ABOUT Defy the Conventional: Building your career

Defy the Conventional: A Career Story That Refuses to Be Linear

If there’s one thing my career has taught me, it’s this: you don’t have to know where you’re going to end up exactly where you’re supposed to be.

When I spoke to the uOttawa New Media Club, I wanted to offer something more honest than a tidy origin story. My path has never been linear — it’s been a mosaic of part-time positions, government contracts, legal internships, teaching roles, fitness coaching, research gigs, event work, and a whole lot of curiosity.

It’s easy to look at a résumé and assume it reflects a plan. But the truth is that most of my journey has been about following what I love, staying open to new experiences, and learning from every person and every job along the way.

The Full Picture Isn’t a Straight Line

From Loblaws to the UN, from spin studios to university classrooms, from policy analysis to event coordination — each role taught me something I still use today. Skills like planning, communication, research, organization, and making connections didn’t come from one job. They came from all of them.

And the things that mattered most weren’t titles. They were my VIPS — my values, interests, personality, and skills. Once I understood those, the path made more sense. Not straighter, but clearer.

Where I Am Now

I shared with students the various roles that I held at the time of my presentation:

I’m a part‑time professor, a volunteer coordinator with Burning Man Project, an event assistant with City of Om, a board president, a researcher, a writer, a program developer, and an entrepreneur. It’s a lot — and it’s exactly right for me.

What I Hope Students Take Away

Your life and career can take you to the most interesting places if you let them. You don’t need a perfect plan. You need curiosity, integrity, and a willingness to learn from everything you do.

If you understand your VIPS — what matters to you, what excites you, how you work, and what you’re good at — you’ll build a career that feels like yours, even if it doesn’t look conventional.

Because sometimes the most unconventional path is the one that leads you exactly where you’re supposed to be.