If “the only constant in life is change,” as Greek philosopher Heraclitus once wrote, then Canoe may just be the epicenter of universal regularity.
Since its inception in 2017, the company has focused on keeping up with the transformation of the fintech sector. Its cloud-based alternative investments platform, which leverages AI to turn complex documents into actionable insights within seconds, is a testament to this evolution.
But technology isn’t the only thing that has evolved over the years. According to People Resources Generalist Kyle Hamel, the company’s culture is rooted in a focus on continuous learning, which encourages team members to constantly refine their technical acumen.
This emphasis on growth has defined Hamel’s time at Canoe since he joined six months ago. He shared that, within that short time frame, he has managed to grow significantly, spurred by his day-to-day work and involvement in critical large-scale projects.
Not only has this experience allowed him to work closely with coworkers across different departments, Hamel said, it has taught him valuable lessons that he will carry with him for the rest of his career. And as Canoe continues to grow, more individuals will get to benefit from this growth-oriented culture.
Read on to see what else Hamel had to say about the impact of Canoe’s work environment, and check out Canoe’s open roles.
Describe Canoe’s culture in one word. What made you pick that word?
Continuous learning. OK, it’s two words, but I think the phrase perfectly captures Canoe’s culture. In today’s ever-changing landscape, the tools available to improve the way we work are constantly growing. Canoe does an excellent job of not only leveraging these tools, but also fostering an environment where learning is continuous and encouraged.
“In today’s ever-changing landscape, the tools available to improve the way we work are constantly growing. Canoe does an excellent job of not only leveraging these tools, but also fostering an environment where learning is continuous and encouraged.”
A great example of this is Canoe’s ongoing series of lunch-and-learn sessions, which reflect the company’s commitment to education and growth. For instance, in July, we hosted a lunch-and-learn session about ChatGPT and consumer AI tools. Experts from information security, product management and machine learning came together to teach us about both the potential and pitfalls of using these technologies as well as the underlying mechanisms behind them. In a more recent session, we focused on Excel, discovering tips and tricks to level up our spreadsheet game and make our work more efficient. Personally, I gained valuable insights in both sessions and look forward to the next one.
How long have you been with Canoe, and what professional growth have you experienced in that time?
I’ve been with Canoe for six months now, and I’ve experienced substantial professional growth in that short time. My role is unique, as I serve as both the technical recruiter and the HR business partner for our commercial organization. This dual responsibility has allowed me to collaborate with colleagues across a wide range of departments, giving me valuable insight into both the product and engineering organization and the commercial organization.
Additionally, in my short time with Canoe, I’ve had the chance to work on large-scale projects, including the critical migration we made from relying on a professional employer organization to having our own HR information system and benefits, giving us full control over the benefits that we offer our employees. This project required significant coordination across multiple departments, ensuring a smooth transition to meet the needs of our workforce. I can safely say that I had no clue just how much work it takes to get a project like this over the finish line, and this experience is something that I will take with me wherever I go.
