Natacha Sénéchal: Portrait of a change driver

Natacha Sénéchal is a difficult woman to define. As Senior Director, Business Practice in Englobe’s Baie-Comeau office on Québec’s North Shore, Natacha wears a multitude of hats every day. A forestry engineer, committed intrapreneur, mother, and outdoor enthusiast, she also plays an active role in her community.

She’s also a role model and change driver. In 2023, Natacha received Englobe’s Dare.Care.Change Award in recognition of the many ways that she exemplifies the company’s values through her ability to inspire through professionalism and collaboration, and her passion for sustainable growth.

Recently, >Englobe sat down with Natacha to discuss her pioneering work to build Englobe’s North Shore office, her love for her adopted region, and more.

Note: Replies have been translated from French and edited for clarity and conciseness.

Englobe: How did you come to live in Baie-Comeau? 

Natacha Sénéchal: I’m actually from the Lower St-Lawrence area. I went to CEGEP in Quebec City, then took a gap year before going to New Brunswick to get my degree in forestry engineering.

During that gap year, I worked in the North Shore region, and I just fell in love with the area and the lifestyle here. So, I moved back here in 2009 after obtaining my degree and took on a consulting role in Baie-Comeau.

Over time, I felt the need to get involved in an organization that was closer to regional realities, one that would better promote the unique characteristics and strengths of our territory. That's what led me to join Englobe in May 2016, following my first parental leave.

E: I understand that basically, you built Englobe’s Baie-Comeau office from scratch. What was that like? 

NS: Yes, my mandate was to open and grow Englobe's new Baie-Comeau office. My responsibilities included building and training the team and identifying target markets to develop both here and throughout the North Shore region.

In practical terms, this meant gaining an in-depth understanding of the needs of regional businesses and then defining a multidisciplinary regional strategy to deliver locally-based services.

When I started, we only had two employees in Baie-Comeau. Today, this office has a multidisciplinary team of over 30 people.

E: What were some of the issues you faced in building this regional office from the ground up? 

NS: When we first built this team and established a foothold in the region, I was often on the road. I met with potential clients to understand their needs and how Englobe could best serve them directly in the region, rather than relying on external suppliers. I collaborated with many internal teams to support our growth and enhance our ability to deliver a high-quality service offering.

Projects related to civil infrastructure, geosciences, and the environment - in the broadest sense - are central to our activities. We collaborate with experts from all Englobe sectors to win and deliver a wide variety of both small and large projects.

We support a wide range of public and private clients, as well as Indigenous communities. In particular, we have helped train many Indigenous people in environmental studies through short-term, employment-focused training programs.

E: Was it difficult for you to build a multi-skilled professional team in a sparsely populated region like the North Shore?

NS: Yes, developing a local multidisciplinary team on the North Shore presented several challenges, particularly due to the low population density and the more limited pool of specialized labor.

This led us to collaborate closely with local organizations and to innovate, both in our recruitment approaches and in our training efforts. The customized civil engineering training program at the Baie-Comeau CEGEP is a great example of this needs-based collaboration approach.

Today, we have a diverse, committed team with a wealth of expertise. The stability of our team reflects the sense of belonging that has developed over time. From the outset, many members shared an entrepreneurial spirit and a genuine desire to contribute to the creation of the office. This desire to build something meaningful, combined with our local roots, has created an environment that breeds strong commitment.

Now that we are well established, we attract professionals who are looking for a strong team spirit, interdisciplinary collaborations, and a genuine connection with the community. Our reputation is based on an empathic, realistic approach and a real desire to do things differently.

EN: Speaking of attraction, it’s clear that you love where you live. What attracted you to this region?

NS: I had the chance to discover the North Shore thanks to my CEGEP roommates. I had a lot of preconceived notions about this region, but once I got to know it better, I fell in love with this place and its grandiose natural splendor!

Honestly, I didn't think I would settle on the North Shore after university. However, my partner and I wanted to live in a rural area, and we were lucky enough to find great career opportunities here.

Our children were born on the North Shore, and we enjoy everything it has to offer — from the river to the reservoirs to the forest. This region has become home!

E: You’re also a tireless volunteer in your community and an ambassador for your region. What are some of the causes that mean the most to you?

NS: I like people. I enjoy and find it easy to meet with and connect with them. So, getting involved in the community also meant I would get to know people.

I’ve always been especially interested in causes relating to women, entrepreneurship, and the environment. In the past, I have sat on many Boards of Directors, including that of the local Chamber of Commerce, the SADC-Côte Nord (local community development support organization), a market production cooperative, and more. At one point, I was a member of five different regional Boards!

Last year, I was named Honourary Co-Chair of the Centraide (United Way) fundraising campaign for my region – a real honour. I’m glad to do whatever I can to give back to vulnerable people in my community, since one in three residents uses services from local non-profit organizations funded by Centraide.

At the close of this campaign, we had raised over $1.2 million, which will help more than 15,000 people in our community. This is an exceptional result, and I’m very proud to have been a part of it.

EN: In closing, is there anything you want people to know about you that we haven’t covered here? 

NS: I consider myself an engine for change. I like to innovate and drive change - but it doesn’t happen in a vacuum. In fact, nothing happens without great collaboration, both internally and externally, to move things forward. 

I believe that while we may move faster alone, we go farther together. This strength is something I genuinely believe in. It shifts inertia and drives progress and positive change