BCBusiness

37 B C B U S I N E S S . C A S E P T E M B E R 2 0 24 "There are so many strong leaders at the city who have been there for a num- ber of years," says Bazett. "And we have younger, emergent leaders who are keen to stay with the organization and learn and grow within it." Since 2018, some 50 staff at the city have been mentored through the year-long pro- gram. "It's really to foster a learning culture and develop the talent pool," says Bazett. "And it strengthens the leadership within the organization as well." Bazett would know—she went through the program last year. She was paired with Shayne Dyrdal, director of finance and corporate services at the Kelowna Interna- tional Airport. (Another thing that Kelowna does differently: it's home to the country's largest municipally owned airport. It's Can- ada's 10th busiest.) "Shayne is an inspiring woman leader in the traditionally male-dominated avia- tion sector," says Bazett. "She's earned the respect of a lot of her peers nationally and even internationally for the work she does. It's been incredible for me to see her will- ingness to offer mentorship to emerging women leaders." The two already knew each other, as Bazett would occasionally help with the airport's communications efforts. But the program brought on a new level of close- ness. "You're supposed to meet approxi- mately eight times throughout the year," says Dyrdal. "You set up the time together, how you want to meet and what you're most comfortable with." For Bazett, the program embodied key parts of the organization's principles. "One of our corporate values is to work as one team," she says of the municipality. "The airport is a completely different depart- ment than I'm located in—Shayne is at YLW, I'm at city hall. And yet, it's brought us closer together." Dyrdal, who describes Bazett as "a star before we started working together," offers rave reviews for her ability to elevate her leadership skills. "It was an honour to be able to work with her on some of the things she was finding challenging and really wanted to grow and develop in," says Dyrdal. "Before Axelle was in the position she is, it didn't even exist within the orga- nization. She's built it up fully." That includes a recent hire for Bazett's team that she thinks will help boost her department. "There's a desire for innova- tion and new ideas, which has allowed me a path to create a niche in local govern- ment," Bazett says. "Capacity develop- ing was a big struggle for me; it helped to work with a mentor in terms of developing a business case for a new staff hire. We're accountable to taxpayers—hiring new staff isn't something the mayor and council take lightly. It's about showing the benefit to our residents." Bazett and Dyrdal still meet up often since the end of the program, but the tone is much more casual. "I still very much reach out to Shayne," says Bazett. "The importance of being an active listener and approaching opportunities with curios- ity—that's definitely something I learned from her. And just generally levelling up. To have an inspiring leader in the organi- zation, someone to look up to, to bounce ideas off, it really helps grow myself and the organization I work in." –N.C. – A xelle Bazet t SIPPING SUCCESS Their formal mentoring sessions are over, but Axelle Bazett (left) and Shayne Dyrdal still meet up regularly " SHAYNE IS AN INSPIRING WOMAN LEADER IN THE TRADITIONALLY MALE-DOMINATED AVIATION SECTOR."

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