Ingenious women: Jenn Wilson

Growing up, I didn't have any Métis role models. There was no cultural association in my hometown and my friends weren't aware. My dad, who’s an historian, was always passionate about our heritage and culture, but when I was young, I didn’t identify with it. It wasn't until I was in my twenties and working in government with Indigenous families that it really sunk in that I shared the same heritage as some of those I worked with.

In 2014, I accepted a communications position at Austin Engineering—a hydroelectric firm that BBA acquired in 2022. At first, I didn't know a thing about engineering, but I quickly fell in love with the field! When you grow up preferring languages to math, you don't necessarily think about all the opportunities there are in the sciences, even though these fields are actually very creative and innovative. Not all women working in science and technology come from a technical background.

While BBA is known for its cutting-edge expertise, one may expect specialized skills to be valued more than people skills; however, I, like others, can bring my different and creative vision to our firm and contribute, each day, to building a better world for generations to come. For me, this proves that we need to continue to be diverse and open-minded, since it’s our differences that, when combined, create a balanced whole.

It’s essential for me to work in an organization that includes diversity in its core values. This means doing substantial groundwork before you get to the hiring stage. It takes a long time to break down stereotypes and that’s why I'm so proud that we publicly celebrate the diversity within our workforce.

Going forward, I hope to see more Indigenous applicants at BBA. Sadly, the legacy of intergenerational trauma creates so many extra barriers to getting there, and to support that change, we still have a lot of listening, investments, and reparations ahead of us. We also need to promote successful role models that children can look up to.

In my personal life, I've found a balance that includes Métis culture. It's rooted in the stories my dad has shared and lives on in my son, who is a 10th-generation Métis. At 13 years old, he's reviving many of our traditions and showing me that understanding where we come from adds richness to our lives.