London, ON – Ivey Academy at Ivey Business School earned the 2024 North America Leadership Development Award at the MERIT Summit & Awards in Dubai in November for designing and administering Qualico’s Leadership Development Program.

The MERIT Summit and Awards brings together international corporate, HR, and business education leaders to share insights, challenges and success stories relating to corporate leadership and people development. Ivey Academy’ submission, Qualico Leadership Blueprint: Building the Future, was tailored exclusively for Qualico in support of its growth strategy.

“We are honoured to have our Leadership Development Program recognized for such a prestigious award from a global organization that distinguishes the development and implementation of outstanding corporate learning and executive education programs by organizations from around the world,” said Gary Williment, Vice-President, Corporate Human Resources, Qualico.

Ivey Academy’s renowned customized training methodology, combined with Qualico’s commitment to building capacity at all levels, scaling rapidly, and measuring impacts, caught the attention of the judging panel.

“The Qualico Leadership Development Program has significantly enhanced our leaders’ understanding of their roles, resulting in more effective and confident leadership across the company,” Gary said.

He added the program contributes to “sharing ideas and solutions, increasing communication between business units, and boosting Qualico’s overall productivity and innovation.”

Since the first cohort in 2023, 292 people have participated in the program, run by experienced Ivey Academy business instructors through a mix of online and in-person training at Western University’s Ivey Business School.

Kyle Holodryga, Corporate Purchasing Program Manager, Qualico, participated in the most recent cohort. He says the program has helped him hone his leadership skills while building connections with Qualico employees from different regions.

“It was a great opportunity to collaborate with different business units and gain exposure to areas of the business that I wouldn’t normally see,” said Kyle.

“The instructors did a phenomenal job going through a range of relevant business cases showing why business decisions are made and how data and collaboration can greatly improve those decisions. Whether it was marketing, site superintendents, estimators, or IT, each person contributed their own unique perspective and experience, which helped me gain new insights and grow as a leader.”

Chantal du Bourg, Director, Corporate HR Shared Services, Qualico, says aspiring nominees share certain traits that make them strong candidates for the program.

“Whether currently in a leadership role or an emerging talent who is seen to have future leadership potential, an ideal nominee exemplifies a strong willingness to learn, is highly motivated, and is driven to enhance their leadership skills,” said Chantal.

“They are dedicated to both personal and professional development, consistently demonstrating behaviors and attitudes that align with organizational values, and their performance continuously meets or exceeds expectations.”

The next cohort of nominees for Qualico’s Leadership Development Program will see another 52 employees participate in April 2025.