What department or group do you work in?
I am part of the Vice-President, Finance & Operations portfolio communications team and work within Infrastructure Development. I am also part of UBC Communications, External Relations. The set-up for my role is slightly unique, but I find it valuable being embedded directly within the facilities side of the VPFO portfolio, and also being connected with the UBC Communications team.
What do you do for the university?
Communications! Everything from strategic communications to sending out construction notifications, UBC brand support, and graphic design for the facilities side of the VPFO portfolio. I work mainly within Project Services, Infrastructure Development, so you may have received an email or two from me about a construction project starting in or around your building, or come across a project signage that I’ve created. Every day can be different, which keeps me on my toes!
What makes you laugh?
I love to laugh — you will find me laughing or smiling most of the time. I try to surround myself with positive people, and laughing together is a great way to connect.
Who inspires you, and why?
Women in leadership inspire me. As a child I’d always been extremely shy and it has taken me many years to come out of my shell. Seeing women in leadership provides me with a great sense of drive — to stay true to myself, to reach for what I want in life, and to model myself after their rise to success.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned?
Always choose to be kind. I remember reading an article and found so much truth to these words — you can’t know all the times that you’ve hurt people in tiny, significant ways. It’s easy to be cruel without meaning to be. There’s nothing you can do about that, but you can choose to be kind.
What is your favourite song or book?
I struggle with finishing a book that I start reading, so I don’t have a favourite book. I am currently reading The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. The writer shares concrete examples through storytelling and I find the information relatable to everyday life.
What’s your favourite or ideal vacation spot?
Anywhere with authentic and delicious food. I think food and culture are intertwined. You can learn and experience so much about a place, a city, a country just by trying their local dishes.
How do you like to recharge?
Sleep. I prefer at least eight to nine hours of sleep every night, maybe even 10 hours to feel completely rested. I think I never broke out of the ‘sleep like a teenager’ stage.
What is your vision for your department?
When someone asks me where I work, my first response is UBC. I think we are all ultimately one team regardless of which Faculty or department we work in. My vision (our vision) is to align the work we do as a team, with the goals and values set out in the UBC strategic plan.
What quality do you most admire in a leader?
Compassion. We are all human beings and having compassion for one another, regardless of what the situation is, can be incredibly infectious.
For you, what makes UBC different?
The people. I’ve worked at many organizations, but the diversity and depth of people I meet and work with at UBC makes me enjoy coming to work every day.
If you could have a super power, what would it be?
Teleportation. I would love to be able to just teleport from one location to another.
What would you like to be remembered for?
I’ve never really thought about this one, but I think if I am remembered at all, I hope to leave a mark of inspiration and positivity.