Embrace Who You Are

Growing up in Quebec City, I was a very happy child. I loved to lip sync and put on shows for my family. Then in my teens, I experienced abuse and bullying that culminated in panic attacks so severe they sent me to the hospital. At 18, I was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and generalized anxiety. I am extremely fortunate to have a supportive family who noticed the signs and made sure I got the help I needed, but it would be many years before I would learn to accept my diagnosis and find peace.

While my anxiety made it impossible for me to complete my studies, I learned fast and built my career on reputation and hard work. I can honestly say my experience is worth more than any degree.

I started my career at the very bottom of the ladder answering phones at a small IT company where my mother worked. Early on, I discovered two passions: technology and customer service. Those passions would become my driving forces. I worked my way up to Sales and Services Manager before moving to Montreal after accepting a position at Lenovo, where I would become their youngest female Field Enterprise Sales Executive. During my last year at Lenovo, I had moved up to a national role, leading the sales for their collaboration division in Canada.

As I got older, I learned that it is ok to accept who you are, to get the help you need and to use the tools available to you to manage your mental health. I found medications that worked, began exercising, practicing yoga and meditation, and discovered strategies that helped me to release negative feelings instead of keeping them inside. Getting to know myself and what works for me has been the most valuable experience of my life. Now I embrace who I am - every part of it.

I believe that life takes you where you are meant to be. I never had a stronger sense of accomplishment until I agreed to work for Microsoft. It was as if everything I went through took me where I was meant to be.