Meet Ariane Cloutier

Life is a long and winding road, and Ariane Cloutier wouldn't have it any other way. Most recently, that road has led her to her new position at Concordia Continuing Education, where she oversees a team of 25, managing every area of administration, from budgeting and infrastructure to labour relations, staffing and student services. It's a broad mandate, with a diverse range of responsibilities and that's exactly the kind of challenge Ariane loves. Prior to her new position, Ariane worked closely with CCE's Executive Director, Isabel Dunnigan, to create and launch the new IELTS test centre. Before that, she was a partner in a restaurant, managing all things business. The bridge between the two was easy for her: "they're both about creating something new from scratch."

For Ariane, the key to success is being open to change. Her academic background includes a degree in law and a Graduate Diploma in International Development and Humanitarian Aid, and she's currently finishing an MSc in Business Administration. Linking her professional and personal life and values, she worked with the Chamber of Commerce, helping recent arrivals to Canada integrate into the workforce through activities and internships, and she has volunteered extensively at the Red Cross. In Ariane's words, "I think everyone is responsible for keeping their knowledge and skill sets up to date so they're ready for our ever-changing world."

For her, CCE was a natural fit: a diverse clientele of curious, eager students trying to better themselves through education while having fun along the way.

Over the years, her travels have taken her around the globe, including India most recently. "I love to throw on the backpack and go off the beaten path. For me, travelling is all about meeting people and enriching my life with new experiences. CCE gives me just that. There are students and staff from over 160 countries and part of my job is to help them along their road in life."