A force both on and off the ice, a game-changer for women in sports, and a decorated athlete, Hayley Wickenheiser is regarded as one of the best female hockey players in the world! She has led her team to five medals in the Olympics (four gold and one silver), and was named as the most valuable player in 2002 and 2006. Hayley was selected to be the flag bearer for the Canadian Olympic team in the Opening Ceremonies of the 2014 Sochi Olympics, and was elected to the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Athletes Commission that same year. 

Hayley has received many distinctions in her 23-year career including being named one of Sports Illustrated "Top 25 Toughest Athletes in the World"; has been twice named to the "Power 50 in Sports"; was among the QMI Agency's "Top Greatest Female Athletes in the History of Sports"; is a member of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame; Canada's Top 40 under 40 and Canada's Walk of Fame; and in 2014 she was awarded Canada's highest honour when she was appointed to the Order of Canada for her achievements as an athlete and for her contributions to the growth of the women's game. 

Today, Hayley works with dozens of philanthropic organizations, but her most profound project is the founding of the world-renowned personal and athletic development weekend, The Canadian Tire Wickenheiser World Female Hockey Festival which provides mentoring and growth opportunities for young athletes from around the world. 

With seven world championships, six Olympic appearances, five Olympic medals, and four Olympic gold medals, Hayley is an inspiration for us all.

Occupation:
Pro athlete, medical student, and assistant director of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

What was your dream job at 10 years old?
Hockey player.

Tell us what your average day looks like.
Ha, there is no same day! I wake up at 5 am to workout, then I study and go to class. After class, I work on hockey, study some more, work then sleep.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Blending medicine with hockey and doing only the things I love to do.

What has been your biggest career struggle so far?
So much to do and so little time to do it.

What has been your biggest career win so far?
My son is entering university as a great human, and I have been able to juggle everything to raise him.

What's the best piece of career advice you've received?
Stay off the roller coaster. Don't let the highs get too high or the lows get too low.

Not all advice is solicited. What is some of the worst advice you've received?
Follow the herd! :)

What are you most proud of?
Wickfest. This event connects 2,500+ players who will compete and connect while building positive female hockey experiences across all levels.           

Who motivates you the most?
Susan Anderson, founder of Direct Cash, because she is self-made and kicks ass!

When do you feel the most confident?
When I'm doing what I love to do.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Currently coveting: Downtime.

Favourite way to sweat: Riding my bike outside.

Favourite book: Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela

Morning person or night owl? Morning.

Favourite city: Stockholm.

Get in touch with Hayley!
Instagram: @hchickwick
Twitter: @wick_22

Welcome to my new interview series featuring some of the brightest and most hard-working women I know. My goal for this series is to collect stories from women in all levels of their career. The hope is that their journey and their advice will trigger something in you, and help you take the jump you need to achieve your personal level of success. Whether they are freelancers, founders of their own business, corporate employees, or students, this #LadiesWhoHustle series will showcase their unique talents and help you unveil yours.

As a HUGE bookworm, I'm swooning over the lady I got to interview today: Jodi Picoult! Jody is a #1 New York Times Bestselling Author who has written over 25 fantastic novels. Some of her books include Small Great Things, A Spark of Light, and my personal favourite, My Sister's Keeper. Jody is also the recipient of many awards including the New England Bookseller Award for Fiction, the Alex Awards from the YALSA, a lifetime achievement award for mainstream fiction from the Romance Writers of America, and the NH Literary Award for Outstanding Literary Merit. 

Enough from me, let's hear more from this accomplished writer, and outstanding woman!

Occupation:
Writer

Why do you do what you do?
I can't not write.

What's your current dream job?
To be a writer... and a Broadway librettist.

Tell us what your average day looks like.
I get up and run for a few miles, then go up to my computer and edit my way through whatever I was writing yesterday, and when I get to a blank spot I keep writing. I continue until about 4 pm.

It's great to see that you are living your dream job! Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Hopefully still writing novels, and perhaps winning a Tony.

Amazing, I have zero doubt! Have you had any big career struggles so far?
It was very hard, at the beginning, to write what I wanted to write - fiction that asked moral questions. There were not many writers doing such and finding an audience was a slow climb. Also, being categorized as commercial fiction or women's fiction has prevented people from taking my work seriously.

And what has been your biggest career win so far?
11 consecutive #1 NYT bestsellers.

Now that's a career win! Is there any career advice you've received that you still hold on to?
Don't write about the dinosaurs 'til they become oil - in other words, don't write about what happens to you until you have time to process your emotions and regard the incident from an objective POV.

What about bad career advice?
Write that sells.

You have achieved so much already! What is the one thing you are most proud of?
My three children, who are all changing the world in various ways.

Is there one person that has inspired you in your career?
My editor, Jennifer Hershey - who is extraordinary at her craft - and my publicist, Susan Corcoran, who makes my life so much easier. 

I think mentors are so important to a successful career. Do you have any mentors?
My former professor, Mary Morris, who taught me everything I know.

When do you feel the most confident?
When I'm standing in front of an audience talking about one of my books.

​LIGHTNING ROUND

Currently coveting: Chocolate.

Favourite way to sweat: Hiking.

Favourite book: Too many to name.

Morning person or night owl? Morning person.

Favourite food: Chocolate ice cream.

Favourite city: London.

Get in touch with Jodi!
Website: jodipicoult.com 
Instagram: @jodipicoult
Facebook: Jodi Picoult 
Twitter: @jodipicoult

Let’s talk about career journeys.
 
We all know that each journey is as unique and interesting as the person experiencing it, so why do we keep comparing ours to others?
 
I know I’m guilty of this. I hop onto social media and instantly see all the wonderful progressions my past classmates or coworkers keep on making. And I start to second guess all the work I’ve been putting in lately.
 
Let’s take this time to break down how to stop looking outward, and start focusing on your own progression and growth, so that you can focus on breaking all the glass ceilings.
 
Compare yourself to the you that you were yesterday
 
By now, you know that it’s not productive to compare yourself to others. Not only to someone like Michelle Obama or Tina Fey, but also to your sister, best friend from elementary school or even your mom.
 
But I want to take this a little further. Stop comparing yourself to the best version of yourself. Yes, it’s great to strive for perfection - to a point. However, if you’re constantly trying to be the you that you were that one week after vacation when your creative juices were roaring and you were well rested, well, that’s just not reality.
 
Instead, look at the you that you were yesterday, and try to be better than that version. And let me tell you, that’s not always possible either, but it lets you take in the peaks and valleys and lets you embrace them.
 
Create big goals, but make them manageable
 
Big goals are great. Big goals are what gets us that promotion, that new job, or even that new business, but big goals can be intimidating.
 
When I look at my one-year or five-year goals, sometimes I don’t know where to start.
 
So, instead of hyper-focusing on that big, shiny goal, I break it down into achievable pieces.
 
What is something you can achieve this month, this week, or today? Create a list, and plot them down on a calendar for a great visual (hello bullet-journaling!). Once you start crossing items off the list, regardless of how small they are, you’ll get the motivation and confidence to keep going, and you’ll realize that the big goal you were fearing wasn’t such a big hurdle after all.
 
Check in with yourself
 
Now that you’ve set goals, it’s time to check in to see how you’re doing. I prefer checking in with my goals every six months, halfway through the year, and at the end of the year. These appointments you make with yourself should be taken seriously. You wouldn’t skip your review at your corporate job, so why is it okay to skip your personal review?
 
This is the time where you should look at your work honestly. Have you been a better version of yourself throughout time? Have you been growing toward your goals? Are your long-term goals more achievable? If yes, then great work, keep it up! But if your honest answer is no, this is also the time that you can reflect on what’s holding you back and brainstorm ways to make the next six months more productive.
 
Improve your skills
 
We talked earlier about comparing yourself to the you that you were yesterday, and making sure that you’re improving and growing over time.
 
One great way to ensure constant growth is by selecting skills you want to improve. This can be something as simple as time management or as complicated as learning a new skill like coding, but It must be something that you specifically identified as a skill that will help take you to the next level personally or professionally.
 
Give yourself a time frame. Maybe you need one year to learn one new coding language. So, take the time to learn.
 
Figure out if you need new courses or new equipment, and set a time frame in which this new skill can realistically be adopted.
 
Make sure you include this in your next check in, and reflect back to see how you have improved on this specific skill. Not only will this take your skillset to a new level, but it will also challenge you and keep you interested and engaged, making sure you’re continuously producing the best work that you can.

Welcome to my new interview series featuring some of the brightest and most hard-working women I know. My goal for this series is to collect stories from women in all levels of their career. The hope is that their journey and their advice will trigger something in you, and help you take the jump you need to achieve your personal level of success. Whether they are freelancers, founders of their own business, corporate employees, or students, this #LadiesWhoHustle series will showcase their unique talents and help you unveil yours.

As a woman working in the tech space, I'm always interested in learning about the career paths of other women in tech. That's why I'm so excited to share my next #LadiesWhoHustle interview with the inspiring Ana Gentle. Ana is a Seattle-based engineer at Amazon, where she works on data related projects. Since joining the tech field a few years ago, she noticed on BIG thing missing - women! For this reason, she decided to create a platform to show others her experience and lend a female face to the industry. (Good job girl!) She has since become a blogger where she talks about tech, her career, and how others can join her in the field! 

Occupation:
Data Scientist

Think back to when you were 10 years old. What did you wish to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a weatherman! I was on my elementary school's morning news broadcast and I loved announcing the day's weather to everyone!

What's your current dream job?
I think my current role comes pretty close! I never thought I'd get to have such an impactful and interesting job. I'm pretty creative and love working on side projects, so I hope to someday grow my own business that inspires and motivates women to get involved in technology!

Let’s talk goals! Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
​Running my own business and calling the shots!

Tell us what your average day looks like.
A wake up at 7 am, pour a cup of coffee, sit on the couch and catch up on the news.

This is probably my favourite time of the day and I've been doing it since middle school! I take the bus to work, get in around 9:30 and catch up on my e-mails until my team has stand up at 10:30. This is about 15 minutes that my team sets aside to discuss what we are working on and what we need help with.

I'll have a few meetings throughout the day or host office hours for Amazon employees that need help with their data. Between meetings, I work on my team's projects. 

I get home a little after 5, hit the gym, make dinner, snuggle with my cat and catch up with friends and family before bed!

​Have you experienced any career struggles so far?
A few years ago, I quit my first job out of college and decided to pursue data science. I had zero plans. I spent about a year learning the skills I needed and applying for jobs. For a few months, I was unemployed and really struggled to find my path. I had a lot of faith in myself and eventually found my way!
 
You’ve done so much in your career so far! Is there one thing you would consider your biggest career win?
Seeing my work make headlines in the news!
 
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve received?
Failure paves the road to success! This is my mantra. I've failed so many times, but I work really hard to have a positive mentality. No one successful made it on their first try!

​Sometimes advice can be unsolicited. What’s the worst piece of career advice you’ve received?  
That you always need to push yourself and work harder or longer. This is a toxic mentality. If you don't respect your own limits, you'll run yourself and your career into the ground.

Has anyone really inspired you in your career?
Tina Fey! I've been a big fan for years. Comedy is another male-dominated field and she has done a great job of paving the way for other women.
 
I believe having a mentor (and being a mentor when the time is right) is such an important addition to a successful career. Do you have a mentor?
I've had lots of mentors throughout my life! It helps to have someone keep you in check and lift you up when you need it. 

When do you feel the most confident?
When I'm at the gym! If I didn't have a career in tech, I'd be a fitness instructor. I've always been athletic and love playing sports! That's when I'm most in my element.

LIGHTNING ROUND
 
Favourite way to sweat: Interval training at the gym! 
 
Book you just can’t put down: Bird by Bird, written by Anne Lemott. 

Morning person or night owl? Night owl.
 
What gets your taste buds roaring? ... do slurpies count?
 
City you can’t stop dreaming about: Washington, DC - my hometown.
 
Get in touch with Angela! 
Website: anaanddata.com
Instagram: @ananaddata

Welcome to my new interview series featuring some of the brightest and most hard-working women I know. My goal for this series is to collect stories from women in all levels of their career. The hope is that their journey and their advice will trigger something in you, and help you take the jump you need to achieve your personal level of success. Whether they are freelancers, founders of their own business, corporate employees, or students, this #LadiesWhoHustle series will showcase their unique talents and help you unveil yours.

Next up, a lady that has inspired me with her enthusiasm and passion for her career, and helps get me through daily hurdles, Angela Huang. Angela started her career at McDonald's, where she learned how to manage, take control in uncontrolled events, and how to get things done. She took her passion for people and culture onto her next position as a recruiter, where she really dug deep into her dreams.

And now, I'm lucky to say, Angela is the Office Manager at HEXONET, doing a little bit of everything and putting extra focus on the Human Resources tasks. She's the glue that holds our office together, and I'm thrilled to hear what she identifies as her career goals and inspirations.

Age:
29

Occupation:
Office Manager

Think back to when you were 10 years old. What did you wish to be when you grew up?
Lawyer. I loved the idea of arguing (and winning arguments) with people.

Let’s talk goals! Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Human Resources Director. I realized I love working with people and I love seeing people grow in their careers.

Tell us what your average day looks like.
I don't think I really have an "average day" because my duties change a lot depend on the needs of the company. I work in a small company so I wear multiple hats. For example, one day I might research and implement employee benefits plans, and the next, I might be on the phone with a conference organizer negotiating sponsorship packages. 

​Have you experienced any career struggles so far?
I used to work as a restaurant manager for many years, and I loved it, however, I wasn't where I wanted to be long term. After leaving the industry, it was difficult for me to find work elsewhere because many hiring managers didn't see the transferable skills I brought to the table. I was able to overcome this because I was willing to start at the bottom and prove myself. After taking a temp, entry-level recruiting job, I was quickly offered a raise and a permanent position.
 
You’ve done so much in your career so far! Is there one thing you would consider your biggest career win?
My biggest win is not a single event or achievement. My biggest win is that I've been able to win my bosses and colleagues over and have all these people know me as a capable and competent person.
 
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve received?
You catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Early on in my career, I had all male managers. They taught me to be tough and unwavering, both of which are great qualities to have as a manager. I eventually realized that tough and unwavering shouldn't be my default. This was at a time when I had a female manager who I truly respected. She showed me that you can get as much done (if not more) by taking a softer approach, and that the bonus was that people generally enjoyed working with you more.

​Sometimes advice can be unsolicited. What’s the worst piece of career advice you’ve received?  
You don't need a degree as long as you have experience. Down to my core, I actually do believe this is true, but I don't think it's good advice because we don't live in a bubble. Even if experience is better than education, what if the hiring manager of your dream job doesn't think so? What if you're one of two candidates for a job and the other candidate has both?

Has anyone really inspired you in your career?
Sheryl Sandberg because she not only works for one of the largest companies in the world, she inspires other women to stand up and take the lead.
 
I believe having a mentor (and being a mentor when the time is right) is such an important addition to a successful career. Do you have a mentor?
No, but I need one!
 
When do you feel the most confident?
I feel most confident when I'm giving a presentation I've prepared for over and over again. There was once, a long time ago, where I was ill prepared for a presentation, and I felt horrible after it. I swore I would never let myself be in that situation again, and so the net time I had to present in front of 10 times the amount of people, I made sure I was prepared. I received so much praise from my presentation that I now feel very at ease and confident when I have to give presentations because I know I can ace it.

LIGHTNING ROUND
 
Currently coveting: Medium, navy blue Gucci Dionysus handbag. 
 
Favourite way to sweat: Hot yoga!
 
Book you just can’t put down: Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls 
 
Morning person or night owl? Night owl.
 
What gets your taste buds roaring? Sushi.
 
City you can’t stop dreaming about: My little and unknown hometown of Zeng Cheng, China.
 
Get in touch with Angela! 
Website: hiworld.ca
Instagram: @hiworld.ca
Instagram (personal): @oxangee