Career Conference 2020
On November 2, 2020, more than 200 Grade 11 and 12 students had the chance to spend the afternoon with 32 alumnae, parents, and past parents who generously shared their thoughts and expertise with senior students as they consider their next steps and career paths.
Keynote Presentation
Yuka Nagashima ’88, recipient of the 2020 Distinguished Alumnae Achievement Award, joined the Career Conference as the keynote speaker. Watch a recording of her presentation below.
Presenter Bios
Following the keynote presentation, students were invited to select a topic in each of three 40-minute sessions over the afternoon on the theme of "adaptability." Each session had up to 15 panels to choose from, led by alumnae, parents of current and past students, and community connections. Topics ranged from Architecture & Planning to Health Sciences, Business, Technology, Communications, and more. Students had the chance to hear how panelists cut their paths, and to ask questions that will help shape their own.
We thank all those who volunteered for their time and passion!
- Keynote Speaker: Yuka Nagashima ’88
- Jennie Allan ’07
- Kimberly Asuming-Tawiah ’11
- Stephanie Baresh
- Dr. Zosia Brown ’98
- Amanda Chan
- Sarah Chapman ’14
- Denise Chow ’04
- Shireen Farzadeh ’13
- Bianca Galan Guzman
- Jen Gerald ’92
- Philippe Gerard
- Tara Gupta
- Claire Harvey
- Clare Jessey
- Angie Kim ’16
- Nicola Mahaffy ’86
- Katie G. Mak ’05
- Vivian McCormick ’99
- Dr. Tracy Pickett
- Danaka M. Porter ’04
- Dr. Stephanie Rhone
- Jennifer Sanguinetti ’91
- Ruby Schechter
- Iman Serag
- Anna Shojania
- Alison Sinclair Burns ’83
- Tiffany So ’14
- Tasnima Tanzim
- Shannon Taylor
- Karen Thompson
- Alberta Wang
- Angela Wang ’08
Keynote Speaker: Yuka Nagashima ’88
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With 20+ years of experience as a senior executive, Yuka possesses skills from several domains that are rarely found in the same person: justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion (JEDI); nonprofit leadership; organizational management; policy/government; innovation strategy; entrepreneurship; and education. After founding two tech-startups, she led the tech-based economic development agency of the State of Hawaii, where she oversaw tech park development and incubation, created innovation policy frameworks, and implemented entrepreneurship and other business programs, including Innovate HI, as NIST’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center Director for Hawaii. Most recently, based on her executive consulting work on JEDI, and her experience with Astia, a non-profit operating globally to level the playing field for women entrepreneurs, she developed an inclusive leadership curriculum for Stanford Continuing Studies. She is currently the Executive Director of Food Shift, shifting the way people think and interact with food by uplifting communities through rescued produce: reducing waste, creating jobs, and nourishing our neighbors. As hunger is not caused by lack of food, but lack of financial security, we address root causes, providing practical solutions that are “for the people, by the people, and with the people”. US wastes 40% of its produced food that ties up significant amount of resources including over 20% of drinkable water. Because food waste in landfills causes methane, our mission puts us in the intersection of food and racial justice as well as climate change. Yuka was born and raised in Japan, educated in Canada and the U.S. having spent most of her professional life in Hawaii, she moved to San Francisco Bay Area via Denmark.
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Jennie Allan ’07
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Jennie graduated from Crofton House in 2007 and went to university at Queen's, studying Engineering. Upon graduation, she went to work at a small start-up consulting firm, Isaac Operations, focused on operational process improvement. Focused on both manufacturing and white collar processes, Jennie worked with clients across North America to improve operational efficiencies and help companies drive more value by better utilizing the resources they had in house. After 5 years of travelling as a consultant, Jennie decided to change companies in order to spend more time at home in Toronto, ironically by going to Air Canada. At the airline, Jennie focused on identifying, qualifying, and implementing strategic initiatives across the organization, maintaining a process improvement focus. Most recently, Jennie has taken her process improvement skillset to KPMG and now focuses specifically on tax transformation. She works with major companies across the country to enhance their internal tax processes, often through better leveraging technology and working with other teams within the business such as Finance. Outside of work, Jennie still tries to get outdoors as much as possible although concedes the Ontario mountains come nowhere near Whistler or the local Vancouver mountains she grew up with! |
Kimberly Asuming-Tawiah ’11
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Kimberly graduated from CHS in 2011. She has gone on to complete a Bachelors of Science Honours Health, studies at the University of Waterloo. After a few years of researching different career opportunities in the Medical Field/Health Industry, Kimberly has found herself in Massage Therapy school. For 2 years she has worked along side Physiotherapists, Registered Massage Therapists, Kinesiologist, Reflexologists, Acupuncturists, and Naturopath at a Multidisciplinary Clinic. |
Stephanie Baresh
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Stephanie Baresh is an experienced Director focusing on Marketing, Creative Campaigns and Public Relations in the skin care industry. Having worked with Eminence Organic Skin care for over 20 years, she has created over 200 award winning products and loves bringing product launches to life from conceptualization to market. As an entrepreneur, Stephanie has held a few different roles in her career from working in a dental office to starting a private language school and is excited to share her journey with you. In addition to career changes, Stephanie experienced change early in life when her family left everything they had to flee to Canada from the Czech Republic during political unrest in 1968. Building a new life taught her that the only constant thing in life is change and learning how to embrace change is one of the most valuable skills you can learn. |
Dr. Zosia Brown ’98
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Zosia is an experienced sustainability strategist, program manager and leader with a 15 year track record driving change through research, consulting, private and non-profit sectors. Her work has focused at the interface of humans, the natural world and the built environment. Zosia was most recently Head of Resource Conservation and Sustainability at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, WA where she led resource efficiency, zero waste, climate resilience and a sustainability engagement platform for over 1.3 million visitors / year. Previously, Zosia worked in Europe and the UK, as a corporate sustainability manager and green building consultant, engaging cross-functional teams to shape strategy and policies with clear impact metrics and demonstrated long term value. Zosia holds a PhD and MSc in Resource Management Environmental Studies from the University of British Columbia, and a BSc in Environmental Science from McGill University. She is a LEED AP (BD+C) and WELL AP. |
Amanda Chan
Sarah Chapman ’14
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Sarah graduated from Crofton in 2014 before attending Harvard University. While in university, she studied developmental and regenerative biology with a minor in mind, brain and behaviour. Sarah spent several years during undergrad in labs focused on the behaviour of stem cells in the development in the brain, skin, and hair. After graduation, Sarah sought to transition from pure bench science to translational medicine closer to patients, which led her to ClearView Healthcare Partners, a biopharmaceutical strategy consulting firm. The projects she consulted on spanned drug and franchise strategy, due diligence for mergers and acquisitions, pricing and market access, and overall corporate growth strategy for biotech and pharmaceutical clients. In March, Sarah moved home from the U.S. to Vancouver due to border closures and continued to work remotely for her consulting company through the summer. Recently she left her job and decided to move to Vancouver more permanently due to the pandemic. She is excited to share how she thought through different potential paths within the life sciences (e.g., med school vs. academia vs. industry), insights on the evolving biopharma space, and how she is currently assessing her own next steps. |
Denise Chow ’04
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Denise Chow is a reporter for NBC News, covering the environment, climate change and general science (though since late January, she has been almost exclusively covering the coronavirus pandemic). Her work has been featured across the NBC network, and in 2019, she traveled to Greenland as part of a climate change special that aired on Nightly News and the TODAY Show. Before joining NBC, she worked as a radio producer for NPR and spent several years as a space reporter, covering astronomy, rocket launches and NASA's final space shuttle missions for SPACE.com. Chow was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada, but now lives in New York City. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Toronto and a master's degree in journalism from New York University. |
Shireen Farzadeh ’13
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Shireen Farzadeh grew up in Vancouver, BC and graduated in 2013 and earned her Doctorate of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)degree in 2019 at a 6-year direct entry program at St. John's University in Queens, NY. She completed post-graduate-year-1 (PGY-1) pharmacy residency at North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY and worked as a front line healthcare worker on COVID-19 ICUs during the pandemic. She is currently specializing in Geriatrics (Older Adults) as a second year post-graduate pharmacy (PGY-2) resident at SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY and Clinical Assistant Professor at SUNY Binghamton University, Johnson City, NY. She is passionate about medication management in older adults and serving underserved patients. Upon completion of residency, she hopes to become a clinical geriatrics pharmacist and professor at a pharmacy school. Throughout pharmacy school in the United States, she was on an F-1 student visa and is currently on a TN work visa for Canadians. During her free time, she mentors Canadian and international students in the visa process and how to overcome these barriers. She is excited to share her experiences in choosing a career path in clinical pharmacy and navigating student and work visas, with Crofton House School students. |
Bianca Galan Guzman
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Bianca Galán-Guzmán is a brand designer based in Boston. She is passionate about design for hospitality and travel. Her dream is to one day live and work in Barcelona where the weather is nice and people are happy. When not on her computer, you can find her struggling with HIIT workouts on her living room floor or hosting gourmet dinners for the people she loves. |
Jen Gerald ’92
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For the better part of two decades Jen has lived her career best life in the creative fields of marketing, advertising and brand. With a healthy blend of “let’s do this!” confidence and a tad of naivety she’s navigated a career in a field that has undergone a massive transformation from traditional print and television to disparate digital platforms and the rise of social influencers and “personal brand”. But that’s not the career path she intended after CHS matriculation - a few false post-secondary starts and a left turn as a headmistress of a primary school abroad came first. Along her journey Jen discovered that listening to instinct, facing your fears and embracing change yields the greatest opportunity and reward. She firmly believes that 5-year plans are overrated, and that resilience |
Philippe Gerard
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Phil Gerard was a fundraiser for over 15 years, working in the community service, education and university advancement sectors with a focus on major gifts. A Master of Business Administration degree with a Human Resource Management specialization set him on a new path within the fundraising profession: Fundraising Talent Management. Phil started Gerard Search in 2012. His firm specializes in recruitment services for the nonprofit sector with a focus on major gift fundraising roles. Phil raised close to $20 million in his career. He understands fundraising best practices, speaks the language, and knows the challenges that professionals in the field face and what they are looking for in a rewarding career. |
Tara Gupta
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My identity and the challenges I have faced have shaped the way I approach Social Entrepreneurship, and helped me lead a life of humanitarian focus, visionary leadership, and creativity. Through my experience with the disability of lupus and fibromyalgia, a creative and an entrepreneur, I have had the opportunity to experience a range of perspectives on life and the world. My experience with chronic illness has shaped the motivation I have for creating Anamakos, and Map-Collective.com. Healing spaces + empowering data will give people the power to approach the problem of earth’s resource management. |
Claire Harvey
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Claire Harvey is a 3D Weave Design Engineer at Textiles Engineering and Manufacturing (TEAM) which provides woven textiles for the composites industry in aviation and aerospace. Previously, she helped develop Weavecraft, an open-source design tool developed by the VTRG (with hard-coding and UI implementation by computer scientists from Cornell and Stanford). Through Weavecraft, her team wove an athletic shoe on a loom, and built a multiyear partnership with the sporting goods brand Under Armour through the group’s fiber and yarn simulation research. |
Clare Jessey
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Clare Jessey is a designer, inventor, explorer and storyteller who works for Philips Design at Philips Healthcare’s HealthTech Innovation Lab in Cambridge, MA. At Philips she works on a multi-disciplinary team working on bringing human-centered solutions to the next generation of healthcare technologies. Outside of Philips she was the designer for a proof of concept for an augmented reality-based tool to map neurological biopsy sites, and is working on an iOS/Android app that empowers people to take control of their health benefits! Clare loves fitness and has placed in a full distance Ironman Triathlon. |
Angie Kim ’16
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Angie Kim is a software engineer on the New York Times' Machine Learning team, where she works on personalizing readers' digital engagement with the Times. She graduated from Brown University this past May (#classofcovid19) with a major in applied mathematics and now lives, predictably, in New York City. In her spare time, she likes to read, experiment in the kitchen, run, and be involved with environmental justice and labour advocacy. |
Nicola Mahaffy ’86
Katie G. Mak ’05
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Katie is a lawyer specializing in insolvency and restructuring law. Her practice involves assisting clients with resolving challenges that arise from businesses in distress and uncertain times, and providing advice to help clients save resources, preserve businesses and protect interests. When a business is impacted by events such as COVID-19, restructuring may be the difference between the business' demise and its recovery. Katie also has a fraud and asset recovery practice, acting in high-profile Ponzi scheme cases. Her practice area is always changing, fast paced and involves different areas of law, from closing corporate transactions to appearing in court. Katie is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (Bachelors of Arts, Economics and Communications) and of University of Victoria (Juris Doctor, Law). |
Vivian McCormick ’99
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After practicing law for 10 years in Vancouver, I made the first transition of my career to consult with entrepreneurs in areas other than law. While doing this consulting, my Flax Sleep co-founder (and friend) Anna approached us with her idea of starting an e-commerce company for linen bedding. The three of us knew next to nothing about retail or e-commerce and learned most of it along the way! |
Dr. Tracy Pickett
Danaka M. Porter ’04
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Danaka has a Master of Engineering in Systems and Supply Chain from MIT, and has created and copyrighted inventory algorithms for hard to predict demand situations over long periods of time. Danaka also provides consulting services to global clients helping them apply machine learning to their businesses. She is currently doing her PhD in Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences at the University of Calgary as well as cofounding a company in the US that uses her own algorithms to better match surrogates and egg donors with recipients. |
Dr. Stephanie Rhone
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Dr. Rhone is currently a Clinical Associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of British Columbia. She received her B.A with Honors from Swarthmore College and her M.D. summa cum laude from Emory University in 1995. She did her postgraduate training in Obstetrics & Gynecology followed by a clinical fellowship in Reproductive Imaging at the University of British Columbia. She served as the Medical Director for the Reproductive Medicine Program at BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre from 2005 to 2013, which includes the Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinic and the Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Clinic. She became Senior Medical Director, Ambulatory & Surgical at BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre in 2013. She also maintains a University affiliated private practice. Her clinical interests involve a variety of women's health issues such as early pregnancy loss, gynecologic imaging, high risk Obstetrics and complex MIS surgery. |
Jennifer Sanguinetti ’91
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Jennifer Sanguinetti is the Managing Director of Infrastructure Development. Jennifer and her team are responsible for the planning and development of institutional facilities at UBC, collaborating with campus stakeholders to create great spaces for learning, research, and campus life. Jennifer has worked across the development industry from crown corporations through to engineering consulting. Throughout her career Jennifer has become noted for her expertise in green building design. Recognition has included multiple national awards for her work across the building industry. Jennifer is the past-chair of the LEED Canada Steering Committee, and is the current chair of the US Green Building Council’s LEED Steering Committee. She has a Bachelor of Engineering degree from McGill University and is a Professional Engineer registered in BC, Washington, and California and is a LEED Accredited Professional. |
Ruby Schechter
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Ruby Schechter is a designer and entrepreneur living in NYC. She is the founder and CEO of The Better Pop, a uniquely shaped kombucha popsicle company. Her mission is to show people that healthy food can also taste amazing. Through innovation, design, and taste, The Better Pop is making it easier for people to make better food choices, one popsicle at a time. When she's not attending to popsicle matters, Ruby can be found exploring NYC restaurants, baking in the kitchen, and rock climbing. |
Iman Serag
Anna Shojania
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Anna Shojania is a Co-Founder and Senior Partner of GO Recruitment, a boutique executive search and HR consulting firm based in Vancouver. She has more than 20 years of recruiting, human resource management, and operational management experience. A trusted advisor to the executives and boards of the innovative companies she serves, she has personally completed several hundred searches at the professional, managerial and executive levels for technology companies in B.C. and throughout North America. In addition to her consulting activities, Anna has been actively involved with various industry, academic and philanthropic organizations. She has served on boards and board committees for the UBC Sauder Alumni Association, the Arthritis Society of BC, BCTIA, and BC Social Venture Partners. She is also a visiting speaker for UBC Sauder Career Centre, UBC Sauder (BCom and MBA), UBC Faculty of Medicine, and Crofton House School. Anna holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Business Administration from the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business. |
Alison Sinclair Burns ’83
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Alison heads a Communications team for a leading Canadian investment management firm. Her group relies on strong writing, data analytics and project management skills to produce compelling communications, reports and publications for clients and prospective clients. Our clients are known as institutional investors and include Canadian corporations, not-for-profit organizations, First Nations communities, unions, universities, cities and governments. Credentials: CHS grad ’83; BA (International Relations), UBC; MBA, University of Ottawa; various certificates from La Sorbonne (Paris, France), the Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo (Santander, Spain), and the Canadian Securities Institute. Career progression: Alison began her professional career in Ottawa in communications positions with two not-for-profit organizations. In 1996, she and her boyfriend quit their jobs and drove out to BC where she honed her communications skills in the financial services industry. She has been with her current employer since before this year’s CHS grads were born! |
Tiffany So ’14
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Tiffany So is a writer/director currently based in LA. Her animated musical series LIMITED SPACE was featured at the New York Television Festival and received a development deal award from Bento Box Entertainment. Most recently, her short film FINE CHINA won the HBO APA Visionaries Competition. The short is currently available on HBO and HBO Max. She is also developing a TV series called YEAR OF THE RABBIT with David Weil (creator of HUNTERS on Amazon) and a musical called BODY BY IRAN with the Skylight Theater in Los Feliz. The show's opening song was an official selection of ASCAP's A Little New Music, an event that presents the top current musical theatre pieces in LA. Currently, she is working in the writers room for GOSSIP GIRL and will be writing an episode for its second season. |
Tasnima Tanzim
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From TIME’S UP to frog design, Silo agency, and numerous museums, Tas has worked with a variety of clients including: American Express, BNY Mellon, United Technologies, Hyundai Motor Group, and Museum of the Moving Image. Tas is a passionate mobilizer and advocate for communities of color. She regularly contributes pro-bono work to local non-profits and cultural organizations including Jhal, Laal, and Mahfuzul for 24. She is also a co-founder of BiCi, a bike education program for girls of color in Brooklyn & Queens where she gathers communities to take ownership of their bodies and neighbourhoods. |
Shannon Taylor
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Shannon launched Taylor Made Business Solutions in 2009, a marketing consultancy practice where she helps clients build their brands and business. Prior to consulting, Shannon had a lengthy and distinguished career as a senior leader at TELUS. One of her favourite jobs was putting together the marketing and communications plans for TELUS' bid to be the 2010 Olympic telecommunications partner. Shannon holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Victoria. Shannon's daughter Olivia Folick is a CHS grad - class of 2014. Shannon was very involved at CHS as Chair of the Communications Committee for the Senior School and ECE buildings and developing the new CHS brand strategy and logo. She is an active volunteer, book lover, traveller and enjoys competitive running and tennis – as long as it’s for fun. |
Karen Thompson
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Karen Thompson is a Director and Portfolio Manager at Odlum Brown Limited, a full-service investment firm headquartered in Vancouver, where she leads a team dedicated to providing financial guidance and portfolio management to an established clientele. Karen has been involved in the financial industry for over 30 years and is a graduate of the University of Toronto. She is a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI) and holds the Family Enterprise Advisors (FEA) designation and Certified Professional Consultant on Aging (CPCA). Karen is a mother of 2 Crofton House School Graduates and believes in giving back to the Community. She has been actively involved in community sports and served as Director and Chair of the Vancouver Youth Soccer Association and on the BC Soccer Women in Soccer Committee and BC Soccer Diversity Working Group Committee. Karen is a strong supporter of several charities and currently serves as a Director and Chair of the Governance Committee of the Alzheimer Society of BC. |
Alberta Wang
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Alberta Wang graduated from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 2019, with a BFA in Graphic Design. She is currently working as a UX Designer at HBO, where she works to improve the usability, accessibility, and interactions within a product. In her work, Alberta aims to back up her design decisions with User Research. Her past work experiences include IBM, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, and DC Comics. |
Angela Wang ’08
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Angela Wang is a Manager in Bain & Company’s New York office. She joined the firm in 2018 and has previously worked with clients across the Insurance, Tech Distribution and Industrials space. She has also spent time in Bain's Private Equity practice performing due diligences for PE clients. At Bain, she is actively involved in recruiting, and also spends time working with small businesses via a pro-bono advisor program. Prior to joining Bain, Angela worked as a Credit Research Strategist at Morgan Stanley in New York, responsible for providing fixed income research and credit strategies to investment managers. Angela received an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also a graduate of Columbia University, from where she received a BA degree in Economics and Political Science. Angela is currently living and quarantining in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan with her boyfriend (who also happens to be from Vancouver!). |
Student Analysis: “The Leaky Ship”
Students Jane '22 and Alina '22 share their takeaways after interviewing Yuka Nagashima ’88 for the Career Conference keynote.
A Conversation with Yuka Nagashima ’88
Yuka Nagashima ’88 is a senior executive, policy leader, entrepreneur and educator in science and technology. We sat with her after the Career Conference to learn more about her path and her values.