Career Buzz

During the pandemic, health officials and politicians can help us stay alive, but we need writers and philosophers to help us live. Ray Robertson’s newest book, How to Die: A Book About Being Alive makes the argument that we can't be truly fulfilled until we think about and reckon with death.

When his first novel, Home Movies, was accepted while he was enrolled in a Master of Fine Arts program, Ray Robertson says: “I went from old student to young novelist in one trip to the mailbox.”   Ray Robertson is the author of 13 books including Home Movies, 1979 A Novel, Lives of Poets, and most recently, How to Die: A Book About Being Alive. Born and raised in Chatham, Ontario, he now lives in Toronto.

There’s a lot of talk about Experiential Learning, especially in colleges and universities where internships, co-ops, practicum placements, project-based learning, and other real life experiences clearly give an employability edge to students. On Career Buzz this week my interview with these three insightful panelists:

Amanda Brown (top left) is the Manager, of Experiential Learning at Durham College in Ontario.

What is relief through creativity? What does relief through creativity sound like as it unfolds in the life of an artist?

How are careers - and career management - changing, especially now, during and after the pandemic? How can organizations support employees to be their best, and grow and develop even as they work from home? How can education adapt, and support students to connect the dots from education to the world of work?

Rich Feller is Professor of Counseling and Career Development at Colorado State University. He’s one of CSU’s twelve University Distinguished Teaching Scholars, and past president of the National Career Development Association. Rich has had a long and successful career in both academics and Career Development and has consulted within all 50 U.S. states - and in Canada and internationally, with organizations including Life Reimagined and YouScience. Rich has a passion for helping others - and as co-founder of OneLifeTools envisions a way to bring greater career wellbeing to a broader audience. To me personally, Rich is a friend, business partner and mentor.

Later in the episode, Shahrzad Arasteh joins Mark. She’s a Holistic Career Counselor, Speaker, and Trainer with experience in private, public, and non-profit organizations. Shahrzad is also Author of Nourish Your Career.  She joins us from Maryland.

Mark also gets a chance to speak with Mark Danaher. Career and burnout prevention coach, speaker and trainer. He’s past president of National Career Development Association, and also has experience as a school counsellor.

When Michael Newman went for a walk in Berlin in 2012, it was the start of a journey that led to his writing a novel, Between These Walls. When Michael went looking for a publisher, he entered the world of alternative publishing where he spoke to self-publishing companies like Friesen Press and Iguana Books.

Lee Parpart of hybrid publisher. With so many, considering the pros and cons of writing a book, I thought we’d learn a lot by inviting 3 voices from self-publishing onto the show.

What does publishing a book do for your life or career? What options exist to publish? And what are the careers inside alternative publishing? We find out while speaking with writer Michael Newman president of Friesen press, Tammara Kennelly and editor at Iguana books, Lee Parpart.

In The Thoughtful Technosapien mini-series within Career Buzz, we explore our evolving relationship with technology. And today in particular, we’ll focus on how this plays out within the global coronavirus pandemic, looking at Engineering in Times of Crisis.

In this episode, host Mark Franklin, is joined by Jerry Buckwalter, Chief Operating and Strategy Officer at American Society of Civil Engineers. Jerry directs a strategic project called Future World Vision which anticipates uncontrollable global events including a pandemic and using a computer model assesses potential built environments 50 years into the future. Jerry was also a member of the National Infrastructure Advisory Council for four years reporting to the White House.

The Thoughtful Technosapien is brought to you in collaboration with Engineering Change Lab - a catalyst for change in the engineering community. Looking for inspiration while working from home? Career Buzz is also a podcast, including episodes of The Thoughtful Technosapien. Search for and subscribe to "Career Buzz" through iTunes, iPhone or any podcast app, for good #storylistening.

Listen in this week as Mark Franklin connects with Mike and Michael. 

Mike Kirsh works in the advertising world as a producer & production manager making commercial video content for TV and web.  As a producer he gets to work closely with directors and marketing agencies, building budgets to help bring creative ideas to life.  Mike loves producing music, doing improv, and writing and acting in his own comedy sketches.

Michael Tobin is a director, writer, editor, and producer. In his work, he explores themes of morality, consciousness, and agency. He evangelizes the notion that comedy and tragedy are not mutually exclusive. Michael balances working on his original projects by freelancing for corporate clients. And: He loves bagels.

You’ve finished film school, now what? Film and TV is a tough business with lots of uncertainty, but those who win, win big. How do you manage your film and TV career for the future? 

Ask Carole Kirschner @CaroleKirsch. She’s entertainment career coach based in Los Angeles. She is also program director for Writers Guild of America showrunner training program, as well as program director for CBS diversity writers program.

Martina Rowley @Martinarowleyco is an online business manager (OBM) and Certified Canadian Virtual Assistant (CCVA). Whichever task you want done and done well, she's on it! You can benefit from her solid European work experience, university education from the UK and Canada and her bilingualism. 

Despite suffering through her first “boss from hell”, her parents convinced Martina to stick with it. As a result, she adopted some valuable lessons: always to produce error-free work, maintain impeccable telephone manners and client service and have an untouchable work ethic. The latter can also be credited to both her late parents.

Along with her "get it done" attitude, she is well-spoken and very personable with an inquisitive mind, allowing her to easily integrate into any existing team. She is a published writer and blogger, a firm and creative facilitator and is very active in local community and environmental volunteering. 

Today on the show, at age 66, David Sorenson started his encore career by completing a masters degree in counselling. Now, after career 1 as an ordained chaplain, and career 2 as a counsellor, David shares his journey and transition toward balancing life, work and calling. Hear David Sorensen’s retirement reboot in the 2nd half of today’s show.

But First…. Canada is a resource-rich country, and mining is a leading industry. But how can we do resource extraction ethically? Marilyn Spink’s career revolves around Sustainable Minerals & Improved Corporate Governance. She’s an Award-Winning Professional Engineer & Board Director, consultant, advisor and Principal at GS group.

This is a repost of an interview Mark Franklin did with Adam Hare back in May of 2018.

How do you leave the allure of the music business and land in… an insurance office?

Just ask Adam Hare. 

For the past decade, Adam has devoted his life to being a passionate, creative leader who can think outside of the box. His professional career spans from a young entrepreneur, developing his own clothing line, to later managing a creative team for the Worlds leading entertainment company at Universal Music Canada. More recently Adam now makes waves, yes, in the insurance industry. He launched an award-winning, online brokerage called Insurance Jack. 

While maintaining a busy work life he actively involves himself and gives back to the local business community. He sits on the Board of Directors for the Insurance Brokers Association of Durham Region, and the Program Advisory Committee through Durham College. He is the current Chair for the Young Entrepreneurs & Professionals Committee at the Whitby Chamber, and has recently joined the Lakeridge Health's Young Professional Committee, Launchpad.

In 4 years, Adam transformed a traditional business model into an established, online player and was awarded Young Broker of the Year. 

Adam shares stories of changing 100 years of history – in a family business. Adam Hare speaks at Imagine Your Workplace 2018 conference.