My art teacher had concerns that my drawing skills were lacking, and I had next to no computer skills. To make things more complicated, three months before my grade 12 grad - uation, I was unexpectedly out on my own at 17. It was suddenly my responsibility to figure out how to financially support myself and start a career. I remember feeling terrified yet totally ecstatic. I worked as a cashier at Superstore and I remember telling customers about how I was going to go to college to become a graphic designer. I intuitively knew that Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) would be the best place for me to quick start my creative career, and my instincts were not wrong. During the next two years I spent at NSCC I gained confidence and skills using a computer, and I learned how to create digital artwork that looked great, while serving a specific communication purpose. I graduated with my diploma in graphic design in 2007, and I was so excited to begin my career. Little did I know my learning about having a creative career was only just beginning. For the first few years after graduating from college I worked as an in-house designer at Uncommon Grounds, a local, family-owned coffee shop, and then the Atlantic Film Festival (now FIN), a local non-for-profit organization. What I loved most about working as the in-house designer for both of these businesses, was seeing the impact I was helping to create from my design efforts. It was thrilling to see my design work out in the world, and I felt so proud to be strengthening their brand awareness. Ultimately, I was doing my part to improve their bottom line through their brand.
What made you want to become an entrepreneur and start your own business? BP: I unexpectedly became an entrepreneur from one of the lowest points in my career. After working for a small business, and a non-for-profit, I was eager to work with bigger brands. I landed a design job at a local agency and I felt like I won the career lottery, I was over the moon excited to see what I would do there. At the time Mad Men, was a popular TV show that was airing about a fictitious advertising agency based in New York City in the 1960s. I had a naive vision about becoming this agency’s Peggy or Joan, by channeling my creative prowess to overcome any challenges, like these characters did in the show. As it turned out, I didn’t win the career lottery from landing this job, but I did become emotionally, and ener - getically bankrupt from it. The brands I was working with were certainly bigger, but they were also far less connected or concerned about the communities they were serving. A sharp contrast to the small business, and non-for-profit I had earlier worked for.
Photo by Chris Geworsky
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SEPTEMBER 2020 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2020
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