You can enjoy this interview in the format that suits you best. Click below to watch the full video with Stephanie, or scroll down to read the written interview.
Watch the full interview with Stephanie Germain.
When Stephanie Maria Germain joined Simms & Associates, the company was already recognized for delivering high-quality UKG implementations — but it was still very much a boutique organization. With around 20 people in the team, it combined strong expertise with a close-knit, collaborative environment.
For Stephanie, the decision to join felt natural. With a strong background in UKG solutions, consulting experience and fluency in multiple languages, she describes it as “the perfect fit”.
From the very beginning, what stood out to her was the balance between two key priorities: quality and people. Delivering excellent work was essential, but so was creating a culture where individuals felt supported and valued.
“Everybody supported everybody,” she recalls, highlighting the strong sense of community that defined the company in its early days.
As Simms has grown, that sense of community has not disappeared. Despite the increase in size, Stephanie believes those same values remain deeply embedded in the organization.
“We are living those values today, just as we did at the beginning,” she says.
Expanding perspectives and embracing new challenges
One of the most defining challenges in Stephanie’s journey came when she stepped outside her core expertise. After years focusing on global forecasting and retail implementations, she was asked to work on a timekeeping implementation in a manufacturing environment.
It was, as she describes, “a complete mind change”.
Although she understood the fundamentals, it was her first hands-on experience in this area, requiring her to quickly adapt to new operational processes and ways of thinking. The transition was not easy, but it proved to be a turning point in her development.
Looking back, she recognizes how important that experience was — not just as a challenge, but as a way to build a more holistic understanding of how different solutions connect.
“You have a holistic view afterwards,” she explains.
Her role has continued to evolve since then. Moving from a retail-focused consultant to a Solution Architect, she has taken on greater responsibility, leading projects and gradually stepping into more strategic work.
Alongside this, another unexpected area of growth emerged: mentoring. As the company expanded and more junior colleagues joined, Stephanie naturally found herself supporting and guiding others.
“You need to support them and mentor them,” she explains — something she now sees as both a responsibility and a privilege.
“It’s a blessing. It brings a lot of joy.”
A culture that stays the same
Despite being a fully remote organization, Stephanie believes that Simms has managed to maintain a strong sense of connection across the team.
“If you have a problem, there is always somebody who will help,” she says.
She describes the company as a “colourful community” — diverse, supportive and united by shared values. That culture of collaboration and openness is, in her view, what truly defines how people work together.
At the same time, the core principles of the company have remained consistent: a strong people culture, a focus on quality, and a commitment to delivering value.
Those values have also shaped her own experience within the company. After taking time away from her career to focus on her family, she faced challenges re-entering the workforce elsewhere.
In some organizations, she was told she was no longer “fit for purpose”. At Simms, however, the response was very different.
“They said: you’re capable. You’re going to deliver what you need to deliver,” she recalls.
That belief and support played a key role in her decision to stay — and in her continued growth within the company.
Looking ahead, Stephanie is particularly excited about the company’s strategic direction. Beyond implementation, she sees an opportunity for Simms to play a stronger role in helping organizations define and realize business value from the very beginning of their transformation journeys.
“For me, that’s where the real value is created,” she explains.
As our 10th Birthday Series continues, we keep celebrating the people who have shaped Simms & Associates — and those who continue to drive its future.
One story every week. One year celebrating the people behind Simms & Associates.