Amy Rederburg: From broadcasting to founding Writerburg Content + Copy

Amy Rederburg is a multi-skilled communications professional who has utilized her creative energy to carve a unique career path across the Prairies - from Saskatoon to Calgary, to Edson, back to Saskatoon, to Lloydminster, to Calgary again, and back to Saskatoon. Her willingness to take on new opportunities, despite distance, has helped her to arrive where she is now.These days, Amy is the owner/founder of Writerburg Content + Copy and a college instructor at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Additionally, she is the founder of DoSask.com and organizes Social Media Breakfast Saskatoon. Amy (thankfully) had a spare moment to complete an interview with Career Paths Travelled and is happy to share her story of hard work, professional risks, and career progress. Amy’s first diploma, in Broadcasting, was motivated by an early interest in the quality of advertisements. “In high school, I listened to the radio obsessively (morning to night) and became a critic of the ads that would play over and over again,” says Rederburg. She explains that a career path quiz once suggested that she become a Barber or a Talk Show Host. Moving to Calgary for education in the radio industry at Mount Royal University was an easy decision. With an I-just-graduated-university level of enthusiasm, Amy moved to the rural community of Edson, Alberta for an entry level position. “The first gig was a small town operation, so I got to do a lot of things that you aren’t able to do in a large market (update the website content, help the music director, work in promotions, etc.). I was awarded bronze for two different commercials I wrote,” she explains, reflecting on her time in Edson. A two-year move back to Saskatoon for a radio writing job unfortunately ended with a lay-off during the economic recession. Adapting to the job market, Amy moved to Lloydminster, Alberta/Saskatchewan (yes, it is one city in two provinces), to work as a Creative Director at a radio station. “[I was] managing a busy creative department with 1 in-house writer and 1 remote writer. It was a huge learning experience. I suffered from “imposter syndrome” and dealt with a lot of stress due to the office culture. During those years, I served part-time in bars and worked at the community youth centre as a mentor to supplement my income. I won gold awards for my writing during this time,” she shares. It was after three years in this position that Rederburg decided to take the biggest career risk yet. Elena Fenrick, Career Paths Travelled: “Why did you decide to make a shift to Communications? Why did you feel it was important to return to school for the shift?” Amy Rederburg: “I started to feel like radio wasn’t my long-term career just before I resigned from the Lloydminster station. I wanted to have a more broad understanding of the discipline to open more doors in the future. People I admired in my network had taken similar paths, so I used their LinkedIn profiles to help me map out my future career. I looked at instructors, agency writers, and communications managers to get inspired. Most of these individuals had bachelor’s degrees in communications, so I felt it was needed in order to move forward. Communications seemed to be a good next-step after working full-time with words for most of my career. I felt school was important to give me that competitive edge and more confidence in my abilities.” Elena Fenrick, Career Paths Travelled: “Describe your experience going back to school. Opportunities? Challenges?” Amy Rederburg: “As an older student (older than 18), I was very anxious about going back to school. Not only had I forgotten how to study, I was worried that I would lose my job in radio if I told my boss that I had started taking classes. In the first semester, I scheduled all classes at night. However there was a wrench thrown into my plan: most of the courses were only available in the daytime in the second semester. I was forced to talk to my manager about the possibility of working from home two days a week so that I could finish my tasks and attend classes on the same day. This was the first time he learned about my second full-time commitment. I was willing to risk losing my job to finish my degree. To my surprise, my manager supported this decision and helped me get set up with working from home. I did very well in school and at work - getting to go on a study abroad trip to New York City, attending leadership seminars, graduating with Distinction, getting acting roles and new responsibilities, and winning another award for my work in radio. Ultimately, my degree improved my self-confidence and helped me develop a broad understanding of the world. Balancing full-time work and full-time school taught me that I can manage the heck out of my calendar.” As a career consultant, I have worked with numerous clients (like Amy) who worry about balancing their current jobs with advancing their education. Amy’s employer helped her to find a flexible solution (working from home two days a week), and supported her career advancement. During this period in Rederburg’s life, she launched Writerburg Content + Copy. In five years, her business has expanded, serving “high profile corporate clients across Western Canada.” In 2016, she returned to Saskatoon and in 2017, she began teaching Business, Technical, and Industrial Communications at Saskatoon Polytechnic.Amy divides her week between these commitments and her two other exciting projects. Elena Fenrick, Career Paths Travelled: “In addition to your work, you founded dosask.com and Social Media Breakfast Saskatoon. Tell us more about these initiatives.” Amy Rederburg: “From my work as a mentor at the Lloydminster community youth centre, I know how important it is to have a place where young people can socialize and try new things. If you’ve graduated from school and are on your own it’s difficult to meet people as adults! I started Do Sask because it was hard for me to find things to do on a whim in Saskatoon - it took a lot of research and asking questions. Do Sask is like a mobile youth centre mixed with a community cork board. It offers a range of ways for local Saskatoonians to connect with others who share similar interests and a passion for meeting new people. I produce regular speed dating nights, local brewery tours, easy and fun art classes, locally-curated event listings and exciting ideas for what to do on a date in Saskatchewan. It’s a passion project that brings in some additional revenue. When I moved back to Saskatoon in 2016, I tried networking at all sorts of professional groups. None of them were talking about social media or digital marketing and I was hungry to learn as I was essentially transitioning from traditional media to digital media. I started Social Media Breakfast Saskatoon to develop learning events that are open to everyone with takeaways at each meeting. Social media-oriented guest speakers share their experience and expertise, followed by an opportunity to network with a community of like-minded individuals. It is completely volunteer-run and is made possible with sponsorship from the community.” Rederburg is unsure of where she will be 10 years from today, as the past 10 years have held many career surprises and shifts. Her story outlines the importance of adaptability to the economy, knowing one’s skills, and approaching challenges with a can-do attitude. Elena Fenrick, Career Paths Travelled: “Looking back on your career shift, what is the main piece of advice you would pass on to others who are considering a change?” Amy Rederburg: “Just because you’ve been doing something your entire career doesn’t mean you need to keep doing it. Never stop learning. Ask tons of questions. Most importantly, trust your gut. If something about the work you’re doing doesn’t sit well with you, get out now. You will be happier long term if you learn this sooner than later.” Elena Fenrick, Career Paths Travelled: “Fun Question: Where in Canada would you like to visit for the first time?” Amy Rederburg: “Montreal! I want to see Just for Laughs in person and try authentic poutine. Plus, I hear they have some great ghost tours.” To view Amy’s professional website and to learn about her other initiatives, follow these links! https://writerburg.com/ http://dosask.com/ https://www.facebook.com/smbyxe/

Photo by Hung Hua. Both photos submitted by Amy Rederburg