psychologists have known for hundreds of years that belongingness is the key to individual prosperity, and, collectively, to group success. In the context of organizations, this means that when employees feel safe in a trusting environment, they are free to bring their whole selves to work, in a workplace where their creativity and contributions are not constrained by unproductive behaviours or office politics.

When I started my career in Organizational Communications 15 years ago, I quickly became aware that the modus operandi was to push information at people, rather than engage employees in decisions and changes that had a direct impact on them. And though the field is evolving, many improvement opportunities remain. This observation led to one of the best professional decisions of my life: my career shift over 10 years ago.

It prides me to now work with organizations, their leaders, and people to help create better workplaces where employees and organizations alike can succeed, even in times of change. To achieve a workplace where people feel as though they belong, organizations must create an environment where employees feel engaged, useful, and valued for the wealth of knowledge and experience they bring, both professionally and personally. A time of change can be a great opportunity for such improvements to infiltrate the workplace.

I believe that creating such an environment does not require “hard” work. It does, however, require persistent and ongoing effort, which must start at the top (whether that is the top of the organization, the top of the division, or the top of the work unit). The key to achieving an improved workplace is to keep going, one step at a time.

Though some may say this “stuff is too soft”, it is not – it is humanistic. Organizations operate in many different industries with a plethora of business models, but all organizations should see themselves as being at the service of its people. Have you thought about how well your organization would survive without employees?

Please reach out if you believe your organization could benefit from improving its work environment. It will be my pleasure to chat with you to uncover the simple changes that can make a difference in employee performance, people dynamics, and organizational results.

Having evolved professionally in the fields of military, security and safety, I have observed and experienced how organizational culture is paramount to the wellbeing of employees. Being equipped with the right tools and training for policing, humanitarian and military missions is essential, but it is culture that has most impact on attitude, resilience and wellness of individuals.

In recent years, diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) and mental health in the workplace has been under the spot light. Efforts to build awareness through communications and sensitivity training are just the beginning. Military and para-military organizations must aim to shift their paradigm by conceptualizing and building responsive DEI policies, programs, and workplaces in all its forms – whether in theater or in headquarters – and by holding all people in positions of authority accountable for their DEI actions.

Your organization’s proficiency in military, policing and security affairs from a humanistic perspective is at the core of my work. Together, we can further develop solutions that will lead to an inclusive and respectful workplace that drives your employee engagement to new heights, and your organization to improved efficiency.

André holds a Bachelor of Science and is a Certified Workplace Investigator. He has been in theater on international peacekeeping and capacity-building missions and has an uncanny ability to build a trusting rapport with his clients.

Passionate about the being and well-being in organizations, I am constantly looking for new ways to improve the employee experience. I am convinced that well-being in an organization is first and foremost defined by a feeling of security based on both the physical and psychological comfort of the individuals working there. Hence, I share this ideology with my collaborators in a climate of openness, empathetic listening and compassion.

I continually use my scientific knowledge, field experience, interpersonal skills and understanding of the functioning of human systems to honor individuals, groups or organizations facing various challenges. For more than 10 years, I have had the opportunity to provide consulting services to various organizations while acting as an expert in major scientific studies. This happy marriage of theoretical and empirical approaches has allowed me to develop a spirit of synthesis and analysis that favors the emergence of innovative solutions.

Filled by a thirst for learning, I remain an active student which enables me to skillfully combine traditional approaches of management sciences with more modern advances. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a Master’s degree in Business Administration, I have completed intensive training in Marketing at HEC Montréal and I am a member in good standing of the “Ordre des administrateurs agréés du Québec”.

Above all, I value the unique relationships with my collaborators. I am convinced that these relationships represent an inexhaustible source of learning and the foundation on which it is possible to table my knowledge and professional skills. It will be my pleasure to support you in your efforts by putting at your disposal my listening skills and my toolbox to actualize all your potentials.

It is by working in the field of conflict prevention and resolution in organizations that the premise that each employee holds the key to the solution to his or her impasses comes true.

By facilitating authentic and benevolent communication through training, facilitations, and conflict management mechanisms and holistic interventions, I help defuse conflicts and restore healthy relationships at work.

I provide my clients with experience and expertise in the areas of labour law, human rights, collaborative justice and organizational psychology, supporting them thoroughly on multiple fronts of organizational and human performance.

Sometimes, more formal interventions such as workplace assessments, fact-finding missions and investigations into incidents of workplace misconduct, violence, harassment and discrimination are essential to put an end to a harmful situation, in a fair manner. I am here to deliver these mandates with excellence, always combining my expertise, objectivity, and impartiality with unconditional respect for the individuals and groups involved.

I am a member in good standing of Québec Bar, hold a bachelor’s degree in international studies and modern languages from the University of Ottawa, a bachelor’s degree in law from the Université of Montreal and a certificate in organizational leadership from HEC Montreal. I am pursuing graduate studies in the Master’s program in Dispute Prevention and Resolution at the University de Sherbrooke.

It will be my pleasure to meet you for a consultation to listen to what you and your team are going through and design an intervention protocol that meets your needs.

Beginning from the premise that every human being has a fundamental right to dignity, I offer my voice to all those for whom this principle may have been neglected. I believe that human dignity encompasses essential concepts such as consideration, justice, and respect for each person as a free being with a unique history.

I ultimately strive to build spaces where employees can feel safe in an atmosphere of trust and deference. I am convinced that this feeling of security includes being listened to, respected and that one’s point of view will be taken into consideration regardless of one’s status.

Throughout my ten years of experience working with non-profit organizations, local, provincial, and Canadian grassroots movements, I have been involved in access to justice initiatives that have allowed me to contribute to sustainable alternative dispute resolution opportunities. These experiences have given me the opportunity to put to good use my multi-disciplinary background and interest in human dignity to advocate for sustainable solutions.

Throughout my career, I have drawn on different resources in terms of know-how and interpersonal skills through my bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Sociology, my bachelor’s degree in Civil Law and a Juris Doctor as well as my Master’s degree in Human Rights and Democratization. I remain actively involved in human rights initiatives both locally and internationally.

I would be honored to accompany you on your own journey.