Passionate about driving positive change through human-centered design, I collaborate with individuals and organizations to transform their strategies, enhance their bottom line, foster innovation, amplify social impact, and introduce new products and services.
With a background in engineering, entrepreneurship, and economic development, I’ve spent the past 25 years dedicated to building innovative technology solutions, nurturing emerging entrepreneurs, mentoring youth, supporting community development initiatives, fostering innovation partnerships, advocating for social causes, and spearheading specialized talent advancement programs. Utilizing my proficiency in people management, process optimization, system implementation, and operational leadership, I am adept at orchestrating effective strategies. With a proven history of navigating intricate projects, enhancing organizational efficiency, and cultivating innovation, I naturally gravitate towards steering initiatives for sustainable growth and operational excellence within any setting.
At the Ottawa Community Foundation (OCF), where I serve as the Director of Corporate Services and Social Innovation, I leverage my extensive management and leadership experience alongside my expertise in entrepreneurship, economic development, technology, and talent engagement. Simultaneously, I oversee commercial and business interests at OAK, a strategic consulting and software development firm co-founded in 2007. OAK primarily focuses on local community projects, empowering small businesses and non-profits with cutting-edge web, mobile, and tech solutions.
In addition, I contribute as a partner at Innovation by Design (IBD), an Ottawa-based design agency committed to equipping clients with innovative design thinking tools and methods for sustainable, impactful outcomes. My previous venture, AirLoop, pioneered an innovative customer engagement and loyalty platform tailored to storefront businesses.
Outside of my professional endeavors, I’m deeply involved with various non-profits and charities. I serve as a Trustee with Kiva Zip, as a Strategic Advisor with Mindtrust Leadership and Junior Achievements Ottawa, and as a Charter Member with TiE Global.
I’m characterized by curiosity, strategic thinking, honesty, humility, and generosity, and I am committed to fostering meaningful connections, collaboration, and co-creation to drive positive change in our communities and beyond. Let’s connect and explore opportunities to create impact together.
Specific Interests:
Operational Excellence: Throughout my professional career, since graduating from Engineering School in 1998, I have been deeply committed to achieving operational excellence by designing, developing, and deploying frameworks, processes, and systems that drive efficiency and impact. My passion lies in transforming complexity into clarity, enabling organizations to operate at their highest potential. I focus on creating scalable and adaptable solutions that align with organizational goals while fostering collaboration and innovation. By leveraging strategic thinking and a hands-on approach, I help teams streamline operations, optimize resources, and build systems that not only deliver results but also empower sustained growth and success.
Strategic Design and Planning: I have spent a significant part of the past decade immersed in the domains of strategic planning and strategic design, helping organizations chart purposeful paths forward in an increasingly complex world. My work focuses on developing clear, actionable strategies that align with organizational values and goals while addressing both immediate needs and long-term aspirations. By blending analytical rigor with creative problem-solving, I design frameworks and processes that enable teams to navigate uncertainty, seize opportunities, and drive sustainable growth. My approach emphasizes collaboration, adaptability, and impact, ensuring that every strategy is not only visionary but also practical and capable of delivering meaningful results.
Talent Development & Empowerment: From my early years, since my youth, I have had a deep interest in talent development and empowerment, driven by a belief in the boundless potential of individuals to grow, thrive, and lead. This passion has shaped my professional journey, where I have dedicated myself to identifying, nurturing, and unlocking the strengths of people across diverse roles and contexts. By fostering environments that encourage growth and self-discovery, I aim to inspire individuals to embrace their unique abilities and take ownership of their development. My approach combines mentorship, coaching, and strategic guidance to empower individuals and teams to achieve their goals, build resilience, and create lasting impact in their organizations and communities.
Leadership Development: I’m deeply committed to the power of leadership development as a catalyst for growth and transformation. With over 20 years of experience in strategy and mentorship, I’ve dedicated myself to cultivating leaders who are not only equipped to navigate complexity but also inspired to drive meaningful change. By integrating innovative frameworks and creating opportunities for reflection and growth, I strive to empower individuals to lead with clarity, creativity, and purpose, ultimately strengthening their impact on the communities and causes they serve.
Entrepreneurship & Venture Creation: Over my professional life, since coming to Canada in 2003, I have been deeply engaged in fostering entrepreneurial spirit and driving venture development, helping individuals and organizations turn ideas into impactful realities. My passion lies in empowering entrepreneurs to navigate uncertainty, seize opportunities, and build sustainable ventures that create meaningful value. By combining strategic insight with hands-on experience, I guide aspiring and seasoned entrepreneurs in shaping their vision, refining their strategies, and scaling their efforts. Through tailored frameworks and actionable guidance, I aim to inspire innovation, cultivate resilience, and enable ventures to thrive in dynamic and complex environments.
Mentorship & Coaching: For more than 20 years, my work has centered on empowering individuals and organizations to navigate challenges and unlock their full potential through thoughtful guidance and strategic insight. I’m deeply passionate about the transformative potential of mentoring and coaching in fostering growth and self-discovery. My approach blends personalized mentorship with a coaching mindset, helping individuals build self-awareness, tackle obstacles, and achieve meaningful goals. By leveraging proven frameworks and tools, I guide others in cultivating clarity and confidence, enabling them to lead with purpose and create a lasting impact in their personal and professional journeys.
Social Innovation: I’m deeply passionate about the potential of social innovation and its transformative power. Over the past four years at the Ottawa Community Foundation, I’ve focused on bringing an innovation lens not only to our operations and internal practices but also to the organizations, initiatives, and priorities we support. By integrating innovative frameworks, we aim to empower those working to develop solutions to pressing social challenges, amplifying their capacity to create lasting impact. This approach has allowed us to reimagine how we deliver value while empowering the community to explore bold and creative solutions to complex issues.