What was your last career change?
My latest career change came unexpectedly. The University of Ottawa, and more specifically Martin Bernier (Chief Information Officer) and Daniel Trottier (Deputy Chief Information Officer), offered me the opportunity to contribute to Polaris IT. It was a remarkable gesture and an excellent opportunity. Since then, Ingrid Hernandez Remedios (Senior Director, IT Solutions) has entrusted me with the responsibility of leading the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) project for the Advancement office.
What made it successful?
Everyone’s trust, even when the objectives weren’t always clear, and the willingness of the entire IT team to try something new, were essential. Bravo to all, we succeeded in reviewing and successfully completing a majority of the initiatives.
What was the biggest challenge in adapting to your new role?
The team’s confidence in achieving the objectives.
What tasks do you find AI most helpful for in your role?
Product management, creating business cases and case studies, collecting data and facts to demonstrate the value of a project.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career change?
Change is positive: for better or for worse, it represents opportunities.
How can colleagues help someone transition into their new responsibilities?
Giving the trust and space (time, experimentation, etc.) needed to develop a project or initiative.
What do you look forward to in your day?
Looking at my dashboard—schedule, tasks, status, emails, and messages—early in the day with a nice, strong coffee before the ‘ding, dings’ start.
If you were a chocolate bar, which one would you be?
A cherry blossom. Some prefer the chocolate, others the cherry. But if you like both, it can be mind-blowing!
What ingredient should never be found on a pizza?
Pineapples and anchovies
What three items would you bring if you were shipped to a deserted island?
Wine, cheese and fresh bread.