Erin Radke-Hall grew up on a grain farm in Northern Alberta where community pride was a given. Because her parents were so active in nearby Bonanza and the surrounding area, she is no stranger to being involved.
“I learned to volunteer and give back to the community at a very young age,” Erin says.

Now, at 29, the tradition continues. In fact, she could be a poster girl for achieving work/life balance. Erin is a wife, mother to three-year old daughter Quinn, successful business woman, and active member of Edmonton’s community.
Beyond her responsibilities as a chartered accountant with KPMg, she is the director of Training for Junior Chamber International (JCI) Edmonton, an organization
of motivated individuals between the ages of 18 and 40 who want to network and “be better”. She has been treasurer of JCI Canada since 2006, and sits on the board for the national convention. Erin says she’s so passionate about the organization because it teaches you skills you can’t learn at a firm or institution, and the enthusiastic nature of its members keeps her coming back.

“To be around people who are positive and want to do positive things, makes you more positive.” Erin joined JCI in Prince George, BC, while she was studying Accounting Finance at the College of New Caledonia. She was the second female member of that chapter, and eventually became president in 2006. Seven years after graduating college, Erin moved to Edmonton in 2009 to broaden her horizons. She is now in charge of the training and leadership opportunities at JCI Edmonton, and teaches a class on how to be a confident speaker.

She also acts as a mentor to professionals in Edmonton, giving them advice on how to grow themselves as business people and individuals in general, a struggle sometimes. Erin believes communicating effectively and understanding others breaks down barriers. For her, mentoring is a way of saying “thanks” to those who did the same for her. “The best way to return the favour is to do the same for someone else,” Erin advises. So how does she juggle work, family and volunteering? Erin acknowledges there are two factors that help her keep it all together: her husband, Oran, and an extra-large calendar. “I couldn’t do it without either of them,” she chuckles.