I have an extensive research and writing background.
I’ve written everything from reports to marketing materials to business and environmental educational resources to briefing documents for government ministers.
Following a Master's in Environmental Studies from York University in Ontario, Canada, I became a self-employed Environmental Consultant. And that gig had lots of wonderful pros - and one growing con. I loved constantly learning new things and taking on projects that required both growth in my skills and in myself as an individual. I got to work with many different people and teams and it was great to be meeting new people and to learn what was required to bring out the best in those around me, the projects and myself. The drawback? I was continually re-inventing myself to promote myself to a disappearing market. In spite of deepening concern over environmental issues, the environmental sector has experienced increasing and deep-cutting cutbacks over the last decade. The result has been a decrease in morale in the sector, and not just a loss of work, but a decrease in the quality of work: when you are just scraping by and struggling merely to survive, it's all but impossible to be creative and to be open to innovative solutions.
And so the need to re-invent myself once again: which turned out to be obvious (if not to me then at least to my sister, the journalist). The skills I used constantly in my consulting career were my research, writing and editing abilities.
Besides environmental consulting, I was employed as a writing coach for undergraduate students by the York University Centre for Writing during my Master's and worked for Peak Potentials (Millionaire Mind Intensive) when it was the fastest growing personal development company in North America. I've also worked as a business coach with small businesses. Early in my career, I even managed an art gallery.
Summed up, all of that means that I have a very interdisciplinary background – I bring a lot to the table - and I'm pretty creative and inventive. What that means for you is that I can write effectively on a variety of topics and adopt different writing styles, voices and perspectives.