Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2026) Magazine - Magazine - Page 82
82
( 2026)
SPONSOR CONTENT
LEA builds strong foundations for the next generation
L
ike many young
students, June Zhao
was hit hard by the
pandemic. She
was enrolled in
the University of Toronto’s
Professional Experience Year
co-op program, scheduled for
a 16-month work term at LEA
Consulting when things began
shutting down.
“I was quite worried about my
co-op being cancelled,” she says.
“It had already happened to a lot
of my friends and classmates.” But
LEA came through and arranged
for Zhao to work a shortened 13month work term. “I feel like LEA
made a real effort to retain me,
and I’m very thankful for that.”
You can talk with the
most senior managers
on the team and it
doesn’t feel like there’s
a barrier between
you and them. They
care about how you’re
doing.
— June Zhao
Structural Designer
Retaining talent is a major
focus for LEA. The Torontobased engineering company
specializes in infrastructure
engineering, planning and
contract administrations, building
a reputation over the last 70 years
for delivering solutions to clients
around the world.
Today, Zhao is a structural
designer on the buildings team
LEA Consulting strives to shape its future with purpose, passion and commitment.
at LEA, a position she’s held for
about three years. She says she’s
constantly felt supported by her
team, a feeling that began during
the first days of her co-op posting.
“Everyone is ready to help and
to answer questions,” she says.
“You can talk with the most senior
managers on the team and it
doesn’t feel like there’s a barrier
between you and them. They care
about how you’re doing.”
That attention to new employees
is intentional, says LEA Canada
president Terry Wallace. “Our
challenges are on making sure
that our company stays relevant
and future-ready and that the next
generation of employees is ready
to take the reins from those who
are transitioning out,” he says.
“Talent development is vitally
important for us.”
Helping young employees
like Zhao succeed and adapt to
the company culture comes in
a number of ways, including a
young professionals’ group and
frequent lunch and learns. LEA
has a mentorship program that’s
been expanded in recent years,
as well as a leadership training
program that focuses on some of
the soft skills at risk of being lost
as the work environment becomes
more virtual. “For example,
it’s often harder for the next
generation to see how the older
generation deals with clients,” says
Wallace.
“There are a lot of opportunities
offered at LEA, probably more
than I expected,” says Zhao.
“I’ve been asked to share my
goals with my team leader and my
managers — what I’m hoping for,
what kinds of projects I’m looking
for, the experience I’m looking to
gain.
“As a structural designer, my
goal is to eventually become a
structural engineer. LEA supports
that and they help you through
the process of professional
development by providing career
guidance. They also cover certain
professional development and
education-related fees.”
“We’re committed to continuous
learning,” says Wallace. “It’s part
