Meet the team

I help build effective, fun, and successful workplaces by investing in the development and care of leaders and teams at all levels.

It's all about impact for me. Seeing the lights come on for a leader, hearing that a team is doing things differently, watching the trajectory of a company change after a reorganization. Impact for me comes through genuine partnership with people and teams, balancing a coaching approach to help them find their own solutions, with a consulting approach to offer experience, learning, and advice. And sometimes, joining in on the work with companies to put new ideas into practice.

My favourite work happens in five core areas: developing leaders, building successful teams, creating strong communication cultures for hybrid workforces, raising company-wide performance, and helping teams work smarter.

I'm also passionate about simplifying HR and returning to a People focus.

I've always been an explorer, a curious person - persistently asking "why?" questions led me into science, into academia and ultimately to a PhD.  In my first career I explored for new oil & gas fields in remote areas around the world.

For the last 10 years I've been exploring workplaces, leadership styles, and testing assumptions that we all make about work.  I became a PCC-level credentialed executive coach, and created (and continually refine & update) an 85-module MBA-level leader development program.

Losing my Dad in his 60s before he could enjoy his long-saved for retirement. What if I could love what I do right now, and not just wait it out until retirement? Especially if retirement never happens. That influenced my career change, and continues to influence all my work to help others enjoy, thrive, and flourish in their 9 to 5.

I create content that is impactful on people's lives.

Spending time with my family, whether that is around the dinner table sharing laughs and stories. I am lucky to have most of my family here in Calgary and getting to spend time with them!

Back in 2016, I graduated from Mount Royal University in their Broadcasting program. I jumped right into the field with Ride Guide TV helping them catalogue and splice all of their content in the past 15 years.

Shortly after, I got a position with a small startup, Bootkik, as an assistant video editor, and this opportunity was incredible as I was mentored in developing my video editing skills. I created content that was posted on their social media platforms and I knew that this was the field for me.

I have done some freelance work over time, which eventually led me to Virtual Gurus! I have been a part of Virtual Gurus for over a year now and they have put me in touch with incredible organizations such as The Ally Co.!

My life-changing moment was when I joined the Calgary Power Hockey League in 2005. The CPHL is a competitive hockey league for people with disabilities and uses a power chair for daily living. The CPHL introduced me to a world I didn't know was possible for me - meeting like-minded individuals who compete week after week. It has also given me the chance to travel across North America and Europe to compete against the best our sport has to offer!

It's incredibly rewarding to see the sport continue to grow as more players join to compete - allowing me to be a mentor like those before me when I originally joined!

I help people connect with their power, align with what’s most meaningful, and take positive action towards it.

I love all things teaching, facilitating, speaking and consulting. My sweet spot is helping leaders and teams engage in meaningful dialogue, identifying challenges and opportunities and creating the conditions for high levels of trust and engagement. This often looks like:

• Core Values, Purpose, and Vision Exploration
• At-Risk vs. At-Stake Understanding + Direction
• Alignment with Corporate and/or Board Expectations
• Clear Strategies (choices), Ownership, and Action Plans
• Effective Communication for Engagement and Action

Having spent many of my earlier years leading teams and helping to build world-class addiction treatment programs, I’ve developed a skill set and approach to change that is grounded in the human experience and a deep understanding of power and motivation.

I’ve worked with a wide range of leaders (and their teams) over the years, on a single mission - to help build world-class, human-centred organizations that create the kind of impact that we usually only dream about.

In my late 20s, halfway through our first pregnancy, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. This event kicked off a series of life-changing moments, including a TEDx talk, quitting a senior leadership role to pursue life as an entrepreneur, and a deeper focus on living (and helping others live) a meaningful life.

I help serviced-based businesses solve problems by aligning their people, processes, and technology.

I thrive when exploring 'what ifs' and 'why nots', challenging outdated systems, and navigating beyond conventional norms.

As a fixer and builder, I enjoy colouring outside the lines, redesigning processes, and transforming chaos into organized brilliance.

On weekends, you can catch me exploring pathways, finding peace in yoga, and enjoying nature with my husband. I also enjoy savouring a good latte with good company!

I am a wife, a mother, a project manager, and a purpose-driven leader. My passion lies in serving and empowering others to focus on what matters most. I thrive in dynamic situations where I can think on my toes, resulting in a diverse career portfolio rather than a linear path.

From Oil & Gas to raising three kids, to Interior Design, and Operations Management, my journey has been anything but conventional, accumulating a wealth of diverse experiences along the way.

Eight months ago, while shopping for a fall jacket, I found myself drawn to a bright yellow coat - a departure from my usual blacks, navies, and greys. This surprising choice made me reflect on my life. I realized I had been hiding in plain sight, blending into the background, shaped by years of being told I was "too much" - too loud, too talkative, too silly, too smart, too trusting.

This yellow jacket marked a turning point, a bold statement that I am done with blending in. Not everyone will like it, and that is okay. I have embraced that I am here to be authentically me.

To bring structure, organization, and leadership to the teams and projects I manage. My mission is to support executives, manage operations, and communicate effectively with people. My aim is to ensure smooth operations, provide exceptional administrative support, and contribute to organizational success.

My happy place is spending time with my family. In their presence, I find joy, comfort, and an unshakable sense of belonging. Whether it's over a shared meal, laughter filling the room, or quiet moments of togetherness, each experience becomes a cherished memory. With them, I can let go of the world's weight, recharge my spirit, and be reminded of what truly holds meaning in life.

My career journey spans over 25 years of administrative expertise across various industries. From managing operations for multiple corporations to supporting top executives, my path has been one of consistent professional growth. I’ve taken on roles in investor relations, project management, and corporate communications, continuously refining skills in leadership and strategy and to my own personal development and adaptability across different sectors.

A life-changing moment for me was the transition from working in corporate environments to owning and operating my own business, Petals & Papery Enterprises Inc. This period provided me with new insights into leadership, independence, and creativity - which shaped my career path as I continued to take on more executive roles.

I help courageous, human-centred leaders to take responsibility for themselves, their teams, and their world.

I love collaborating, innovating, and creating with others in the People and Workplace Culture space, helping leaders and teams to design meaningful and impactful experiences, services, and relationships. Here's what that can look like:

• Leading with Human-Centred Design
• Transforming Culture and Experiences
• Re-imagining the Employee Journey
• Building Adaptive Capacity with Autonomous Teams
• Designing meaningful careers
• Developing conscious and effective communication skills
• Learning how to use conflict/tension to innovate and connect

Self-expression, autonomy, and change have always been leading values of mine, so over the last 20+ years I've had the opportunity to experience a diverse mix of industries, organizations, and roles.

From managing a sales and marketing practice at age 20 in the consumer products industry for global brands like Pepsi, Unilever, Shiseido and Coty Prestige, to leading large and dispersed teams in customer and employee experience and operations for a global investment firm, to helping human-centred leaders and some of North America's best places to work to design and implement impactful workplace experiences - it's all been an incredible journey so far!

After years of not listening to my body, and at the age of 30, I got really sick…and my marriage was in jeopardy, we were expecting our first kiddo, I’d resigned from my high-paying job in beautiful SE Asia, and we were heading back to Canada with no home or employment.

I made the decision to use what I’d learned, and put my energy into humanizing the workplace - a structure and collective that holds the power to enrich the lives of its people and community.

What's one of your life-changing moments?

I help advocate for vulnerable audiences and visible minorities by designing and implementing meaningful DEIB practices.

I have two happy places! The first is the ocean (preferably the Caribbean), as it has always brought me peace and reminds me of home and roots.

My second happy place is my home, where and when I'm with my son, and surrounded by people that love, respect, and see me as I am. I love the feeling of safety and family.

Academically, I have a Bachelor's in psychology. From there, my career journey has included various roles in the Human Resources and People + Culture space - from being a Partner, to specializing in areas such as recruitment, learning and development, DEI, and more recently facilitating and consulting.

Two come to mind.

The first being my son - from dealing with infertility, unsuccessful IVF treatments, and being pregnant during Covid.

The second was moving to Canada, after having lived in South America - experiencing extreme cold winters, getting used to the diversity of people and cultures, the language, finding employment, and situating myself in a new country without my family.

Navigating my cultural and personal programming has been a hard process, but one I'm truly grateful for.

I help create organizations where everyone belongs.

My 'Happy Place' is a space where I see eyes light up, whether it's in a classroom, a session I'm facilitating, or during a one-on-one client interaction. I find immense joy in those moments when someone feels a sense of belonging right there in that moment. I believe that when we work together, we create significant change in our organizations, teams, and even the world.

Here is what I offer;

• Working with senior executives and boards to improve effectiveness
• Executive and leadership coach working with individuals and teams to ignite potential
• Facilitating powerful sessions that bring meaningful change
• Blowing up the status quo and designing new ways of being
• Building deep authenticity in organizations to help catalyze change
• Cross-cultural competencies and leveraging diversity

Over the course of my career journey, I have worked in various sectors and held multiple positions, including President and CEO, reporting to an elected board of directors.  At the heart of my work is igniting the potential in others to shine brightly and live aligned to their values.

In 2008, I got a call from my doctor. "You have cancer," were the words I heard. When I heard these words I asked myself - is this the life I want? This launched me into focusing on purposeful and meaningful work. I knew then that my life needed to change, and so began the pursuit of aligning my work with my passion for developing others.

To help create equitable workplaces through communication and supporting change in a compassionate, and meaningful way that brings everyone along.

I’m passionate about helping individuals and teams reach their potential and increase their impact. I strive for contentment over happiness. What fills my cup is connecting with friends, family, being active, and discovering new places and ideas. Curiosity and embracing change keep me open to possibility.

I have over 20 years’ experience in strategic communications, working with senior leaders, board members, and executives at some of the world’s largest publicly traded companies in the energy, climate tech, and financial services sectors both in Canada and internationally. Coaching leaders and teams was a natural progression to this work and I’ve been fortunate to build both my own consulting practice, and The Debut Collective, which focuses on supporting mothers and parents in the workplace.

I hold an MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and I studied Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Cornell University. I am also a Certified Executive Coach and a Canadian Certified Inclusion Professional focused on transformational change. I apply a range of frameworks and models coupled with practical tools to support my clients, who value my authentic, honest coaching and leadership style.

My work with The Ally Co. focuses on the power of mindset and inclusion, to create high-performing teams.

Realizing that what may seem like big disappointment at first, can create a big opportunity. Learning this lesson at different points in my life has taught me resilience, discipline, and grit and that ultimately, you get back what you put in: to people, to work and to life.

To help leaders and teams enhance their performance through neuroscience-backed approaches.

I am deeply passionate about work that enhances connection and performance on teams. Outside of my professional life, I enjoy spending time with my husband Rob and our three sons, Jonah, Willem, and Reid, two cats and one dog.

Whether engaged in their sporting activities, traveling, or enjoying moments at their family cabin in Alberta, I value quality time with family and friends in my downtime.

I am the founder and a Senior Consultant and Coach at Cortical Consulting & Coaching, where we help businesses harness the power of applied neuroscience to navigate today’s challenges, optimize performance, and build resilience in a constantly changing world.

I am also a seasoned Human Resources Executive and Organizational Effectiveness Consultant and Coach, with over 25 years of experience in the energy and consulting sectors.

Having worked with teams in Canada, the US, and New Zealand, I bring a diverse set of perspectives, models, and tools to my work with clients. As a change agent, I am known for my pragmatic approach and authentic leadership style.

I hold a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of New Brunswick and a Master of Business Administration from Henley Business School in the United Kingdom.

My life changing moment happened when I was orphaned at 15 years old. I learned the value of perseverance and hard work to create the life you want and deserve. Without a safety net, I had to trust my instincts, ask for help and bet on myself.

I feel blessed to have had a solid foundation and with support,  self-reliance and resilience I have learned to overcome many challenges with curiosity and grace.