Hilda Gan (BScN 1975, MHSc 1996) is often described by others as fearless, but instead, she sees herself as a problem solver who approaches challenges through deliberate incremental steps.
That mindset has guided her journey from ICU nurse to President and Chief People Officer (CPO) of her own company, People Bright Consulting Inc. where she helps organizations create healthy, people-centric work cultures.
Gan is the creator of the REVUP framework, an acronym for Respect, Equality, Valued, Uniqueness, and Potential. To develop the framework, she drew on leadership experience she had gained co-building an engineering company, iTRANS Consulting, with her husband, which was recognized as one of the Best Workplaces® in Canada, ranking in the Top 10 twice.
Gan says that REVUP reflects the values that shaped her nursing practice and her leadership philosophy.
“I cared about every patient, every family member, every nurse. REVUP is simply who I am at my core,” says Gan.
Gan credits her nursing education at U of T for setting the foundation for her diverse career. There was a particular assignment that stuck with her she recalls, that involved documenting how “small steps” shape clinical reasoning and decisions-making.
“That assignment taught me that confidence grows from taking one step at a time. It’s a principle that has guided my life” says Gan.
Gan’s first step was putting herself through university. Drawn to the combination of science and compassion that nursing offered, she supported her studies by working in the relief pool at Toronto General Hospital. Upon graduating, Gan chose to work in the ICU to challenge herself and found that she loved the pace and complexity of her role. She discovered how her nursing degree could open unexpected doors.
“I always loved teaching. When my husband and I moved to Calgary, I taught in the ICU at Foothills Hospital and was able to combine my love for people with my love of nursing and teaching,” says Gan.
Her keen ability to connect with people, and her detailed coordination of care delivery, soon had her employers offering her nurse manager roles. Though she had never been a manager before, she accepted the challenge with intention and had a clear set of values – honesty, fairness, and an open-door policy.
These principles stayed with her through several leadership positions including Director of Critical Care and later Director of Patient Care Systems at the Scarborough Hospital, leading the implementation of computerized information systems in the early 90’s. She was also one of the early members and President of the Ontario Nursing Informatics Group (ONIG), an affiliate group of the RNAO that provides a forum for nursing and other professionals to communicate and disseminate current developments in eHealth.
Gan is a firm believer in having the courage to try and not letting imposter syndrome get the better of you.
“I learn by doing,” says Gan “When a toddler first learns to walk, they fall, they get up, they try again. They aren’t discouraged by their first stumbles. They master one speed and move on to the next speed and master that. That is how I approached my career and encourage others to do the same,” says Gan.
This approach has helped Gan move beyond healthcare roles and earn her Master of Health Science Administration (MHSc) degree from U of T, after which she joined her husband in building iTRANS Consulting. They grew that engineering company from two employees to more than 100 across seven Canadian offices. The company’s success says Gan, reflected her deep belief that when people feel valued, they thrive.
“I brought everything I learned in healthcare—education, administration, leadership, and IT—to engineering. I had no regrets leaving my healthcare career because I never stopped doing what I loved most, caring for people.”
Today, as the President and CPO of People Bright Consulting Inc., Gan channels her passion into helping leaders and teams create workplaces where people feel respected, inspired, and motivated. Gan is also a motivational speaker and the host of the REVUP your Leadership Podcast, now in its seventh season. In each episode, Gan speaks with leaders who share real-world experiences and insights from their industries, about how to lead teams with purpose, inspiration, and a people-centred approach.
“My advice, especially to new nurses., is to discover who you are and what lights you up. Have the courage to choose what brings you joy, even if it is not something other people want for you,” says Gan. “It is important to love what you do, and love where you work.”