About me.

I believe people should have a say in the workplaces they're helping to build.

I'm Deanne Gagnon, a facilitator who works with leaders, teams, and organizations to help people think together, work through challenges, make decisions, and figure out where they're going next.

At the heart of my work is a pretty simple belief: the people closest to the work often have valuable insight into what needs to change, what could be better, and what will actually work.

That's why I don't walk into a room assuming I have all the answers.

I create the space and structure for people to contribute their perspectives, understand one another, wrestle with different ideas, and figure things out together. Sometimes that's a leadership team planning for the future. Sometimes it's a team that wants to work better together. Sometimes it's an organization facing a decision that will affect a lot of people.

The situation changes. The principle doesn't:

Ask people. Listen to them. Involve them in shaping what comes next.

Why This Work Matters to Me

I've worked in places where I felt valued, trusted, and excited to contribute—and I've experienced what it's like to drag myself to work feeling like I was just another number.

That difference stays with me.

I believe people do better work when they know they matter, understand what they're working toward, and have opportunities to contribute to how they get there.

That's ultimately why I do this work: to help create more workplaces where people feel valued, leaders feel better equipped to lead, teams work well together, and organizations benefit from the knowledge and ideas already within their people.

And when I leave an organization, I don't want people thinking they were better because I had all the answers.

I'd much rather they realize how much they were capable of figuring out together.

When I’m not facilitating

you’ll probably find me…

  • A woman taking a selfie on a boat or near water, with a lake and trees in the background, under a cloudy sky.

    on the lake paddleboarding. This is my happy place, especially at dusk when the lake is calm.

  • A family of four standing in the snow with snowboards at a ski resort, with other skiers and snowboarders in the background, a ski lift, and snowy mountains.

    re-learning to snowboard. Sure, why not?!

  • Stack of books on a wooden nightstand, with a brass lamp and bracelets nearby.

    reading. Ohhh my love for books. Does any one else’s night stand look like this?

  • A man wearing glasses, a black cap, and a red long-sleeve shirt sitting at a table in a restaurant, with a large drink garnished with lemon and lime slices in front of him. A TV is mounted on a wood-paneled wall behind him showing a hockey game.

    enjoying a caesar and some nachos with my partner in crime.

  • A boy and a girl standing on a wooden deck outdoors, hugging each other and smiling. The boy is wearing a dark blazer, white shirt, striped tie, and gray pants. The girl is dressed in a navy blue top with a navy cardigan, a navy polka dot skirt, and pink sandals with flower decorations.

    hanging with my two favourite humans.