---
title: "Where Passion Meets Profession: Kelly Hoey Featured in Women of Influence"
description: Kelly Hoey's career journey and impact in career development are highlighted in Women of Influence, showcasing her leadership, lifelong learning advocacy, and innovative programs for youth empowerment.
---

[Ontario Career Lab Blog ](https://ontariocareerlab.ca/blog)

# [Where Passion Meets Profession: Kelly Hoey Featured in Women of Influence](https://ontariocareerlab.ca/blog/where-passion-meets-profession-kelly-hoey-featured-in-women-of-influence)

 Written by [Michael Emery](https://ontariocareerlab.ca/blog/author/michael-emery) | 8/21/25 6:33 PM

HIEC’s Executive Director, Kelly Hoey, was recently profiled in *Women of Influence* for her inspiring career journey and decades of impact in career development. The feature, *Where Passion Meets Profession: Insights from HIEC’s Kelly Hoey*, highlights Kelly’s leadership, her belief in lifelong career development, and her commitment to empowering the next generation.

In the article, Kelly reflects on her own non-linear path and the importance of easing the pressure young people feel when making career decisions:

“The pressure to choose can feel quite heavy for young people. To think that they’re supposed to have it figured out and base their course selection [on that] causes a lot of stress.”

From launching [ApprenticeSearch.com](http://apprenticesearch.com/) in 1999 to spearheading the [Ontario Career Lab](https://ontariocareerlab.ca/?hsLang=en), Kelly has been a driving force in creating innovative programs that connect students, educators, and industry.

“Career conversations have a measurable impact on students aged 14 to 16, and we want them to become engaged with the labour market and stay engaged — all of that is about good decision-making, good networks, and good exposure.”

Kelly’s story shows that careers rarely follow a straight line, and her leadership at HIEC continues to open doors for thousands of young people each year.

Read the full feature on Women of Influence: [Where Passion Meets Profession: Insights from HIEC’s Kelly Hoey](https://www.womenofinfluence.ca/2025/08/19/where-passion-meets-profession-insights-from-hiecs-kelly-hoey-winner-of-the-2024-social-change-award-national-impact/)

[View full post](https://ontariocareerlab.ca/blog/where-passion-meets-profession-kelly-hoey-featured-in-women-of-influence)

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