Kevin's story: Leading through uncharted territory

When Kevin Scott stepped into the Chief Human Resources Officer role at a major energy company, he was entering uncharted territory.

After decades in engineering, operations and refining economics, he was suddenly leading HR for more than 4,000 employees across four countries – and joining the Irving Oil senior leadership team.

"It was a brand new situation for me," Kevin recalls. "I really needed to count on managers and leaders doing their jobs – set strategy, delegate well, and rely on my team."

Kevin wasn't new to coaching. Over 20 years in management, he'd worked with three different coaches, recognizing early that leadership could feel isolating. But this transition demanded something more.

Accountability proved transformative

Enter Vision Coaching’s Bruce McLeod. With HR experience in large manufacturing organizations, Bruce understood Kevin's challenges – from board presentations to front-line employee relations.

"Bruce was always very practical," Kevin says. "We’d talk it all through, and then he’d boil it down: ‘So, what’s the next step?’ That accountability proved transformative."

For nearly five years, Bruce coached Kevin through ambitious changes: a multi-million-dollar Workday system implementation, revitalized student programs, and a cultural shift empowering managers to lead.

"It was that accountability that built self-confidence in unfamiliar areas – and confidence to act with my team, my manager, and our board."

Coaching a sign of confidence

The results spoke for themselves. Under Kevin’s leadership, the company was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for the first time.

"Bruce helped accelerate progress on foundational areas that are important but not always urgent – succession planning, modernization, and student programs,” Kevin says. “They need constant attention to become strengths."

Kevin’s experience reinforced that coaching isn’t remedial – it’s strategic. "It’s not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of confidence. I’m comfortable in my abilities – but I want to be better.  This approach served me well in my next role after HR, leading refining and supply for six years."

Now retired from corporate life, Kevin serves in board and consulting roles, carrying forward the foundation Bruce helped him build: confidence to tackle complex challenges, accountability to act decisively, and strategic thinking to keep moving forward.

Though Bruce passed away in 2022, his legacy lives on in leaders like Kevin – and in the power of coaching to drive meaningful transformation.

Want to explore how coaching can support your leadership journey? Visit visioncoachinginc.com or contact info@visioncoachinginc.com.