Canada's Top 100 Employers (2026) Magazine - Flipbook - Page 68
72
( 2026 )
SPONSOR CONTENT
At SEKISUI Diagnostics, shared purpose drives growth
M
isty Ward likes
to describe her
career path
at SEKISUI
Diagnostics
P.E.I. Inc. as an exciting journey
that took her from lab coat to
leadership.
“When I worked in the lab, there
was accountability, integrity and
trust. Those are core values when
you are working in the lab, and
they translate directly into how
I now lead,” says Ward, senior
supervisor, quality control.
In 2006, she joined the
Charlottetown-based facility
fresh out of university to work
as a technologist manufacturing
products for the pharmaceutical,
life science and diagnostic
marketplaces. From there, she
moved into quality control, and
finally into management.
When she started, Diagnostic
Chemical Ltd. owned the facility.
It was later sold, and in 2011
bought by SEKISUI Diagnostics,
a global provider of innovative
medical diagnostics. The
company’s product lines include
clinical chemistry reagents,
point-of-care tests and specialty
biochemicals.
“The work we do matters,” says
Ward. “Manufacturing diagnostic
test kits that help support medical
diagnosis has a direct impact on
people’s health and well-being.”
Fostering a culture of innovation
and continuous improvement
is essential to the success of
SEKISUI Diagnostics, says Gene
Howatt, vice president and general
manager of core laboratory
business.
“The teams are driven by
a shared purpose to deliver
diagnostic solutions that lead
to better patient outcomes and
healthier communities. It’s our
commitment to science, service
and people that makes SEKISUI
Diagnostics not only an excellent
place to work but a place where
we’re very proud of what we do
every day. It’s because ‘every result
matters,’” says Howatt.
For Ward, this translates into
a desire to continuously learn
and grow. When she informed
her manager of her interest in
a management position, she
received support, including access
to leadership training modules
aimed at developing managerial
skills. Last year, Ward participated
in a mentorship program and was
paired with a colleague from the
U.K. Over a three-month period,
they met weekly to focus on
continuous improvement.
“The company supports
employees in exploring innovative
ideas and initiatives. It makes
work more engaging and
rewarding,” she says.
In December, she will complete
her MBA, with a specialization
in innovation. Without the
generous annual education
assistance program offered to her
by her employer, pursuing further
education wouldn’t have been
possible.
“We invest in our employees,”
says Howatt. “Our people don’t
just contribute — they lead,
inspire, and shape the future of
this company.”
The company supports
employees in exploring
innovative ideas and
initiatives. It makes
work more engaging
and rewarding.
— Misty Ward
Senior Supervisor,
Quality Control
SEKISUI Diagnostics P.E.I. encourages employees to expand their worldview, pairing them with colleagues
from other regions to inspire innovation.
SEKISUI Diagnostics’ future
looks bright. The company
is currently expanding both
its physical footprint in
Charlottetown as well as its
workforce. Howatt expects 25 new
hires in the next year and the
completion of an expansion of
the company’s 127,000-square-foot
facility later this fall.
