Laura Shaw
Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator for The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of New Brunswick | http://laurasbestlife.ca
What are you most proud of professionally? And who or why?
I'm most proud that I have the opportunity to live in the place I love and bring my intersectional feminism to the forefront of the engineering industry. I love that I get to spend my days working to encourage women & people of diverse backgrounds thrive as engineers and geoscientists.
What’s your vision for Atlantic Canada in 10 years? What’s our biggest opportunity now?
My vision for Atlantic Canada is that we're seen as almost a mythical place - cities & towns with art, culture, history, technology, and that classic east coast friendliness & hospitality. I believe that we can do this by continuing to encourage & foster growth in startups, entrepreneurs and our technology sectors, by utilizing the marine environment that we have around us, and by being early adopters of new ideas with potential for big growth.
What was your greatest stage of growth? What made it a shift for you?
My greatest stage of growth happened while I was living & working in Ontario. I found it really difficult to be away from my family, and from the place that I have always called home. At one point, I looked at my fiancé and basically said, I can't do this anymore - we need to find our way back. We both found jobs and moved back to New Brunswick less than a year later, and now we're both in careers in our chosen fields and loving it. The biggest shift was realizing that we needed to take a leap in order to preserve our happiness, and believing in abundance. Everyone will tell you there's no jobs out east, and that's not necessarily true - you may just need to widen your perspectives & be willing to take a chance.
Who’s inspired you, directly or indirectly? How have they inspired you?
I am so grateful to have so many inspiring women in my life. I have a group of friends that are total boss babes - they are all working so hard on their goals, and we help to keep each other accountable to our dreams. One of my mentors and role models is Krista Ross, currently the CEO of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce. She has an incredibly smart & strategic mind for business and also highly values her personal relationships. She has put in hard work, overcome challenges and truly inspires me to lead a full, vibrant life.
What would you have done differently?
It would be easy for me to say that if I could do it all over, I would never have left New Brunswick in the first place. I don't believe that though. I think that I was able to learn and grow so much from my experience in Ontario, and I now I have a much bigger appreciation for the east coast, whereas I may have taken it for granted before.
What motivated you to make the choices you’ve made? What are the principles you live by?
One of my best friends always says, "You do not find the happy life, you make it". I believe that to a certain extent we are all responsible for our own happiness, and that has helped me to make difficult decisions. I live by the principles that a life that is meant to be shared with family (biological & chosen), that you should always value and take care of yourself, and that learning is meant to be lifelong.
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Diversity Champion, Engineering Degree, Wellness Advocate, Vlogger & Blogger, Bookworm, Coffee Addict, Disney Obsessed, Adventure Seeker
