Clear, considerate and effective communication is what I have strived for in all my work. Then I met and married a scientist (ouch! those academic articles!).

A BIT OF WHAT I DO:

Agency and Client Management

I’ve been on both agency and client side. Managed the relationships through the production of campaigns from radio and TV spots to direct and online marketing.

Product Management

Planned and presented goals and benchmarks, then guided teams of designers, developers and data analysts towards common goals for an overall project. 

Writing, Editing and Copywriting

Worked on ad campaigns, magazines, websites, and some fiction. I have also done some translation between French and English.

Data Analytics

Analysed some very large datasets from high-traffic websites. Planned and led campaigns with continuous analysis and testing.

MY WHOLE [WORK] LIFE STORY:

Language Student, 2016-2017

Upon arriving in Berlin, I had to abilities in German whatsoever. And so I began to study at a language school. I achieved my goals of going from a Beginner to a C1 level certification. Today, I can carry a conversation and do all my own paperwork (oh, the German paperwork!). With continued practice, I hope to become more comfortable conducting business in German.

Farmer, 2015

My grandfather fell sick and needed support to manage his farm. Normally he does all the work (he's stubborn like that) but with his illness, he didn't have the energy to run the family farm. The farm isn't large, but requires many jobs: cattle wrangler and midwife, mechanic, business manager and cook are just some of the roles. Happily, Grandpère has regained his health—and regained his stubbornness—and is back to doing nearly everything all by his 84-year-old self. 

Project Manager, 2010-2014

Freelance work with a few companies with which I had previous relationships. I worked on strategy plans and client management for a conversion company to get customers to pull the trigger on their online purchases. I also helped a corporate PR department pull together their public-facing materials: presentations, proofreading and editing are my specialties. 

Product Manager, 2011-2012

This company owns large-scale websites and I managed a few of the properties. My role had me dreaming of numbers and spreadsheets and Google Analytics. Most of my day was digging through and analyzing the very large amount of data about the websites. These properties were supported by ad revenue so my mandate was to maximize the ad space without losing audience. I loved managing the teams of designers and developers to make our ideas come to fruition.

Web & Communications Manager, 2009-2010

Here, I quickly found my niche as manager of the front-facing internet and the insanely-complicated intranet. Design by committee was my greatest challenge but I learned quickly how to manage expectations and work with a diverse team. I also travelled the world to put on a business education seminar in Africa, South America and northern Canada. I encouraged everyone to use me as the matchmaker for problems and solutions: When the team in northern Québec had a problem with bears, I connected them to a team in Botswana who had found a solution to their own elephant problem.  

Account Manager, 2008-2009

This company was based in Vancouver but their major client was in Québec. I was hired to interface between the differences in language and culture. I managed all client requests and coordinated the adaptation of all the English-language advertising campaigns for the Québécois culture. I loved travelling often and meeting people from all corners of the country. 

Project Coordinator, 2006-2007

Western Canada's largest telecommunications company decided to modernize its computerized client management system in one fell swoop. Accenture was the major contractor and this project involved teams for infrastructure, QA, operations, development, design, business management and more. I was hired to bring all the PMs together and keep the project Gantt charts from imploding. My negotiation skills were finely tuned. 

Office Manager, 2004-2005

There wasn't a single title to coverall of my roles here. I oversaw the reception and support staff, coordinated client workshops and produced client materiel in the form of HTML CDs—which thankfully were replaced with plain ol' websites. I was also the go-to person for bringing new employees on board, especially those from overseas offices who arrived in Canada for the first time in their lives. 

Account Coordinator, 2003-2004

Client relationships were my main priority as I was in charge of the development of content for individual financial advisers who worked with our agency to write and produce their client newsletters. I learned to write in someone else's voice and found my love for editing and copywriting. 

Receptionist, 2001-2002

My first job in an office made me the face of my company, an advertising agency, before I knew anything about the business world. Quickly, I was invited to also join in the building of the client pitches by both the Account Management and the Creative teams. I learned so much at this office, in one of the largest advertising agencies in the world. 

Lifeguard, 1996-1999

I was too young to take the lifeguard exam—they had to delay the exam to sneak me under the allowed days before my birthday. Even so young, I was hired immediately and worked at the pool for a few years until I graduated to become the Beach Guard at my home beach. Best job ever. 

Swim Instructor, 1996-1997

In addition to lifeguarding, I might just have taught nearly every child of a generation in my county how to swim. Though my elders were chosen first for the coveted lifeguarding hours, I was still going to be at the pool or beach so I always taught swim lessons. Adults and children are fun, but babies are best—if you're old enough to lift your head, I can teach you to swim!

ODD DIBS & DABBLES:

I volunteer in every place I've lived. From helping starting up a city-wide bike share in Denver, USA, to hosting the Dalai Lama's teaching events in Toronto, Canada, I'm always involved somehow. Recently, I'm trying to help one of my home village's associations organise for grant applications (websites, communication briefs, fundraising advertising, herding cats, etc.).

I speak English natively. I speak French pretty well too, though not with a Québecois accent much to my Grandpère's delight. I can follow conversations in Italian and Spanish. With German, I have achieved the C1 level certification!

I love to rock climb. Love it. My husband and I climbed in Colorado lots when he lived there. When we moved to Italy, we were close enough to the Dolomites to tear up the limestone (or, in my case, let the limestone tear me up!). Now in Berlin, I've found some climbing gyms to hold me over until I visit our old haunts. We've already been back to Italy and Slovenia just for the climbing! 

I married a theoretical physicist. Neither physics or chemistry are books I've cracked since high school (shame!) so I began brushing up. Recently, I signed up for MIT's Solid State Chemistry online... and got an 98%! I guess it pays to have an entire social circle in the sciences, even for this former liberal arts student.