Laurel Julien knew she wanted to keep growing in her engineering career, but she also knew that returning to school had to fit into the life she was already building. As a full-time Engineering Associate in the medical device industry, she was working toward becoming a licensed Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) and looking for learning that would help her strengthen the project management skills she uses every day.

Through OntarioLearn and Conestoga College’s Leadership Development Series, Laurel found an option that made sense for her goals and her schedule. The online format allowed her to study in the evenings and on weekends, take responsibility for her own learning, and move forward without putting her career on hold.

“One of the things I appreciated most about OntarioLearn was that it made continuing education accessible without requiring me to choose between my career and my education.”

What stood out most was how practical the learning felt. The course content connected directly to the realities of Laurel’s work: planning, communicating across teams, identifying risks, keeping projects on track, and understanding how strong leadership supports successful outcomes. She was not learning ideas in isolation; she was building tools she could bring back to her workplace and use with confidence.

Balancing work, life, and online learning required commitment, but Laurel saw that effort as an investment in herself. Each course helped her feel more prepared for the next step in her career and more confident in the contribution she could make to complex engineering projects.

“I would encourage anyone who is considering online learning but is unsure whether they can balance it with work or other commitments to give it a try. It requires dedication and good time management, but the flexibility and practical value of the courses make the effort worthwhile.”

For Laurel, OntarioLearn was more than a convenient way to take a course. It was a pathway that supported her ambition, respected the demands on her time, and helped her continue building the future she is working toward—one skill, one project, and one step closer to her professional designation.

Laurel Julien
Program Management
Conestoga College

Add Success Story Here

First Name, Last Name
Program Title
College

Add Success Story Here

First Name, Last Name
Program Title
College