Lost in Thought: An interview with Adam Grech, Senior Advance Operations for the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada
Working in the events industry, I often hear the phrase: ‘It takes a village’ and nothing is more true. Behind every large production is a hard working team. The same phrase can apply across the board for many different fields of work.
The swan metaphor is a perfect way to describe this. Swans move elegantly above water, but beneath the water’s surface, its webbed feet are kicking hard to propel it forward. We don’t see what’s beneath the surface, only the graceful swan. Those webbed feet are the team.
It goes without saying that when I think of the leaders of the world, I can only imagine the same phrase applies. Despite what party you side with, I think we can all agree that behind every leader is a team working endlessly with the sole purpose of making their leader shine.
I have seen Adam in action twice. Once at my work (The Globe and Mail Centre) where the Prime Minister (PM) spoke at an event. Second, at a rally for climate change in Toronto. In my line of work, I have a tendency to always focus on the ‘behind the scenes’. How did the PM get from point A to point B? Who is involved in all of this? On both of these occasions, Adam was there. I didn’t know what his role was at the time, but it was evident that he was in charge. He was poised. Calm, cool and collected. It was fascinating to watch, which is why I wanted to interview him.
Luis: First of all, thank you for taking the time to do this interview given how busy you are. As I’ve told you before, I find your job fascinating. Can you give us an overview of what you do in a nutshell?
Adam: This is such a tough question to answer because as an advance staffer, you do A LOT! The best way to describe it is basically, any time the PM does something outside of the House of Commons, an advance staffer has set that all up. Whether he is speaking at a conference in Ottawa, making a policy announcement in Vancouver, or visiting another country, it is my job to work with all departments, security, Ministers and stakeholders to map out the PM’s visit. Obviously small speaking engagements in Ottawa are much less complicated than planning and executing a 12-day trip to India, but the formula is the same. On the ground, you are also the go-to person for, not only the Prime Minister, but also all traveling staff and delegation. If a PM visit is a Broadway show, the advance staffer is the director.
Luis: That’s a great analogy and helpful to better understand what you do. It sounds like the stakes are high and I am sure your job can be stressful at times. What do you do to unwind?
Adam: It is funny because I actually don’t find the job stressful at all. Each visit comes with its own challenges and obstacles but that is all part of the fun. Yes, the stakes are high and the job consumes a lot of your life so for me it’s important to use my downtime wisely. Spending time with my husband and dog, seeing friends, and disconnecting from the world of politics (as much as possible) is how I spend most of my downtime. Coming up in the Toronto theatre/arts scene, I love to make videos and being silly on Instagram. That’s really how I unwind the most.
Luis: Disconnecting is key. I love watching your videos on Instagram. Speaking of Instagram, I remember seeing a photo of you with the Prime Minister moving a piece of furniture in a room (photo below). Can you provide the context of this photo?
Adam: I think we were in Buenos Aries for the G20 and judging by the carpet, we were in our bilat room at our hotel (I have been in a lot of hotels). I was moving around the furniture to set up for the boss’s next meeting and no job is too small for him. I think that is what I admire most about him; his willingness to help or be silly or tell bad dad jokes, just like the rest of us. That photo really speaks to his character as a genuine, caring person.
Luis: I love that. The photo definitely speaks volumes. I’m a believer that no matter who you are or what you do, no job should be too menial or beneath you, and that is evident in this photo. What do you like most about what you do?
Adam: I frequently have to remind myself how lucky I am and to stop and take in the extraordinary moments I have had in this role. It has been the opportunity of a lifetime. I have traveled all over the country and the world, met amazing people from all walks of life, met and briefed world leaders and celebrities. It has truly been insane.
However, the thing I like most about what I do is seeing the impact this government has had on everyday people. One of my first assignments when I started with the PM in 2015 was the arrival of the first flight of Syrian refugees coming to Canada. I was there as these amazing people got off the plane after years in refugee camps, living in fear that their children wouldn’t get the future they deserved, or worse, be collateral damage of the war in Syria. It has been a common thread over the past 4 years; People coming up to me asking to meet the PM to thank him for giving them a new life in Canada, as Canadians. That has truly been the best part of my job.
Luis: That is so powerful. Such a proud Canadian moment. Thanks for sharing. What’s the hardest part of what you do?
Adam: Having a background in acting and being on stage has been a HUGE benefit to me in this role and has given me the confidence I needed to succeed. Everyone looks to you as the Advance to the Prime Minister and it is up to you to command everyone’s attention and keep the train on the tracks. Crowd control is also a huge part of what I do. I am not going to sugar coat it, Justin Trudeau is a bit of a rock star, and the craze that follows him is wild. But, if you don’t have control of that craze, then you lose control of the entire show. However, that’s not the hardest part…
The HARDEST part of what I do, is maintaining normalcy in my life.
In any given week I average:
• 2-4 flights
• Sleep in a strange bed 4 nights a week (if not more)
• Change time zones once
• Drive for hundreds of kilometers
• Meet dozens of new people
• Hardly eat
• Barely sleep
It is tough. So finding that work-life balance has been the hardest part. Making sure I take time to get to the gym and stay healthy (often eating on the run lands you at a lot of fast food joints). Hardly being home and having little down time means that you need to actively work to maintain relationships. Advance life is a fast-paced life and if you don’t take the time to take care of yourself, then you burn out fast.
Luis: Maintaining normalcy is key. Working in a fast-paced industry myself, I’ve always been a believer that in order to give our best selves to our work, we have to maintain that balance. Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me, Adam. This has been very insightful and has given me a much better understanding of what you do.
You can follow Adam’s journey on Instagram here.
All photos courtesy of Adam Scotti
