Chantal Picard leads globally by staying true to open communications

Chantal Picard leads globally by staying true to open communications

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Two decades into her career, Chantal steers global operations by thinking strategically and communicating transparently — always.


In brief:

  • Since her earliest days at EY, Chantal Picard’s commitment to receiving and giving clear feedback has shaped her career.
  • Now an influential global executive, she stays true to those principles as a C-suite executive, leader, mentor and advisor dedicated to helping others develop and grow.

Chantal Picard leads with transparency. From her earliest days as an EY Canada co-op student to her global role as Chief Operating Officer for Canada, the Americas, and Australia) at The CSL Group, she’s stayed true to the belief that open, honest conversations define our success.

“At the beginning of my career, I received difficult but constructive feedback,” she remembers. “I learned that my perseverance and resolve were really much stronger than I imagined. It made me a better person and team member and it’s pushed me forward throughout my entire career.”


Chantal picard

Chantal Picard 

This philosophy has been a constant in her professional journey. After earning her designation as a Chartered Professional Accountant, Chantal joined CSL’s corporate finance team in 2009. A world-class provider of complex marine solutions, the business traces its roots back to 1845. Today, CSL is the world’s largest owner and operator of self-unloading vessels, the third-largest operator of cement carriers and a leader in high-efficiency transshipment solutions.
 

That’s a story Chantal has helped write through a range of roles spanning all aspects of CSL’s operations. She’s been instrumental in charting the company’s growth through senior leadership roles across financial planning and analysis, as well as commercial operations. She served as CSL’s Vice-President, Commercial, for Canada Steamship Lines before being promoted to COO in 2024.
 

Chantal credits her time at EY as pivotal in shaping her career, giving her a broad perspective on various businesses and industries, as well as essential skills, (from diligent analysis to sound documentation).
 

For Chantal, those formative years were critical. “They laid the foundation for my career and continue to influence and guide my professional path.,” she notes.
 

She loves the shipping industry and the opportunity to help build the next chapter of a truly global organization. Throughout, she’s been steadfast in her commitment to open communication and empowering others.
 

“You have to be open to having hard conversations in a respectful way. This is with the intent to help people grow, including yourself. It starts with self-awareness about the impact you have on others, and on yourself.”
 

As a mentor, Chantal continues to inspire others. Despite running a massive global operation, she still makes the time to sit with younger professionals aspiring to become leaders or parents and to achieve different goals.
 

“I dislike when people say you need a work-life balance because that would mean equally dividing your time among all the priorities in your life, which is impossible. Life doesn’t work like that,” says Chantal, who is raising two boys alongside her husband in Montréal.
 

“I lean into prioritizing and maintaining the health of those aspects of my life, and ensuring I put in the effort when it matters most. This has allowed me to be better at all the roles I play in my own life, while ensuring my own mental health.”
 

That includes carving out intentional time for camping, fishing, travelling and exploring the world with her family — as well as a burgeoning interest in golf. 
 

As always, the honesty she learned at EY remains a cornerstone of her leadership. “The person who gave me that difficult feedback is still at EY today. I consider him a friend, and a lifelong mentor. He’s been there through every step of my career and probably will be for all the next steps in my journey.”

Summary:

A well-rounded EY foundation and lifelong commitment to open communications fuel Chantal’s success at the helm of a world-class shipping and logistics organization.

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