Instructors
Sylvia Schmidt
Sylvia Schmidt is a collaborative innovator with a master’s degree in the communications field and more than seventeen years of intercultural experience in organizing, marketing, strategic planning, training, policy and product development in business, government and nonprofit settings. As CEO of Turtle Island Indigenous Education, she collaborates with clients to strengthen innovative performance of individuals, teams and organizations working in diverse environments. Competition for highly trained, culturally diverse workers and rapid growth in cultural diversity in Canada presents clear needs for training, development and mentoring. Through Turtle Island Indigenous Education, Sylvia Schmidt is actively involved in curriculum design and teaching/learning in Aboriginal Small Business Development.
Christine Pollock
Business Development Consultant for The Small Business Therapist, Christine is an entrepreneur; adult educator, and advocate for lifelong learning. As team leader, she has over fifteen years of managing and facilitating business programs in multi-cultural environments; as a long range holistic planner, she designs curriculum for training programs; and as a facilitator, Christine wrote and delivered workshops at the Fraser Valley University, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Continuing Education and Self Employment programs. She is presently on the Board of Directors for Third Age Learning at Kwantlen (TALK) in Surrey, BC where she serves on the Curriculum Development Committee.
Lynn Cook
For over 25 years Lynn has been working with people and organizations to help them improve their performance. Lynn facilitates and delivers classroom and online training in an upbeat way. She has worked as a Senior Facilitator for the largest financial institution in the world as well as designed and delivered extensive Wealth Management, Leadership, Communication and Business Development programs. She is currently a personal and business development coach to a number of trainers within the corporate system as well as a change management coach to people facing life changing events in their lives. Lynn is the owner/operator of Thunder Valley Ranch, an equine facility that provides self-improvement programs using “horse sense” as well as care and training for boarded horses. She has addressed trainers and facilitators throughout the United States and Canada and heads the Empowered Mentoring Program, where she offers personal and professional development workshops. For further information, see our Personal and Professional Development sections under Programs & Courses.
Michelle Morning Star Doherty
Michelle is a First Nations writer, intercultural communicator, networker and entrepreneur. Her professional experience includes over 25 years in public relations, marketing and retail in the corporate, government, education, fashion, lifestyle and cultural sectors. As President of Turtle Island Indigenous Education, she has a unique insight into the marketplace, the workforce and business opportunities that abound for Aboriginal people at this time. She shares her knowledge in her fields of expertise with her students, online and in-class.