Intimate, upfront and personal coffee chats with some of the amazing students and inspiring talent, I have met over the years. This series creates a platform for students and seasoned professionals to share their voices with a focus on life experiences including their high school to post-secondary to work transitions as well as insights into the working world. Each episode is produced "for the talent by the talent" to provide relevant content and meaningful insights to prepare the next generation of talent for the future of work. #Listen #Learn #BeInspired
Welcome to Coffee with Convery ☕️, the podcast where we celebrate diversity, inclusion, and success stories!🏳️🌈
Today, we have a special guest whose journey embodies resilience, innovation, and advocacy. 🎤
Joining us today is Felipe Soares, a seasoned Customer Success Leader with a passion for customer success and dog training. 🐾 Felipe's career trajectory is nothing short of inspiring, from his roots as a Tax Lawyer to founding his own business and now making waves as a leader in the B2B SaaS industry. 🚀
Felipe's expertise lies in driving revenue through customer-centric strategies, nurturing executive relationships, and supporting people and organizations through change management initiatives. But what truly sets Felipe apart is his story as an immigrant in Canada. 🌍
Whether it's mentoring Gen Z entrepreneurs, spearheading volunteer projects to support refugees, or advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the tech sector, Felipe's impact extends far beyond business metrics. 💼
Today, we'll dive into Felipe's journey, exploring his experiences at companies like Fable and Riipen, his passion for mentoring through QueerTech's Access Program, and his work to making tech more inclusive for all. 🌈
So grab your favorite brew ☕️, settle in, and let's enjoy some inspiration and insights with Felipe. 🎧
🎙️ Welcome to ☕️ Coffee with Convery, the podcast where we sit down with some of the most fascinating minds from various fields for a chat over a cup of coffee!
Today I'm thrilled to introduce you to our guest, Sebastian Benzecry! 🚀
🎓 Sebastian is a PhD Candidate at the University of Cambridge, where he focuses on Film and Screen Studies.
He's also the President of the Cambridge University Boat Club for 2023/24, leading the team to victory in The Gemini Boat Race 2024 and winning the Aberdeen Quaich trophy! 🚣♂️🏆
Beyond his academic and athletic achievements, Sebastian brings a wealth of experience in content writing and tutoring. He has worked as a content writer for Modus Workspace, creating original articles on workspace culture and office spaces, as well as contributing to social media marketing.
His experience in rowing extends to coaching roles at several prestigious institutions, including Pembroke College Boat Club and The Leys School. 📝👨🏫
Sebastian's journey began at Princeton University, where he earned his BA in English and honed his skills as a creative director for an on-campus broadcast TV show. He then pursued his MPhil at the University of Cambridge, where he has continued to excel. 📚
In today's episode, we'll dive into Sebastian's academic pursuits, his passion for rowing, and how he balances his roles in both academia and athletics. We'll also discuss his thoughts on the future of film and screen studies, his experiences in content creation, and much more.
So, grab your favorite cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy this enlightening conversation with Sebastian! ☕️🎉
Welcome to another episode of Coffee with Convery, the podcast where we bring you inspiring stories and conversations with remarkable individuals .
Today, I have the privilege of sitting down and introducing you to a true advocate for children’s rights, an esteemed lawyer ⚖️, and the author of the New York Times Bestseller 📚 “Hope’s Boy,” Andrew Bridge.
Andrew’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. From growing up in foster care from age 6 to 18 🏠, to defying the odds and earning scholarships to Wesleyan and Harvard Law School 🎓, Andrew has transformed adversity into advocacy 💪. As a children’s rights lawyer, Andrew has dedicated his life to defending the rights of the most vulnerable among us ❤️.
The author of “Hope’s Boy,” a New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Publishers Weekly Bestseller, and Washington Post Best Book of the Year, Andrew shares a deeply personal and heart-wrenching story of his life. From the love he shared with his mother 💖 to the challenges of foster care and the resilience that propelled him to become a Fulbright Scholar 🏅.
Andrew’s latest book “The Child Catcher: A Fight for Justice and Truth” is now available for pre-sale on Amazon 🛒.
Amazon.com | https://a.co/d/4H3Rkp5
Amazon.ca | https://a.co/d/8l4axug
I’m thrilled to introduce our guest, the inspiring Children’s Rights Lawyer and Author, Andrew Bridge. 🎙️
Welcome to another invigorating episode of Coffee with Convery! ☕
Today, we're joined by a true luminary in the world of talent acquisition, Corey Shaw 🌟, founder of North Star Talent, based right here in the heart of Toronto.
Corey Shaw, with a Bachelor's degree in History from Wilfrid Laurier University 🎓, has forged an illustrious career path, distinguished by his unwavering commitment to excellence.
From his tenure as a Talent Acquisition leader at TD, CIBC, Canada Life, Co-operators and currently The Salvation Army 🏢, he has built strategies to attract and hire exceptional talent. Corey's journey has been marked by visionary leadership and transformative impact.
Corey's story is one of continual evolution demonstrated by his curiosity and prowess as a natural networker, fostering collaborative environments where teams thrive 🌱.
Corey's unwavering commitment to empowering teams and enhancing organizational excellence is evident. As the founder of North Star Talent, he has dedicated himself to guiding organizations towards attracting and nurturing outstanding, diverse talent. 🌠
Welcome to Coffee with Convery! ☕️ Today, we have a remarkable guest whose journey encapsulates resilience, faith, and the power of inclusion. Meet Andrew Fitisemanu, a dynamic individual who not only shines on the rugby field but also advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion in both sports and corporate environments. 🏉🌈
Andrew’s story is one of evolution and empowerment. Growing up as a Catholic in New Zealand, Andrew found solace and strength in his faith. However, his path took a transformative turn when he moved to Australia, where he forged his own spiritual connection with God while embracing his identity as a gay man. 🏳️🌈
On the rugby field, Andrew found not only a sport he excels in but also a community that embraces him wholeheartedly. Coming out to his rugby community was a pivotal moment, one marked by acceptance and support. Through rugby, Andrew discovered the power of teamwork and inclusion, where differences are celebrated and strength is found in unity. 🏉❤️
Off the field, Andrew is a beacon of change as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consultant, leveraging his extensive corporate experience to champion mental health awareness and LGBTQ+ rights. His involvement in initiatives like Rugby Australia’s #PartOfMore series underscores his commitment to fostering a culture of belonging and acceptance. ️
As Andrew continues to navigate his rugby career and inspire others with his story, he leaves us with a powerful message: resilience is found in embracing our authentic selves and standing tall in the face of adversity. 💪
Join us as we delve into Andrew Fitisemanu’s inspiring journey of faith, identity, and the pursuit of belonging. 🙌
🎉 Welcome to another episode of Coffee with Convery!
☕ Today we have a remarkable guest joining us: Katie Wuotila, an incoming Sales and Trading Analyst at Scotiabank in New York City.
Hailing from Calgary, Katie is a force to be reckoned with both on and off the court. 🏀 As a Co-op and Student-Athlete, she's not only excelled in varsity basketball at U SPORTS but also demonstrated her leadership skills as the VP Corporate Affairs of the Rowe Women in Business Association.
Katie's journey is as diverse as it is inspiring. From her tenure at Scotiabank's Global Banking division to her role as a Marketing and Publicity Director for Her Campus Media, she's proven her adaptability and drive in various fields.
But Katie's story isn't just about professional accomplishments; it's about embracing challenges head-on and thriving in new environments. 🌍 Her overseas experiences have shaped her into a go-getter who isn't afraid to step out of her comfort zone.
Today, we'll delve into Katie's insights on finance, ethical investing, and leadership. So grab your favorite brew, settle in, and let's dive into the world of finance and passion with Katie! 💼🔍
Welcome to another insightful episode of Coffee with Convery! ☕️ Today, we're delighted to introduce you to Andrew Neary, a dynamic force in the world of journalism and entrepreneurship. 🌟
Andrew's journey is nothing short of inspiring. As a second-year Journalism – Mass Media student, he's not only excelling academically but has also earned the prestigious Student of the Year Award for College and CEGEP WIL. 🎓🏆
What truly sets Andrew apart is his unwavering commitment to making entrepreneurship accessible to all. Through his groundbreaking podcast, Founders Drive, he amplifies voices often unheard, showcasing his dedication to equity and inclusion. 🎙️🔊
As the senior producer of Founders Drive, Andrew's leadership has been pivotal. His ability to forge meaningful industry connections has not only expanded the podcast's reach but has also opened doors for future students through valuable WIL opportunities. 🔗🚪
Andrew's impact extends far beyond his local community. His collaboration with organizations like Futurpreneur has led to the establishment of a microloan fund for Indigenous entrepreneurs, underscoring his commitment to inclusive prosperity. 💼💰
In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Andrew has rightfully earned the title of Student of the Year. His story serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration, reminding us all of the transformative power of resilience, determination, and a passion for making a difference. 🌟🎉🏆
Welcome to Coffee with Convery! ☕️ Today we have a special guest with us, the Owner and President of Spotted Dog Construction 🏗️🐾, based in Toronto.
Meet Simon Broer 🎩, a seasoned professional with a passion for turning dreams into reality 💭✨. With a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and Economics from the University of Toronto 🎓💼 and a wealth of experience in investment banking at TD Securities 💰💼, Simon has recently transitioned into the world of construction.
As the Owner and President of Spotted Dog Construction 🏠🐶, Simon leads a team of skilled professionals who believe that creating your dream home should be a joyful experience 😊🏡. Whether you're envisioning a kitchen renovation 🍽️🛠️, a bathroom transformation 🛁✨, or a complete overhaul of your living space 🛋️🌟, Spotted Dog Construction is dedicated to providing the highest quality craftsmanship and first-class customer service at every step of the process.
Stay tuned as we uncover the stories, experiences, and insights that have shaped Simon's entrepreneurial path 🛤️💼.
Welcome to Coffee with Convery ☕️, the podcast where we bring you stories of extraordinary people making a difference in their communities and beyond.
Today, we're diving into an inspiring story of dedication, resilience, and the transformative power of music 🎵.
Our guest today is Steve Bagmanyan, a name that may sound familiar if you've recently seen the Academy Award-winning documentary short, The Last Repair Shop 🛠️.
This powerful film, directed by Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers, has brought much-needed attention to the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Musical Instrument Repair Shop, where Steve and his team work tirelessly to repair and restore thousands of musical instruments for public school students across the city.
But Steve's journey doesn't begin with the film's success. As the shop's supervisor, he has dedicated years to this vital work, providing students with the instruments they need to express themselves through music. From humble beginnings as a piano tuner in 2003, Steve has played a crucial role in keeping the shop alive despite funding challenges and downsizing.
With the recent Oscar win 🏆, life has been a whirlwind for Steve and his team. Donations and support have poured in, allowing them to dream bigger for the future of the repair shop and the students they serve. Join us as we explore Steve's story and the impact he has had on music education and the lives of many in Los Angeles. 🎶
Welcome to Coffee with Convery ☕️, the podcast where we sit down with industry leaders, and outstanding individuals making a difference. Today, I have the pleasure of introducing our esteemed guest, David Levangie. 🎙
David is a Partner-Litigation at Fogler Rubinoff LLP in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. With an impressive 16 years of experience in the legal field, David has become a leading figure in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group at Fogler Rubinoff. ⚖️
David's practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and arbitrations, where he has excelled in cases involving breach of contract, shareholder disputes, oppression, and breaches of fiduciary duties. He's not just an exceptional litigator; he's a strategic thinker and a problem solver. 💼
David's journey includes academic excellence, having earned his Bachelors Social Science in Criminology and Political Science, graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of Ottawa. He furthered his education at Osgoode Hall Law School, obtaining an LL.B. in 2008 and being called to the Ontario bar in 2009. 🎓
What sets David apart is not just his legal accomplishments but also his commitment to service. Proudly serving in the Canadian Armed Forces for 6 years, David received numerous awards, including Soldier of the Year for his Regiment and Service Person of the Year for the entire Communications Group. 🏅
I’m excited now to welcome David as we jump into his journey, exploring his experiences in complex litigation, his dedication to veterans' rights, and his role in advancing diversity and inclusion within the legal profession. 🌟
Welcome to Coffee With Convery! ☕️ Today, we’re honored to have Stephanie Wooden as our guest. Hailing from the vibrant city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Stephanie is not just a student but a beacon of leadership and inspiration in her community.
🏙 Currently serving as the President of the Dalhousie Women in Business Association, Stephanie’s journey is one of dedication, ambition, and unwavering commitment to empowering women in the business world. 💼
As a fourth-year Bachelor of Commerce Co-op student at Dalhousie University, Stephanie’s academic pursuits are as diverse as her interests. 📚 Majoring in accounting and completing a certificate in disability management, she embodies the spirit of inclusivity and innovation. 🌈 But Stephanie’s journey towards leadership didn’t begin with her current role; it’s a culmination of years of hard work, passion, and relentless drive. 💪
Stephanie’s impact extends far beyond the university campus. 💫 With a stint at KPMG Canada as a Staff Accountant, Audit, and her involvement as a Campus Ambassador, Stephanie is not just shaping her own future but also inspiring those around her to reach for the stars. 🚀
Welcome, coffee enthusiasts and conversationalists, to another stimulating episode of “Coffee with Convery”! ☕️ Today, we’re diving into the world of storytelling with a remarkable individual, Glenn Bragonier. 🎙
Glenn Bragonier is a seasoned Content Producer from Toronto. 🌟 With a rich tapestry of experiences ranging from sous chef to assistant distiller, Glenn’s journey has led him to the heart of journalism, where he currently produces captivating content for “Let’s Talk with Dani Stover” on CFIQ 640 Toronto. 📰
Glenn’s tenure at Corus Entertainment speaks volumes about his expertise. 🎧 As the mastermind behind “ON Point,” a syndicated evening show, Glenn orchestrates each episode with finesse, from selecting riveting topics to wrangling esteemed guests. His knack for radio production is unparalleled, evident in his meticulous planning, seamless audio editing, and flawless podcast production. 🎶
Glenn’s dedication to his craft knows no bounds. 🌟 His freelance endeavors and multimedia journalism have taken him on riveting adventures, covering everything from protests to cultural events, leaving an indelible mark on the media landscape. 🌍
With a diploma in Broadcast Journalism from Seneca College and certifications in voice-over work and podcast production, Glenn’s expertise shines through in every project he undertakes. 🎓 His passion for storytelling, coupled with his unparalleled skill set, makes him a force to be reckoned with in the realm of media production. 🎬
So grab your favorite brew, settle in, and join us as we unravel the art of storytelling with the incomparable Glenn Bragonier. 📻
Welcome to Coffee with Convery ☕️, where each conversation embarks on a journey of discovery and inspiration.
Today, as we commemorate International Transgender Day of Visibility, observed annually on March 31st, we stand in solidarity with transgender individuals worldwide. This day is a poignant reminder to celebrate their identities, shed light on the discrimination they endure, and honor their invaluable contributions to society. 🏳️⚧️
On this significant occasion, we are honored to host Robert Panico, whose story embodies resilience, growth, and an unwavering commitment to fostering diversity, equality, inclusion, and justice. Robert's narrative reflects triumph over adversity as he navigates societal challenges with determination, emerging as a potent advocate for marginalized and minority communities. 💪
With a rich tapestry of cultural experiences spanning Europe, Asia, and Oceania 🌍, Robert has found his home in London 🏠, where he passionately champions a society that thrives on diversity, recognizing it as a driver of innovation, progress, and the battle against inequalities 🌈.
Drawing from his professional journey encompassing roles as a coach, mentor, and advocate for equality and inclusion, Robert's impact resonates deeply ❤️. Whether advocating for transgender-inclusive policies or supporting those experiencing homelessness, his dedication to social justice remains steadfast 🙌.
Academically, Robert holds certifications in EDI and a PGCert in Global Cultures, and is accredited as a facilitator. Currently pursuing a master's in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology at the University of London, he extends his expertise by coaching students for success 📚.
So, grab your coffee or beverage of choice, and let's delve into Robert's story, broadening our understanding and support for diversity and inclusion.
Welcome, listeners, to another captivating episode of “Coffee with Convery” ☕, where we unravel the intricate tapestry of school, work, and life transitions and transformations 🎓💼🌱. Today, our focus is on the dynamic realms of HR, recruitment, and career insights, and we’re privileged to have a remarkable guest in our midst — Syed Ahmed .
Syed is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Finance 🎓💰.
Syed transcends the conventional recruiter role; he’s the Head of Operations at AroundHI Solutions, orchestrating the deployment of top tech talents globally, from ERP to hyperscaler domains 🚀. With a robust track record spanning over six years, Syed has been the driving force behind connecting high-growth companies and Fortune 500 brands with the perfect blend of technical and non-technical expertise 💼🔗.
What truly distinguishes Syed is his unwavering dedication to giving back. As a fellow Canadian immigrant, his passion lies in aiding newcomers and immigrants in discovering meaningful careers within Canada 🍁. Over the past six years, he’s had the honor of guiding over a thousand individuals on their career journeys, showcasing that the impact of his work transcends the confines of the business world 🌎.
Currently serving as an Entrepreneur In Residence at Ontario Tech University, Syed actively contributes to the Brilliant Catalyst Program, offering valuable advice to the Brilliant Catalyst team, student entrepreneurs, and faculty members seeking to propel their ideas forward 💡. From judging pitch competitions to assisting new entrepreneurs with sales, HR, and product management, Syed is deeply engaged in nurturing the next generation of talent 👩🎓👨🎓.
Join us now as we dive into the incredible journey of Syed Ahmed, exploring his experiences, gaining insights, and uncovering the valuable lessons he’s accumulated along the way 🎙️🚀.
🎙️ Welcome to another episode of Coffee with Convery, where we bring you conversations with remarkable individuals shaping the landscape of work and impacting people through storytelling. ☕🗣️
Today, we are thrilled to have Kevin O’Keefe on the show, a seasoned veteran in the world of current affairs television, documentaries, and digital media. 🌐📺
With a career spanning over 25 years, Kevin has left an indelible mark on the industry. Currently serving as a Producer at CTV’s acclaimed investigative series W5, Kevin’s work delves into crucial issues and events, showcasing his dedication to uncovering compelling stories. 🕵️♂️🎥
Beyond his extensive professional achievements, Kevin is a lifelong learner. Armed with a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Radio and Television from Toronto Metropolitan University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of King’s College, he continues to hone his craft. His commitment to excellence extends even to his personal pursuits, having completed the improvisation program at Second City Training Centre and a Japanese language course at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre. 🎓🌟
🌟✨ Welcome, coffee enthusiasts and career aficionados, to another enriching episode of "Coffee with Convery"! ☕🚀
🎉 Today, we have a special guest, Mike Thomson, who's not only redefining the hiring landscape but has a unique journey that intertwines entrepreneurship, athletics, and the invaluable lessons learned from embracing discomfort. ⚽🏒
🏒 From the hockey rinks teaching teamwork and resilience to the competitive floors of CrossFit, Mike has always sought to confront and embrace discomfort willingly. His journey as an entrepreneur, however, unveiled a profound realization – success isn't just about innovation and business acumen; it's a continuous process of facing and navigating uncomfortable situations. 💡🔄
🚀 Mike’s the force behind Spark Recruiting, a company dedicated to revolutionizing the hiring process with a humanizing twist. If you've ever struggled with crafting job descriptions that truly resonate with your ideal candidates or found yourself losing potential hires in the final stages of the hiring process, Mike is here to shed some light on how to turn the tide. 🔍💼
🔥 Now, let's delve into our conversation with Mike Thomson and keep in mind that the path to success is paved with moments of discomfort, challenges, and internal growth. 🌈🌱
🎙️☕ Welcome to Coffee with Convery, the podcast where we dive deep into the lives and stories of individuals making a meaningful impact in their careers, their communities, and beyond. ☕🎙️
Today, we have a remarkable guest with us, someone whose journey is as diverse as it is inspiring.
Joining is Chadwin Bartley, a multifaceted individual hailing from the Greater Toronto Area, Canada. 🍁 Chadwin wears many hats – he's the Founder of Bartley Skills Development, the brains behind ChairLinks, a seasoned Athlete Brand & Partnership Coordinator, and a skilled Barber ✂️.
His philosophy is simple but powerful: "Everything Matters," and every life experience plays a crucial role in shaping your purpose and mission in business.
As the Founder and CEO of ChairLinks, Chadwin brings together the worlds of beauty professionals and high-profile clients, including athletes, influencers, corporations, and charities including renowned organizations such as Canada Basketball, Toronto Argonauts, Live Nation, Jays Care Foundation, Peel District School Board, and more. 🌐
Get ready for a conversation filled with insights, inspiration, and the incredible journey of Chadwin Bartley! ☕🎤
🎙️ On today’s episode of Coffee with Convery, I have the pleasure of hosting a dynamic individual whose strategic mindset, creative prowess, and passion for connecting people have reshaped the landscape of student and employer engagement. Allow me to introduce Jonah Ferguson, the Coordinator of Employer and Student Engagement at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. 🌍🎓
Jonah brings a unique blend of skills and experiences to the table. Armed with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, Jonah’s journey from a marketing student to a seasoned professional has been nothing short of inspiring. 🚀📈
Jonah’s impact extends beyond the campus, as demonstrated by his successful organization of large-scale in-person career fairs, showcasing over 60 employers and attended by 650 students and alumni. Under his coordination, the Career Studio has become a hub for career exploration and professional growth, equipping students and alumni with the tools and opportunities needed to navigate the competitive job market successfully. 🌐💼
In addition to his professional achievements, Jonah’s multifaceted background includes studying Political Science and maintaining a deep interest in current affairs, technology, business, socioeconomic issues, and human motivations and psychology. He is always ready to engage in conversations on any topic, showcasing his well-rounded and curious nature. 🌐💬
We’re in for a treat as we uncover the story behind Jonah Ferguson’s career and his dedication to empowering the next generation of professionals. ☕🚀🌟
🎙️ Welcome, listeners, to a special edition of Coffee With Convery ☕, where we delve into skill development and job seeking in today’s world of work! 🌍
Today’s podcast is sponsored by the Diversity Institute 🌟. They're all about action-oriented research and finding innovative solutions to societal challenges. 💡 With a focus on bridging skills gaps, promoting diversity in leadership, and driving inclusive innovation, they're at the forefront of shaping the future of work. 🚀
But wait, there's more! We have three fantastic guests joining us today, each with a unique perspective on navigating the professional landscape. 🌟 They've all experienced the game-changing ADaPT (Advanced Digital and Professional Training) Program by the Diversity Institute. 🎓 Let's meet them:
🎙️ Ricky Visitacion: A skilled Sales Development Representative from Vaughan, who's graduated from the ADaPT Program is now working as a Sales Development Representative at Resolver. 💼
🎙️ Paulo Petitinga: A seasoned Communication Strategist from Toronto, currently enrolled in the ADaPT4Success Program. 📚
🎙️ Sarah Oguche: An accomplished Application Support Engineer from Kitchener, a graduate of the ADaPT for Black Youth Program, dedicated to empowering Black youth with the skills they need to succeed and is now working as a Support Agent Client Services for the Service Management Group. 🚀
Excited yet? Tune in as we explore their journeys and learn more about these transformative programs! 🌟
For more information, visit Diversity Institute’s Training and Work Placement Site. 💻 [Link: https://www.torontomu.ca/diversity/research/future-skills/trainingandworkplacement/]
🎙️ Welcome, Coffee With Convery listeners! In today’s episode, we are joined by a remarkable individual, Chris Hooten, who is on a mission to reshape the narrative surrounding neurodiversity and foster inclusivity in teams, organizations, and communities.
🌟 Chris is a passionate advocate working tirelessly to change the way we think and talk about neurodiversity. With a Master’s in Education and Human Development, Chris has partnered with renowned organizations such as the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden & Glass, Levy Restaurants, POCIS Seattle, and Bastyr University to build cultures that are not only equitable but also accessible.
🔊 As a nationally recognized speaker, writer, advocate, and coach, Chris aims to help organizations welcome, promote, and address challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals, especially those from the Global Majority, women, and LGBTQ+ communities. With a focus on Intersectional Neurodiversity, Chris provides comprehensive cultural assessments, engaging keynotes and workshops, accessibility-forward coaching, and customized solutions to bridge gaps and promote inclusivity.
🚀 Today, we dive deep into Chris’s experiences, expertise, and the impact they’ve had on organizations striving for equitable and accessible cultures.
So grab your favorite cup of coffee, settle in, and join us in this enlightening conversation with Chris Hooten on the Coffee With Convery podcast! ☕✨
🌿☕️ Welcome to Coffee with Convery! Today, we're delving into the captivating realms of chemistry, sustainability, academia, and innovation, one cup at a time, with our special guest, Ayodele Fatona! 🚀🔬
Ayodele's career journey, from overseeing introductory chemistry labs to teaching and guiding research projects at McMaster University, is nothing short of groundbreaking. 🌐 His expertise spans from crafting safety protocols to synthesizing cutting-edge materials for sustainable chemistry.
🎓 Holding a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry from McMaster, Ayodele's thesis focused on fine-tuning the interfacial properties of cellulose and silicones through triazinyl and thioacetal chemistry—a true expert in the field! 📚💡
Currently, Ayodele shines as a seasoned Senior Chemist at Lorama Group in Mississauga, Ontario. 🌊 His specialization lies in applying synthetic chemical tools to craft revolutionary silicone derivatives, water-borne copolymers, and biopolymers tailored for targeted interfacial chemistry applications. But, that's just the beginning! 🌍💡
So, grab your favorite cup of coffee, settle in, and join us for an engaging conversation with Ayodele Fatona. ☕️🎙️ 🌿🔍
🎙️ Welcome to "Coffee with Convery" ☕, where we sip on stories and explore the world of work! Join us as we unravel the journeys of our incredible guests.
🌟 Today's spotlight is on Matthew Chin, the culinary virtuoso from Toronto, Canada. 📸 As a freelance Food Content Creator and Recipe Developer, Matthew transforms flavors into captivating visuals for social media, marketing, and beyond.
👨🍳 From his role as a Culinary Lead and Food Stylist at a creative agency to his current freelance adventures, Matthew's expertise in creative ideation and food styling is unparalleled. 🍲 His journey seamlessly blends the worlds of journalism and gastronomy.
📰 Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a Minor in English from Toronto Metropolitan University, Matthew infuses his storytelling prowess into every dish he crafts. 📚
👉 Join us as we dive into the fusion of creativity, food, and the dynamic realm of content creation with Matthew Chin. So, grab your favorite beverage, get comfy, and let's chat about the art of culinary storytelling! 🍹
🔗 For more on Matthew and his delectable creations, visit his website: Matthew Chin 🌐
🚗☕ Welcome, automotive enthusiasts and coffee lovers, to another exciting episode of Coffee With Convery! ☕🚗
Today we have a truly special guest joining us. With over 17 years of hands-on experience as an Automotive Service Technician, our guest has become a true trailblazer in the world of automotive diagnostics and electric vehicle technology. ⚡🔧
Meet Saifullah Sanaye, a leader in the Ottawa automotive community and a seasoned expert in advanced vehicle diagnostics, particularly in the realm of hybrid and electric vehicles. From owning his own auto repair shop to teaching, consulting, and providing technical support, Saifullah has amassed a unique and diverse skillset that has made him a go-to resource across the automotive industry. 🛠️💡
Affectionately known as “the guy your mechanic calls” by his peers, Saifullah’s journey is nothing short of remarkable. He’s not only a highly skilled Red Seal certified automotive technician but also an instructor and entrepreneur who has played a pivotal role in developing electric vehicle maintenance curriculum for multiple colleges. 🎓🚗
But that’s not all — Saifullah’s commitment to education doesn’t stop there. He currently teaches various automotive classes, organizes skills competitions, and coordinates the complete automotive training program at St. Lawrence College. His dedication extends to cutting-edge research, as he collaborates with institutions like St. Lawrence College and the Automotive Industries Association of Canada to develop groundbreaking programs, including career exploration initiatives and comprehensive courses in electric vehicle diagnostics and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). 🏫🔍🚘
Just recently, Saifullah was honored with the prestigious provincial Premier’s Award in the Apprenticeship category, a testament to his significant contributions to the automotive industry.
Get ready for an insightful and inspiring conversation with the automotive industry’s go-to expert, Saifullah Sanaye! 🎙️🔧
🎙️☕ Welcome, coffee enthusiasts, to a brand new episode of “Coffee With Convery”! I’m beyond excited to have you join me today, and guess what? We’ve got an absolute dynamo as our guest!
🌟 Joining us is Ahmed Inshal Abbas, a second-year powerhouse at the University of Toronto Scarborough, immersing himself in the realms of Finance and Statistics.
📚 What makes Ahmed stand out? Well, buckle up because his journey involves impressive stints in Hedge Funds, where he gained invaluable insights. But wait, there’s more — he’s also the founder of his own firm! Not to mention, he just nailed a Co-op position in the Capital Markets division at Scotiabank, focusing on Sales and Trading.
📈 When Ahmed isn’t navigating the intricacies of quantitative trading or exploring innovative ways to integrate artificial intelligence into trading solutions, you can catch him on the football field, hitting the gym, or engaging in some friendly table tennis with pals.
So, grab your favorite brew, settle in, and let’s dive into this exciting conversation! ☕🎧
Welcome to an electrifying episode of "Coffee With Convery!" ☕️ Get ready to dive into the extraordinary journey of Scott Ramsay, a powerhouse - once a pro hockey player, now a dynamic advocate armed with a PhD in nursing! 🏒🎓
Scott's story is one of resilience. Four concussions during his hockey career led him from the ice to nursing. Working at BC Children’s Hospital, he witnessed the struggles of young concussion patients, sparking his mission. 💪🏥
His groundbreaking PhD research, the largest in BC, uncovered alarming gaps in follow-up care for 23,000 children. Scott's personal experience adds a unique depth to his advocacy, ensuring others don't face the same challenges. 🚨👨👦👦
As a Métis individual, Scott brings a unique perspective to his advocacy work. Beyond his academic pursuits, he has been a mentor for Indigenous nursing students, demonstrating a commitment to diversity and representation in the healthcare workforce. 🌐🤝
Join us in this episode as we explore Scott's journey, his impactful research, and his ongoing efforts to improve youth concussion prevention and management. Grab your coffee, and let's dive into the compelling narrative of Scott Ramsay on "Coffee With Convery." ☕️🎙️🔍
🎙️ Hello, wonderful listeners! Welcome to another exciting episode of 'Coffee with Convery'! ☕
Take a moment to brew yourself a cup of your favorite coffee, or hot drink, find your comfy spot, and get ready for a caffeine-fueled journey into a captivating conversation with our truly remarkable guest today, Stephen Shedletzky, aka Shed. 🌟
Shed is not just any leader; he's a dedicated visionary who's absolutely passionate about helping others discover their strengths and unlock their full potential. With an unwavering belief in the transformative power of leadership to inspire positive change, he's made it his life's mission to guide and empower those leaders who put their people and purpose at the forefront of their endeavors.
Based in Toronto, Canada, Stephen founded “Shed Inspires” in July 2021, where he serves as a Founder, Speaker, Coach, and Author. Over the past two years, he has been instrumental in assisting leaders in listening to and nurturing the voices of their teams. He understands that creating an environment where individuals feel safe, encouraged, and valued for their input is crucial for team cohesion and success. 🌐🤝
Stephen's dedication to promoting a culture of open communication and collaboration extends to his writing. His book, "Speak-Up Culture: When Leaders Truly Listen, People Step Up," just released in October 2023. This thought leadership piece sheds light on the importance of genuine listening in leadership and its transformative impact on individuals and organizations. 📖✨
Before founding Shed Inspires, Stephen spent 12 years with Simon Sinek Inc., where he played various pivotal roles. Starting as the fourth member of the team in 2011, he co-hosted the “Start With Why” podcast. Over the years, he assumed leadership positions such as Chief of Staff, Lead Igniter & Head of Brand Experience, Training & Development. Additionally, he conducted numerous keynotes, workshops, and team and leadership development programs. 🚀🎤
Get ready for an inspiring conversation with Shed! 🌞 #CoffeeWithConvery #LeadershipJourney #Inspiration ☕🎧
🎙️ Hey there, Coffee With Convery Podcast enthusiasts! 🌟 Today, get ready to be inspired as we have a fantastic guest joining us on the show. 🚀 I am thrilled to introduce Manya Dhawan, a fourth-year accounting specialist at the University of Toronto, Scarborough, and an aspiring CPA candidate.
📚 Manya isn’t your typical numbers whiz; she’s a business enthusiast with a sprinkle of love for art. 🎨 Currently navigating the challenges of the Bachelor of Business Administration Specialist Program in Management and Accounting at the esteemed University of Toronto, her sights are firmly set on a future career as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). 💼
🌐 But hold on, there’s more to Manya than just crunching numbers! Her journey is a mosaic of experiences in Finance, Accounting, Student Engagement, Marketing, Fundraising, and Business Development. 🌈 What truly sets her apart, though, is her passion for forging meaningful connections and cultivating a robust professional network.
🔍 In this episode, we dive deep into Manya’s unique journey, gain insights into her world, and explore the aspirations that fuel her drive. 🌟 So, grab your headphones and join us for an inspiring conversation with Manya Dhawan!
🎧 Let’s jump right in! 🚀
👋 Welcome to Coffee With Convery! ☕ Today, we bring you a fascinating individual who’s carving a path in the world of finance and investing. 💼
Meet Sepehr Nabi, a student, earning his Bachelor of Business Administration, specializing in Finance Co-op, and a minor in Applied Statistics and Economics with the University of Toronto Scarborough. 📚
Sepehr’s journey is one of dedication and ambition, which becomes evident when we explore his professional experiences. Currently, he’s part of the Empire Life team, as a Financial Analyst, where he’s been contributing his financial expertise for the past two months. 💰
But Sepehr’s involvement in the financial world goes much deeper. He’s also an Economic & Financial Research Analyst at the University of Toronto Investment Society. Prior to that, he served as an Equity Research Analyst for a year with the UTSC Student Managed Fund, a remarkable accomplishment for someone so early in their career. 📈
Sepehr isn’t just about numbers; he’s a leader too. He led the Human Resources Alliance as its President and played a crucial role as a Fund Accountant at Epic Investment Services. 🚀
His journey started to take shape even before entering the world of finance, as he managed finances as the Assistant Manager at the Iranian Students’ Organization. Sepehr also held the position of Director of Finance at Jack.org, demonstrating his commitment to the community and personal development. 🤝
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the world of finance and beyond with Sepehr Nabi! 🎉
#CoffeeWithConvery #CareerAdventure #ContinuousLearning #InspirationalTalks #LifeExperiences
🎙️ Welcome back to another exciting episode of Coffee With Convery! ☕ In this podcast, we take a deep dive into the lives and experiences of remarkable individuals who've carved their path to success.
Today, we're thrilled to have a dynamic guest with us, whose career journey is an inspiring tale of resilience and determination.
🌟 Meet Satvik Shah, joining us all the way from the vibrant city of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Satvik is a powerhouse of positivity, talent, and goal-driven ambition. His diverse educational background, with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing from Pandit Deendayal Energy University and a Master's in Management, Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management from the University of Windsor, sets the stage for a truly captivating conversation.
🚀 But what truly sets Satvik apart is his unique perspective on business. He doesn't just see challenges; he sees opportunities!
🌟 This outlook fuels his passion for effective communication, problem-solving, and continuous learning. In his own words, he thrives on finding that "win-win" situation, where both parties benefit, and he's always ready to seize the opportunities hidden within challenges. 💪
🏢 In his current role at Accenture, Satvik serves as the main point of contact for client concerns and needs, building and strengthening long-term partnerships. His ability to stay on top of accounts, ensuring they receive services that align with their budgets and needs, showcases his commitment to excellence. And before that, he contributed his expertise to Scotiabank as a Data Service Officer, handling daily transactions in the Business Maintenance and Service Division. 📊
🎧 In today's episode, we'll dive into Satvik's educational journey, his experiences in the corporate world, and the invaluable lessons he's learned along the way. 📚
Don't miss this inspiring conversation with a true go-getter! 🎉
🎙️ Welcome to "Coffee With Convery" ☕, where we explore the inspiring journeys of trailblazers making a difference, not only in their careers, but in the lives of others too.
Today, I'm thrilled to introduce you to a true innovator and community leader, Emran Billah 🌟.
🌍 Hailing from Bangladesh and now in Nova Scotia, Canada, Emran's journey is driven by his love for mathematics ➕, a cornerstone of his engineering and computer science pursuits 💻.
🎓 Emran's academic achievements speak for themselves. Graduating in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science 🎓, he continued to earn a Bachelor of Engineering in 2019 🎓.
🎩 Emran wears multiple hats, each more impressive than the last. He's a Director of Software Engineering at Spiri Robotics 🤖 and the Lead Electrical Engineer at Drinkable Water Solutions 💧, on a mission to revolutionize water impurity detection and portable technology.
💡 But Emran's innovation doesn't stop there. He's the visionary founder of Bluethumb Technologies 🌐, a fintech startup catering to students and individuals with disabilities. Plus, he's the Local Lead for NASA Space Apps in Nova Scotia 🚀.
🌟 Emran's impact extends beyond his professional life. He's lent his expertise to startups like VarsityHire 🚀 and SimplyCast 📈, turning them into thriving success stories. His work on Nova Scotia's emergency response system, EmergHub 🚨, and CubeSat deployment with Dalhousie Space Systems 🛰️ showcase his far-reaching influence.
🚀 What truly sets Emran apart is his commitment to nurturing the next generation of tech leaders. He passionately educates and mentors students 📚, hosts seminars 🗣️, and leads hackathons 💡, empowering young minds to reach for the stars ⭐. It's no surprise that he was recognized as a Top 30 Under 30 Innovator in 2022 🏆, a testament to his unwavering dedication to Canada's socio-economic growth.
🤩 I'm thrilled to bring you this fantastic conversation and journey with Emran Billah! 🗣️🌟
👋 Hey there, coffee enthusiasts, and welcome to 'Coffee ☕ with Convery'!
☕ Grab your favorite brew, settle in, and get ready for a caffeine-fueled journey into a fascinating conversation with my truly remarkable guest, Chris de Sousa Costa.
🎓 Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Communication Studies from York University and a Graduate Diploma in Business (GDB) from Queen’s University, earned through a scholarship between Game Plan and the Smith School of Business. His academic journey culminated in a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a specialization in innovation and entrepreneurship..
🥋 Chris is a former karate national team athlete renowned for competing in the men's kumite +84kg category from 2004 to 2015 with Team Canada. Beyond his athletic endeavors, Chris has cultivated extensive expertise in governance and advisory roles. He has served as the Athlete Representative on Karate Canada’s Board of Directors for nine consecutive years, playing a pivotal role in protecting athlete rights and balancing the needs of athletes and the organization.
💼 In the professional sphere, Chris serves as a Client Executive for a national brokerage and advisory firm where he provides risk transfer solutions for professional service firms across Canada.
🎤 A skilled and engaging speaker, Chris takes pleasure in presenting and addressing live audiences. He has delivered professional talks to esteemed companies like Amazon and has actively participated as a facilitator and panel member at many prominent events. 🗣👏
I had the privilege of having a conversation with Chris about his transition from sports to the business world, and I'm thrilled to now share his inspiring journey with all of you! 🗣️🤝🌟
🎙️ Hello everyone and welcome to Coffee With Convery!
☕️ On today's podcast, my special guest is none other than Jesse Iwuji.
🌟 In all things Jesse Iwuji does, there are two constant elements: his devotion to service 🇺🇸 and his inspirational nature to many. Jesse went from competing at the top level of Division-1A college football 🏈 to rising the ranks of the military as a Lieutenant Commander ⚓, and is now the only current driver in all of NASCAR 🏁 at the national levels that actively serves his country as a US Military member 🏁.
👍 It has been key for Jesse, who is currently serving in our country's reserve fighting force, to honor his country 🙌 while pursuing excellence in the business world as a business owner 🏢 and on the track as a driver 🏎️. It should come as no surprise that he has championed companies and charities that give back to our men and women in uniform 🙏.
🏁 Jesse is also a big supporter of NASCAR diversity, equity, and inclusion 🌍. Today he is one of four African Americans competing at NASCAR's national level of racing 🏁. He was honored by NASCAR for two years in a row – the Diverse Driver of the Year Award 🏆. He is well versed both on and off the track 🏁!
🏆 It is fair to say in many ways Jesse is a first in NASCAR. While clawing toward the top tiers of NASCAR, Jesse Iwuji continues to take us all along for a memorable ride 🏁 showing those who dare to dream that life truly rewards those who stay strong enough, long enough 💪.
I’m thrilled to have Jesse on the podcast today to share his insights and experiences with us. 🎙️🤩
🎙️ Welcome to a special episode of Coffee with Convery! Today, I have the pleasure of introducing you to a remarkable individual who is making waves both on and off the ice.
Meet Carson Gates, a dedicated student at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who's not just chasing pucks 🏒 as the goalie on the Men’s Hockey Team but also pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism 📰.
Carson currently holds the role of Editor in Chief at "The Communiqué," where he has been shaping narratives and leading the way in the field of journalism. 🗞️
But that's not all. Carson is also a valued contributor to Trainwreck Sports 🚂, and more specifically, the Buffalo Sabres. As a Sabres Contributor, he has been actively involved in creating, editing, and sharing content that brings the spirit of Buffalo Sabres to life for fans and followers. 🏒📣
Additionally, Carson is a proud member of the "Crossing Swords Podcast" 🎙️, where he shares insights, stories, and analysis about all things Buffalo Sabres.
Carson Gates is more than just a talented content creator; he is also a college hockey player 🎓🏒 who has publicly shared his journey of self-discovery and identity in response to the NHL players' refusal to wear Pride jerseys. Carson is a living testament to the power of breaking barriers, inspiring change, and proving that being true to yourself is always worth it. 🌈💪
🎙️ I had the chance to sit down with Carson, and I'm thrilled to share our conversation with you. Enjoy! 😊👂
Welcome, students, new grads, and career seekers to Coffee With Convery! ☕️
On today’s podcast we have an extraordinary guest with us – theone and only Ken Andrews.
Meet Ken, a Michigan native with a deep love for the outdoors, aviation, tech, and business. He's an entrepreneur who has been building companies since he was 10!
Today, Ken is the Founder and President of Millennium Digital Technologies. With his background in electrical engineering and computer science, Ken provides a unique perspective enablinghim to design and build complex systems end‐to‐end from the base hardware design through software engineering.
But Ken doesn't just thrive in the tech world; he's a certified pilot who can handle anything from gliders to business jets.
His heart belongs to nature, especially the Great Lakes. He's passionate about conservation and joined Turtles Fly Tooto combine his skills, aviation knowledge, and love for the environment. 🌍✈️🐢
So grab your cup of inspiration and join in a captivating conversation.
🚀 Buckle up, because today on Coffee With Convery, we've got Nathan Brockenshire, the engineering sensation who turned a passion for manufacturing into a $100,000 savings for his employer! 🔧☕
Nathan is a third-year student in Mechanical Engineering with Automotive Co-op at the University of Windsor. He is a keen and motivated student with an entrepreneurial mindset passionate about business and engineering. 💡🔩
As a mechanical-automotive engineering student, Nathan discovered a passion for manufacturing. 🔍🏭
Already, Nathan has been able to build a diverse and transferable portfolio of skills. Working on a wide variety of projects has allowed him to learn various manufacturing processes and theories such as; 5-Why/Why-Why Analysis, RCA, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, Kanban, Gap Analysis, 5S, and six sigma. 📈🔍🛠️
Nathan completed a work term as a manufacturing engineer co-op at Vista, where he was responsible for providing production support and managing projects. He was able to manage complex tasks including overseeing the set-up, production launch, and troubleshooting of an initiative that led to annual cost savings of over $100,000. 💼💰🏭
For this achievement, Nathan was an award recipient of the Winter 2023 recipients of the Co-op/Internship Rising Star Student Awards for displaying a unique blend of enthusiasm, creativity, and a strong work ethic. 🌟🏆
I had the chance to sit down with Nathan, and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy! ☕🎙️
Students, new grads, and all you ambitious career seekers out there, welcome to a piping hot cup of inspiration and insight — it’s time for another invigorating episode of Coffee With Convery! ☕🎙️
Today, we’re serving up a brew of ambition and innovation as we dive deep into the story of a remarkable guest, none other than Sabrina Sawan.
Sabrina is no ordinary student; she’s a force to be reckoned with! 💪📚 Currently on her academic journey at the University of Windsor, she’s chasing a Bachelor of Applied Science in Electrical Engineering, and she’s not stopping there. With minors in Computer Science and Mathematics, she’s crafting a multidimensional skillset that promises to take her places. 🌟🔌🧮
But here’s the kicker, folks: Sabrina isn’t just grinding through textbooks and lectures. No, she’s out there in the real world, making a difference. 🌍
🚀 She’s not only completed a co-op work term at Agriculture and Agrifood Canada but left an indelible mark on the Naurvik project. Picture this: a vertical farm inside a shipping container, all designed to tackle the challenges faced by Indigenous communities in Nunavut. That’s the kind of hands-on innovation we all dream of, right? 🌱🏭
Her dedication and innovation didn’t go unnoticed, either. Sabrina was honored with the Winter 2023 Co-op/Internship Rising Star Student Award, celebrating her unique blend of enthusiasm, creativity, and a rock-solid work ethic. 🏆🌟
Now, my friends, you’re in for a treat. I had the privilege of sitting down with Sabrina, and our conversation is a whirlwind of inspiration, wisdom, and practical advice. So, grab your favorite coffee, find a comfy spot, and get ready to be inspired as we dive into the world of Sabrina Sawan. ☕🤝
#CoffeeWithConvery #Podcast #Listen #Learn #BeInspired 🎧📚💡
Welcome, to another engaging episode of "Coffee with Convery"! ☕
Today, I have a fantastic guest joining us on the show, Aaron Sophocleous. 🎉
Aaron is no stranger to success. He's a recent graduate of Dalhousie University, having earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree with a Finance Co-op specialization from the Rowe School of Business in 2021. 🎓
During his time at Dalhousie, Aaron wore many hats. He was an active member of the Dalhousie Investment Society 💼 and even founded and presided over the RoweOUT Society 🏳️🌈, along with participating in various other clubs and activities. 🎉
But that's just the beginning. Aaron's career journey took him through the financial and banking sector during his co-op years. He gained valuable experience working at Scotiabank, TD, and contributed significantly to the Dalhousie Student Union. 💼💰
Today, Aaron is thriving in his role as an Associate in Debt Capital Markets at TD Securities, where he continues to make a significant impact. 💼💼
Outside of the office, Aaron enjoys a well-rounded and active lifestyle. He's an avid traveler ✈️, a keen follower of politics 🗳️, a culinary enthusiast 🍽️, and you might even catch him on the ice, playing hockey 🏒.
I’m thrilled to have Aaron on the podcast today to share his insights and experiences with us. 🎙️🤩
Hey there, students, new grads, and career trailblazers, welcome to a podcast that's about to fuel your journey like never before – it's time for Coffee With Convery presents 'Careering Talk'! ☕
This is not your average podcast; it's an open mic series custom-crafted to empower you with the knowledge, insights, career roadmaps, and coaching you need to thrive in the job market. 🚀
Today's episode is nothing short of a powerhouse! 🎙️ We've brought together an elite squad of career experts who are here to be your guiding stars:
🌟 Maurice Fernandes, Manager of Career Education at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU).
🌟 Cynthia Bishop, Manager of Career and Professional Development at the DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University.
🌟 Jess Jennings, Associate Supervisor of Business Operations at the University of Ottawa.
🌟 Erin Kaipainen, Director of Experiential & Work-Integrated Learning at the University of Calgary.
🌟 Bob Eichvald, Director of Career Education and Development & The YU Experience Hub at York University.
Get ready to embark on an exhilarating journey with us as we delve into the heart of everything students, careers, and employers. 🌠
Let's dive into this caffeinated fountain of insights, and remember, it's not just coffee; it's your career's best companion! 🌟🎤
#CoffeeWithConvery #Podcast #Listen #Learn #BeInspired 🎧📚💡
Attention, students, new grads, and career seekers, welcome to a special edition of Coffee With Convery, known as 'Careering Talk'! ☕
This is not just any podcast; it's an open mic series designed to fuel your career aspirations with knowledge, insights, and expert guidance. 🚀
On today's turbocharged episode, we've assembled a dream team of career gurus who are here to rev up your job and career search. 🎙️
Introducing our stellar guests:
🌟 Robert Wooden, Director of Management Career Services at Dalhousie University.🌟 Nancy Sammon, Relationship Manager at the Smith School of Business, Queen's University.🌟 Diana Caradonna, Corporate Relations Specialist at the Schulich School of Business, York University.🌟 Elaine Fenner, Director of Experiential Learning at the University of Guelph.🌟 Kristen Morris, Manager of Cooperative Education & Workplace Partnerships at the University of Windsor.
Together, they're about to unleash a whirlwind of wisdom, unraveling the secrets of navigating the labyrinthine world of students, careers, and employers. 🧭
So, my fellow career adventurers, grab your favorite mug, pour that steaming cup of inspiration, and join us for a journey that promises to empower, enlighten, and elevate your career game. ☕💼
This is Coffee With Convery's 'Careering Talk,' where we don't just talk careers; we ignite them! 🔥
Let's dive into this caffeinated cascade of insights, and remember, it's not just coffee; it's your career's best friend! 🎧🚀
#CoffeeWithConvery #Podcast #Listen #Learn #BeInspired 🎧📚💡
Attention students, new grads, and career seekers, get ready to rev up your inspiration! 🏁
Welcome to a piping hot episode of Coffee With Convery! ☕
Today, we've got a high-octane guest in the studio, none other than the unstoppable Michael Klein! 🎤
Michael zoomed into the world of success after graduating from the University of Northwestern Ohio with a degree in Sports Marketing and Management back in 2020. 🎓
But here's where it gets interesting – Michael isn't just any graduate; he's a race car driver burning rubber on the track! 🏎️💨
Not only that, but he's also the voice behind some incredible characters in the world of voice acting and an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. 🌈
Now, hold onto your helmets, folks, because Michael's journey isn't like any other racer's. He didn't inherit wealth or come from a racing dynasty. Instead, he carved his own path with grit, determination, and a tireless work ethic. 🏁💪
At the tender age of 15, he strapped into a kart, and from there, his racing dreams took off like a rocket. 🚀
Fast forward to age 20, and he's making waves in the Illini Midget Series. 🌊
But this year, folks, he's gunning for the big leagues, making the leap to the NASCAR ARCA Menards Series in select events throughout the season! 🏆
As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, Michael's mission is to champion inclusion and diversity in the fast-paced world of racing. 🏳️🌈🏁
Curious to learn more about this speedster with a heart of gold? Buckle up and head over to michaelkleinracing.com. 🌐
Now, without further ado, pour yourself a cup of inspiration and join us as I sit down with the remarkable Michael Klein. Get ready to be fueled by his story! 🚗💨
Let's dive in! 🎙️🔥#CoffeeWithConvery #Podcast #Listen #Learn #BeInspired 🎧📚💡
Students, New Grads and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery.
On today’s podcast, my guest is Shohruh Artaman.
Shoh is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management & Computer Science at the University of Toronto, Scarborough campus with expectations to graduate in 2024.
Shoh speaks three languages, English, Russian, and Uzbek and has had quite an interesting upbringing living in different countries and experiencing multiple cultures.
He has always had an interest in science and math since the 4th grade and he is super passionate about Alternative Investments, FinTech, Finance, Business Development/Tech, Capital Markets & Private Equity.
He also has had exposure and previous experiences with Investment Acquisitions, Debt Originations, Financial Modeling, M&A, Asset Management, and Investment Sales.
I had the chance to sit down with Shohruh and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery.
On today's podcast my guest is Marcus Smith.
Marcus is a Brock University graduate with an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Studies.
Marcus Smith, ThatMotivatedKid, is a content creator who is passionate about driving positive change in the realm of mental health. Through his vulnerable and authentic conversations, he empowers and impacts his audience to prioritize mental well-being and end the stigma surrounding mental health.
He also strives to create a community that supports and uplifts one another through open dialogue and genuine connection. By sharing their own experiences and encouraging others to do the same, That Motivated Kid is driving the narrative forward and creating a space where mental health is not only accepted but celebrated.
He currently holds the position of Senior Volunteer Recruiter at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto and is the Founder of Rise Above Clothing Company, a brand that stands for more than just fashion. His mission is to help people win their fight with mental health and unlock their full potential through the means of fitness empowering positive change.
I had the chance to sit down with Marcus and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery.
On today’s podcast, my guest is Joel Lalgee.
Joel is known Internationally as everyone’s favorite recruiter on LinkedIn and an EX- Facebook user whose brand, advice, coaching and approach to engagement on social media is all about talent, recruiting, recruitment, and the recruiter life.
Joel has spent his entire career in recruitment and a talent-based world where he focuses on strong marketing, culture and branding practices personally and with his clients.
I had the chance to sit down with Joel and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
You can check out Joel's body of work on most social media channels.
linkedin.com/in/joellalgee/
youtube.com/channel/UC0wuylQvuRCsXfX3pihS3BA
tiktok.com/@the_realest_recruiter
instagram.com/the_realest_recruiter/
twitter @Humanheadhunter
linktr.ee/Joellalgee
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery.
On today’s podcast, my guest is Fikayo Aderoju.
Fikayo holds a Bachelor of Arts, Economics from York University.
He was recently recognized as one of the Top 30 Alumni Under 30 2023. Recipients of York University’s prestigious Top 30 Alumni Under 30 award are graduates who have inspired positive change in the world and have demonstrated the vision and drive required to make meaningful contributions to their communities.
Fikayo was also globally recognized as a recipient of The Diana Award. This award is the most prestigious accolade a young person can win for social action or humanitarian efforts in the world. The Diana Award was established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales and is given out by the charity of the same name and with the support of both her sons, HRH The Prince of Wales and The Duke of Sussex.
As the Founder and Executive Director of Project Impacting Lives, he has dedicated the past three years to creating positive change in the lives of those facing homelessness in Canada. Under his leadership, the organization has successfully provided over 1,500 winter care packages to people facing homelessness, created scholarship funds, organized toy drives, and distributed food to the community.
Fikayo's life mission is to inspire others to take action and make a greater impact in their communities, families, and society. He has lived this out through his various leadership roles, such as a Peer Mentor at Vanier College, Dean Ambassador at York University, and TD Early Talent Ambassador, where he has connected diverse groups of students with exciting opportunities and experiences. Fikayo has also been featured on Breakfast Television and CBC NEWS.
Fikayo recently was recognized globally as a recipient of The Diana Award. This award is the most prestigious accolade a young person can win for social action or humanitarian efforts in the world. The Diana Award was established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales and is given out by the charity of the same name and with the support of both her sons, HRH The Prince of Wales and The Duke of Sussex.
Currently, Fikayo serves as the Head of Housing at the Toronto Youth Cabinet with a clear mandate of reducing the rate of youth homelessness in Toronto.
I had the chance to sit down with Fikayo and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery.
On today’s podcast, my guest is Alex Auerbach.
Alex received his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Counseling Psychology from the University of North Texas, he also holds an MBA, Business Administration from the Salve Regina University and a Bachelor’s of Science, Business Management from the University of Arizona — Eller College of Management.
Alex is a licensed counseling and sport psychologist, certified mental performance consultant, and board-certified coach working in professional sports. He has worked with elite teams and performers from a range of domains, including the NBA and NFL, Olympians, Army Special Forces, Fortune 5 Companies, and Venture-Backed Startups.
His expertise is in helping people adopt the mindsets they need to be their best when it matters most; building systems to support personnel health and high performance; talent identification and selection; and team and culture building.
Alex currently works for the Toronto Raptors Basketball Club as a Senior Director, Wellness & Development.
I had the chance to sit down with Alex and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery.
On today’s podcast episode we are continuing the series “Throwback Thursday” where I bring onto the show talented individuals that I met years ago to see where they are now.
My guest today is Gregory Sanderson, a graduate of York University with an Honours specialization Canadian Operational Research Society (CORS) mathematics designation.
Greg joined IBM apart of their top new graduate program, Consulting by Degrees (CByD), where his expertise grew within the Interactive Experience (iX) team and progressed to working in the Internet of Things (IoT) team and the Global Centre of Excellence (CoE) team. Gregory’s ability to align across sectors and service lines mirrored the learnings and vision to fostering top talent (where we first met).
Greg achieved Subject Matter Expert (SME) designation with early A.I. development of speech analytics, voice biometrics, and exemplified his abilities as a project manager, Design Thinking Coach & Co-creator. These achievements lead to publishing internal white papers reflecting his expertise with Speech Analytics, and how Users’ experience can drive optimal problem statements and areas for improvement across the Enterprise landscape.
Greg is currently the Founder & President of two Canadian start-up companies, and today’s focus is to learn more about his newest, My Roll Inc.. My Roll is an innovative ecosystem company exploring how our passions surface pure innovation with an honest motivation (more to come on that later).
In his spare time, you can find Greg mentoring others, enjoying Canada’s great outdoors, active in his family and children’s success and adding effort to playing hockey and soccer with friends.
I had the chance to sit down with Greg and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery.
On today’s podcast, my guest is Ahnaf Rahman.
Ahnaf is currently at the University of Toronto Scarborough pursing his Bachelor of Business Administration and Management, Finance with an expected graduation date of 2025. He is also a Lester B Pearson International Scholarship Winner.
Ahnaf Rahman is originally from Bangladesh but moved to Malaysia when he was nine years old. He came to Toronto as a a Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship recipient to study business at the University of Toronto. The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship is awarded to only 37 international students annually and you must be nominated by the school and each school can only choose one student a year.
He received the “Executive of the Year” award from the Management and Economics Students’ Association (MESA) after a terrific year serving as the Vice President of Business Development and was recently promoted to the Co-President of MESA.
Ahnaf started his consultant journey as a Technology Risk Consultant Co-op with KPMG in January and is looking forward to the summer ahead.
When he is not studying or working you will find him dining out — he is a massive foodie or binging TV shows and movies. His favorite is “Doctor Who.”
I had the chance to sit down with Ahnaf and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery.
In Celebration of PRIDE Month, I will be featuring guests from the community to share their stories and what #PRIDE means to them.
On today’s podcast, my guest today is Kevin Noguera.
Kevin is a graduate from York University with Bachelor of Arts (Hons.), Political Science and Communications. Kevin also holds a certificate in Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills from the University of Michigan.
As a seasoned non-profit leader with a proven track record of success in both the government and private sectors. Kevin also spent sometime in the Banking and Finance Industry with TD and currently is Director Of Operations for the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research.
In his spare time, Kevin likes to bike around the city during the summer months, exploring new cities and countries, trying new wines and cuisine from various cultures, learning new languages, listening to podcasts and music, at every possible chance, and reading.
I had the chance to sit down with Kevin and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery.
In Celebration of PRIDE Month, I will be featuring guests from the community to share their stories and what #PRIDE means to them.
On today’s podcast, my guest today is Russell Pollard.
Russell is an independent consultant, Founder of Framework Leadership and Pride Talks. He is entrepreneurial and empathetic, and aims to embed equity, diversity and inclusion into workplace culture and leadership.
Russell’s career resides in the architecture and city-building communities, along with queer professionals across industries. He works between Toronto and the UK.
Over the years he has volunteered for and led several non-profits that support people in their careers.
Having grown up in Nova Scotia, he has since lived in several Canadian cities, Bhutan, France, and the UK. Russell has a bachelor of interdisciplinary leadership, MBA and continuing education in equity and inclusion.
In his spare time Russell likes to likes to catch the sunset from the island or from a neat rooftop patio in Toronto with his partner.
I had the chance to sit down with Russell and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery.
In Celebration of PRIDE Month, I will be featuring guests from the community to share their stories and what #PRIDE means to them.
On today’s podcast, my guest today is Patrick Hunter.
Patrick is a Sault College graduate where he studied graphic design and embraced a two-term role as the President of the Indigenous Students Council which provided programming and advocacy for Indigenous students at the college.
Patrick is a 2Spirit, Ojibwe artist, graphic designer and award-winning entrepreneur from Red Lake, Ontario. Though best known for his woodland art style paintings, Patrick has also had a positive and impactful impression in the corporate world through collaborations with Rogers Media Company, Staples, Ontario Power Generation, as well as TD and RBC banks to name a few.
The intention that drives the work Patrick does stems from how a better world can be created through art, so future generations can see themselves reflected in mainstream culture. With that in mind, Patrick has engaged the world of sports with artistic collaborations with the Chicago Blackhawks, creating the uniforms for the Canadian Olympic curling team, as well as APTN's new Bryan Trottier award for Indigenous excellence in the NHL .
When not collaborating with exciting national partners, Patrick is creating awareness about his Ojibwe roots and inspiring creative confidence through in-person and virtual paint workshops across North America.
I had the chance to sit down with Patrick and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery.
In Celebration of Asian Heritage Month, I will be featuring guests from the community to share their stories and what #AsianHeritageMonth means to them.
On today’s podcast, my guest is John Xu.
John is a graduate of the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Science, Honours, double major in Biology and Psychology.
He is a highly motivated, versatile, and hybrid technology recruitment leader with extensive years of experience in full-cycle recruitment, team building, vendor management, HR strategy and process improvement.
John has worked at TD Bank, Royal Bank of Canada, Scotiabank and now with Trupanion the fastest-growing player in the pet medical insurance space.
He lives in Toronto with his wife, their two kids, and a pet (Choco).
When not working, he loves to travel, learn new technology, and spend time at the cottage.
I had the chance to sit down with Suanne and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery.
In Celebration of Asian Heritage Month, I will be featuring guests from the community to share their stories and what #AsianHeritageMonth means to them.
On today’s podcast, my guest is Suanne Wong.
Suanne is a graduate of the University of Toronto — Innis College with an Honours Bachelor of Science, Human Biology, Psychology and East Asian Studies, holds a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery from Kings College in London and most recently completed a Certificate in Digital Marketing Management from the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies.
Suanne has had a career that has shifted across many lanes and most recently is working with EHN Canada, home to the country’s largest network of industry-leading mental health and addiction treatment centres as a Senior Director Business Development, Strategy and Operations.
I had the chance to sit down with Suanne and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery.
In Celebration of Asian Heritage Month, I will be featuring guests from the community to share their stories and what #AsianHeritageMonth means to them.
Lulu is attending the University of Toronto Scarborough with plans to graduate in 2023 with her Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Coop and International Business.
Through the Management Coop and International Business opportunity, Lulu gained new skills in multi-field academic and practical experience in Toronto, Paris and Shanghai.
Her work experience included being selected as a Delegate for Global Vision a national not for profit organization; a Production Coordinator for Ubisoft a computer gaming company; a founder of Flora Cosmetics & Jewelry E-commerce; and is now currently working as Graduate Marketing and Events Assistant at UTSC.
In her spare time Lula likes to travel and dance!
I had the chance to sit down with Lulu and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery.
On today’s podcast, I have two guests joining me Euloge Bindzi and Angelica Blake.
Euloge is an Undergraduate Student at the University of Toronto (Scarborough) pursuing his Bachelor of Business Administration in Management and Finance with an expected graduation date of 2025
Angelica is an Undergraduate Student at the University of Toronto (Scarborough) pursuing her Bachelor of Business Administration in Management and Marketing with an expected graduation date of 2023.
Both Euloge and Angelica have been actively involved in the UTSC — Black Students in Business Club and most recently were announced at the 2023–2024 Co-Presidents.
In her spare time, Angelica enjoys exercising, painting, and trying new restaurants with friends.
In his spare time, Euloge likes to play soccer with friends, dance, and watch true crime documentaries.
I had the chance to sit down with Euloge and Angelica and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery.
In Celebration of Asian Heritage Month, I will be featuring guests from the community to share their stories and what #AsianHeritageMonth means to them.
On today’s podcast, my guest is Johnnie Vũ.
Johnnie holds an MBA and a Certificate in Social Responsible Leadership from Queens University, and a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and Marketing from the John Molson School of Business, Concordia University.
Johnnie is caring, strategic and an inspiring leader. At RBC Royal Bank, he is currently a Regional Enablement for the GTR Diversified Commercial Banking team where he acts as the strategic advisor to the Regional Vice President of Commercial Banking to enable, embed and sustain regional and national strategic initiatives.
Johnnie is also an active member in his community and held various boards positions for not for profits, charities and student unions. Currently, he is the Co-Chair for RBC Ascend Canada and acts as a relationship manager to Ascends’s top corporate partners.
I had the chance to sit down with Johnnie Vũ and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery.
On today’s podcast, my guest is Lola Fakolujo.
Lola is currently studying for her Bachelor of Business Administration, Management at the University of Toronto Scarborough with an anticipated graduation date in 2024.
Lola is currently the Co-President of the Management and Economics Students’ Association and the UTSC Black Students in Business Human Resources Director.
Lola most recently was announced as the recipient of the Management Co-op Student of the Year 2022 Award for her meaningful contributions at Fidelity Investments. At Fidelity, Lola deepened her knowledge of finance while creating a new set of internal expense limits, and increased her skills in analyzing data and business communications.
In her spare time Lola likes to sing, read fantasy novels, and watch superhero movies and tv shows.
I had the chance to sit down with Lola to discuss Coop, initiative and intentionality and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. On today’s podcast, my guest is Jack Gillies.
Jack is currently enrolled at McMaster University pursuing his Arts and Science, Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies degree with hopes of graduation in April 2026.
Jack is also a member of the McMaster Student Union’s Emergency First Response Team (EFRT), responding to medical emergencies within the McMaster University Campus. He trains constantly to continue developing collaborative skills and response confidence, and continuously participates in education and certifications to advance his emergency response knowledge. Responding in teams of 3, EFRT emphasizes the importance of teamwork, communication and dynamic critical thinking, and their 24 hour a day, 7 day a week availability demands workplace dedication and individual flexibility.
Jack and I got connected through a very special person in both our lives, the one and only Sarah Wells. If you do not know Sarah Wells you should. Sarah is an Olympic hurdler and Pan Am Silver Medalist, an Amazing Race Canada participant and founder of her Believe Initiative founded fittingly on a message of resilience. Through 6 degrees of Sarah Wells, both Jack and I have been deeply involved in Sarah’s Believe Initiative. If interested, you can find more information on the Believe Initiative at believeinitiative.com.
Jack was a 2022 Loran Scholar Foundation Award Winner which is awarded to young leaders who demonstrate service, character, and leadership. 34 Canadians entering their first year of university were chosen in 2022 and Jack was one of them.
When Jack is not saving lives and/ or attending post-secondary, he can be found running, hiking or biking in his local community and natural spaces.
I had the chance to sit down with Jack to discuss Patience, self-respect and courage and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. On today’s Careering Talk, I have invited Jeremy Sewall to join me.
Jeremy Sewall is an award-winning chef and restaurateur based in Boston and two-time James Beard Award nominee. Trained at the Culinary Institute of America, he has cooked in kitchens around the globe, focusing on seasonal ingredients and his New England food heritage. His restaurants Lineage, Island Creek Oyster Bar, and Row 34 have received accolades from New York Times, Esquire, Gourmet and The Boston Globe, among others. You follow and learn more about Jeremy at jeremysewall.com.
Jeremy and I both grew up in the Hudson River Valley and our moms had an antique business together in Red Hook, New York for a number of years. Jeremy may have been born in upstate New York, but he’s had the heart of a true New Englander since spending summers in Maine as a child. There he and his family feasted on lobsters, clams and other New England specialties. The water has played a large role in his lineage; fishing has been a Sewall family livelihood for generations. Today, Jeremy sources lobsters for all of his restaurants from his cousin Mark Sewall, who captains his 38-foot boat out of York Harbor, Maine.
I had the chance to sit down with Jeremy to discuss Culinary Arts, small bites and fellowships with Jeremy Sewall and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. On today’s podcast, I have invited Joze Piranian to join me.
Joze is a lifelong stutterer turned Forbes featured Global TEDx Speaker on Inclusion and Resilience. Born and raised in Lebanon, Joze avoided speaking for more than 25 years out of the fear of being judged for being different. Then, everything changed. He has delivered 5 TEDx talks and performed stand-up comedy in 3 continents and 4 languages.
Having graduated from McGill University with a Bachelors in Organizational Psychology, from Queen’s University with a Master of International Business and from Cornell University with a certificate in Diversity & Inclusion, Joze has since delivered hundreds of stand-up comedy and speaking engagements about Inclusion and Resilience at the United Nations, Google, Tesla, Meta, Dell, TikTok, Deloitte and BCG. With more than 3 000 000 views on Goalcast, Joze has also been featured on TEDx, ABC, Forbes, Some Good News, NowThis, CBC and now #CoffeeWithConvery!
I had the chance to sit down with Joze to discuss Perseverance, Stand Up and Guacamole (his favorite snack) and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery.
On today’s podcast, my guest is Alyssa Nurse.
Alyssa is a 4th year student at the University of Toronto, St. George campus where she is studying for her Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science with an expected graduation date of June 2023.
Alyssa is currently a Commuter Don for the University of Toronto, Victoria University and is the Co-President of the Caribbean Studies Students’ Union and Editor-in-Chief of the student-run group’s Caribbean Quilt which is an an editorial journal that provides an interdisciplinary medium for expression and critical thought focused on the study of the Caribbean and its peoples.
Alyssa is also Co-President of Connections. A nonprofit organization focused on offering Black self-identifying women at the University of Toronto and surrounding areas a safe space in which they can communicate without their voices being policed. The group also offers members direct access to professionals by inviting diverse workers to speak at our gatherings in order to provide members with actionable information and tools to begin their professional journey.
Most recently, Alyssa received the CEWIL Canada 2022 Work-Integrated Learning Student of the Year Award as well as the 2022 Experiential & Work Integrated Learning Ontario Student of the Year Award for her internship and exceptional work with the NATO Association of Canada (NAOC). During her internship she worked to provide timely written articles and organize public events and political conferences.
I had the chance to sit down with Alyssa and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery.
On today’s podcast, I have invited Joe Henry to join me.
Joe Henry is the Dean of Students at King’s University College. Founded in 1954, King’s University College at Western University is a Catholic, liberal arts university college affiliated with a large, world-class university. As a Catholic university, King’s emphasizes the value of each individual and the importance of social justice. Students from all faiths and backgrounds are welcome. Offering degree programs in the arts, social sciences, management and social work, King’s is home to approximately 3500 full- and part-time students from across Canada as well as 35 other countries.
As Dean of Students, Joe supports the academic mission through the provision of programs that enhances the quality of student life and learning outside the classroom at King’s University College. He oversees the direction of student support services, facilities and student co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. He is also responsible for the operation of the residence facilities and residential life programming and administers the Student Code of Conduct at King’s. As member of the senior administration at King’s he advises the college on a variety of issues that impact the student experience on campus and also act as an advisor to the King’s University College Student Council.
I had the chance to sit down with Sam and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. On today’s Careering Talk, my guest today is Sam Demma.
Sam Demma is a 2-time TEDx Speaker, Author, Podcast Host and Youth Speaker. He is the youngest board director of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers and co-founder of PickWaste, a volunteer organization that mobilizes youth to pick up litter in their communities. He has interviewed and showcased over 230 educators through his multi-media platform, The High Performing Educator, and his High Performing Student Program has made an impact on youth in six countries.
Sam is routinely invited to share his work through news outlets like Breakfast Television, CBC, CTV, Global News, and CityNews. As a result of Sam’s keynote presentations, students and educators often commit to performing more acts of kindness, taking small, consistent actions toward their personal goals, and proactively looking for ways to serve others.
I had the chance to sit down with Sam and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. On today’s podcast, I have invited Wahab Owolabi to join me.
Wahab is a Washington & Jefferson College graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics.
Wahab is the Founder of OneReq a community for talent acquisition professionals passionate about DEI. He has worked as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leader at facebook in San Francisco, California and is the founder of the URx Conference which was created for and organized by recruiters and developers of early career talent.
Wahab also is a lot of things — he is an entrepreneur, a product manager, a recruiter, and a marketer, to name a few. He has worked at Startups, universities, and in Venture Capital.
He loves building diverse communities of talent and scaling programs to achieve a common goal to bring a sense of community and belonging.
I had the chance to sit down with Wahab to discuss Black history always, tech and endless opportunities and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. On today’s podcast, I have invited David Ojeyinka to join me.
David is a graduate of the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University with Master of Management Innovation & Entrepreneurship. He also holds a Associate Degree in International Business Management from Mohawk College and a Bachelor’s Degree, Psychology and Business from Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria.
He has worked held many positions at RBC and he is currently the Manager, Workplace Experience at Deloitte Canada. He also the founder of the Freshstart Hub, a career advancement platform for Internationally Trained Talents and International Students. The hub provides career support to internationally trained talents and assist companies with their diversity recruitment & marketing efforts.
As a public speaker, David empowers his audiences with practical insights and tools they can immediately apply to solve challenging problems in their businesses or careers. He has spoken about navigating uncertainties for immigrants, effective networking, and strategies to close the underemployment gap for skilled new Canadians at numerous corporate and college events.
As a community builder, David is board member of Horizons for Youth where he provides strategic advice to advance the mission of the organization.
I had the chance to sit down with David to discuss Black History Month, patience and compassion and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. On today’s Black History Month Talk, I have invited Noel Abingwa to join me.
Noel is a graduate from Sheridan College with an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration Finance and has held positions as a Student Union Board Chairperson and an Enactus Project Director while attending Sheridan College. Noel also holds a Bachelor of Technology, Environmental Engineering from the University of Bamenda in Cameroon located in west central Africa.
He is currently employed at BMO as a Business Analyst in Wealth Management Operations, he serves as a volunteer Communications co-lead for the BMO Black Professionals Network and a BMO Wellness Champion. Noel will be starting an Investment Banking Secondment role in BMO Capital Markets in May of 2023, a role he always coveted.
Noel also has his own YouTube channel, @NoelAbingwa where he shares tips and tricks on how to immigrate to Canada and live the Canadian Dream!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. On today’s Black History Month Talk, I have invited Betsy Danso to join me.
Betsy is a Honors Graduate of the University of Windsor with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Labor Relations & Communications, Media & Film.
Betsy is a passionate leader in all things involving people, strategy & technology and she has a knack for problem solving. She is a champion for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and she has an outstanding track record across Banking, Program Management, and strategic initiatives at RBC and now at BMO.
Betsy also is an entrepreneur and owns her company RICH For Him For Hur — a one stop shop for Organic Luxury Skincare. You can find her products at richskinfh.com.
I had the chance to sit down with Hugh to discuss Black History Month, confidence and acceptance with Betsy Dansowith Betsy Danso and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. On today’s Black History Month Talk, I have invited the one and only Hugh Lawson to join me.
Hugh is a Wilfrid Laurier University (go hawks) graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies. While school, Hugh was busy with his studies and with his athletics and community involvement. He was the Resident Don for the C.H. Little House Men’s Residence and while on the Varsity Football Team he was CIAU All Canadian, 3-Time OUAA Conference All Star, Captain Of National Championship Winning Team, JP Metras Award Nominee – Top Lineman, Ontario Conference, Team Defensive MVP Award, Draft Pick: Toronto Argonauts Football Club (CFL) and the WLU Athletics Hall Of Fame Inductee in 2016.
Hugh has over 25 years of experience helping clients drive business results by designing, executing and managing effective B2B solutions for Enterprise size clients. He has worked for Staples for most of his career and supported other organizations along the way. Most recently, Hugh joined EHN Canada
Home to the country's largest network of industry-leading mental health and addiction treatment centres as the Head of Business Development.
Hugh and I met each other through the Black Talent Initiative in 2020 which focuses on equity in career access for Black Canadians and we have never looked back.
I had the chance to sit down with Hugh to discuss Black History Month, social justice, and sports with Hugh Lawson and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. On today’s Black History Month Talk, I have invited Troy Elleston to join me.
Troy has a Bachelor of Science, Honors Degree, in Biology/ Biological Sciences from Ontario Tech University and an Advanced Biotechnology Diploma from Centennial College.
Full-time, Troy currently functions in a virtual Fintech Operations space, aiming to navigate 21st century technical IT/SaaS tools to drive real-time financial solutions processes, which will transform the ways several companies adopt B2B digital payments.
Part-time, Troy has remained involved with young people aged 15–25 in both a teaching & mentoring capacity, in order to promote continuous learning and suggest logical ideas for effective learning habits. As a professional/private educator, he aims to successfully optimize today’s social tools to enhance the virtual (cognitive) learning experience(s) of BIPOC youth.
I had the chance to sit down with Troy to discuss Black History Month, tech and emotional intelligence and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.
On today’s podcast, my guest is Ariana Shamsuddin.
Ariana is in high school attending the Terry Fox Secondary School and resides in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada.
Ariana and I got connected through a very special person in both our lives, the one and only Sarah Wells. If you do not know Sarah Wells you should. Sarah is an Olympic hurdler and Pan Am Silver Medalist, an Amazing Race Canada participant and founder of her Believe Initiative founded fittingly on a message of resilience. Through 6 degrees of Sarah Wells, both Arian and I have been deeply involved in Sarah’s Believe Initiative. If interested, you can find more information on the Believe Initiative at believeinitiative.com.
Ariana is not just your average high school student, Ariana is a TEDx Speaker who recorded her first talk “Keys to Growth” as a Grade 11 student in June 2022 with the TEDxGleneagleSecondary. Ariana is the Believe Leadership Student Director and past Chapter Head of the Believe Leadership Course at Terry Fox Secondary. She was also Loran Scholar Semi Finalist this year. Founded in Toronto in 1988, the Loran Scholars Foundation is a national charitable organization awarding scholarships for students entering post-secondary in Canada.
I had the chance to sit down with Ariana to discuss Affirmation, acceptance and adaptability and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years. On today’s Careering Talk, my guest today is Angelo Suntres.
Angelo is a graduate of Western University with a Bachelor of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering.
Angelo is a passionate leader in the construction industry with 17 years of experience in designing and building in the ICI sector. His competencies include project management, estimating and leadership. He has represented both contractors and owners and understands the struggles form both sides of the fence. Angelo believes that focusing on the human principles of connection including effective communication and fostering healthy relationships is a critical part to ensuring a successful future for the construction industry.
In addition to having worked for Bering Mechanical, University Health Network, Black & McDonald Limited and Ellis Don, Angelo is the founder of his company AGS where he helps construction professionals be the best that they can be. He is also the author of his new book “The Human Side of Construction: How to Ensure a Successful, Sustainable and Profitable Career as a Contractor, Project Manager, Estimator or Superintendent” and a facilitator of online resources for construction education. You can learn more at his website suntres.ca and sign up for his Sunday newsletters and some professional 1:1 coaching as well if interested.
I had the chance to sit down with Angelo to discuss Construction, humans and connections and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years. On today’s Careering Talk, my guest today is Anthony Morra.
Anthony is an honors graduate from the University of Toronto Scarborough with a BBA in Business Management. He also holds a MBA in Business Administration and Management from the Hult International Business School based in San Francisco, California. During his schooling, Anthony was the soccer coach at UTSC and captain of the soccer and hockey clubs. At Hult, Anthony was the President of Hult Soccer Club (San Francisco Chapter), Head Coach Hult Undergraduate Soccer Team (West Coast Soccer League/Club). In addition, to his passion for sports and school, he holds a Certification in Cognitive Therapy.
Anthony is a driven entrepreneur with Change Management and Project Management experience. He guides companies in a variety of industries with his in-depth knowledge of human motivation and teaches executives on how to create motivating environments and teams.
Currently, Anthony is the CEO of Bladetech Hockey. They manufacture replacement hockey skate blades with patented flexible technology (Flex Force Advantage): which improves speed and reduces injuries. Anthony successfully led the company’s product launch in 2015 and positioned it as a premier brand for the NHL and competitive players. He directed the comprehensive market research project and oversaw the creation of the top-tier brand strategy. Anthony also developed and implemented a fully operational e-commerce website and the digital communications strategy. You can learn more about his company at bladetechhockey.com.
I had the chance to sit down with Anthony to discuss Sports, entrepreneurship and networking and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years. On today’s Careering Talk, my guest is Adam Rodricks.
Adam is a University of Toronto Scarborough graduate with a BBA in Management and Marketing.
Adam Rodricks is an international award-winning social media strategist and speaker who has transformed “word of mouth” into a world of mouth for Fortune 500 companies. His first book, Trigger Fingers: Personal Branding through Storytelling skyrocketed to the top of the charts, becoming a #1 best-seller in Canada in the categories of Direct Marketing, Public Relations and Business.
For the past 7 years, he’s worked as the National Lead of Digital Marketing Services at KPMG in Canada. In his spare time, Adam teaches the LinkedIn fundamentals course at George Brown College and serves as a Program Advisor on Digital Engagement Strategy at Centennial College.
In 2022, the Speakers Bureau of Canada named Adam “Canada’s Top Social Media Strategist”. His work as a social media influencer has been featured on CBC, CTV, Yahoo, BNN, Staples Tech TV, Nintendo.ca and his own site: www.adamrodricks.com.
I had the chance to sit down with Adam to discuss Branding, Marketing and Cake, Cake, Cake, Cake, Cake and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years. On today’s episode, my guest is Elilan Sureskumar.
Elilan is a highly driven individual who is passionate about his work and making a meaningful impact. He is currently a fourth-year BBA candidate at the Schulich School of Business pursuing a specialization in finance and strategic management.
Elilan is currently a risk analyst intern with the QuadReal Property Group here in Toronto and he has a number of work experiences in his past including being a ServiceOntario Licensing Clerk for the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, a Business Development Intern for Neeva Baby, and has worked for the Office of the Mayor for the City of Brampton as an Executive Assistant and a Special Projects Assistant.
Some things Elilan enjoys doing in his free time include reading, working out, travelling, learning new things, trying new foods, and spending time with his friends and family.
I had the chance to sit down with Elilan to discuss Networking, internships, and diversity and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years. On today’s Careering Talk, my guest today is Nitai Ben-Shach.
Nitai received his law degree from the University of Toronto with a BA (Double Major History and Political Science) from McGill. After completing his articles at a Bay Street firm, with a primary focus in corporate commercial and real estate law, he began his practice at a boutique entertainment firm in downtown Toronto.
Nitai has practiced in the areas of entertainment, media, intellectual property and corporate commercial law, with an emphasis on film and television production and financing. He has advised actors, producers, writers and artists on matters including rights acquisition, licensing and distribution.
A wide variety of employment experiences ranging from business and legal development for a major film company to consular security has given Nitai a strong work ethic and a wide skill set. Using his well honed interpersonal skills and ability to communicate in four languages, Nitai has worked in public oriented jobs in Canada and France.
A lover of all things fermented and left to age in oak, Nitai is also an avid reader and commenter on anything related to business, technology, law, entertainment, sports and politics.
Nitai and I met over coffee literally as he and I partnered on the RBC Ten Thousand Coffees Student Networking Platform at RBC in 2016. We have worked on a number of impactful projects together and I am excited to have him on the show.
I had the chance to sit down with Nitai to talk Law, rugby and technology/ strategy with Nitai Ben-Shach and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
On today’s Careering Talk, I have invited a very special guest Deidre Convery-Bernard. Deidre is not only my younger sister but she is also an accomplished role model, authentic trailblazer, a loving wife, a loyal friend and a mom to her 3 cats Winston, George, Gracie and her dog, Brooke.
Deidre's career story is an interesting and inspiring one which started out with a high school experience of classes in typing and focus on clerical skills and development. Her High School guidance counselor advised Deidre in her senior year to not pursue college or university and to take her skills and abilities and seek a career in office clerical work. Deidre went on to pursue an education with the Krissler Business Institute in our hometown of Poughkeepsie, New York and started her career working as clerical support for a law firm.
Later in her late 20s, Deidre thought although her career in clerical support was interesting it was not as rewarding as she had originally hoped and she was going to go back to school to pursue a career change. While working, Deidre earned her Associates of Arts in Liberal Arts and Humanities from Dutchess Community College, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Speech and Hearing and a Masters in Communication Disorders from the State University of New York at New Paltz. Deidre's other credentials and certifications include being a Licensed New York State Speech Language Pathologist, a Certificate of Clinical Competence - CCC-SLP and a New York State Permanent Certification – Speech and Hearing Handicapped.
In 2019, Deidre was the recipient of the New York Capital Area Speech Language and Hearing Association Service Award. This award is presented to a Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist or individual who has made outstanding contributions to the fields of Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology, to the communicatively impaired, or to professional organizations that serve these groups.
Today, Deidre works for the Johnsburg Central School in North Creek, New York where she designs and provide intervention services for classified students with mild to severe speech/language delays associated with speech/language impairments, learning disabilities, autism, other health impairments, hearing impairments, multiple disabilities, and emotional disabilities. Deidre has aided, helped, touched and changed hundreds of children and families lives over the years through her love and dedication to her work.
I had the chance to sit down with Deidre to talk Thanksgiving, Speech Pathology and Determination and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.
My guest today is Stephanie Leonardelli. Stephanie has a number of educational experiences to her credit including an International Bachelor of Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business at York University— where she completed part of her degree in Barcelona at Esade – and a Master’s Degree in Journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University. This fall, she returned to Schulich and is currently pursuing her MBA with a specialization in marketing.
Stephanie has a number of work experiences as well to her credit dating back to being a learning and development associate with Investment Planning Counsel over the course of her undergrad. When she entered her masters of journalism, she took on a research assistant role with Toronto Metropolitan University during the school year as well as Corporate Relations Associate for TedxRyerson. Starting in May 2021, Stephanie began as a segment producer with Bell Media at CTV. She continues to freelance there, producing meaningful and engaging segments for Canada's national morning show, Your Morning. When she’s not producing television segments, she works part-time as a client care associate as a financial advising office.
My collision with Stephanie happened in the fall of 2021 with TedXRyerson. This encounter changed my life forever as I lived out one of my bucket list moments which was my first Ted Talk. Stephanie was my coach and her support was just amazing.
In her spare time, Stephanie likes cooking, to be active, to work-out and to spend time with family.
I had the chance to sit down with Stephanie to talk Journalism, empathy and guacamole and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.
Today we are continuing “Careering Talk” which is an open mic series to empower job and career seekers with knowledge, insights, career pathing and coaching to find that dream job and develop a career with purpose and impact.
On today’s Careering Talk, I have invited Jahanzaib Ansari to join me. Jahanzaib is a keynote speaker, a life-long learner, and the Co-Founder & CEO of Knockri; an AI-powered behavioral assessment tool, and a leader in HR technology.
He co-founded Knockri because of the discrimination he faced in the hiring process, he is now on a mission to defeat unconscious bias and increase diversity in the workforce. Knockri works with Fortune 500’s such as IBM and has been featured in numerous media outlets including Forbes, Bloomberg, The Daily Mail, Huffington Post, Tech Crunch, Venture Beat, CBC’s National, The Globe and Mail, MaRs & Many other Notable Publications. Jahanzaib is often invited to share his thoughts on A.I., The Future of Work, Unconscious Bias, and Diversity at major events internationally.
In 2018, he was named to the Forbes Technology Council, recognized as Innovator of the year by Ascend, and named among 22 of Canada’s most promising young HR professionals by HRD Magazine.
I had the chance to sit down with Jahanzaib Ansari to talk Resiliency, challenges and finding happiness and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Today we are continuing “Careering Talk” which is an open mic series to empower job and career seekers with knowledge, insights, career pathing and coaching to find that dream job and develop a career with purpose and impact.
On today’s Careering Talk, I have invited James Hornick to join me. James is a Penn State University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. James is a Partner at 𝗛𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 and he hosts Hirewell's 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 podcast. James is the #3 sarcastic commenter on LinkedIn and he actively talks about topics such as hiring, content, sarcasm, and recruiting from his home in Chicago, Illinois.
Since 2001, HireWell has been a staple in the Chicago business community where he and his talented team of recruiters help their clients grow by recruiting top-tier talent from technology, human resources, digital experience and marketing, sales finance and accounting, real estate services and more.
In his spare time, James likes to trade financial derivates, lift weights and troll the internet.
I had the chance to sit down with James to talk Sarcasm, recruiting and emotional quotient (EQ) and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.
On today’s #CoffeeWithConvery podcast we are continuing the series “Throwback Thursday” where I bring onto the show students and young talent that I met years ago and to see where they are now.
My guest today is Ben Horgan, a graduate from the Ivey School of Business at Western University with an Honors in Business Administration and is also a graduate of the University of Oregon with a Master of Science in Sports Product Management.
As an avid certified CrossFitter and Ironman athlete, Ben has a passion for the fitness industry and making wellness accessible to all people. He is currently working in Boston, Mass. for Reebok as a Senior Manager of Product Storytelling and Marketing responsible for Training and Running Footwear categories. Prior to Reebok, Ben also worked for Nike, was a Co-Founder for North Strong Collective, did an internship with Under Amour and worked at IBM where we first met back in 2012.
I had the chance to sit down with Ben to talk Crossfit, sports marketing and raspberry pie and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.
My guest today is Marc Ang. Marc is a graduate of Centennial College with an International Business Diploma. Marc started his career as a Sun Life Financial Advisor moved to Enterprise Rent-A-Car as a manager and has spent the past 13+ years in recruitment at various organizations including being an independent North American and Global consultant for talent acquisition, IT and sourcing for his clients.
In his spare time Marc likes to watch a good ol’ Kung-Fu movie with his baby daughter.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Sales, recruitment and perfecting your craft with Marc and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.
On today’s Careering Talk, I have invited Susanne Frame to join me. Susanne is a graduate from Western University with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and she is also a graduate from the University of Waterloo and holds a Master of Arts in Language and Professional Writing.
Susanne started her career as an Assistant Editor with the Professional Engineers Ontario and spent the majority of her career at IBM in employee communications, instructional design, and content strategy with IBM’s Interactive Experience Group. In her latest venture, Susanne is a Content Director for the digital team at Scotiabank.
In her spare time, Susanne likes to make good use of the 7 TV streaming services she has somehow accumulated and be a great mom to Lipstick, her senior cat.
I had the chance to sit down with Susanne to talk Professional writing, branding and user experience and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.
If you are tuning in for the first time, “Careering Talk” is an open mic series to empower job and career seekers with knowledge, insights, career pathing and coaching to find that dream job and develop a career with purpose and impact.
On today’s Careering Talk, I have invited Katie Tyler to join me. Katie is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University and has held a number of leadership positions throughout her impressive career. She has worked for IBM for over 15 years and has spent the last 8+ years with Deloitte. Katie collectively brings over two decades of success in leading large-scale business and technology transformation initiatives. Combining a mastery of technology and passion for transforming organizations, Katie knows the best practices her clients need to optimize service delivery, vendor selection, talent management, service delivery and the employee experience. Her contribution has translated into improved operational efficiency and increased shareholder value throughout organizations in a variety of industries.
Katie is also a Certified Human Resources Professional and certified SAP consultant, Katie’s particular areas of expertise include large scale SAP S/4 Transformations, Human Capital and Business Process Transformation, HR Cloud Solutions, as well as SAP Human Resources, Time Management and Payroll.
I had the chance to sit down with Katie to talk Aptitude, attitude and empathy and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.
Today we are continuing “Careering Talk” which is an open mic series to empower job and career seekers with knowledge, insights, career pathing and coaching to find that dream job and develop a career with purpose and impact.
On today’s Careering Talk, I have invited Cara Krezek to join me. Cara is a Western University graduate with a BA in History and is currently completing a Master of Arts in Leadership from the Lang School of Business and Economics at the University of Guelph, where she is researching the impact of strengths-based teams. Cara is currently the Director, Co-op, Career & Experiential Education at Brock University, where she has been involved in higher education for over 16 years. Cara also has held the position of CEWIL (Co-op Education & Work Integrated Learning) Canada President and CEO, where she successfully secured a multi-million dollar grant for CEWIL through Federal Government funding and led the national association through the global pandemic by bringing the community together to share, learn and support each other.
Cara is also a certified CliftonStrengths Coach. She has been an entrepreneur with her own consulting business for a number of years and has worked as a recruiting manager at Brock and at Enterprise Rent-A-Car for Southwestern Ontario.
I had the chance to sit down with Cara to talk Passion, intentionality and thought and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.
My guest today is Julian Flowers a University of Toronto Scarborough student working towards his Bachelor of Psychology and Health Sciences with hopes of graduating in 2023.
Julian describes himself as a energetic and passionate individual who has experience in customer services and sales. He has been a community volunteer working with elderly residents with Extendicare Rouge Valley; worked as a sales associate with Toy R Us; a sales associate with Vector Marketing; and recently worked as an Operations Analyst at RBC and is now going into his 4th year at UTSC.
In his spare time Julian likes to play guitar, video games, go to concerts, and shoot photography.
I had the chance to sit down with Julian to talk Music, networking and responsibilities and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.
My guest today is Yash Goyal. Yash is a graduate of the Jaypee University of Information Technology with a Bachelor of Technology, Civil Engineering and currently enrolled at Northeastern University in Toronto pursuing his Master of Science in Project Management with an expected graduation date in July 2023.
Yash describes himself as a confident, committed and curious individual. While attending Jaypee University of Technology, Yash was a Project Coordinator Intern with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and he also worked as a Business Analyst with Voli Innovations Private Limited.
He realized his passion for Project Management and decided to move to Canada for his post-graduation to pursue a Master of Science in Project Management with Project Business Analysis as his concentration with Northeastern University, Toronto. Throughout his studies and internships, Yash has worked on various Data Visualization projects where he has gotten hands-on experience with MS Office and Power BI and learned even more about Business Analytics. He holds a Certified Associate in Project Management Certification from PMI, is currently working part-time as Operations Team Member with Saisethsons Hospitality Group Inc. and will be starting his Fall Co-op in September with Scotia Bank.
I had the chance to sit down with Yash to talk Networking, Personal Growth and Red Velvet Cake and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.
My guest today is Matt Parkin. Matt graduated with an Honors in Business Administration from the Ivey Business School at Western.
Matt is an amazing entrepreneurial spirit who has been engaging in volunteerism, clubs and sports since he was born. He holds many licenses, certifications and over 20 awards including: a Certified Associate in Project Management, a Lean Six Sigma White Belt, a Delaware Hall First-Year Involvement Award, Robert V. Hicks Scholarship at Ivey (Awarded to an HBA student with high academic standing and a career interest in HR Management), a J.J. Wettlaufer Award at Ivey (Awarded to the male student in each section who, in the opinion of their peers, excels in activities within and outside the Business School) to name a few. To his credit, Matt was also in the top 25% of his class in his third year at Ivey.
Matt is Director and Co-Founder of LEAP Canada a federally-incorporated non profit organization that equips students with the knowledge, skills, and connections they need to bridge the gap between high school and post-secondary education; Co-Founder of #Coble which educates, motivates, and holds students accountable during their job search with easy and actionable daily steps; a LinkedIn Personal Branding Coach and Business Development Lead and currently works at FindWRK in Customer Success/ Sales.
I had the chance to sit down with Matt to talk LinkedIn, Personal Branding and Entrepreneurship and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.
If you are tuning in for the first time, “Careering Talk” is an open mic series to empower job and career seekers with knowledge, insights, career pathing and coaching to find that dream job and develop a career with purpose and impact.
On today’s Careering Talk, I have invited Sergeant Julien Ponsioen from the Metro Vancouver Transit Police to share with us his journey to law enforcement, his time spent with the BC Ambulance Service for over 25 years and to discuss his passion for all thing diversity and inclusion including his leadership and activism with the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Julien spent close to two years as the Vice President of Out On Patrol an incorporated non-profit peer support organization for 2SLGBTQ+ members of law enforcement focusing on community engagement, charitable work, and education. Julien is definitely a social media influencer and is engaging on many social channels including TikTok and twitter where his “Coffee with a Cop” has many followers including me. Julien is an active participant and past co-chair with Cops for Cancer Tour de Coast which supports the Canadian Cancer Society to fund outstanding pediatric cancer research and support programs like Camp Goodtimes. Since its start in 1977, Cops for Cancer has raised nearly $50 million to increase survival rates and support children living with cancer and their families.
In his spare time Julien likes to do renovations on his house, sail, hike and bike.
Julien and I actually met on twitter when I engaged in his Pride Challenge in 2020 and I won a really cool Metro Vancouver Transit Police Pride Patch. Julien and I continue to stay connected on social media and I’m super pumped to have Julien on the podcast today.
I had the chance to sit down with Julien to talk Careering Talk: Career transitions, Pride and TikTok and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.
My guest today is Natan Lewko a Business Commerce graduate from the Lang School of Business and Economics at the University of Guelph, and he is currently enrolled at York University — Osgoode Hall Law School with hopes of graduating in 2023. Nathan is the Co-Co-President of the Osgoode Venture Capital Law Society (OVCLS) where he ensures the OVCLS provides Osgoode students with the clearest possible picture of what it is like to be a venture capital lawyer alongside his Co-President, Sara Siddiqi. Nate also is a student mentor with Legally Bright since August 2020 where he provides mentorship to prospective law students on how to get into their preferred law school.
Nathan has consulting, private equity, and sales experience within his career portfolio of experience, and he will be starting at corporate law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shawn Pittman in New York next week as a Summer Associate. After graduating from law school he plans on returning to Pillsbury to advise founders and investors as a corporate lawyer. He is in the early stage of investing as an aspiring angel investor and he likes to read, listen to podcasts, invest, and play golf in his spare time.
I had the chance to sit down with Nathan to talk Leadership, intentionality and self-motivation and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.
May 4th — May 10th this year marked the 69th annual Canada Mental Health Association Mental Health Week. Approximately 1 in 5 children and youth in Ontario has a mental health challenge and according to CAMH By age 40, about 50% of the population will have or have had a mental illness. Yet according to the Mental Health Commission, In Canada, only 1 out of 5 children receive appropriate mental health services. Cleary this is a topic that is top of mind and one that needs discussion.
My guests today are Avina Patel and Madeleine Poutissou. Avina and Madeleine are the co-chairs of Queen’s Commerce Mental Health Association a student mental health group established to promote mental health and wellness throughout the Commerce community and to give those who are struggling a sense of hope.
I first got introduced to QCMHA when I was at RBC and established a partnership with the Association for the first Mental Health Case Competition in 2021. It was a huge hit in that it raised awareness and innovative actionable ideas around mental health from an intergenerational perspective.
So, let’s meet Avina and Madeleine.
Avina is currently enrolled at the Smith School of Business and due to graduate in 2023 with her BComm Degree. Avina has worked as Financial Analyst Intern with the Ford Motor Company, been a consultant for Smith Business Consulting and most recently will be joining the Boston Consulting Group this summer to work as a Summer Intern. In her spare time, Avina likes to workout outdoors, take photos and make food.
Madeleine is also currently enrolled at the Smith School of Business and due to graduate in 2023 with her BComm Degree. Madeleine has worked as summer intern for Daemar, Inc., been a Counsellor at the Glen Bernard Camp and most recently is a Investment Banking Summer Analyst at Scotia Bank. In her spare time, Maddie likes to spend time with friends, attend dance and spinning classes and watch reality tv.
I had the chance to sit down with Avina and Madeleine to talk Mental health, curiosity and resilience and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This his podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.
If you are tuning in for the first time, “Careering Talk” is an open mic series to empower job and career seekers with knowledge, insights, career pathing and coaching to find that dream job and develop a career with purpose and impact.
On today’s Careering Talk, I have invited Kristen Cocoman, a graduate of the State University of New York Fashion Institute of Technology and the current President and CEO at The ALS Association Greater New York Chapter. The ALS Association Greater New York Chapter serves patients and families throughout the New York City, Long Island, Northern & Central New Jersey, and Westchester & the Hudson Valley. The Chapter plays a major role in promoting the mission to lead the fight to treat and cure ALS through global research and nationwide advocacy while also empowering people with Lou Gehrig’s Disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support. The ALS Association is the only national non-profit organization fighting Lou Gehrig’s Disease on every front.
I had the opportunity to meet Kristen and the Hudson Valley Walk to Defeat ALS Team in 2012 when I started the Walk for Christie. My friend Christie was 41 years old, with a one year old daughter, when she was diagnosed with ALS. Christie passed from ALS in November 2019.
With May being #ALSAwarenessMonth, I had the chance to sit down with Kristen Cocoman to talk Careering Talk: ALS advocacy, nonprofits and volunteerism and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. For those tuning in for the first time, this podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.
“Careering Talk” is an open mic series to empower job and career seekers with knowledge, insights, career pathing and coaching to find that dream job and develop a career with purpose and impact.
On today’s Careering Talk, I have invited Luke Girard to the podcast to share his incredible journey from hockey player to graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University to banking with TD to firefighting with Toronto Firefighting Services. Talk about an off-roading and winding career path and journey.
Luke started his hockey career playing for the Vaughan Vipers of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League and went on to join the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks Hockey Squad where he played for 4 seasons scoring 41 goals and 41 assists in 97 games. Luke also spent time in Belgium where he played for the Herentals HYC of the Royal Belgian Ice Hockey Federation.
Luke and I met when he was at TD Bank helping us with our banking affairs and our relationship grew into a wonderful friendship with him and his lovely wife and partner Ashley. During the lockdown of the pandemic, Ashley and Luke welcomed their son Oliver and now are new parents as well.
I had the chance to sit down with Luke to talk Careering Talk: Hockey, finance and firefighting and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
So let’s meet Denys Linkov. Denys is a graduate of The University of Toronto where he received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.
Denys currently works as a Machine Learning Architect at Voiceflow where he is responsible for designing and building Voiceflow’s data science and machine learning platform. Denys’ goal is to make creating voice apps easy, intuitive and collaborative.
Denys is also a community builder. He has a keen interest and is focused on youth and the future of work. He has engaged with a number of youth groups as a mentor, speaker and leader and has engineered many discussions on career development and technology. He helped to scale Tech Under 20 a leading youth tech group in Halton and he is successful at a competitive level in Debate and Taekwondo.
I got the pleasure of meeting Denys back at RBC when he was first a student and have continued to see Deny thrive with his impact and passion for tech, students and the future of work.
I had the chance to talk Creativity, technology and internships with Denys Linkov and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
On today’s episode we are going to continue the journey with #ThrowbackThursday. If you are tuning in for the first time and as a reminder for our listeners, “Throwback Thursday” is where I bring onto the show students and young talent that I met years ago and to see where they are now.
My guest today is Sibi Anand. Sibi is a Carleton University BComm Finance graduate. Before we met, Sibi had worked at the Public Works and Government Services Canada in Ottawa as a Supply Officer and he was a contract SAP functional consultant for MMLS Consulting Inc.
Sibi and I met back in the day at IBM when I was leading talent and onboarding for IBM Consulting Services and we were just standing up our client services centre in Bedford, Nova Scotia. Sibi went on to work at IBM as an SAP BI Consultant in Halifax and has performed various roles of responsibility with much success at Halogen Software, Saba Software and he now is the Senior Manager, Business Consulting at Cornerstone on Demand in Ottawa.
In his spare time, Sibi enjoys eating shawarmas, deal-hunting at Costco, and travelling with his wife. He hosts a podcast called ‘Brown and Lovely’ that focuses on conversations around mental health in the South Asian community in addition to showcasing the journeys of up-and-coming artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs. He is a passionate advocate for all things mental health, personal development, leadership development, and financial literacy.
I had the chance to talk Throwback Thursday: All things Costco, mental health and leading with yes with Sibi Anand and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
So let’s meet Vanessa Elefteriadis. Vanessa is a student at The University of Toronto studying for her Bachelor of Applied Science in Industrial Engineering with a minor in Business Engineering. Vanessa is due to graduate in 2024 and her activities at school include: Orientation Leader, Industrial Engineering Club Vice-Chair, Student Mentor, and Class Representative.
I got the pleasure of meeting Vanessa at the University of Toronto UAutomate Challenge which brought together 32 students over 6 weeks to accelerate their careers in robotic process automation. The challenge was a first of a kind for University of Toronto and the challenge included partnerships with Wrk and Blue prism along with a number of guest speakers, learning plans, workshops and mentorship for the students.
In her spare time, Vanessa likes to play tennis and ping pong, read, and try out new recipes.
I had the chance to talk Fresh flowers, robotics and finding balance with Vanessa Elefteriadis and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
My guest today is Brett Beattie a 2017 Odette School of Business - University of Windsor grad with a Bachelor Degree, Business/Commerce Co-op and a concentration in finance with a minor in economics. Brett received a number of honors and awards while attending the University of Windsor including the “Made a Difference Award” an award received for commitment to the business school in making a difference in the student experience. This award is hand selected by the Dean of the Odette School of Business and is provided to one deserving student who has gone above and beyond to enhance the education and experience at Odette.
Since graduation, Brett has had a interesting career in the banking and finance industry focusing on capital markets and trades with TD and most recently with Kairon Labs BV as a Quantitate Trader which included Brett leaving Ontario and uprooting his life to British Columbia out west.
In his spare time, Brett enjoys skate boarding, biking and spending time in the outdoors.
I had the chance to talk I had the chance to talk Co-ops, cryptocurrency and following your dreams with Brett Beattie, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
My guest today is Grant McNaughton. Grant is a 2019 Ivey Scholar & Dean’s list graduate from the Ivey Business School at Western University.
Grant is a strategic, pragmatic thinker with strong analytical skills. Grant’s experience spans across many private and public sectors, including start-ups and Fortune 100s.
Grant got his start as Co-Founder & CMO of RollUP Solutions Inc. a social enterprise that collects and upcycles gently used mobility devices and then sells them at a more affordable rate to those in financial need, Worked at Bain and Company as a consultant for 3 years, and recently started working for himself as an independent management consultant. He is scheduled to begin his MBA at the Stanford Graduate School of Business in September.
Grant loves all things social enterprise, LGBTQ2S+ advocacy, politics, as well as chocolate chip cookies. In his spare time, Grant enjoys traveling, enjoying a drink with friends, and skiing or running.
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
On today’s episode we are going to continue the journey with Sports Talk where my invited guests will share how being an athlete has helped them to propel their skill building, their mindsets and their futures. “Sports Talk” also helps us understand the hurdles and barriers some athlete’s face while being in school, participating in sports and trying to balance the transition into the workplace.
Now let’s meet Stephen Taylor. Stephen is a current student at the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics at University of Guelph due to graduate this year with a Bachelor of Commerce in Organizational Leadership and a minor in Marketing. Stephen also studied Management Sports and Recreation Management briefly while at James Madison University in the United States.
Stephen has a vast number of years of experience working in client facing/ retail roles at McDonalds, Footlocker, and UPS and most recently landed his student job this coming summer with Adidas.
With his school and work comes the balancing of his sports passion as he is currently a student-athlete on the varsity football team.
In his spare time Stephen likes to workout, cook, and go fishing.
I had the chance to talk Sports Talk: Thanksgiving, football and networking with Stephen Taylor and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
My guest today is Vinayak Mahajan. Vinayak is a graduate of Georgian College with a Co-op Diploma, Computer Programmer, achieving Dean’s list in all of his semesters.
Vinayak is a TedX Speaker (more to come on that in the show), #1 Global Bestselling Author, Founder & CEO of GiftAFeeling Inc., and a highly recognized thought leader in the gifting industry around the world. He has been published in Exceptional People Magazine, Business Digest Magazine, has been seen on CNBC, Wall Street Select, USA Today, LA Business Podcast, and has made live TV appearances on Ticker News. He leads a team of psychologists doing research in gifting psychology and has reinvented the word, Giftophobia, in the modern era.
In his spare time Vinayak likes to detach digitally and go into nature camping, hiking, trekking, or just spending time in solitude away from the screens and out of the internet’s reach.
I had the chance to talk Uncertainty, gifting and being an entrepreneur with Vinayak Mahajan and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
My guest today is Caroline Dack. Caroline is a 2021 graduate of the University of Waterloo with a degree in Arts and Business with a focus on Legal Studies and Women Studies. While at school, Caroline was the VP Communications of Women Studies Society, Member of UW Cabaret Club, Member of UW Animal Rights Society, & Member of Random Acts of Kindness Crew.
In her spare time, Caroline likes to get lost in a good book, be creative in the kitchen and go on adventures with friends.
I had the chance to talk silver linings, kindness and looking for a full-time job with Caroline Dack and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
My guest today is Jeffrey Hsu. Jeffrey is a 2018 graduate from Western University with a Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies with a focus on Business Administration and Management.
Jeffrey has spent the last few years working at TD as a Bank Teller and most recently with RBC as a risk analyst in Risk and Security Services, as a financial analyst in Global Technology Infrastructure and Global Equity Linked Products Analyst and Client Implementation Analyst in Capital Markets. He is now employed with Horizons ETFs as a Client Services Analyst and a Business Development Associate.
In his spare time Jeffrey likes to being outdoors, playing golf and playing board games includes chess.
I had the chance to talk Finance, networking and personal growth with Jeffrey Hsu and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Welcome to Throwback Thursday. If you are tuning in for the first time, “Throwback Thursday” is where I bring onto the show students and young talent that I met years ago and to see where they are now.
My guest today is Christopher Martinez, a 2013 graduate from Ryerson University with a Bachelor of Commerce Finance Degree. Ryerson is actually where Christopher and I first met at a student networking event many years ago.
Christopher has had a very successful finance career and has performed multiple financial roles with CIBC, Raymond James and now as VP of Loan Syndications, Corporate Client Group at RBC.
In his spare time Christopher likes to cook, run and cycle when the weather is warm, and read personal development books with a nice cup of coffee.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Throwback Thursday: Resiliency, cooking and building your own dream with Christopher Martinez and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Welcome to Careering Talk. If you are tuning in for the first time, “Careering Talk” is an open mic series to empower job and career seekers with knowledge, insights, career pathing and coaching to find that dream job and develop a career with purpose and impact.
On today’s Careering Talk, I have invited friends and talent leaders to join me to talk all things recruiting in 2022.
· Emma Surich, Manager, Talent Acquisition at ecobee
· Jovic Howland, Campus Recruiter & Early Career Specialist, Ontario & Atlantic Canada at WSP
· Bridget King, Talent Acquisition Manager, Early Talent at IBM
· Sean MacLure, Manager, Campus Recruitment, Extendicare, Inc.
· Anthony Paradiso, Senior Talent Acquisition Consultant, Intact
I had the chance to sit down to talk Careering Talk: Recruiting in 2022 with these wonderful folks and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
#CoffeeWithConvery #CareeringTalk #Recruiting #Mentorship #NationalMentoringMonth #Listen #Learn #BeInspired
Welcome to Careering Talk. If you are tuning in for the first time, “Careering Talk” is an open mic series to empower job and career seekers with knowledge, insights, career pathing and coaching to find that dream job and develop a career with purpose and impact.
Our topic today is “Learning to be an Entrepreneur” with Dennis Gorya.
Dennis is a 2020 graduate from the Schulich School of Business, York University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies.
I first met Dennis back in 2017 as he was a founding member of EDGE: Diversity in Leadership where he and a group of students set out to make a positive change for improving the outcomes for marginalized youth in Canada. Dennis was the force behind the technical beginnings and setup of this group that has now grown nationally across Canada and my relationship with the group and Dennis continues to this day.
Dennis’ love for diversity, inclusion and his passion for being an entrepreneur is why I have asked Dennis to join me on this podcast. He continues to be a positive force for change, new ideas and innovation and he is the Founder and Head of Business Development and Partnerships at Tidal Commerce, a digital commerce consulting and engineering organization. He is also the youngest Shopify plus partner in the world, a designation only earned by organizations that have demonstrated commerce excellence. His day to day includes managing some of the largest e-commerce brands in the world, ensuring that Tidal adheres to its strict standards and continues to kick it out of the park for every client and partner.
In his spare time, Dennis likes to read books, go to the gym for a treacherous workout, and spend time with his boyfriend and dear friends.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Careering Talk: Learning to be an Entrepreneur with Dennis Gorya and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Welcome to Careering Talk. If you are tuning in for the first time, “Careering Talk” is an open mic series to empower job and career seekers with knowledge, insights, career pathing and coaching to find that dream job and develop a career with purpose and impact. Today’s Careering Talk is a special one because January is #NationalMentoringMonth in Canada and I have invited guests that I have mentored and built relationships with to join me and share their experiences.
The topic today is Networking and Mentorship with Jasman Bisram.
Jasman is a 2020 graduate from the Goodman School of Business at Brock University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. In 2019, Jasman took a semester abroad with the Aston Business School where he studied courses in digital event marketing, human resources, and strategic leadership and joined the Student Formula One Racing team as a sponsorship and marketing coordinator.
Jasman has had a number of work-integrated-learning experiences as an Accounts Payable Intern with Carillion Canada, Inc., SharePoint Intern with Nucleus Independent Living, Project Control Officer and a Business Systems Analyst with RBC and as a Junior Analyst Intern with Framework Venture Partners.
He also held the Delegate and President roles for Goodman DECA which led to many wins in international marketing categories from 2017 to 2019 and as President he led 8 executives and 56 students, to successfully conduct an invitational competition at Brock University with planning and hosting of 140 students from eight different colleges and universities across Ontario. For those that do not know DECA. DECA is a non-profit organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.
Jasman has recently held full-time roles with Body Brave and Open Text as a Project Coordinator. He is a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) and is extremely passionate about acquiring the Project Management Professional (PMP) designation and a Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) designation to become a future project manager.
In his spare time, Jasman likes to listen to music, eat food, and live an active and well balanced lifestyle.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Careering Talk: Networking and Mentorship with Jasman Bisram and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Welcome to Careering Talk. If you are tuning in for the first time, “Careering Talk” is an open mic series to empower job and career seekers with knowledge, insights, career pathing and coaching to find that dream job and develop a career with purpose and impact.
Today’s Careering Talk is a special one because January is #NationalMentoringMonth in Canada and I have invited guests that I have mentored and built relationships with to join me and share their experiences.
The topic today is Networking and Mentorship with Jaime Garbett.
Jaime is a 2015 graduate from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences. During school, Jaime was an undergraduate research assistant with the University of Guelph. She is a recipient of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Undergraduate Student Research Award.
Since graduation, Jaime has worked at the M&M Food Market as a Product Consultant, been an Associate in the RBC Career Launch Program, been an Analyst for the RBC High Risk Client Team, worked as an Executive Assistant for RBC Caribbean Banking and most recently become a Coordinator, Enterprise Distribution Strategy with the RBC Global Asset Management Team.
In her spare time, Jaime likes to expand on her journey of continuous discovery through different courses, spend time with her 10 week-old niece, and binge far too much Netflix!
Jaime is a 2015 graduate from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences. During school, Jaime was an undergraduate research assistant with the University of Guelph. She is a recipient of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Undergraduate Student Research Award.
Since graduation, Jaime has worked at the M&M Food Market as a Product Consultant, been an Associate in the RBC Career Launch Program, been an Analyst for the RBC High Risk Client Team, worked as an Executive Assistant for RBC Caribbean Banking and most recently become a Coordinator, Enterprise Distribution Strategy with the RBC Global Asset Management Team.
In her spare time, Jaime likes to expand on her journey of continuous discovery through different courses, spend time with her 10 week-old niece, and binge far too much Netflix!
I had the chance to sit down to talk Careering Talk: Networking and Mentorship with Jaime Garbett and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Welcome to Careering Talk. If you are tuning in for the first time, Careering Talk is an open mic series to empower job and career seekers with knowledge, insights, career pathing and coaching to find that dream job and develop a career with purpose and impact.
Today’s Careering Talk is a special one because January is National Mentoring Month in Canada and I have invited a student panel to join me and share their experiences.
Our topic today is Networking and Mentorship and my guests are:
I had the chance to sit down to talk Careering Talk: Networking and Mentorship with Jeffrey, Lucas, Shelina, Alex and Robertha and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Welcome to Careering Talk. If you are tuning in for the first time, Careering Talk is an open mic series to empower job and career seekers with knowledge, insights, career pathing and coaching to find that dream job and develop a career with purpose and impact.
Our topic today is Adult Learning and Career Navigation with Mazen Farroukh.
Mazen is 2008 honors graduate from the American University of Beirut (AUB) in Beirut, Lebanon with a Bachelor of Business Administration / Finance degree. Mazen is an academic award recipient of the Dean’s Entrance Scholarship at Smith awarded to students based on academic excellence and currently enrolled at Smith School of Business in a Master of Finance degree program.
Mazen holds a CFA charter to his name and has a great deal of work experience in private equity, equity research and investment banking at Goldman Sachs. He is skilled at discovering investment opportunities, developing valuation models, and drafting investment presentations.
In his spare time, Mazen likes to play soccer, tennis and explore new countries.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Careering Talk: Adult Learning and Career Navigation with Mazen Farroukh and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
My guest today is Omar Abu Samra. Omar, is studying Software Development & Network Engineering at Sheridan College. At Sheridan College, Omar manages a community for over 900 students, bringing students interested in software development together for mutual learning and motivation.
In addition to school, Omar spends his time learning new technologies. Omar is proficient in various technologies and programming languages such as Java, Spring Boot, C#, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, NodeJS, React and more!
Omar’s long-term goal is to land a software development role where he can apply his passion to deliver valuable applications. He also aspires to continue his passion for coaching and mentoring students in the tech field, making sure they stay motivated no matter the hurdles or obstacles.
In his spare time Omar has multiple hobbies! He loves photography and often goes around the GTA with his camera to take photos of the beautiful landscapes. He also enjoys scouting for owls as he loves their mysteriousness and their looks. When he’s not outside, Omar volunteers as a Tech Lead at a Sheridan club called Hackademics where he develops websites for their hackathons and more!
I had the chance to talk College, coding and compassion with Omar Abu Samra and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
On today’s #CoffeeWithConvery podcast we are continuing the series “Throwback Thursday” where I bring onto the show students and young talent that I met years ago and to see where they are now.
My guest today is Mary Yao. Mary is a graduate from the Ivey Business School at Western University with an Honors in Business Administration and recently received her MBA from the University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business.
Mary and I met a few years back at IBM Canada in Global Business Services when she was in the Consulting by Degrees Program. Since then Mary has gone on to perform multiple roles at Oliver Wyman in New York City, to become an innovation consultant at Hass@Work at UC Berkeley Innovation Agency and now as a Product Manager at Adobe in San Francisco, California.
In her spare time Mary likes to host dinner parties, meet new people and travel around the world – all things I’m told were deeply hampered by COVID. But instead, Mary has taken up snowboarding quite a bit.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Throwback Thursday Celebrating life, pseudo-random events and showing up with Mary Yao and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
My guest today is Aaron Ambrose. Aaron is currently enrolled at Huron University focusing on a Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies Honours with a Specialization in Organizational Studies, Policy, and Ethics and expected to graduate in 2023. Aaron is also the 2017 recipient of the Alberta First Year Scholarship which was awarded to him for being the Alberta Student with the highest average entering Huron University College at Western University. Aaron also has volunteered his time as the Vice President Finance | Huron Queer Association and has a strong interest in the preservation of human rights.
This summer, Aaron was an Operations Agent for RBC and is currently an RBC Student Ambassador at Huron University if you would like to connect with him back on campus. In his spare time, Aaron likes to spend time with friends and family, binge new Netflix shows, and follow politics.
I had the chance to talk Self-Acceptance, empathy and compassion with Aaron Ambrose and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
With November being Career Month in Canada, we are going to extend the 2021 theme of “It’s Possible” into December with the series “Careering Talk” and speak with some amazing guests today.
If you are tuning in for the first time, “Careering Talk” is an open mic series to empower job and career seekers with knowledge, insights, career pathing and coaching to find that dream job and develop a career with purpose and impact.
Our topic today is The Power of Meaningful Connections with my friends and guests Todd Pastor and Kim Magnus.
Todd Pastor is a graduate of Youngstown State University with Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Marketing/Marketing Management. Todd has deep knowledge and expertise working in the CPG Industry with a focus on Food and Beverage for fortune 100 organizations. He has a strong cross-functional background within Sales, Category Management & Insights, Brand and Customer Marketing, Sales Strategy and Planning and People Leadership. Todd has held a number of executive sales and marketing positions with The Dannon Company, Inc, Diageo, Dole Food Company, Miller-Coors, Red Bull, The Heineken Company, Pabst Brewing Company and now with Breakthru Beverage Group as the Senior Director for Walmart/ Sam's Club in Bentonville, Arkansas. In his spare time, Todd likes cooking, entertaining, photography, travel and spend time with his two golden retrievers (Jersey and Jake).
Kim Magnus is a graduate of York University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Kim is a dynamic and engaging sales leader with a passion for inspiring performance driven teams who challenge the status quo, operate outside their comfort zone & leverage analytics to deliver differentiating insight grounded business plans. Kim has held a number of executive sales and marketing positions with Mattel, Inc., The Heinken Company, Pabst Brewing Company and now as the Senior Vice President and Country Manager for The NPD Group. In her spare time, Kim likes to golf and spend time with her family and her two dogs (Toby and Henley).
I had the chance to sit down with Todd and Kim to discuss Careering Talk: The Power of Meaningful Connections and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
With November being Career Month in Canada, we are going to continue with the series “Careering Talk.” “Careering Talk” is an open mic series to empower job and career seekers with knowledge, insights, career pathing and coaching to find that dream job and develop a career with purpose and impact.
Our topic today is “preparing for that year-end review” with my guest Chase Harder.
Chase Harder is a 2019 Goodman School of Business at Brock University graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Information Systems/ Information Technology. Chase has a number of experiences to his name including being a guest lecturer in Data analysis, Professional Selling, and International Business Courses at Humber College, a sole proprietor for The Computer Prof, a Quality Control Coordinator for Gen Z Integrated Marketing, a property manager and business partner for Nirvana Enterprises (a real estate acquisition and management company) and most recently Automation Analysis with RBC. In his spare time, Chase enjoys cooking, martial arts, and exploring the great outdoors with his girlfriend Aruna along with their puppy pal Sherlock!
I had the chance to sit down to talk Careering Talk: Preparing for that year-end review with Chase Harder and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
With November being Career Month in Canada, we are going to continue with the series “Careering Talk.” “Careering Talk” is an open mic series to empower job and career seekers with knowledge, insights, career pathing and coaching to find that dream job and develop a career with purpose and impact.
Career Month Canada’s 2021 theme is “It’s Possible.” With my guest Dan Gibson I could not think of a better person to represent this year’s theme and so the theme for today’s podcast is “It’s Possible.”
Dan Gibson is a 2012 graduate from Conestoga College with an Ontario College Certificate in Fire Science/ Fire-Fighting.
Dan is from Cambridge, Ontario where he was born and raised and is a parent to 5 kids which includes a set of triplets.
Dan started his journey with RBC back in 2010 while he was in school pursuing a firefighting career and has just surpassed his 11 year milestone with RBC. Dan has been in a number of various branch roles and have been in leadership for a number of years including his current position as the RBC Manager OnCampus at Wilfrid Laurier. Dan describes himself as a Professional Fun Haver, a Social Media Content Creator, a Community-minded Leader, a Student & Youth Financial Literacy Expert and a Digital Photography Enthusiast.
In his spare time, Dan likes to…create content, video or photo; and through social media share his journey on what it is like being a parent to multiple children of 5 with triplets. He loves and lives for the dad life!
I had the chance to sit down to talk Careering Talk: It’s Possible with Dan Gibson and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
My guest today is Annie Liu. Annie is attending the Ivey Business School at Western University in the Honors Business Administration Program with an expected graduation date in 2023.
Annie spent her summer 2021 with RBC as a Tax Administrator with Wealth Management and is currently a Student Ambassador back on campus.
In her spare time, Annie is a huge crafting enthusiast. She frequently makes handmade cards, wall art, and many other paper crafts. Even though the school year gets really busy, she also tries to make time to read some memoirs or murder mysteries on the side and of course, podcasts!
I had the chance to talk Skills, the fear of failure and recruiting with Annie Liu and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
My guest today is Dylan Kostka. Dylan is 2020 graduate from the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa where he received an Honours Bachelor of Commerce Degree in finance. Dylan is currently employed as an Associate Advisor with RBC Dominion Securities and he has held a number of internships with us over the years. Dylan has also been active with Enactus Canada and a number of case competitions in his past. Dylan is a customer service | client focused individual who is genuinely interested in learning about people and figuring out ways to help them reach their goals. In his spare time, Dylan likes to Mountain bike, fish and spend time with friends.
I had the chance to talk Cold brews, the “7 Whys” and happiness with Dylan Kostka and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
My guest today is Shane Meadahl. Shane is enrolled at the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University focusing on his Bachelor of Business Administration | Finance with an expected graduation in date in 2022. Shane has had a number of internships throughout his post-secondary including Deloitte, BMO and this summer with RBC as a summer analyst, Global Investment Banking where he supported the Power, Utilities & Infrastructure coverage group in Capital Markets. Shane will be returning full-time in July 2022 and he is currently an RBC Student Ambassador at the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University if you would like to connect with him back on campus. In his spare time, Shane likes to stay active, adventure around Vancouver, and spend quality time with his family and close friends. A major goal for Shane after graduation is to travel as much as possible before starting full-time with RBC.
I had the chance to talk Curiosity, sports and Capital Markets with Shane Meadahl and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
My guest today is Alex Dorbyk. Alex is a 2021 graduate from the Smith School of Business at Queens University with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree. Alex is also the Co-Founder, Advisor and previous Co-Chair of Queen’s Commerce Mental Health Association an association which focuses on the mental well-being of students and to provide opportunities to change the stigma around mental health.
Alex is the Co-Franchise Owner of Cleen Detailing which he started as a franchise in 2019 where he manages 8 employees and where he was awarded the top performing new franchise in 2019. In his spare time, Alex likes to play board games with friends, practice his squash skills and test out new smoothie recipes.
Alex truly is a trail-blazer, entrepreneur with empathy and all around mindful person that I have had the pleasure of meeting and I am super happy to have him on the show.
I had the chance to talk School, entrepreneurship and careers with with Alex Dorbyk and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
On today’s #CoffeeWithConvery podcast we are continuing the series “Throwback Thursday” where I bring onto the show students and young talent that I met years ago and to see where they are now.
My guest today is Joël Collin-Demers is a 2012 graduate of HEC Montréal with a Bachelor of Business and Administration, Information Technology. Joël also spent time on a 6 month exchange program with HEC Montreal at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane Australia. Joël also hold a Post-Graduate Certificate for Strategic Procurement and Supply Chain Management from Robert Gordon University.
Joël has spent his entire career focused on being a “translator” between Procurement and IT. If there’s a way to minimize uncertainty while avoiding painful and costly mistakes Joël is the guy. Over the course of his career, Joël has contributed to 15+ long-term procurement transformation and system implementation projects with dozens of clients across 8 different industries. You can check out Joël’s work including articles, podcasts, resources at his company’s website https://www.pureprocurement.ca/. In his spare time Joël likes to spend time with his young kids, do a CrossFit workout, read and write for his blog!
I had the chance to sit down to talk Throwback Thursday: Procurement, critical thinking and communication with Joël Collin-Demers and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
My guest today is Evans Mosomi. Evans is enrolled at the Ontario Tech University focusing on his Bachelor of Engineering | Software Engineering with an expected graduation date in 2022. Evans is an outgoing individual who is always considered a ball of energy in a dynamic team. He is passionate about software development in terms of logic, critical thinking, problem solving and project management. He always seeks to lend a helping hand to others while being a strong advocate of finding growth outside your comfort zone. Something that might surprise you is his ambivert nature. In his spare time, Evans likes all things music. He loves to sing and play the piano as well as work on musical projects with friends. Fun fact: He was part of a gospel album released this quarantine. If he’s not singing, he is probably having a philosophical discussion.
I had the chance to talk Fears, rejection and perspectives with Evans Mosomi and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
On today’s #CoffeeWithConvery podcast we are introducing the series “Careering Talk” which is an open mic new series to empower job and career seekers with knowledge, insights, career pathing and coaching to find that dream job and develop a career with purpose and impact.
I had the chance to connect on an Ask Me Anything Session with Kolitha Wanniarachchi, David Balanca, Tejaswini Joshi, Yetunde Ajiboye, Luciana Yokota and Kingsley Ozowe and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
My guest today is Natasha Dao. Natasha is a 2019 graduate from McMaster University with a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Labour Studies and a minor in Geography | Earth Sciences. Most recently, she has enrolled in the Sheridan College Graduate Certificate Human Resources Management Program with an expected graduation date in 2022.
Natasha is skilled in Blogging, Customer Service, Communication, Social Media, and Teamwork with a keen interest in Human Resources and Digital Marketing. In her spare time, Natasha likes to volunteer within her local community to support small businesses with English-language barriers and share her adventures on trying new restaurants and posting food reviews on a food Instagram called “Jenuine Taste.”
I had the chance to talk Exploring, learning and careering with Natasha Dao and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
My guest today is Brayden Bumstead. Brayden is a student at Laurentian University and studying for a Bachelor of Commerce in Sports Administration with a minor in economics and an expected graduation in 2022.
This summer Brayden worked as a Client Advisor in Canadian Banking at RBC. Brayden embraced the RBC community spirit and helped to lead branch initiatives such as the PRIDE celebrations for the month of June and in addition he contributed to an absolutely amazing display for a week long Indigenous set up in the branch where we helped to educate our clients on Indigenous culture and traditions. In his spare time, Brayden likes to play a round of golf with friends, Get out on the ice for some hockey, and spend time in the outdoors with family and friends.
I had the chance to talk Optimism, over-thinking and networking with Brayden Bumstead and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
My guest today is Dev’Roux Maharaj. Dev’Roux will be graduating from the University of Toronto – Mississauga with a Bachelors of Arts in Economics and Political Science in 2022. Dev’Roux is a Head Research Assistant - Economic History at University of Toronto and this past summer he was an intern with Shareholder Services, a team with RBC Investor & Treasury Services.
Dev’Roux and I met a few years back at a networking event for Start Proud where I learned his fellow students and friends did not come out to the event for fear of being outed and or questioned by their family for attending such an event. This saddened me and upset me that this barrier was there and therefore Dev’Roux and I partnered up and hosted a specific event for the LGBTQ+ Club at University of Toronto Mississauga where they could come and feel safe and welcomed to meet me and my team.
Since then Dev’Roux and I have remained in touch and continued our relationship with the hopes of doing more for the 2SLGBTQ+ community now and in the future. In his spare time, Dev’Roux likes to bake bread, go on tiktok, and watch historical documentaries! He is an avid lover of everything to do with cats and capybaras, and is a huge supporter of animal conservation.
I had the chance to talk Unlearning, growth-mindsets and inclusion with Dev’Roux Maharaj and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
My guest today is Arun Sampath. Arun is a student in a multi-disciplinary program in Science and Business at the University of Waterloo expected to graduate in 2022.
As an innovative co-op student, Arun always is looking for opportunities to continuously expand his knowledge and abilities in the workplace. Arun’s technical skills as a science student combined with his problem-solving abilities as a business student have allowed him to gain interests in business operations, sales, marketing, and customer support. Arun is hungry to learn and actively solve problems around an organization’s operations, business strategies, and customer pain points. This summer Arun worked as a Communications Analyst and Community Leader for the Amplify Program at RBC in Technology and Operations group. In his spare time, Arun likes exercise and go on walks in his spare time due to the shift to a virtual work environment during the pandemic. Besides that he is a huge food enthusiast and loves to make homemade meals from scratch.
I had the chance to talk Alarms, patience and change with Arun Sampath and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
On today’s #CoffeeWithConvery podcast we are continuing the series “Throwback Thursday” where I bring onto the show students and young talent that I met years ago and to see where they are now.
My guest today is Michelle Manocchio a graduate of the Schulich School of Business at York University with an International Bachelor of Business Administration and a Specialization in Strategic Management. Michelle has extensive experience in client-focused, complex change environments where she has been able to design, manage and transform some of the largest organizations across multiple industries. Michelle has worked, studied, volunteered and traveled across 37 countries on five continents which has taught her how to enable success in global environments.
Michelle and I met years ago, when I made my transition from the U.S. to Canada with IBM. Her story, her passions and her love for life inspired me then and continue to inspire me now.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Throwback Thursday: Culture, agency and critical thinking with Michelle Manocchio and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
#CoffeeWithConvery #ThrowbackThursday #TBT #MichelleManocchio #Listen #Learn #BeInspired
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
My guest today is Blake Zhang. Blake is a student at Smith School of Business at Queen's University studying Business Commerce with an expected graduation date of May 2023. Blake and I met back in September 2020 through the Professional Mentorship Program which was sponsored by the Smith School of Business Centre of Social Impact in partnership with the student clubs Q+, the Smith Black Business Association (SBBA), and EDGE. We were formally assigned as Mentor and Mentee and have continued to remain connected as Blake made his move from home in China back to Canada to attend school in person in 2021.
This summer Blake worked as an Operations Analyst at RBC and also stepped up to the role of a student partner leading a team of students for our Believe Impact Project with Canadian Olympian and Amazing Race Canada contestant Sarah Wells. In his spare time, Blake likes to play basketball, spend time with his cat Melo and watching sports.
I had the chance to sit down to talk about life's blessings, challenges and the importance of mentorship with Blake Zhang and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Logan Kieller. Logan is attending the Ivey Business School at Western University and is enrolled in the Honors Program for Business Administration with an expected graduation date in May 2023. Logan was the President of the Western Pre-Business Students' Network (PBSN) and co-led the Tech Under 20 until August 2020 of last year. Now after exploring entrepreneurship, he recently launched and is the Co-Founder & Executive Director of Shape Donations, Managing Director of Hack the Globe and a Basecamp Incubator Fellow at the DMZ. Logan has four coops to his experience, three of which were with RBC and he is just getting started.
I had the chance to talk Impact philosophy, spoken word poetry and deep dives with Logan Kieller and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Jagroop Chahal. Jagroop is a 2012 graduate of the New Horizon College of Engineering with a Bachelor of Engineering and a 2018 graduate from Lambton College with a Post Graduate Diploma in Web Design and Development. Jagroop is a Software Professional with a passion for coaching people on Mental Health and Wellness. Jagroop came to Canada with 3 years of experience as a Web and API Developer in India. He completed his Technical Systems Analyst Co-Op at RBC in the Online Banking Team and is now a Senior IT Developer at TD. In his spare time, Jagroop likes to read books, go out for a bike ride or play online poker.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Being thankful, student life and genuine connections with Jagroop Chahal and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
My guest today is Kendra Carey (she/her/hers). Kendra is attending Western University with a focus on Business Management and Organizational Studies with an Honors Specialization in Accounting and is expected to graduate in December 2021. After graduation she will be commencing her Graduate Diploma in Accounting at Western in pursuit of her CPA designation. Kendra is currently a Financial Analyst Intern with RBC and likes to spend her time reading, writing, and watching old movies. During her time at RBC, Kendra has gotten involved with CFO Pride, where she has started a blog called the Rainbow Journal. Prior to her role at RBC, she has worked mainly in journalism, being a news editor at her university newspaper and hosting a radio show in her hometown of Drumheller, Alberta. A few fun facts about Kendra is that she can play the violin and is probably the world’s biggest Harry Potter fan.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Journalism, leadership and mental health with Kendra Carey and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
My guest today Maureen Marful. Maureen is a 2015 graduate from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree where she was involved in various extracurricular activities including the Queen’s Conference on Philanthropy, and AIESEC Queen’s. She also is a recent May graduate from Cornell University where she completed her MBA specialized in Strategy & Operations. Prior to Cornell, Maureen worked as a Management Consultant within EY’s Business Consulting Practice in Toronto where she had the opportunity work on diverse technology projects for global clients in Financial Services, Retail and Technology. Maureen has also worked at Scotiabank and most recently with RBC in Capital Markets in Toronto. This month, Maureen joined BlackRock in their New York City office.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Pizza, extracurriculars and making changes with Maureen Marful and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
On today’s #CoffeeWithConvery podcast we are continuing the series “Throwback Thursday” where I bring onto the show students and young talent that I met years ago and to see where they are now.
My guest today is Rainer Feick a graduate of the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University with a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance. Rainer has experience in management consulting including Tech strategy, IT transformation, and transaction advisory across many industries. He is currently working for West Monroe, a national consulting firm where he is a Senior Manager of Mergers & Acquisitions based in their New York office. In his free time, Rainer likes close his laptop and has notably been enjoying a DIY renovation on a cabin in upstate New York.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Throwback Thursday: Curiosity, Consulting and Sunday Scaries with Rainer Feick and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
#CoffeeWithConvery #ThrowbackThursday #TBT #RainerFeick #Listen #Learn #BeInspired
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Philip Paschali. Philip is a 2018 graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University where he received a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Honours in Communication Studies and Research Psychology. Philip now is working at RBC transitioning from a Business Analyst to Manager of Merchant Insights in Cards, Banking and Payments Outside of work Philip enjoys working out and discovering new music.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Non-traditional paths, networking and transferable skills with Philip Paschali and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
On today’s episode we are going to continue the journey with Sports Talk where my invited guests will share how being an athlete has helped them to propel their skill building, their mindsets and their futures. “Sports Talk” also helps us understand the hurdles and barriers some athlete’s face while being in school, participating in sports and trying to balance the transition into the workplace.
Now let’s meet Charlie. Charlie Broe is a 2019 graduate from Bryant University located in Smithfield, Rhode Island with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance. He was a Division I Student Athlete in Swim and Dive with the Bryant University Bulldogs and has volunteered with Swim across America and has been a Special Olympics Event Coordinator for a number of years as well. Charlie is currently employed at DataDog a leading monitoring organization in cloud applications as a Commercial Account Executive in Boston, Massachusetts.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Sports Talk: Swimming, time management and empathy with Charlie Broe and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
On today’s episode we are going to continue the discussion called “Table Talk” where my invited guests will participate in a group discussion on a particular topic of interest.
Our “Table Talk” today is PRIDE Chat focused on Inclusion and Belonging and my guests today are…
Todd Goncalves (he/him) is a 2021 graduate from Ryerson University, Ted Rogers School of Management, working currently in Trade Support and Settlements at RBC. Fun Fact: Todd is on a mission to explore a new beach/town/hike every weekend this summer!
Caroline Veilleux-Foppiano (she/her) is a 2020 graduate from McGill, Major in Economics & Minor in International Development, working as a Business Development Associate at ISN. Fun Fact: Caroline loves gardening and house plants.
Kanika Chopra (she/her) attending the University of Waterloo, 4th Year Statistics, graduating in 2022, currently working as a Data Analyst at Uber. Fun Fact: Kanika picked up embroidery last summer and started selling custom tees.
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Josh. Josh Roberts is due to graduate next year from the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University with a Bachelor of Commerce - Business Management - Human Resources Management Major and he also holds an Advanced Diploma Business Administration and Management from Seneca College where he graduated in 2019. Josh is avid rugby player and was an RBC Top Summer Student Networking Award Winner in summer 2018.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Sports, healthy habits and discipline with Josh Roberts and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Sargun. Sargun Khurana is a 1st year student currently attending the Smith School of Business at Queen's University pursing his Business Commerce Degree with an expected graduation date of 2024. Sargun is the Speaker of the Smith Commerce Society, he is a Board Member of West Coast Sikh Youth Alliance, he is a champion of diversity and equal opportunity and he speaks not one but four languages – English, French, Hindi and Punjabi. Sargun is also a first place winner of the RBC x QCMHA 2021 Case Competition where I got to meet Sargun and his team.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Netflix, fear of failure and happiness with Sargun Khurana and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Summer! Summer Thomson is a 2020 Graduate of Western University with a Business Management and Organizational Degree with an Honors Specialization in Accounting. Summer spent various internships across RBC sectors in both Toronto and Europe before joining full-time last May as a Senior Business Analyst in the Tech Infrastructure group. During her summers at RBC she held various student leadership roles as an RBC Student Partner and an RBC Student Ambassador throughout her university experience.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Networks, balance and puzzles with Summer Thomson and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Madeleine! Madeleine Pollock has a strong interest in Finance and Project Management and is in her final year at the University of Waterloo studying Math/ Financial Analysis and Risk Management. This term, Madeleine is a Project Coordinator Co-op at RBC Capital Markets in the Strategy and Transformation Group. Prior to her role at RBC, she had other co-ops positions as a business analyst and developer. During her time at RBC, Madeleine has also been involved in the Student Partner Program. Madeleine loves to get involved at the bank and create meaningful experiences for her peers. A couple fun facts about Madeleine are that she has a black belt in Goju Ryu Karate and she can juggle.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Goju Ryu Karate, coop and priorities with Madeleine Pollock and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Julie! Julie Tran is a student at the Schulich School of Business - York University studying for her Bachelor of Business Administration in Business, graduating this month. She has specialized in Accounting and Operations Management Information Systems and will be commencing her Master of Accounting at Schulich this May in pursuit of her CPA designation. Julie has interned at RBC in Summer 2020 as a Business Analyst in the Retail Branch Technology team and became an RBC Student Ambassador for Fall 2020.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Imposter syndrome, confidence and skills with Julie Tran and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
On today’s #CoffeeWithConvery podcast we are continuing the series “Throwback Thursday” where I bring onto the show students and young talent that I met years ago and to see where they are now.
My guest today is Briana-Rose Sekulic. Briana is a 2011 graduate from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Arts Honors in Criminal Justice & Public Policy and Political Science. Briana is the Chief of Staff to the President of IBM Canada and has a diverse career background working as an Associate Partner for IBMs Global Business Services practice. She has delivery experience in Strategy and Transformation, Digital Strategy and Interactive Experience, and Advanced Analytics program implementations. Briana also has worked in various industries including, Retail, Chemicals & Petroleum, Public Sector, Telecom and Financial Services. Briana is also very passionate advocate of advancing women in Tech.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Throwback Thursday: Tech Consulting, wild cards, and integrity with Briana Sekulic and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
#CoffeeWithConvery #ThrowbackThursday #TBT #BrianaSekulic #Listen #Learn #BeInspired
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Tyler! Tyler Kuz is a 2020 graduate of the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honors) Coop Degree in Finance and Supply Chain Management and Logistics.
Tyler was born and raised in Rural Manitoba where his family established its’ roots 3 generations ago in the RM of Silver Creek, operating a successful grain and cattle farming operation until the spring of April of 2018, when his grandparents celebrated their retirement from a lifelong of hard work on the farm. Ty’s passion and commitment towards helping others thrive through holistic advice and deepened relationships is brought to life through his current role with RBC as a Business Account Manager, where he has the pleasure of working with local business owners and their employees to support their everyday banking and wellness, capital financing, and cash flow management to help businesses and our economy grow. Ty is dedicated to his career, personal development, and family, and loves spending time outdoors at the farm, fishing, and golfing whenever he can find time.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Family, values and patience with Tyler Kuz and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Yasin. Yasin Maleki holds a Bachelor of Science from Western University and is currently working as a Bilingual Operations Associate at RBC. His journey began in high school when he was enrolled in the International Baccalaureate Program at Bayview Secondary school. He loves reading and aspired to pursue medicine with the intention of one day becoming a doctor or dentist. He enjoys the quality of work these fields entail as well the ability to greatly impact people’s lives for the better. It is safe to label Yasin as an empath, a people’s person. While pursuing his undergrad, he discovered the challenges that would take part of his academic journey and found that medicine would no longer serve the path he desired to embark on. Having a strong entrepreneurial spirit, he decided to implement his networking skills and try something new. Something different. This is what brought him into RBC. Yasin got his start with RBC back in 2018 where he also received his RBC Student Networker Certificate for his active participation in the RBC Café powered by Ten Thousand Coffees. This is where I got to meet Yasin initially.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Social media, happiness and self-worth with Yasin Maleki and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Austin! Austin Lee is a 2018 University of Alberta graduate with a Bachelor of Commerce | Finance Degree and currently an Associate, Loan Portfolio Management with RBC Capital Markets. Prior to this role, Austin was part of the inaugural class for the Indigenous Peoples Development Program at RBC. Outside of work he is an avid runner and aspiring home chef.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Opportunity, integrity and learning with Austin Lee and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
On today’s episode we are going to take a slightly different twist to the #CoffeeWithConvery podcast with the introduction of “Table Talk” where my invited guests will participate in a group discussion on a particular topic of interest.
Our topic today is Women in Tech and my guests are:
Nathalia Silva, 2020 Graduate of George Brown College, Computer Programming, Current Role: RBC Vulnerability Manager, Global Cyber Security
Anu Bhatt, 2021 Graduate of University of Windsor, Master of Applied Computing Current Role: RBC Technical Transformation Analyst Coop
Vidhi Sodvadiya, 2021 Graduate Georgian College, Computer Science, Current Role: RBC Technical System Analyst Coop
I had the chance to sit down to talk Women in Tech with Nathalia, Anu, and Vidhi and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
On today’s #CoffeeWithConvery podcast we are continuing the series “Throwback Thursday” where I bring onto the show students and young talent that I met years ago and to see where they are now.
My guest today is Brandon Greenspoon a 2013 graduate of McMaster University with a Honors of Commerce specialized in Marketing and Business Strategy and a minor in Economics. Brandon is a Business strategy and transformation leader with over 7 years of experience in leading multiple strategic initiatives focused on accelerating strategic priorities, optimizing operational models, delivering innovated customer centric solutions and business development. Brandon is currently employed at BMO as a Senior Manager of Strategy and Transformation and is the Founder of Coffee Marketplace (https://www.coffeemarketplace.ca/) and drinks 8-10 cups of coffee a day.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Throwback Thursday: Helping others, family and being you with Brandon Greenspoon and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
#CoffeeWithConvery #ThrowbackThursday #TBT #BrandonGreenspoon #Listen #Learn #BeInspired
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Nabeeha! Nabeeha Pirzada is currently enrolled at the Lang School of Business and Economics at the University of Guelph with a focus on Marketing and Finance due to graduate next month. Nabeeha is the President of Management Economics and Finance Student Association, Passionate about Diversity and Inclusion and a Self-Proclaimed Hustler. She is also the former Co-President for Guelph Women in Leadership and the current Co-Founder of BIPOC Capital, which aims to reduce generational wealth disparity. Nabeeha has also been involved in the NGO sector with previous collaborations with the United Nations, Department for International Development and Search for Common Ground. She is also one of the biggest foodie’s you might meet.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Racial wealth disparity, self-confidence and empathy with Nabeeha Pirzada and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet James! James Lappin is a 2017 Queen's University, Bachelor of Economics in Applied Economics grad and was the Vice President and Co-Founder of Queen's Fashion Photography. James has a passion for sports, and is now working for RBC in Digital Workspace Solutions. He is also the Co-Founder of M5Archive, an online fashion boutique.
I had the chance to sit down to Hockey, fashion and economics with James Lappin and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
March is #National #Coop & #WorkIntegratedLearning Month #innovateWIL
On today’s episode we are going to continue the journey with #CoffeeWithConvery Sports Talk where my invited guests will share how being an athlete has helped them to propel their skill building, their mindsets and their futures. “Sports Talk” also helps us understand the hurdles and barriers some athlete’s face while being in school, participating in sports and trying to balance the transition into the workplace.
Now let’s meet Adam. Adam Petric is an award-winning, President's List NCAA student-athlete with a cumulative 4.0 GPA who is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration with a minor in finance expected to graduate in May 2021 from the State University of New York Canton. In addition to his schooling, Adam is an active member of the Men's NCAA Ice Hockey Team Member as a Forward, Assistant Captain, and Academic All-American. He was the recipient of the SUNY Chancellor's Undergraduate Scholarship, Path for Completion Scholarship, and Investment Club Scholarship and a 2020 Heritage Award Winner for Student Leadership/Excellence. He holds the 2019 and 2020 Academic Award with the highest cumulative GPA in his program.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Sports Talk: Barriers to internships, Hockey and independence with Adam Petric and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Corsen. Corsen Parker is a 1st year student currently attending the Smith School of Business at Queen's University pursing her Business Commerce Degree with an expected graduation date of 2024.
Corsen is an ambassador and an avid supporter of athletics and the arts. She played varsity hockey, soccer, flag football and golf in high school and was the lead in her high school's production of Grease the Musical.
Corsen is dedicated to creating social change in her community, She wrote two articles, the first of which was published by the Brampton Guardian, a local newspaper, and touched on the lack of mental health policies within Canada’s school boards. Her second article, published by both the Brampton Guardian and The Toronto Star addressed the absence of public funding for wellness initiatives and stressed the relevancy of support for ongoing mental health challenges faced by youth.
Corsen is a first place recent winner of the RBC x QCMHA Case Competition where I got to meet Corsen and her team.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Zoom University, self-reliance and chocolate salad with Corsen Parker and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Nick. Nick Durban is currently enrolled as a fifth-year Lang School of Business and Economics student at the University of Guelph majoring in Bachelor of Commerce with a focus on Finance and Economics. Nick enjoys everything the University of Guelph has to offer is an avid sportsman and a comedian enthusiast. Nick has spent a few summers at RBC in Corporate Real Estate, Client Operations and is now coming back in fall to join the RBC Investor and Treasury Services Graduate Rotational Program.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Spumoni, anxiety and chicken wings with Nick Durban and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Elias. Elias Srouji is due to graduate in April 2021 with an Honors Bachelors of Arts in Social Psychology from McMaster University and a Business Studies Certificate from Mohawk College.
Elias has a huge passion for sports and is the first openly gay men’s rugby player at McMaster University and Ontario University Athletics (OUA). Elias has held several different roles in the McMaster University Athletics & Recreation Department from 2017 - 2020. His work with diversity and inclusion is widely recognized within the department and within the McMaster community where he has organized and executed several pride-themed events in collaboration with community partners to ensure McMaster Athletics & Recreation is a place for all. His latest pride-themed event won the Ontario University Association award for the “Best Varsity Themed Night.”
Being outed as a gay rugby player at his Waterloo Catholic High School, Elias wanted to ensure no one experienced what he went through just to be their true authentic selves. He recently co-founded the Student Pride Movement to ensure positive change for LGBTQ+ students and staff at his former Waterloo Catholic District School Board that gained over 4500+ petition signatures.
Elias is a two-time recipient award winner of the Bill 7 Award. The Bill 7 Award Trust was established in 1987 to provide post-secondary education scholarships to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirited or queer (LGBTQ) students with demonstrated financial need who are pursuing a first degree, diploma or certification in any Ontario post-secondary institution. The Bill 7 Award is named after the 1986 Ontario legislation that extended the protection of the Human Rights Code to lesbians and gays. Since 1987, the Bill 7 Award has granted over $200,000 in scholarship funds, raised through donations, to students in the queer community to help them with the cost of post-secondary education.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Being gay, rugby and financial barriers with Elias Srouji and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Daniela! Daniela D’Ambrosi is a CPA Associate in the RBC CPA Pre-Approved Rotational program and a Western University Alumni where she obtained an Honour’s Specialization in Accounting, and a Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting. Daniela joined RBC in 2019 as a Business Analyst within Technology & Operations. While an RBC Summer Student, she was also a RBC Student Partner where she helped to host many student social events and support in Ten Thousand Coffees Leadership Speaker Series. Daniela also represented RBC as a RBC Student Ambassador at Western University.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Smart networking, financial literacy and leadership with Daniela D’Ambrosi and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
March is #National #Coop & #WorkIntegratedLearning Month #innovateWIL
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Jeanelle! Jeanelle Suarez a recent graduate of Humber College’s Bachelor of Creative Advertising program. Prior to joining RBC Global Asset Management in 2020, Jeanelle has demonstrated her passion for student empowerment through her professional roles with Humber and at EDGE Leadership, where she has held at least three different positions. An advocate for inclusivity, she actively seeks opportunities to improve accessibility in the spaces she belongs to and participates in. She also finds herself interested in niche hobbies – most recently, building mechanical keyboards.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Creativity, barriers and personal growth with Jeanelle Suarez and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
March is #National #Coop & #WorkIntegratedLearning Month #innovateWIL
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Matthew! Matthew Thompson is a 3rd year Political Sciences student at the University of Toronto. He began working for the Royal Bank of Canada in summer 2019 through RBC’s internship program and is currently working as a part-time branch advisor. Beginning in May, he will be joining RBC Investor & Treasury Services’ summer internship program. Matthew is also cofounder and Vice-President of St George Partners & St George Venture Capital, two student-led investment partnerships. Outside of his professional endeavours, Matthew is an avid hockey fan, refereeing hundreds of minor hockey games each year in the Greater Toronto Hockey League. In his hometown of Newburgh, ON, Matthew coordinates the annual Canal Bash Hockey Tournament, where hundreds of kids get to take part in an outdoor tournament, raising thousands of dollars for local causes each year.
I had the chance to sit down to talk the Canadian Armed Forces, part-time jobs and hockey with Matthew Thompson and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
March is #National #Coop & #WorkIntegratedLearning Month #innovateWIL
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Jayna! Jayna Sutaria has a passion (obsession) for diving deep into complex problems, creating innovative solutions, and curating compelling stories. She is also in her last semester of the Bachelor of Business Administration (Co-op) - Information Systems degree at the Goodman School of Business at Brock University. In her spare time, Jayna is a proud Lego collector, Bollywood dancer, and dog mom to Zuko (her 3-month old Goldendoodle)!
I had the chance to sit down to talk Uncertainty, networking and sunshine with Jayna Sutaria and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
March is #National #Coop & #WorkIntegratedLearning Month #innovateWIL
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Fuad. Fuad Mohamed holds an Honors Bachelor of Commerce Degree with a focus in Finance and minor in Economics from McMaster University. He is currently an associate in the Debt Capital Markets group at RBC Capital Markets supporting the firm’s investment grade origination business for Power & Utilities, Energy and Metals and Mining clients.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Pizza, finance and problem-solving with Fuad Mohamed and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
#CoffeeWithConvery #FuadMohamed #Listen #Learn #BeInspired
March is #National #Coop & #WorkIntegratedLearning Month #innovateWIL
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Jash! Jash Kalyani is a third-year business student at Ivey Business School at Western and he did his first two years in Political Science at Huron University. Jash has a deep passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion and he recently was awarded a $10,000 scholarship from the Ontario Remembrance Scholarship Committee and the Ministry of Colleges and Universities for his work creating the Huron Cares Case Competition and the Huron Indian Cultural Association
I had the chance to sit down to talk ED&I, stories and pre-conceived expectations with Jash Kalyani and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
#CoffeeWithConvery #JashKalyani #Listen #Learn #BeInspired
March is #National #Coop & #WorkIntegratedLearning Month #innovateWIL
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Banky! Bankole (Banky) Alade is a 5th year student at the University of Guelph working on his Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing Management, Bankole has a deep passion and creative interest for all things Marketing and starting to venture into the world of business. Bankole also is the Co-Founder with Guelph’s Black Professionals Club.
I had the chance to sit down to talk University of Guelph Black Professional Club, personal struggles and Nigerian jollof rice with Bankole Alade and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
March is #National #Coop & #WorkIntegratedLearning Month #innovateWIL
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Ryan! Ryan Shotlander completed his Bachelor of Commerce degree in 2018 at Ryerson University where he studied economics and finance. During his undergrad, Ryan completed 4 co-op work terms, 3 of which were at RBC. After he graduated, he went on to work at the Bank of Canada, Canada’s central bank, as a research assistant in the Financial Markets Analysis and Research Division where he co-authored several Staff Analytical Notes on the Canadian financial system. After 2 years at the Bank of Canada, he decided to return to school and is currently enrolled in the Master of Financial Economics (MFE) program at the University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management. Ryan is currently working as an Intern Analyst in the Developed Markets Rates & FX team with the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and will be joining the RBC Capital Markets Global Markets Program this summer.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Heteroscedasticity, economics and skills with Ryan Shotlander and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
#CoffeeWithConvery #RyanShotlander #Listen #Learn #BeInspired
March is #National #Coop & #WorkIntegratedLearning Month #innovateWIL
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Ramy! Ramy Ayash is an Analytics Developer in the Quantitative Analytics Integration group at RBC Capital Markets and a Queen’s University School of Computing alumni. He joined RBC in 2017 as a PEY in the Global Derivatives Regulatory Reporting department, where he was also an RBC Student Partner responsible for hosting the Ten Thousand Coffees Leadership Speaker Series. Upon his return to Queen’s University for his final year of studies, he flew the RBC flag proudly as a Campus Ambassador for the T&O and Capital Markets groups. Ramy has a passion for Agile Methodologies and Lean Implementation, as he is a Certified Scrum Master and has been his teams’ Scrum Master since 2019. He is also a huge advocate for diversity and inclusion as he is currently sits as a Co-Chair on RBC Capital Markets’ D&I Employee Resource Group, MOSAIC, which has a mission of helping newcomers and minorities thrive and succeed in our industry and communities as well as fostering an inclusive and equal environment for all.
I had the chance to sit down to talk derivatives, fried chicken and computer science with Ramy Ayash and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
#CoffeeWithConvery #RamyAyash #Listen #Learn #BeInspired
March is #National #Coop & #WorkIntegratedLearning Month #innovateWIL
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Jake! Jake Bradshaw is thoughtful and inspiring individual whom I meet a couple of years ago here in Toronto. Jake is a graduate from Queens University and has a Bachelor of Arts Honors in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Mental wellness, oatmeal with peanut butter and startups with Jake Bradshaw and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
March is #National #Coop & #WorkIntegratedLearning Month #innovateWIL
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Shayndel. Shayndel Jim is skilled in public speaking, event planning, research, interpersonal communication, and business analysis. Shayndel is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree focused in Psychology from University of Toronto with graduation plans in 2023.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Froggy bread, bumblebees and learning to ask for help with Shayndel Jim and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
March is #National #Coop & #WorkIntegratedLearning Month #innovateWIL
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now let’s meet Ashwin. Ashwin Khattar an international student from India. Ashwin is a result-driven and self-motivated 4th year Bachelor of Commerce student majoring in Economics at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Ashwin is also an active RBC Student Ambassador and currently the Secretary for the Board of Directors on the SMU Student Association.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Being a newcomer to Canada, extracurriculars and networking with Ashwin Khattar and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
March is #National #Coop & #WorkIntegratedLearning Month #innovateWIL
On today’s episode we are going to continue the journey with #CoffeeWithConvery "Sports Talk" where my invited guests will share how being an athlete has helped them to propel their skill building, their mindsets and their futures. “Sports Talk” also helps us understand the hurdles and barriers some athlete’s face while being in school, participating in sports and trying to balance the transition into the workplace.
Now let’s meet Ben! Ben LeSage graduated from UBC in 2019, having completed a degree in Mechatronics Engineering with a Minor in Commerce. While in university, Ben played varsity rugby alongside his studies, and completed a few internships across various fields including one at RBC where we first met. He has continued with his athletic pursuits since graduating, currently playing for the Toronto Arrows in the MLR, as well as for the Canadian National Rugby team.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Sports Talk: Mechatronics, discipline and rugby with Ben LeSage and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
On today’s #CoffeeWithConvery episode we are going to take a journey back with the introduction of “Throwback Thursday.” Throwback Thursday” is a once a month Thursday series with students and young talent I met years ago and to see where they are now.
Now, let's meet today’s guest Supriya. Supriya Ramesh is a Product Designer at Facebook working on internet.org initiatives. Formerly at Apple and IBM, she designed products that impacted millions of users. She’s an Electrical Engineer by education but fell in love with design as an outlet to solve world problems. She is a new mom to a 5 month old baby and lives in the hustling tech world of the California San Francisco Bay Area.
I had the chance to sit down to talk Throwback Thursday: Intentionality, interviewing and ally-ship with Supriya Ramesh and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
#CoffeeWithConvery #ThrowbackThursday #TBT #SupriyaRamesh #Listen #Learn #BeInspired
#March is #National #Coop & #WorkIntegratedLearning Month #innovateWIL
On today’s episode we are going to continue the journey with #CoffeeWithConvery "Sports Talk" where my invited guests will share how being an athlete has helped them to propel their skill building, their mindsets and their futures. “Sports Talk” also helps us understand the hurdles and barriers some athlete’s face while being in school, participating in sports and trying to balance the transition into the workplace.
Now let’s meet Victor. Victor Oreskovich holds a Bachelors of Administration, Finance from the University of Notre Dame and Master of Business Administration from the Ivey Business School at Western. Victor once played professional hockey where he selected 55th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche, he played with the Florida Panthers, was traded to the Canucks and joined the team in 2011 on their run to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the Boston Bruins. Victor retired from hockey in 2012, and he is currently Vice President, Fixed Income Repo Trading with RBC Capital Markets.
I had the chance to sit down over a virtual coffee to talk Sports Talk: omnipotence, goofy face emojis and mental strength with Victor Oreskovich and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
#CoffeeWithConvery #SportTalk #VictorOreskovich #Listen #Learn #BeInspired
#March is #National #Coop & #WorkIntegratedLearning Month #innovateWIL
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now, let's meet Ryan! Ryan McCuaig is an extremely driven and result-oriented individual with a diverse range of professional, academic, and leadership experiences. During his undergrad at Western University in the Honours Specialization in Political Science program, he spent two summers with the Royal Bank of Canada in Toronto and New York, where he developed a unique business acumen that launched him into a career in business. After his undergrad, Ryan stayed in London to complete his MSc in Management at the Ivey Business School,combining his love for global affairs with his prior work experience in the financial markets through the MSc’s International Business stream.
Since joining the MSc, he was elected as the MSc Association President during one of the most dynamic periods of change the program has ever experienced, leading the organization through a large scale digital transformation and restructuring project while negotiating a near $3,000 tuition reimbursement for his constituents during their summer term. He also started the Ivey Management & Policy Forum with his Ivey colleagues: a student-run, faculty-advised think tank that applies management science research to Canadian and global policy issues.
After he graduates, Ryan will be joining KeyData, a boutique consulting firm in Toronto, as a Cyber Security Consultant. He balances all of this while working on contract as an Intelligence Officer for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and a Project Manager for HMCS PREVOST’s Innovation Strategy Team – an internal strategy group within the naval reserves – and while working pro-bono for Impact Consulting.
Most recently, I had the chance to sit down over a virtual coffee to talk “Delaying gratification, applying knowledge and making global impacts” with Ryan McCuaig and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
March is #National #Coop & #WorkIntegratedLearning Month #innovateWIL
On today’s episode we are going to take a slightly different twist to the #CoffeeWithConverypodcast with the introduction of “Sports Talk” where my invited guests will share how being an athlete has helped them to propel their skill building, their mindsets and their futures. “Sports Talk” also helps us understand the hurdles and barriers some athlete’s face while being in school, participating in sports and trying to balance the transition into the workplace.
My guest today is Kreig Yeh, a Digital Marketing Strategist and Consultant, Founder & Podcast Host, Content Creator, and Team Canada Bobsledder. Kreig is a graduate and Valedictorian from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree (with Distinction) in Communications including a Co-operative Education Designation.
I had the chance to sit down over a virtual coffee to talk Sports Talk: dedication, empathy and competitiveness with Kreig Yeh and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now, let's meet Hannah! Hannah Fleming is result-oriented team player in her fourth year at the University of Waterloo, where she has pursued Business and Legal Studies major in the Arts and Business co-op program. Throughout her degree, Hannah has completed five co-op placements across the financial and legal industries. Three of Hannah’s internships were in RBC Capital Markets’ Global Credit division, where she collaborated in the maintenance of credit facilities for a portfolio of international clients, including sovereigns, bank entities, and supranational organizations. Outside of her co-op placements, Hannah has worked as a peer mentor at Waterloo’s Student Success Office, and has been deeply involved with RBC’s Student Partner and Campus Ambassador programs.
Most recently, I had the chance to sit down over a virtual coffee to talk Optimism, introspection and female empowerment with Hannah Fleming and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
#CoffeeWithConvery #HannahFleming #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2021 #Listen #Learn #BeInspired
#March is #National #Coop & #WorkIntegratedLearning Month #innovateWIL
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now, let's meet Eshani! Eshani Gupta is a wake-boarder and animal activist, Rotman Commerce Student from the University of Toronto majoring in a double specialized degree in Business Commerce, Finance and Economics with a minor in Mathematics. She has traveled the world, loves math and even did an internship in Hong Kong.
Most recently, I had the chance to sit down over a virtual coffee to talk Math, Macarons and traveling the world with Eshani Gupta and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
#CoffeeWithConvery #EshaniGupta #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2021 #Listen #Learn #BeInspired
#March is #National #Coop & #WorkIntegratedLearning Month #innovateWIL
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now, let's meet Meena! Meena Waseem is an enthusiastic and self-driven BCom student from The Smith School of Business at Queens University with an expected graduation date sometime in 2023.
Meena is a meaningful risk taker who always aims to leave people and places better than she found them. She is an avid public speaker and advocate for equity-centered leadership and accessible health services. She is deeply invested in people and has received multiple awards for her work, including being named Kitchener Waterloo’s youngest Woman of the Year. Meena has also been recognized at the national level for her leadership as a recipient of the Loran Scholarship, Canada’s most competitive undergraduate award. No matter how busy she is, Meena always makes time for weekly movie nights with her family.
Most recently, I had the chance to sit down over a virtual coffee to talk Serendipity, inclusive spaces and equity based leadership with Meena Waseem and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
#CoffeeWithConvery #MeenaWaseem #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2021 #Listen #Learn #BeInspired
#March is #National #Coop & #WorkIntegratedLearning Month #innovateWIL
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now, let's meet Christina! Christina Caldi is an authentic and fun-hearted McMaster Graduate from 2018, with a 2019 Humber College Postgraduate Certificate in Public Relations. She is creative storyteller who thrives in collaborative environments and has a passion for diversity and inclusion and human engagement. This has been displayed through her efforts both inside and outside of the workplace in raising awareness and support for issues relating to topics such as queer rights, unconscious bias, accessibility and anti-black racism. Christina’s favorite hobbies include cooking, hiking and photography.
Most recently, I had the chance to sit down over a virtual coffee to talk Photography, tangible skills and a reflection on self-identifying women with Christina Caldi and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
#CoffeeWithConvery #ChristinaCaldi #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2021 #Listen #Learn #BeInspired
#March is #National #Coop & #WorkIntegratedLearning Month #innovateWIL
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now, let's meet Megha! Megha Lad is attending the University of Toronto studying for her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Management, Strategy and in her final semester.
Megha is an ambitious and confident young business woman who is eager to disrupt the corporate world we know today. After spending years learning business by the book, she quickly recognized how the real world is something different on its own. With a new found passion for the tech world, Megha is currently the Head of Strategic Partnerships at Torinit, a Toronto based Digital Management Consulting firm.
Megha is a creative problem solver and natural born leader. Serving as the President of the University of Toronto’s LIVE Competition in her second year of undergrad, she was able to drive impactful growth by setting corporate sponsorship records and restructuring the norm of campus recruitment.
By tapping into the Toronto corporate landscape early on, Megha was able to complete internships at RBC Technology as well as an IT consulting firm. She is also an advocate for women's education, serving as a past mentor for Technovations Girls, a global tech education nonprofit.
Not to mention a lover of all things food (@meghasmenus on instagram)! She likes to consider herself an amateur coffee connoisseur and craft cocktail fanatic on the weekends.
Most recently, I had the chance to sit down over a virtual coffee to talk Risotto, adaptability and setting expectations with Megha Lad and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
#CoffeeWithConvery #MeghaLad #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2021 #Listen #Learn #BeInspired
Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, changing priorities and now a pandemic as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.
Now, let's meet Josh! Josh Tillson is a driven and motivated third year Business and Computer Science student at the University of British-Columbia. Josh is a lifelong learner who constantly strives to self-develop, grow, and learn from those around him, while giving back to his surrounding communities. This has been displayed through his efforts increasing awareness and accessibility to youth mental wellness programs in Northern Ontario as well as other leadership positions he’s held in the university community. Josh’s favorite hobbies include trail running or hiking around beautiful Vancouver, reading, and solving problems.
Josh and I met through a LinkedIn message and then we setup up our first virtual coffee chat which started with Josh asking if he could be "vulnerable with me." I will never forget that hot day in August when we first talked and how inspired I was by Josh's strength and determination. Most recently, I had the chance to sit down over a virtual coffee to talk Heart emojis, self-care and meaningful connections with Josh Tillson and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!
#CoffeeWithConvery #JoshTillson #Listen #Learn #BeInspired