Amber McMillan’s career path is as unique as it is inspiring. What began as a passion for the culinary arts has transformed into a dynamic career in project management and education. Her journey from chef to educator and IMPACT coach is a testament to the power of adaptability and lifelong learning.
The Culinary Beginning
Amber’s career started in the bustling world of professional kitchens, where she honed her skills as a chef. Her approach to food was always practical and people-focused, prioritizing crowd-pleasing dishes that were both delicious and economical. In the demanding environment of event planning and catering, Amber mastered the art of orchestrating complex events with numerous moving parts. Her commitment to meticulous planning and execution laid the foundation for her later success in project management.
In addition to her work as a chef, Amber ran her own cooking school for over a decade. This experience not only sharpened her culinary skills but also helped her develop strong organizational and leadership abilities. Teaching others the art of cooking required creativity, patience, and an ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds—skills that would prove invaluable in her future career.
Transition to Project Management
Despite her success in the culinary world, Amber always felt a pull toward project management. She recognized that her experiences as an event planner and entrepreneur had equipped her with a unique skill set that could be applied to a broader range of fields. By reverse-engineering her experiences in the food industry, Amber was able to transition into a successful project management career.
Today, Amber is an IMPACT coach, facilitator, and teacher, drawing on her diverse background to empower others in their career paths. Her journey demonstrates that skills developed in one field can be leveraged in unexpected ways to achieve success in another.
Harnessing Technology in Education
Amber believes that technology, when thoughtfully integrated into the classroom, can significantly enhance learning outcomes. Her leadership journey has highlighted several transformative ways technology can impact education:
- Personalized Learning: Adaptive learning software can tailor lessons to individual student needs, improving comprehension and fostering a love for learning.
- Global Connectivity: Virtual classrooms and online collaboration tools connect students with peers and educators worldwide, promoting diverse perspectives and global citizenship.
- Interactive Content: Educational apps, VR, and AR make learning interactive and engaging, bringing concepts to life and aiding understanding.
- Access to Resources: Technology democratizes access to high-quality resources, providing opportunities for lifelong learning for all students.
- Collaboration: Learning management systems and educational social networks enhance communication and teamwork among students and teachers.
- Data-Driven Insights: Technology allows for the analysis of student performance data, helping educators tailor instruction and improve outcomes.
Amber emphasizes that technology should support—not replace—human efforts in education. By balancing human touch with technological tools, educators can create inclusive and effective learning environments that prepare students for future challenges and opportunities.
Preparing Students for the Future
Educators play a crucial role in preparing students for the rapidly evolving job market. Amber believes that educators must cultivate critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, challenging students to tackle complex issues and think deeply. Emphasizing lifelong learning is essential, encouraging students to continually seek new knowledge and skills.
Integrating technology and digital literacy into the curriculum ensures that students are proficient with digital tools and understand emerging technologies. Fostering collaboration and communication skills prepares students for diverse, multidisciplinary environments, while encouraging an entrepreneurial mindset helps them think creatively and pursue opportunities proactively.
Amber’s leadership journey, marked by decisiveness and innovation, serves as a model for educators seeking to guide students through the uncertainties of the evolving job market. By embracing these roles, educators can ensure students are prepared for both current and future opportunities.
The Rogers Society: Driving Social Impact
Amber is also deeply committed to driving social impact through her work with the Rogers Society. With the tagline “Social IMPACT through Community CONTACT,” the organization empowers other organizations by providing professional support focused on strategic planning, coaching, and leadership training.
The Rogers Society’s mission is to drive positive change in local communities and globally, envisioning a world where meaningful community engagement leads to significant social impact. Core values such as authenticity, diversity, inclusion, integrity, transparency, and trust guide the organization’s efforts to foster lasting change.
Overcoming Challenges as an Education Leader
Throughout her career, Amber has faced significant challenges as an education leader. One such challenge was addressing the pervasive anxiety, stress, and burnout affecting both students and faculty. To tackle this issue, Amber integrated social-emotional learning (SEL) into the curriculum and implemented regular wellness check-ins.
By fostering a culture of support and open conversations about mental health, Amber was able to create a more supportive and engaged environment. Her efforts have led to improved well-being and academic performance for both students and colleagues. One particular success story was Jake, a student struggling with severe anxiety. Through the initiatives Amber implemented, Jake found support and confidence, leading to improved academic performance.
Amber’s commitment to modeling mental health support has not only benefited those around her but has also improved her own well-being. She believes that with the right support, any challenge can be overcome.
Motivation and Resilience
Amber is refreshingly honest about the challenges of staying motivated. She acknowledges that motivation can wane, but she views these struggles as opportunities to build resilience. By allowing herself to experience feelings of inadequacy and recognizing them as human, Amber is able to dislodge mental blocks and reignite her creativity and curiosity.
Her journey demonstrates that enthusiasm and passion can coexist with periods of struggle, and that embracing these challenges can lead to personal growth and renewed motivation.
Encouraging Creativity and Critical Thinking
As an education leader, Amber encourages creativity and critical thinking by creating an environment where it’s okay to struggle and feel challenged. She shares her own experiences with facing blocks and overcoming them, demonstrating that it’s natural to encounter difficulties.
Through project-based learning and open-ended tasks, Amber encourages students to approach problems from different angles and seek new solutions. By fostering an atmosphere where questioning and experimentation are valued, students learn to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, thereby enhancing their creativity and critical thinking skills.
Inspiring Influences
Amber’s inspiration to become an educator and administrator came from a high school teacher who was incredibly knowledgeable and approached teaching with calm confidence. This teacher’s straightforward and accessible manner showed Amber that authority can be conveyed through genuine confidence rather than enforcement.
This experience has shaped Amber’s own teaching philosophy, where she strives to minimize hierarchy and act as a conduit for sharing knowledge and instilling confidence in her students.
Vision for the Future of Education
Amber’s vision for the future of education is to create supportive, inclusive, and empowering environments where resilience and adaptability are fostered through social-emotional learning and critical thinking. She sees herself playing a key role by championing these practices, minimizing hierarchical barriers in the classroom, and modeling confidence and accessibility.
By promoting these principles, Amber hopes to help shape a future where education nurtures not only knowledge but also resilience, confidence, and creativity. Her journey from the kitchen to the classroom serves as a powerful example of how diverse experiences can lead to meaningful impact in education and beyond.