It's Friday, so that means we've got a Peak Q&A for you. Each Friday we feature a leader (experienced or emerging) in Canada's business and tech worlds and share some of their knowledge with you.
This week we're joined by Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, CEO of Siemens Mobility Canada which builds trains and tech for rail infrastructure.
The Peak: Give us a quick blurb on your professional background and current role
Yves Desjardins-Siciliano: I’ve led a pretty varied career. I started out as a lawyer and spent several years as an in-house corporate lawyer. I’ve expanded on this, leading communications, GR & PR (Government and Public Relations), business development, marketing and finance functions for several big Canadian companies. I’ve also been an entrepreneur in the consulting, software development and advertising sectors.
Most recently, I was the CEO for VIA Rail and now CEO of
Siemens Mobility in Canada. We build trains and railway signalling, electrification and train control systems and road traffic systems. Our vision is to give Canadians better, more reliable and more climate-friendly options to get from A to B.
What's one book that has taught you a lesson that you apply to your daily business life? What's that lesson?
YDS: One quote is very special to me: "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." That’s Luke 12:48 from the Bible.
That statement gave purpose to my ambition throughout my career as I sought more opportunity and more responsibilities. If you want more, you must be prepared to do more. If you want to lead, you must accept greater expectations.
What evening and/or morning routines do you have that set you up for success?
YDS: I don’t have any particular evening or morning routines, but the one thing I try to do each day is to remain positive regardless of circumstances by identifying a person, an event, or a moment that gives me reason to pause and reflect on my good graces and to be thankful. It is calming, humbling and motivating.
What are you involved in outside of your company? As in mentoring, boards, volunteering or other activities? How do you recommend others engage in activities outside of work and how do you give and get the most out of them?
YDS: I encourage everyone to get involved in their community, in any capacity. It’s an important way to give back, and it’s personally and professionally rewarding. I started with student association politics in high school and university; then, my legal profession’s governance with the Canadian Bar Association and industry associations. Over time, I’ve broadened my involvement into fundraising for health and cultural institutions and now supporting those who serve our country.
Besides participating in fundraising efforts for different causes I have recently become more involved with the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve. Firstly, as an honorary Lieutenant-Colonel for a Montreal-based infantry regiment, Regiment de Maisonneuve in 2016. Since 2018 I’ve chaired the Quebec Chapter of the Canadian Forces Liaison Council.
What advice do you have for students or young professionals who are trying to position themselves in a competitive job market. What can they do to make themselves stand out?
YDS: We all stand out by showing who we are. Choose causes you believe in and let who you are influence how you do your job. What you do may be universal but how you do it can be unique to you.
What's one app or another piece of technology that improves your productivity and you couldn't live without?
YDS: My iPhone.
Why are more trains the answer in a modern transport system?
YDS: I think people sometimes still picture trains as they were decades ago – mechanical, slow, dirty, old fashioned. That is a long way from the reality of today’s modern train. Today’s trains are software-driven, digitalized and one of the most sustainable forms of transportation today. The truth is that Canada right now is too reliant on planes and cars. We need to diversify and balance out transportation’s overall toll on our infrastructure and environment, and electrified rail transportation will be one of the most important backbones to our city’s transportation network of the future.
Why should we encourage more Canadians to use public transport?
YDS: In the short term the most important thing is to ensure that people feel safe on public transport. But beyond the pandemic, we need to give Canadians a choice. We need to provide a public transportation that fits today’s needs and ensure it is accessible to as many as possible. If we succeed, we can make big strides towards cutting CO2 emissions; we can reduce the needless loss of life from car accidents; and we can save thousands of productive hours otherwise wasted on congested roads.
Why is Canada particularly attractive to large multinational companies at the moment?
YDS: Canada offers a unique opportunity right now. In today’s geopolitical landscape, the country is forward-thinking, stable, well-run, and has the political will to build a more sustainable public transport network. At the same time the country’s infrastructure is reaching the end of its life cycle and government has recognized the clear need for investment and modernization. For a company like ours, it’s a great opportunity to share our extensive experience deploying cutting edge transport solutions around the world. And it’s a win-win for Canadians too. Having more players in our industry will create more jobs and provide Canadians with access to better technology to protect the environment and improve peoples’ lives.
