Toni Bodunrin is a passionate and driven Cloud DevOps consultant who loves her job and has a constant desire to learn. Eager to tackle new challenges and always striving to be the best she can be, Toni is committed not only to her professional growth but also to contributing to the success of her team and the projects she works on. She enjoys playing tennis to unwind and recharge.
Hi Toni – can you tell us how you began your career with CGI?
In the spring of 2022, I was researching prospective employers as I was completing my studies and a contract as a lab manager at Toronto Metropolitan University. I was responsible for various administrative tasks and ordering products for students. I found CGI through LinkedIn and applied to become a Java developer. During the interview, the recruiter asked if I would be open to interviewing for a Cloud DevOps consultant role instead, as it was a better fit. Since I love DevOps, I was open to the suggestion, and here I am!
What convinced you that CGI was the right place for you?
Things clicked into place during the interview process. I could tell that CGI wasn’t hiring me to “tick a box” or only fill an open position. It mattered to CGI that I was in the right role and would have the opportunity to thrive. That’s the kind of thing I was looking for in an employer.
My conviction about CGI's suitability strengthened when I met my leaders. Their recognition of my potential and the promising growth opportunities at CGI were the deciding factors for me. I was thrilled to join an organization that would foster my career development and help me become the best I can be.
That’s amazing. Can you tell us more about your role?
As a Cloud DevOps consultant, I am responsible for deploying, maintaining and enhancing cloud infrastructure to support our clients and the cloud enablement team in our Canada operations. My role encompasses various tasks, including designing, writing and testing Terraform code to create Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and Microsoft Azure Cloud infrastructure to meet client requirements. I also perform testing to ensure seamless operation and manage some aspects of the service billing.
I’ve gained a lot of experience developing the CGI PulseAI Google Cloud Platform infrastructure, as it allowed me to work with clients in the energy, manufacturing, wealth management, and capital markets sectors.
Sounds like you work on many interesting assignments. How do you make time for your professional development at CGI?
My manager is very supportive. He actively engages in my professional development by providing me with learning opportunities through our various client projects. The great part about working with different clients and technologies is that I am always learning something new.
I also get to learn from my colleagues, for example, how to deploy infrastructure using code, create VPNs and configure firewall rules for complex environments. Learning from my colleagues is hugely beneficial, as it saves time when I need help quickly. Instead of taking a two-hour course, my colleague can explain the same concept with practical examples in 45 minutes. I’m grateful to have such supportive colleagues!
I’m also interested in learning and improving my French, and I knew I could do that at CGI. The language learning program offered through CGI Academia, our internal learning platform, has helped me improve my French through videos, articles and grammar lessons.
What do you identify with the most in the CGI culture?
I strongly identify with CGI’s ownership culture; I feel like CGI is “our” company. As CGI Partners, collectively, we have a direct stake in building a company we can be proud of. This really resonates with me, and I see this spirit echoed in my colleagues as well. We all work together, constantly striving to improve, deliver excellent services to our clients, and participate in building a financially strong company.
Personally, this way of working is important to me because it reflects the person I am. I am someone who always tries to make wherever I am the best it can be. Seeing this reflected in CGI's culture makes it an amazing place for me to work and grow.
Finally, how do you strike the right work-life balance in your daily life? Do you have any hobbies?
CGI is very supportive of everyone finding the right work-life balance. In the summer, our team is especially encouraged to stay active; in fact, we use an app to track our physical activity. It’s very motivating to do this as a group with colleagues and to see our leaders participate as well.
Outside of work, I also like to keep busy; hobbies are essential! I play tennis two to three times a week, making sure it’s “penciled” into my agenda. It really helps me unwind and recharge.
Your testimonial is inspiring and motivating! Thank you, Toni, for sharing your story.
