Since 2010, I have co-organized a monthly mixer group in Edmonton for creative women professionals. I am constantly amazed by their expertise and experience, and thought I would do Q&A’s with them to get their stories – and tips!
Chau Lam, BCom
Principal/Freelance Editor
Clearpoint Communications
Chau punctuates sentences, proofreads paragraphs, and plays with words as a business writer and editor with over 10 years of experience in marketing and communications. Writing media releases, editing brochures, proofreading websites, and brainstorming blog post ideas are just a few of her many talents. She has worked with clients of all sizes, from small boutique firms to large corporations, in a wide range of industries. Driven by her passion for the written word, she helps clients create content that gets their point across clearly and meaningfully.
Chau enjoys watching epic movies, reading fiction, and being a mom and wife.
What kind of background do you have?
I fell into the business writing profession while building a career in marketing. I completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta and have 10 years of experience in the marketing and communications industry. I’ve worked for a non-profit organization, a post-secondary institution, a local arts PR firm, and a thriving marketing company in Edmonton.
What is the best thing about your job?
The best part about owning my own business is the flexibility, variety, and the relationships I get to build.
What kind of networking works best for you?
I prefer one-on-one or small group meetings over a chai latte (or tea). (I can’t drink coffee, but I love the smell of it!)
How do you prioritize your work and life commitments?
I don’t work weekends EVER unless it is a life-or-death deadline and even then, I charge a weekend fee. Mostly I work around my family’s schedule.
Where do you hope to be in a year? Two years? Five years?
I hope to be doing what I love to do (editing/proofreading) while travelling extensively and spending quality time with my family. In two years, I would like to be able to choose what projects I want to work on and who I work with. In five years, I want to have a company that has one or two employees or partners besides myself and perhaps provides a few other services besides just writing/editing (would like a partnership with a few other contractors such as a writer, graphic designer and website developer).
What advice can you give to someone starting out in your field?
Stick with it. If you don’t do it long enough, you may not realize the rewards that might be waiting for you down the road.