Career Buzz

Join Join Stephen Armstrong of Innovation Nation on this episode of Career Buzz with guest Dave Goldberg. Dave is an AI trailblazer who, 15 years ago, made a career shift to tackle this issue directly - with the aim to revolutionize higher education fundamentally. He is currently the President and Head Coach at ThreeJoy Associates, Inc.--Transforming Engineering Education. 

Are you geared up for what’s next in your professional life? Get inspired by Ann Nakaska as she imparts valuable insights for future career advancements. Ever imagined enjoying your work? Dr. Mike Rucker provides unique strategies to make it possible. Join Dr. Hoda Kilani, Hoda’s Career Info, and her guests to enhance your Career Literacy.

In 2022, just when Anastasiia Zhemchugova landed her dream job in an international law firm in Kyiv, Ukraine, war disrupted her career and life.

Her firm had an office in Prague so she worked there for a while but without the local language skills it was complicated. Then, a perfectly timed opportunity emerged – from Canada. Years earlier, pre-pandemic, Anastasiia had applied for a law internship with the Canadian Parliament. Their offer came just in time. She accepted and arrived in May, 2022. Then, Anastasiia got into a career boosting bridging program for internationally educated women lawyers. Run by the University of Toronto, School of Continuing Studies, the Brief Law program and the School’s Blueprint Career Services, led by Ann Park, helped Anastasiia get ready for life and law in Canada where she’s now doing a law degree at York U's Osgoode Hall.

Join Mark Franklin to hear and learn from both Anastasiia and Ann's insightful career stories.

In this week's episode of Career Buzz, join Erica Mattison with Geraldine Barney.

Being an artist is central to Geraldine Barney’s identity. Throughout her career she’s discovered the personal importance of developing a creative practice involving a range of media from prints, to paintings, to songs. As she creates, she honours her Indigenous culture and connection to the land where she grew up on a Navajo reservation. 

Geraldine’s career has included a wide variety of settings, from higher education to home improvement stores. Her passion for her craft has helped her stay true to herself and her values.

In their conversation, Geraldine shares how her art is shaped by her connection to her ancestors, to nature, and to her community.

About Geraldine Barney

Geraldine Barney’s artwork explores the relationship between the traditional Navajo values and beliefs she grew up with on the Navajo Reservation in Northwest New Mexico with contemporary city life off the reservation. Living in two cultures is a prominent theme in her art and her music.

Geraldine studied printmaking at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM and at the Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO. Although a printmaker at heart, Geraldine is currently working on a series of landscapes (both real and imagined) that invoke her passion for the land of the Southwest and her connection to the Navajo reservation. 

Geraldine is also a singer and song writer whose work is included in two Smithsonian Folkways CD’s; “Music of New Mexico: Native American Traditions” and “Heartbeat: Voices of First Nations Women”.

Follow Geraldine on Instagram at @geral.dine.barney and on Facebook at Gerri Barney.

Join us on Career Buzz as we explore the fascinating career story of Rodney Kaufman, founder of Corporate Canine Therapy. In the fast-paced corporate landscape, stress and burnout are prevalent, but Rodney and his partner Jane have a unique solution. Their specially trained therapy dogs are not only bringing joy and comfort to employees in workplaces but also supporting patients in hospitals. These furry therapists are transforming the way we view well-being in the workplace and healthcare settings, one wagging tail at a time. Rodney's journey, coupled with his background as an executive chef trained at Le Cordon Bleu, adds a rich layer to his story. Join us as we uncover the impact of Corporate Canine Therapy and the extraordinary bond between humans and dogs.  Get your cute dog serotonin boost on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

Join host Stephen Armstrong on 'Innovation Nation' on Career Buzz as he explores the intersection of real-world business practices with people's career evolution. This episode, 'Disruptive Change in the Global Economy: An In-depth Analysis,' provides an insightful discussion with industry veteran, Michael Blacklock. Armstrong and Blacklock delve into the challenges and intricacies of doing business internationally amidst unprecedented economic shifts.

Gain an understanding of the current struggles within Germany's and EU's economic landscape from Blacklock's perspective. Explore key topics like migration's role in a nation's economic health and the future of international business in an era of disruption. Learn from Blacklock's varied experiences, from working for multinational automotive manufacturers to advising Canadian government policies and private consulting.

This episode provides a robust exploration of the impact of socio-political unrest, environmental sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and cross-cultural competence on international trade. Discover crucial insights into navigating changing international market dynamics and positioning for successful business ventures.

Deep dive into Germany's current economic crisis, the influence of Canada's government, and increasing fears amongst global investors. Discuss potential opportunities created by smart partnerships between German businesses and North American market entities. The episode further explores China's economic paradigm shift and its global implications.

In conclusion, Armstrong and Blacklock discuss the potential influence of US elections on the German and Canadian economies. Understand the implications of changing trade agreements and defense spending commitments on the global economic canvas. Gain insights on how businesses can adapt and thrive in this volatile environment.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to expand your understanding of international trade and devise effective global career strategies. Tune into 'The Innovation Nation' for more in-depth analysis and discussions on global market navigation and disruptions.

The Canadian Artists Network is the voice of Canada’s elder professional artists – across all disciplines. It offers programs that enable artists to remain relevant, connected, informed, and motivated. Artists don’t retire. Their creativity and skills do not diminish with age. Creativity lives forever. The Canadian Artists Network raises awareness of the value of these artists as resources for the future and role models for emerging talent. We speak to  a mentorship pair, through the Network, mentee Sonia Gemmiti, a writer, director, producer, and her mentor, celebrated Canadian director, Guy Maddin. But first, host Mark Franklin is joined by Canadian Artists Network Executive Director, Scott Walker, about the career and life implication of the Network, and his own broadcasting career story.  

Scott Walker: LinkedIn   https://www.scottwalker.ca/

Guy Maddin: Instagram  IMDB Bio

Sonia Gemmiti: LinkedIn  Instagram 

Changes are necessary for businesses to grow and stay competitive in today’s fast moving market. A change management manager or team needs to focus on how to transition smoothly to meet the organization’s objectives so employees can adapt to a new environment or organizational structure quickly. In this episode, join Stephen Armstrong, host of "Innovation Nation", invites Kathryn Simpson, Certified Management Consultant and author of Leading for Change, to share her experience and current work with Leaders in the Life Sciences sector in North America and Europe to lead Change globally.

When was the last time you asked yourself, what do I want to do next? What is the difference between long life learning and lifelong learning? In this episode of Hoda’s Career Info, Dr Ingo Rauth and Dr Norma Dávila, reflect on these questions based on their career journeys. Listen, learn and join Hoda Kilani in her journey to increase everyone’s Career Literacy one interview at a time. 

Ingo Rauth: Senior Consultant, Design and Facilitation Refinery Leadership Partners

Norma Dávila: Executive Resume Writer & Career Coach of D&S Career Management and director of the Human Factor Consulting Group

Curious what it’s like to be a connector within the climate tech industry? In this episode, executive coach and career advisor Erica Mattison interviews Denise Hagen, Partnerships Manager at Greentown Labs, the largest cleantech startup incubator in the US. They discuss how she created a rewarding career and the importance of relationship building and communication in her work. Denise gives advice for mission-driven professionals who are seeking to make a positive impact on issues they care about. If you’re curious about climate innovation and ways to use your skills and interests to be part of the solution, this episode is for you!

Connect with Greentown Labs:

https://twitter.com/greentownlabs
https://www.linkedin.com/company/greentown-labs/
https://www.facebook.com/GreentownLabs/
https://www.instagram.com/greentownlabs/?hl=en⁠

International expansion provides an entirely new market of people that your business or product can serve and can allow your business to significantly grow. It isn't just about selling products outside your country but also sourcing products, materials, skills and partners. In this episode, join Stephen Armstrong, host of "Innovation Nation" and John Marsh, CEO of Manufacturing Systems Corp., a trailblazer in establishing an international technology business.

“Your network is your net worth!” Dr. Hoda Kilani of Right Career Fit invites Denis Gravelle of Devant, which helps international students in the Canadian job search market, and Marian Bernard, resume expert, on the show to share how their networks got them their next opportunities in their career journey. She explores the interesting and catchy statement that Denis  poses and continues the episode with Marian building on the value on your network. Listen, learn and join Hoda in her journey as she raises Career Literacy one interview at a time.

How can film and TV professionals stay resilient in their careers? One answer is finding alternative income-generating activities in the face of work inconsistency. Recorded during the US Actors Strike, Mark Franklin speaks with two Entertainment Community Professionals who found alternative income generating work. First, Birgitte Solem shares about her role as a senior consultant at Nerve Strategic alongside her acting career. In the second half of the show, Tony Nappo talks about the similarities of the craft of painting houses and the craft of being an actor.

When most people think of learning, they think of formal education: sitting in rows of chairs and reading from heavy textbooks. However, lifelong learning goes far beyond what you learn inside the classroom. Lifelong learning is a form of self-initiated education that is focused on personal development. Stephen Armstrong from Innovation Nation talks with Bryan Karney, professor of Civil engineering at the University of Toronto, about Life Long Learning and why it is important.

From Actors to Writers and from Grips to Graphic Designers, work in entertainment has a lot of variability which affects careers, lives, lifestyle and even mental health. With all these ups and downs, how can Entertainment professionals stay resilient in their careers? One answer is finding alternative income-generating activities in the face of work inconsistency.   In partnership with ⁠The AFC⁠, the lifeline for Canada’s entertainment industry, CareerCycles is pleased to offer this special series of our Career Buzz podcast, featuring success stories of Entertainment Community Professionals who found alternative income-generating activities. In this episode of Career Buzz, in partnership with The AFC, we hear from Tony Nappo: Tony Nappo has been painting houses longer than he’s been an actor, and says they’re both a craft. Giving someone a quote is just like an audition. Show up, do a good job, be a good person to work with. If you have any comments on this episode, please email mark@careercycles.com    Subscribe to Career Buzz and find it at ⁠https://careercycles.com/career-buzz-podcast/⁠

From Actors to Writers and from Grips to Graphic Designers, work in entertainment has a lot of variability which affects careers, lives, lifestyle and even mental health. With all these ups and downs, how can Entertainment professionals stay resilient in their careers? One answer is finding alternative income-generating activities in the face of work inconsistency.   In partnership with ⁠The AFC⁠, the lifeline for Canada’s entertainment industry, CareerCycles is pleased to offer this special series of our Career Buzz podcast, featuring success stories of Entertainment Community Professionals who found alternative income-generating activities. In this episode of Career Buzz, in partnership with The AFC, we hear from Birgitte Solem: Birgitte, an actor, also works as a coach and facilitator. Her work focuses on Professional Development in Leadership, Communication, Presentation, and Media Training. If you have any comments on this episode, please email mark@careercycles.com    Subscribe to Career Buzz and find it at ⁠https://careercycles.com/career-buzz-podcast/⁠

From Actors to Writers and from Grips to Graphic Designers, work in entertainment has a lot of variability which affects careers, lives, lifestyle and even mental health. With all these ups and downs, how can Entertainment professionals stay resilient in their careers? One answer is finding alternative income-generating activities in the face of work inconsistency.   In partnership with The AFC, the lifeline for Canada’s entertainment industry, CareerCycles is pleased to offer this special series of our Career Buzz podcast, featuring success stories of Entertainment Community Professionals who found alternative income-generating activities. In this episode of Career Buzz, in partnership with The AFC, we hear from Rex Hagon:  An actor and director, Rex developed a side career as an executive coach and trainer. He uses his transferable skills in communication and presence and “holding a room,” in his work with business leaders.  If you have any comments on this episode, please email mark@careercycles.com  Subscribe to Career Buzz and find it at https://careercycles.com/career-buzz-podcast/

From Actors to Writers and from Grips to Graphic Designers, work in entertainment has a lot of variability which affects careers, lives, lifestyle and even mental health. With all these ups and downs, how can Entertainment professionals stay resilient in their careers? One answer is finding alternative income-generating activities in the face of work inconsistency.   In partnership with The AFC, the lifeline for Canada’s entertainment industry, CareerCycles is pleased to offer this special series of our Career Buzz podcast, featuring success stories of Entertainment Community Professionals who found alternative income-generating activities. In this episode of Career Buzz, in partnership with The AFC, we hear from Jenny Young: Jenny, an actor, writer and producer, also leads a Toronto shoeshine company, Penny Loafers Shoe Shine. She hires people from the film and tv industry to work as shoe shiners so they can earn extra money.  If you have any comments on this episode, please email mark@careercycles.com    Subscribe to Career Buzz and find it at ⁠https://careercycles.com/career-buzz-podcast/⁠

Landscaping is a lot harder than lawn care. Stephen Armstrong of Innovation Nation brings an entrepreneurial story of a father and son partnership that started from a local landscaping and construction company. Their first product was a wheelbarrow with an engine and now some of the equipment they sell weighs over 12000 pounds. His guest, Mahmoud Hudra shares how he utilized transferable skills from his career journey to build Mammoth Machinery, an international enterprise empowering Canadian construction businesses to improve efficiency.

Follow Mammoth Machinery @ https://www.instagram.com/mammothmachineryinc/ https://www.facebook.com/Mammothmachineryca/

Honest feedback built on trust can motivate us to keep going and help us grow. Dr Hoda Kilani is joined by Jo Ayoubi, CEO and co-founder of Track Surveys, who shares valuable information on 360 Degree Feedback, what it means and why you should care about the process. Jo clarifies its value to both job seekers and career coaches. In the second half of the episode, Dave Crumby, Founder of 360 Talent Solutions and Sheffield Talent Solutions, builds on Jo’s work and shares important insights about the reasons companies are using what he likes to call 360 Talent Solutions. Listen, learn and join Hoda in her journey as she raises Career Literacy one interview at a time.

Film and television careers have times of feast and famine. In the Fall of 2023, the US Actors Strike continues. Many people in both film and TV, in both the US and Canada find themselves in a serious reduction in work income. How can film and TV professionals stay resilient in their careers? In this episode, Mark Franklin speaks with actors who have diversified their careers with transferable skills. Listen to Jenny Young's career story of running her own shoe shine company, Penny Loafers Shoe Shine. In the second half, Canadian actor and television host Rex Hagon, talks about his side career as a coach and trainer.

20-35% of people age 65 and above fall at least once a year. In this episode of Innovation Nation on Career Buzz, Stephen Armstrong meets with guest Geoff Fernie, scientist, professor and CEO of Hygienic Echo. They explore biomedical engineering, a relatively new field that merges concepts in engineering, to solve a wide and diverse array of problems tied to human health for everyday issues, like the reduction of falls more common growing into old age.

Dr Hoda Kilani is joined by Martin Buckland who introduces us to the concept of coopetition and shares some branding advice as well as networking tips for introverts. Next, Dr Natascha Saunders joins Hoda sharing her inspirational story and the value of having a vision that is supported by mentors. Listen, learn and join Hoda in her journey as she raises Career Literacy one interview at a time.

Next month is Domestic Violence Awareness month. Erica Mattison speaks with Maria Duffy, who serves as the director of development at REACH, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit organization that provides survivors of domestic violence with safety, shelter, and a path to healing. Their community-based approach promotes healthy relationships, fosters collaboration, and empowers community members to be agents of change.

Prior to joining the staff in 2022, Maria volunteered for the organization for two years. She is responsible for strategizing and implementing a fundraising plan focusing on individual donors, corporate giving, foundation grants, fundraising events, and special campaigns. She supervises the four-member development staff and is a member of the senior management team. Maria was formerly the assistant director of development at REACH and the annual giving manager of The Children’s Room, a Massachusetts-based bereavement nonprofit.

REACH’s website: https://reachma.org/ and 24/7 hotline number: 800-899-4000.

https://www.facebook.com/reachma 

https://www.instagram.com/reach_bdv/ 

http://www.twitter.com/reach_ma 

Erica: @ericamattison on IG and Twitter ; https://www.facebook.com/EricaMattisonCoachingConsulting LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericamattison/ 

Mentorship develops self awareness, a valuable trait when it comes to career development. Join Dr. Hoda Kilani as she raises Career Literacy with Life and Success Coach, Lametra Off who shares her dream and the reasons she values mentorship to fulfil a dream. In the second half of the episode, transformational executive coach and entrepreneur, Jared Bull, reminds us that if we see value in the work we do, then we should not be shy about talking about it.

In this episode of Innovation Nation on Career Buzz with Stephen Armstrong, the topics of housing, career and employment are covered when he meets again with Bob Duff, the executive director of St. Simon's Shelter in downtown Toronto. Bob Duff revisits his personal story and career trajectory from Bay street family man, to homelessness, to becoming a tireless front-line worker with the downtown homeless population.

In this week's episode, host Mark Franklin has a conversation with Michelle and Olivier Wagner about traveling freely while working remotely. They explore the idea of workcation and being digital nomads, a way to reconcile work and leisure to design the life that we want. Many countries worldwide have created special digital nomad visas to allow people to stay and work longer than regular visitor visas. Canada announced its own digital nomad visa program in the summer of 2023. 

What’s life like as a digital nomad? How do you get started? Michelle and Olivier Wagner have lived and worked in dozens of countries. Olivier is the CEO and U.S. tax expert of 1040 Abroad. He is also the author of the recently published Amazon Bestselling book, U.S. Taxes for Worldly Americans. Michelle is a director of finance for a Canadian organization.

Dr. Hoda Kilani is raising Career Literacy one interview at a time. In today’s episode, founder of The Wright Career Solution, Daisy Wright, shares her immigrant experience and provides career advice to new immigrants. Hoda is also joined by Career Transition Coach, Massimo Roselli, talking about the value of self-awareness, his understanding of consciousness coaching along with some career transition tips.

In this episode, Erica Mattison interviews with artist, entertainer, and restaurant manager, Ivanna Melay. 

How do people become tattoo artists? There are careers that require formal education, then there are careers like tattoo artist where the path is less structured, more colourful and storied. These stories often have their protagonists watching for clues and finding mentors, and taking inspired action to create opportunities. That’s the reality for this episode's guests, Omri Amar and Connor Yearwood. After working in 24 tattoo shops around the world, Omri Amar founded and leads Collingwood Tattoo Company in Collingwood, Ontario. Connor Yearwood is one of the tattoo artists who learned from Omri at Collingwood Tattoo parlour, and has been a contractor there and at TCB Tattoo parlour in Toronto.  

When the pandemic hit, job losses quickly followed. So, if you were in recruiting and staffing, business wasn't good. That’s what happened to Marc Belaiche and his team at TorontoJobs. So they took some of their downtime to plan and pivot. The resulting site, Guhuza.com, may just be the Uber of the recruiting and staffing sector. It’s a system that matches jobs to job seekers and streamlines the lengthy recruiting process from weeks to days. Listen to this episode to hear from president and co-founder of TorontoJobs and Guhuza, Marc Belaiche.

Dance across time with the unique career story of dancer, entrepreneur, body builder and rehabilitation therapist, Kristin Haight. At a critical turning point Kirstin accessed career counselling to help her identify her key skills and interests, link them to career possibilities and help her make a well informed choice.

She’s made many choices. After a lengthy career as a professional dancer in Winnipeg, mentored by the dance trailblazer Rachel Browne, a foot injury led Kristin to her first career change. Since then she’s made diverse career choices that have led her into Filmmaking, personal training, dance instructing, body building and now, into rehab therapy. She was even named Ms. Figure Manitoba in 2019. Of these many twists and turns and career choices, Kristin says “Any decision I’ve made has come true.” She now works at a rehabilitation therapy assistant which she calls “soul filling work”. There’s much to learn in this interview with Kirstin Haight.

Kirstin Haight on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-haight-a69406b3/

Kristin received career counselling through her connection to Dancer Transition Resource Centre https://dtrc.ca/  She accessed career counselling by CareerCycles https://careercycles.com/

Kristin learned personal training here https://manitobafitnesscouncil.ca/

Life and times of dance icon, and Kristin’s mentor, Rachel Browne https://rachelbrowne.org/

Kristin worked on this film about dance icon Rachel Browne https://agoodmadness.com/

Kristin danced this solo choreographed by Rachel Browne https://vimeo.com/128929304

Kristin’s personal training site https://www.fluidmuscle.com/

Kristin studied Rehab Therapy Assistant program at CDI https://www.cdicollege.ca/study-on-campus/manitoba/programs-by-campus/winnipeg/rehabilitation-therapy-assistant/

Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg where Kristin works  https://hsc.mb.ca/

Our interviewer, Hoda Kilani, is a Certified Professional Career Coach and Founder of Right Career Fit. Find Hoda’s career info on Youtube and Soundcloud and Linkedin.

After being shot at, threatened at gunpoint and rattled by having to catch drug runners, Robert High decided to change careers. He left the US Coast Guard and began a new career chapter as a private yacht boat captain. Hear Robert High’s fascinating career story, and take a tour of the 150 foot Cabernet yacht in the second half of today’s show.

The previous episode with John Hogan led interviewer, Mark Franklin, to think about what the public and listeners might not know about accessing career help. Career professionals often fly below the radar screen of most people. Angie Bjornson, CareerCycles associate, joined to chat about how and why people can benefit from a career professional. Like many career professionals who have previous work experience, Angie has a human resources background, and has been a career professional and senior associate CareerCycles for over 10 years.

On this episode we hear from Julie Lau, who is the Director of Engineering and Business & Operational Excellence at Chemtrade, which is an industrial chemical company based in Toronto with operations all over North America and Brazil.  Julie generously joined the career management class that host Mark Franklin teaches at University of Toronto. You’ll also hear from attentive students in the class who posed some helpful questions toward the end of the segment.

Dr. Hoda Kilani is raising Career Literacy one interview at a time. On a recent episode of Hoda’s Career Info, she interviewed Devon Turcotte owner of Careerified. purpose of changing the career conversation, and JP Michel, founder of SparkPath, creator of Challenge Cards

Our interviewer, Hoda Kilani, is a Certified Professional Career Coach and Founder of Right Career Fit. Find Hoda’s career info on Youtube and Soundcloud and Linkedin.