Biography
Born and raised on Vancouver Island, I have been fortunate to call this beautiful area of Canada home. I have the privilege to live, learn, work, and play on the unceded traditional territories of the Lkewungen peoples, known today as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. I acknowledge with respect, gratitude, and humility the historic connections to these lands that the Lkewungen people continue to have to this day and since time immemorial.
Vancouver Island has been a wonderful place to raise my family; my husband, four daughters and I enjoy exploring our island to find hidden adventures or experiences. When I’m not spending time with my family, I am working full-time as a senior project manager with the local health authority and recently obtained my Project Management Professional (PMP) credential from the globally recognized Project Management Institute (PMI). My business professional career began two decades ago when I became an assistant manager at a multi-million dollar liquor store. I shifted into corporate America afterward, spending eight years with a clinical research organization (CRO) that facilitated clinical trials. During my time in corporate America, I married and had three of my daughters, but the long hours required by the CRO and lack of work-life balance began to wear on my family dynamic. Raising a family, and desiring a better balance, led me to move into the BC Public Service as a provincial employee; over the next decade as a public servant, I gained an incredible amount of business experience. I took the opportunity of an ‘open door’ to join the public service as an accounts clerk processing medical benefits, childcare funding, and autism funding applications, and ended my public service time as a director of operations for three analytic platforms.
In tandem with raising my family and progressing in my business professional/leadership career, I committed myself to completing my education. I am a lifelong learner and am happiest when I am learning something new, especially if my kids are experiencing it with me. Building upon a business certificate, I obtained a diploma in business administration with a focus area of accounting, followed by a bachelor of business administration. The achievement of completing my master of arts in interdisciplinary studies with a focus area of work, organization, and leadership was a major personal milestone.
When I was in my early twenties, my master's was the goal that I wanted to work toward, and while it took me longer than expected, I am proud to have achieved my education goals in tandem with raising my family and building my career. This e-portfolio is a testament to the heartfelt effort and sheer determination it took to complete my goals; I hope to use this space as a reminder of what can be achieved, irrespective of hardships experienced, when I commit to and prioritize my goals.