Paula Connolly

Overview

Early in her career, Paula led a team of 30+ employees and consultants, successfully doubling the organizations sales in 18 months. She also worked as a business consultant to help organization’s and government departments to improve business outcomes. Paula draws on this practical experience to present engaging and thought-provoking training sessions. With 25 years of experience as a Facilitator and Trainer, she specializes in leadership, communications and human resources. She encourages participants to listen, reflect, engage and question so they leave the session with new ideas and tangible skills. She has designed over 100 interactive training programs based on the principles of leading through self awareness, individual cultural competence and an inclusive corporate culture.

As a career coach, Paula has a unique level of expertise from designing and presenting hundreds of sessions on how to write an effective government application and to succeed in a government interview. For 20+ years, she has also provided individual resume writing and interview skills coaching to employees in roles as diverse as business analysis, project management, fire response, management, policy, healthcare, marketing, communications and finance. Paula helps clients to improve leadership skills, work outcomes, employee retention, career development and advancement. Paula lives in Ottawa but is originally from Prince Edward Island, which is often the subject of her oil paintings.

Leadership Experience

• Presented multi-day leadership programs: College of Nurses of Ontario – 5 programs; LCBO; Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services; Ministry of Labour; Ray-Mont Logistics
• Presented 40+ days of virtual and classroom training for multiple cohorts for Advancing into Management for Ontario Public Service
• Presented Managing Microaggressions: Model Inclusion to Environment and Climate Change Canada; Building a Culture of Wellness and Resilience to Professional Golfers’ Association; Leading, Managing and Thriving Through Change to Commission of Complaints for Telecom Service (5 sessions); Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario

Career Coaching and Development Experience

• Provided individual career and leadership coaching packages (3-10 hours) to 50+ government employees and managers to prepare for advancement or executive positions (2021-23)
• Designed and delivered 50+ Career Planning seminars for provincial government’s Administrative Professionals Learning and Development Program including career coaching for over 500 participants (2011-2019)
• For LCBO, provided 1.5-hour coaching debrief for Equip and 360 assessments for 12 managers (2023)
• Provided 75+ hours of group coaching for 4 groups in the Ontario Public Service Advancing into Management (AIM) program on key leadership skills (2022)
• Wrote customized resumes and cover letters for 12 employees from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada for specific competitions due to approaching closer of the department (2020)
• Presented 30+ customized classroom Career Planning sessions to Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry across the province during ministry restructuring and downsizing
• Developed procedures for managers to complete employee learning plans and presented Effective Feedback seminar for Statistics Canada

Professional Designations

• Bachelor of Business Administration, Acadia University
• Adult Education and Professional Courseware Design Certificate
• EQ-I 2.0 and EQ 360 Certification
• Personality Dimensions® Certification
• Editing Certificate, Simon Fraser University