Infuse 5.5 FNCE Special Edition | Page 9

Image of Maye with her family, courtesy of @mayemusk She is passionate about the benefits of travel and living a global life. “Living in different cities and countries is an education,” Maye says. “You learn the way people think, their many different cultures (especially in large urban cities) and their local foods. When I arrived in Toronto, I didn’t know what an Oreo cookie was. I had to go to the supermarket to look at all the labels to understand what my clients were talking about.” She’s well-positioned to advise a young dietitian/RD just starting out. “Be enthusiastic, and share your ideas with your colleagues,” Maye suggests. “Trust me, word gets around, and you will soon be invited to sit on local boards, then national boards.” You have to market yourself a lot, she urges young dietitians. “Use social media! Share your skills and successes on the Internet. I don’t see enough of that, although ‘nutritionists’ without a sound education are doing extremely well on the Internet and in business.” Maye also encourages those just starting out to remember that “when your children are very young, they take up a lot of your time, and it is hard to be at the top of your profession. Take each stage of your life and do your best.” She’s also passionate about advancing the profession of dietetics. Maye was the first dietitian to appear on a cereal box – a unique accolade, and a fresh way to reach the public with nutrition messages. She offers this advice to those who seek to similarly stand out in the cluttered media space today. “I didn’t aim to be on a cereal box, although that was a huge surprise and I loved it. A cereal company had a campaign coming out to make women feel good about themselves. I’d spoken about nutrition and fitness, appearance and self-esteem all over Canada. It made sense to have my book cover, with my photo on it, on the cereal box,” Maye explains. interview continues overleaf... © Dietitian Connection 9 Infuse | October 2018 - Special FNCE issue