Meet CPC Member Shelly Elsliger, “The LinkedIn Super-Woman”

Shelly Elsliger

By Cathy Milton.

You’re known as “The LinkedIn Super-Woman”. How did you come by your super-woman status?

The LinkedIn Super-Woman title was given to me by others. I always use LinkedIn in a supportive and kind way as I’m a strong advocate for the “Art of Reciprocity” in online interactions. I believe in giving to give, not giving to get something back. I am the creator of the LinkedIn Power Shoe, and the LinkedIn Change-Maker and LinkedIn Latte Series. Through all of the people I have featured and helped via these programs, my name became known in the LI community. To my surprise, in 2017, I was named on a list of globally recognized LinkedIn Trainers. Someone even developed my LinkedIn Super-Woman avatar and sent it my way!

How did LinkedIn become a passion?

My passion for LinkedIn stems from something that happened when I was 13 years old. I was on stage for a public speaking contest. A bully yelled out something from the audience before I even had a chance to start my speech. As I ran off the stage, I slipped and my left shoe fell from my foot. These shoes were red high heels; my first pair ever, given to me as a gift  by my parents who’d wanted to recognize my public speaking achievements. I ran home and vowed never to speak in public again and never to wear high heels again.

When I discovered LinkedIn, it became my way of getting my voice back. I developed LinkedIn in High Heels: Rise Up and Lead Online as not only a way of owning my space and reclaiming my voice, but as an amazingly powerful tool to empower other women to get their voices back, too.

LinkedIn in High Heels: Rise Up and Lead Online is, by far, the work I am most proud of because it has helped so many get back on track.

How did you learn so much about LinkedIn?

One day, I paid a coffee forward to someone from LinkedIn Canada while I was at an education conference in Calgary. He set me up with the right mentor who was key in getting me started. He really listened to how I wanted to use LinkedIn to pay goodness forward and he was happy that I saw the platform for all its power. It was never meant to be a “Facebook for adults” or just a site to post an online résumé. As a career professional, I want everyone to look at LinkedIn as being the place for “The Amazing Online Career Story of You”, the most important story they will ever write.

I’m active on LinkedIn everyday. I keep myself updated on the changes and transformations LinkedIn is continuously going through. I’m always editing and building my own story, being a leader online – an example and role model for those new to LinkedIn. I give LinkedIn the time and effort needed to build a strong peoplepod (my term for a thriving LinkedIn community) where members are committed to raising each other up.

Can you tell us about your work at Rotman Commerce at the University of Toronto?

At Rotman Commerce, I am a Career Educator and Coach. My mandate is to work with the  business students in the Management Specialist stream. I build confidence, strengthen skills, and coach students one-on-one on how to attain their career goals. I deliver interactive workshops on all aspects of career development and, as the resident LinkedIn Trainer, I facilitate workshops on Leveraging LinkedIn for Career Success and Building your LinkedIn Story.

I also work for LinkedIn as the LinkedIn Learning Liaison between LinkedIn Learning (Lynda.com) and the University of Toronto. Presently, there is a project underway to spread the value of LinkedIn Learning across campus. The aim is to help students develop skills and build confidence while also providing support for their academic education. We want to help them stand out as opposed to fitting in.

When did you found your company, Linked-Express, and what services do you offer your clients?

Linked-Express was founded in 2010. It is almost 10 years old. Wow! I used to work with individuals, but because I became so busy with other pursuits, including a lot of individual coaching at the university, I sat down with a coach to see where I wanted Linked-Express to go.

I now deliver LinkedIn group presentations to corporate teams, women’s empowerment groups, masterminds, educational departments, and a diverse range of conferences.

I discovered that I really LOVE public speaking and am now making up for lost time since the red high heel shoe incident at age 13. I am often a keynote or guest speaker at various professional gatherings and I love to empower women with LinkedIn in High Heels: Rise Up and Lead Online. I have also been lucky enough to be able to conduct workshops on personal branding and overcoming bullying by creating purpose from pain.

You’ve been a Career Professionals of Canada member for a year now. How did you discover the organization and what made you decide to join? How has membership been beneficial so far?

I am very connected to careers. I have been a Career Coach for a long time and can’t think of a more rewarding career path. I learned about CPC from members Taranum Khan and Daisy Wright. I signed up the same day I talked to them. Membership has been beneficial because there are so many resources and like-minded people. The best thing so far was meeting up with so many members at Cannexus19 in Ottawa. What a great group of people! I look forward to getting to know them better. In 2018, I contributed to CPC’s Canada Career Month ebook – Insider Secrets from CareerPros – and I hope to be even more involved in CPC this year.

What part of your work do you enjoy the most?

I love observing the “ah-ha” moments that come when clients make the switch from firmly believing one thing to adopting a new mindset because of something I’ve said or done. I’ve enjoyed seeing clients overcome Imposter Syndrome, or confidently deciding that they can do whatever they set their minds to.

Do you have a memorable client story you’d be able to share with us?

Sure, but this is more of a group success story. I was asked to work with a group of life coaches. They wanted to know more about LinkedIn and to explore how they could make use of the platform. When we started, I found that I was working with a bunch of doubtful life coaches, so I knew I had to turn that around. We began to work on ways these four could come together to create something as group while still showcasing their individual talents and offerings. They came up with the idea to put together a weekly series, using LinkedIn as their main way of reaching out. They are now one year into their series, which has a solid (and ever-growing) following. Deservedly so, they’re recognized as being inspiring content creators on the platform. This group transformed from being doubtful life-coaches to four inspiring thought-leaders.

What book are you reading right now?

I am currently reading “Awaken your Inner Hero” by Jen Fitzpatrick. The book is full of amazing stories of 50 Canadian “YOUth Heroes” who are making this world a better place by implementing positive change.

Do you have a song or type of music you listen to for inspiration?

I love “Seasons of Love”, written By Jonathan Larson for the Broadway show RENT.

“Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?”

The song inspires me because it always makes me ask myself, “How do I want to measure life?”

What do you do to relax?

I spend time with my two rescue dogs Callie and Lenny. They fill my heart. I spend a lot of time with animals and volunteer when I can. I was once named one of “52 Montreal Animal Lovers You Should Know About” by Montreal Dog Blog. I also LOVE golf and travel.

If you had to give an “elevator pitch” about why LinkedIn matters, what would you say?

I am not much for using the old “elevator pitch” scenario because the idea of it seems too rehearsed for me. But, if I were to sum up the value of LinkedIn, I would say:

“LinkedIn is a can’t-miss opportunity for all professionals who have a career story to tell and believe in the power of building a strong online network. The options continue to grow on LinkedIn, and with over 590,000,000 members, this is one place you want to be. The power lies in going from simply being on LinkedIn to being LinkedIn because this is where all the magic happens!”

Spread the love
Categories:
Subscribe
Notify of
4 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Shelly,

You walk the talk! You share quality content every day, tag your followers to generate interest and follow up. I appreciate the work that you do and admire your commitment.

Your red high heel friend,
Michelle

Hi Michelle,

Thanks so much! Can’t wait to get together sometime soon:)

Shelly:)

Awesome story Shelly! Glad you took the plunge and joined CPC where you can share your knowledge and benefit from the camaraderie within the group.

Thanks Cathy Milton for capturing Shelly’s story so well.

Thanks Daisy..love being part of CPC:)