Winner of a TOP 40 UNDER FORTY Business Achievement Award, member of the invite-only Forbes Coaching council, and a Top Inspiring Leader to Watch for 2020, Carey-Ann has held a variety of senior positions including at the vice-president level. She has worked in the financial services, automotive and transportation, publishing, cosmetics and fashion industries.

Her qualifications include:

• Thousands of hours of experience coaching amazing leadership clients!

• MBA and Honours BA with a Minor in Human Resources Management

• Certificate in Coaching Leaders (York University)

• Education from the Coaches Training Institute (CTI) recognized by ICF

• International Coaches Federation member

• International Business Management Certificate from Aarhus School of Business in Denmark

• Certified practitioner in assessment tools such as the Leadership Circle 360 Assessment and the Leadership Culture Survey

• A decade of immersive studies with various Mindfulness teachers

Carey-Ann’s Story: Getting back up

Carey-Ann was a busy Type-A executive with a dream to do more. At the age of 34 and pregnant with her second child, she made the leap from the role of vice president to start her coaching business, Potential Unlimited.

Carey-Ann was driven to succeed, often working 12-14 hours a day, 7 days a week. Her ambition was high as was her fear of failure. Something had to give. And then on July 12, 2012, it did.

Carey-Ann went to a medical clinic to get an x-ray of her neck after the pain she experienced from childbirth refused to subside. During this standing x-ray, Carey-Ann fainted and her head crashed against the concrete floor causing a severe traumatic brain injury.

Carey-Ann spent most of the years following her injury in her darkened bedroom and in brain rehabilitation. During this time, her Dad passed away at the age of 66 from lung cancer.

Carey-Ann’s husband, Jeff, was her rock. Then in 2017, Jeff was diagnosed with stage 3 esophageal cancer. He began a regimen of chemotherapy, radiation, and major surgery in hopes of saving his life. Several months after the surgery, Jeff’s cancer returned and he was told he had months left to live.

Jeff refused to go out without a fight and tried experimental therapy. The family made the most of every minute, taking their kids to Disney World for the first time. Jeff participated in a triathlon and was on the team that clinched the North American Pond hockey tournament, with Jeff scoring the final goal of the game and being named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

But then Jeff suffered a stroke paralyzing the entire right side of his body. In a wheelchair, he fought the cancer for three more months and died in 2019, in Carey-Ann’s arms.

Carey-Ann had to pick up the pieces and carry on for her girls, all three with broken hearts. Then a few months later, the COVID pandemic hit, and all of their outside support was gone. Carey-Ann was alone with a brain injury while running a business, raising and homeschooling her daughters, taking on the role of chef, cleaner and also helping her girls with their grief as she waded deeply through her own.

Carey-Ann’s story is one of living life to its fullest and getting back up after being knocked down. She brings this philosophy to her work, wanting her clients to make the most of each moment.