Curious, versatile, and passionate about organization, Karen Cloutier serves as the administrative coordinator in the Transportation Department.
Her atypical path first led her to a bachelor’s degree in secondary school social studies education before she developed an interest in management and completed a certificate in business administration. “I wanted to understand how we can structure and optimize work methods so that everything runs smoothly,” she explains. Today, she is at the heart of the team and its projects, supporting her colleagues by creating management and work tools that meet everyone’s needs, while also performing numerous administrative follow-ups and preparing service proposals.
Karen stands out for her passion for her role: “Designing tools, tracking project progress, and preparing administrative documentation allows me to contribute concretely to the success of our department.” The moments that make her the proudest are when her colleagues recognize her work and use her tools to improve their daily workflow.
Beyond her administrative responsibilities, Karen is actively involved in promoting French within gbi. The Human Resources Department launched the francization committee and asked her to develop the “Fous du français” lunchtime workshops. “During a workshop on common mistakes and anglicisms, participants realized they often made errors without even noticing. It was incredibly rewarding to see that we could help them improve,” she explains. Together with the committee, she selects themes and activities based on common errors she finds in the documents she reviews, ensuring the workshops are concrete and relevant for her colleagues. “It brings out my inner teacher at gbi — I absolutely love it.”
Recognized for her excellence in French, Karen is considered a reference within the firm and is frequently sought out by other departments. Her attachment to the language goes back several years and truly took root in high school, when she discovered a passion for writing opinion and argumentative texts. “I loved the structure we had to follow, the challenge of finding the right words, and building a clear line of reasoning,” she recalls. Since then, her curiosity has only grown. She enjoys understanding and being understood, enriching her vocabulary, and grasping the nuances that give depth to communication. She is just as fascinated by the meaning of words as by their origins: “Knowing where expressions come from and understanding the historical side adds a fascinating dimension to the language,” she says.
Her love for French also comes with a playful appreciation for local expressions. When asked about her favorite one, she answers without hesitation: “broche à foin.” An expression she prefers to avoid in her professional life: “My job is to make sure things are well organized — not broche à foin,” she says with a laugh. This cheerful rigor represents her well: demanding, yet always warm and human.
Her commitment to French has also extended outside the firm, when she took part in the Paul Guérin-Lajoie (PGL) Francophonie Dictation. This personal challenge allowed her to compare herself to other language enthusiasts and test her French skills in a stimulating and enriching context.
“Someone I knew had mentioned the PGL Dictation to me, and I found it interesting to take on the challenge, measure myself against others, and learn even more about the language,” she says. Enthusiastic, Karen also encouraged her colleagues to participate, turning the experience into a meaningful moment of shared motivation within the firm.
For her colleagues, her advice remains simple and accessible: “Read as much as possible, in every form. You just need to find the topic and format that capture your interest. It’s the best way to improve your French and develop your vocabulary.” She adds that she often pauses her reading to look up the definition of words she doesn’t know, so she can fully understand what the author meant. “Language is a communication tool that helps us connect with others. Getting to know people and building strong relationships are important values for me,” she explains.
Karen summarizes her experience at gbi in three words :
“team, flexibility, learning.”
Her commitment, rigor, and curiosity make her a pillar of the transportation department: always ready to support her colleagues and contribute to gbi’s success.
