Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Odette Baugh. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Odette, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One deeply underappreciated facet of being a service provider is the kind of crazy stuff that happens from time to time. It could be anything from a disgruntled client attacking an employee or waking up to find out a celebrity gave you a shoutout on TikTok – the sudden, unexpected hits (both positive and negative) make the profession both exhilarating and exhausting. Can you share one of your craziest stories?

It was 3 am my time and I got the call that woke me up. ” Can you help us Odette? We are faced with an academic misconduct charge which could swiftly terminate our chances of becoming a Specialist Community Nurse in England, United Kingdom.”

Why did they believe that I could help them? Before I started my studies at York University I worked with two Fortune 500 companies where I honed my advocacy skills. I felt an innate satisfaction as my fellow team members would avoid these sessions and ask me to conduct them. I maneuvered the various cases and team leads also encouraged me to handle multiple negotiations & interventions.

For just a moment I struggled with aligning my new identity as an international HR Consultant to the reality that I would be the primary Canadian and York University trained advocate for these students who would have to face a disciplinary panel in the United Kingdom during the COVID 19 pandemic. Deep inside I knew this was my moment to shine that this was me at my core and my gift was being awakened.

In 2013 decided that it would be good to specialise in the application of Equity in the workplace and I started my search for a program which would help me get historical context, build a frame work to enhance my specialisation and cement my role as an expert in work place advocacy and international industrial relations best practices.
10 Years before an attorney had invited me to hang out for a day in Court on the benches which were occupied by lawyers only. She boldly declared that she saw a lawyer in me but I didnt!

I didnt make the connection then but purpose unfolded as I prayed sincerely, obeyed my mentors and solve each problem along my International career journey.

In Toronto, my Lecturers such as Dr. Visano an award-winning teacher in the Department of Equity Studies enhanced my journey with his insight and academic prowess. Tanya Das Gupta also helped to sharpen my research skills and encouraged me to host a workshop at York’s Inclusion Conference.

In the midst of COVID 19 2021 the ground had shifted from a career in banking and life now presented me with a moment which would now be my first international opportunity to represent these professional nurses and enrolled students who claimed discrimination. They needed urgent help to prove that they did not commit the misconduct as indicated by their lead lecturer and faculty and by extension the university. I decided to answer the call!

My training in Rights and Equity prepared me to see the matter from an informed perspective and I used my skills to advise, guide and prepare written submissions as required by the process. After moments of providing comfort as the anxiety heightened, the students showed up with boldness as they brought their cases before the panel of cross faculty representatives who were assigned to determine their fate. I could not have asked for a better promotion !

I am happy that when I set my intention to study rights and equity it was a move as an international student that would have equipped me for international advocacy skills. I had the audacity to solve the problem that was before me.

During the UK case we leapt over several institutional barriers and racial discrimination, little access to student union resources and breached processes to win the cases which would have led to damaged reputation and termination of the nurses career aspirations.
Fast Forward to 2022 and through my internationally positioned company, UYA Business Consulting Services I am helping CEO’s and company leaders identify and implement fortune 500 standards to avoid Lawsuits and identify hindrances which prevent them from creating a Best Place to Work Culture.
Through my new business I provide international conciliation and opportunities for business leaders to avoid lawsuits. We also assist students with disciplinary hearing preparation and university advocacy. I am passionate about using my platform to help final year University students position themselves to work in Fortune 500 companies through our workshops, seminars and retreats.

Odette, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I help business leaders and corporate clients achieve revenue goals by identifying the source of costly strategic gaps in their operations and employee engagement agenda. I lead a carefully selected team of international experts who are highly skilled at implementing continuous improvement practices which maximize resources and increase profits.

Business leaders request my expertise to help them move the strategic needle and people agenda forward with speed and precision. My purpose is to strengthen your leadership effectiveness and set a solid foundation for the changes necessary to sustain a world-class workplace image.

I have proven results in translating business vision into cost-saving operational initiatives that improve project output, reduce waste, increase revenue, operational effectiveness, and employee engagement. My presence aligns strategies to strategic business goals and delivers company-wide innovative solutions that drive measurable results from analytically driven international business insights.

Over the last 13 years, I have held management roles where I was recognised for initiating continuous improvement initiatives and implementing operational cost-saving strategies. I also led and developed employee relations initiatives, and facilitated multiple risk mitigating hearings & conciliation sessions with the Ministry of Labour. I recruited over 100 supervisory to managerial team members across the banking, manufacturing, sales and telecommunication industries . Through a commitment to business growth and lean six sigma principles, I bring balance and serve as stabilizing force championing transformation to facilitate an extraordinary employee experience.

My mission is to maximize business leaders’ value and develop sustainable human resources and continuous improvement strategies with integrity and purpose. I identify methods for improving staff productivity and organizational behavior and incorporate innovative management techniques into a multicultural workforce.

My passion for what I do drives my tireless commitment to perform above & beyond the challenge that is before me. With each corporate entity comes a brand-new opportunity to drive positive revenue impactful results for my clients.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

While studying for my Business Degree I looked for a summer job feverously, doors after doors closed and I didnt get the results I was hoping for. In my distress my mother came to me and encouraged me to use my skills in teaching.

I wasn’t sure what she meant but as I pondered her suggestion and prayed during the 2am lonely hours I came up with the idea for coordinating a Summer School in my community. I then drafted a marketing plan as everyone slept.

In the morning I made posters, handed them out and connected with the parents who previously engaged me to help their children. I shared the benefits my program would provide the children and I gathered my technological devices to enhance the learning experience.
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Superior Quality Summer School was massively successful with parents paying on time and in full, the child were engaged and we even took them on a field trip.
Resilience defies the odds and make us a solution !

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Referrals have been the best source of getting new clients although we have a well crafted business plan and social media presence .

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/u.y.abusinessconsulting/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/odettebaugh/

Image Credits
Thanks to my photographer Tajah.