At Montreal New Tech's Startups & Creativity event, I spoke to entrepreneurs, startups & creatives about the problem that Unbounce solves, how the company came to be, and how we reach our market. 

Here's the video of the May 30th presentation.

Today was the first day of the longest break I will (likely) ever take from my career. And I feel fine. I do.

Sure, being nearly 37 weeks pregnant is a good reason to take 6 months off. I'm making a human after all. But, if you know me (a-type, work-obsessed) you may wonder if I'm capable... Some days, I wonder too.

For the next 3 weeks I'm on straight-up vacation in an attempt to decompress from what's been a crazy few years of work. I'm lying... It's been longer than that, but that's just because loving what I do is requisite for how I spend so much of my time. I'm granting myself 3 weeks to relax, sleep and prepare before I'm hit with the biggest challenge of my life to date.

After the baby is born at the end of July, I'll take 5 months(ish) of maternity leave that will go by, I fear now, way too quickly. In a country where paid maternity leave is a year long -- taking a mere 5 months makes me career-driven, which I believe is thought to be, the opposite of motherly. My girlfriends give me a strange blank stare when I remind them that I don't plan to take the full year. Blink "Oh right. Yes. I forgot you were going back so soon...". My tongue hurts from imagining people biting theirs from telling me to get my priorities straight.

When we found out that I was pregnant in November (following the simultaneous fear/happiness/shock) the first thought that went through my head was 'will this fuck my career and the company I care so much about?'. I've worked my ass off for 12 years, I lean in. I wasn't delusional enough to wonder 'will this set me back?', I asked myself 'how far will this set me back, and how do I mitigate the damage?'. The answer, to maybe the most selfish (and unmotherly) question I've ever asked myself, was to not take the full year off that I'm entitled to, to spend with my child. A little human who, I was fully aware (though maybe only in theory until now) will promptly take priority over everything else.

I've been sitting with this decision, like a thorn in my side, for nearly 9 months. I love my job. I love my colleagues. I love my team. I love the challenges that come along with working at one of Canada's most quickly growing startups. All of this is no less true today than it was 9 months ago.

But here's the thing...

Every once in a while, I wonder to myself how I'll feel come January, when my 5 month old is developing his/her sense of humour and starting on solid foods. I wonder how on earth I'll integrate my baby into a daycare at such a young age. And how I'll re-integrate into my role as a director of a dept and team who has succeeded without me for 2 quarters. Will the guilt be unbearable? Will there be enough motivation to return to work to sustain me through how hard it'll undoubtedly be on me, my partner and baby?

Then again...

I am career-driven. To friends and family, I'm unapologetically motivated by being among the best at what I do. What kind of role-model would I be if I gave up on what gives me such a sense of accomplishment? I suspect I might go stir crazy after a few months of baby-land, too. Being needed and valued for something other than feedings and diaper changes might be just what I'll need after a few months. This baby is becoming a (yes, huge) part of my life, but not the reason for it.

Ok so remember at the start of this when I said I feel fine? I do. Because, I (let's be real, have no choice but to) take comfort in the fact that I don't have to decide my exact path today. My only job, for the next 6 months will be to take care of my family (omg). And, more immediately, in 3 weeks or less, to mentally prepare, for what will change everything forever.

Subtleties Explained in Cereal

In February I told you that I was taking a break from freelancing and embracing a full time gig at Vancouver based startup Unbounce. Well, it's time for some more bitter-but-oh-so-sweet news; As of June, I'll be making the move from my hometown Montreal to Vancouver, for a while.

In March, I spent almost 2 weeks in the office there... Needless to say, it wasn't long before my heart started to struggle with relocating. I won't say it's Vancouver that sold me (yet, but look at that view!), but rather Unbounce itself and the people I already have a connection with (one of which is Russell's BFF). After some promises to remain a devout Habs fan and to return to Montreal, I decided this really is an opportunity I have to follow.

The Montreal Tech Community is one I will sorely miss ...I can't stress that enough. It was just over 3 years ago that I joined Twitter, and sheepishly attended my first tech event (a WPMTL meetup) where knowing absolutely no one, I was welcomed by Eva Blue, Kathryn Presner, and others. Somewhere around that same time I stumbled in love with Tanya McGinnity and Montreal Girl Geeks -- Which honestly, changed everything. 

In only the last few years, I went from working at my family business (and a small ad agency on the side) to running Montreal Girl Geeks, speaking at events, and (sometimes overwhelmingly) successfully freelancing at what I love.

Without people like Pier-Luc, Eva, Sarah-Jane, Sandy, Liesl, Alistair, Alex, Robin, Tara, Kathryn, Brendan, Laurent, Steve, Felipe, Heri.... (I could go on but I'll spare you the gushing) my life, not only professionally, would be completely different. This is not a sobby good-bye at all, I'll be back, just taking an opportunity to express my ridiculous gratitude for such an awesome community. 

This of course also means that I'll be stepping down as President of Montreal Girl Geeks. I'll be announcing there soon too. I hope to find a community in YVR that's nearly half as fantastic as this one. 

Hoping to have a drink on a terrace with you before June!

Those of you who know me, know I'm a strong believer in free agents and that independents are a growing bunch I'm proud to be part of. This however, is one fulltime opportunity I could not refuse; Vancouver based startup, Unbounce.

Unbounce is an awesome self-serve landing page platform, a bunch of ridiculously cool and talented people, and after receiving another round of funding they are in need of a few good women and men to grow even more. (In case you didn't catch that last link, Unbounce won Best Pitch at Grow 2011.) Of the few people I've mentioned Unbounce to over the last couple weeks, of those who weren't already users, most have signed up and all have nothing but utter praise.... Their users love them, and I see why.

I've joined the Unbounce team as Marketing Manager (part blog editor, part community manager and part co-marketing coordinator).

Follow what we're up to over on the very popular Unbounce blog, @Unbounce on Twitter and (you know I'd love a like) on Facebook. We talk about awesome things like conversion rates, usability, A/B testing, social media and content marketing.