AV俱乐部

Caitlin Kealey (BA IDS 2000),

MediaStyle public affairs agency (Ottawa)

A pivotal moment for Caitlin Kealey was through the IDS Cuba Programs when she spent a semester at the University of Havana in Cuba during 鈥淭he Special Period鈥� - a time of economic hardship in the 1990s.

听

For Caitlin Kealey, one of the most inspiring moments in her career at was working with the

From 2015 to 2016,听 MediaStyle helped communicate the commission鈥檚 findings through media strategy, speech writing and media relations for events.听

鈥淲e got to help communicate it to the world,鈥� says Kealey. 鈥淭he work that they did was of utmost importance and we helped make that happen. We helped make that go as wide as it did.鈥澨�

Since 2012, Kealey has worked at MediaStyle, a public affairs agency and social enterprise based in Ottawa. Kealey says MediaStyle offers a variety of communication services: media strategy, speech writing, media relations management, social media management and graphic design.听

As the managing director and partner, Kealey鈥檚 responsibilities include staff management, human resources, client relationship management, sales and communications work.听

I use those skills everyday,鈥� says Kealey. 鈥淥f course my education has helped me. It鈥檚 formed who I am. It鈥檚 allowed me to speak knowledgeably and understand the world.

鈥淚 think I鈥檓 in a pretty special place,鈥� says Kealey. 鈥淲e can actually see the work that we do on a national level, on a regular basis, helping people.鈥澨�

In 2017 Kealy received a award. Presented by the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce and the Ottawa Business Journal, the award recognizes emerging and accomplished business leaders in the city. Caitlin was also selected to attend the alongside approximately 250 other leaders.听

听鈥淚 had a really good year,鈥� says Kealey. 鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely reinvigorated my passion for what I do.鈥澨�

While Kealey currently lives in Ottawa, she was born in Halifax. At the age of two, Kealey鈥檚 family moved to Saint John鈥檚, Newfoundland.听

I got back from Cuba politicized, engaged and passionate,鈥� says Kealey. 鈥淚t did all the right things for me.

In 1996, Kealey moved back to Halifax to attend AV俱乐部. Coming from the smaller city of Saint John鈥檚, Kealey says Halifax was 鈥渢he perfect size.鈥澨�

鈥淚 really liked Halifax,鈥� says Kealey. 鈥淚t was a good experience.鈥� 听

Kealey says a pivotal moment in her degree was spending a semester at the University of Havana in Cuba. She studied in Cuba during 鈥渢he Special Period鈥� 鈥� a time of economic insecurity, shortage of resources and serious hardship in the 1990s.听

It made me care about school, about the work I was doing, about making change.

鈥淚t really opened my eyes,鈥� says Kealey. 鈥淪eeing where other people come from and what other people experienced and realizing how privileged I am and we are.鈥澨�

鈥淭hat was a very important experience from an international development point of view.鈥�

Kealey says the biggest takeaways from her degree were the ability to communicate, think critically and seeing development in practice in Cuba.

鈥淚 got back from Cuba politicized, engaged and passionate,鈥� says Kealey. 鈥淚t did all the right things for me.鈥�

鈥淚t made me care about school, about the work I was doing, about making change.鈥�

In 2000, Kealey graduated from AV俱乐部 with a Bachelor鈥檚 degree in International Development Studies and Spanish. In 2001, she completed a one-year Bachelor of Journalism degree at the University of King鈥檚 College. She received a Master鈥檚 degree in Communications from the University of Ottawa in 2010.听

For Kealey, studying international development provided further understanding and the ability to research, write and reflect.听

鈥淚 use those skills everyday,鈥� says Kealey. 鈥淥f course my education has helped me. It鈥檚 formed who I am. It鈥檚 allowed me to speak knowledgeably and understand the world.鈥�

Kealey advises international development students to never 鈥渟top caring about the world around you.鈥澨�

鈥淲ork hard to make change, work hard to inspire others,鈥� says Kealey. 鈥淐ommit yourself to life long learning.鈥�

Work hard to make change, work hard to inspire others,鈥� says Kealey. 鈥淐ommit yourself to life long learning.