The Beginning of a New Era

Today marks the end of an era at Explorance, and acts yet as another reminder that while nothing is forever, our mark on humanity is often ever lasting especially if it is tainted with genuine kindness, goodness, and a few little touches of greatness here and there.

As I write these words, I am taken aback to September 26, 2011 when we were in the process of writing our biggest chapter at Explorance yet. This was a chapter of organic growth, an integral part of our story that would see us grow literally 25-fold over the next 10 years. Culture has always been very close and dear to me. There were only 21 of us, Explorers, on that journey then, and as CEO/Founder, I knew very well that I had a leading role to play in the upcoming chapter of growth. I also needed to stay loyal to the script we were writing for our story of success: we have always aspired to tell the story of a mighty company that puts people at the heart of its mission and strategy (its users, employees, their families, and everyone in their communities), a company that has outperformed and outlasted any other that chooses to do otherwise.

That same day was Zeljka's first day at Explorance as our dedicated People and Culture champion. This was when we became 22 Explorers strong. She had joined us without any prior HR experience, and that was exactly what we needed. We needed someone that is not stuck in their own ways. We needed someone that was not tarnished by the existing ways of doing things. I have always been a strong believer that there are things that we can learn, or acquire, in life, but that there are things we either just are, or simply that we can never be. These typically reside in the realm of our character, and those unique intangibles that define our identity and uniqueness as humans. In that role of People and Culture, we had seeked someone with a highly developed sense of empathy, someone that had an innate and deep care for people, someone that is adaptive, and someone that can thrive in partnership with me in cemening the foundation of our aspirational culture. In complicity, Zeljka’s mission was to help us architect the heart and soul of Explorance in a way that passes the tests of time and change.

Today, a little shy of her 10-year anniversary at Explorance, Zeljka has decided to move on, hopefully to those bigger and better places out there, making us proud to say that her journey started here, with us, as an Explorer.

At first, I struggled with the news of her departure as it felt like I was losing my partner in culture crime. Today, I am fast comforted by the thought that our culture is built built to last, it is built to pass the treacherous tests of time and change. I am also motivated by the idea of seeing Zeljka spread her wings and share her innate and contagious care for people, while putting into action her highly evolved competency in culture architecture, at another up and coming great place to work with and for.

Zeljka, thank you for all that you have done to support me, and my fellow Explorers over the times. Thank you for sharing your wisdom at every occasion when I strayed away from mine. Thank you for championing so well my envisioned culture-of-free-will journey and for leading the effort to turn us from just another company to being recognized today as the 2nd best employer in Canada. I wish you had stayed with me, in partnership, till we made Number 1. But I am comforted with the knowledge that when we do, it would have been all to your honor. Thank you for your patience with my ridiculous hours long end-of-year-party seating-assignment meetings, and for ignoring my ridiculous fits about that occasional little imperfection in the process. Thank you for championing and always finding a way to mistakenly identify the Quarterly heroes as you were trying so hard to secretly build up the excitement around who they are.

If there is one thing that I know makes you irreplaceable, it is your ability to keep up and be able to recgnize every single event or change in the lives of each Explorer. How did you ensure that Explorance was there for every Explorer’s wedding, funeral, birth, adoption, sickness, pet that joined, and pet that crossed rainbow bridge?

A good story is often a story that continuously evolves and is one that leaves us feeling forever impacted and impactful. As we continue to adapt and grow with what the future has, for us, in store; as we continue to face, and at times float with, the winds of change; we have seen many beloved Explorers extend their personal journey away from Explorance. Each haS mattered. They all still matter. To us, you will always be Explorance's honorary Queen of heart and soul … and to me, you shall remain the greatest partner I have ever had in Doing Good.

Keep on shining. Go all in. Go all out. And help us further cement the greatness associated with having been an Explorer.

And from the bottom of my heart, and from that of every Explorer out there, we say: Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! 

Once and Explorer, always an Explorer!