• Age: 34

• Role: CEO

• Employer: 4Seasons Transportation

• Location: Calgary, AB

Brooke Garcia has redefined accessible transportation for students living with disabilities in Canada. 

As CEO of 4Seasons Transportation, Garcia and her team specialize in students with a broad spectrum of motor and cognitive challenges. Under her leadership, the team has grown from eight employees to over 600 and increased ridership 22x in 13 years.

Garcia started as a driver in 2010 and worked her way up, seeing the opportunity to make an impact on students with disabilities. “What I love most is knowing that what we do isn’t just about transportation; it’s about ensuring every child has an equal opportunity to an education,” she said.

Molly Li, 4Season’s marketing and communication manager, says Garcia’s path to leadership is rooted in her unwavering passion for equity and inclusion, and she quickly recognized the systemic gaps in transportation services for students with disabilities. She immersed herself in every aspect of the business before her transition to ownership in 2015.

In her role now, Garcia is focused on ensuring the company’s services meet the highest standards of safety and care for the students it serves. This includes strategic planning and collaborating with school boards, guardians, and the internal team to address the unique needs of each student.

So far, she’s learned that the right people make all the difference in building a cohesive team.

“You can teach someone how to drive a bus, but you can’t teach someone to care,” she said. “That’s why we focus on hiring people with strong soft skills — those who are patient, understanding, compassionate, and dedicated to making a difference. When you have the right people, everything else falls into place.”

She advises others to come into this work with a willingness to learn and the ability to be adaptable. Since student needs vary widely and no two days are the same, being able to pivot is essential. “This job is about much more than just driving,” she said. “It’s about being there for the students, ensuring they feel safe, valued, and supported.” 

Garcia shares her knowledge by speaking at global and national forums, including the United Nations Summit on Accessible Tourism, the International Conference on Disability and Diversity, and the National School Transportation Association Conference.

What she most wants to see is the industry’s continued evolution that prioritizes inclusivity, accessibility, and the needs of every student. That’s why 4Seasons ensures that students with disabilities get to school safely and have the same opportunities as their peers. “Above all, I want to continue fostering a culture at 4Seasons where our transfer care specialists not only enjoy what they do, but also feel proud to be part of a company that makes a real difference in the lives of students and their families.”

“By creating a service that fosters dignity, respect, and care, Brooke has inspired a ripple effect of compassion and excellence throughout her organization and the broader community,” Li said. “Her story is a testament to the power of visionary women leaders to create meaningful, lasting impact.”

Further proof of the good work she’s doing is the company earning Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Culture Award this year, and it was also named one of Canada’s Safest Employers.