How do integrity, transformation, and community shape a successful career? Anne Pertus, co‑founder of The Pillars, has built her professional journey around meaningful change, human‑centric leadership, and the power of finding your tribe. Her path spans large corporations, boutique consulting firms, and entrepreneurship — all grounded in the belief that shortcuts aren’t worth sacrificing integrity.

In this episode, Anne shares how growing up in a constantly changing environment shaped her adaptability, why community matters in both business and life, and how strong relationships fuel transformation. Whether you're interested in consulting culture, leadership, change management, or building a supportive network, Anne’s story offers grounded wisdom and practical insight.

She opens up about:

• Growing up in a constantly changing environment

• Why integrity matters more than quick wins

• Transitioning from corporate life to boutique consulting

• The catalyst for launching her own firm

• The importance of community, chemistry, and support networks

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Anne Pertus

01:02 Growing Up in a Constantly Changing Environment

03:06 The Pillars: A Boutique Consulting Firm Focused on Transformation

05:05 Why Taking Shortcuts Isn’t Worth It — Integrity Over Quick Wins

09:13 The Transition from Large Corporate Life to Small Consulting Firms

11:34 The Catalyst for Going Out on Her Own

14:27 The Importance of Community & Support Networks

16:24 “Des Atomes Crochus” — The Chemistry of Strong Relationships

18:47 What Makes The Pillars Unique in Business Transformation

23:58 Building a Unique Consulting Culture & Leadership Approach

28:54 Anne’s Personal Health Journey & Advocacy for Well‑Being

32:40 How to Connect with Anne

34:14 Final Thoughts & Call to Action

Discovery Optimization

This episode explores business transformation, human‑centric leadership, consulting culture, and the role of community in career growth. Ideal for listeners navigating career transitions, leading change, or building meaningful professional relationships.

Resilience, purpose, and building a business through adversity are central to Samantha Bateman’s story. As the founder of Integria Consulting, Sam has spent 20 years growing a purpose‑driven executive search firm rooted in service, second chances, and a deep commitment to helping people find meaningful work.

Sam shares how early hardship shaped her drive, why she chose entrepreneurship over the safe corporate path, and how she built Integria through economic downturns, uncertainty, and moments that tested her resolve. Whether you're an entrepreneur, recruiter, job seeker, or someone navigating career challenges, her journey offers grounded lessons in grit, leadership, and purpose.

She opens up about:

• Building a business through adversity

• Why she chose entrepreneurship over stability

• The mindset behind “It has to work”

• Supporting marginalized job seekers

• Purpose‑driven leadership and service

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Samantha Bateman

02:04 From Growing Up in the West Island to 20 Years of Integria Consulting

03:57 Juggling Full‑Time Work While Completing a University Degree

06:04 Saying No to the Easy Path & Building Her Own Way

10:24 What Fuels Sam’s Entrepreneurial Spirit?

14:10 The Origins of Integria Consulting

17:09 The Mindset of “It Has to Work, I Can’t Stop Until It Does”

20:52 The Role of a Spouse or Partner in Career Success

24:32 How a Political Science Degree Came in Handy in Business

26:45 The Turning Point When Integria Started to Gain Momentum

28:59 One Person Willing to Take a Chance on You

32:40 Weathering the 2008–2010 Downturn as a Small Business

34:25 Sometimes People Just Need One Break to Change Their Lives

39:36 Empowering Marginalized & Underemployed Job Seekers

42:31 The Importance of Connection, Service & Purpose‑Driven Leadership

47:39 Final Thoughts & Call to Action

Discovery Optimization

This episode explores resilience, purpose‑driven entrepreneurship, executive search leadership, and supporting marginalized job seekers. Ideal for listeners navigating career challenges, building a business, or seeking meaning in their professional journey.

Career growth, self‑advocacy, and navigating corporate dynamics define Stella Filippatos’s journey across engineering, aviation, and business. After years of delivering results, she realized that performance alone wasn’t enough—she needed to understand the unspoken rules of the workplace to earn the recognition, opportunities, and compensation she deserved.

In this episode, Stella breaks down how to build your professional brand, communicate your value, and approach salary discussions with confidence. She shares why networking matters, how to create visibility for your work, and the mindset shifts required to advance your career with intention and clarity.

She opens up about:

• Why you can’t expect others to read your mind about your goals

• Balancing humility with self‑promotion

• Who to talk to when creating awareness about your work

• The power of networking in building your professional brand

• Why a tough‑but‑fair approach earns respect

• How to recognize when it’s time for a career change

• Understanding salary expectations and industry standards

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Stella Filippatos

01:29 Stella’s Background in the Aviation Industry

03:38 Why You Can’t Expect Others to Read Your Mind About Your Goals

06:55 Finding the Balance Between Humility & Self‑Promotion

09:55 Who Should You Talk to When Creating Awareness About Your Work

13:12 The Power of Networking in Building Your Professional Brand

17:09 Why a Tough‑but‑Fair Approach Earns Respect & Results

23:50 The Importance of Cultivating Professional Relationships

28:56 Either You’re Earning or Learning—How to Maximize Your Career Growth

32:51 How to Recognize When It’s Time for a Career Change

35:48 Understanding Salary Expectations & Industry Standards

39:40 Key Takeaways for Career Advancement & Professional Growth

44:25 Final Thoughts & Call to Action

Discovery Optimization

This episode explores career growth, self‑advocacy, professional branding, and navigating corporate culture. Ideal for listeners interested in workplace success, salary negotiation, networking, women in leadership, and building a meaningful career with intention.

Reinvention, voiceover mastery, and building a sustainable creative business in a rapidly changing industry are central to Kim Handysides’ story. From her early days as a weather woman to becoming an award‑winning voiceover artist and entrepreneur, Kim has built a thriving career by adapting, evolving, and trusting her ability to grow.

Kim shares the forced pivots that shaped her path, the business strategies that helped her stand out, and how she continues to innovate as AI reshapes the creative landscape. Whether you're a voiceover artist, creative entrepreneur, or someone navigating a major career shift, her journey offers practical wisdom, industry insight, and inspiration for long‑term success.

She opens up about:

• Her journey from broadcasting to voiceover mastery

• Why mastery takes time — the 10,000‑hour rule

• How curiosity, travel, and perspective fuel creativity

• Navigating forced career pivots and reinvention

• Building a sustainable business in the creative industry

• Staying ahead of AI’s impact on voiceover work

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Kim Handysides

01:51 Kim’s Journey to Voiceover Mastery

05:14 Achievements & Recognition in the Voiceover Industry

06:34 Mastery Takes Time: Kim’s 10,000‑Hour Rule for Success

09:39 Perspective & Visualization Techniques in Voiceover

10:53 How Travel Expands Social Learning & Creativity

12:31 Kim’s First Forced Career Pivot — Navigating Change

14:58 Her Second Major Career Pivot & Reinvention

17:09 From Weather Woman to Professional Voiceover Actor

20:42 From Voiceover Artist to Business Owner & Entrepreneur

26:05 Marketing Strategies: Throwing Spaghetti at the Wall

29:30 Why Entrepreneurs Must Learn to Delegate & Subcontract

32:29 Burning Out While Doing Something You Love — How Kim Recovered

35:59 Staying Ahead of AI’s Impact on Creative Industries

40:09 Why She’s Still in the “Thrill of the Hunt”

43:14 Advice: Master Communication & Take Care of Your Relationships

45:47 How to Reach Kim Handysides & Closing Thoughts

46:59 Final Takeaway & Call to Action

Discovery Optimization

This episode explores creative reinvention, voiceover mastery, entrepreneurship in the arts, and adapting to industry change. Ideal for listeners navigating creative careers, career pivots, or the evolving impact of AI on artistic work.

How do you transition from elite sports to politics and leadership? Johnny Luk, former rowing champion and UK political candidate, has built a career defined by grit, service, and a commitment to creating real impact. His journey spans competitive athletics, government roles, private‑sector leadership, and two runs for UK Parliament — all driven by a belief that change requires both policy and action.

In this episode, Johnny shares how rowing shaped his resilience, why young people struggle to develop grit today, and what he learned from navigating both government and business environments. Whether you're interested in politics, leadership, public service, or major career transitions, his story offers grounded insights and powerful lessons on character, courage, and contribution.

He opens up about:

• How competitive rowing built his drive and discipline

• Why grit is harder for young people to develop today

• The differences between government and private‑sector leadership

• What it takes to create real change in public service

• Running for Parliament — twice — and what he learned

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Johnny Luk

02:36 Johnny’s Journey in Competitive Rowing

04:48 How Rowing Built His Drive to Succeed

06:56 Why Johnny Never Quit Rowing — Even When It Got Tough

09:59 The Challenges Youth Face in Developing Grit Today

14:17 Contrasting Government & Private Sector Leadership

16:57 The Role of Government & Its Impact on Society

21:45 What Would It Take for Government to Drive Real Change?

25:46 How to Build Coalitions in a Hyper‑Partisan Political Climate

29:11 Private Sector Lessons That Could Benefit the Public Sector

31:21 Running for Parliament — Twice!

38:10 Why Johnny Entered Politics & His Vision for the Future

40:09 Advice to Today’s 17‑Year‑Olds on Building a Career & Character

43:01 How to Choose the Right Career Path

45:01 The Power of Support Networks & Work‑Life Balance

47:26 How to Connect with Johnny Luk & Final Thoughts

49:54 Closing & Call to Action

Discovery Optimization

This episode explores grit, leadership, public service, and the transition from elite sports to politics. Ideal for listeners navigating career transitions, building resilience, or seeking insight into government, policy, and leadership development.

What happens when your identity is tied to being an athlete — and that career suddenly ends? Kate Good, former world‑class competitive figure skater and now a mental performance coach, shares her powerful story of reinvention, resilience, and redefining success beyond sport. Forced into early retirement at 21, she had to rebuild her confidence, identity, and sense of purpose from the ground up.

In this episode, Kate reveals the mental training techniques she developed to navigate identity loss, shift mindset, and create success in new fields. Whether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, executive, or high performer, her insights offer a grounded, practical look at self‑identity, emotional clarity, and personal growth.

She opens up about:

• The impact of injury and sudden career transition

• Understanding self‑identity in sports and beyond

• How environment shapes who you become

• Three practices to maintain positive thinking

• How to rebuild confidence through evidence and mindset shifts

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Kate Good

02:52 Kate’s Journey as a Competitive Athlete

05:00 The Impact of Injury & Sudden Career Transition

07:45 Understanding Self‑Identity in Sports & Beyond

10:59 How Your Environment Shapes Who You Become

12:58 Three Key Practices to Maintain Positive Thinking

15:19 Venting vs. Constructive Expression — What’s the Difference?

18:01 A Better Alternative to Venting When Facing Challenges

20:51 Seeing Reality Clearly — Without Emotional Bias

24:50 Building Confidence Through Evidence & Mindset Shifts

28:01 How Kate Rebuilt Her Identity After Leaving Competitive Sports

32:22 Key Differences Between Competitive Sports & Business Leadership

34:50 Candor: The Truth Delivered With Respect

37:21 How Behaviors Create Culture & High Performance

41:01 The Power of Mental Training for Success in Life & Business

47:00 What Kate Is Doing Now & How to Reach Her

49:18 Two Key Takeaways for Resilience & Self‑Discovery

52:21 Closing & Call to Action

Discovery Optimization

This episode explores athlete identity, mental resilience, mindset training, and the transition from competitive sports to leadership and business. Ideal for athletes, executives, entrepreneurs, and anyone navigating major identity shifts or performance challenges.

🔥 Quick insight from Rob Bourbeau on why manufacturing in North America is about more than economics.

In this clip from the Making Your Mark Podcast, Rob raises a critical question: should we continue to manufacture locally or outsource entirely? He explains why preserving manufacturing capabilities is essential for long-term resilience, skills development, and independence. This conversation goes beyond business — it’s about the future of communities and industries across North America.

📌 Discovery Optimization:

manufacturing resilience in North America, reshoring industry strategies, long-term economic independence, skills development through local manufacturing, future of North American industry, making your mark podcast

🔥 Quick insight from Slava Pisanka on what it really takes to succeed in ERP consulting.

In this clip from the Making Your Mark Podcast, Slava shares the three keys that have helped him thrive as an independent ERP contractor: strategy, mindset, and relationships. His perspective shows that success in tech and consulting isn’t just about technical skills — it’s about how you position yourself, build trust, and stay resilient in a competitive space.

📌 Discovery Optimization:

ERP consulting success strategies, independent contractor mindset, building relationships in tech careers, thriving in ERP contracting, career growth in consulting, resilience in competitive industries, making your mark podcast

🔥 Quick insight from Dr. Rafik Naccache on the weight of choosing between academia and industry.

In this clip from the Making Your Mark Podcast, Rafik shares how his post-doctoral fellowship led him to a pivotal career decision: return to industry or pursue a long-term path in academic research. His reflection highlights the challenges and clarity that come when standing between two meaningful directions — and what ultimately guided his choice.

📌 Discovery Optimization:

academia vs industry career decisions, postdoc career crossroads, STEM career transitions, research vs corporate paths, resilience in career choices, making your mark podcast

🔥 Quick insight from Sam Watts on why the nonprofit sector is overdue for innovation.

In this clip from the Making Your Mark Podcast, Sam explains how traditional approaches often fall short — and why bold leadership, fresh thinking, and systems-level change are needed to unlock real progress for the communities that need it most. His perspective is a wake-up call for anyone working in social impact.

📌 Discovery Optimization:

nonprofit sector innovation, social impact leadership, disrupting traditional nonprofit models, bold leadership in community change, systems-level transformation in nonprofits, making your mark podcast