Where did you grow up? What’s your favorite place in the city?
IK grew up in Edmonton, Alberta Canada as well as in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada.
What did you study in college? Why did you choose this course?
I studied for 8 years at university. I always wanted to get my Ph.D. and I was interested in Education and International Relation.
As an author and consultant for business communication, academic writing, and public speaking, how do these different areas of expertise complement each other in your work?
These different areas are all interrelated. Business communication relates to public speaking before often in business you are required to do public speaking. Academic writing provides a good basis for writing in general and academia also calls on you to do public speaking at conferences.
How do you integrate your writing and communication skills into your consulting practice?
I write out assignments and provide progress reports for my clients. Communication skills are crucial for consulting. I practice active listening and try always to give my full attention to what my clients are telling me.
What inspired you to write non-fiction books? Is there a particular topic or area of expertise that drives your writing?
I don’t write non-fiction books.
What inspired you to write a book specifically focusing on email writing, and what do you hope readers will gain from it?
I wanted to write a book on email writing because I found that while working at the university many of the emails I received were hard to read, too long or short and didn’t have a main point. I wanted to write a comprehensive guide which covered the A-Z of email writing and made it easy for someone to craft concise, effective, actionable and professional emails.
Non-fiction books often aim to inform, educate, or challenge readers' perspectives. What impact or message do you hope to convey through your book, TEEN MOTHERS?
My book for teen mothers has a special place in my heart as I was a teen mother too. I wanted to write a book that inspired young moms to make the most out of their life by being resilient, having grit and navy seal-like self-discipline. The statistics are bleak for teen mothers. Many do not finish high school and very few go on to do further training. My book stressed that they need training of some kind in order to have enough money to raise their family.
What advice would you give to individuals who aspire to enhance their communication skills, whether for professional growth or personal development?
I would say your audience rules and should always be your point of focus. All too often we don’t listen properly because we are thinking of what we want to say next. To really communicate well you have to actively listen.
Are there any resources or strategies you recommend for continuous professional growth?
I find a lot of inspiration listening to the stories of the Navy Seals. They are motivational and help you to push through perceived limits and strive for growth.
Effective communication is crucial in both business and academia. What are some common challenges you have observed when it comes to business communication and academic writing? How do you help your clients overcome these challenges?
In my business clients, I am challenged by their failure to focus on their main problems. They can get very caught up in office politics and forget about the job that needs doing. When they want to advance in their careers they need to re-focus on their job and believe enough in themselves to go for their dreams. With my academic clients, many of them have English as a second language so I find myself teaching English a fair bit. I teach academic writing as well which is difficult as it is tied deeply to Western traditions of logic. By providing my students with sources that have academic phrases in them they can better understand how academic writing is done.
How do you assist clients in overcoming stage fright and delivering impactful presentations?
I help my student prepare well for their presentation so they know what they are going to say well in advance. This is half of the battle to combatting nervousness. I also teach my clients breathing exercises and work with their voice and body language.
Academic writing requires a specific style and approach. What advice would you give to aspiring scholars or students to enhance their academic writing skills and produce high-quality research papers or dissertations?
Read, read and then read some more. There is no other way to pick up academic writing except by reading a lot of it.
What are some essential elements to consider when crafting effective business documents or presentations?
Get straight to the point. Use simple language and always have a red thread running through your documents or presentations.
Which is the next book that will release and when? What is it about?
The next book I am publishing is called My Parent Had MS: A Game Plan. It is for teens with a parent with MS. It teaches them about the disease, talks about caregiving and focuses heavily on self-care.
How has your association with AllAuthor been beneficial to you?
I have found the emails interesting.
