About Me

I hold a Master of Business Administration (2015) with a focus on Human Resources from UNBC and am a CPHR ​candidate. I also completed a Bachelor of Arts in Media Production (RTA) with a minor in English from Toronto ​Metropolitan University, formerly Ryerson University (2011). During my graduate studies my focus was on ​People and Culture (previously known as HR) and organizational development. The research of Adam Grant, ​Brene Brown, Peter Drucker, Edward Deming, John C. Maxwell, Joseph M. Juran, Kaoru Ishikawa and Kate ​Bowler have influenced my views on management, leadership and navigating change.

In addition to creative design and communications work, I've managed professional continuing education ​programs and led large scale technology projects. Partners in these projects include the UBC's Faculty of ​Medicine, Doctors of B.C., the First National Health Authority, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, and ​committees within the B.C. Ministry of Health. My professional work in the arts and entertainment is broad and ​includes working on a prime time CBC TV show, as well as producing and editing a radio show and podcast ​streamed​ ​by over

I volunteer as the Technical Director for the Eastside Story Guild, a youth theatre program, volunteer ​backstage with Pacific Theatre, serve as a board member and chorister in the Jubilate Vocal Ensemble and am a ​member of the Vancouver Dahlia Society. Annually I act as a judge for SFU's case competitions for the Faculty of ​Business.

I enjoy playing ultimate frisbee but have yet to master an epic hamme​r throw.

What People Say

"Sarah leads by example and I have felt ​very supported in my role. Through her ​mentorship, I’ve picked up skills along the ​way to better prepare me to thoughtfully ​plan how I want to be as a leader to my ​own teams." - Marketing Manager

"The communications department has ​moved towards a people-focused culture ​through Sarah’s thoughtful leadership ​by encouraging team collaboration, ​breaking down our own departmental ​silos, holding social gatherings both ​face-to-face (pre-covid) and now ​virtually. She also promotes taking care ​of ourselves first which is huge for the ​mental health of the team."

- Marketing & Communications Officer

"An exceptional understanding of the ​importance of work-life balance and ​advocate for mental health."

- Project Coordinator

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

University ​o​f Northern B.C., 2015

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN RADIO & TV PRO​DUCTION, English Minor

Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Rye​r​son University), 2011

Faculty - Melville School of Business, Sept 2022 - Present

Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Surrey, BC

Instructor in the undergraduate business program and post-baccalaureate diplomas focusing on general business, innovation ​and technical management. Courses Taught:

BUSI 1110 Fundamentals of Business in Canada (Undergraduate)

BUSI 1215 Organizational Behaviour (Undergraduate)

TMAS 5150 New Product and Services Development (Post-Baccalaureate)

Consulting Contract: Design, Brand and Website Development Dec 2019- Present

Managing the redesign of brand and website (including launching e-commerce Shopify store) for the Healthy Beauty ​Boutique that has been in business for over 32 years and is launching new skincare and beauty lines. Acting as project ​manager and UI/UX designer for the web store.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Designed overarching brand aesthetic for web, digital and packaging
  
• Developed brand story and content strategy plan
  
• Managing the web development, implementation of Shopify and digital marketing sales channels (Instagram and Facebook)
• Copywriter for all content
• Acted as art director for all product shoots
  

Associate Director: Communications & Marketing Dec 2019 - July 2021

Interim Manager: Communications & Marketing July 2019- Nov 2019

College of New Caledonia, Prince George, BC

Providing leadership expertise, operational management, strategic direction and brand management to the College of New ​Caledonia and its 5 regional campuses. This encompassed 5,000 students and 700 staff. My portfolio included: Communications ​(Internal/External), Marketing, Recruitment, Events, Website and Digital Experience, Donor and Alumni Relations, and Recreation ​and Athletics (ask me about that!).

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Managed a unionized team of 17 people with 3 remote, and multiple Marketing and Communications contractors
  
• Responsible for full cycle HR management where I developed new positions, amended existing positions, recruited, on-​boarded and performance managed the team in a unionized environment
  
• Improved employee engagement and morale, improving retention and culture
• Directed all communications (internal and external), developed communications policies, managed all CNC digital assets, ​oversaw the development of all reports including government accountability documents
• Acted as owner of the web/digital governance and policy development ensuring compliance with FIPPA, launched projects to ​move us to full web accessibility (WCAG 2.0)
• Directed the public launch of new college programs (Civil Engineering Technology) including the production of marketing ​copy, digital campaigns, videos, web landing pages, advertisements, etc.
• Deployed Canva Enterprise enabling more creative content production by within our brand standards improving efficiencies
• Created the CNC "Creative Studio" and up-skilled staff to produce in house digital content and new production workflows
  
• Won the coveted "Best in Show" Crystal Award at CASE District 8
  
• Negotiated the largest donation of $1 million dollars from an individual to the College on behalf of the interim President
• Executed the planning and delivery of CNC's 50th Anniversary events and celebrations, including open houses, time capsules ​and a Golden Gala
• Executive produced/directed two Virtual Convocation Ceremonies for ~500 graduates (the first occurring in under 7 weeks)
• Authored and managed communications, emergency bulletins, and media releases during the onset of COVID-19 through to ​the transition to online/blended learning, service delivery. During this time I worked closely with the President and Executive ​Team as I held the most senior communications role. After ensuring health and safety, our website underwent a series of ​rapid enhancements to incorporate more information that included: easy access page of digital services, resources for ​students and staff, software integrations of various tools (appointment booking, secure file transfers, payment, video ​conferencing, etc.)

Research Associate

Spark Creations Inc. 2019

Vancouver, BC

Working with Lux Insights, Spark Creations (a organizational business and culture consultancy) is analyzing provincial data ​collected from "Culture Forward" organizations.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Provided research expertise and consultative services to execute the creation of the BC Workplace Culture Scan Report ​examining:
• A practical definition for workplace culture
• The “must haves” of building a great culture
• A simple and easy to understand methodology for measuring culture for all types of organizations
• The profitability of people and culture first companies
• Local culture stories sharing life lessons and what makes their culture unique

Manager of Engagement, Member and Community Outreach

Rural Coordination Centre of BC in partnership with Doctors of BC, 2018

Vancouver, BC

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Rural Site Visit Project

Develop and execute the ongoing Rural Site Visit Project for the purpose of improving health service delivery and policy making ​in rural BC.

• interview First Nations Leadership, Mayors, Health Care Providers and Community Leaders using Appreciative Inquiry ​techniques
• provide consultative feedback and administrative support for Rural Primary Care Network development
  

Northern Rural Partnership Workshop

Plan, organize and facilitate a workshop to:

1. Engage in dialogue and deliberation around health system improvements to allow for the best patient care across the North;
2. Build relationships amongst health system partners to enhance health services across the North; and
   
3. Advance priority areas regarding health system transformation and commit to short term action steps.
   

Results:

• 70 participants attended the multi-day event including VIP representation from: Northern Health; First Nations Health ​Authority, Family Doctors, Ministry of Health, Community Partners, and Academia.
• Average score of respondents ranked the event at: "Good/Very Good" when asked to rank the workshop’s ability to facilitate ​relationship building amongst health system partners.
  
• 46% increase in attendee's overall interest in working with other partners
  
• Our results and a write up on our innovative workshop structure were published in the BC Medical Journal: " A workshop held ​in Northern BC provides an example of how multiple partners can work together to transform the relationship between the ​colonized health care system and First Nations health and wellness priorities." <-- I did not write this overly wordy title.

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Email:

hello[@]SarahKesler.com