Lee Knafelc, B.Ed., CPHR, SHRM-SCP
Before opting to help build better workplaces by joining Ignite, I was Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Administration at PotashCorp, and Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at PotashCorp’s successor company, Nutrien. More recently I was Vice President, Human Resources at Viterra North America, a leading global marketer and handler of grains, oilseeds and pulses.
I have empowered switched-on teams through major organizational challenges including mergers, acquisitions, hostile takeover attempts, downsizings, capital expansions, strikes, lockouts and reorganizations. I’m proud of the fact that our teams supported and led real change while maintaining top-quartile employee engagement results and sub-3% turnover rates.
At the executive leadership table and the board table – and everywhere in between – I have experienced first-hand the power of a cohesive leadership team, clarity of purpose and communication. I believe that strategic collaboration differentiates business outcomes, and that sustainable change is not something that happens by accident.
What Ignites Me?
I always need to have at least one “Next Trip” file in the drawer. Travel is my passion and seeing the world gives me perspective and adds meaning to my daily experiences. But nothing gives me a greater sense of satisfaction than watching individuals and teams realize what they are capable of and how they can achieve even more. It’s a very powerful moment when someone says, “Hey, I’ve got this!”
