ABOUT ME
MY STORY
I’m a planner. From a young age, I’ve put a lot of time and effort into determining, “what’s next?”. In high school, I decided to pursue a career in conservation. And for a while, it was great. I got to spend time outside, with hard-working, passionate colleagues, for a cause I believe in. As it turns out, though, life happens. As I developed my professional identity, I got a much stronger sense of what I find most fulfilling, and what I want to do on a daily basis. While conservation remains very important to me, I feel compelled to help people in a different way.
Now, I want to help people navigate their own career journeys. To aid them in discovering and developing their own unique skills and abilities, and to guide them through the process of making meaningful changes.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
I'm a full-time student in the Career Development Professional graduate program at Conestoga College (expected completion in December 2020). I also have an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of Guelph.
Through my Career Development coursework, I have developed skills in narrative analysis, empathic listening, interviewing, and basic counselling.
EXPERIENCE
I'm excited to pair my new skills in career counselling and interviewing with the experience I bring from my ten years of managing complex projects at the Nature Conservancy of Canada:
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I managed a portfolio of over 25,000 acres of conservation land, including land assessment, management planning, budgeting, implementation, and reporting
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I coordinated the recruitment and hiring for a province-wide summer internship program; reviewing job applications, short-listing and interviewing candidates, and making hiring recommendations. This experience was a key piece in my realization that I can help people succeed in their careers
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I supervised seasonal staff, engaged in informal mentoring, and formal training and on-boarding
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I've collaborated with people from a variety of backgrounds, including colleagues, partner organizations, rural landowners, contractors, donors, and volunteers of all ages. I've see first-hand that everyone has something unique and valuable to offer
AREAS OF PROFESSIONAL INTEREST
I believe that the first step to a satisfying career is understanding ourselves better. I'm interested in helping clients investigate what is meaningful to them, and uncover the strengths that they already possess; that knowledge can then serve as the foundation for future career exploration.
I know what it's like to realize it's time to move on, but not know what next or how to make a move. I want to help people "unstick" their careers so they can move toward
the life they want to live.
PERSONAL INTERESTS
My ideal day starts with a cup of coffee (or two!), followed by a hike in the woods, a delicious meal with my family, and puzzling my way through a challenging escape room. And, of course, capping it off with a good book.
I'm particularly interested in exploring patterns and themes in women's careers as they relate to structural inequalities and workplace power dynamics.