Successfully Ambiguous?

Your career path doesn't have to follow a straight line, and your education doesn't have to determine where you end up. Recognizing potential, in yourself and others, takes curiosity, an openness to opportunity and a willingness to explore something different.

In this episode of Successfully Ambiguous, host Christine Brooks-Cappadocia welcomes Daniel Aquino, President & CEO of Aquicon Construction, for a conversation about career growth, leadership and the importance of investing in people.

Daniel shares why your degree doesn't have to define your career path, how exploring different responsibilities can help you discover what drives you and why developing strong teams is essential to long-term success. He also discusses how digital technologies are transforming construction and creating opportunities for people from diverse educational and professional backgrounds.

As construction continues to evolve, specialized education in areas like digital construction management is creating new pathways for professionals looking to build skills and explore opportunities in the industry.

Beyond his work at Aquicon, Daniel is helping create opportunities for women pursuing careers in STEM. Through his generous support, York University's School of Continuing Studies established the Women Students in STEM Fields Bursary, providing financial assistance to eligible women enrolled in STEM-related programs who are experiencing unexpected financial challenges.

Whether you're exploring a new career direction or looking for ways to support the growth of others, this conversation offers fresh perspectives on recognizing and building potential.

Explore the opportunities discussed in this episode:

Post-Graduate Certificate in Digital Construction Management:

https://continue.yorku.ca/programs/post-graduate-certificate-in-digital-construction-management/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sa_2026

Women Students in STEM Fields Bursary:

https://continue.yorku.ca/women-students-in-stem-related-fields-at-the-school-of-continuing-studies/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sa_2026

Join the conversation with today's leaders and share your career questions. Make sure to subscribe, like, and share! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if your next career opportunity starts with the skills you already have?

In this episode of Successfully Ambiguous, host Christine Brooks-Cappadocia welcomes Shiona Thompson, Conference Producer, Indigenous Affairs at The Canadian Institute, for a conversation about transferable skills, career adaptability, and finding opportunities in unexpected places.

Shiona shares how looking at your experience from a different perspective can open doors to new industries, why versatility matters for long-term employability, and how continuous learning helps you stay ready for what's next.

From recognizing strengths you may have overlooked to learning from colleagues and professional connections, this episode explores how a shift in perspective can change the direction of your career.

Whether you're navigating a career transition or simply wondering what else might be possible, Shiona offers an encouraging reminder: sometimes moving forward starts with recognizing what you already bring to the table.

🎙️ Successfully Ambiguous: Career twists, real stories, and insights to thrive in a changing world.

💡 Meaningful dialogue starts with strong communication and listening skills.

Explore York University School of Continuing Studies' Certificate in Dispute Resolution to develop practical skills in mediation, negotiation, and conflict management.

🔗 https://continue.yorku.ca/programs/certificate-in-dispute-resolution/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sa_2026

Join the conversation with today's leaders and share your career questions. Make sure to subscribe, like, and share! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to keep growing when the world of work keeps changing?

In this special double-header episode of Successfully Ambiguous, Christine Brooks-Cappadocia is joined by two leaders exploring how workers, employers and educators can adapt to an evolving economy and workplace.

Michelle Aarons, President of the Canadian Association of University Continuing Education (CAUCE), brings a continuing education perspective to the growing need for upskilling and reskilling, why learning can no longer stop at graduation and the role employers can play in making lifelong learning possible.

Jackie Pichette, Policy Lead, Skills & Higher Education at RBC Thought Leadership, brings the conversation into the age of AI, exploring why critical thinking matters more than ever and what shifts in entry-level work could mean for the traditional career ladder.

From lifelong learning and critical thinking to adaptability, transferable skills and choosing opportunities with room to grow, their perspectives offer a timely look at what it takes to build a career that can evolve along with the world of work.

For employers: Explore how York University’s School of Continuing Studies works with organizations to support workforce development and employee learning:

https://continue.yorku.ca/employer-partnerships/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sa_2026

Because the future of work isn’t just about keeping up. It’s about continuing to learn, adapt and grow.

Join the conversation with today's leaders and share your career questions. Make sure to subscribe, like, and share! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to keep growing when the way we work keeps changing?

Christine Brooks-Cappadocia sits down with Caroline Esterson, learning and development expert, Co-Founder of Poyntr and host of Unshakeable Her, to explore how individuals and organizations can build the skills, confidence and adaptability they need to move forward.

Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in learning and development, Caroline challenges the idea that meaningful transformation requires a dramatic leap. Instead, she makes the case for small, continuous improvements that can change how we show up at work and where our careers take us. It starts with a deceptively simple question: What’s the next best thing I can do to move forward?

Together, they explore the difference between high standards and perfectionism, why mistakes and uncertainty are essential to learning, and how reflection builds resilience and growth. They also look at how hybrid work and AI are changing workplace learning, what we may be losing along the way, and how individuals and employers can prepare for what comes next.

In this episode:

• Why meaningful growth comes from continuous improvement
• High standards vs. perfectionism
• Building resilience through mistakes and uncertainty
• Taking ownership of your professional development
• What hybrid work has changed about workplace learning
• AI, human connection and the skills we’ll need next
• How organizations can take a more proactive approach to developing their people

Successfully Ambiguous: Career twists, real stories, and insights to thrive in a changing world.

Join the conversation with today's leaders and share your career questions. Make sure to subscribe, like, and share! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if some of the best career opportunities arrive before you feel ready?

Ahead of Season 2 of Successfully Ambiguous, Christine Brooks-Cappadocia revisits one of her favourite conversations from Season 1 with Laura Babcock, communications strategist, executive trainer, national media commentator, and host of The O Show.

Laura reflects on a career shaped by unexpected opportunities, meaningful relationships, and a willingness to take the next step before she had everything figured out.

Together, Christine and Laura explore why you don’t need to check every box before pursuing an opportunity, how relationships can open unexpected doors, and why confidence is often built through action rather than certainty.

In this episode:

• Why you don’t need to feel completely ready to take the next step

• How relationships create unexpected opportunities

• Why knowing what you bring matters

• The value of asking — even when you don’t know what the answer will be

• How staying open to possibility can shape your career

Hosted by Christine Brooks-Cappadocia, Successfully Ambiguous explores non-linear careers, unexpected opportunities, and the skills needed to thrive in a changing world.

Join the conversation with today's leaders and share your career questions. Make sure to subscribe, like, and share! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the perspective that makes you different is actually one of your greatest advantages?

In this episode of Successfully Ambiguous, Christine Brooks-Cappadocia speaks with Rahim Katchi about the value of seeing things differently.

Drawing on a career spanning fashion, healthtech, entrepreneurship, and education, Rahim explores why founders and leaders can become too attached to their own ideas, why understanding the people you serve matters, and what history can teach us about creating ideas that last.

He also shares practical advice for navigating your career: hold on to the experiences and perspectives that set you apart, take an active rather than passive approach to opportunity, and focus on the value you can bring to others.

From reimagining public spaces to a student who turned a class project into a job opportunity, Rahim shows how a different perspective can lead to better ideas, stronger relationships, and unexpected opportunities.

Successfully Ambiguous explores career growth, leadership, lifelong learning, and what it takes to thrive in a changing world.

Interested in building your digital marketing skills?

Explore York University’s Certificate in Digital Marketing:

https://continue.yorku.ca/programs/certificate-in-digital-marketing/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sa_2026 

Join the conversation with today's leaders and share your career questions. Make sure to subscribe, like, and share! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you create opportunities in a world where careers are constantly changing?

In this episode of Successfully Ambiguous, host Christine Brooks-Cappadocia sits down with David Kwok, Director of Entrepreneurship & Innovation at YSpace, York University, to explore why the best career opportunities aren't always the ones you find. They're often the ones you create.

David has helped build nationally recognized innovation programs that support entrepreneurs across Canada. In this conversation, he shares the mindset shifts that have shaped his own career. From focusing on skills instead of job titles to taking action before you're ready, embracing feedback over perfection, and staying open to opportunities that didn't exist when he first started, this conversation offers practical insights for anyone looking to grow their career in a rapidly changing world.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why your next role may not exist yet
• Why waiting for perfect keeps people stuck
• How focusing on skills creates new opportunities
• Why comparing yourself to others can fuel imposter syndrome
• How to step into opportunities before you feel ready

Whether you're a student, an entrepreneur, an emerging leader, or navigating your next career move, this conversation will challenge the way you think about opportunity, growth, and what's possible.

Explore upcoming free webinars from York University School of Continuing Studies:

https://continue.yorku.ca/events/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sa_2026

Join the conversation with today's leaders and share your career questions. Make sure to subscribe, like, and share! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the best leaders don't avoid conflict? They embrace it.

In this episode of Successfully Ambiguous, Christine Brooks-Cappadocia sits down with mediator, facilitator, and leadership coach Oliver Martin. Drawing on more than two decades of experience helping individuals, teams, and organizations navigate workplace conflict, strengthen communication, and build healthier relationships, Oliver explores why conflict isn't something to fear, but one of the most powerful drivers of innovation, growth, and stronger leadership.

From psychological safety and learning from failure to navigating difficult conversations with confidence, Oliver shares practical strategies for transforming workplace tension into better communication, stronger relationships, and healthier teams.

Whether you're leading a team, navigating change, or preparing for a difficult conversation, this episode will challenge the way you think about conflict and give you practical tools you can apply immediately.

Join the conversation with today's leaders and share your career questions. Make sure to subscribe, like, and share! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Career reinvention rarely begins with a perfect plan. More often, it begins with an unexpected change.

In this episode of Successfully Ambiguous, Christine Brooks-Cappadocia speaks with Josie Ferry, who transformed an unexpected career setback into an opportunity to reinvent herself.

After a workplace restructuring, Josie made the decision to invest in herself by returning to school through York University School of Continuing Studies, launching her own business, and building a career helping people navigate life's most significant transitions through coaching, mediation, and education. 

Together, they discuss career reinvention, lifelong learning, mentorship, and why asking for help and embracing honest feedback can become catalysts for growth.

Whether you're navigating a career transition, considering a return to school, starting a business, or simply wondering what's next, this conversation offers practical insights for building your next chapter with confidence.

• How to reinvent yourself during times of change
• Why investing in yourself is the best career move
• Returning to school as an adult learner
• Transitioning from employee to entrepreneur
• Finding mentors who help you grow
• The value of honest feedback
• Why asking for help creates opportunity

Join the conversation with today's leaders and share your career questions. Make sure to subscribe, like, and share! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it really take to build a career, a community, and a sense of belonging in Canada?

In this Canada Day special of Successfully Ambiguous, host Christine Brooks-Cappadocia brings together powerful stories and practical insights from newcomers, international graduates, and industry leaders who have navigated the realities of building careers in Canada.

Together, they explore the challenges of entering a new job market, adapting to a different workplace culture, building confidence through community, and recognizing that careers are built through connection as much as qualifications. Along the way, they share practical strategies for job searching, networking, and creating meaningful opportunities for themselves and others.

Whether you're new to Canada, changing careers, supporting newcomers, or looking to build more inclusive workplaces and communities, this conversation offers thoughtful perspectives on resilience, belonging, and lifelong learning.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why belonging often begins with asking for help
• How to approach your job search more strategically
• How confidence and community create career momentum
• Why career success is about more than qualifications
• How giving back creates opportunities for others to thrive

Featuring:

• Diana Palmerín Velasco – Senior Director, Future of Work, Canadian Chamber of Commerce
• Gayathri Rajamohan – Global PIEoneer Alumni of the Year finalist and cybersecurity educator
• Ramiz Essani – Digital marketing professional
• Olatunji Saliu – Entrepreneur and Founder, Hope & Threads Foundation

If this conversation resonates with you, follow Successfully Ambiguous for more honest discussions about careers, lifelong learning, and the future of work.

Join the conversation with today's leaders and share your career questions. Make sure to subscribe, like, and share! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.