The interns had the pleasure of meeting Leah Wilson, a recent OLIP alumni from 2022-2023, during our visit to the Office of the Auditor General. We were all very interested in her post-OLIP career journey thus far and were thrilled when she generously offered to lead a workshop for us. Leah holds a BA from the University of Winnipeg and an MA in Law and Legal Studies from Carleton University. Following OLIP, Leah worked as the Manager of Advocacy for the YWCA Toronto. Currently, Leah holds the impressive position of Senior Researcher at the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario, a role she began in July of this year.
When we met with Leah in November, she prepared an informative presentation for the interns on transferable skills, providing us with tips and tricks on how to best leverage our OLIP experience upon entering the professional world. As some interns are currently in the process of applying for various graduate programs and as we continue to learn about the vast career options available to us, our discussion with Leah could not have come at a better time! Leah explained how skills acquired through OLIP, such as the ability to communicate complex policy content effectively and the skill of professional relationship building, prepared her to excel in her current position. The interns appreciated the opportunity to ask Leah many questions about her experience in OLIP and working in an independent office.
During her time in OLIP, Leah completed her MPP placements with MPP Sol Mamakwa of Kiiwetinoong and MPP Vijay Thanigasalam of Scarborough-Rouge Park. Leah shared that her greatest takeaway from OLIP is “the strength of plurality and the ability to appreciate contrasting viewpoints.” Whether these viewpoints came from MPP’s, stakeholders, or constituents, she recalled how she gained insight on a variety of critical perspectives. Leah also explained that the OLIP alumni network has been one of the most “enriching and rewarding” elements of the programme. Through her own involvement in the Receptions and Alumni Relations committees during OLIP, Leah valued the opportunity to learn, share, and bond with the alumni community. Leah expressed a sentiment that certainly resonates with our cohort: “alumni are incredibly inspiring” adding, “I look forward to continuing to give back to the program myself.”
Leah recommends the book Women Winning Office, which she borrowed from the legislative library while in OLIP. This is a practical guidebook to empowering women in politics. However, her current read is Not for Profit: Why Democracy Needs the Humanities which she has found to be “impactful for the thinking about converging challenges currently facing our democratic systems.” In terms of a Toronto coffee shop must-try, Leah recommends Haute Coffee in the Annex – which offers her favourite vanilla latte in the city!
Leah left us with powerful advice to “dig deeply into areas that interest you and don't hesitate to pursue those interests while in the program.” She stressed the value of preparation and research in getting the most out of each meeting, as well as remaining open minded to the places our individual passions might take us. On behalf of the 2024/2025 OLIP interns, we would like to thank Leah for her insights, advice, and great book/coffeeshop recommendations! It is always inspiring to see recent interns excelling in their work and applying skills gained through OLIP.