Early Life
Serge Godin was born in Shipshaw, Quebec, Canada, in 1949. Growing up in a family of nine children, he developed a strong work ethic from a young age. His father, an entrepreneur with a fifth-grade education, instilled in him the values of hard work and perseverance. Godin worked at his father's sawmill and later at a convenience store and dry cleaner's to help his family.
Rise to Success
Godin began his professional journey as an IT consultant. In 1976, at the age of 26, he founded CGI with $5,000 from his savings. Under his leadership as President and CEO until 2006, and later as Executive Chairman and Co-Chair of the Board of Directors, CGI expanded organically and through over 100 acquisitions. This growth transformed CGI into one of the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms globally, with a presence in over 40 countries. Godin's strategic vision and focus on employee ownership were key drivers of CGI's success.
Key Business Strategies
Godin implemented a disciplined management approach through the CGI Management Foundation, which emphasized stakeholder satisfaction, continuous improvement, robust frameworks, and disciplined execution. The company's growth strategy involved both organic expansion and strategic acquisitions, integrating various operations into its business model. His long-term vision and perseverance were critical to building CGI. Taking CGI public in 1986 helped fuel growth and broaden employee ownership.
Philanthropy
Serge Godin has been involved in charitable causes, establishing the Godin Family Foundation in 2000. This foundation focuses on alleviating poverty, promoting education, and improving the health of disadvantaged children and teens, supporting over 400 schools, hospitals, and youth organizations.
