Faculty of Management

Calgary Campus graduate Jillian Walker is elevating her career to a new high, having just accepted an important position with Calgary-based human resources firm Elevated HR Solutions.  Already an experienced HR professional while pursuing her degree, she has parlayed her business savvy into a job as Vice President of Client Experience, and will help to open up a new Vancouver office based on the Calgary model.

Lorne Williams, acting director for the Calgary Campus says, “I am excited to hear of Jill’s appointment into this amazing position. As one of our top graduates, she’ll bring energy, motivation, creativity and commitment to anything she undertakes.”

Walker, who was most recently employed as an engagement specialist for the City of Calgary, says her experience working for a large organization gave her "the opportunity to transfer to new departments and go on projects within human resources to continually broaden my skillset."  In that time she worked with managers who "taught me an incredible amount about human resources, life, family, and friends. I learned about what I value in an employer/manager."

Eager for change and the opportunity for growth, Walker pursued the position with Elevated HR. "I knew that it would evolve and I would have the opportunity to utilize my strengths in a challenging and creative organization," she says.

Noteably, Walker is fresh off a first-place win in the KPMG-sponsored "What Makes a Top Employer" student video contest. In addition to an Apple iPad, she was given the opportunity to travel to Toronto to meet with the KPMG CEO as well as CEOs from Rogers Communications, Steam Whistle Brewing Company, Gap Adventures and Starbucks Coffee.

While in Toronto, Walker took the time to meet with other corporate representatives and is grateful for the valuable experience, which helped her solidify her career goals. 

“It gave me more credibility in my industry – it was face time with a lot of people that I wouldn’t have had access to. It further developed my personal brand and what I was passionate about."

Additionally, Walker credits her time at the U of L's Calgary Campus for helping her make important connections.

"If I was going to take away anything, it gave me [instructors] Kelly [Williams-Whitt] and Lorne Williams. Those people and those contacts, and having those two in my life and having them support me these three years was incredible. They are truly in the profession and in the industry for the right reasons. They had my back through everything."

Walker will relocate to Vancouver in the fall of 2011 to commence her new position.

Read the Elevated HR news release on Jillian's appointment.

Read Jillian's blog.