Cross-training aids employee growth at NovAtel

Allan MacAulay started working at NovAtel Inc. – part of Hexagon, the global leader in digital reality solutions – as an application engineer 16 years ago, right out of university. Technology has changed a lot in the intervening years, as have the operations at the Calgary-based tech company, which provides navigation and positioning systems for agricultural, aviation, marine, transportation and other uses.

Thanks to NovAtel’s training and support, MacAulay has been able to keep pace with those changes, taking on several different roles before landing in his current position as vice-president of sales enablement. “It’s been exciting,” he says. “Every few years, there’s a different challenge or opportunity to take on, and that keeps it interesting.”

MacAulay has taken advantage of a number of NovAtel’s professional development programs, including a mentorship program that pairs employees with leaders in different areas.

“Mentees are matched with the right mentor for what they’re trying to get out of it, whether that’s learning about technology, networking, sales or marketing,” MacAulay says. “I’ve participated every year, initially as a mentee and then as a mentor, and now I’m paired with people around the world at different stages of their career, which is really fun.”

The company also supports continuing education for staff, which is particularly important in a field where tools and standards are always changing. “I was supported to do an MBA part-time while working full-time,” MacAulay says. “People do continuing education courses at the University of Calgary, and we also have a platform for online courses.”

Haley Wiese is an agriculture segment manager focused on global navigation satellite system-based positioning, autonomy and machine control for agricultural vehicles. Like MacAulay, she appreciates the opportunities she’s had for learning and development.

“I come from an engineering background, and they’ve really supported my cross-training in marketing and business,” she says. “They support employees to cross-train in different areas and move to different roles. And there’s a Women in Leadership program with training and mentorship that has helped me expand my network and given me tools to excel as a leader.”

Wiese also appreciates the company’s flexible work environment. “I work in hybrid-mode, so part of the time I’m in the office, which is awesome for in-person collaboration and meeting up with colleagues, and then I get more focused time at home,” she says. “That flexibility has been really nice.”

NovAtel supports employees’ health and wellness with a flexible health spending account and a focus on fitness. “There’s a gym and a walking path that’s nice for one-on-ones during the work day,” says MacAulay. “Instead of sitting at a desk, you can go for a stroll around a pond. And we encourage people to bike to work, so there’s bike parking and storage.”

There are also employee-led sports meetups. “Every week, a set of employees meets at lunch to play soccer, a long-standing thing I’ve participated in, and there’s another group that goes rock climbing,” says Wiese. “And the company runs coffee socials where everyone can get together.”

NovAtel employees are encouraged to participate in the annual Calgary Corporate Challenge, which raises funds for local charities, and the company matches their charitable giving to various causes.

“We do Movember every year, and last year we combined it with a Pink Ribbon Campaign to support both men’s and women’s health,” says MacAulay. “The company is very supportive of employees engaging in these things, and the corporate match for employee donations multiplies the giving to a really nice level.”

This article appeared in the magazine announcing this year's Alberta’s Top Employers winners, published January 28, 2025 in the Calgary Herald and Edmonton Journal. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, which reviewed but did not write its contents.