Driven by curiosity, empathy and creativity, I co-create big visions and build the strategies, plans and teams to accomplish them.
Hi, I’m AJ.
About Me
Over the past 15+ years, I’ve co-founded a number of organizations and held roles such as CEO, Chief Strategy Officer, and Senior Policy Advisor. Working across startups, policy research and government, I’ve operated in multiple worlds, including tech, nonprofits and politics.
My most recent startup success was Palette Skills, a national upskilling organization focused on helping fast growing companies connect with high potential untapped talent. Started as an idea over lunch, in less than five years, I grew it from a $1M organization to a $250M pan-Canadian operation serving workers from coast to coast.
Prior to Palette Skills, I co-founded SoJo, an ed-tech social enterprise that helped students develop skills in social entrepreneurship. It evolved over the years to work with international development organizations training aspiring entrepreneurs in countries across Africa and the Middle East.
Before all of that, I started my career as a political staffer in the Ontario government. I worked on policy files that included employment and training, economic development and innovation, post-secondary education, and social assistance reform. I spent almost six years in government during the tumultuous period of the Great Recession, and many of the experiences I gained during that time went on to form the foundation of my career for the next decade and beyond.
Here’s something I’ve learned about myself - I love helping people. I love working with people, empowering them, collaborating and building together. And I’m passionate about bringing ideas to life.
Strategic Advisor
I work with clients who are looking for strategic clarity and a fresh perspective on how to move a project forward. Whether you are developing a new product, redesigning an existing offering, or looking to refine and grow your operation, I can be the partner you've been looking for to help pull it off.
Operating as a fractional Chief Strategy Officer, I collaborate with senior leaders to help them think differently about problems and develop novel solutions. This results in clear strategies you can communicate to your team, board and funder and a roadmap to turn your strategy into outcomes.
Storyteller
Stories are how we connect to the world and each other. Whether it’s from a stage, a podcast or in a post, connecting with people through stories is a powerful way for me to make an impact. I am passionate about finding an angle to a story that leaves people thinking differently about the issue, and cover topics ranging from entrepreneurship to policy strategy to social innovation.
The best way to get to know me is by reading my mini memoir, Reflections from the Midpoint. Published on Substack, it contains 16 short stories about my life, career and lessons learned and provides a window into who I am. These stories, or a selection of them, can be used as the foundation for a keynote speech, conversation or article, depending on the topic.
I’m regularly invited to speak at conferences, on podcasts or to the media on a range of topics. Here are a few examples.
Media
Speaking on The Agenda with Steve Paikin about the future of tech in Canada and the impact of layoffs across the sector.
Conferences
Panelist at the Globe & Mail Future Workforce Summit on maximizing the potential of the Canadian labour market.
Podcasts
Guest on the Venture for Canada podcast discussing how to rapidly scale social innovation through entrepreneurship.