Vanguard Magazine

32 JUNE/JULY 2022 www.vanguardcanada.com GAME CHANGER See the full interview online Q How did you start out in this industry and how has it brought you to where you are today? I served over 20 years in the RCAF, at- tained almost 5000 C-130 hours; served in various operational and command roles; at the CF's School of Aerospace Studies; and in the R&D community. I've not drifted far from those roots. I served as President of CAE Professional Services, applying mod- elling and simulation technology beyond simulators. At General Dynamics Mission Systems, I led large-scale multi-system in- tegrations and exported Canadian capabili- ties. Then, as President of MDA Govern- ment, I helped deliver on many of Canada's space ambitions. Thales now extends my career of serving those who serve, which has evolved to become my north star. Q What is your role at your organization today? I'm honoured to work with 2200+ people from coast to coast as President and CEO of Thales Canada. We deliver value, innova- tion, and excellence to the defence commu- nity through our programs. We serve the RCN through the AJISS Enterprise (Arctic Offshore & Joint Supply Ship In-Service Support), a program that's as transforma- tional in capability as it is in its relational contracting model. As an electronic sys- tems integrator, we're building the heart of the Canadian Coast Guard's new fleet. We serve other critical sectors with ur- ban rail, avionics and space capabilities, and digital identity and security. Canada is also home to Thales digital centres of excellence, developing new capabilities to meet Canada's needs, and bringing more of Canada to the world. Q What was your most challenging moment? I'm either an overt optimist, or it hasn't happened yet. I see challenge as a forc- ing function in how people and systems develop and become anti-fragile, or more effective under stress. For context, in the early days of flight training, I had my doubts. Great mentors, coaches, and training programs enabled my success. Hard became achievable. It's about per- ception. Experience has taught me we can overcome anything when we understand we're never alone and invest in trust. Q What was your A-HA moment or epiphany that you think will resonate most with our reader, tell us that story. That trust is the energy source necessary to overcome any challenge. Twenty years ago, we were grappling with the concept of System-of-Systems – how to intercon- nect independent systems to achieve mis- sion success. Structurally, while indepen- dent in every way, these systems together deliver emergent behaviour and capabili- ties that help solve challenges. For me, this idea maps universally (to teams, organizations, and countries), if we allow ourselves to view people ab- stractly as independent systems (if you have children, you'll appreciate that analogy). We need only consider today's supply chain challenges as a use-case to appreciate the inherent complexity. Ulti- mately, any system-of-systems demands trust. Where trust is lacking, failure pre- vails. I'm focused on enabling systems-of- systems in all forms to address the chal- lenges we face. Q What is the one thing that has you most fired up today? I believe we're on the cusp of a digital nexus, where enabling technologies are collectively reinforcing one another and maturing together. This unique moment creates opportunities that were unattain- able ten years ago. I'm most excited by what we refer to as augmented intelligence – mission-critical systems that enable deci- sion-makers in difficult environments to make better decisions by using all the data to make the right decision, rather than the right data to make a decision. I'm often reminded of the OODA Loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) as a para- digm for decision-making and the impact speed has on success. Frankly, this is what drew me to Thales – clear and focused investment in Transparent, Understand- able and Ethical Augmented Intelligence (TrUE AI) – which we are developing right here in Canada as a cornerstone of digital transformation not just for the mil- itary, but across sectors. Q What is the best advice you received? I've been lucky to receive a lot (which could be a sign that people think I need it). I take it as a sign that we collectively care, which strengthens people and orga- nizations. My mother's guidance has no doubt shaped me. When I left the house, she would ask, "what exciting thing is go- ing to happen today?" She sent me into the world every day with a mindset of ex- pecting exciting things; my expectations shaped my perspective and, sure enough, I found excitement. Q What is a habit that contributes to your success? To me, a habit has to be simple enough to become one and effective enough to re- main one – engrained in your personal op- erating system. For me, the most simply applied, yet radically effective, system to enact change is to make lists. Daily, week- ly, monthly, yearly: lists give focus, enable prioritization, and help apply one's energy to challenges. Every morning, make a list; every night, assess progress. Adapt, rinse, repeat. Enjoy the profound feeling that often comes with ticking off an item. CHRIS POGUE PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER THALES CANADA

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