About Laura Kusko

Founder of #Balance

Professionally

Laura received an advanced degree in Psychology and Human Resource Management from the University of Manitoba. Continuous learning is important to her, so she completed her Certificate in Conflict Management Skills from the Resolution Skills Centre and her ICF-ACC Coach Training Program through Interpersonal Wellness Services. She has her CPHR designation through CPHR Manitoba and SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) through the Society for Human Resources Management.

Laura has been a Human Resources professional for over 20 years. She has held progressive roles, starting as a Human Resources Assistant to her last position as HR Director. She has worked for private and public sectors, unionized and non-unionized companies and various industries which include manufacturing, agriculture, foundries, aerospace, health care, communications and retail. She is current on all HR best practices and has assisted the companies she worked for to be seen as an employer of choice. She keeps up to date on legislation to ensure workplace compliance. Laura has elevated the level of service provided by the HR department in these companies through team building and increased productivity using lean tools such as huddle boards. She worked with Executive Teams to business plan and be their strategic thinking partner, while ensuring they minimize any risk or liability in their decision making.

Through her education and work experience, Laura has developed many skills. The ones that she feels would be most important to highlight would be her proven ability to communicate (and listen) to establish rapport with a diverse group of people, talent management and goal setting while being extremely focused on creating structures that provide an engaged and productive workforce and her leadership skills providing guidance and coaching to help changing organizations with their strategic plans.

Her greatest abilities are to see the big picture, assist others to come up with solutions, remain calm and work independently. She is positive, proactive and organized. She is passionate, determined and a risk taker.

Personally

Laura has a passion for wellness and maintaining balance in her life. She works hard, but also loves to play hard.

Her favorite season is summer. Her family cottage is something she looks forward to every year. She enjoys fishing with her dad and sister, swimming (but mostly floating), boating, paddle boarding, bonfires, the endless walks and sunsets, but mostly just the time spent with family and friends.

Laura enjoys combining her love for summer outdoors with an active lifestyle. She likes to hike, bike, roller blade, play tennis, golf and garden. In the colder months, she stays active by challenging herself to different BeachBody programs i.e. P90X, 21 Day Fix and T25.

As much as she likes to play, she also like to watch, especially the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Laura enjoys watching the games at home, out at the cottage lounges or live at the stadium. She was very excited when they won the Grey Cup in 2019!

Laura has a love for animals. She has always had a dog and can’t imagine her life without one. She has also had fish, birds and bunnies. She likes taking care of the wild animals as much as the pets in her life. She puts food out for the bunnies in the back yard and has bird feeders in both her front and back yard, as well as some sparrows that have called her bird house their home. She has tried to attract some bees and butterflies into her yard through food, water and homes, but so far no luck. If you have any words of wisdom for her on this, please contact her!

Laura enjoys traveling and seeing the world. She has been to some amazing places, but her favorites would be Europe and Jamaica. In Europe, she enjoys the history. There are so many amazing sculptures, churches and castles to see! With Jamaica, she enjoyed the culture, food and music. She has also visited Mexico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Panama, Barbados, and has traveled throughout Canada and the United States. She also likes taking her motorcycle out for rides around Manitoba, checking out small towns and supporting local venues.

Community is important. She supports local charities and has been team captain for many teams throughout her career. Laura has participated in the Big Bike ride for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 24 Hour Relay for the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities, Slo-Pitch 4 a Wish for the Children’s Wish Foundation, Dragon Boat Festival for CancerCare Manitoba, Super Spike and United Way Plane Pull which support many local charities and not-for-profit groups in need.

To support her mind, body and spirit connections she meditates, reads, and eats a healthy diet. She loves to listen to a variety of music, sing (although she has been told that she should not) and dance. She practices mindfulness and gratitude. She has switched her products to ensure they are natural and chemical-free. Laura is living a meaningful life that has reduced her stress and allows her to get a good night’s sleep. Laura laughs and has fun!