There is no “normal” day when you work in government. That is what Brenda Bailey has learned as British Columbia’s Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation. In fact, she sees her job as a real-life crash course on British Columbia.

The aviation industry isn’t for everyone. Danny Sitnam, on the other hand, dove head-first into it with a sense of invigoration and passion. In fact, it energizes him and the thought of being at the front line of the business is what gets him out of bed in the morning.

What’s the easiest way to start your own business? Learn a trade, says Chris Gardner, who is President of the Independent Contractors Association of British Columbia. It was not a straight line to where he is today.

The life of a family doctor is jam-packed. Dr. Devyn Parsons sees between 30 and 35 patients per day. But somehow, she manages to squeeze in even more – she investigates lab results and contacts patients for follow-up, on top of even more work as an obesity specialist.

As the former CEO of Covenant House, Krista Thompson’s driving vision for helping at-risk youth is very simple – will they have a better outcome because of her work?

Matt Harper’s job at Invinity Energy Systems is all about balance. As he says, “It is a job that does not let one get bored.”

Dr. James Smith started Aegis Trust in a mission to prevent genocide. That is easier said than done.

Amani Saini took the experience of a family member’s adverse drug reaction to launch a nonprofit dedicated to furthering research and awareness of adverse drug reactions.

Before venturing on his own, Sam Cooper started as a print journalist and went into other media such as video and television. Along the way, he found the power of storytelling and “how” a story is told is just as important as what the story is – especially with the rise of social media and online media.

Christine Mallier’s passion for sustainability landed her a dream job, but she didn’t get there immediately. She worked in everything from events, customer service, public relations, and more – and that gave her a chance to know almost every department of her company and how to best work with each of them.

Jock Finlayson is only half-retired, but it doesn’t mean that he has slowed down. Working with multiple think tanks and organizations, he has to deliver accurate economic forecasts to the sectors that keep British Columbia’s economy alive.

Eli Joseph wears many hats – he is a university instructor at three institutions (Columbia, NYU, and UCLA), public speaker, and author. Even though teaching takes up the bulk of his time, he sees each speech as a unique challenge and each book as his “down time.”

Tony Pantages is a self-described “serial impact entrepreneur” who loves finding sustainable and renewable solutions. His solutions focus mainly on how to handle waste and energy in a way that protects the environment.

David Smith is a doctor and internist with a rich history in the field, ranging from biomimetics technology to traumatic brain injury. But it was far from a straight line to get to where he is today.

Jennifer Reynolds is chief executive officer of the Women Corporate Directors Foundation (WCD).

John Bromley is a prominent figure in the realm of charitable giving, recognized for his unwavering commitment to philanthropy and his extraordinary contributions to numerous causes.

Helen is committed to building a strong community and active in several local organizations and boards. She also serves as a mentor and life coach to youth and new immigrants.

Over the past decade, Professor Pilon has been in demand as a speaker and media commentator on many aspects of politics and political reform in Canada. He has appeared in hundreds of stories in print, radio and television.

Cyber security matters – but how do you get into it? For Dominic Vogel and Christian Redshaw, they didn't start in cyber. But over time, they learned to love it enough to make it their full-time venture.

Heading up a real estate association is not a job you can go to school to learn. That’s because it's a rare position and schools can’t prepare you for this type of position. The job is part visionary, leader, guiding hand, advocate and so much more.