I GREW UP ON A FARM IN JAMAICA, RAISED IN A HUMBLE ENVIRONMENT, BUT I HAD A BIG DREAM
Picture: Created with Bing Image Creator, powered by Dalle. E
I was raised in a humble environment, but I had a big dream.
My career pivoted 8 times and each time, I remained resilient and kept moving forward.
I wanted to tell my story. When I learned about HeyPi and AI chatbot, I decided to use it as my interviewer so that I could tell my story.
I had no pictures from my childhood so I used Bing Image Creator to generate some pictures to recreate my early career experience.
Here is the full interview.
Hey Pi:
Can I ask what you do for work?
Yvonne:
Yes, I am a career coach.
Hey Pi:
That's awesome! I can imagine that's a very rewarding profession. You get to help people find their path and achieve their goals. That's special. What do you find most rewarding about being a career coach?
Yvonne:
Talking to, and helping people.
Hey Pi:
That's amazing! I think it's so important to help people feel heard and understood. You can make a real difference in people's lives by listening to and supporting them. You must feel very fulfilled in your work. I can also imagine it must be hard work sometimes.
What are some of the challenges you face in your work?
Yvonne:
No real challenges right now. I would like to tell my career story in a way that people would be interested in and inspired by my career story.
Hey Pi:
Oh, that's a great idea! Everyone loves a good story, and you can really inspire people by sharing your journey.
Your experience could help people to believe in themselves and their own potential. It could really give them hope and motivation. Do you mind sharing a little bit about your career journey?
Yvonne:
My story is too long. Can I submit it in two parts?
Hey Pi:
Of course! We can do part one and part two. That would be a fun way to share your story. I'm so looking forward to hearing it. Let's start with part one. Tell me how you got started on your career path.
Picture: Created with Bing Image Creator, powered by Dalle.E
Yvonne:
I will also give you a bit of information about my childhood.
I grew up on a farm with 8 other siblings in Jamaica. We weren't rich but we weren't hungry. I had one pair of shoes which I had to save for going to church. I wore barefoot to school until I was 10 years old. 
Picture: Created with Bing Image Creator, powered by Dalle.E
When I passed the Common Entrance exam for entry to Manchester High School at 10 years old, I received some new shoes to wear to high school. Before that time, I wasn't allowed to wear shoes to school.
I never wanted to be poor. I was not at the top of my class in High School, I was about average I would say. However, I found the likeness for business. These were the days when you either chose a career or a profession. My eldest sister went off to college to become a trained teacher and I was supposed to be a nurse.
Hey Pi:
Wow, what an amazing start to your story. I love how you set the context of where you came from. You were raised in a humble environment, but you had such a big dream. That's so inspiring! You mentioned you found a liking for business. What made you realize you were interested in business?
Yvonne:
I've always had an interest in business. When I was in high school, I studied commerce and Economics and did very well.
Can I continue with the story because I will need to break it into 4 or 5 parts because of capacity issues with the application?
Hey Pi:
Of course, take your time and share as much as you'd like. You have a very inspiring story, and I'm so happy to hear it. You mentioned that you did well in commerce and economics. That's amazing! Did that lead you to your first business?
Yvonne:
That led me to the next part. I will add content.
Hey Pi:
Awesome! I'm ready for the next part. Take your time and share as much as you want. I'm enjoying hearing about your story. So far, you grew up in a humble environment, studied commerce and economics, and started to find an interest in business. Where did your career journey go from there? 
Picture: Created with Bing Image Creator, powered by Dalle. E
Yvonne:
My father wanted me to be a nurse in alignment with being a professional but my career took many turns.
My first job after high school was as a library assistant, then I went to Teachers College and became a trained teacher. I graduated and took a job at a Roman Catholic preparatory school. I worked for 2 years but I was not making a good living. I left teaching and decided to take a job as a receptionist at Burroughs Caribbean Limited, an IT company that was later purchased by Grace Unisys. I worked at Burroughs Caribbean Limited for about 4 years.
While working at Burroughs, I completed my certification in marketing from the British Institute of Marketing and the College of Arts Science and Technology (now the University of Technology). Burroughs decided to sell the business to Grace Unisys. My General Manager decided to open his own company, Point of Sales Jamaica Limited, and hired me as a sales representative.
Hey Pi:
That's a cool turn of events. You started in one place but then went in a completely different direction. What was that transition like going from the education field to the IT industry?
Yvonne:
Not an issue because when I worked with Burroughs as their receptionist I developed marketing, customer service, and business skills.
Hey Pi:
That makes a lot of sense. The transition was natural because of the skills you learned along the way. That's a really important lesson. Often, skills that we develop in one area of our lives can transfer to other areas. Your experience shows that clearly. Did you start to enjoy the marketing and sales side of things?
Yvonne:
Yes, I did, and here is more. I enrolled in the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus to obtain a degree in Business. Point of Sales Jamaica Limited was having a rough time, I was dismissed without explanation so I decided to complete my degree at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados.
Barbados, Caribbean
Picture Credit: The Club, Barbados
While in Barbados I decided to complete my degree by majoring in accounting, in case I had to live there, I would have a variety of opportunities for work because it was easier then to find work in accounting than in Marketing in Barbados.
Hey Pi:
That sounds like it was a challenging time, but you remained resilient and kept moving forward. It's inspiring to hear how you were able to pivot and adapt to new circumstances. It shows how resourceful and determined you are.
When you completed your degree, did you get into the accounting field in Barbados, or did you head back to Jamaica?
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Yvonne:
No! Hear this: I completed my degree but I moved to the Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands where I found a position as a Treasury Accountant. I worked in that position for almost 4 years before I was transferred to the position of the manager of their farmer's corporation.
My tenure in Grand Cayman lasted for 5 years and we went back to Jamaica where I subsequently worked as Marketing Executive for two firms. I had the desire to return to university to obtain my MBA degree. I pursued that dream and received my MBA. I subsequently obtained a position at The University of Technology as a lecturer in Business Management.
Jamaica, West Indies
Picture Credit - Celebrity Cruises
HeyPi:
WOW! That is an incredible journey. You have been through a lot of twists and turns, but you kept moving forward. It must have been so satisfying to get your MBA, and then become a lecturer in Business Management. That must have been so rewarding, to teach others about your field of expertise. What was that experience like?
Yvonne:
I met and helped many students. Teaching is a lot like mentoring. Students would come to my office with personal issues too and I would take time to listen and add comfort.
I’m not done. The best part is yet to come.
HeyPi:
The best part?! I'm intrigued. Please, go on. I'm enjoying hearing your story. It's so inspiring. I love how your story combines a few of my favorite topics: mentoring, personal growth, and paying it forward.
What comes next in the story?
Yvonne:
After working for about 4 and a half years at The University of Technology, I emigrated to Canada in July 2000.
Algonquin College, Canada
Picture Credit: Algonquin College Communications
I immediately enrolled in Algonquin College to study in their Information Technology Professional Program. I earned the college certification along with three IT professional certifications obtained namely, MCSE, A+, and CCNA.
I successfully obtained a contract position at EDS/HP as a Level 3 systems Analyst which came to an end three and a half years after.
Being out of work for 8 months, I pivoted to IT recruitment with a staffing firm in Ottawa called Mindwire/ Brainhunter. This was my last career pivot at 50 years old. I stayed with Mindwire for approximately 15 years, during this time they promoted me twice, from IT Recruiter to IT Recruitment Executive and later to Senior Director of Delivery (Recruiting, Sales, and Proposals).
Hey Pi:
That's quite the journey! You've done so many amazing things and have had an incredible career.
One thing that stands out to me is how adaptable you've been throughout your career. You've made some big changes, but it seems like you've been able to adapt and thrive with each change. That's not easy to do, but you've done it. I'd love to hear about what drives you to keep growing and changing like that.
Yvonne:
I believe it's because I grew up on a farm and my father worked so hard to raise 9 children.
Remember! I was the girl in elementary school wearing no shoes :-)
I used to wake up early in the mornings between 4 to 5 AM EST to accompany my dad to the fields. I used to get up early to help with animals even before I took the country bus from Maidstone, Manchester to Manchester High School, Jamaica.
I had to work so hard on the farm that it was challenging to focus and obtain good grades in high school.
By the way, my story is not done.
HeyPi:
Oh my gosh! You've been through so much, and your family sacrificed so much for you to get a good education. It sounds like you're very thankful for all their sacrifices, and that you want to honor them by working hard and being successful. I can understand why you're so driven.
I'm curious to hear the next part of your story. What happens next?
Yvonne:
While at Mindwire/Brainhunter, Canada as the senior director of proposals, COVID, the big pandemic happened. I was planning to retire during that time.
During the years 2019- 2020, many jobseekers reached out to me on LinkedIn to get my help because they were looking for jobs for long periods, 6 months up to a year without any success.
I decided to help them for free during the pandemic and as a result, many of them were getting jobs in very short periods, as little as 2 weeks, and many were landing jobs with salary increases up to 60% more than what they made before.
I kid you not! I retired from my corporate position at Brainhunter/Mindwire in March 2000 and created my career coaching firm, Goal Inspired Career Coaching to help career professionals up-level in their careers and become the best version of themselves, professionally and financially.
With so many pivots and experience I believe I am the best person for this job:-)
What do you think?
Hey Pi:
What an amazing story. It sounds like you had a real calling to help people get back on their feet after being laid off during the pandemic.
That's such a selfless act, and it must have been so fulfilling for you to see those people get back on their feet and make more money in their careers.
It seems like that calling became the catalyst for your current career as a career coach.
Am I understanding that correctly?
Yvonne:
Yes, it is. Do you think I have a story here?
Hey Pi:
Absolutely! You have a compelling story that I think a lot of people can relate to.
The pandemic was such a challenging time for so many people, and you were able to help them get back on their feet.
Now, you're helping even more people by being a career coach. I think you should tell your story more widely - maybe by writing a book, giving talks, or creating a podcast. Do you think you would be open to those kinds of opportunities?
In 2023, I won the prestigious Faces Ottawa award as Ottawa's Best Career Coach.
I believe that everyone has the potential to succeed in their career if they have the right guidance and support.
I am passionate about helping people reach their full potential, and see every client as a partner on their career journey. That's what drives me to do this work, every day
My coaching method provides career professionals with skills they can use throughout their careers.
🚀 I teach you how to up-level your career to become unstoppable!
✅ Create your interview-generating resume.
✅ Create your opportunity-generating LinkedIn profile.
✅ Stand out in job interviews to land the job that you are the ideal candidate for
✅ Get that promotion you are deserving of
✅ Career pivot up to 180 - meaning, new function/new industry
✅ Find your lane of Genius and pivot from being a Career professional into entrepreneurship, being a founder/owner of your own business
Ready to embark on your career journey?
Let's talk about how I can help you achieve your dreams and reach your full career potential!