Alexandra (Alex) Forrestall is a Calgary, Alberta-based professional with a diverse background spanning talent recruitment, education, customer service, and animal care. She holds a diploma in early childhood education from Seneca College in Toronto, from which she graduated with honors. Prior to earning he diploma, Alexandra Forrestall spent two years in child studies at Carleton University in Ottawa, where she was an active member of the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority.
Since 2022, Alex Forrestall has worked as a talent sourcer. Promoted to junior recruiter in 2023, she excels in identifying and pre-qualifying candidates, building talent channels, and collaborating with hiring managers to meet recruitment goals.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Forrestall served in various positions reflecting her adaptability for working with both people and animals. She held various jobs in retail and customer service, and was also a registered early childhood educator at Country Casa Montessori and Edukids Child Care. From 2020 to 2022, she worked as a dog handler at Complete Dogs in Stouffville, Ontario, honing skills in animal care, training, and grooming.
In her free time, Alexandra Forrestall enjoys hiking, volunteering, and exploring new adventures. She is also a certified ski instructor.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My typical day is to get up and ready for work, take my dog out for a walk, go to work from around 8 am-4 pm, then come home and take my dog out again for a good walk. I usually spend my evenings reading, watching Netflix, cleaning, or cooking, but always hanging out and playing with my dog. Finally, I get ready for and get into bed for a good sleep. I am generally productive at work, and then aim to get at least one household task done in the evenings. I feel most productive when I have a happy dog and a tidy house.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I bring ideas to life by first breaking them down into clear, manageable steps and setting realistic goals to keep things on track. I rely on planning and organization to create structure, but I also stay open to flexibility and creativity as the project evolves. Collaboration and seeking feedback help me refine ideas and turn them into something meaningful and effective.
What’s one trend that excites you?
One trend that excites me is the integration of mindfulness into everyday life, moving beyond traditional meditation spaces to include nature, movement, and creative expression. This approach, known as mindfulness, emphasizes holistic well-being by blending mindfulness practices with daily activities, fostering a deeper connection to oneself and the environment. It’s encouraging to see this shift towards a more accessible and sustainable form of mindfulness that resonates with a broader audience.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
One thing I do to help myself be productive is making lists on whiteboards in my line of sight (usually on my fridge). It shows me what tasks I need to do, when I need to do them, and what the urgency of them is. I cross off or wipe away the tasks I have completed and add new ones as I go. I feel most productive when I cross/wipe an item from my whiteboard list, as it is visual proof that I completed something useful.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell my younger self to listen to her mom, to embrace every moment as if it were my last, to not abuse my freedom and right to choose for myself, to enjoy every little moment with those I love, to take more pictures for future reminiscing, to make smarter financial decisions, and to move across the country sooner.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
I believe that taking time to pause and reflect, even during busy or stressful periods, is more valuable than constantly pushing forward. While many people see nonstop hustle as the key to success, I think true growth and clarity come from moments of stillness and thoughtful self-awareness.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
One thing I repeatedly do and recommend to everyone is taking regular walks, especially outdoors. It’s a simple way to clear your mind, reduce stress, and reconnect with nature, which boosts both mental and physical well-being. Making time for this small habit can truly transform your day and overall health.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
When I feel overwhelmed or unfocused, I like to take a break and go for a walk with my dog. Moving outside helps clear my mind and reset my energy. Sometimes, I also turn to creative outlets like coloring or journaling to refocus and regain a sense of calm.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
One strategy that has helped me advance in my career is staying organized by using detailed lists and time-blocking my schedule. This approach keeps me focused, ensures I meet deadlines, and helps me balance multiple priorities without feeling overwhelmed. It also allows me to track progress clearly, which boosts my productivity and confidence in tackling new challenges.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
One failure I experienced was underestimating the time and resources needed for a project, which led to missed deadlines and added stress. To overcome it, I took a step back to reassess my planning approach and sought advice on better project management techniques. The biggest lesson I learned was the importance of realistic goal setting, clear communication, and building flexibility into plans to adapt when challenges arise.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
One business idea I’m happy to share is creating personalized wellness kits that combine simple self-care items with mindfulness prompts tailored to individual needs. This approach meets the growing demand for mental health support in a tangible, accessible way and can be customized for different audiences, making it both meaningful and scalable.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
My calendar – put everything into my calendar and have recently started “blocking” out my day every day. Scheduling “blocks” for tasks at both work and home helps to keep me accountable to timelines. With reminders just before and at the start of each blocked time, I am reminded that it is time to put this current task away for now and move on to the next task in the next block. This helps me to stay on track with getting multiple things done and not just hyper-focusing on one thing and forgetting the rest of what I need to do.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
I don’t have a favourite, but I have been listening to a podcast a lot lately called The Basement Yard, which is somewhat a comedy podcast. While it may not be educational or political in any way, it does bring me joy to listen to these two guys go back and forth on various topics, being goofy and fun, and it constantly has me with a smile on my face or actually laughing.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I recently enjoyed watching The Witcher because of its rich storytelling, complex characters, and immersive fantasy world. The blend of action, magic, and moral ambiguity keeps the plot engaging, while the deep character development adds emotional weight to the thrilling adventures.
Key learnings
- Creativity, flexibility, collaboration, and feedback combined with realistic goal setting and task breakdown is the key to bringing ideas to life.
- Utilize organization and time management strategies such as detailed to-lists and time-blocking to enhance productivity.
- True growth and clarity are the result of mindfulness, self-reflection, and self-awareness, rather than constant hustle.
- Creative outlets and time in nature can offer needed breaks and help restore calm and focus.
- Integrating mindfulness and self-care into daily routines supports overall well-being.