CareerWise

Claire Elizabeth Williams is the Co-Founder and CEO of Foundations for Social Change (FSC), a charitable organization based in Canada whose mission is to advance social change through evidence-based research and innovation. She is the driving force behind the New Leaf Project, North America’s first direct-giving pilot with people experiencing homelessness - which has made an impact on the global stage. Prior to developing the organization, Claire worked as an environmental consultant where she had the opportunity to collaborate with Indigenous Peoples, private sector companies and the government to promote environmental protection, corporate responsibility and sustainable land-use. In a world where affecting social impact initiatives are key to building equality in perpetuity, Claire discusses her journey into this fulfilling world of important charity work. 

Maya Wilson is a highly experienced certified Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) working with inquisitive children aged 3-5 years in Vancouver, Canada. Maya has a Bachelor of Arts undergraduate degree from the University of British Columbia concentrated on the study of society and human behaviour and relationships. During this informative discussion Maya discusses her journey into this fulfilling high growth industry while also appreciating that children are innately wise and we can learn from them every day.

Leon Harrison is a professional musician turned music tech entrepreneur. Hailing from Australia, Leon is the lead singer and frontman of the hugely popular hard rock band The Lazys, who are currently signed to Warner Music Canada. Leon has performed at countless festivals and sold out shows across North America, Europe, the UK and Australia and his band have enjoyed top 10 selling singles that have rocketed to the top of the charts across the world. Identifying the need to address the artist development challenges currently in the industry, Leon founded the online mentorship platform Bandwagon. Bandwagon is designed for artists looking for professional guidance with respect to writing, recording, touring and running a business from those with 20+ years of practical, proven experience in the music industry.  We hope you enjoy Leon's story and his philosophy with respect to music education and mentorship in the modern era.

Dawn Chiang is a highly experienced, award winning lighting designer based in the United States. During her long and decorated career, Dawn has designed for a number of major stages including Broadway and the New York City Opera. Primarily tasked with creating the lighting, atmosphere, and visual framework for plays, opera and musicals, Dawn also navigates issues of visibility, safety, and cost. Please join us for an insightful conversation about the fascinating world of lighting design and what it takes to light up the stage! 

Dr. Lydiah Bosire is a Kenyan national and the Founder and CEO of 8B Education Investments, a financial and education technology platform specialized in lending to African students to attend world-class global universities and supporting them to succeed. Lydiah is on a mission to strengthen Africa’s human capital by equipping the continent’s future leaders and ecosystem builders to innovate, compete, and thrive in the knowledge economy of the 21st century. Prior to founding 8B, Lydiah worked at the United Nations, the World Bank, and leading global NGOs. Lydiah joins us from New York to tell us about her journey through the world of international relations, how she identified a systemic problem or need and has subsequently made a social impact by solving it.

Ian Hay is a highly experienced film and television producer currently working through the 2nd season of popular Netflix series Virgin River - which is available to stream worldwide on the service right now! Ian has decades of experience on and off the set producing dozens of big budget TV series and films and he has kindly taken some time out of his busy schedule today to break down what it really takes to be an effective leader in the fast paced, highly competitive and professionally rewarding world of creating commercial entertainment for the masses. 

Jill Olson is a consultant occupational therapist with over 15 years of practical health science experience. Jill has skillfully helped hundreds of people to improve functional abilities, as well as overcome limitations or disabilities they are enduring through adaptive methods to ensure they can remain employable and enjoy their work and lifestyle again. Jill graciously took some time out of her busy schedule to talk to us from her consultative practice in Canada about the interesting path she has taken to achieve a fulfilling career as a healthcare professional in this modern era. 

Katie Schaeffers is a highly experienced Marketing and Brand Strategist who has skillfully built the public presence of a distinguished list of clients including TEDx, Electronic Arts, Genentech, The Juno Awards in Canada, and more recently O2E Brands - which includes fast growing international franchise 1-800 Got Junk. At O2E Brands, Katie oversees marketing and customer experience. Talking to us from Canada, Katie provides our audience with a wealth of invaluable professional knowledge and advice as it pertains to building a dynamic career in brand focused commercial marketing.

Thorodd Ommundsen is a highly experienced International Civil Servant, currently working as an Emergency Specialist with the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in Geneva, Switzerland. Drawing from his practical, life-changing experiences in strategic postings in conflict-affected countries around the world, Thorodd provides our audience with valuable advice on how to build a rewarding career in international relations.