Grounded by the Castle, Soaring Beyond.

Growing up in Toronto, sports were always at the heart of Class of 2005, Rebecca Consolov’s life. At Trafalgar Castle School, she jumped into every athletic opportunity that came her way—basketball, volleyball, swimming, triathlon, and especially soccer, which she also played competitively outside of school. “I played every sport that was available at the Castle,” she laughs. But what made her time at Trafalgar truly special wasn’t just the games or the practices—it was the community, the friendships, and the deep sense of belonging.

Rebecca’s path through Trafalgar wasn’t entirely linear. Partway through high school, she left to attend another private school for a year. It didn’t take long, though, for her to realize just how much she missed the Castle. She returned for Grade 12 and graduated with the Class of 2005—a decision she now calls transformative. “Our class was small, but it was full of ambitious, creative people with big dreams,” she says. “The support we gave each other was incredible, and I’m still close with many of those friends today.”

Certain teachers left a lasting impression. She credits Mrs. Sigsworth, her passionate geography teacher, Ms. Martin, who nurtured her love of literature, and Mrs. Hansen for helping her discover her voice and self-worth. “They empowered us to know our value,” she reflects. “I honestly think I would have second-guessed myself a lot more if it hadn’t been for the teachers and staff who believed in me.”

After Trafalgar, she headed west to the University of Calgary, where she continued playing varsity soccer until an injury changed her course. That pivot led her to explore business, and from there, her journey took off: a graduate degree in Alternative Dispute Resolution, and eventually, certification as a licensed mediator in Texas.

Her career path has taken some surprising—and exciting—turns. After working in Washington, D.C., Rebecca was recruited by Apple and moved to California, where she spent four years negotiating contracts and managing sales operations. Then Tesla came calling, offering her a leadership role focused on business and people operations—ensuring employees had the support they needed at every stage of their journey. Today, Rebecca runs her own consultancy, 9Box, where she serves as a fractional Chief People Officer to startups across industries ranging from crypto to venture capital.

Through all of it, the lessons from her Trafalgar years have stayed with her. “The Castle gave me so much — confidence, independence, and the ability to communicate and grow,” she says. “When I was 21 and living alone in Texas, I knew who I was and what my values were because of the grounding I had at Trafalgar.”

Now based in the Washington, D.C. area with her husband and two children—Reagan (9) and Charles (5)—she often reflects on what Trafalgar gave her and how she can give back. “My kids won’t have the chance to go to the Castle, but I can help the next generation of young women find their way to success,” she says. Supporting the school, for Rebecca, is about paying forward the confidence and community she once received.

And if she could give one piece of advice to her younger self—or to today’s students—it would be this: “Say yes to everything. You never know what doors you’re opening, who you’ll meet, or what experiences you’ll carry with you. Cherish the friendships you make at the Castle—I’ve never found anything quite like them since.”