Ask Melissa what she’d say to someone just starting their career and she’d tell them, “Ask questions! There’s a lot to learn from the people around you and gathering different perspectives helps you see there’s never just one right answer to any problem.”

Involved in employment equity, diversity, and inclusion, and on employee-engagement committees in her previous work, Mel brings nearly ten years of administration experience and a strong sense of connectedness and curiosity to the Pathways team.

“Melissa exudes a sense of being ‘calm in the storm,’ no matter what what’s going on,” says Laurie Sterritt, Pathways’ Managing Partner. “She may not be feeling that on the inside, but we all feel it in the way she leads and contributes to a wide variety of projects.”

Colleague Mike Eager notes her ability to balance thinking strategically with getting things done. “Mel’s really creative, whether it’s solving a business problem or beading.” He continues, “She can look at processes critically to provide future improvements and is excellent at planning and putting suggested changes into action.”

Darrin Jamieson points out, “Mel is quick and her aptitude for IT is very strong,” which every member of the team is grateful for! Recently, Mel led the implementation of the technology platform Pathways uses across the business and took the opportunity to reflect on the experience. “During the project, I thought back to a similar opportunity I’d had 10 years ago, setting up and implementing a CRM for another company. I’m proud of how much I’ve learned since then.”

A commitment to learning and self-improvement is woven into Mel’s approach to life. Just a few years ago, Mel needed to make some changes in the way she was approaching her work. “I had to reevaluate how much value I put on being seen as a ‘hard worker.’ What I did was learn how to work smarter, not harder; playing to my strengths and abilities to create more value in my work and more ease in my life.”

It’s served her well and she’s enrolled in uWinnipeg’s Professional, Applied and Continuing Education (PACE) program. Mel’s colleague, Jenn, is also now enrolled in the program and Mel has been a valuable support and resource as Jenn follows in her footsteps. The first in her family to pursue post-secondary education, Mel is expecting to complete her Diploma of Human Resources Management by the end of the year.

When asked about staying motivated at work, Mel shares, “I think the great thing about Pathways is our shared values. I love going to work every day because the work I do aligns with my personal values. There’s no cognitive dissonance where I’m clocking in to work toward something I don’t believe in. It’s easy to find motivation when you love what you do.”

Thanks for all you bring to Pathways, Mel!