Advanced technologies are impacting seemingly every industry these days. Just ask Helen Glover, whose background as a geomatic engineer has helped make her a key player in bringing the Canada-based railway company CN into the future. As the company’s Manager of Innovation, Glover is tasked with turning innovative ideas into real products that move the business forward and keep it on the cutting edge.
“Technology is an enabler to help us build the best operating plan possible and run it in the most efficient way for our customers, employees, stakeholders, and the environment,” she says. “It’s used in every step of moving rail traffic safely across our network.”
Here, she shares what led her to the railway industry, how CN has supported her as a woman in tech, and why now is an especially exciting time to join the company.
What inspired you to study geomatic engineering and pursue the path you did?
I’ve always been a STEAM person and ultimately I was looking for a career where I could nurture both my creative and analytical sides. Geomatic engineering let me do that since it blended geography, measurement technologies, and basics in getting from problem to product. Those skills have been highly transferable for me as I’ve gone from working as a field survey assistant to an engineering consultant to my highly varied career here at CN as a builder of the future of railroading. It’s been a fun journey for sure, full of unique stories, and it’s helped me find my passion for innovation management.
What led to your job at CN and how did you know the company would be a good fit?
I think it was just one of those things that was meant to be. I’m originally from Australia and in 2012 I took the leap of faith to immigrate to my husband’s hometown of Montreal. I needed a job but it was a closed market. Magically, CN was looking for a geospatial engineer to build a key element of a new safety system to prevent train collisions. They welcomed me with open arms and I’ve been growing a career here ever since.
As a global supply chain enabler, CN powers the Canadian economy, which resonates with me and is something I love contributing to day-in day-out. It’s also the people I work with at CN. They work hard for a common goal and are incredibly smart and kind.
You’ve been promoted three times since joining CN in 2012. How has the company encouraged and helped your growth?
The opportunities at CN are very diverse; it’s no small feat to operate services on 20,000 miles of track across North America while being leaders in sustainability and technology across the rail industry. I’ve been given the opportunity to develop depth of experience in our engineering team as a technologist but also to move to our IT team. This has let me tackle the best opportunities for growth and operational efficiency across all functions, which is very rewarding!
CN has not only supported my development as a people manager, but also backed my continuing education at MIT. I’ve also had incredible mentors who have guided me, inspired me, and advocated for me, particularly as a woman in tech. I try to mimic them in how I develop my own team.
How has CN pushed the railway industry forward through innovation?
With over 100 years of railway experience, CN has been a pioneer since day one. We’ve been first adopters throughout history, from LED lights to scheduled railroading to AI train inspection portals. We invest in technologies that deliver high-quality service to customers, improve safety, and create capacity. These include big data analytics, AI, automation, and digital platforms. We have also invested in partnerships, such as with Google Cloud and Université de Montréal, to lead in North American transportation and logistics in modern rail services and decision intelligence.
What are you responsible for as an innovation manager?
I manage a cultivated portfolio of ideas from across CN’s core business, turning them into inventions with the skills of my highly creative team, then finally into products that can be deployed at scale for high reward. We run a stage-gate process in lock step with internal business units, designed to reduce risk as we eliminate unknowns and validate the feasibility and viability of each new technology, algorithm, or way of doing things. My team is incredibly diverse so we can represent the huge breadth of knowledge required to jump from subject matter to subject matter, but also authentically connect with CN people and stakeholders.
Another service I manage is technology research, which helps plan how technology can enable CN’s sustainable, profitable growth in the most efficient and impactful way. I also love running design-thinking workshops and teaching others about new technologies coming their way!
What’s a current or recent project that was exciting or inspiring for you?
Well, that’s a secret. Half-kidding, of course. We’re looking at all the ways in which modern technologies can be applied to railroading, making it the best, safest, and most sustainable it can be. Some of the most impactful are cloud, which enables operational excellence, and advanced analytics, which is driving our decision intelligence in new ways. Ultimately we are using design thinking and systems engineering to solve the hardest business problems.
I’ve had fantastic opportunities to design the prototype for an innovative new customer shipment tracking application and build out the first autonomous track inspection railcar, both of which were very exciting and impactful. In general, I find it exciting to monitor the technology market and see the ingenious ways in which some are using IoT sensors, 3D printing, augmented reality, GenAI, and, my personal favorite, robotics.
Why is now an especially exciting time to work at CN, specifically in a tech role?
It’s incredibly exciting since we’re undergoing a digital transformation. We have more tools than ever before to design and deliver on the optimal customer experience and enable sustainable, profitable growth. There’s a wealth of opportunity right now for those with tech skills to shape the digital underpinnings of this Canadian institution.
How does CN support women in tech at the company?
In many ways! CN has measures for diversity, equity and inclusion, and conducts regular benchmarking. I’ve personally benefited from its generous maternity leave policy and having an on-site daycare is extremely practical. I’m a member of the women’s employee resource group, which organizes networking activities and inspirational speakers and I’m privileged to work alongside exceptional leaders who are women or make space for women to succeed.
What advice do you have for other women who want to earn a leadership role in tech?
It’s the simple things really. Develop your subject matter expertise, cultivate your executive presence, never let an opportunity go by you out of fear, and build a network of people who will advocate for you. More specifically for women, I always recommend to take the modifiers out of your language, such as “if you don’t mind” and “if it’s not too much trouble.” Also, only stay in teams where your work-life balance boundaries are respected and don’t hold you back in your career. We’re expected to be everywhere for everyone so burnout prevention is critical.
What is your favorite part about living in Montreal? What are a few things a visitor shouldn’t miss?
The people. There’s a lot of passion and creativity here, but also pragmatism and endurance. I think it’s led to a vibrant start-up community, particularly in the AI space. The city is rich in diversity, culture, and communities, which is also reflected in the company culture at CN. There is also so much fantastic art with that sense of whimsy characteristic of Cirque du Soleil. Don’t miss visiting the Old Port, hike up Mount Royal, eat some pastries and smoked meat, and try to grab a show when you visit.