For students interested in communications, marketing, social media and creative careers, there may not be one straight path to get there. And that was exactly the message shared with Lambton Kent District School Board (LKDSB) students during the latest session of the 2026-27 School Ambassador Program.
Secondary School Ambassadors and staff leads from across LKDSB gathered virtually today for a fireside-style conversation with Leanne McNaughton, Manager of Brand, Reputation and Creative Services with Enbridge Gas.
In addition to speaking about what she does today, McNaughton also took students behind the scenes of how she got there, sharing a career journey that has been anything but linear.
Beginning in graphic design, her pathway has taken her through the newspaper industry, marketing in post-secondary education, creative direction and social media management before leading to her current role with Enbridge Gas.
Along the way have come some remarkable opportunities, including recent work connected to astronaut Chris Hadfield and the NFL Cleveland Browns, respectively.
But McNaughton was quick to remind students that opportunities like these do not simply happen.
“I kept saying yes to things that were outside of my comfort zone,” said McNaughton, reflecting on the combination of hard work, curiosity and willingness to try something new that has helped shape her career.
That honesty continued as participants had the opportunity to ask questions directly, including one about something rarely highlighted in career success stories: What happens when you fail or get something wrong?
McNaughton encouraged students not to take failure personally, but instead to be open to feedback, reflect on what happened, review the analytics or results and, importantly, ask why.
“Success is important. We all want to win, but failures are also a part of the process,” she told students.
For Caress Lee, LKDSB Public Relations Officer and co-lead of the School Ambassador Program, those candid conversations are an important part of what the program is intended to provide.
“Communications professionals can be found in virtually every sector, from corporate and government to education, not-for-profit, sports and entertainment,” said Caress Lee, LKDSB Public Relations Officer. “It’s also a profession that is changing incredibly quickly. New platforms, new technology and AI are continually reshaping how we reach and connect with audiences.”
The conversation with McNaughton is part of the second year of LKDSB’s School Ambassador Program, an initiative jointly supported by LKDSB’s Secondary Program and Communications departments.
Launched in 2025-26, the inaugural program invited secondary students to become the digital storytellers of their schools. Students from across LKDSB learned photography, video production, editing, communications and storytelling before producing original films about their school communities. The year culminated in the inaugural School Ambassador Film Festival at Great Lakes Secondary School in June, where secondary schools premiered their student-created films.
This year, the program has evolved.
Under the theme Social Media Takeover, School Ambassadors are moving beyond a single film project and into the fast-changing world of social media storytelling. Students will create photos, short-form videos, reels and other digital content highlighting the people, programs, events, achievements and everyday experiences that make their schools unique.
Throughout the year, ambassadors will also connect with peers from across LKDSB and receive mentorship, media training and ongoing support from school and Board staff as they learn how to create engaging, inclusive and responsible digital content.
For LKDSB, those connections are an important part of the program.
By bringing professionals such as McNaughton directly into conversations with students, the School Ambassador Program gives young people access to experiences, career pathways and professional perspectives they might not otherwise encounter during the school day. Just as importantly, it begins building connections between students and professionals who are working in the very industries students may one day choose to enter.
The goal is bigger than learning how to make a reel or take a great photo.
It is about giving students a place to experiment, ask questions, make mistakes, build connections and discover where their own skills and interests might take them.
And, as McNaughton reminded them, sometimes finding out where you are going begins simply by being willing to say "yes".