This week, meet Marie-Pier Nadeau, Director of Human Resources at LemayMichaud.
Marie-Pier combines strategy and a people-centered approach in her leadership style. Attentive, caring, and dedicated, she supports her teams with rigor and commitment, fostering a stimulating and respectful work environment.
A graduate of Bishop’s University in Business Administration and holder of a master’s degree in Human Resources Management from HEC Montréal, she built a successful career in the technology sector before joining LemayMichaud in 2023.
In this interview, she shares with us her perspective on leadership, her key learnings, and the values that guide her work every day.
Q. If you had to choose three words to describe yourself, what would they be?
M-P. N. “If I had to describe myself in three words, I would choose thoughtful, honest, and empathetic. These are values that guide how I approach my work and my relationships with others. I take the time to understand people, communicate my ideas transparently, and support others with kindness, because I truly believe that a respectful and human-centered work environment makes all the difference.”
Q. Can you tell us more about your background and what led you to your current role at LemayMichaud?
M-P. N. “My path in human resources has followed a fairly classic route. Fun fact: I actually started with a degree in accounting, but quickly realized it wasn’t for me. I then switched to a bachelor’s in human resources and decided to go straight into a master’s program afterward. I was fortunate to do it at HEC, which was an incredibly enriching experience. Unlike the bachelor’s program, which was more theoretical, every course was based on real business cases, which really prepared me for the field.
After my master’s, I started in talent acquisition and then moved into a generalist role. Three years ago, I joined LemayMichaud and immediately felt it was the right place for me. The teamwork, creativity, and openness here make every day interesting, and I’m fortunate to support people in their growth while contributing to an inspiring work environment.”
Q. Can you share a standout moment or achievement in your career that you’re particularly proud of?
M-P. N. “For me, it’s not one specific moment, but rather a series of achievements. I’m particularly proud of finding a balance in my career between work and family, and being able to fully invest in both. Of course, sometimes they overlap a bit, but I believe this balance sets an example and reflects a leadership style that leads by example.”
Q. What’s your favorite aspect of your role as HR Director?
M-P. N. “Every HR director’s role varies depending on the company, but what I enjoy most is combining strategic and operational work. At LemayMichaud, my role allows me to participate in strategic management meetings, think about initiatives to implement, and set priorities for the years ahead. The next day, I might be conducting interviews, annual reviews, or working on employee career plans.
What I love most is the direct contact with people and the chance to build relationships while maintaining a big-picture view of the company. Of course, I’m not always 100% focused on one aspect or the other, and operational demands sometimes limit what I can achieve strategically. But it’s precisely this mix and constant challenge that makes my role stimulating and rewarding.”
Q. In your view, what are the essential qualities of a good manager in an architecture firm?
M-P. N. “I believe a good manager, especially in an architecture firm, should be both an inspiring leader and competent in their role. Managers should be chosen not only for their professional expertise but also for their interpersonal skills. For me, essential qualities that combine both aspects include the ability to teach and mentor, patience, and competence. There are of course many others, but I believe these form a solid foundation for supporting and inspiring teams.”
Q. What are the main talent management challenges at a firm like LemayMichaud today?
M-P. N. “I think our talent management challenges are similar to those in other professional services firms and reflect the current market context. The main challenges remain attracting and retaining top talent, as well as ensuring each person is in the right role where they can truly excel. Team engagement and fostering a sense of belonging are also essential to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and motivated. In my view, that’s the key challenges.”
Q. What makes a difference in the employee experience, in your opinion?
M-P. N. “For me, employee experience isn’t just a buzzword, it’s a genuine management philosophy. It’s an approach that helps us understand and assess what employees experience throughout their journey with the company.
What truly makes a difference is empathy, the ability to put yourself in employees’ shoes and feel what they experience before, during, and after their time with us. Even how a role ends can have a lasting impact. Employees value guidance throughout their journey, and that support strengthens engagement. Keeping this philosophy in mind and understanding that positive experiences foster commitment is essential. When someone has a good experience, it creates positive emotions, attachment to the company, encourages retention, and benefits the team as a whole. For me, it’s more than a trend, it’s a way to manage with care and humanity.”
Q. What is often misunderstood about the role of HR?
M-P. N. “People sometimes have a vague idea of what HR actually does. We are constantly balancing our responsibilities toward employees and our responsibilities toward the company. It’s a delicate balance we navigate every day.
Employees see us as supporting their well-being, career, advancement, and compensation, and that’s indeed part of our role. But we also have a duty of loyalty to the company. Every decision aims to have a positive impact on employees while respecting, as much as possible, the interests of the business. This duality isn’t always obvious and is often misunderstood, but it’s an integral part of HR.
Is it easy? No. Is it a constant challenge? Yes. But that’s what makes the role stimulating and important, and we always strive to find that balance.”
Q. What is a key lesson you’ve learned from your experience in human resources?
M-P. N. “It’s simple, but for me, the key lesson in HR is that by creating environments where employees can do their best, the benefits are positive for everyone. If we treat people well and take care of them, they will fully invest themselves and take care of the company in return.
This includes providing support, tools, growth opportunities, and mentorship, essentially, all the initiatives we implement. The key is to keep this idea in mind in every decision and action we take.”
Q. What advice would you give to someone starting a career in human resources?
M-P. N. “My advice is simple but essential: start gaining experience early. Do internships, paid or unpaid, as soon as you begin your bachelor’s. It’s a great way to build both a network and practical experience.
I would also say, don’t be afraid to start at the bottom. Take the first opportunity that seems right, then build your career from there and seize every chance that comes your way. Your career is yours, and you control much of it. Be proactive, forge your path, and don’t hesitate to knock on doors. This advice applies not only to HR but to any profession.”
Quick Q&A
Q. Visionary or pragmatic?
M-P. N. “Pragmatic.”
Q. What motivates you to get up in the morning?
M-P. N. “My daughter. She’s the one who wakes me up. On the bright side, those quiet morning moments allow us to really spend time together before the daily routine starts. Sometimes we do a puzzle, sometimes we read a book over breakfast, and even though I know a pile of emails is waiting for me, those moments really matter. They give me energy, even if, I admit, I don’t really have a choice!”
Q. Favorite part of your work?
M-P. N. “Feeling like I’m contributing to something. I wouldn’t say I’m changing the world, that would be a stretch, but I feel like I truly contribute to LemayMichaud’s success. I enjoy thinking about concrete actions and implementing initiatives that improve employee well-being while ultimately supporting the company’s success.”
Q. Best advice you’ve received?
M-P. N. “One of the best lessons came from one of my first managers at the very start of my career. It wasn’t a literal piece of advice, but rather an example through her actions that I adopted in my own practice. She showed the importance of staying close to employees: having lunch with them, participating in social activities even when busy, keeping her door open, etc. Building that type of connection fosters trust and also helps dispel misconceptions about HR.”
Q. Your favorite way to unwind?
M-P. N. “My favorite way to relax changes often. I tend to hyperfocus on different things. Right now, and this might be a bit quirky, I’m doing murdles, a logic puzzle game entirely on paper, no screens. It really helps me unwind and focus on something else. A few weeks ago, I was doing puzzles, I completed six in six days, and since then haven’t done any,” she laughs.
Q. Do you have a guiding philosophy in your daily work?
M-P. N. “Yes. I believe HR exists to make the workplace more human. It’s as simple as that.”
Q. A challenge you’d like to tackle in the future?
M-P. N. “Personally, I’m not naturally a big traveler, but I’d like to travel more. Since having a child, traveling requires more planning, which has slowed me down over the past few years. A 2026 goal is to visit London and see family.
Professionally, I want to deepen my knowledge of organizational development. I gain some experience through initiatives at LemayMichaud, but it’s not yet my area of expertise. My goal is to better support the company on topics like culture, work climate, leadership development, and succession planning, enhancing organizational performance while remaining realistic about what we can achieve
