16 Mar 2018 Spotlight on Export Development Canada

This week’s Spotlight on Tech focuses on Export Development Canada (EDC), Canada’s credit agency that helps Canadian companies respond to international business opportunities. Read on to learn more about EDC’s great company culture and their passion for helping Canadian businesses sell abroad, as well as to learn why they’re one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers.

Describe your company and primary product(s) and/or service(s).

Canadian companies are increasingly realizing the benefits of selling internationally, and when they’re ready to achieve those goals, EDC helps them go, grow, and succeed in their international business. As a financial Crown corporation, we provide financing, insurance, bonding, trade knowledge, and matchmaking connections to help Canadian companies sell and invest abroad.

How many employees currently work at your company?

We currently employ 1,474 people.

Where are you located?

Our national head office is in Ottawa and was designed based on employee feedback. It features cafés and lounge areas on every floor, large open spaces with comfortable couches and chairs to brainstorm and work, a fully-equipped onsite fitness centre (with free membership and instructor-led classes), a spectacular rooftop terrace and garden, and much more.  We also have 17 other offices across the country, including one in Vancouver, and 19 international offices.

Describe the culture at your company.

Our culture is founded on trust and collaboration. We hire top performers who challenge the status quo and really believe in our mandate to support Canadian businesses as they go, grow, and succeed outside of Canada. Everything at EDC, from our community investment commitments to our employee leave policy, is designed to allow employees to thrive so that Canadian businesses can get the best of our support. We encourage initiative, personal accountability, and a diverse workforce.

What does your leadership team (and company as a whole) do to support/grow that culture?

Our leadership team supports and grows our culture by training and coaching the EDC Way. The EDC Way aims to align, enable, and improve our work to create a culture that delivers results more effectively and efficiently for our customers, while making employees feel safe and empowered.

Our employees are also encouraged to volunteer in their communities, take part in a variety of committees that suit their interests, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. We believe that by having a diverse workforce, we provide a broader range of perspectives and expertise to the Canadian businesses we support.

When your employees talk about your company, what do they brag about?

• The fact that our work helps Canadian entrepreneurs and companies of all sizes achieve their dreams and succeed on a global scale
• The belief in our company mandate, which motivates our employees to work hard and achieve success for Canadian businesses
• Our work-life balance and the opportunity to work for one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers
• The opportunities and support provided to help us learn and grow in our careers, while making a difference to the Canadian economy

Describe your most recent achievement/milestone as a company.

Recently, we launched EDC-FITT International Trade Training to help professionals grow their international business expertise. The globally-recognized online training allows for self-paced learning, and provides a flexible array of courses and workshop modules to choose from, whether the participant’s interest is in advancing their international trade career, entering the industry, or adding to their existing expertise.

With the introduction of this offering, we hope to foster the next generation of Canadian trade professionals, helping position our country for continued global success into the future.

Are you hiring?

Yes, we’re hiring! Take a look at our current openings and join a team of some of the brightest and most talented minds in Canada. We offer competitive salaries, comprehensive benefit packages, work-life balance, a diverse culture, and learning and growth opportunities.

Who is the ideal employee for your company?

EDC is always looking for candidates who want to reach higher goals, capitalize on new growth opportunities, and achieve greater levels of success. That’s what we do for Canadian businesses and that’s what a career at EDC can do for you. Whether you are a seasoned professional or a recent graduate, we could have the employment opportunity you’re looking for.

What is the company goal for the upcoming year?

Our goal for this year is to increase small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SME) awareness of the ways that EDC can help them to succeed. It is our priority to help Canadian SMEs grow internationally, so we provide them with knowledge tools and financial solutions that can help free up working capital, provide financing, and protect against the risk of not getting paid. Our tools help businesses increase their international success – and revenue!

Tell us an interesting fact about your company.

Not only do we focus on helping Canadian businesses succeed globally, we’re also passionate about helping small enterprises and communities around the world. In 2009, EDC launched a partnership with CARE Canada for small business enterprise development and micro-financing related projects in emerging markets. Our programs give EDC employees the opportunity to share their knowledge and skills in ways that can make a meaningful difference in our international community. We’ve worked with CARE in several countries, including Morocco, Zambia, Sri Lanka, India, and Peru.