Simone Alleyne started working at McDonald’s when she was 15 years old so that she wouldn’t have to ask her parents for money.
She thought it would be a good summer job, but 38 years later, she is still there. “I never had a reason to leave,” she explains. “From the very beginning, I had this sense of belonging. … It’s not always so easy to find that and you don’t have to be excluded from something to not feel included.”
Now Senior Director of DEI, Culture & Change at McDonald’s Canada, Simone has filled over a dozen different roles at the company. But her biggest transition was her move from working as a crew person in the restaurants to starting a job in human resources.
“There was a shift that I had to do from being in the restaurants to … being in a corporate environment. I had to all of a sudden go from wearing a uniform every day to now I needed to have outside clothes and … project myself in a different, professional way.”
She credits her success to the circle of trusted colleagues and mentors she built around herself, reminding us that “none of us can do what we do alone. So … get your thought partners, find your advocates, find your mentors, find your sponsors, [and] build a community to help and support you.”
Through the example of senior leaders at McDonald’s, Simone also learned that it’s possible to be both powerful and kind, as well as the importance of “staying true to what you believe in … knowing and being yourself, standing by what … you do, and above all else, being kind to others. And if you’re able to do all … of those, you will be successful in anything that you try.”
Now a senior leader herself, Simone asks, “how do I give back and how do I shift from being a consumer of opportunities to being a producer of opportunities for other people?”
This is a question that can guide all of us as we look to champion diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplaces and communities.
To hear from Simone and other gender equity and DEI champions, attend Catalyst Honours on 7 Oct, 2024.
Why Simone is an HR/DEI Champion:
Women in Leadership Representation: Simone spearheaded local adoption of global targets to increase women’s representation in senior leadership at McDonald’s Canada. Her strategy integrated gender balance into talent review and succession-planning processes, and McDonald’s Canada achieved parity two years ahead of schedule.
Mentorship Program: Simone led the development of a program that paired diverse employees with leaders at all levels of the organization. Participating mentees advanced their career goals and augmented their skills and confidence to build deeply authentic relationships.
Operator DEI Playbook: Simone conceived and developed this pioneering tool, which empowered 265 Owner Operators across Canada with resources to accelerate women talent and foster inclusive cultures. The playbook exemplifies Simone’s grassroots approach to driving DEI change within McDonald’s.
