Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers (2026) Magazine - Magazine - Page 18
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CANADA’S TOP SMALL & MEDIUM EMPLOYERS (2026)
ADAPTOVATE aims to practise what it preaches
F
or all the complexity
inherent in his
leadership role at
ADAPTOVATE Inc.,
Ghaleb El Masri easily
zeroes in on his two essential
goals. “It’s crucial to secure the
right workplace culture for the
high-quality team members we
worked so hard to find,” says the
global consultancy’s managing
director, Canada.
“That means finding projects
helping businesses adapt to
change that not only create an
impact for our clients but are
also enjoyable, so that our people
grow in their roles and find
ADAPTOVATE an excellent place
to establish a career,” El Masri
says.
“It’s both sides of the coin for us
in terms of creating opportunity
and being able to fulfill those
opportunities for our people.
They’re our greatest asset and,
frankly, our only asset.”
Toronto-based ADAPTOVATE’s
welcoming workplace is supported
by employee benefits frequently
found among top employers, El
Masri notes, including tuition
reimbursement, a minimum of
four weeks of paid vacation, and
flexible work hours and locations.
And by some far less common
perks as well.
“There’s $5,000 that can
be spent as a flex budget for
personal or wellness costs like
a gym membership or for new
experiences like going to another
ADAPTOVATE office, whether in
L.A. or Sydney or elsewhere,” says
El Masri, “and we’re committed
to Pledge 1%.” Under that
global program, 19,000 member
companies donate one per cent of
staff time, product, profit or equity
for social impact.
Pledge 1% is a core aspect
of ADAPTOVATE’s deep
involvement in community
engagement. “In part, that reflects
the company’s values, but we find
it’s also very important for the type
of people we’re looking to have
join us,” El Masri says. “And we’d
certainly hear from our people if
they didn’t feel the company was
aligned to what they care about.
We have heard this in the past,
with objections about certain
companies or environmental
practices — and it does factor into
our business decisions.”
It’s an equally strong part of
ADAPTOVATE’s appeal for
management consultant Janelle
Calvert, who works remotely for
the most part from Bracebridge
in Ontario’s cottage country, two
hours north of Toronto. “I have
previously volunteered here
with Muskoka Victim Services,
a non-profit, community-based
organization that provides 24/7
emergency support and practical
assistance to victims of crime
and tragic circumstances,” says
Calvert.
“Volunteer-run charities don’t
always have access to training
budgets, so ADAPTOVATE
is volunteering the time to
facilitate a one-day event to
provide leadership training
and an opportunity to network
for a number of community
organizations,” she says. “So,
I suggested this to Ghaleb, and
he thought it was a great idea.”
The response was no surprise
to Calvert. “This is a pretty special
place. We’re small and we’re all
involved with everything involving
It’s both sides of the coin for us in terms of
creating opportunity and being able to fulfill those
opportunities for our people. They’re our greatest
asset and, frankly, our only asset.
— Ghaleb El Masri
Managing Director, Canada
Ghaleb El Masri, managing director, Canada (left), and Janelle Calvert, management consultant, at
ADAPTOVATE.
