When Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) Toronto approached me to contribute to their blog, I was honoured to have the opportunity to inspire women, especially ones embarking on their careers, with my story. In the spirit of a milestone birthday this year, creating a letter to my younger self seemed like a fun and relatable approach to take for writing this piece.  Hope you enjoy it!

In the face of uncertainty, approach each change with an open heart, knowing that it’s an opportunity for growth and discovery. Take risks and step outside your comfort zone. Just as you did when switching degrees from business administration to land use planning, be unafraid of exploring the unknown. The biggest rewards often come from embracing challenges that initially seem daunting.

Nurture relationships and connections. Being a great planner goes hand in hand with building relationships and developing a diverse network. The people you meet along the way will shape your journey. Forge connections with mentors, colleagues, and, later, within your family community . Join associations, attend industry socials and do not be afraid of reaching out to new people and maintaining connections with those from your past. These relationships will be sources of support, inspiration, and invaluable insights.

Balance will be your compass. Juggling a multifaceted life requires a delicate equilibrium. This will be a hard lesson that will take you longer to learn than many.  If I can save you some of that heartache, I encourage you to prioritize your well-being, allocate time for personal growth (outside of the planning world!), and cherish the moments with your family from the start.  Many of these non-work-related priorities will become the bedrock of your life experiences.

Cultivate your thirst for knowledge. Good land use planning skills stems from cultivating a collection of different experiences or what I tend to call “hats”.  The best way to collect these “hats” is to try on as many roles within the planning industry as you can.

Making time to stay current through industry resources like webinars and podcasts (like Conversations with WLI) will spark new interests and insight into how you perform your day-to-day tasks or decide on the next career move.

Having both public and private sector experience will be invaluable to understanding both sides of the development process.  It will provide you with empathy and foresight when trying to resolve complex situations and conflicts.  The decision to change jobs every four to five years in this strategic way reflects your curiosity and proactive approach. Keep seeking opportunities to learn, both in your career and personal life.