Career Development Services Team

Meet the Team:

Lindsay Bortot – Career Advisor

Lindsay is a nationally certified Career Development Practitioner with over 14 years of experience helping individuals navigate their career paths. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Educational Counselling, and began her career in community employment counselling before joining Algonquin College in 2016. For the past nine years, she has provided personalized career advising and strategic job search support to students and graduates, helping them approach the evolving world of work with confidence. Lindsay is deeply committed to equity and accessibility, with extensive experience supporting students with disabilities, including her contributions to the David C. Onley Initiative. Her work is rooted in impact and inclusion, driven by a passion for breaking down barriers and empowering every student to realize their full potential.

Best Career Advice: “There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.”

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaybortot/

Jessica Andrews – Career Advisor

Jessica is a passionate career development professional, dedicated to empowering students and graduates as they navigate their career journeys. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Graduate Certificate in Career Development, she brings a personalized and strengths-based approach to guiding and supporting others. Her background spans casework, program coordination, and financial advising, all while focusing on helping individuals achieve their goals. Over the past eight years at Algonquin College, Jessica has helped learners build confidence, develop career readiness skills, and pursue meaningful career opportunities. She is committed to creating inclusive, supportive spaces where individuals feel encouraged to take the next steps on their career path.

Best Career Advice: “If we wait until we’re ready, we’ll be waiting for the rest of our lives.” – Lemony Snicket

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicalandrews/

Melissa Spears – Career Counsellor
Melissa is a nationally certified Career Development Practitioner, Certified Career Counselor, and Registered Psychotherapist with a graduate degree in counselling and over 20 years of experience supporting individuals in both community and post-secondary settings.

Melissa uses a strength-based and diversity-informed approach that integrates mental health and career development. With certification and training in a range of Type A and Type B career assessments, Melissa tailors tools and strategies to meet each student’s unique needs and goals.

Whether someone is feeling uncertain about their future, navigating stress and anxiety, or exploring how personal values, interests, identity, and external pressures, like family expectations, cultural influences, or finances, fit into their broader life and career, Melissa helps them make sense of it all. The focus is on working through challenges, clarifying direction, and making meaningful decisions that align with the client’s unique circumstances.

Best Career Advice: “Career paths emerge through a continuous negotiation between our aspirations and the circumstances we encounter.”

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/melissaspearsottawa