View in browser Hi Reader, I’ve been a bit quiet the past couple of weeks. Buried in tests and assignments, with two more tests, a final exam, and a presentation remaining, I can finally see the finish line of the classroom portion of my MBA journey. In the meantime, there has been plenty of time to reflect. So… not the most exciting stories to share these past weeks 🤣 But a conversation at dinner a few days ago has really stayed with me. We were having dinner with friends in their 70s. Avid...
18 days ago • 1 min read
View in browser Hi Reader, This week I was reminded (again) of something we all know… but still need to experience over and over: Stepping out of your comfort zone gets easier. Not the first time though 😅 Earlier this week, I attended a leadership series event organized by the Chamber of Commerce. By the way, with a very powerful keynote speaker! And yes, I still go to these events on my own. Because I realized early on in life that if I had to wait for a friend to join, I would still be...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
View in browser Hi Reader, Last week I spent a week skiing in Whistler, yes, I (we) had a wonderful time, and I was even in the Olympic Spirit 😊 ⛷️ And it reminded me of something I hadn’t thought about in a while: the joy of being a beginner again. Besides the two days of skiing last year, the last time I went skiing for a whole week was in 2014 😅 Over the past year, I’ve been embracing that beginner mindset a lot, mostly thanks to my MBA journey. When you’re learning constantly, you’re...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
View in browser Hi Reader, A short and sweet note this week, I’m off to Whistler for a week of skiing ❄️⛷️ But, I wanted to share this little story with you... Last week, while sitting in a waiting room (one of those unexpected pockets of time), I decided to make the most of it and catch up with a few friends. And then I noticed something. I was texting people in Belgium, South Africa, USA, Sweden, France, Switzerland, Australia and yes, in Canada as well 😅 My gosh! In my MBA cohort alone, my...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
View in browser Hi Reader, Last week I had a not-so-nice reminder about something I talk about all the time: The importance of clarity. I had an upcoming quiz in my MBA program, and, wanting to prepare properly (hey, you know me 😏), I reached out twice to clarify exactly what we were expected to study. No response. Crickets. I went into the quiz thinking I had prepared for what was required… and walked out feeling frustrated and honestly a bit angry. Because what I thought we had to study...
2 months ago • 1 min read
View in browser Hi Reader, This week, I found myself thinking about one of my coaching clients, an adventurer at heart and soul. She has an amazing idea for her own business. The kind of idea you can feel in the way someone talks about it. Right now, she’s still studying, and earlier this year, she enrolled in a business program to ensure she’s fully prepared when it's time to launch her venture. A thoughtful decision. A prepared decision. But a few weeks in, something interesting happened....
2 months ago • 1 min read
View in browser Hi Reader, The past few weeks have been... well, filled 😅, and I was reminded, in a very practical way, why my planner matters so much. I’ve just stepped into a new role at Vancouver Island University as an entrepreneurship advisor with the SPARK program while remaining fully immersed in my MBA. On top of that, I’ve also officially started my entrepreneur consulting business (more on that soon 👀). In my role with SPARK VIU, I support students, early-stage founders, and...
3 months ago • 2 min read
View in browser Hi Reader, The Backyard Gossip is landing in your inbox a little earlier than usual. Tomorrow morning, we’ll be catching the first ferry at 06:15 to explore the Coastal Circle Route. Sunny weather is predicted ☀️ and yes… We’ll be discovering a couple of walks along the way (of course) 🌲👣 If you feel like travelling along from home, keep an eye on my Instagram stories, maybe even sparking some inspiration for your next adventure. Now, on to something I wanted to share with...
3 months ago • 2 min read
View in browser Hi Reader, Last Friday, the second Friday of January, is also known as Quitter’s Day. The day most people quietly let go of their New Year’s resolutions, yes, it's a thing 🙃 I wrote a full blog post about why this happens (you can read it here if you’re curious). But what really stood out to me this week wasn’t the statistics, it was the conversations. In several coaching sessions and in a few casual chats, the same theme kept popping up: 👉 we often forget why we started in...
3 months ago • 2 min read