Layne the auctionista invented their own career category to become a professional auctioneer who's raised millions for charity as a philanthrotainer while entertaining audiences. The former financial advisor is also a DEIB trainer sparking workplace change in a style that's never dull, a speaker and a soon-to-be-memoir author.

Layne chats on the nuts and bolts of developing a career no one was previously paid to do and how they learned to become an auctioneer. The cross-pollinator and changemaker tells us what it means to define your own version of success, chart your own course, the practicalities and confidence needed to get there and why we can all use a little more humanity in our lives.

Muraly Sriniarayanathas is a global serial entrepreneur, strategist, author, Third Culture Kid (TCK) & optimist. He chats on his TCK, story, his early ventures abroad, his current ventures in and beyond Canada, including Computek College, 369 Global & Three magazine. He also talks about his EIA - embed, interpret, act - method to develop cross-cultural connections, the value of Canada's global diaspora in growing international trade, and Canada's global opportunities.

He tells us about his recent book, Between Borders, Beyond Boundaries, and an article from his blog on Canada, trade and BRICS.

What’s creative about practising law? Andy Semotiuk chats on migration, immigration trends, his path to practising immigration law, writing books, Forbes articles & public speaking. He chats on why creativity is key to all his work and how he’s combined expertise in 3 fields to find meaning & share what he’s learned.

Andy Semotiuk lives a cross-pollinating career as a US-Canada visa lawyer of many decades, a writer and distinguished Toastmasters speaker. He's also a Forbes magazine writer on immigration and related topics and has written books from biographies to career advice for young professionals and humour for kids. 

More on Andy's work and books at: https://myworkvisa.com/

 Serge Wacka international sales expert, has worked in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America & the Middle East. His journey has taken him from philosophy & private banking to sales along a route of adaptability, vision & persistence. Serge chats on:

• why the current reordering of international trade offers great opportunity, as well as unpredictability
• what businesses need to know about selling into global markets
• what it means to practise servant leadership in sales
• why sales is first about listening
• reasons Serge doesn’t work with sales quotas
• why developing trust in sales relationships is still essential in a digital world
• gaining the attention of sales prospects even through missteps & competition

Serge’s approach to sales rests on servant leadership and leadership that comes from the middle as well as the top. In his book, Sales Mastery Guide: Strategies for Success, he shares the lessons he’s learned firsthand, from the sales process to mindset, resilience, service and leadership.

 Find Serge on social media channels at Strategies by Serge.

Garrett Wasny knows people & companies have hesitations about AI. He's a tech enthusiast & award-winning educator on a mission to address hesitations, explain its benefits & how to utilize AI in smart, ethical & practical ways at work & outside. 

Garrett chats on

• working smarter with AI
• introducing it in companies with clear guidelines
• the reasons employees are key
• starting with a beginners' mindset &
• why now is the time to get to know the robots

Garrett Wasny is an AI Skills Advisor and longtime management consultant specializing in technology & the accounting industry. He's an expert at new technology application & implementation in the workplace, recognized by MyCPE One with a Top AI & Technology Educator award. 

In the episode, Garett gives an example on aspirational modelling with AI using this prompt:

Based on the provided [resume/company profile], create a comprehensive AI aspirational model for [Individual/Company Name]. Develop three distinct personas: Real (current state), Aspirational (ideal future state), and Contrarian (critical perspective). Identify innovative capabilities and initiatives that push beyond current boundaries. Consider ethical implications of growth. Craft a strategic [ 5-year] plan with short, mid, and long-term goals. Simulate a conversation between the personas discussing optimal growth strategies. Conclude with a practical implementation roadmap. Throughout this analysis, balance ambition with practicality, aiming to uncover and leverage untapped potential while remaining true to core strengths and values. [resume/company profile = copy and paste here],

What do dogs & wolves have to do with AI? How can AI help or hinder accessibility & how it can be trained well? Dr. Mahadeo Sukhai, VP of Research at CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) chats on understanding the lived experiences of people with disabilities, systemic barriers in an ableist world & what’s needed to make tech & the world more accessible.

Episode transcript

Highlights

• Dr. Sukhai’s career as a geneticist, a unicorn and a transition to research on health services outcomes, public health and systemic barriers
• Defining disability - what is a disability?
• What are interventions that can help reduce barriers to employment and education? 
• The accessibility benefits of AI when well trained and the pitfalls when it's not
• Why including persons with disabilities in the design process can help mitigate biases in AI training and technology design
• What technology designers should consider when it comes to accessibility

Links: CNIB, Dr. Sukhai’s book on accessibility and higher education in the sciences and his thoughts on universal design, assistive technology and why we’re all users of it in the article  Good Ingredients for Assistive Technology.

Ever wonder what art is for? Artist Agnieszka Matejko has. She talks about art that serves communities and the wonder of giant monuments under a vast prairie sky. This episode is about roadside art with a sense of humour that's helped restore cultural pride, put small towns on the Guinness Records map and draw tourists on cross-country road trips.

Matejko's article on this topic,  Big Art, Big Smiles & artist website

Episode transcript 

How can organizations prioritize resources & choose their next steps? Cheryl Lockhart works with organizations to plan, activate & execute strategy. She talks being creative with KPIs, supporting growth with systems & creating buy-in. Episode 41

How do art, business, culture, history & family combine? Entrepreneur Breannen Allison on how coming to know her Cree & Métis heritage led to Thimbleberry Designs, honouring her grandmother’s life & supporting resurgence for the future. Episode 40

How can companies do better at retaining engaged employees? Jessica Ketwaroo-Green is an award-winning social policy expert & consultant. She chats on the ELAT framework she created to help organizations & companies move from diversity to inclusion & equity. Episode 39