In January the interns met with two OLIP alumni: Chelsea Peet and Emma Ferrone. Both Chelsea and Emma were interns in the 2008-2009 cohort, and we enjoyed the opportunity to learn about the fascinating careers that followed their internship experiences.
Chelsea holds a BA (Honours) in Political Science and Labour from McMaster University and an MA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia. After her time in OLIP, Chelsea held various positions within the Ontario Government, including Intergovernmental Affairs Officer, Senior Policy Advisor for International Trade Missions, and Senior Manager of International Relations, among others. Since 2018, Chelsea has served as Consul and Economic Officer with the Consulate General of Canada in San Francisco in the Trade and Investment Office.
Emma holds a BA (Honours) in Political Science and Government from the University of Toronto and an MA in Public Policy and Administration from McMaster University. Following OLIP, Emma held senior advisor positions within the Treasury Board Secretariat, Deputy Minister’s Office and the Cabinet Office, Executive Council Office. Emma was a Program Supervisor for the Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services before taking on her current role as Senior Account Executive for the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.
The interns learned of Chelsea and Emma’s impressive career journeys post-OLIP and the ways the alumni have leveraged their OLIP experience in their respective pursuits. We broadly discussed their common experience in the trade sector - a very topical conversation. We asked the alumni questions pertaining to how the skills gained through OLIP have translated to their various positions and the many opportunities available within the Ontario Public Service.
What really shone through during our meeting was the longevity and depth of the friendships built through OLIP. When asked about their greatest takeaway from OLIP, Emma reflected that 17 years later it is “the friendships I formed with my fellow interns. They are still to this day among my very closest friends and favourite people, and I feel so grateful to share such a special, close bond with them.” We greatly appreciated the valuable advice shared by the duo over the course of our meeting. Emma encouraged us to take advantage of every opportunity available to us, particularly to value the unique access that characterizes the OLIP experience.
In terms of reads and restaurant recommendations, Emma shared that Man’s Searching for Meaning by Victor Frankl has fundamentally changed her perspective. If you’re looking for an after-work dinner reservation, the recommendation was Piccolo Piano. However, if you’re on the clock, we were informed that Wildhearts Cafe in the Annex has great coffee and delicious homemade treats!
We would like to express our gratitude to both Chelsea and Emma for taking the time to meet with us, as they have done with many cohorts before. They have been consistent supporters of OLIP and represent the lasting strength of the OLIP alumni community. Thank you, Chelsea and Emma!