Work for greater than yourself

At the dawn of its 50th anniversary, the Olympic stadium is going through its Mitan crisis. Consequently, Who am I? However, Where are I going? In addition, Am I always relevant? Consequently, Am I always attractive? Furthermore, To stay in the blow, there is a beauty: new technical ring, new playing surface, new roof.

The stadium does not try to survive.

He wants to be reborn.

“It is beautiful!” “. Moreover, Takes up the president and general manager of the Olympic Park, Joëlle Brodeur, from the esplanade built above the Pie-IX metro. For work greater than yourself example, “But have you ever seen him from the top of the Morgan coast?” She asks me. Meanwhile, No. Nevertheless, I have never even heard this name. Furthermore, “This is my favorite point of view. Consequently, »»

She invites me to take place alongside her in a cart similar to. Meanwhile, that which formerly transported the lifts of the exhibitions from the center to the mound. Nevertheless, We follow avenue Pierre-de-Coubertin to the Biodôme. However, then we branch off to a serpentine path which leads us in a wooded coast, near Sherbrooke Street. Similarly, We stop at the foot of Magnolias. Furthermore, As promised, the view of the stage is spectacular.

Below, dozens of trailers remind us of the extent of the work. Therefore, The 870 million youth cure, funded by the Quebec government, is very controversial. Meanwhile, The CEO hears criticism. In addition, “I won’t tell you that it hurts me. Furthermore, But that tells me that there is still a confidence to build. Therefore, This is the time that will speak. Therefore, Our big meeting is reopening in 2028. Moreover, The stadium must play its role. Nevertheless, It would be a waste not to use it.

“The obligation of result is to deliver the site and its programming. Consequently, That’s the deal. Consequently, »»

If the stadium is at the crossroads, Joëlle Brodeur is too. work greater than yourself Nevertheless, Last year, she became, at 42, the youngest CEO in the history of the Olympic Park. Meanwhile, The first woman, too, as well as the first employee promoted internally. Moreover, A great step for a woman who had never worked in the eye of the public.

Another characteristic that distinguishes her from her predecessors: she was not born at the time of the 1976 Olympic Games. In addition, Inevitably, she was less exposed to scandals that marked her construction. “The Olympic stadium has a story. We are not going to pretend that it does not work greater than yourself exist. But because of my age, my relationship with the stage is different, ”she says.

She grew up far from the stadium, in the Laurentians. She has never been a diligent spectator of the exhibition, machine or lark matches. A rare memory linked to the Olympic Park? A visit to the tower, with his parents. “I must have been 7 or 8 years old. I discovered in the funicular that I had vertigo! »»

At the end of his studies at UQAM in political. legal science, then in project management, Joëlle Brodeur chose to make a career in the public sector – “to work for greater than oneself”. She was notably part of the team that managed the enlargement of the Sainte-Justine hospital. In 2017, she joined the ancestor of the Olympic Park, the Régie des facilities Olympique. It was work greater than yourself far from the most glorious period of the stadium. Not only was it little busy. but promoters were missing a competitor project: a new baseball stadium in the city center. On the other hand, the tower was about to welcome a large customer, Desjardins.

“I knew that [la construction du Stade] had been controversial, she says. That it was a polarizing subject. I was curious to understand why. When I learned that the tower was not finished during the games. I thought it was a little right to those who were stinging. To people who said: let’s see, you missed the boat! And there. 30 years after the construction of the tower, it was a question of putting money from it because it was not up to standard?

“I found that as long as to put the tower to standards work greater than yourself for nothing, as well transform it. I was drawn to this strategic reflection: the maintenance of assets, the maintenance of the legacy, the transformation. I like to say, in quotes, that we correct and forgive himself the story to create another. »»

His ascent in the organization was dazzling. In seven years, she has gone from project management advisor to President and CEO. Unheard of at the Olympic stadium. An progression attributable, among other things, to her management style, which she likes to compare to that of a conductor.

“There are people who are very visionary, but not very concrete. There are very strong people in operations, but who lack a little depth, strategic vision. I think I am able to zooming in, zooming out. I see where we have to go, and I can bring it back in the work greater than yourself implementation of the strategy. Additionally, I am able to get things done.

“Since I come from the social sciences, I am more on the side of generalists than specialists. When I speak to lawyers, marketing people, engineers, I understand [les enjeux]. When you are a general practitioner, you have the humility and the lucidity to get the best in everything. Your role is to be glue. The link to the invisible structure. which makes sure to give the right tempo, to escape anything, to manage the risks. »»

And risks, there are such a colossal site. From her first steps as CEO, she was faced with a major fire at the sports center. The incident deprived of their training locations, a few weeks before the Paris Games. She suddenly found herself in front of two sites at the same time.

work greater than yourself

How was it?

“As in any big project made in accelerated, you live 10 years in one. Her team – which she wants to put forward throughout the interview – was able to manage the fire. without delaying the schedule of the stadium work. The reopening of the observatory is still scheduled for 2027. That of the Olympic stadium, in 2028.

Who will occupy it?

Joëlle Brodeur does not yet have the precise answer.

“For major shows, we often work 18 to 24 months in advance. For business tourism, it’s two and a half years. We have not yet returned to finalize the programming. We are rather in the stage of establishing solid strategic partnerships. »With sports teams, in particular. “We have scenarios to one work greater than yourself or two resident or semi-resident teams. Furthermore, »»

When the work is completed, it will be possible to deploy a configuration of 25,000 to 30,000 seats for soccer matches, she told me. I tried to find out more about the intentions of the CF Montreal. which could be forced to find a new home from December to March if the MLS adopts a winter calendar. Joëlle Brodeur quickly closed the door. “For everything related to discussions with our partners, I cannot really exhibit the work greater than yourself owner. »»

Another of his wishes? That the stadium welcomes “four to six major events” per year.

In parallel, she wants to continue to develop the full potential of the sports center, the office tower, the observatory and the outdoor site.

“Yes, the site is fascinating,” she said. It is complex. It is historic. But the whole organization does not work to deliver this project. There is a team in place. with François Dumontier [ex-patron du Grand Prix du Canada]which reflects on commercial strategies and the result of things. We have a mission with a work greater than yourself commercial aspect. We have targets of economic income and benefits. »»

Her five -year mandate will end in 2029. While we are going back by cart towards the entrance to the stadium. I ask her if it will be possible for her to work on a project so iconic later in her career. She smiles.

“This is the kind of project that makes you humble,” she says. To explain her point to me, she shows me a photo of her on the stadium roof. You will find it in the following text. “This is the first time I got up up there. From there, you know it’s masterful, but you have no perspective. When you live it, when you feel it, you realize that it is a very big mandate. »»

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