IF YOUNG MEMBERS of the Army Cadet program are wondering what their future might bring, they just have to look at Bryan Brulotte’s career for inspiration.
Brulotte started his long career serving the military as an Army Cadet when he was just 13 years old. From there he joined the regular army via the military college system at College Militaire Royale de St-Jean and graduated as Cadet Wing Commander – and that was just the beginning! As he says: “Over the past 40 years, I have served as a full-time regular officer and part-time reservist. Today, I am the Honorary Colonel of the Governor General’s Foot Guards in Ottawa.” His service has included being stationed in West Germany, qualifying for his parachute wings, and serving as an aide-de-camp for the Governor General at Rideau Hall. Brulotte is also the Chairman and CEO of MaxSys Staffing & Recruitment and holds an MA in History, an MBA, and a Doctorate in business administration.
His pivot from being in the army to managing a small army of more than 100 recruiters, support staff, management, and executives came in 1993 when he left the regular forces. He was briefly employed as an executive assistant to the Federal Minister of Public Works but turned to the private sector when the government changed parties. He founded MaxSys in his basement and, from this modest setting, the company grew to have 15 offices and 100 million in annual revenue. It’s been an extremely rewarding journey and he describes the time when MaxSys was recognized as one of the top 50 Best Managed Firms in Canada as one of the absolute highlights of his
career.
While the path to success always has challenges, Brulotte says that there were never any obstacles so big that they were insurmountable. In his own words, that’s: “Not because there were no barriers…. (there were) but because I am wired to not see myself as a victim. Instead, I always approach challenges with the idea that anything is achievable and can be mastered or overcome.” He also believes in the power of forming a strong team, saying: “I engage quite openly and often with my work colleagues; socially and professionally. In many respects, we are like a band of brothers.”
Young executives eager to replicate Brulotte’s level of success can rest assured that they don’t necessarily need to have a basement of their own to launch a company! Instead, he suggests a different approach: get to understand your client. He states that prior experience as a member of the military, either in the reserves or regular forces, is highly beneficial. But he also recognizes that this isn’t possible for everyone. In that case, he suggests that young executives ‘walk’ the proverbial ‘talk’. He advises: “Go on operational exercises, hang out with the troops, and learn intimately their hopes, fears, needs, and operational requirements personally. This will hold you high in their esteem and give you “street cred”.”
Despite forays with politics and years spent running a large company, Brulotte is still very much a military member. He enrolled in the primary reserves with the Governor General’s Foot Guard Regiment in 2007. In December 2013, he was appointed their Honourary Colonel. It’s a role that has kept him extremely busy. In fact, Brulotte was part of the team that first drafted the vision for the Regiment’s 150th-anniversary celebrations when planning first began in 2015. In 2019, he personally committed $150,000 in funding to support anniversary events which took place in 2022.
His ongoing role with the Governor General’s Foot Guards has included such exciting moments as enjoying a private audience with Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, at Buckingham Palace. But when he thinks about the most rewarding part of his career in the defence industry there’s only one answer: the people. Brulotte describes it: “Defence in Canada is a small community. I can go to virtually any city or military facility and meet people I know. It’s not only the friendships (that are rewarding) but also a common mission and purpose in supporting the country: Something bigger than oneself.”
Not surprisingly, Brulotte is dedicated to helping the Armed Forces grow. When he looks forward to the rest of the year, he wants to meet the rising challenge of growing recruitment levels. As he says: “I strongly believe that the existing recruiting issues within the Canadian Armed Forces can be fixed. A lot is being done, but more can be achieved. I would very much like to assist in that regard.”
