Jean is an energetic educator, super connector, seasoned business and career coach, and Toronto Public Library’s 2013 Entrepreneur-in-Residence. She is also a 2024 Women in Higher Education Fellow with Professors Without Borders.
Her teaching dossier: leadership, mentorship, entrepreneurship, networking, advanced career management, and intercultural communications.
Aptly known as Ms Biz Wiz, Jean also owns a thriving professional coaching practice, collaborating closely with her clients to recognize and realize their potential, and customizes skill-building workshops for diverse audiences. She invented “Hello Fresh” without the “Fresh”, Asian DIY meal kits and shares fourteen years of food entrepreneurship
Jean holds a Diploma, Accounting from Saskatchewan Polytechnic, studied Asian Studies at University of British Columbia, and completed certificates in Digital Marketing Management and Advanced Marketing from University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies. She also holds a certificate from Toronto Metropolitan University in “Teaching Adult Learners Online” (TALO).
ENTREPRENEURSHIP:
After launching and leading FAN-FARE, the Asian Gourmet Collection, a wholesale DIY Asian meal kit manufacturing and distribution business for 14 years, Jean was the 2013 Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Toronto Public Library. She continues to facilitate skill-building and small business workshops for library patrons throughout the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
VOLUNTEERISM:
As a volunteer, Jean is:
- a proud recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for mentoring young entrepreneurs for Futurpreneur, a national not-for-profit organization providing young aspiring entrepreneurs across Canada with loan financing, mentorship, and resources needed to start or buy a business.
- a member of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Council at University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies which was established in 2023 to increase access for diverse learners and communities and further the School’s anti-racism/discrimination, anti-oppression, and community engagement efforts.
- a volunteer mentor for young innovators from around the world who have been identified by The DO School Fellowships and funded by Mercedes-Benz as beVisioneers and provides support in leadership, entrepreneurship, and sustainability.
- a volunteer mentor for University of Toronto Faculty of Arts and Science Centre for Entrepreneurship, Venture Mentoring Service, a group mentoring service for the University of Toronto community, helping entrepreneurs create and sustain for-profit and non-profit ventures modeled on the highly successful MIT Venture Mentoring Service.
INTERESTS:
Jean has extensive cross-cultural experience, having lived and worked on international aid projects in Africa and Asia. She has travelled to all continents except for Antarctica, her final frontier. Jean is a former member of the Zambian Women’s International Squash Team. She is fluent in Bahasa Indonesia and focused on learning Mandarin, Japanese, and French.
Living in Toronto, Canada, Jean runs, rock climbs, and loves to compete in most sports. She is currently working on her collection of memoir essays, developing a field guide on professional networking, and looks forward to launching her passion project and foundation, “Gals With Grit”.
