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CIUT 89.5FM

Career Buzz

A Careers and Business podcast

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About the show

Since 2006, we’ve broadcast unrehearsed and informative conversations featuring extraordinary career stories of ordinary people, and insights from future-of-work thought leaders including National Geographic explorer-in-residence Wade Davis, former Member of Parliament, Helene Leblanc, and career experts Sareena Hopkins, Norm Amundson, Roberta Borgen, Rich Feller and many more. We also look at the intersection of real-world business practice and people’s career and life choices. We explore how individuals turn their personal passion for innovation into tangible commercial success. And we learn about innovation management best practices, and lessons learned. Listen to Career Buzz to hear inspiring career professionals share useful insights to increase awareness about the importance of career literacy and share tips to support you to clarify what’s next for you. Hosts: Mark Franklin, MEd,PEng, (he/him) leads CareerCycles, co-founded OneLifeTools, co-authored Who You Are Matters! and Online Storyteller, and teaches career management at University of Toronto. He received the Stu Conger Career Development Award. Mark consulted in his earlier engineering career, before earning a Masters in counseling then leading student services initiatives in universities. Mark started Career Buzz in 2006. Stephen C Armstrong, Professor of Innovation, University of Toronto and founder of AMGI Certified Management Consultants. A native of Belfast, N Ireland, Stephen is an award-winning state licensed Professional Engineer, Entrepreneur and Professor of Innovation at the University of Toronto. Initial pedigree in the aerospace industry. Founder (1993) of AMGI Management Inc, Certified Management Consultants. Stephen founded Innovation Nation on Career Buzz in 2014. Hoda Kilani (she/her), Certified Professional Career Coach and the Founder of Right Career Fit, a coaching practice that focuses on career education. Hoda is on a mission to have #careerliteracy trend across social media and works with a variety of media to create awareness including a YouTube channel and two podcasts released on a biweekly basis, Hoda’s Musings and Hoda’s Career Info. If you care to join her, reach out for a chat!

Newest episodes

How many careers do you think are hidden inside the phrase “ocean economy”?

52 min

When you hear “ocean careers,” you might picture marine biologists, fishers or maybe oceanographers. But Canada’s ocean economy is much bigger, and much more technical, than many of us realize.  Kendra MacDonald, is CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, an organization helping grow innovation and collaboration across the country’s ocean economy. In our conversation, Kendra shares her own career story, including the twists, transitions, and leadership experiences that brought her to this work.  Along the way, we explore some of the surprising careers connected to Canada’s oceans, from engineering and robotics to data, AI, clean technology, and other emerging fields. It’s a conversation about careers, possibility and what can open up when we look beyond the obvious job titles and start seeing a whole ecosystem of work.    For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

The modern Conundrum of the value of Learning: The path from university to industry

55 min

Today’s show explores the gaps in educational outcomes with evolving industry needs through the life of emergent talent and student-led efforts to bring the two into closer alignment. There is a growing disconnect between the traditional, high financial cost of formal higher education and its actual, measurable return on investment (ROI). This is especially a growing gap in a rapidly shifting AI-driven job market, and general disconnect of ways of learning and career utility. This will be discussed through lived experience.   Artem Kushnirenko is a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto, conducting translational neuro-oncology research at SickKids in Toronto. Born and raised in war-torn Ukraine, he earned his first degree in biology and biotechnology in Kyiv, where he also began his journey in science. Having lived through turbulent times, he came to appreciate firsthand the true value of education and innovation, and the challenges of sustaining them. This shaped his commitment to advancing science for societal impact through entrepreneurship and venture capital, and to helping others move from education into innovation careers. Founded in 2017 Innovation OnBoard (IOB) is a student-led NGO and UofT-recognized student group on a mission to connect emerging talent with the people that help turn academic potential into new ideas, solutions, and ventures contributing directly to Canada's innovation economy.  For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Taking Back the Steering Wheel: Agency, Choice, and Career Literacy

53 min

Join Hoda and her guests as they bring Career Literacy to life. Reflect. Share. Start the conversation. Sean shares, "If you resign yourself to just the way things are going to be and you give up the agency to do something about it, then you’re really not in a position to have any control over anything that happens”. Think about that. When we stop trying to change our circumstances, we hand over the steering wheel of our own lives. So, I have to ask you: Where in your life right now have you accidentally quieted your own voice, and what is one small thing you can do today to take back your control? Reflect and share.   Guest Bio Sean Grainger is an educator, writer, speaker, and founder of HOPE Alliance, whose work examines the conditions that shape human development, belonging, and flourishing.  Across a 33-year career as a teacher, counsellor, school administrator, and mental health and wellness coordinator, Sean has worked with children, families, educators, and leaders from diverse communities, including six years working alongside First Nations peoples. These experiences have informed a lifelong inquiry into how relationships, systems, adversity, opportunity, and belonging influence the people we become.  Sean’s work challenges deficit-based thinking and the tendency to locate problems solely within individuals. He invites people to look beyond visible behaviour, consider the story behind the story, and ask what experiences and conditions may be shaping a person’s response. His approach draws together phenomenology, systems thinking, design thinking, resilience, and an ethic of care.  He is the creator of the HOPE Wayfinder, a framework that helps individuals and organizations orient themselves within complexity and move from understanding toward responsible action. Through HOPE Alliance, KARE Givers, writing, coaching, consultation, and speaking, Sean supports educators, caregivers, and leaders in creating more thoughtful, relational, and humane environm...

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All episodes

How many careers do you think are hidden inside the phrase “ocean economy”?

52 min

When you hear “ocean careers,” you might picture marine biologists, fishers or maybe oceanographers. But Canada’s ocean economy is much bigger, and much more technical, than many of us realize.  Kendra MacDonald, is CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, an organization helping grow innovation and collaboration across the country’s ocean economy. In our conversation, Kendra shares her own career story, including the twists, transitions, and leadership experiences that brought her to this work.  Along the way, we explore some of the surprising careers connected to Canada’s oceans, from engineering and robotics to data, AI, clean technology, and other emerging fields. It’s a conversation about careers, possibility and what can open up when we look beyond the obvious job titles and start seeing a whole ecosystem of work.    For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

The modern Conundrum of the value of Learning: The path from university to industry

55 min

Today’s show explores the gaps in educational outcomes with evolving industry needs through the life of emergent talent and student-led efforts to bring the two into closer alignment. There is a growing disconnect between the traditional, high financial cost of formal higher education and its actual, measurable return on investment (ROI). This is especially a growing gap in a rapidly shifting AI-driven job market, and general disconnect of ways of learning and career utility. This will be discussed through lived experience.   Artem Kushnirenko is a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto, conducting translational neuro-oncology research at SickKids in Toronto. Born and raised in war-torn Ukraine, he earned his first degree in biology and biotechnology in Kyiv, where he also began his journey in science. Having lived through turbulent times, he came to appreciate firsthand the true value of education and innovation, and the challenges of sustaining them. This shaped his commitment to advancing science for societal impact through entrepreneurship and venture capital, and to helping others move from education into innovation careers. Founded in 2017 Innovation OnBoard (IOB) is a student-led NGO and UofT-recognized student group on a mission to connect emerging talent with the people that help turn academic potential into new ideas, solutions, and ventures contributing directly to Canada's innovation economy.  For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Taking Back the Steering Wheel: Agency, Choice, and Career Literacy

53 min

Join Hoda and her guests as they bring Career Literacy to life. Reflect. Share. Start the conversation. Sean shares, "If you resign yourself to just the way things are going to be and you give up the agency to do something about it, then you’re really not in a position to have any control over anything that happens”. Think about that. When we stop trying to change our circumstances, we hand over the steering wheel of our own lives. So, I have to ask you: Where in your life right now have you accidentally quieted your own voice, and what is one small thing you can do today to take back your control? Reflect and share.   Guest Bio Sean Grainger is an educator, writer, speaker, and founder of HOPE Alliance, whose work examines the conditions that shape human development, belonging, and flourishing.  Across a 33-year career as a teacher, counsellor, school administrator, and mental health and wellness coordinator, Sean has worked with children, families, educators, and leaders from diverse communities, including six years working alongside First Nations peoples. These experiences have informed a lifelong inquiry into how relationships, systems, adversity, opportunity, and belonging influence the people we become.  Sean’s work challenges deficit-based thinking and the tendency to locate problems solely within individuals. He invites people to look beyond visible behaviour, consider the story behind the story, and ask what experiences and conditions may be shaping a person’s response. His approach draws together phenomenology, systems thinking, design thinking, resilience, and an ethic of care.  He is the creator of the HOPE Wayfinder, a framework that helps individuals and organizations orient themselves within complexity and move from understanding toward responsible action. Through HOPE Alliance, KARE Givers, writing, coaching, consultation, and speaking, Sean supports educators, caregivers, and leaders in creating more thoughtful, relational, and humane environm...

Voices from the Arab Career Development Conference: Career Development Across Borders

49 min

Today on Career Buzz, co-host Hoda Kilani and I take you to the Arab Career Development Conference in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. There, at the conference venue in Al Kifah school, we sat in a meeting room overlooking a hot 40C day. Lined up through the window we saw a mosque’s minaret, a cell phone tower, and a construction crane, signaling the unique mix of old and new. That’s where we recorded conversations with three career development leaders from across the region.  Foad Abdallah shares how he’s using creativity and technology to build career services in Beirut Lebanon, even amid extraordinarily difficult economic conditions. Iman Nahlawi brings an HR perspective from Tunisia, and Stella Da Silva shares her work helping people use LinkedIn more intentionally in Muscat, Oman.  What struck me was the contrast between familiar and different. The attire, the language, oh and the 40C heat was different for me, coming from Canada. What was the same: the shared human questions: How do people find direction? How do they adapt when conditions change? And how can career development help people see possibilities they might otherwise miss?  You’ll also hear some of the energy and connection of Arab Car Dev’t Conference itself, a gathering that reminded us just how global the career development conversation has become.    For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

An inquiry into identity - How farm life helped our guest to be present for the first time

54 min

Today’s show is about a philosophy of living.  Can happiness, and meaning be found in nature?  Many of us have lost our connection to it. Stuck on a hamster wheel chasing an idea of success.  Our guest believes society runs on the currency of fear and doubt. He says “Life in Central Portugal have helped him to meet myself for the first time. To strip away some of the layers. Heal some of the wounds”.  He says “I feel that there is a big movement towards wellness. However, consumer wellness isn't the solution. People don't need a healer. They need to take personal responsibility for self-directed wellness”   Guest Bio: Fénix Rayne (Formally Adam Whyte). Born and raised in Toronto he now lives on a farm in the mountains of Portugal. He hosts visitors, grows food and creates improvised music in languages he doesn't speak. He started one of Portugal's largest Permaculture online communities. He is now building a Grow app (not op) to discover off-grid and natural living projects like his own. He is a law graduate at Trinity College, Dublin and holds a Masters degrees in International Sports Law and Business Administration.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Change Is Hard, Growth Is Worth It

57 min

Join Hoda and her guests as they bring Career Literacy to life. Tricia Berry shared, “Change is good but change is hard… Even good change is still a challenge”. What are your thoughts on change? How have you handled the changes in your life? Peter Pitts said, “There is this unspoken magic that occurs. It all boils down to people. It’s just people meeting people meeting people”. If careers are shaped as much by relationships and conversations as by skills and credentials, how might career literacy help you recognize, navigate, and intentionally build human connections that influence your academic and career paths? Reflect. Share. Start the conversation.   Guest 1 Bio Tricia Berry, a Learning Specialist for Career Education K-12 with the New Brunswick Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. She has been working on the advancement of career education K-12 and more specifically, focused on equitable access for each learner in New Brunswick. Tricia is a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) with extensive experience working in secondary education. Further, she has had the privilege of speaking at a variety of international conferences, collaborating and consulting with the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) on Career Readiness, and to network as a member of Team Canada attending the International Centre for Career Development and Public Policy (ICCDPP) symposia in Norway.   Guest 2 Bio  Peter Pitts retired in 2019 after a 42-year career in college admissions. Over those years, Peter had the pleasure of working with more than 2,000 families as they navigated the admissions and financial aid processes.  At various times during those 42 years, Peter held these titles: Admission Counselor, Assistant Director of Admission, Director of Admission, Assistant Vice President of Admission and Financial Aid, and (for the last 27 years of his career) Regional Director of Admission for Monmouth College of Illinois (Chicago territory). ...

Curiosity, Choice and the Seaweed

52 min

What happens when a career path doesn’t unfold according to plan, but instead grows out of curiosity, place, partnership, and one unexpected problem that demands attention? Courtney Howell, Co-Founder and CEO of 7 Fathoms Skin Care, a Newfoundland-based company creating seaweed-powered skincare. Her path has taken her from anthropology in New Orleans, to teaching in South Korea, to building a tourism and culinary business with her husband, Terrence, in rural - Grates Cove, Newfoundland. Then a family health challenge changed everything. When Terrence developed severe skin problems related to a medical device, a piece of seaweed washed ashore near their home and sparked a question that eventually became years of research, product development, and a whole new business. Today we’ll talk about Courtney’s unconventional career journey, rural entrepreneurship, blue economy innovation, and what can happen when you pay close attention to the clues that show up in your life.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

There Is a Claim AI Is Destroying the University — Is It?

55 min

There is a claim AI is Destroying the University and Learning Itself. Students use AI to write papers, professors use AI to grade them, degrees become meaningless, and tech companies make fortunes. Welcome to the death of higher education. This has been covered in multiple sources since 2025.  But is it true?   5 key takeaways: AI is forcing universities to rethink their role—from delivering degrees to creating meaningful learning experiences. AI can become a personalized learning partner that challenges students with questions rather than simply providing answers. Traditional lectures and assessments need to evolve toward experiential learning, reflection and demonstrated understanding. Professors remain essential, but their role shifts toward mentoring, deeper discussion and designing better learning experiences. The traditional four-year degree may give way to more flexible, interdisciplinary and lifelong models of education. If AI can teach, assess, and personalize learning, what should the university of the future actually look like? Andrew Maxwell is the Bergeron Chair in Technology Entrepreneurship and an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering.  He serves as the Director of the Bergeron Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology (BEST) initiative and is a leading expert in innovation management, technology commercialization, and entrepreneurship. Maxwell holds a Ph.D. from the University of Waterloo, where he won the Academy of Management’s Heizer Award for his dissertation.  His academic work focuses on AI-first strategies for higher education.  He is originally from the UK -  earned a BSc in Electrical Engineering from Imperial College, London and a MBA from the London Business School.   Andrew was the co-founder of the first UK University radio station at Imperial College.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles....

The Human Side of Job Loss

54 min

Join Hoda and her guests as they bring Career Literacy to life. Sonny reminded us: “Clients come in as humans, and as humans, they suffer from job loss.” So, what are we really navigating when a job is lost? Is it another job search, or a disruption to identity, security, confidence, and purpose? Klementina offered another powerful reminder. Before answering a question, she paused, closed her eyes, and reflected, thus modeling the importance of grounding ourselves amid uncertainty. When life feels overwhelming, do you give yourself space to pause, breathe, and reflect before responding? Reflect. Share. Start the conversation.   Guest 1 Bio Sonny Wong is a Registered Psychotherapist with a concentration in Career-Focused Counselling. An international keynote presenter, he has received numerous awards for his contributions to the field. With extensive experience at the intersection of career well-being and vocational growth, his practice focuses on resolving complex career-life transitions and the emotional challenges tied to professional identity.   Guest 2 Bio Klementina Karol is a Certified Embodiment Guide and Transformational Coach devoted to real, root-level transformation. Powerful, deeply sensitive, feminine, and unapologetically honest in her work, she guides high-achieving humans back into their body, their truth, and the deeper intelligence that lives within them.  Her path began in the worlds of global leadership and sustainability, negotiating multimillion-dollar contracts and building UN-recognized partnerships, before life called her into the deeper work of emotional, somatic, and energetic alchemy. Today, she bridges both worlds, bringing precision, depth, and lived wisdom to every space she holds.  Klementina currently leads work for high-achieving women who feel accomplished in life but quietly dread dating. She helps them stop over-performing in love, open their receptivity field, and become truly relationship-ready, so the kind of grounded,...

What makes work - worth doing?

58 min

Is work worth doing based on what we accomplish? What we earn? The people we help? The skills we master? The feeling that we belong to something larger than ourselves? And if our work doesn’t feel meaningful, does that mean we need to find different work, or might we need to look differently at the work we already do?    My guest, Samuel Halpern, has dug into those questions. His new book, Wellsprings of Work: Surprising Sources of Meaning in Your Career and Retirement, explores the often hidden sources of meaning and motivation that can run through our working lives, -- and which continue long after the last paycheque.    Sam comes to these questions through an unusual career of his own. His work took him from Wall Street to Warren Buffett to advising investment funds for Major League Baseball players, Broadway stagehands and governments from Beijing to Bangkok.     Then retirement, and an unexpected triple-bypass surgery just weeks before it, prompted a different question: What had all that work amounted to, and what did he want to do next?     On this episode of Career Buzz, we’ll hear some of Sam’s career story, but mostly we’ll explore the ideas it led him to: the role of values, craftsmanship, belonging, competition, mastery, legacy and contribution to future generations; the difference between earning a living and experiencing a life through our work; and whether the search for the perfectly meaningful job might itself send us down the wrong path.    And we’ll ask what happen to all of this as AI changes not only the work humans do, but our relationship with work itself. Sam calls that challenge “protecting ‘I’ from AI.”     For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!  

What intellectual activity does AI replace—and what intellectual activity does it stimulate?

29 min

Katherine Rundell’s recent Guardian article raises an important warning: if students use AI to bypass reading, writing and intellectual struggle, they may produce better-looking work while learning less. Critical thinking, interpretation, communication and understanding of people developed through the humanities and social sciences will become more important in an AI-shaped society. However, framing the choice as AI or no AI misses the real educational challenge. AI is not a single intervention. Asking a generic chatbot to write an essay is fundamentally different from using a purpose-designed AI agent that refuses to provide the answer and instead questions assumptions, requests evidence, introduces alternative perspectives and stimulates active reflection. Andrew Maxwell is the Bergeron Chair in Technology Entrepreneurship and an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering.  He serves as the Director of the Bergeron Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology (BEST) initiative and is a leading expert in innovation management, technology commercialization, and entrepreneurship. Maxwell holds a Ph.D. from the University of Waterloo, where he won the Academy of Management’s Heizer Award for his dissertation.  His academic work focuses on AI-first strategies for higher education.  He is originally from the UK -  earned a BSc in Electrical Engineering from Imperial College, London and a MBA from the London Business School.  Andrew was the co-founder of the first UK university radio station at Imperial College.       For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

The Careers We Imagine

57 min

Join Hoda and her guests as they bring Career Literacy to life through real stories and lived experiences. Liv Pennie challenges us to rethink traditional career education, noting that for many adults, their school‑based career experience “is often a really negative reflection… wrapped up in one bucket of careers.” How would you describe your own experience? You’ll also hear from high school student Christopher Ibarra, who shares how meaningful career learning shaped his future. As Christopher puts it: “Education can change us — who we are and what we wanna do in the future… you’re opening a new chapter in your life that you never knew you could have opened.” If education can open chapters we never knew were possible, what chapter might a young person be waiting to discover?  Reflect and share.   Guest 1 Bio In 2017, Liv started BECOME Education to reimagine careers education. She holds an MA in Psychology and a Postgrad in Career Development. She spent 15 years in advertising, digital product and experience design. Liv brings together these worlds of academia and innovation to close the gap between evidence and practice in careers education. BECOME Education’s work transforming careers education in schools has been recognised by the OECD as an example of global best practice.   Guest 2 Bio Christopher is a high school student who has experienced career education firsthand. I will read his bio as he shared it with me.  Hello everyone, my name is Christopher Vargas Ibarra! I am a senior at Bostonia Global High which is a competency-based school. My goal is to become an automotive technician and I have previous experience by having a pre-apprenticeship at the San Diego Automotive Museum where me and my co-workers restored a 1966 Ford Mustang to life after 25 years of it sitting. I also was at the City of El Cajon: Fleet Services where I serviced fire trucks, police cruisers, utility trucks, and more!  

What’s one of the most overlooked (and stressful) parts of modern relationships?

59 min

After getting engaged in front of Cinderella’s Castle at Disney World, Karen Jackson expected the planning process to feel just as magical; instead, she found herself facing the same outdated, fragmented tools she’d used during her first wedding nearly a decade earlier.  We’ll talk to Karen about why wedding planning stress is so normalized. The reality behind the wedding industry vs. what people see online. Building a Canadian tech startup in a space dominated by U.S. platforms. And: What being a second-time bride taught her about relationships and expectations.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

The Invisible Curriculum: What Graduate Research Really Teaches You

53 min

When we read about scientific breakthroughs or hear about new discoveries, we rarely see the long and often difficult path that led there. Behind every published paper lies a story of rejected manuscripts, critical reviews, experiments that failed, and moments of deep uncertainty.  Today, we explore what it really means to become a researcher. Joining us is an engineering PhD student to discuss the hidden side of graduate research—the endless revisions, the pressure to publish, the experience of having your ideas challenged, and the resilience required to persist in the face of endless setbacks. This is a conversation not only about science, but about learning to navigate uncertainty, criticism, and failure, and about how these experiences ultimately shape both researchers and the discoveries they pursue.   Utkarsh Chadha is an engineering researcher at the University of Toronto, where he completed graduate training across materials science, mechanical and industrial engineering, advanced manufacturing, and sustainability-oriented research. His work spans composite materials, polymer processing, AI-enabled manufacturing systems, and the broader role of emerging technologies in engineering decision-making. Alongside research, he has taught and mentored first-year engineering students and supported student-led research projects.  His academic journey has given him a close view of the hidden side of research: uncertainty, rejection, peer review, long publication cycles, collaboration, resilience, and the discipline required to turn early ideas into meaningful contributions.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!  

Interview Smarter, Brand Stronger

57 min

Join Hoda for amazing discussions that boost your career literacy. Lili Foggle highlighted, “just about anybody can learn to interview successfully”. How confident are you in your ability to successfully interview? Urmi Hussein shared, “Your personal brand is portable, no matter where you go, you always have your brand”. How intentional are you about developing your brand? Listen, comment and share your thoughts and experiences.   Guest 1 Bio TikTok @yourinterviewcoach Lili Foggle is the winner of the Momentum Awards 2025 Top Specialty Coach from The Modern Coach, and holds interview coaching certifications from Career Thought Leaders and the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches.  She has taught hundreds of her one-on-one clients—as well as many of her over 70,000 TikTok followers—how to deliver effective and confident answers in job interviews. Her proven, data-driven communication techniques help candidates stand out in a competitive field and secure the offer.  Through the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches, she provides interview skills training and mentoring to other career coaches. Lili is a passionate advocate for the power of interview skills to transform careers and lives. She believes that with training and practice, anyone can learn to give authentic interview answers that get the job.   Guest 2 Bio  Instagram @storiesbeyondborderspodcast Urmi Hossain is a self-published author, speaker, blogger, and podcast host based in Canada.  She works in financial services and holds both the CFA and CAIA designations. Through her work, she empowers women by championing mentorship, education, and public speaking.  She serves as the Co-Chair of the organization Women in Leadership, for the Montreal Chapter. She is the author of Discovering Your Identity: A Rebirth from Interracial Struggle and the host of Stories Beyond Borders, a podcast exploring identity, migration, and culture.  Outside of work, she...

Making Sense of Messy with Daniel Atlin

56 min

What do you do when your career, your organization, or life itself gets MESSY? My guest on Career Buzz (Wed. July 22, 11-noon ET) is Daniel Atlin whose career has included senior roles at the University of Guelph, Seneca, the University of Toronto, in government, and as host of the podcast, Messy with Daniel Atlin. We’ll explore Daniel’s story, the central narrative and sense of purpose that helped him navigate change, and his model for making sense in the face of complexity.  And this isn’t only a conversation for people with “leader” in their title. It’s for anyone trying to make sense of themselves, listen for competing stories, improvise when plans stop working, and find a way forward when certainty is in short supply.     For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Regulating the Future: Rethinking Technology, Professional Practice, and Public Protection in the Age of AI

54 min

Technology is advancing faster than at any time in human history. AI is transforming industries, quantum computing promises to reshape cybersecurity and national security, and digital technologies are increasingly making decisions that affect every aspect of our lives. Yet the professional regulatory frameworks governing technical expertise in Canada remain largely rooted in legislation and assumptions developed more than a century ago. In this episode, we explore how engineering regulation evolved from the late 19th century to meet the needs of the industrial age—and why those same regulatory models may no longer be sufficient in the era of AI, cyber threats, and emerging technologies. Drawing on decades of experience in engineering, technology, public policy, and professional regulation, our guest discusses why modernizing the oversight of not only engineering, but the broader applied sciences, has become essential to protecting public safety, security, welfare, and Canada's future competitiveness in an increasingly complex technological world.   Guest Bio Peter DeVita is a licensed P.Eng and is past president of the Professional Engineers Ontario in 2001. Peter founded his electronics manufacturing company in 1977.  He is currently president of Engineers for the profession. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto holding a BASc & MASc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.  He also holds an MBA from York University with focus on Marketing and Economics.  He has taught courses at Sheridan College, and Centennial Colleges overseeing the development of two-degree courses in software and network technology.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Career Crossroads: Learning, Changing, Becoming

51 min

Join Hoda for conversations that boost your career literacy. Pete Robertson shares, “there’s a myth that before you start doing something, you should have all the skills and knowledge first. Actually, very often you learn by doing”. Have you ever taken on something without having all the required skills and knowledge? Aziz Kfoury pushes further, “Don’t be afraid to change roads in the middle of your journey because when you get to know yourself more, and you get to know what makes you more comfortable, what makes you want to develop, it’s alright”. What road are you on right now—and is it still the right one for who you’re becoming? Listen, comment and share your thoughts and experiences.   Guest 1 Bio After studying psychology at the University of Warwick, Pete Robertson trained as a career adviser in 1987. His work specialised in supporting young people with disabilities and learning difficulties.  He then trained in occupational psychology at the University of East London, becoming a career service training manager. In 2001 he relocated to Scotland and joined the faculty at Edinburgh Napier University. Since then, he has lectured on the postgraduate career guidance programme, and became a professor in 2021.  His research interests include the relationship between #careers and #wellbeing ; theory and policy in relation to career guidance; and support for disadvantaged groups. He is a Fellow of the National Institute for Career Education and Counselling (NICEC). He is currently the President of the Career Development Institute (CDI), the UK professional body for career practitioners.   Guest 2 Bio Located in Beirut, Lebanon, Aziz Kfoury is a Career Well-Being & Development Specialist, Business Psychologist, and Organizational Development Consultant who has become one of the leading voices in reimagining how individuals and organizations learn, perform, and grow. He is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of LeadMe, a pioneering professional development...

What to Do if You Don't Know What to Do

1 hr 1 min

My guest today is Evan Jones, a high school English teacher at Petitcodiac Regional School in New Brunswick, and winner of a 2026 New Brunswick Book Award for his book, What to Do if You Don’t Know What to Do.    For the first part of our conversation, we’re joined by Angelica Welner, a Grade 9 student at Petitcodiac Regional School and one of the test readers of Evan’s book. Angelica brings a wonderfully clear and thoughtful student voice to the conversation, including some wise advice for moms and dads: ease up on the pressure to make young people name a career too soon.    Then Evan and I explore his own career, and we landed an effective way to talk about his story – it’s a kind of “error correction.” Too much teaching only English led him to want more subjects. Too much teaching younger children led him toward high school. Too much travel eventually helped him realize he wanted to return to Canada. Along the way, we talk about uncertainty, purpose, education, and how young people can begin to find their way without needing to have the whole map in hand.    For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

The Entrepreneurial Journey of Robert Ketchin and Georgian Hills Vineyards

54 min

 In 2004, Robert Ketchin and his partners launched Georgian Hills Vineyards to pioneer a sustainable cool-climate wine industry along Georgian Bay.  Following extensive soil testing beginning in 1998, the team established vineyards in Beaver Valley, utilizing the Niagara Escarpment's unique microclimate to grow experimental grape varieties.  By 2010, they had successfully converted a historic barn into a fully operational winery and tasting room, showcasing distinct Riesling and Pinot Noir blends.  This entrepreneurial journey demonstrates how vision and trial-and-error transformed a five-acre plot into a defining leader of the emerging Georgian Bay wine region   Guest Bio Robert Ketchin was raised in Scotland, and England and has over fifty years of experience in the beverage alcohol and food service industries. Robert has held senior sales and marketing positions both regionally and nationally with Andres Wines and Heineken / Amstel Brewers. In his youth he was a keen rugby player which he credits much of his success to.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

How Engaged Are You in What You're Doing Everyday?

59 min

Join Hoda for conversations that boost your career literacy. Guests share thought provoking statements. Sonny Wong said, “if we have a strong and healthy career identity during career transitions, we’re able to maintain our wellbeing”. My question to you, how clear are you on your career identity? Dr. Emily Bullock Yowell asked, “In our work, whatever it may be, I encourage us all to consider — is what we’re trying to do actually accomplishing the goal?” Such a powerful question. It makes us pause and think: how engaged are we in what we’re doing every day?   Guest 1 Bio Sonny is a Registered Psychotherapist in Toronto – who practices Career-Focused Positive Counselling.  With over 25 years of progressive experience as a CPD, he started his career as a community researcher identifying the needs of marginalized-displaced workers, served as program developer for matured workers/newcomers, as a resource builder for individuals in the idle trade and eventually a career/employment consultant for clients on provincial financial assistance.  Sonny’s grassroots lived experience has fostered his keen awareness of professional/ethical service delivery practises. During the last 16 years, Sonny has been a psychotherapist working in post-secondary institutions, assisting clients to reconcile their intersectionality identities with their career identity.  The passion in his work spans beyond his psychotherapist role, he is a lecturer, writer, trainer and clinical supervisor for Career Development Practitioners.  Sonny’s commitment is to help individuals identify their strengths as flourishing fuel. His professional contributions have been constantly recognized by numerous national and provincial service awards within the post-secondary education and not-for-profit sectors.    Guest 2 Bio Emily Bullock-Yowell, Ph.D., is a Professor at the University of Southern Mississippi in the School of Psychology. She is the Training Director of the university’s APA-accredited Couns...

What happens when the tools you once needed to survive become the work you offer the world?

59 min

On this episode of Career Buzz, we hear from Dena Jackson, comedian, speaker, creator of Self Help Me. Dena’s career story moves from theatre and stand-up comedy to corporate public relations, from personal upheaval and divorce to yoga, breathwork, mindfulness, and wellness practice.   Along the way, she discovered that self-help doesn’t have to be precious or perfect. It can be practical, funny, embodied, and deeply human. We’ll talk about comedy as a doorway into healing, yoga as a turning point, what breathwork can reach that words sometimes can’t, and how Dena turned her own search for support into a career helping others.    For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Environmental & Social Risk in Global Project Development

51 min

Environmental and Social (E&S) risks refer to the potential negative impacts of a project on ecosystems—such as air, water, and biodiversity—and on communities, including effects on livelihoods, health, labor rights, and cultural heritage.  These risks are central to global project risk management, as unaddressed E&S issues can lead to financial losses, legal liabilities, reputational damage, and project delays. Frameworks like the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards help financiers and developers identify, assess, and mitigate these risks, ensuring that development is not only economically viable but also sustainable and socially responsible.    Guest Bio Santiago Ribadeneira Falconi was born in Ecuador and came to Canada in 2018. He is an environmental and social advisor with almost 20 years of experience conducting environmental and social due diligence for large scale nuclear, mining, renewable, oil & gas, pulp & paper, sustainable forestry, and infrastructure across more than 20 countries.  He is currently the Principal of the Environmental and Social Risk Management division at Export Development Canada where he leads complex international project development transactions. He holds two undergrad degrees in biology and an environmental engineering. He also completed a master in environmental sciences and an MBA, and is correctly finalizing his third graduate program; a master of engineering in civil and mineral engineering at the University of Toronto.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Careers, branding, risk, and reinvention, with Banditos founder, Anthony CK Thomas

58 min

On this episode of Career Buzz, Mark Franklin is joined by Anthony CK Thomas, entrepreneur, business builder, and founder of Banditos, a Canadian-made “Mexi-CAN” lager. It was created to challenge both the beer market and some of the cultural assumptions around branding, identity, and who gets to build something bold.  Anthony is a “fixer, breaker, closer.” Without traditional educational pathways, he built his career through hustle, instinct, relationships, and a willingness to move before certainty arrived.  We talk about the 4am moment that sparked Banditos, what entrepreneurship really feels like behind the scenes, the tension between authenticity and marketing, why too many people end up living careers they never actually chose, and what it means to build something that people genuinely want to gather around.      For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

The world is yours. You own it.

48 min

Join Hoda for conversations that boost your career literacy. Dr Seth Hayden reminded us that “Each person has their journey and sometimes we gotta be with the journey and see where it takes us and reach out for help when needed”. Guest Uli Schild adds to this and tells us, “The world is yours. You own it. You’re the boss of your own destiny and you should go for it”. Do you agree with Uli? Do you feel that you are in control of the choices you make? And my question to you, are you with your journey? Comment and share your thoughts and experiences.     Guest 1 Bio Dr. Seth C.W. Hayden is the associate professor of counseling and coordinator of the clinical mental health program at Wake Forest University. Hayden. Dr. Hayden’s research focuses on the connection between career development and mental health. In addition, he examines the career and personal development needs of military service members, veterans, and their families.  Dr. Hayden is a licensed clinical mental health counselor in North Carolina, a national certified counselor, a certified clinical mental health counselor, and an approved clinical supervisor. In addition, he is a past-president of the Military and Government Counseling Association and National Career Development Association, both divisions of the American Counseling Association.  He is co-author of Group Career Counseling: Practices and Principles (2nd. ed.) and Career Development for Transitioning Veterans and co-editor of Cognitive Information Processing: Career Theory, Research, and Practice. He is also the author of Integrating Career Development and Mental Health Counseling.    Guest 2 Bio Uli Schild, better known as Mr. Career Tick. I’ve made it my mission for over 15 years to help people get the job they deserve—not just the one they can get.  It all started after being laid off (twice!). In 2008 and again in 2011, I faced career setbacks that sparked something greater: the drive to build a successful people-focused career coa...

Where is Your Point B?

48 min

Join Hoda for conversations that boost your career literacy. Guest John Suarez shares his interesting career path and reminds us that “It’s ok if you don’t know, but you can’t do nothing. What are you going to do? Where is your point B? It doesn’t matter if it’s not the last step. You don’t have to have everything figured out but just figure out that next step”. Can you clearly describe your next step? Comment and share your thoughts and experiences.   Guest Bio John Suarez is a career services leader, educator, and a global voice in résumé writing & coaching. As the Director of the Fundamentals program for the Professional Association of Résumé Writers and Career Coaches (PARW/CC), his "Bulletproof" methodology has reached students in 46 states and 31 countries.  John currently serves as the Career Services Coordinator at Southwestern Illinois College, where he leads a team dedicated to empowering students, alumni, and professionals through career transitions, job placement, and strategic career planning.  In 2024, John was honored by the Professional Association of Résumé Writers and Career Coaches (PARW/CC) with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the résumé writing profession spanning more than 30 years. Passionate about career development, personal branding, and the future of job search strategy, John continues to shape the industry through online training, mentorship, and a monthly newsletter column for writing and coaching professionals.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

How do you rebuild your career when life, and the people who depend on you, start asking something different of you?

59 min

On this episode of Career Buzz, Mark Franklin is joined by Teri Hart—television and radio host, producer, content creator, and now the creator and host of The Hart of It All podcast.  Teri spent years on air with Bell Media, Corus, and Rogers, building a career in broadcasting—until a sudden job loss in her late 40s disrupted what had been a steady path forward. In our conversation, Teri shares her career story, how she navigated that turning point, and what it meant to rebuild with intention.  Then the interview moves into a powerful conversation about caregiving—the focus of her podcast—and the realities so many people are navigating, often quietly and alone. There’s a lot here about resilience, voice, and what it takes to move forward when the path changes.    For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Do you have a real sense of Purpose? When does Growth happen?

51 min

Join Hoda for conversations that boost your career literacy. Guest Emer O’Donnell shares, “When you have a real sense of purpose and this is why you’re here, then you can’t help but follow your heart”. Do you have a real sense of purpose? Sharon Vandermeer follows with a statement about why she values stepping out of her comfort zone, “If I’m ever in a position where I’m uncomfortable that means that growth is happening”. How often do you get uncomfortable in your work? Comment and share your thoughts and experiences. Guest 1 Bio Emer O Donnell, Founder of TeenReconnect, is a behavioural change coach with a background in psychology and 20+ years working in global organisations.  In 2016, she recognised a gap in young people's educational skills that prevented them from navigating the complex world we now live in leaving so many feeling overwhelmed, lost and anxious. She was then inspired to become the Founder of a coaching and training company called TeenReconnect to address this gap.  She focuses her work on supporting parents to help their children to thrive, empowering youth professionals to increase their skills, and supporting organisations that wish to become more effective in this space. She emphasises the importance of developing well-being first for sustained performance.  Emer is also the author of “Understanding Teen Stress & Anxiety; A Parent’s Guide to Building Love and Connection” and has created the digital Q Pathfinder coaching app. It is a personalised tool used as part of her 7Q TeenReconnect coaching programme for young people so they understand who they uniquely are and can learn how that plays out in their career choices, confidence, learning, stress, and relationships.  Emer is passionate about making a difference, believing young people are the future. She also knows that if you don’t know who you are it is way harder to create a life you love. Guest 2 -Sharon Vandermeer Self Bio Raised in the country, I learned early on the value of h...

We see headlines about refugee camps—but what does it actually look like, and what does it feel like, to live and work inside one?

59 min

On this episode of Career Buzz, host Mark Franklin interviews  Dr. Maria Milland, a Danish obstetrician and gynecologist whose humanitarian work has taken her to some of the world’s most challenging environments. Drawing on her experience working in the al-Hol refugee camp in northeast Syria, Maria shares powerful insights from her new book, *Born at the Gates of Hell*, offering a rare and deeply human perspective on life inside the camp—particularly in the maternity ward where new life begins amid extreme conditions. Together, they explore her career journey, the skills and values that sustain her work, and what her experiences reveal about resilience, ethical tension, and making meaningful career choices.    For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

A Career journey into Aerospace Engineering

50 min

Aerospace engineering sits at the intersection of advanced science, complex systems design, and the timeless human ambition to fly. From the earliest aircraft to today’s highly sophisticated jets and emerging sustainable aviation concepts, the field continues to push the boundaries of innovation and engineering precision. Behind every aircraft is a multidisciplinary effort involving structural design, advanced materials, manufacturing technologies, and rigorous safety standards. As the aviation industry looks toward more efficient and environmentally responsible aircraft, engineers are reimagining how airplanes are designed, built, and operated. Stephen Armstrong and Andrew Bondarchuk explores the world of aerospace engineering and the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of flight.   Guest Bio Andrew Bondarchuk is an aerospace engineer specializing in aircraft structural design and future aircraft development. He earned his Aerospace Engineering degree from Carleton University and gained early industry experience through an internship with Airbus in the United Kingdom. He began his career at Bombardier working on the production and design of aircraft including the Global 5500, 6500, and 7500 programs. Today he is a Senior Design Engineer in Bombardier’s Research and Technology group in Montreal, contributing to next-generation aircraft concepts such as the EcoJet blended wing body.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Challenging our understanding of the role of Career Development

51 min

Join Hoda for conversations that boost your career literacy. In this episode, Dr Brian Hutchison shares, “Particularly in the west we can get this idea of individualism in our head and I think that that’s an inaccurate idea”. Do you agree? Comment and share your thoughts and experiences.   Guest Bio Dr Brian Hutchison, also known as Global Career Guy, Dr Brian Hutchison Ph.D., LPC, CCSCC is Core Faculty of Clinical Mental Health Counseling in the School of Counseling at Walden University, USA. He received his doctorate degree in Counselor Education Supervision from Pennsylvania State University and has worked as a career, school, and mental health counselor and clinical supervisor. Brian’s career consultation and education work operates within the brand of Global Career Guy where he specializes in consultation, research, speaking, and training focused on how career development fosters mental health well-being, school engagement, and social justice. He has worked in more than 50 countries and written more than four dozen publications including the 12th Edition of School to Career, a career textbook for high school students.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Canada’s Electric Future: Are We Ready for the EV Transition?

52 min

Canada is accelerating toward an electric future—but are we truly ready for the EV transition? Beyond the headlines, this shift raises real questions about infrastructure, affordability, and grid resilience. Today, we ask what’s working, what’s missing, and whether Canada is prepared for what comes next. In this episode, Stephen Armstrong is joined by guest Andre Mech.   Guest Bio Andre Mech is an Environmental Engineer who has been a climate change proponent for the past 25 years.  Andre works in the areas of electrical generation, emission reduction, energy efficiency project evaluation, project development, finance, management, verification, including carbon offset generation activities to minimizing climate change. He has direct experience with carbon related planning in the commercial institutional building sector, transportation sector and combined heat and power sector. He is a regular speaker at national and international energy conferences. He holds a BEng Mech Eng from the Royal Military College Canada and an MBA from Western University.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!  

Your comfort zone is killing your dreams, move from exclusion to inclusion

53 min

Join Hoda for conversations that boost your career literacy. One quote that stands out in this episode, is by Ahmed Mostafa Kamal who shared many useful career and life tips staying in our “comfort zone is killing our dreams”. Do you agree? Next, Ruth challenges us by stating “you can move anything that you do from exclusion to inclusion”. Comment and share your thoughts and experiences.   Guest 1 Bio Ahmed Mostafa Kamal, a career development leader and expert in the Middle East. He is the founder of Career Development in the MENA Region, founder of AM Foundation for Career Development, the Co-Founder & Senior Partner of GROWAT Saudi Arabia and a UNICEF Advisor. His work has included training more than 1000 counselors, facilitators, coaches, and guides in Egypt, KSA, Qatar, and Turkey. Ahmed began the first career development project in Egypt funded by USAID in 2006. Then, he extended his efforts to other countries in the MENA region as well as in Europe, Asia, USA and Canada. His focus is enriching Arab individuals, teams, organizations, and countries with the required knowledge, materials, tools, and experiences to benefit from a professional career development process—all translated and adapted for the Arab culture. Ahmed won the merit award from the National Career Development Association (NCDA) in 2022, best international career development practitioner award from NCDA in 2011, and best international Global Career Development Facilitator award from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) in 2015. He holds many certifications in the fields of career development, mental health, business, and distance learning that are associated with several global associations including NCDA and CRG.   Guest 2 Bio Ruth McAteer, a Career Development Professional. Ruth's work in the careers space focuses on exclusion to inclusion, investigating how to rethink career curriculum design, resources, and events as well as traditional one-to-ones, to maximise accessi...

Building a better future through earn-and-learn

59 min

On Career Buzz, we’re stepping into one of the biggest questions facing Canada, the U.S., and every advanced economy navigating digital transformation: How do we redesign the bridge from education to employment? Ryan Craig, is a Managing Director at Achieve Partners, a US firm investing in the future of learning and earning. Ryan has been tracking and forecasting these shifts for more than a decade. He’s the author of the insightful Gap Letter, and three books: College Disrupted, on the unbundling of higher education and competency based hiring A New U, examining faster and cheaper last mile pathways into digital careers Apprentice Nation, a compelling case for scaling apprenticeships as a stronger and fairer alternative to traditional post-secondary programs   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

The Homeless in Toronto- Revisiting 9 years Later – Much Worse

54 min

We explore the plight of the homeless in downtown Toronto with Stephen Armstrong and Bob Duff, by focussing on the St Simons Shelter in Cabbagetown. “The measure of a society is found in how they treat their weakest and most helpless citizens”…. Abraham Lincoln. “A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.” ~ Mahatma Ghandi   Guest Bio Our guest today is Bob Duff who was a guest in 2017, and again in 2023. Bob is the executive director of the St Simons Shelter for the homeless in the Cabbagetown area of downtown Toronto – now located in the Isabella Hotel. Bob shared his personal story of his trajectory from Bay Street family man, to homelessness, to becoming a tireless front-line worker with the downtown homeless population. He holds Degrees: B.A. in journalism from Ryerson University, and a MA economics from University of Ottawa, and a Juris Doctorate from Stetson University Florida.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

What happens when a 7-year-old kid falls in love with the wind — and never lets go?

59 min

On this episode of Career Buzz, host Mark Franklin interviews Max Robinson, a lifelong wind enthusiast, water athlete, and coach who turned his early spark for windsurfing into a world-class career. From the shores of Georgian Bay to the Wingfoil World Tour, Max has flown across oceans, competed at the highest level, and returned home with a mission: to coach the next generation of riders and help others find their flow on the water.  Tune in to hear Max’s story of passion, performance, reinvention — and how the wind can shape not just your sport, but your whole career.     For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

The Evolution of AI in Aerospace – From Hype to Secure, AI-Native Operations

53 min

AI is rapidly transforming the aerospace industry, with Boeing recently deploying over 70 generative AI applications across engineering, manufacturing, and maintenance, positioning AI as a “co-pilot” to support human decision-making under supervision.  This shift marks a significant step in integrating AI into core aerospace operations, enhancing productivity, safety, and innovation across the value chain.  The global AI market in aerospace and defense was valued at US$22.45 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach US$43.02 billion by 2030. Join Stephen Armstrong and Dominique Spragg in this discussion.   Guest Bio Dominique Spragg is an accomplished leader in the aerospace industry, specializing in integrated operations, business development and sustainable technologies. With experience ranging from CEO roles in sustainable aviation startups to strategic planning and operations management, Dominique has made significant contributions across North America, Europe, Russia, and China. Dominique is currently consulting in the sustainable aviation space, with companies ranging from Advanced Air Mobility (AMM) start-ups to Fortune 100 multi-national companies exploring alternative propulsion and sustainable aviation fuels.  Dominique’s holds an Aerospace Engineering degree, an MBA, and an IFR pilot Private Pilot License.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

A career to live the life you want, finding value in writing goals

56 min

Join Hoda for conversations that boost your career literacy. In this episode, Manana Jaworska shared, “I believe it’s possible for everyone to find a career that enables them to live a life that they want”. Do you agree? Dr Alan McAlpine told us how he finds value in writing his goals down and checking on them regularly. Do you think writing your goals down will help you accomplish them?   Guest 1 Bio Manana Jaworska, a career transition coach and freelance frontend engineer. Manana has made two career transitions herself: from psychology to engineering, and then to coaching. She is passionate about helping people find work that makes them happy and fulfilled. You can follow Manana on Instagram @careerchangeguide and on LinkedIn.   Guest 2 Bio Dr Alan McAlpine, Deputy Director of Student Success at Curtin University, Australia, Dr Alan McAlpine. Dr Alan is a tragic 70’s music rock lover, he enjoys playing his guitar (badly) and sings in a (non performing) band – The Geriatrics. As much as he would like to focus on his music, that doesn’t pay the bills.  His portfolio comprises Careers and Employability and a Social Impact Hub. He has over 20 years’ experience in the career development field and has been involved nationally and internationally for many years through his involvement in NAGCAS (National Association of Graduate Career Advisory Services), where he is currently National President.  Alan's extensive experience includes past roles such as Associate Director, Student Success at QUT and Careers and Employment Manager for over a decade. He serves on the Career Industry Council of Australia (CICA) Executive Committee and chairs the board of Graduate Careers Australia.     For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Unusual ways to help people & make a difference

59 min

Humans have difficulty knowing what to want. Have you ever wanted something - a certain food, a job - gotten it, then realized you don't like what you wanted? There's a technical term for that - it's called "Miswanting." According to researchers Dan Gilbert and Tim Wilson, Miswanting happens when we poorly forecast what we'll actually like. "Wanting" is a prediction we'll like what we want, but so often we don't. Miswanting is a common problem we humans have, therefore knowing why it happens and how to avoid it can be a very helpful when you're considering different careers, and in career counselling. So many people want a job where they can "help people" and "make a difference." We hear it frequently in our CareerCycles practice. But when it comes to generating possibilities people hit a wall. Mark met Christine Nam, a new car delivery specialist, and noticed how much she loves helping people on a happy day when they get into their new car for the first time. After working in retail for years, Christine thought she'd move up to auto sales. In which she thrived. Yet, despite the better money, she left that role to work as a delivery specialist where she likes making a difference and helping people.  Tune in to this episode, where you'll hear Christine's story - an illustration of learning what to want, and repairing past miswants.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Stop, look back, take stock and celebrate!

59 min

In this episode with Hoda Kilani, the guests shared spectacular stories that showed them stepping out of their comfort zones. You could almost feel Nerel’s passion to support every student transitioning from high school to college or career. What did you think of his approach? Katherine reminded us that we have more strengths, we’ve achieved more than we give ourselves credit and it’s important that we just stop, look back, take stock and celebrate what we’ve achieved. How often do you stop and reflect on your accomplishments? Share your thoughts.   Guest 1 Bio Nerel Winter is the CEO and Founding Principal of Bostonia Global, a TK-14 school model dedicated to creating personalized learning experiences that connect students’ strengths, interests, and values to their future goals.  Drawing on his passion for school redesign and global learning, Nerel has collaborated with schools nationwide to develop innovative educational experiences. He has extensive experience working in dual and multilingual learning models, with a focus on student advocacy and connecting passions to global understandings.  Born and raised in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Nerel’s personal experiences with opportunity gaps, along with his work in school redesign and student advocacy, have led him to develop a thriving college and career coaching business. Through this venture, he passionately supports high school and college students in navigating the often-overwhelming transition from high school to college or career, offering personalized guidance that empowers them to connect their unique strengths and passions to a successful and fulfilling future. Information regarding his work can be found at nerelwinter.com.   Guest 2 Bio  Katherine Jennick is a UK-based Career Development Professional, Mentor, and Educator.  In 2019, she founded What's your strength? ®, which started as a card activity to empower teenagers and has since evolved into a series of award-winning resources for all ages that...

Why You Need an "Empathetic Sherpa"

59 min

When you lose your job, do you need resume-writing tips & job interview best practices?   Or, do you need an empathetic sherpa to guide you through the stages of grief, so that when you land your next job, you are prepared for success?   Born and raised in sunny San Diego, Steve Jaffe began his writing journey at San Diego State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communication. After a 25-year career in advertising and marketing—including work on the iconic “What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas” advertising campaign—he has returned to his writing roots. His new book is “The Layoff Journey From Dismissal to Discovery: Navigating the Stages of Grief After a Job Loss”.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

The Heart of Being Human: Why the Humanities Matter in the Age of AI

53 min

Stephen Armstrong and Fail Vanstone explores how a humanities education can help us understand not just the systems we live in, but what it means to live well within them. From art and literature to ethics and philosophy, we’re looking at how stories, emotions, and imagination connect us- to each other, to our world, and to ourselves.  So, if the Humanities help us understand what it means to be human, how do they shape the ways we express that humanity -through creativity, emotion, and imagination? And in the age of AI do humanities even play a bigger role or is humanities under threat.   Guest Bio Professor Gail Vanstone is an Associate Professor in the Department of Humanities at York Uni, Toronto and coordinates the Humanities Program. She works at the intersection of feminist theory and women’s documentary film production. Her ongoing research frames women and the stories they tell as powerful critical tools for understanding women’s experience in a world where their voices are often muted. She is author of many Published essays including “D is for Daring (2007)”, a history of Studio D, feminist film unit at Canada’s National Film Board; and, with Brian Winston and Wang Chi, “The Act of Documenting (2017)”.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Just Ask AI

58 min

Join Hoda and her guests for conversations that boost your career literacy. In this episode, Dr Marilyn Maze suggested that we should “just ask AI” during our job exploration. Do you use AI in your career exploration? Dr Steve elaborated on the statement, “if you want to change performance, change the audience”. Did his explanation help you envision how you can enhance the work you do? Share your thoughts.   Guest 1 Bio Dr Marilyn Maze is the Financial Administrator of the Asia Pacific Career Development Association (APCDA). In her previous role as Executive Director of APCDA, Dr Marilyn organized the annual APCDA Conference since its inception. She has conducted numerous research projects on significant labor market and career counseling issues, and presented at international conferences.  Dr. Maze is a Fellow of the National Career Development Association and she received NCDA’s Eminent Career Award in 2022, the NCDA President’s Award in 2016, and the NCDA Credentialing Commission Service Award in 2016. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Maryland Career Development Association in 2010. Dr. Maze formerly developed the ACT Profile (previously called DISCOVER).   Guest 2 Bio  Dr Steve Regur, the founder and CEO of Educators Cooperative, leading ground breaking projects to provide more opportunities for students. From developing global career readiness initiatives to maximizing collaborative learning networks, Steve transforms lofty ideas into sustainable, impactful results.  Steve has been in the job of school transformation for over 25 years working across the U.S. and internationally. He has co-founded nine schools, led multi-million-dollar grant projects, and is now launching the Career Connected Schools network.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Why Career Development Belongs at the Core of the AI Conversation

59 min

What happens when you put career development at the heart of conversations about AI, longevity, and the future of work?    On this Career Buzz episode, we’re diving into the future of work with Lisa Taylor, Founder and CEO of Challenge Factory — an organization that helps people and companies rethink careers for longer lives, changing demographics, and new technologies.    Lisa Taylor’s work focuses on career services for older workers, and bridging business, policy, and human potential. She authored The Talent Revolution: Longevity and the Future of Work, paperback edition. Lisa’s message in this AI-enabled world, is that to thrive, we must put career development at the centre of the conversation.     For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Upskilling for careers of the future

59 min

Isn’t there a faster way to gain job-ready tech and AI skills — without committing to a whole degree program? Today on the show… imagine you want to step into a new career — but the idea of spending years earning another degree feels out of reach. There is another path. As the saying goes, AI won’t replace people — but people who use AI will replace people who don’t. Through short, focused “nanodegrees” and online courses, Udacity is helping individuals and organizations build the skills that shape the future of work. Jared Molton, Vice President at Udacity, is part of the movement forging futures in tech — empowering learners worldwide to unlock their potential in an AI-enabled world.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Executive Search in the Age of AI

53 min

In this episode, we’re tackling a topic that affects not just companies, but communities and careers: how we find and grow the people who keep our industries moving. Our focus is on the aerospace, engineering, and manufacturing sectors—areas where Canada has deep strengths but also faces big challenges. To help us unpack this, we’re joined by the owners of a Toronto- based executive search firm that does things a little differently. Instead of focusing only on C-suite leaders, they recruit across the entire spectrum—from tradespeople and technicians to engineers, managers, and executives. We’ll explore their business model, the unique dynamics of aerospace, trends across manufacturing, and how AI impacts recruiting.   Guest Bios Our Guests today are a father and son team. Barry Wohl has over 30 years in HR leadership, including roles as Vice President of Human Resources at major aerospace firms like Safran and Bombardier. He brings deep expertise in talent acquisition and organizational growth. Now leading a recruitment firm specializing in manufacturing, engineering, and aerospace, he has helped thousands of professionals find the right roles in areas such as quality, supply chain, and compliance. Matthew Wohl is the VP and Partner at The Wohl Group, bringing over 14 years of experience in recruitment and talent strategy. He’s helped countless professionals and companies find the right fit while building a LinkedIn network of 135,000 followers who engage with his insights on modern hiring. Focused on making recruitment more human and effective, Matthew is passionate about improving the hiring experience and supporting people through career transitions.    For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Designing a fashion brand

58 min

When Helene Clarkson’s kids were a bit older, and her husband’s career was on track, she asked herself: Hey, what am I gonna do? Today on Career Buzz, we talk with Helene Clarkson, founder of a Canadian sustainable fashion label that designs stylish, smart, versatile clothing for women on the go. After an earlier career, in theatre and acting, in 2014, Helene launched her own clothing line, and what began with pop-up shops in Toronto has since grown into a global brand. From launching and scaling a mission-driven brand, to navigating the complexities of design, production, and identity in fashion — clothing designer Helene Clarkson shares her story behind the seams.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Next Chapter Dialogues

59 min

In career, there are fast shifts - and slow shifts. Fast is quitting, layoff, retirement. Slow is the build-up to fast. How can you optimize slow to weather fast? On Career Buzz, we explore transitions with Marilyn Hintsa — a retirement readiness coach and facilitator of Next Chapter Dialogues. After navigating her own unexpected early retirement, Marilyn now helps others move beyond the ‘shoulds’ of what retirement is supposed to look like, and instead create meaningful, fulfilling lives.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Team building & career development in organizations | SWIFT framework

55 min

Why are team-building and career development critical for creating engaged, high-performing workplaces? How do trusting relationships between employees lead to stronger collaboration, better productivity, and lasting success for organizations?   Heidi Heung and Mark Franklin and Rich Feller lead and coordinate the teams at OneLifeTools and CareerCycles. Our teams of career professionals have helped thousands of employees navigate career and life transitions by sparking powerful conversations that build clarity, confidence, and connection. Listen in as we have a conversation about the positive outcomes of organizational team building and internal career development.    ALSO on this episode:   When you’re overwhelmed by news, ads, tech and the fast pace of life, how can you slow down, focus on what you want and then actually get it?   David Cohen has taught thousands over the years to sell, plan and market their ventures successfully. He’s recently published the book, “Live Life SWIFT: The Ultimate Guide Filled With Actionable Steps to Help You Live Your Best Life.” In it, he takes readers through the simple but effective SWIFT framework to help anyone make good plans, and take inspired action.    For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Why an Entrepreneurial Path is Hard

54 min

Entrepreneurship is the process of identifying a commercial opportunity and putting it into action by developing new products, services, or business models, often involving innovation and risk-taking. It encompasses a wide range of activities, from starting a small business to launching a scalable startup, and can occur independently or within an existing organization, such as through intrapreneurship.  At its core, entrepreneurship involves creating new value, whether economic, social, or otherwise, by utilizing resources in innovative ways to address market needs or gaps.  The entrepreneur is typically seen as an innovator who bears the primary risk and potential reward of the venture, driving change through activities like “creative destruction” to replace outdated offerings with new ones.  65% to 85% of entrepreneurial ventures fail and only 10% reach a 20th anniversary. Our Guest Today is Rahi Tajzadeh a seasoned executive strategist, Certified Management Consultant, and trusted advisor known for guiding boards, C-suites, and founders through complex transformation, turnarounds, and strategic growth. With 19 years of experience across diverse sectors, Rahi delivers actionable, research-driven strategies that drive measurable growth, innovation, and ethical leadership. A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University with a Master of Science in Management and a Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurship, Rahi is a recipient of awards such as the CMC Canada President’s Award and recognition as a Top 10 Alumni.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

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