‘You have the opportunity to really put yourself out there and do things out of your comfort zone’

It’s a transition not often seen in HR: Going from a law degree to becoming an HR leader.

But that’s just what Beatriz Grubesic did when she attained a law degree in Sao Paulo, Brazil, before moving on to eventually take the role of vice president of people at Labatt Breweries of Canada – where she has worked for almost 15 years.

“My story is very unique,” she says in talking to Canadian HR Reporter.

“As soon as I finished law school, and that was 17 years ago, I was looking for two things… to work for a company with global impact where I could dream big, and I could implement big things, but also, I wanted to work in an area that I could make a difference… making a difference in people's lives was important to me. And I think that the biggest connection to HR that I can make there.”

In addition, all the skills that Grubesic learned about problem solving in law was helpful for HR, she says, “so it's been very good.”

Long-time career with Labatt

Grubesic first started at Labatt Breweries in Toronto as a rewards specialist in 2010, where she grew to become manager of people business service.

By 2016, she moved over to the Anheuser Busch division as global project manager, before returning to the Labatt in Canada in 2021 to progress to her current role.

It has been quite a journey, she says.

“It's a company where you have the opportunity to really put yourself out there and do things out of your comfort zone. And  I moved countries three times through my journey with Labatt; I started in Brazil, moved to Canada moved to the U.S., and now back to Canada.

“[Labatt is] one of those places that you have the opportunity to do that, because if you want to be part of the solution, if you're raising your hands and willing to take some risks, you're going to have opportunities that perhaps you won't have in other places.”

It's a very fun, fast-moving industry, says Grubesic.

“We say… the consumers are the boss. And it's an industry that is always evolving, with different generations, with the different habits that people build before and after the pandemic. So it's an industry that is always evolving.

“And I see that as a very exciting industry to be at, because you're always getting challenged, you're always getting to think about: how you need to pivot; what are the new needs of the business; what are the things that you need to bring to the table to support that business? So being able to adapt, being able to take risks in certain areas, is super important.”

Given that challenging environment, it creates a lot of opportunities for employees, she says, “to innovate, to bring new ideas, to challenge the status quo.”

Changing cultures when changing countries

Considering Grubesic’s extensive travels, does she find big cultural differences within Labatt from country to country? Not necessarily, she says.

“Our company culture is actually very consistent in the different countries that I have observed. We have a set of principles that are global company principles. And everywhere that I have been, I've seen everybody rally behind those principles.

“And for me, that was a very big point of pride, to see how consistent that was… the open office space, the way that the office was set up, the way that people talk, the language that they use.”

However, in the HR space, there are cultural nuances that need to be considered, says Grubesic, to make activations “more tangible for the audience that we are working with.”

HR priorities at Labatt

Three months into 2024, the HR team is continuing to elevate the employee experience at Labatt, which has roughly 3,300 full-time employees and 300 temporary ones, she says.

“[It’s about] looking at some of the key feedback points, bringing in more technology [for] the way that we're interacting with employees, trying to innovate a little bit on that space, because I think we were a little bit behind when it comes to, using tools for communication, for recruitment, and we want to expedite that a little bit.”

Recognized as one of the top employers in Canada, Labatt is also focused on its culture and continuing to innovate to maintain its “edge,” says Grubesic, while making sure that employees have meaningful connections.

“We know that after the pandemic, and the past two years, we have a lot of new hires, we have a lot of people still working from home part of the time and in our corporate offices, so how do we make sure that everybody understands how we operate, how we connect them to that bigger picture is a big priority as well.”

Community involvement is also an important offering at the company, including disaster relief through a water donation program and a partnership with Toronto Pride that has lasted over 20 years.

“It's something that is… very important to us as a business because we say that we are here to create a future with more cheers. That's our company motto: We strive to ‘create a future with more cheers.’”

And looking ahead, HR will continue to evolve as it has in the past, along with expectations, according to Grubesic, citing the changes in human resources over the years.

“I think the need for us to be in tune with what's happening in the business, for us to be present, where things are happening is so important. Because for you to truly play the strategic role of moving the business forward, of being an enabler, you need to understand the broader business — what are the gaps, what are the strains? — so you can play that role of being a true adviser.”