The Business Casual

Hey Trailblazers!!  In this week’s episode I am joined by Simran Dhall. Simran is a Client Solutions Manager at LinkedIn, and has over six years of experience in Performance Marketing and Digital Media within SaaS, Consumer-Packaged Goods, Aviation, Financial Services & Loyalty and E-commerce ranging from B2B to B2C Services. Throughout this episode, Simran talks about how she balanced her career and education, transitioning into a different industry, mentorship, how her perspective on sales has changed, and so much more.  

 Hey Trailblazers!!  In this week’s episode I am joined by a great friend of mine, Angy Higgy. Angy just recently graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in Computer Engineering and has a full time job with Snapchat lined up. Throughout this episode, Angy talks about how she decided to pursue computer engineering, comparing herself to other students, how she landed an internship at Pinterest, what the job interview process was like for her, and so much more. Whether you are a computer engineering student or not, Angy's insights are sure to resonate with you. Enjoy!!

Hey Trailblazers!!  In this week’s solo episode I am sharing my tips, tricks, and takeaways for being an intern. There is something for everyone in this episode - whether you have an internship locked in, are still looking for one, or have decided not to intern this summer. Within this episode, I share my thoughts on toxic internship culture, what my 5 tips are for interning, and what I have learned from some of my previous internships. Let's make the most of our internships Trailblazers! 

Hey Trailblazers!!  In this week’s episode I am joined by Mona Kennedy, the Chief Financial Officer at Roots. Roots is Canada's leading apparel and fashion lifestyle brand known for it's premium leather goods, apparel, and accessories. Mona transitioned over to the apparel space and joined Roots as CFO in January of 2020 after working in multiple industries prior. Throughout this episode, Mona talks about how immigrating to Canada at the age of 15 impacted her career, why she went back to get her MBA, the daily schedule as CFO, her advice for young professionals, and more!

Hey Trailblazers!!  In this week’s episode I am joined by Candice Jay, the Vice President of Connor, Clark & Lunn Private Capital Ltd. With over 15 years of experience in the financial industry, Candice helps foundations and high net worth families grow their wealth through generations. Candice is also a current board member of the University of Toronto Alumni Association and UHN Impact Collective of the Toronto General and Western Hospital Foundation. Throughout this episode, Candice talks about how she became interested in pursuing a career in wealth management, overcoming burnout, financial literacy tools for young professionals, and her tips for anyone interested in working in wealth management. 

Hey Trailblazers!!  In this week’s episode I am joined by one of Canada’s most influential business leaders, Judy Goldring. Judy is the President and Head of Global Distribution at AGF Management Limited where she oversees the execution of strategic plans in support of business priorities, counsels the CEO on business planning, and provides direction for corporate initiatives. Throughout this episode, Judy talks about finding your voice in the workplace, being a woman in business, the power of mentorship, what advice she has for young professionals in the modern workplace, and so much more.

Hey Trailblazers!! Happy International Women's Day!! In this week’s episode I am joined by Sara Nathanson. Sara is the Vice President of Talent Acquisition at Aritzia - the widely successful global fashion brand. Throughout this conversation, Sara talks about her 20 years working for Aritzia, describing how the brand has grown and the impacts of the pandemic. She gives great advice for new grads and young professionals about networking, LinkedIn mistakes to avoid, and how to know if a company’s culture is right for you.

Hi Trailblazers!! In this week’s episode I am joined by Caitlin Neve, Partner Manager at Pinterest. Early in her career, Caitlin gained experience in advertising agencies, sales, consulting, and more before landing her role at Pinterest. Throughout this conversation, Caitlin talks about her journey post grad, what her day to day looks like, ways to stay up to date with industry trends, networking tips, and more. Caitlin is also the Student Committee Chair of the AdClub of Toronto where she provides students guidance, support, and resources as they are transitioning out of school and into their career. Enjoy!

Hey Trailblazers!! In this week’s episode I am joined by leading corporate lawyer, Leila Rafi. Leila is a partner in the Capital Markets and M&A Group at McMillan LLP, practicing securities laws. She is a prolific speaker and is passionate about mentoring, networking and building a profile in Law. Leila has been awarded the Lexpert Rising Stars Award and was also identified as Best Lawyers, 2020 and 2021 and 2022. Throughout this episode, Leila talks about her journey to becoming a lawyer, the benefits of a law degree, tips for aspiring lawyers, networking mistakes, overcoming burnout, and so much more!

Hey Trailblazers!! I am so excited to have Brianne Helfrich in today’s episode. Brianne has multiple passions as the  founder and CEO of the clothing brand Helfrich Collective and the podcast host of Welcome to the Collective all while navigating the rollercoaster of post-grad life. Throughout this episode, Brianne shares her stories and experiences about transferring universities, med school, grad school rejections, starting her own clothing brand, advice for new grads, and so much more.

Hey Trailblazers!! I am so excited to have Kelly Burroughs joining me for today’s episode. Kelly is currently the Visual Development Coordinator at Marvel Studios and has previously worked at both DreamWorks Animation and Nickelodeon. Throughout this episode you will learn about Kelly’s career journey to working in production, what helped her during the interview process, her advice for young professionals, and all about her recently viral LinkedIn post. Enjoy!

Hey Trailblazers!! In this week’s episode I am answering all your questions that were submitted on Instagram about navigating finals week. I give my studying tips and tricks, how I find motivation to study, how you can best plan your time, and how to handle back to back exams. While finals can be stressful, always remember that you are not defined by your grades. You will also hear an exciting announcement at the end of the episode about what’s to come for future episodes of The Business Casual. Good luck to everyone on their exams!!

Hey Trailblazers!! I am so excited to have Daphne Baldassari joining me for today’s episode. Daphne is a PhD candidate in Strategic Management at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and a PhD research fellow at the Institute for Gender and the Economy. Her research is focused on understanding the mechanisms helping to improve diversity interventions and create gender equality within organizations, specifically studying to see if - and how - structural interventions disrupt gender inequality. Throughout this episode you will learn if we are actually making strides towards real change, what diversity intervention means, the influence of the global pandemic on diversity, the value of mentoring, and so much more!

Hey Trailblazers!! I am so excited to be joined by DiveThru founder, Sophie Gray. After hitting rock bottom with her mental health, Sophie was determined to help other people who were struggling with their mental health, creating the DiveThru app. DiveThru helps users take charge of their mental health by providing resources and tools. Everyone’s mental health journey is unique and DiveThru acknowledges this through their wide range of support. Throughout this episode, Sophie and I talk all about her rise on social media, the importance of detaching your self worth from your career, her mental health breakdown, and how she has navigated the startup world while building DiveThru.

Hey Trailblazers!! You’ve probably heard about NFTs (Non-fungible tokens), but with so many cryptocurrency buzzwords floating around it can be hard to keep up and understand what it all means. Today I am joined by Jennifer Sutto, aka “Jenny from the Blockchain”, host of the NFT Catcher Podcast. In this episode, Jennifer talks about her journey to understanding NFTs and crypto, how pop culture has impacted the space, resources she recommends, and so much more. If you’ve been at all curious about dabbling in the NFT world, Jennifer’s simple breakdowns will be a lifesaver in knowing how to get started.

Hey Trailblazers!! Today’s episode features two incredible sisters, Anya and Shania Bhopa, who are co founders of the Canadian Courage Project. Together, Anya and Shania are empowering young people to strive for social impact while supporting youth facing homelessness. They dive into the lessons they've learned since launching the Canadian Courage Project, how they balance multiple responsibilities, and so much more! Don’t forget to follow us on IG @business.casual.podcast for updates and on TikTok @thebusinesscasualpodcast for exclusive content.