My career didn't start in an office. It started on a bike, pedaling across Canada, visiting community bike shops and grassroots organizations. I saw firsthand how small groups with smart systems and clear communication strategies created massive impact in their communities. That insight shaped the next decade.

I started at the County of St. Paul managing grants, internal communications, and rebranding projects. Then at the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre, I ran campaigns for 12 programs and built marketing strategies that helped municipalities access $22M in funding. Then at Alberta Ecotrust Foundation, I was managing everything from their website and email marketing to fundraising campaigns and donor communications. Later, at E Source, I worked with utility industry leaders, advising on marketing strategy and content for major companies. I could see exactly what needed fixing, but my role was only to advise, not to build the solutions.

The work was rewarding, but I realized leaders needed someone to actually build the systems, not just recommend them. There had to be a better way. One that didn't leave leaders drowning in advice they didn't have time to implement.