About

With a 20+ year diverse career in law, career advising and business, in environments ranging from the university/legal community to the NGO sector to private investing, I bring a unique blend of experiences to my coaching practice. My career and life journey has been shaped by both professional and personal experiences, all of which have contributed to my passion for helping individuals grow and thrive.

My career journey began as a teenager growing up in Zagreb, Croatia, where I was preparing to study piano with the idea of performing and enjoying music while living in the city I loved. Life and my own choices have brought me everything but that. A hand injury changed the way I saw my future in music. I veered toward another form of art and considered a career in art history and archeology. I dreamt about digging artefacts at archeological sites in the Mediterranean. Once I considered my post-graduate opportunities, I decided on a completely different path that led me to study law and discover an interest in international law.

Personal circumstances gave me the opportunity to live in Amsterdam for a few years and then immigrate to Canada where I established my home in Toronto and where I have been living for over 20 years now. Living abroad and changing cultural environments enriched my life and gave me an understanding of cross-cultural communication, challenges and opportunities individuals face in new environments, as well as nuances that are so important for personal and professional success. I worked at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law for over 15 years, first briefly on international law projects, and then as career advisor to graduate students. There, I worked with a very diverse student body and alumni, advising them on careers in law, academia, international organizations, business and many other areas. I found it fascinating to listen about their backgrounds, interests and career plans. More recently, I helped establish and support a family business in private investing, where I learned about a new industry and again relied on my legal skills.

Then a couple of years ago I decided to go back to what I love doing the most - working with people and helping clients grow and develop in their personal and professional lives. I obtained coach training and certification from the International Coaching Federation in order to better serve my clients.

I live in Toronto with my husband and two children. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, travelling, skating, enjoying classical music and attending art shows.

This short story of my professional path is my way of expressing my belief that our career journeys sometimes take us to unplanned and unknown territories and that our curiosity and awareness of our strengths and transferable skills help us succeed and move in any direction we imagine. While I never became a concert pianist or remained a resident of Zagreb, I include my love of music in my everyday life and enjoy regularly travelling to Zagreb to visit family and enjoy the Croatian coast as well as discovering new interesting places along the way.