Claire Auroi, Director, Business Transformation at Shaw Communications Inc., Calgary, Alberta
Ms. Auroi kindly accepted to answer AHQ’s questions on her profile as a French lawyer who travelled to and practiced in many places throughout her career.
- Describe your background
I am a French citizen and lawyer who graduated from Paris II University (known as “Paris Assas”) back in 1994 with a master of European Competition and Business Law. My goal at the time was to work in Europe and I started my career articling in Paris for the “Ministère de l’économie.” I was working on European merger and acquisition files for the “Direction générale de la Concurrence.” While it was always clear for me that I would work in a foreign country, my plans at the time revolved within Europe.
However, an opportunity showed up to collaborate on a project launched by the Competition Bureau of Canada in Ottawa to assess comparative laws on “abuse of dominance” in European and Canadian legislation. I was supposed to stay and work in Canada for 4 months, but I soon fell in love with a Canadian and Canada and decided shortly after to emigrate to Montreal.
I went through the “Comité d’équivalence du Barreau du Québec” and spent the next year at McGill to get the necessary credits to close the gap between French law and Canadian law before tackling the Quebec Bar School in Montreal. I had a chance to article for the legal services department of Bombardier Recreational Products and was admitted to the Quebec Bar in December 1998.
As I always considered my legal training as a key asset to explore varied business positions, I pursued my career for 15 years within Bombardier Aerospace occupying a number of positions, mostly in legal contracts, but also in strategic sourcing and international business development and sales. The common thread was negotiation in the extended sense: from establishing the relationship, to understanding and building comprehensively business cases (e.g. all commercial, technical and legal considerations included), drafting, negotiating and closing a deal!
I always considered myself first and foremost a business person with a legal expertise, keen to understand and be part of the team from day one and follow the performance of the parties after the contract is signed. My approach was always very pragmatic, ensuring the contract would be a balanced risk management tool that the parties could use efficiently to manage a fruitful relationship.
- What motivated your move to Alberta?
Well, as I like to say, sometimes stars align. In my case, within a matter of weeks, three key triggers made me decide to move to Western Canada. Firstly, my work-life balance at the time was pretty bad. I was travelling around the globe 80% of my time. This could sound cool in theory, but when the security person at YUL airport knows your name and what your kids do… it’s time to “get a life.”
Secondly, my close friend and mentor whom I had met at Bombardier had moved 18 months earlier in Calgary working for Shaw. Through her, I learned there was a job opening in Shaw’s legal department with a mandate focused on negotiating major deals with key partners of Shaw Communications. I knew this would be a great occasion for me to grow both personally and professionally while contributing to Shaw’s success. Lastly, I had changed my lifestyle drastically a few years before to live a healthier and more outdoorsy lifestyle. For anyone who has visited Western Canada, living in Calgary, one-hour drive away from the majestic Canadian Rockies, was simply difficult to resist!
- How would you describe your practice at Shaw Communications?
I can’t start by describing my practice at Shaw because Shaw is primarily a second home for me! Prior to my arrival at Shaw, I was obviously working for a great company considered a flagship in Canada and internationally, but my work environment was becoming more and more “uncaring” in a way that my health was at stake. I find it amazing how a “good work, have fun and rest this week-end” mantra can go a very long way.
Shaw was from the start a welcoming community made of amazing and successful people who always put human connections and care first. I recall my first meetings with my then boss, Shaw’s Chief Legal Counsel, where he would first spend some real quality time to ask me how I was adapting to Calgary, if I was making friends, etc., and only then would we jump on actual files! This absolute respect of people and sense of care has been true in all the positions I have occupied at Shaw ever since.
The other constant in working for Shaw is a great team work environment. There is no lost time or energy fighting internal politics or siloed departments. This was true in the legal department and it is still true in my current role, as a Director of Sales and Business Development of the Government & Education vertical within the Shaw Business division. I am not in the legal department as such, but again, my background and ability to connect, negotiate and build long term internal and external partnerships is key to my actual practice.
- What are, in your opinion, the advantages of living and working in Alberta?
I can only speak for what I know and have noticed. I would say Alberta companies and the Western way of life in general promote in average a healthier work-life balance with the fundamental belief that a healthier, happier employee will be more engaged and more productive.
Another advantage, especially as a lawyer, is the ability to get involved outside of your day-to-day job in the community and contribute to charitable organizations. If you have an interest, extra energy and a passion, you will find many ways to contribute to the community as a lawyer and as an engaged citizen, literally. I am currently sitting on the board of two cultural non-profit organisations, a Dance Company called “Decidedly Jazz Danceworks” and a music festival called “Sled Island.” When I tried to participate in similar institutions in Montreal, I found it very difficult to access those circles where you have to be part of the network and “know people” to get in.
- What do you miss most of Montreal?
My friends and family for sure! The vibrant festival season in Montreal, going to live plays in French and le Grand Prix de Montreal. Nothing that a flight and week-end in Montreal can’t fix!
