+ 1 What do you read to keep current on the latest trends and news?
I start my day with websites – CBC, Canada.com, Toronto Star, Globe & Mail, National Post, CNN and The Guardian. Throughout the day I check out other sites like Salon, National Geographic Traveler, NY Times, Vancouver Sun, Entertainment Weekly, Forbes, Fast Company and House Beautiful. And that doesn’t include the ever-growing pile of travel, home decor and news magazines or the links I find via social media.
+ 2 If you could live in any city, where would it be and why?
I would like to live in Cape Town – it’s my birthplace and a city I’ve visited but never had the chance to live in. I have a very large extended family and with all the great changes that have happened in the past years, it would be an amazing opportunity for me to immerse myself in Cape Town culture.
+ 3 What’s your “plan B” if you need to spontaneously switch careers?
I don’t have a plan B. But I know that with the skills I’ve accrued in my years in the workforce, I would figure it out.
+ 4 Most coveted superpower?
To fly. I love flying on all forms of aircraft, so I know I’d appreciate the skill if it was granted to me.
+ 5 Looking back, of which moment in your career are you most proud of and why?
That would be in 2003 – I experienced a downturn in assignments and contracts due to the economy and I wondered if I had made the right decision to be a freelance journalist. I spent a few weeks in BC with my parents thinking about what to do. I realized I had made the right decision and I have never doubted my choice since then. I’m grateful that I am travelling regularly – it means I learn something new every day, meet someone new who often becomes a friend and experience something that I never expected. It’s not a lifestyle that everyone would enjoy, but it’s perfect for me.