‘People-first’ AGCO champions leadership development

As senior advisor, anti-money laundering oversight, for the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), Michelle Pepin is on the front line of the province’s – and Canada’s – fight against financial misconduct in gaming.

Pepin has access to offices in many of the province’s land-based casinos, rotating among them while reviewing their processes and internal reporting. “It’s exciting and it’s challenging at the same time,” she says. “And it’s great because we build relationships with the operators, enabling us to educate or guide them while ensuring they meet the standards.

“It’s one of those jobs where there’s a lot of variety. It’s not the same Monday to Friday.”

Pepin is part of the AGCO network of inspectors covering alcohol, lottery and gaming, cannabis, and horse racing. Since joining as an electronic gaming inspector in 2014, she has steadily moved through the ranks, including stints in all these areas. Last year, she was selected for the commission’s first ever Emerging Leaders program.

“I’m someone who likes to learn and move on to the next level,” she says about applying for the program. “We did in-person and online workshops, had mentor programs, and learned about important areas like diversity, inclusion and accessibility. We also learned about decision-making and how to improve our assessments and challenge our biases.”

While still in the 12-member program early in 2024, Pepin was appointed to her current role. She is now pleased to mentor the next 15 entrants in the 2024-25 program.

AGCO CEO and registrar Dr. Karin Schnarr says the Emerging Leaders program was created to ensure “employees have the skills they need to grow and flourish. We are not a static organization.”

A year later, Schnarr says, “We’re already seeing the benefits. There’s been a huge amount of interest in participating in the next phase, and 50 per cent of the program’s graduates have already had lateral or promotional role changes. They’re actively applying those new skills.”

Schnarr says the AGCO has long maintained a “people-first” culture. “I’ve worked in the private sector, I’ve worked in academia, and when I started here in 2023, it was incredible to see people who’ve spent their entire career at the AGCO because they are passionate about the organization. There’s a real sense of collegiality here. People enjoy working with each other.”

Pepin echoes this sentiment. “They let you be yourself,” she says. “They give us the flexibility to do our jobs and the opportunity to share any concerns. We have an open door policy.”

She also highlights the AGCO’s commitment to volunteerism, with employees being able to take two days a year volunteering for charities like Feed Scarborough and other food banks, as well as Federated Health Charities. Pepin herself organized a golf tournament to support United Way.

But there’s one restriction, Schnarr points out with a smile: “As the regulators of gaming in Ontario, none of us are allowed to participate in any lottery. I can’t even buy a charity lottery ticket! And we can’t bet in a casino. We can go watch a horse race, but we can’t bet on it.”

This article appeared in the magazine announcing this year's Greater Toronto’s Top Employers winners, published December 3, 2024 in The Globe and Mail. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, which reviewed but did not write its contents.