Employee Spotlight – Ahmed El Ganzouri


Employee Spotlight – Ahmed El Ganzouri

2019-08-26

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Meet Ahmed El Ganzouri, Sustainability Programs Manager based out of our Canadian Headquarters.

1)      How long have you been at GM and what is your current role?

As the Sustainability Programs Manager on the Environmental Strategy and Sustainability team, I oversee our air emissions and sustainability for Canada. I also work on leading global projects, integrating Circular Economy and Sustainable Materials into our design and vehicles. I just celebrated my 5-year work anniversary with GM Canada!

2)      What brought you to GM?

I heard a presentation by our CEO, Mary Barra, on the need to address Climate Change and GM’s role in shaping the future for the better. She was so candid and optimistic, but, more importantly, had a vision. I knew right away I wanted to be a part of this movement.

3)      What is the best part about your job?

I don’t know where to start! I truly think this is the best job for my personality: I love people, the environment and big ideas. I work with such a talented and brilliant team and we have such a strong relationship. I can rely on them for everything from technical expertise, restaurant recommendations, to midnight chitchats about life.

My portfolio is also very diverse. I get to work on some neat initiatives that have a real impact on the world. I can work on projects like integrating Recycled Materials and Ocean Bound Plastics into our vehicle components, leading Design Thinking workshops and working with the intricate mechanisms of RTOs (Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers) that eliminate 95% of the VOC emissions from our facilities. No two days are ever the same and I love that!

4)      How has GM helped you grow?

When I first started at GM, I was a shy guy! I was an engineer that wanted to spend my day with excel files and modelling tools. Today, I am that guy in the office giggling away (a bit too loudly at times). My team and time here have helped me break out of my shell. GM has taught me to explore unfamiliar territory and to be my authentic self.

Our team has a philosophy of ‘Right People, Right Place’. This has let me work on things I am truly passionate about, and that is how I got involved with Circular Economy. I was given the resources to explore and see what I could do. I believe that you must be passionate about the work you’re doing and truly see the value and connect to it. You also need to be curious and comfortable being uncomfortable; because it’ll take asking a lot of awkward questions and discerning novel concepts to address problems that have never been addressed before.

5)      What is the coolest thing that you’ve accomplished since being at GM?

Last year, I led our application and campaign to win The Sustainability Development Goals Award from the United Nations Global Compact Network in Canada. I was excited about the partnerships and alignments this award forged. These relationships were a catalyst to some of the exciting initiatives we are currently working on.

GM envisions a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion. Canada is leading that with our landfill-free operations by hiring 1,000 engineers to advance Autonomous and Electric vehicles and connecting 6,000 students to their environment through our ecoSTEM program. I’m so proud of my team’s work to advance humanity forward and address our socio-enviro-economic impact on a global scale. It’s thrilling to plan and work on what’s next.

6)      What’s your favourite GM vehicle?

I am 100% biased but the Chevrolet Bolt EV! And, I will shamelessly ‘plug’ that it has a range of 383 KM on one charge.

7)      If you could drive to one place where would it be?

One of my favourite trips was a 2-week road trip around the entire coast of Iceland. Next on my list is the Carretera Austral in Chile – 600 miles winding through rainforests, glaciers, volcanoes, fjords and mountains. It’s perfect for my short attention span and I would also only need to charge the Bolt EV 3 times for the whole trip!

8)      What do you do on your free time?

Camping, hiking, and portaging. I love spending time outdoors and mixing it with travel. I even got to hike up to the Mt. Everest Basecamp.

9)      What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?

I have another favourite hobby. It’s a bit nerdy, but I collect stamps. I can talk about them all day and night!

10)  What’s one skill you would like to master?

Baking! I love spending time in the kitchen but can’t follow a recipe. This usually works out well when cooking dinners, but I am a disaster when baking. Maybe my skill should just be ‘how to follow instructions’.

11)  What movie title best describes your life?

Confessions of a Shopaholic!