Throughout the academic year, Melinda Giampietro, Options Founder/President, will share some of her favourite things in her monthly Founder’s Feature. Melinda loves reading, data, research, and following academic and adolescent news around the world.
Book of the Month
This spring, the line to see Ann Patchett speak at the Nantucket Book Festival was 250 people deep for a small venue. I totally missed out, but I did get to hear Belle Burden. Ms. Patchett is one of my all-time favourite writers. I just finished Whistler two nights ago. I really enjoyed it. She has such an incredible talent for writing with humanity in her character development. She is never judge-y of her characters as she writes them. While I wouldn’t put it in my top three of her novels (which would be Bel Canto, Tom Lake, and Truth and Beauty), it is a super worthwhile read (just not on a snowy night when you have to drive somewhere!).
Cookbook of the Month
Every year, I dress up as Ina Garten for Halloween. It’s so easy! I have the brown bob, I throw on a denim shirt and scarf, and carry around a whisk. I have all her cookbooks (the original The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook is still my favourite). I was really excited for her simply ina cookbook to be released this October. I appreciate her simple recipes that taste way more sophisticated. Some of her old recipes, including her guacamole, frozen palomas, vodka sauce, and apple pie bars, are family classics. After perusing the new book, I noticed that she upcycles many of her old recipes. A family member and I have committed to cooking our way through it this November and December. I’ll report back, but currently, I’m most interested in trying easy butternut squash & apple soup, sesame ginger chicken bowl, skillet pasta with sausage & mozzarella, maple & balsamic roasted carrots, and breakfast panna cotta.
Team Highlights of the Month
Each November, we do a team get together. It’s a very, very busy month, and we all need a buoy. This year, we had a happy hour at Honey Salt inside the Parq Casino. It had positive Friday night vibes. If you know me, you know I LOVE party favours. So, at every gathering, there is always a little something special with a fun or funny story/theme. This time of year, we spend a lot of time editing essays and profiles while at home. So, I bought everyone my all-time favourite cozy socks: the Alo Half-Crew Scrunch Sock. They are unisex and would make a great holiday gift for any teenager!!
Community Thank You of the Month
We had a big Growing Leaders Forum (GLF) event: Beyond the Bio on November 1st. At GLF, we try to live by our values and have snacks that are made by female founders. Tara Bosch, who sold Smart Sweets for $360 million, has started a new venture, Snackish. Their avocado oil potato chips are amazing. She donated sixty bags to our event, and we are so grateful. The Best Dressed version is my favourite.
Concert of the Month
I keep a list of songs that I want to see live in concert on my Notes app. This summer, my theme song was Owen Riegling’s “In the Feeling.” It will likely be my most played song of 2026. Owen is a small-town Canadian boy from Ontario. His song “Taillight this Town” is currently the 18th most played song on Canadian radio. We saw him on a Monday night (yes, a Monday night) at the Commodore. What a super venue!! It was, truly, one of the best country concerts I have been to, and I’ve been to so many country concerts. I encourage everyone to give him a listen.
To read more Founder’s Features, check them out under the Options News category.
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