The choices we make | Courtney Kirschbaum | TEDxEdmonton

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Courtney spent a decade working in corporate America, clinging to the security and certainty a traditional career offers, like so many young people today. She began to see herself and her peers as “well-paid survivors, shipwrecked on island with good salaries and great benefits that sufficiently dampened our desire to swim to the shore that was meant for us for fear that it didn’t exist or we might not make it if we tried”. In 2013, Courtney decided to jump headfirst into the water and she will share her journey of uncertainty with us, sparking discussion on how we can harness uncertainty to inspire us.

International speaker and presenter, Courtney Kirschbaum spent 15 years in leadership roles for the world’s largest consulting firms, KPMG, BearingPoint and Deloitte. After displaying a gift for galvanizing teams and fixing failing projects, she was dispatched to Europe, Asia and the Pacific to manage teams and projects. While working in these firms, Courtney observed gap in training and human development, "Most new hires weren't getting the support and development they needed to shine and many people stalled in the middle of their careers, unable to smoothly transition from managing to leading. I observed a lot of people who were stuck and bored or frustrated."

About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)