Lizz Alexander, PhD

I'm deeply committed to fostering confidence, growth, and sustainable success for both students and professional women. My passion for helping others to achieve their dreams and goals stems from my own struggles with self-doubt, anxiety, and stress as I navigated the challenges in my academic and professional journey. If it wasn't for the support I received, I would have given up and never earned my PhD or started my dream career. Now I love empowering other folks who are struggling with self-doubt and overwhelm to gain the clarity and confidence they need to succeed in school or create a rewarding and fulfilling career (without burning out!).

Academic CV

My Story

I feel very fortunate to live in beautiful Victoria, BC with my husband, three children, and puppy who keep me on my toes, make me laugh, and amaze and inspire me every day. I also acknowledge and thank the Lekwungen People for allowing me to live, work, and raise my family on their territory.

I am originally from Ontario, Canada, where I attended the University of Waterloo to initially complete a degree in accounting. During that time, I took courses in psychology, which I loved. Once I decided accounting was not the right path for me, I switched into psychology where I felt myself come alive. I was particularly drawn to courses in educational psychology, which led me to complete my Honours thesis comparing the characteristics of students with and without learning disabilities.

In 2008, I moved to the west coast of Canada to pursue my Masters and PhD in educational psychology at the University of Victoria. Under the mentorship of Dr. Allyson Hadwin, I researched self-regulated learning in university students, with a specific focus on emotion regulation in individuals and groups. I was also highly involved in research examining goal-setting in studying.

During my time at UVic, I gained experience and developed skills in a variety of roles:

as a student learning from my instructors, mentors, and peers;
as a researcher contributing to and leading various research projects around learning and student success;
as an instructor teaching students about self-regulated learning;
as a learning strategist supporting students to pursue their learning goals;
and as a coordinator involved in administering a learning assistance program and training graduate student tutors and learning strategists.

The culmination of these experiences and my desire to make a difference gave me the confidence and motivation to embark on this entrepreneurial journey in 2020 as a learning strategist. Since then, I have continued to engage in professional development, getting certified as a Virtual Coach, Rapid Reprogramming Coach, and HeartMath mentor for building personal resilience. Feeling a call to work more closely with folks struggling in their careers, I have also expanded my coaching practice to include professional women who are looking for support to confidently pursue their purpose.

I am honoured to have worked closely with so many amazing and inspiring people – helping them to build their confidence and resilience, holding space when they’ve struggled, and witnessing their successes (no matter how tiny). I look forward to continuing this work with all the clients who invite me to be a part of their own journeys of learning, growth, and transformation.