Welcome back to Coffee with Convery, where we dive into the journeys, insights, and innovations shaping the future of business, leadership, and community.

Today, we’re spotlighting an incredible student organization making waves at the Schulich School of Business—Schulich Pride Alliance.

Schulich Pride Alliance has been a beacon of inclusivity, fostering a welcoming space for 2SLGBTQ+ students to connect, learn, and thrive. Through community-building, education, professional development, and mentorship, they are creating lasting impact both within Schulich and beyond.

Joining me today are two remarkable student leaders who are driving this mission forward: Eric Martins, President of Schulich Pride Alliance, and Linh Vo, VP of Corporate Relations.

Both have played instrumental roles in expanding the club’s reach, strengthening corporate partnerships, and advocating for meaningful diversity, equity, andinclusion in business. 

We’ll explore their leadership journeys, the evolution of the Schulich Pride Alliance, and what it means to create truly inclusive spaces for students and future leaders.

Welcome to Coffee with Convery, where we explore stories, insights, and careers that inspire.

In this special edition of Legacy in Motion: Black History Month, I sit down with Reggie Waterman—a visionary leader in marketing, mentorship and professional development.

With over 15 years of experience driving strategy in Canada’s largest communications and technology companies, Reggie has built a career at the intersection of innovation and leadership. As the Founder of NEXT TEN and Easy Apply Inc., he is dedicated to empowering professionals, fostering career growth, and helping people unlock their full potential. His passion for mentorship and community impact has made him a driving force in supporting emerging talent.

 Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a professional looking to level up, or someone navigating the complexities of career growth, this conversation is for you.

🎙️ Start 2025 with a Dose of Career Inspiration! 🚀

We’re rewinding to the #1 most popular episode of Coffee with Convery featuring Tad Chisti, Head of Digital Experience Practice at IBM Canada. Fun fact: your host, Convery, hired Tad as an intern 10 years ago!

Get ready to dive into Tad’s incredible journey as he shares:
- How to build diverse, high-performing teams
- The surprising power of curiosity
- His secret key to success

This is one story you can’t miss.

So, grab your favorite brew, settle in, and get ready to be inspired! ☕

For more career-boosting conversations, visit coffeewithconvery.com. 🚀

Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery.

On today’s podcast, my guest is Alyssa Nurse.

Alyssa is a 4th year student at the University of Toronto, St. George campus where she is studying for her Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science with an expected graduation date of June 2023.

Alyssa is currently a Commuter Don for the University of Toronto, Victoria University and is the Co-President of the Caribbean Studies Students’ Union and Editor-in-Chief of the student-run group’s Caribbean Quilt which is an an editorial journal that provides an interdisciplinary medium for expression and critical thought focused on the study of the Caribbean and its peoples.

Alyssa is also Co-President of Connections. A nonprofit organization focused on offering Black self-identifying women at the University of Toronto and surrounding areas a safe space in which they can communicate without their voices being policed. The group also offers members direct access to professionals by inviting diverse workers to speak at our gatherings in order to provide members with actionable information and tools to begin their professional journey.

Most recently, Alyssa received the CEWIL Canada 2022 Work-Integrated Learning Student of the Year Award as well as the 2022 Experiential & Work Integrated Learning Ontario Student of the Year Award for her internship and exceptional work with the NATO Association of Canada (NAOC). During her internship she worked to provide timely written articles and organize public events and political conferences.

I had the chance to sit down with Alyssa and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!

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Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery.

On today’s podcast, I have invited Joe Henry to join me.

Joe Henry is the Dean of Students at King’s University College. Founded in 1954, King’s University College at Western University is a Catholic, liberal arts university college affiliated with a large, world-class university. As a Catholic university, King’s emphasizes the value of each individual and the importance of social justice. Students from all faiths and backgrounds are welcome. Offering degree programs in the arts, social sciences, management and social work, King’s is home to approximately 3500 full- and part-time students from across Canada as well as 35 other countries.

As Dean of Students, Joe supports the academic mission through the provision of programs that enhances the quality of student life and learning outside the classroom at King’s University College. He oversees the direction of student support services, facilities and student co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. He is also responsible for the operation of the residence facilities and residential life programming and administers the Student Code of Conduct at King’s. As member of the senior administration at King’s he advises the college on a variety of issues that impact the student experience on campus and also act as an advisor to the King’s University College Student Council.

I had the chance to sit down with Sam and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!

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#WorkIntegratedLearning #WIL #WILMonth

Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. On today’s Careering Talk, my guest today is Sam Demma.

Sam Demma is a 2-time TEDx Speaker, Author, Podcast Host and Youth Speaker. He is the youngest board director of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers and co-founder of PickWaste, a volunteer organization that mobilizes youth to pick up litter in their communities. He has interviewed and showcased over 230 educators through his multi-media platform, The High Performing Educator, and his High Performing Student Program has made an impact on youth in six countries.

Sam is routinely invited to share his work through news outlets like Breakfast Television, CBC, CTV, Global News, and CityNews. As a result of Sam’s keynote presentations, students and educators often commit to performing more acts of kindness, taking small, consistent actions toward their personal goals, and proactively looking for ways to serve others.

I had the chance to sit down with Sam and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!

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Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. On today’s podcast, I have invited Wahab Owolabi to join me.

Wahab is a Washington & Jefferson College graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics.

Wahab is the Founder of OneReq a community for talent acquisition professionals passionate about DEI. He has worked as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leader at facebook in San Francisco, California and is the founder of the URx Conference which was created for and organized by recruiters and developers of early career talent.

Wahab also is a lot of things — he is an entrepreneur, a product manager, a recruiter, and a marketer, to name a few. He has worked at Startups, universities, and in Venture Capital.

He loves building diverse communities of talent and scaling programs to achieve a common goal to bring a sense of community and belonging.

I had the chance to sit down with Wahab to discuss Black history always, tech and endless opportunities and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!

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Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. On today’s podcast, I have invited David Ojeyinka to join me.

David is a graduate of the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University with Master of Management Innovation & Entrepreneurship. He also holds a Associate Degree in International Business Management from Mohawk College and a Bachelor’s Degree, Psychology and Business from Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria.

He has worked held many positions at RBC and he is currently the Manager, Workplace Experience at Deloitte Canada. He also the founder of the Freshstart Hub, a career advancement platform for Internationally Trained Talents and International Students. The hub provides career support to internationally trained talents and assist companies with their diversity recruitment & marketing efforts.

As a public speaker, David empowers his audiences with practical insights and tools they can immediately apply to solve challenging problems in their businesses or careers. He has spoken about navigating uncertainties for immigrants, effective networking, and strategies to close the underemployment gap for skilled new Canadians at numerous corporate and college events.

As a community builder, David is board member of Horizons for Youth where he provides strategic advice to advance the mission of the organization.

I had the chance to sit down with David to discuss Black History Month, patience and compassion and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!

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Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. On today’s Black History Month Talk, I have invited Noel Abingwa to join me.

Noel is a graduate from Sheridan College with an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration Finance and has held positions as a Student Union Board Chairperson and an Enactus Project Director while attending Sheridan College. Noel also holds a Bachelor of Technology, Environmental Engineering from the University of Bamenda in Cameroon located in west central Africa.

He is currently employed at BMO as a Business Analyst in Wealth Management Operations, he serves as a volunteer Communications co-lead for the BMO Black Professionals Network and a BMO Wellness Champion. Noel will be starting an Investment Banking Secondment role in BMO Capital Markets in May of 2023, a role he always coveted.

Noel also has his own YouTube channel, @NoelAbingwa where he shares tips and tricks on how to immigrate to Canada and live the Canadian Dream!

#CoffeeWithConvery #Podcast #BHM #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. On today’s Black History Month Talk, I have invited Betsy Danso to join me.

Betsy is a Honors Graduate of the University of Windsor with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Labor Relations & Communications, Media & Film.

Betsy is a passionate leader in all things involving people, strategy & technology and she has a knack for problem solving. She is a champion for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and she has an outstanding track record across Banking, Program Management, and strategic initiatives at RBC and now at BMO.

Betsy also is an entrepreneur and owns her company RICH For Him For Hur — a one stop shop for Organic Luxury Skincare. You can find her products at richskinfh.com.

I had the chance to sit down with Betsy to discuss Black History Month, confidence and acceptance and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!

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Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. On today’s Black History Month Talk, I have invited the one and only Hugh Lawson to join me.

Hugh is a Wilfrid Laurier University (go hawks) graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies. While school, Hugh was busy with his studies and with his athletics and community involvement. He was the Resident Don for the C.H. Little House Men’s Residence and while on the Varsity Football Team he was CIAU All Canadian, 3-Time OUAA Conference All Star, Captain Of National Championship Winning Team, JP Metras Award Nominee – Top Lineman, Ontario Conference, Team Defensive MVP Award, Draft Pick: Toronto Argonauts Football Club (CFL) and the WLU Athletics Hall Of Fame Inductee in 2016.

Hugh has over 25 years of experience helping clients drive business results by designing, executing and managing effective B2B solutions for Enterprise size clients. He has worked for Staples for most of his career and supported other organizations along the way. Most recently, Hugh joined EHN Canada

Home to the country's largest network of industry-leading mental health and addiction treatment centres as the Head of Business Development.

Hugh and I met each other through the Black Talent Initiative in 2020 which focuses on equity in career access for Black Canadians and we have never looked back.

I had the chance to sit down with Hugh to discuss Black History Month, social justice, and sports with Hugh Lawson and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!

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Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. On today’s Black History Month Talk, I have invited Troy Elleston to join me.

Troy has a Bachelor of Science, Honors Degree, in Biology/ Biological Sciences from Ontario Tech University and an Advanced Biotechnology Diploma from Centennial College.

Full-time, Troy currently functions in a virtual Fintech Operations space, aiming to navigate 21st century technical IT/SaaS tools to drive real-time financial solutions processes, which will transform the ways several companies adopt B2B digital payments.

Part-time, Troy has remained involved with young people aged 15–25 in both a teaching & mentoring capacity, in order to promote continuous learning and suggest logical ideas for effective learning habits. As a professional/private educator, he aims to successfully optimize today’s social tools to enhance the virtual (cognitive) learning experience(s) of BIPOC youth.

I had the chance to sit down with Troy to discuss Black History Month, tech and emotional intelligence and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #Podcast #BHM #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.

On today’s podcast, my guest is Ariana Shamsuddin.

Ariana is in high school attending the Terry Fox Secondary School and resides in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada.

Ariana and I got connected through a very special person in both our lives, the one and only Sarah Wells. If you do not know Sarah Wells you should. Sarah is an Olympic hurdler and Pan Am Silver Medalist, an Amazing Race Canada participant and founder of her Believe Initiative founded fittingly on a message of resilience. Through 6 degrees of Sarah Wells, both Arian and I have been deeply involved in Sarah’s Believe Initiative. If interested, you can find more information on the Believe Initiative at believeinitiative.com.

Ariana is not just your average high school student, Ariana is a TEDx Speaker who recorded her first talk “Keys to Growth” as a Grade 11 student in June 2022 with the TEDxGleneagleSecondary. Ariana is the Believe Leadership Student Director and past Chapter Head of the Believe Leadership Course at Terry Fox Secondary. She was also Loran Scholar Semi Finalist this year. Founded in Toronto in 1988, the Loran Scholars Foundation is a national charitable organization awarding scholarships for students entering post-secondary in Canada.

I had the chance to sit down with Ariana to discuss Affirmation, acceptance and adaptability and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #Podcast #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Welcome to another inspiring episode of Coffee with Convery!

Today, I’m delighted to introduce Brandon Lapointe, an ambitious recent graduate from Sheridan College's Pilon School of Business. With a Bachelor of Business Administration specializing in Human Resources, Brandon is ready to take his next big step in the HR field. Brandon’s journey showcases an impressive blend of hands-on customer service expertise, talent acquisition experience, and a knack for innovative problem-solving. His work with PC Express at Fortinos Supermarket highlights a commitment to excellence in customer relations, while his stint as a Talent Acquisition Recruiter at Gordon Food Service demonstrates his ability to connect talent with opportunity.

Brandon is now looking to channel these experiences into an impactful role where he can contribute to organizational success while continuing to grow as a professional.

If you’re on the lookout for a dedicated, driven, and innovative HR talent, you’ll want to tune in to hear his story. Let’s explore what makes Brandon a standout candidate for the future of work!

Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years. On today’s Careering Talk, my guest today is Angelo Suntres.

Angelo is a graduate of Western University with a Bachelor of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering.

Angelo is a passionate leader in the construction industry with 17 years of experience in designing and building in the ICI sector. His competencies include project management, estimating and leadership. He has represented both contractors and owners and understands the struggles form both sides of the fence. Angelo believes that focusing on the human principles of connection including effective communication and fostering healthy relationships is a critical part to ensuring a successful future for the construction industry.

In addition to having worked for Bering Mechanical, University Health Network, Black & McDonald Limited and Ellis Don, Angelo is the founder of his company AGS where he helps construction professionals be the best that they can be. He is also the author of his new book “The Human Side of Construction: How to Ensure a Successful, Sustainable and Profitable Career as a Contractor, Project Manager, Estimator or Superintendent” and a facilitator of online resources for construction education. You can learn more at his website suntres.ca and sign up for his Sunday newsletters and some professional 1:1 coaching as well if interested.

I had the chance to sit down with Angelo to discuss Construction, humans and connections and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!

Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years. On today’s Careering Talk, my guest today is Anthony Morra.

Anthony is an honors graduate from the University of Toronto Scarborough with a BBA in Business Management. He also holds a MBA in Business Administration and Management from the Hult International Business School based in San Francisco, California. During his schooling, Anthony was the soccer coach at UTSC and captain of the soccer and hockey clubs. At Hult, Anthony was the President of Hult Soccer Club (San Francisco Chapter), Head Coach Hult Undergraduate Soccer Team (West Coast Soccer League/Club). In addition, to his passion for sports and school, he holds a Certification in Cognitive Therapy.

Anthony is a driven entrepreneur with Change Management and Project Management experience. He guides companies in a variety of industries with his in-depth knowledge of human motivation and teaches executives on how to create motivating environments and teams.

Currently, Anthony is the CEO of Bladetech Hockey. They manufacture replacement hockey skate blades with patented flexible technology (Flex Force Advantage): which improves speed and reduces injuries. Anthony successfully led the company’s product launch in 2015 and positioned it as a premier brand for the NHL and competitive players. He directed the comprehensive market research project and oversaw the creation of the top-tier brand strategy. Anthony also developed and implemented a fully operational e-commerce website and the digital communications strategy. You can learn more about his company at bladetechhockey.com.

I had the chance to sit down with Anthony to discuss Sports, entrepreneurship and networking and I am happy to share our conversation with you, enjoy!

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Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years. On today’s Careering Talk, my guest is Adam Rodricks.

Adam is a University of Toronto Scarborough graduate with a BBA in Management and Marketing.

Adam Rodricks is an international award-winning social media strategist and speaker who has transformed “word of mouth” into a world of mouth for Fortune 500 companies. His first book, Trigger Fingers: Personal Branding through Storytelling skyrocketed to the top of the charts, becoming a #1 best-seller in Canada in the categories of Direct Marketing, Public Relations and Business.

For the past 7 years, he’s worked as the National Lead of Digital Marketing Services at KPMG in Canada. In his spare time, Adam teaches the LinkedIn fundamentals course at George Brown College and serves as a Program Advisor on Digital Engagement Strategy at Centennial College.

In 2022, the Speakers Bureau of Canada named Adam “Canada’s Top Social Media Strategist”. His work as a social media influencer has been featured on CBC, CTV, Yahoo, BNN, Staples Tech TV, Nintendo.ca and his own site: www.adamrodricks.com.

I had the chance to sit down with Adam to discuss Branding, Marketing and Cake, Cake, Cake, Cake, Cake and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

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Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years. On today’s episode, my guest is Elilan Sureskumar.

Elilan is a highly driven individual who is passionate about his work and making a meaningful impact. He is currently a fourth-year BBA candidate at the Schulich School of Business pursuing a specialization in finance and strategic management.

Elilan is currently a risk analyst intern with the QuadReal Property Group here in Toronto and he has a number of work experiences in his past including being a ServiceOntario Licensing Clerk for the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, a Business Development Intern for Neeva Baby, and has worked for the Office of the Mayor for the City of Brampton as an Executive Assistant and a Special Projects Assistant.

Some things Elilan enjoys doing in his free time include reading, working out, travelling, learning new things, trying new foods, and spending time with his friends and family.

I had the chance to sit down with Elilan to discuss Networking, internships, and diversity and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

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Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years. On today’s Careering Talk, my guest today is Nitai Ben-Shach.

Nitai received his law degree from the University of Toronto with a BA (Double Major History and Political Science) from McGill. After completing his articles at a Bay Street firm, with a primary focus in corporate commercial and real estate law, he began his practice at a boutique entertainment firm in downtown Toronto.

Nitai has practiced in the areas of entertainment, media, intellectual property and corporate commercial law, with an emphasis on film and television production and financing. He has advised actors, producers, writers and artists on matters including rights acquisition, licensing and distribution.

A wide variety of employment experiences ranging from business and legal development for a major film company to consular security has given Nitai a strong work ethic and a wide skill set. Using his well honed interpersonal skills and ability to communicate in four languages, Nitai has worked in public oriented jobs in Canada and France.

A lover of all things fermented and left to age in oak, Nitai is also an avid reader and commenter on anything related to business, technology, law, entertainment, sports and politics.

Nitai and I met over coffee literally as he and I partnered on the RBC Ten Thousand Coffees Student Networking Platform at RBC in 2016. We have worked on a number of impactful projects together and I am excited to have him on the show.

I had the chance to sit down with Nitai to talk Law, rugby and technology/ strategy with Nitai Ben-Shach and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

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On today’s Careering Talk, I have invited a very special guest Deidre Convery-Bernard. Deidre is not only my younger sister but she is also an accomplished role model, authentic trailblazer, a loving wife, a loyal friend and a mom to her 3 cats Winston, George, Gracie and her dog, Brooke.

Deidre's career story is an interesting and inspiring one which started out with a high school experience of classes in typing and focus on clerical skills and development. Her High School guidance counselor advised Deidre in her senior year to not pursue college or university and to take her skills and abilities and seek a career in office clerical work. Deidre went on to pursue an education with the Krissler Business Institute in our hometown of Poughkeepsie, New York and started her career working as clerical support for a law firm.

Later in her late 20s, Deidre thought although her career in clerical support was interesting it was not as rewarding as she had originally hoped and she was going to go back to school to pursue a career change. While working, Deidre earned her Associates of Arts in Liberal Arts and Humanities from Dutchess Community College, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Speech and Hearing and a Masters in Communication Disorders from the State University of New York at New Paltz. Deidre's other credentials and certifications include being a Licensed New York State Speech Language Pathologist, a Certificate of Clinical Competence - CCC-SLP and a New York State Permanent Certification – Speech and Hearing Handicapped.

In 2019, Deidre was the recipient of the New York Capital Area Speech Language and Hearing Association Service Award. This award is presented to a Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist or individual who has made outstanding contributions to the fields of Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology, to the communicatively impaired, or to professional organizations that serve these groups.

Today, Deidre works for the Johnsburg Central School in North Creek, New York where she designs and provide intervention services for classified students with mild to severe speech/language delays associated with speech/language impairments, learning disabilities, autism, other health impairments, hearing impairments, multiple disabilities, and emotional disabilities. Deidre has aided, helped, touched and changed hundreds of children and families lives over the years through her love and dedication to her work.

I had the chance to sit down with Deidre to talk Thanksgiving, Speech Pathology and Determination and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy! 

#CoffeeWithConvery #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.

My guest today is Stephanie Leonardelli. Stephanie has a number of educational experiences to her credit including an International Bachelor of Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business at York University— where she completed part of her degree in Barcelona at Esade – and a Master’s Degree in Journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University. This fall, she returned to Schulich and is currently pursuing her MBA with a specialization in marketing.

Stephanie has a number of work experiences as well to her credit dating back to being a learning and development associate with Investment Planning Counsel over the course of her undergrad. When she entered her masters of journalism, she took on a research assistant role with Toronto Metropolitan University during the school year as well as Corporate Relations Associate for TedxRyerson. Starting in May 2021, Stephanie began as a segment producer with Bell Media at CTV. She continues to freelance there, producing meaningful and engaging segments for Canada's national morning show, Your Morning. When she’s not producing television segments, she works part-time as a client care associate as a financial advising office.

My collision with Stephanie happened in the fall of 2021 with TedXRyerson. This encounter changed my life forever as I lived out one of my bucket list moments which was my first Ted Talk. Stephanie was my coach and her support was just amazing.

In her spare time, Stephanie likes cooking, to be active, to work-out and to spend time with family.

I had the chance to sit down with Stephanie to talk Journalism, empathy and guacamole and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.

Today we are continuing “Careering Talk” which is an open mic series to empower job and career seekers with knowledge, insights, career pathing and coaching to find that dream job and develop a career with purpose and impact.

On today’s Careering Talk, I have invited Jahanzaib Ansari to join me. Jahanzaib is a keynote speaker, a life-long learner, and the Co-Founder & CEO of Knockri; an AI-powered behavioral assessment tool, and a leader in HR technology. 

He co-founded Knockri because of the discrimination he faced in the hiring process, he is now on a mission to defeat unconscious bias and increase diversity in the workforce. Knockri works with Fortune 500’s such as IBM and has been featured in numerous media outlets including Forbes, Bloomberg, The Daily Mail, Huffington Post, Tech Crunch, Venture Beat, CBC’s National, The Globe and Mail, MaRs & Many other Notable Publications. Jahanzaib is often invited to share his thoughts on A.I., The Future of Work, Unconscious Bias, and Diversity at major events internationally. 

In 2018, he was named to the Forbes Technology Council, recognized as Innovator of the year by Ascend, and named among 22 of Canada’s most promising young HR professionals by HRD Magazine.

I had the chance to sit down with Jahanzaib Ansari to talk Resiliency, challenges and finding happiness and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Today we are continuing “Careering Talk” which is an open mic series to empower job and career seekers with knowledge, insights, career pathing and coaching to find that dream job and develop a career with purpose and impact.

On today’s Careering Talk, I have invited James Hornick to join me. James is a Penn State University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. James is a Partner at 𝗛𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 and he hosts Hirewell's 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 podcast. James is the #3 sarcastic commenter on LinkedIn and he actively talks about topics such as hiring, content, sarcasm, and recruiting from his home in Chicago, Illinois.

Since 2001, HireWell has been a staple in the Chicago business community where he and his talented team of recruiters help their clients grow by recruiting top-tier talent from technology, human resources, digital experience and marketing, sales finance and accounting, real estate services and more.

In his spare time, James likes to trade financial derivates, lift weights and troll the internet.

I had the chance to sit down with James to talk Sarcasm, recruiting and emotional quotient (EQ) and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.

On today’s #CoffeeWithConvery podcast we are continuing the series “Throwback Thursday” where I bring onto the show students and young talent that I met years ago and to see where they are now.

My guest today is Ben Horgan, a graduate from the Ivey School of Business at Western University with an Honors in Business Administration and is also a graduate of the University of Oregon with a Master of Science in Sports Product Management.

As an avid certified CrossFitter and Ironman athlete, Ben has a passion for the fitness industry and making wellness accessible to all people. He is currently working in Boston, Mass. for Reebok as a Senior Manager of Product Storytelling and Marketing responsible for Training and Running Footwear categories. Prior to Reebok, Ben also worked for Nike, was a Co-Founder for North Strong Collective, did an internship with Under Amour and worked at IBM where we first met back in 2012.

I had the chance to sit down with Ben to talk Crossfit, sports marketing and raspberry pie and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

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Welcome back to Coffee With Convery !

Today, we’re joined by Sanjay Padhiar, a dynamic business consultant and Fractional COO with over a decade of experience helping businesses streamline their operations 📈, improve processes 🔄, and, most importantly, turn customers into raving fans 😍.

Sanjay is the Principal Consultant at IMA Consulting 🏢, where he leverages his deep knowledge of business management to help companies like Loblaw, adidas, Reebok, Bell, and Staples 🏅 boost profits 💰 and productivity ⚙️.

His entrepreneurial journey 🚀 was inspired by his father’s approach to customer care 💖, and now Sanjay is on a mission to help businesses serve their customers better by enabling their employees to work smarter 🧠.

Let’s dive into Sanjay’s fascinating career journey 🌍, his insights on business 💼, and his advice for young professionals eager to make an impact! 👏

Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.

My guest today is Marc Ang. Marc is a graduate of Centennial College with an International Business Diploma. Marc started his career as a Sun Life Financial Advisor moved to Enterprise Rent-A-Car as a manager and has spent the past 13+ years in recruitment at various organizations including being an independent North American and Global consultant for talent acquisition, IT and sourcing for his clients.

In his spare time Marc likes to watch a good ol’ Kung-Fu movie with his baby daughter.

I had the chance to sit down to talk Sales, recruitment and perfecting your craft with Marc and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.

On today’s Careering Talk, I have invited Susanne Frame to join me. Susanne is a graduate from Western University with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and she is also a graduate from the University of Waterloo and holds a Master of Arts in Language and Professional Writing.

Susanne started her career as an Assistant Editor with the Professional Engineers Ontario and spent the majority of her career at IBM in employee communications, instructional design, and content strategy with IBM’s Interactive Experience Group. In her latest venture, Susanne is a Content Director for the digital team at Scotiabank.

In her spare time, Susanne likes to make good use of the 7 TV streaming services she has somehow accumulated and be a great mom to Lipstick, her senior cat.

I had the chance to sit down with Susanne to talk Professional writing, branding and user experience and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.

If you are tuning in for the first time, “Careering Talk” is an open mic series to empower job and career seekers with knowledge, insights, career pathing and coaching to find that dream job and develop a career with purpose and impact.

On today’s Careering Talk, I have invited Katie Tyler to join me. Katie is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University and has held a number of leadership positions throughout her impressive career. She has worked for IBM for over 15 years and has spent the last 8+ years with Deloitte. Katie collectively brings over two decades of success in leading large-scale business and technology transformation initiatives. Combining a mastery of technology and passion for transforming organizations, Katie knows the best practices her clients need to optimize service delivery, vendor selection, talent management, service delivery and the employee experience. Her contribution has translated into improved operational efficiency and increased shareholder value throughout organizations in a variety of industries.

 Katie is also a Certified Human Resources Professional and certified SAP consultant, Katie’s particular areas of expertise include large scale SAP S/4 Transformations, Human Capital and Business Process Transformation, HR Cloud Solutions, as well as SAP Human Resources, Time Management and Payroll.

I had the chance to sit down with Katie to talk Aptitude, attitude and empathy and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.

Today we are continuing “Careering Talk” which is an open mic series to empower job and career seekers with knowledge, insights, career pathing and coaching to find that dream job and develop a career with purpose and impact.

On today’s Careering Talk, I have invited Cara Krezek to join me. Cara is a Western University graduate with a BA in History and is currently completing a Master of Arts in Leadership from the Lang School of Business and Economics at the University of Guelph, where she is researching the impact of strengths-based teams. Cara is currently the Director, Co-op, Career & Experiential Education at Brock University, where she has been involved in higher education for over 16 years. Cara also has held the position of CEWIL (Co-op Education & Work Integrated Learning) Canada President and CEO, where she successfully secured a multi-million dollar grant for CEWIL through Federal Government funding and led the national association through the global pandemic by bringing the community together to share, learn and support each other.

Cara is also a certified CliftonStrengths Coach. She has been an entrepreneur with her own consulting business for a number of years and has worked as a recruiting manager at Brock and at Enterprise Rent-A-Car for Southwestern Ontario.

I had the chance to sit down with Cara to talk Passion, intentionality and thought and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.

My guest today is Julian Flowers a University of Toronto Scarborough student working towards his Bachelor of Psychology and Health Sciences with hopes of graduating in 2023.

Julian describes himself as a energetic and passionate individual who has experience in customer services and sales. He has been a community volunteer working with elderly residents with Extendicare Rouge Valley; worked as a sales associate with Toy R Us; a sales associate with Vector Marketing; and recently worked as an Operations Analyst at RBC and is now going into his 4th year at UTSC.

In his spare time Julian likes to play guitar, video games, go to concerts, and shoot photography.

I had the chance to sit down with Julian to talk Music, networking and responsibilities and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.

My guest today is Yash Goyal. Yash is a graduate of the Jaypee University of Information Technology with a Bachelor of Technology, Civil Engineering and currently enrolled at Northeastern University in Toronto pursuing his Master of Science in Project Management with an expected graduation date in July 2023.

Yash describes himself as a confident, committed and curious individual. While attending Jaypee University of Technology, Yash was a Project Coordinator Intern with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and he also worked as a Business Analyst with Voli Innovations Private Limited.

He realized his passion for Project Management and decided to move to Canada for his post-graduation to pursue a Master of Science in Project Management with Project Business Analysis as his concentration with Northeastern University, Toronto. Throughout his studies and internships, Yash has worked on various Data Visualization projects where he has gotten hands-on experience with MS Office and Power BI and learned even more about Business Analytics. He holds a Certified Associate in Project Management Certification from PMI, is currently working part-time as Operations Team Member with Saisethsons Hospitality Group Inc. and will be starting his Fall Co-op in September with Scotia Bank.

I had the chance to sit down with Yash to talk Networking, Personal Growth and Red Velvet Cake and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.

My guest today is Matt Parkin. Matt graduated with an Honors in Business Administration from the Ivey Business School at Western.

Matt is an amazing entrepreneurial spirit who has been engaging in volunteerism, clubs and sports since he was born. He holds many licenses, certifications and over 20 awards including: a Certified Associate in Project Management, a Lean Six Sigma White Belt, a Delaware Hall First-Year Involvement Award, Robert V. Hicks Scholarship at Ivey (Awarded to an HBA student with high academic standing and a career interest in HR Management), a J.J. Wettlaufer Award at Ivey (Awarded to the male student in each section who, in the opinion of their peers, excels in activities within and outside the Business School) to name a few. To his credit, Matt was also in the top 25% of his class in his third year at Ivey.

Matt is Director and Co-Founder of LEAP Canada a federally-incorporated non profit organization that equips students with the knowledge, skills, and connections they need to bridge the gap between high school and post-secondary education; Co-Founder of #Coble which educates, motivates, and holds students accountable during their job search with easy and actionable daily steps; a LinkedIn Personal Branding Coach and Business Development Lead and currently works at FindWRK in Customer Success/ Sales.

I had the chance to sit down with Matt to talk LinkedIn, Personal Branding and Entrepreneurship and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.

If you are tuning in for the first time, “Careering Talk” is an open mic series to empower job and career seekers with knowledge, insights, career pathing and coaching to find that dream job and develop a career with purpose and impact.

On today’s Careering Talk, I have invited Sergeant Julien Ponsioen from the Metro Vancouver Transit Police to share with us his journey to law enforcement, his time spent with the BC Ambulance Service for over 25 years and to discuss his passion for all thing diversity and inclusion including his leadership and activism with the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Julien spent close to two years as the Vice President of Out On Patrol an incorporated non-profit peer support organization for 2SLGBTQ+ members of law enforcement focusing on community engagement, charitable work, and education. Julien is definitely a social media influencer and is engaging on many social channels including TikTok and twitter where his “Coffee with a Cop” has many followers including me. Julien is an active participant and past co-chair with Cops for Cancer Tour de Coast which supports the Canadian Cancer Society to fund outstanding pediatric cancer research and support programs like Camp Goodtimes. Since its start in 1977, Cops for Cancer has raised nearly $50 million to increase survival rates and support children living with cancer and their families.

In his spare time Julien likes to do renovations on his house, sail, hike and bike.

Julien and I actually met on twitter when I engaged in his Pride Challenge in 2020 and I won a really cool Metro Vancouver Transit Police Pride Patch. Julien and I continue to stay connected on social media and I’m super pumped to have Julien on the podcast today.

I had the chance to sit down with Julien to talk Careering Talk: Career transitions, Pride and TikTok and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #CoffeeWithACop #Pride2022 #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.

My guest today is Natan Lewko a Business Commerce graduate from the Lang School of Business and Economics at the University of Guelph, and he is currently enrolled at York University — Osgoode Hall Law School with hopes of graduating in 2023. Nathan is the Co-Co-President of the Osgoode Venture Capital Law Society (OVCLS) where he ensures the OVCLS provides Osgoode students with the clearest possible picture of what it is like to be a venture capital lawyer alongside his Co-President, Sara Siddiqi. Nate also is a student mentor with Legally Bright since August 2020 where he provides mentorship to prospective law students on how to get into their preferred law school.

Nathan has consulting, private equity, and sales experience within his career portfolio of experience, and he will be starting at corporate law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shawn Pittman in New York next week as a Summer Associate. After graduating from law school he plans on returning to Pillsbury to advise founders and investors as a corporate lawyer. He is in the early stage of investing as an aspiring angel investor and he likes to read, listen to podcasts, invest, and play golf in his spare time.

I had the chance to sit down with Nathan to talk Leadership, intentionality and self-motivation and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.

May 4th — May 10th this year marked the 69th annual Canada Mental Health Association Mental Health Week. Approximately 1 in 5 children and youth in Ontario has a mental health challenge and according to CAMH By age 40, about 50% of the population will have or have had a mental illness. Yet according to the Mental Health Commission, In Canada, only 1 out of 5 children receive appropriate mental health services. Cleary this is a topic that is top of mind and one that needs discussion.

My guests today are Avina Patel and Madeleine Poutissou. Avina and Madeleine are the co-chairs of Queen’s Commerce Mental Health Association a student mental health group established to promote mental health and wellness throughout the Commerce community and to give those who are struggling a sense of hope.

I first got introduced to QCMHA when I was at RBC and established a partnership with the Association for the first Mental Health Case Competition in 2021. It was a huge hit in that it raised awareness and innovative actionable ideas around mental health from an intergenerational perspective.

So, let’s meet Avina and Madeleine.

Avina is currently enrolled at the Smith School of Business and due to graduate in 2023 with her BComm Degree. Avina has worked as Financial Analyst Intern with the Ford Motor Company, been a consultant for Smith Business Consulting and most recently will be joining the Boston Consulting Group this summer to work as a Summer Intern. In her spare time, Avina likes to workout outdoors, take photos and make food.

Madeleine is also currently enrolled at the Smith School of Business and due to graduate in 2023 with her BComm Degree. Madeleine has worked as summer intern for Daemar, Inc., been a Counsellor at the Glen Bernard Camp and most recently is a Investment Banking Summer Analyst at Scotia Bank. In her spare time, Maddie likes to spend time with friends, attend dance and spinning classes and watch reality tv.

I had the chance to sit down with Avina and Madeleine to talk Mental health, curiosity and resilience and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Welcome back, innovators 🚀 and dream-chasers 💡, to another electrifying ⚡ episode of Coffee with Convery! Today, we're diving into the digital deep end 🌊 with a true titan of tech sales! 💻

Imagine a journey that starts in the vibrant pulse of South Africa 🌍 and leads to the cutting edge of Canada's tech scene 🇨🇦. Our guest has conquered continents 🌐, led legions at tech giants 🏢, and now he's revolutionizing the game for small and medium businesses across the Great White North ❄️.

Fasten your seatbelts ✈️ and prepare for takeoff with the sales savant 🎯, the leadership luminary, the SMB superstar himself – Kree Govender! 🎉

From igniting innovation at IBM 💡 to masterminding Microsoft's moves 🎮, he's the Beethoven 🎶 of business growth, composing symphonies of success 🏆 wherever he goes.

So, whether you're a budding entrepreneur 💼, a curious coder 💻, or just someone who loves a good success story 📖, you're in for a treat 🍬. Get ready to download decades of wisdom 🧠, unpack the secrets of sales mastery 🛠️, and maybe – just maybe – discover the key to unlocking your own potential 🔑.

Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. This his podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.

If you are tuning in for the first time, “Careering Talk” is an open mic series to empower job and career seekers with knowledge, insights, career pathing and coaching to find that dream job and develop a career with purpose and impact.

On today’s Careering Talk, I have invited Kristen Cocoman, a graduate of the State University of New York Fashion Institute of Technology and the current President and CEO at The ALS Association Greater New York Chapter. The ALS Association Greater New York Chapter serves patients and families throughout the New York City, Long Island, Northern & Central New Jersey, and Westchester & the Hudson Valley. The Chapter plays a major role in promoting the mission to lead the fight to treat and cure ALS through global research and nationwide advocacy while also empowering people with Lou Gehrig’s Disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support. The ALS Association is the only national non-profit organization fighting Lou Gehrig’s Disease on every front.

I had the opportunity to meet Kristen and the Hudson Valley Walk to Defeat ALS Team in 2012 when I started the Walk for Christie. My friend Christie was 41 years old, with a one year old daughter, when she was diagnosed with ALS. Christie passed from ALS in November 2019.

With May being #ALSAwarenessMonth, I had the chance to sit down with Kristen Cocoman to talk Careering Talk: ALS advocacy, nonprofits and volunteerism and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #CareeringTalk #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Students, New Grads, and Career Seekers, Welcome to #CoffeeWithConvery. For those tuning in for the first time, this podcast is an intimate, upfront and personal coffee chat approach with some of the amazing and inspiring talent I have met over the years.

“Careering Talk” is an open mic series to empower job and career seekers with knowledge, insights, career pathing and coaching to find that dream job and develop a career with purpose and impact.

On today’s Careering Talk, I have invited Luke Girard to the podcast to share his incredible journey from hockey player to graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University to banking with TD to firefighting with Toronto Firefighting Services. Talk about an off-roading and winding career path and journey.

Luke started his hockey career playing for the Vaughan Vipers of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League and went on to join the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks Hockey Squad where he played for 4 seasons scoring 41 goals and 41 assists in 97 games. Luke also spent time in Belgium where he played for the Herentals HYC of the Royal Belgian Ice Hockey Federation.

Luke and I met when he was at TD Bank helping us with our banking affairs and our relationship grew into a wonderful friendship with him and his lovely wife and partner Ashley. During the lockdown of the pandemic, Ashley and Luke welcomed their son Oliver and now are new parents as well.

I had the chance to sit down with Luke to talk Careering Talk: Hockey, finance and firefighting and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #CareeringTalk #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.

So let’s meet Denys Linkov. Denys is a graduate of The University of Toronto where he received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.

Denys currently works as a Machine Learning Architect at Voiceflow where he is responsible for designing and building Voiceflow’s data science and machine learning platform. Denys’ goal is to make creating voice apps easy, intuitive and collaborative.

Denys is also a community builder. He has a keen interest and is focused on youth and the future of work. He has engaged with a number of youth groups as a mentor, speaker and leader and has engineered many discussions on career development and technology. He helped to scale Tech Under 20 a leading youth tech group in Halton and he is successful at a competitive level in Debate and Taekwondo.

I got the pleasure of meeting Denys back at RBC when he was first a student and have continued to see Deny thrive with his impact and passion for tech, students and the future of work.

I had the chance to talk Creativity, technology and internships with Denys Linkov and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

On today’s episode we are going to continue the journey with #ThrowbackThursday. If you are tuning in for the first time and as a reminder for our listeners, “Throwback Thursday” is where I bring onto the show students and young talent that I met years ago and to see where they are now.

My guest today is Sibi Anand. Sibi is a Carleton University BComm Finance graduate. Before we met, Sibi had worked at the Public Works and Government Services Canada in Ottawa as a Supply Officer and he was a contract SAP functional consultant for MMLS Consulting Inc.

Sibi and I met back in the day at IBM when I was leading talent and onboarding for IBM Consulting Services and we were just standing up our client services centre in Bedford, Nova Scotia. Sibi went on to work at IBM as an SAP BI Consultant in Halifax and has performed various roles of responsibility with much success at Halogen Software, Saba Software and he now is the Senior Manager, Business Consulting at Cornerstone on Demand in Ottawa.

In his spare time, Sibi enjoys eating shawarmas, deal-hunting at Costco, and travelling with his wife. He hosts a podcast called ‘Brown and Lovely’ that focuses on conversations around mental health in the South Asian community in addition to showcasing the journeys of up-and-coming artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs. He is a passionate advocate for all things mental health, personal development, leadership development, and financial literacy.

I had the chance to talk Throwback Thursday: All things Costco, mental health and leading with yes with Sibi Anand and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #ThrowbackThursday #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.

So let’s meet Vanessa Elefteriadis. Vanessa is a student at The University of Toronto studying for her Bachelor of Applied Science in Industrial Engineering with a minor in Business Engineering. Vanessa is due to graduate in 2024 and her activities at school include: Orientation Leader, Industrial Engineering Club Vice-Chair, Student Mentor, and Class Representative.

I got the pleasure of meeting Vanessa at the University of Toronto UAutomate Challenge which brought together 32 students over 6 weeks to accelerate their careers in robotic process automation. The challenge was a first of a kind for University of Toronto and the challenge included partnerships with Wrk and Blue prism along with a number of guest speakers, learning plans, workshops and mentorship for the students.

In her spare time, Vanessa likes to play tennis and ping pong, read, and try out new recipes.

I had the chance to talk Fresh flowers, robotics and finding balance with Vanessa Elefteriadis and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.

My guest today is Brett Beattie a 2017 Odette School of Business - University of Windsor grad with a Bachelor Degree, Business/Commerce Co-op and a concentration in finance with a minor in economics. Brett received a number of honors and awards while attending the University of Windsor including the “Made a Difference Award” an award received for commitment to the business school in making a difference in the student experience. This award is hand selected by the Dean of the Odette School of Business and is provided to one deserving student who has gone above and beyond to enhance the education and experience at Odette.

Since graduation, Brett has had a interesting career in the banking and finance industry focusing on capital markets and trades with TD and most recently with Kairon Labs BV as a Quantitate Trader which included Brett leaving Ontario and uprooting his life to British Columbia out west.

In his spare time, Brett enjoys skate boarding, biking and spending time in the outdoors.

I had the chance to talk I had the chance to talk Co-ops, cryptocurrency and following your dreams with Brett Beattie, Enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.

My guest today is Grant McNaughton. Grant is a 2019 Ivey Scholar & Dean’s list graduate from the Ivey Business School at Western University.

Grant is a strategic, pragmatic thinker with strong analytical skills. Grant’s experience spans across many private and public sectors, including start-ups and Fortune 100s.

Grant got his start as Co-Founder & CMO of RollUP Solutions Inc. a social enterprise that collects and upcycles gently used mobility devices and then sells them at a more affordable rate to those in financial need, Worked at Bain and Company as a consultant for 3 years, and recently started working for himself as an independent management consultant. He is scheduled to begin his MBA at the Stanford Graduate School of Business in September.

Grant loves all things social enterprise, LGBTQ2S+ advocacy, politics, as well as chocolate chip cookies. In his spare time, Grant enjoys traveling, enjoying a drink with friends, and skiing or running.

#CoffeeWithConvery #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases, and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.

On today’s episode we are going to continue the journey with Sports Talk where my invited guests will share how being an athlete has helped them to propel their skill building, their mindsets and their futures. “Sports Talk” also helps us understand the hurdles and barriers some athlete’s face while being in school, participating in sports and trying to balance the transition into the workplace.

Now let’s meet Stephen Taylor. Stephen is a current student at the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics at University of Guelph due to graduate this year with a Bachelor of Commerce in Organizational Leadership and a minor in Marketing. Stephen also studied Management Sports and Recreation Management briefly while at James Madison University in the United States.

Stephen has a vast number of years of experience working in client facing/ retail roles at McDonalds, Footlocker, and UPS and most recently landed his student job this coming summer with Adidas.

With his school and work comes the balancing of his sports passion as he is currently a student-athlete on the varsity football team.

In his spare time Stephen likes to workout, cook, and go fishing.

I had the chance to talk Sports Talk: Thanksgiving, football and networking with Stephen Taylor and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #SportsTalk #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.

My guest today is Vinayak Mahajan. Vinayak is a graduate of Georgian College with a Co-op Diploma, Computer Programmer, achieving Dean’s list in all of his semesters.

Vinayak is a TedX Speaker (more to come on that in the show), #1 Global Bestselling Author, Founder & CEO of GiftAFeeling Inc., and a highly recognized thought leader in the gifting industry around the world. He has been published in Exceptional People Magazine, Business Digest Magazine, has been seen on CNBC, Wall Street Select, USA Today, LA Business Podcast, and has made live TV appearances on Ticker News. He leads a team of psychologists doing research in gifting psychology and has reinvented the word, Giftophobia, in the modern era.

In his spare time Vinayak likes to detach digitally and go into nature camping, hiking, trekking, or just spending time in solitude away from the screens and out of the internet’s reach.

I had the chance to talk Uncertainty, gifting and being an entrepreneur with Vinayak Mahajan and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.

My guest today is Caroline Dack. Caroline is a 2021 graduate of the University of Waterloo with a degree in Arts and Business with a focus on Legal Studies and Women Studies. While at school, Caroline was the VP Communications of Women Studies Society, Member of UW Cabaret Club, Member of UW Animal Rights Society, & Member of Random Acts of Kindness Crew.

In her spare time, Caroline likes to get lost in a good book, be creative in the kitchen and go on adventures with friends.

I had the chance to talk silver linings, kindness and looking for a full-time job with Caroline Dack and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Hey there, go-getters and world-changers, welcome to another energizing episode of Coffee with Convery ☕🎙️.

Today, we're serving up a steaming cup of inspiration ☕💡 with a side of girl power! 💪👩‍💼 Get ready to meet a true force of nature who's shaking up the innovation landscape and empowering women left and right. She's an award-winning leader 🏆, a 2x TEDx speaker 🎤, and the founder of Women Helping Empower Women 👭.

Our guest today is Dr. Georgette Zinaty 💼, a powerhouse professional who's making waves 🌊 as the Chief of Staff at Myant, a cutting-edge Canadian company driving innovation in advanced material science 🧬 But that's just one of her many impressive roles. 🚀

Dr. Zinaty is also the Canada Country Chair for G100: Mission Million 🇨🇦💯, advocating for a gender-equal future ♀️, and a member of the prestigious Forbes Coaches Council 🌍. With over 15 years of experience at the University of Toronto 🏛️, she's raised millions in funding 💸 and created groundbreaking programs.

Named one of 6 Canadian Women of Inspiration, Dr. Zinaty's expertise in leadership, diversity, inclusion 🌍, and innovation 🧠 has made her a sought-after speaker and thought leader.

So grab your favorite brew ☕ and get ready to be inspired! We're about to dive into a conversation with a true trailblazer who's redefining leadership in the 21st century 🚀💡.

Students and young professionals are facing barriers, uncertainty, biases and changing priorities as they navigate the school to work transition. Their collective stories have inspired me and now I want to share these stories with you.

My guest today is Jeffrey Hsu. Jeffrey is a 2018 graduate from Western University with a Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies with a focus on Business Administration and Management.

Jeffrey has spent the last few years working at TD as a Bank Teller and most recently with RBC as a risk analyst in Risk and Security Services, as a financial analyst in Global Technology Infrastructure and Global Equity Linked Products Analyst and Client Implementation Analyst in Capital Markets. He is now employed with Horizons ETFs as a Client Services Analyst and a Business Development Associate.

In his spare time Jeffrey likes to being outdoors, playing golf and playing board games includes chess.

I had the chance to talk Finance, networking and personal growth with Jeffrey Hsu and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Welcome to Throwback Thursday. If you are tuning in for the first time, “Throwback Thursday” is where I bring onto the show students and young talent that I met years ago and to see where they are now.

My guest today is Christopher Martinez, a 2013 graduate from Ryerson University with a Bachelor of Commerce Finance Degree. Ryerson is actually where Christopher and I first met at a student networking event many years ago.

Christopher has had a very successful finance career and has performed multiple financial roles with CIBC, Raymond James and now as VP of Loan Syndications, Corporate Client Group at RBC.

In his spare time Christopher likes to cook, run and cycle when the weather is warm, and read personal development books with a nice cup of coffee.

I had the chance to sit down to talk Throwback Thursday: Resiliency, cooking and building your own dream with Christopher Martinez and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #throwbackthursday #Listen #Learn #BeInspired

Welcome to Careering Talk. If you are tuning in for the first time, “Careering Talk” is an open mic series to empower job and career seekers with knowledge, insights, career pathing and coaching to find that dream job and develop a career with purpose and impact.

On today’s Careering Talk, I have invited friends and talent leaders to join me to talk all things recruiting in 2022.

· Emma Surich, Manager, Talent Acquisition at ecobee

· Jovic Howland, Campus Recruiter & Early Career Specialist, Ontario & Atlantic Canada at WSP

· Bridget King, Talent Acquisition Manager, Early Talent at IBM

· Sean MacLure, Manager, Campus Recruitment, Extendicare, Inc.

· Anthony Paradiso, Senior Talent Acquisition Consultant, Intact

I had the chance to sit down to talk Careering Talk: Recruiting in 2022 with these wonderful folks and I am happy to share our conversation with you, Enjoy!

#CoffeeWithConvery #CareeringTalk #Recruiting #Mentorship #NationalMentoringMonth #Listen #Learn #BeInspired