Hi everyone and welcome to 2024.

I don’t know about you, but my end-of-year rituals involve a number of exercises and activities I undertake. I invest the time to reflect on the past year, to the point where I do a "Year in Review" layout. I keep a daily journal and this is when I go back and capture three (3) to five (5) bullets for each month. When assembled, I never fail to amaze myself at how much I was able to accomplish. Certainly one of my 2023 highlights is earning enough CDU’s to renew my CBAP certification for another 3 years! I also review my resume, whether I’m actively seeking employment or not, and update it with all I’ve accomplished professionally in the past year.  

Why do I do both of these things at the start of the new year? Both are positive reinforcements of what is possible in only 12 months. It launches the year from a positive point of view and sets a great tone. I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions, though if that works for you, fantastic. Instead, like a BA might, I create a mind map and brainstorm and do strategic planning of how this coming year may go. As a bonus, 2024 is a leap year, where we have one extra day to make our futures possible. How does being a BA influence your end-of-year / start-of-the-new-year activities?

Of course, the coming months for our Ottawa-Outaouais Chapter will be a key area of focus for me as the entire Executive Team works to bring you some wonderful speakers and some great opportunities for all of us to network and grow.

Welcome 2024, and wishing all of you good health and happiness for this new year.

Helen Racette, PEng, CBAP®, P2P

President, IIBA Ottawa-Outaouais Chapter