Discovering Billie-Jo Huey

Welcome to a closer look at the person behind the portfolio. Here, I define who I am, both professionally and personally.

Personal Positionality Statement

I am a white, cis-gendered, able-bodied, middle class, Canadian woman, born and currently living in Nova Scotia, the un-ceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people. I am a mother of three, eldest daughter, partner, sister, aunt, friend, employee, and lifelong learner. I am also an educator, ally and care-giver. I approach all of these roles with an open mind and heart in order to learn from the lived experience and positionality of others through open, honest and respectful dialogue.

Professional Identity

I am a business professional with twenty-five years’ experience in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. Throughout my career I have become known for keeping patients and patient care at the center of everything I do. My current role is multifaceted: I design and coordinate educational activities for healthcare professionals, develop and deliver internal training programs, and lead and coach a high performing sales team covering Eastern Canada (Quebec and Atlantic). The educational component of my role ranges from small-scale workshops to national conferences for health professionals, while internally I provide training in disease states, products, and selling skills for new hires as well as ongoing skills development for tenured staff. Academically, I hold a B.Sc. and an MBA from Saint Mary's University. in May 2027 I will graduate with a Master in Adult Education in order to develop my skills as an educator and advance my career as an educator.

Intersection 

My professional identity is deeply intertwined with my personal lived experiences. Raised in a blue-collar family with a strong work ethic, it was instilled from an early age that education creates opportunity and has the power to transform lives. Although neither of my parents graduated from high school, they placed tremendous value on education, and consistently encouraged and celebrated my academic achievements. Their support, along with the guidance of teachers and mentors, fostered my curiosity and cultivated a lifelong love of learning. Throughout my career, I have actively sought new challenges and opportunities for growth, driven by this curiosity and a commitment to continuous learning. Education, combined with perseverance and hard work, has enabled me to achieve a level of professional and personal fulfillment that was not readily available during my childhood. My journey has reinforced my belief that education is a powerful catalyst for personal growth, opportunity, and upward socioeconomic mobility.

As every gardener understands, building a garden takes a lot of work. When building a new plot from scratch the fruits of your labour may not be evident for many years. You begin with a vision for the future, but must do the sometimes back-breaking work of tilling soil, picking rocks, and pulling weeds.  This work has no shortcuts, and at times may make you question your vision. This description depicts the work I put into my academic journey to fulfill the vision I had to flourish in the future.

Billie-Jo Huey