My professional life did not begin at the helm of a classroom. Following the logical path of an undergraduate degree in Political Studies, for the better part of a decade I worked for the Government of Ontario, primarily as a policy adviser, in several ministries, where my work consisted of deep inquiry and careful writing on topics which almost invariably contained sensitive material that required strategic thinking and a deft touch when it came to word craft. My tenure overlapped with elections, which precipitated significant shifts in ideological and political mandates; by extension, I had to effectively adapt my work to these changing priorities, sometimes quite literally overnight. Every aspect of this work contributed to my profound appreciation for the unquestionable importance of language and communication. In 2003, I put my policy career aside to pursue teaching, and I remained in the classroom for fifteen years. I fundamentally believe that education should foster within students a desire to live through learning. It is the responsibility of the teacher to recognize the potential in students and, through careful observation, empathetic evaluation, and insightful communication, make every effort to encourage them to choose to live and learn in tandem. These philosophies underpin everything upon which The Language Project's academic coaching is founded. In 2013 I pursued training in Harkness pedagogy; the discovery of this student-centred, discussion-based methodology for learning transformed my teaching practice and made it possible for me to achieve in real, measurable terms my educational philosophies. Throughout my teaching career, and especially around the discussion table, I’ve experienced tremendous professional and personal growth. A few years ago, I recognized that it was time for a shift in my working life, but I had no desire to leave the worlds of words or education behind; they are too much a part of who I am. In my current professional chapter, I remain connected with schools and students, and have expanded my practice to include the corporate realm, where I work with managers, team leaders, and school administrators on improving the effectiveness and efficiency of meetings and workplace communication.