Pathways’ managing partner, Laurie Sterritt, on thresholds and what lies ahead for Pathways in 2025.
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For the last month or two, I’ve been thinking about thresholds. They can often signal a time of transformation, and crossing them requires vision, adaptability, and a commitment to growth. They’re also a wonderful reminder that progress is not just about reaching destinations but embracing the journey of change itself.
Pathways is at a threshold – in a period of transition where we’re stepping out of the familiar and into something less clearly defined but filled with potential and possibility. With a full year of operation under our belt, we’re taking what we’ve learned over the last 15 months, and what we know is coming, and letting the two converge to shape our future.
Our team continues to grow, in size and capacity.
Our team is evolving to support growing demand for our services in Canada and the United States. Every day, 13 amazing individuals – more than half of whom are Indigenous – bring their different perspectives, skills, and energy to work. It’s inspiring to be part of such a creative, compassionate, purpose-driven group.
Several of us have worked together for many years and transitioned to Pathways as a collective – so, while Pathways is just over a year old, we’re much more mature than we are on paper! The trust, familiarity, and respect between us has been a solid foundation upon which to attract new colleagues and build this business into a vibrant Indigenous recruitment and executive search firm. Everything we do is guided by Indigenous values and we are uniquely qualified to support the attraction, evaluation, hiring, and onboarding of individuals for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous clients.
We’ll keep embracing transformation and change. To support this, we continue to invest in building capacity across the organization – in the knowledge, skills, and abilities of current and future employees, and in the systems and tools we need to operate efficiently and deliver value to candidates and clients alike.
We’re expanding into new markets.
Our commitment to building a values-driven brand guides our actions, fuels our success, and continues to help us attract job-seekers, talent-seekers, and repeat business. Whether we’re working with small communities or global multinationals, our client approach is the same: foster community, inclusivity, and positive change.
Every time we onboard a client or secure a new project, we ask why they are choosing Pathways. Connection is often at the root of it; whether literally – through our networks – or because people resonate with what we do and how we do it. I can’t tell you how validating it is to know people choose Pathways because of our people, our values, and our mission.
Continuing to build on the momentum of 2024, this year we’ll remain focused on making connections – including with organization that, like us, are working to ensure Indigenous leaders are present, active, and influential in organizations worldwide. Diversifying our client base and the types of projects we undertake is a threshold of sorts, and we are excited about opportunities to expand our service offerings more broadly, including working more with corporate and community clients in the United States.
We’re ready for what lies ahead.
Thresholds are inescapable, aren’t they? It may be the moment when an organization moves beyond intention into addressing systemic barriers, embracing cultural competency, and creating pathways for meaningful workforce representation and engagement. Or the day an Indigenous professional decides they are going to find a way to share their knowledge, skills, and experience in a new role and organization where they will thrive.
Last year was experience-rich and has brought Pathways to our present threshold. I am beyond proud to be building an organization recognized for the quality of our work and expertise in the field of Indigenous recruitment. And to work alongside colleagues, candidates, and clients who are also striving to effect change, in lives and their organizations.
We have all worked hard to get here, know we have a long way to go, and can’t wait for what’s next! Let’s take the next step together!
With thanks, best wishes for the new year, and much love,
Laurie