Lyne Lamothe

“I wanted to bring out the best in myself and be successful so that my daughter would be proud of me. And she gives me the courage to do it. To be an accomplished woman, you need to know who you are and accept every aspect of yourself. I had to trust myself. You can’t please everyone, so you might as well respect yourself first.”  

Lyne Lamothe is a person who exudes courage and kindness. A transformational leader and accomplished executive for the past 30 years, Lyne is Chief People Officer at Previan, an industrial technology group. She has led complex transformations in the sectors of financial services, media, consumer goods and entertainment for such major organizations as Fiera Capital, La Presse, Saputo and Cirque du Soleil. She’s a successful manager with a proven track record. Today, she’s boldly saying YES to support children with cancer. 

Passing the torch from one Audacieuse to another 

When approached by Anouk Petit, a 2023 participant in Les Audacieuses, Lyne was at first surprised, then deeply touched. “I’ve worked with Anouk at Saputo. When she called to say she’d thought of me for the shaved head challenge, I was thinking, ‘What did I ever do that Anouk would think of me for this wonderful project?’” 

Lyne is always willing to pour her heart into a good cause. “I’ve been supporting causes for many years now. This year, I decided to make both a financial and a personal commitment. And Les Audacieuses is an excellent project for achieving those two objectives.” 

Lyne wants to give less importance to how others see her. “I’m doing this primarily to support children with cancer and their families. I think children are perhaps a bit less aware of others’ perceptions, but the older we get, the more aware we become—and the more important it becomes. I find the Audacieuses project both unique and profound. That’s why I said yes.” 

What impresses her most about Leucan are the comprehensive support services offered to families. “This allows parents to take care of their sick child without forgetting about their other kids. It’s important that they can focus on their family and that an association takes care of the rest. It’s beautiful and essential all at once.” 

Why am I the way I am? 

At some point in our lives, we question our role on Earth and try to find some meaning in our existence. Lyne can remember wondering about this when she was very young. She wanted to know what she brought to others. “Obviously, my parents played a big part in shaping who I am. But when I was a teenager, I’d wonder why I was on this planet . . . that there must be a reason for each of us to be here. What was my contribution? Throughout my life, I’ve often been told that my energy and natural kindness are qualities that really touch the people around me.” 

Now 53 years old, Lyne can see the value of having stood by her principles during her lifetime. “All the decisions I’ve made were aligned with my values. I’ve always managed my energy so that everyone could benefit from it. I’ve always made sure to put myself in a position where I could show courage in the face of difficult decisions, in both my professional and personal life. And I’ve always treated others with kindness.” 

Lyne is the mother of a beautiful 23-year-old woman. “I wanted to bring out the best in myself and be successful so that my daughter would be proud of me. And she gives me the courage to do it. To be an accomplished woman, you need to know who you are and accept every aspect of yourself. I had to trust myself. You can’t please everyone, so you might as well respect yourself first.”  

Hooked on progress 

Progress and learning are what motivate this spirited, dynamic woman. “I’ve always loved growing personally and professionally. It’s like an addiction! I feel a compulsion to keep moving forward and evolving. That doesn’t necessarily mean climbing the corporate ladder, but rather to feel that I’m learning and giving back . . . becoming a better person.” 

Lyne is a very curious woman and believes this is the key to happiness. “In my twenties, I volunteered at a seniors’ centre. My only task was to entertain them. I made an important observation during that time: the happiest people were those who were still reading, asking questions and curious about everyday life. They still wanted to learn and grow. That was a real eye-opener for me.” 

“I believe that leadership creates followership. When you’re a good leader, people want to follow you, and that brings out their own genius. By “genius” I mean a person’s unique strength, which may be a personality trait that sets them apart.” 

Proud of her courage and boldness 

Courage is an innate quality in Lyne. “Courage leads the way to boldness. Boldness leads to action, which breaks down barriers, leading us down new paths. I believe that bold people are also courageous people.” 

When Lyne thinks of her happy, fulfilled daughter, she feels she made the right choices. “I gave her the best of myself. Today, when I look at her, I’m impressed by the woman she’s become. I’ve always encouraged her to speak up when she has something to say—to know her values and be respectful of others, including their differences. I look at her with a lot of pride because she seems to have taken that on board.”