A4E

Barbara Sedgwick-Billimoria M.Ed. owns and operates LaunchPad Career Counselors, a career counseling entity based in San Diego, California. As a career counselor, Barbara has comprehensively counseled more than 400 individuals in career transition, career crisis or in the selection of college major. Barbara provides career assessments and then counsels individuals on assessment outcomes creating a bridge between self-knowledge and the world of work, career choice and career satisfaction. Further, she carefully integrates psychological findings of career assessments to help individuals develop a career and/or educational plan. Barbara also advises clients on income potential and job forecast of selected careers pursuant to regional, state and national forecasts. Further, she critiques client resume and cover letters - instructs on proper format, etiquette and content and counsels individuals on job searching strategies emphasizing the importance of networking, social media, internships and volunteerism. Barbara is also a Career Development speaker at UCSD Extension, UCSD Alumni Association, San Diego Diplomacy Council, The Boardroom, and others. Prior to working as a career counselor, Barbara worked in economic development for the State of California – Small Business Development and International Trade Center. During her 19-year tenure, Barbara counseled more than 1,600 people on all aspects of owning and operating a small business including business start-up, business planning, basic business finance and business management. In this position, Barbara also applied and was awarded two Title VI B International Business Initiative grants from the US Department of Education. One of 25 grants awarded in the United States, 2010 -2012. She was also winner of the Women’s Small Business Advocate award from the Small Business Administration, and developed the Youth Entrepreneur Program curriculum that received exemplary acknowledgement from the Chancellors Office of the State of California. Importantly, Barbara is the mother of two awesome children and understands from first- hand experience the joys and struggles of raising 21st century children while simultaneously engaging in a meaningful career. As a mother, she has endeavored to raise children that embrace morals of compassion, kindness, understanding, respect and responsibility while competing with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other forms of social media. Barbara sees this as her greatest accomplishment and her most important job so far. Furthermore, Barbara hopes that in the not-so-distant future that parenting experience will become part of a standard resume as it encompasses so many skills valued in the modern workforce. Barbara’s Education Includes: Master of Education Counseling, emphasis: Career Development. University of San Diego, January, 1997. Summa Cum Laude Certificate of International Business. Thunderbird, Graduate School of International Management, December 1987. Bachelor of Arts, Communications. University of California, San Diego, CA June 1982.