After being personally diagnosed with heart disease at a mere 32 years of age, Robert Pearson has now made it his mission to reach out and help others in similar situations live their daily lives with as much ease as possible in today’s YPDaily…
Elevator Pitch: Describe your job in a nutshell.
Director of digital accessibility at a broadcasting organization focused on accessibility. I also advocate within the industry on behalf of our audience and the wider disability community.
Why did you start working at your company? What was the inspiration for this career route?
Throughout my career, I’ve been focused on digital accessibility. For several years, I’ve built upon personal and professional experiences to fuel my passion for my work. I chose to take on my current position, because Accessible Media Inc. has a mandate to make media accessible to all Canadians. I feel that I can bring and build upon my experiences in this field to further this mandate and work towards meeting the needs of the Canadian disability community.
What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis? The most challenging part?
Doing good is the best part of my day. I do the work that I do, because I know that it fills a need for an otherwise underserved audience. The most challenging part of my day though, is in having enough resources available to fulfill the amount of project work that could be undertaken.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Fulfilling the mandate of my organization, while leading an international network of accessibility advocacy and standardization, and working towards a more accessible world. Building upon the experiences gained through my own unique disability to give back to the community from which I have received so much support.
What does success look like to you?
Job satisfaction and fulfillment. I feel that I have achieved that.
What is the most memorable milestone in your career?
Delivering a personal/professional presentation to an international disability conference to tell the story of how I recovered and regained my life after being diagnosed with an assumed debilitating disability. It gave me direction to continue to give back to the community and the story is now scheduled to be published in Reader’s Digest in early 2012.
Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Network. It is the most valuable professional asset that you can master.
Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is that important to you?
The Heart and Stroke Foundation, because I experienced heart failure at the age of 32.
What to you is notable?
Confidence in the proficiency of one’s craft. Giving back, making a mark and being remembered for one’s contributions.
Blackberry, iPhone, Android, or Other?
Blackberry, although the iPhone is cool.