Claire O'Donnell - The Activist
Complete Streets Campaign Coordinator Intern Ecology Ottawa Number of years in field: 1 Description of duties: I petition, organize events, write audits and coordinate a team around making streets within Ottawa accessible to all modes of transportation, and for all ages. Also, promoting the use of walking, bikes and public transportation as a greener mode of transport. |
How did you get there?:
I took a risk when I came straight out of university and applied for the internship online. Around 100 people were interviewed but I was selected out of 9 other interns.
Why you love your job:
I like being able to make a difference within our local community, and I really feel like I'm working towards a greater cause. I feel like taking the reigns and dominating the NGO world is my calling in life, and I feel great getting a head start in the field of my choice!
Career Achievements:
I was the head coordinator on planning an audit workshop for various local environmental organizations concerned with complete streets. I also just got another job as a marketing rep for an upcoming business in Canada (I will be able to talk to environmental organizations and allow them to be a green
certified business). I am also a part of an upcoming lifestyle website entitled "davedeansplace", where I will be taking the lead on the travel section and will be documenting my various travels this year.
Advice for women new to the field:
Don't be afraid to take a few risks when it comes to your career, especially if you want to get yourself into the NGO world. It takes a lot of internships and volunteer work to get to the place where you want to be. So go ahead, grasp any opportunity that you get in life, and make sure to get some International experience along the way. The more experience that you have abroad, and internships that you have within the NGO world makes all the difference.
Additional Notes:
Make sure to choose a career that you love! That's always the most important thing in life, especially when you're trying to make a name for yourself in your field. A passionate and dedicated person will always be hand-picked first out of the crowd.
I took a risk when I came straight out of university and applied for the internship online. Around 100 people were interviewed but I was selected out of 9 other interns.
Why you love your job:
I like being able to make a difference within our local community, and I really feel like I'm working towards a greater cause. I feel like taking the reigns and dominating the NGO world is my calling in life, and I feel great getting a head start in the field of my choice!
Career Achievements:
I was the head coordinator on planning an audit workshop for various local environmental organizations concerned with complete streets. I also just got another job as a marketing rep for an upcoming business in Canada (I will be able to talk to environmental organizations and allow them to be a green
certified business). I am also a part of an upcoming lifestyle website entitled "davedeansplace", where I will be taking the lead on the travel section and will be documenting my various travels this year.
Advice for women new to the field:
Don't be afraid to take a few risks when it comes to your career, especially if you want to get yourself into the NGO world. It takes a lot of internships and volunteer work to get to the place where you want to be. So go ahead, grasp any opportunity that you get in life, and make sure to get some International experience along the way. The more experience that you have abroad, and internships that you have within the NGO world makes all the difference.
Additional Notes:
Make sure to choose a career that you love! That's always the most important thing in life, especially when you're trying to make a name for yourself in your field. A passionate and dedicated person will always be hand-picked first out of the crowd.
Shannon Kennedy - The Entrepreneur
Wedding & High-End Event Planner Kennedy Event Planning Number of years in field: 8 years; 4 years as Kennedy Event Planning Description of duties: My team and I are responsible for the planning, preparation, and coordination of a client's personal or corporate event. As Kennedy Event Planning, I specialize in weddings and high-end personal events. |
How did you get there?:
I got a taste for event planning during my years as an active collegiate of Delta Delta Delta. Upon graduation I began working for a well known planning firm that then lead to a top event management position at a high-end restaurant and special event facility in downtown Ottawa. Entrepreneurship eventually began calling my name and I opened Kennedy Event Planning in 2010. The company grew quickly as clients were eager to work with me based on my top reputation and track record of outstanding work.
Why you love your job:
I have a true desire and commitment to work with people, plan extraordinary events and unique and beautiful weddings. I enjoy developing relationships with my clients, giving them a sense of comfort, trust,
and confidence in my ability. At the end of a long event work day, I go to bed knowing that I have played a small part in someone's very big day.
Career Achievements:
In recent years I have received national attention by having my work published in print publications including: Wedluxe Magazine, Weddingbells Magazine, Bride & Groom Magazine, and Perfect Wedding Magazine. I have had my work published on international wedding blogs including: Style Me
Pretty, Wedding Chicks, Weddingbells, and Wedluxe. I have also been featured in various interviews (written, radio, and television) for local (CTV, Rogers, CFRA) and national news outlets (CanWest, CBC).
Advice for women new to the field:
Volunteer and be willing to work hard and for free (at first)! There is no barrier of entry for this particular line of work, however, it is very difficult to establish oneself and succeed in the field. Despite being surrounded by beauty and elegance, this is not a glamorous career path; there are long hours, high levels of stress, and is both physically and emotionally challenging. The hard work does reap large reward;
finding joy in what you do makes it worth it in the end!
Additional Notes:
Entrepreneurship is both exciting and challenging. It takes a certain type of individual to be able to go into the world and create a successful business. Know yourself, learn your strengths, and understand your
passions; then go out into the world and find a way to get paid to do what you love!
I got a taste for event planning during my years as an active collegiate of Delta Delta Delta. Upon graduation I began working for a well known planning firm that then lead to a top event management position at a high-end restaurant and special event facility in downtown Ottawa. Entrepreneurship eventually began calling my name and I opened Kennedy Event Planning in 2010. The company grew quickly as clients were eager to work with me based on my top reputation and track record of outstanding work.
Why you love your job:
I have a true desire and commitment to work with people, plan extraordinary events and unique and beautiful weddings. I enjoy developing relationships with my clients, giving them a sense of comfort, trust,
and confidence in my ability. At the end of a long event work day, I go to bed knowing that I have played a small part in someone's very big day.
Career Achievements:
In recent years I have received national attention by having my work published in print publications including: Wedluxe Magazine, Weddingbells Magazine, Bride & Groom Magazine, and Perfect Wedding Magazine. I have had my work published on international wedding blogs including: Style Me
Pretty, Wedding Chicks, Weddingbells, and Wedluxe. I have also been featured in various interviews (written, radio, and television) for local (CTV, Rogers, CFRA) and national news outlets (CanWest, CBC).
Advice for women new to the field:
Volunteer and be willing to work hard and for free (at first)! There is no barrier of entry for this particular line of work, however, it is very difficult to establish oneself and succeed in the field. Despite being surrounded by beauty and elegance, this is not a glamorous career path; there are long hours, high levels of stress, and is both physically and emotionally challenging. The hard work does reap large reward;
finding joy in what you do makes it worth it in the end!
Additional Notes:
Entrepreneurship is both exciting and challenging. It takes a certain type of individual to be able to go into the world and create a successful business. Know yourself, learn your strengths, and understand your
passions; then go out into the world and find a way to get paid to do what you love!
Charlotte Webber - The Analyst
Program Analyst
Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development Canada Number of years in field: Less than 1 year Description of duties: I am responsible for managing our corporate repository of business processes, creating and presenting webtrends and statistics on business functions within department, contacting and meeting up with various employees throughout the department to understand their business needs and creating presentations of our FAQs regarding business processes among many other tasks. |
How did you get there?:
I gained the necessary work experience/skills through participating in co-op as an undergrad
Advice for women new to the field:
Tailor your extra-curricular activities in order to give you skills on your resume. Think of what your career goals are in the next 2, 5, 10 years; how you plan on getting there; and what steps you can take now to get there. Try to find jobs/volunteer positions (now) that will advance your career later. It’s not enough to work just to get the money, try to look for jobs that will help you advance your career (especially as an undergrad).
Also, don’t underestimate volunteer work. Don’t underestimate networking. Go to all the social networking events out there.Read educational magazines, newspapers, and/or books. Knowledge of current world events/economics / science is expected by career professionals. Furthermore, it’s good to have real-world knowledge in conjunction with text-book knowledge.
I gained the necessary work experience/skills through participating in co-op as an undergrad
Advice for women new to the field:
Tailor your extra-curricular activities in order to give you skills on your resume. Think of what your career goals are in the next 2, 5, 10 years; how you plan on getting there; and what steps you can take now to get there. Try to find jobs/volunteer positions (now) that will advance your career later. It’s not enough to work just to get the money, try to look for jobs that will help you advance your career (especially as an undergrad).
Also, don’t underestimate volunteer work. Don’t underestimate networking. Go to all the social networking events out there.Read educational magazines, newspapers, and/or books. Knowledge of current world events/economics / science is expected by career professionals. Furthermore, it’s good to have real-world knowledge in conjunction with text-book knowledge.
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