In this episode of the 2nd Floor Podcast, we bring back Marek Komar, a Professional Consultant Specializing in Mental Performance & Career Development | Author

"The mountains we climb are not only made of rock and ice, but also dreams and desire. The mountains we climb are mountains of the mind" 🗻Whether it is the corporate or athletic field, the biggest battle we have is the one against ourselves. I help people get out of their own way and conquer their own personal mountain. 🧙‍♂️I am a passionate consultant specializing in peak human performance & well-being. With this, I seek to answer one fundamental question: What is holding you back from feeling and performing at your best? 🎯My mission is to help individuals develop their identity, strategize their life & careers, and improve psychological well-being through evidence-based practices. 📘I am also an author. I invite you to check out my book: https://www.flowperformancepsych.com/book 

On this episode of the calculated coffee's show I bring on Alex Eskandarkhah. 

Alex is the co-creator and host of his own podcast, The Gifted Gab. Born and raised in Toronto, he spent time in Edmonton initially playing basketball at the University level, left and returned with his family, prompting them to start up a family business here in North Edmonton, Kashan Persian Rugs. His experience working alongside his brother, and pulling entrepreneurial experience from his father, led him to learn the ins and outs of operations, marketing and most importantly community. Alex is also a co-founder of the Collective for Black Iranians, an international non profit focused on public education, advocacy and amplification of stories centered around Afro Iranians and Black Iranians within the diaspora as well as Iran. Alex refers to his work as ‘creative activism mixed with conscious capitalism’ and continues to find new ways to disrupt through art.

We had a great chat about what it takes to be an young entrepreneur and the mentality it takes to carve your own path

Nick Jorgenson is a Spotify Playlist curator, artist manager, studio owner, artist, and writer. His playlist "Lifting Heavy Ass Weights" has gained almost 40k followers as it has grown gradually since its creation in 2016. He manages Oren Major, a young independent artist who has amassed nearly 10 million streams in less than three short years. He also owns "Rap House Phoenix", an Air Bnb style tour lodging and recording studio that he built himself. Nick prides himself in helping other independent artists navigate the music industry by sharing information as often as he can. If you're looking to learn from Nick, start with his guide. It's the blueprint. And beyond that, his Patreon contains ongoing new information for growing as an entrepeneur in the music industry!

In this Episode, we had the honor of interviewing Myrna Bittner, CEO of RWI Synthetics. Armed with her BA in English, and finishing her MBA, Myrna started her first tech company in 1992, developing a commercial internet groupware product used by NASA and US West for real-time remote communications, followed by co-founding a 3D neural net visualization research company funded by an Australian billionaire. When they told her she couldn’t, she didn’t listen. Myrna passionately lives and promotes the imperative for inclusion, diversity, and representation. We dive deep into Myrna's story!

In this 2nd Floor Exclusive Documentary, we dive deep into one of our featured guest's stories - Troy Meier. A Canada Deaf Games Champion, a father and basketball athlete who shares what it's been like to find beauty in the struggle, finding yourself as an athlete, the Deaf Games, and much more. 

Here is someone who doesn't let his weakness or what has been classified as a disability prevent him from staying fit and playing basketball. His love for the game shines through!

As Regional President for Alberta and the Territories, Jeff leads a Team of over 2,500 employees in providing financial advice and services to RBC’s Personal, Small Business and Commercial clients in the Region.

Since joining RBC in 1995, Jeff has held a variety of increasingly responsible positions including senior leadership roles in both Retail and Commercial Banking and National Sales Strategy. Prior to assuming his current role in 2014, he was Regional President, Ontario North & East.

Jeff is an active and dedicated community leader, including his involvement on the boards of Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, Arts Commons and FRAYME, as well as the Advisory Board for the University of Alberta Business School.

Jeff holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Mount Allison University, the FICB from the Canadian Securities Institute and has completed the Institute of Corporate Directors Education Program.

We are excited to promote next week's upcoming episode with a very special guest - Regional President of RBC, Jeff Boyd

In light of the RBC Future Launch and the opening of RBC On Campus across several university institutions across Canada, we are delighted to share our partnership with RBC and our shared mission in providing university students more tools and access to proper resources that will help prepare them for the future. 

From expanding your network, enhancing your skills, and focusing on your overall mental wellbeing, we provide 3 personal tips on how you can continue to feel and be successful as you navigate your university experience during an unprecedented era of lockdowns, uncertainty and hope for a better tomorrow. 

"Farmers in India need our help right now. It's our turn to give back to our roots. Had it not been for their dedication, love for natural grown crops,  endless hours of hard work on the fields, we would have never dreamed of living a blessed life here in Canada. This is where life, sacrifice and work began for a lot of us proud Punjabi's." All proceeds will go towards Khalsa Aid - an international NGO with the aim to provide humanitarian aid in disaster areas and civil conflict zones around the world. The organisation is based upon the Sikh principle of "Recognize the whole human race as one". Khalsa Aid is currently providing resources and food for the thousands of farmers who continue to march their way to Delhi to show how 3 new laws will affect them financially and independently.  From water cannon blasts and tear gas, our local farmers back in India have faced multiple obstacles along the way to prevent them from their freedom of expressing their concern around how the new laws will affect them financially. By donating any contribution you can provide for this cause, you will be providing the tens of thousands of people in India the freedom to continue to protest their right to revoke the 3 new laws put in place. These laws will jeopardize their freedom and right to continue pricing and selling the goods they make at a valuable price that is fit for them.  These new rules will put several thousands farmers at risk of losing their jobs and a considerable amount of their financial freedom if they enter a free market against the high bargaining power corporations will have over them.  Canada's Prime Minister Trudeau said “I would be remiss if I didn’t start also by recognizing the news coming out of India about the protest by farmers. The situation is concerning, and we’re all very worried about families and friends. I know that’s a reality for many of you."  Your financial support and awareness will mean the world to me because I personally put myself in the shoes of all farmers right now. I  recognize that a generation ago, my parents were right in their shoes. I grew up with generations of farmers in my family. Had it not been for their dedication, love for natural grown crops,  endless hours of hard work on the fields, we would have never dreamed of living a blessed life here in Canada. This is where life, sacrifice and work began for a lot of us proud Punjabi's.  I put myself in their shoes and can't help but think that if this was happening even 25 years ago, I would not be blessed with the chance of being where I am today due to the sacrifice and hours put into the work that needed to be done on our farms in Punjab. My Uncle currently is one of the farmers at risk and in fear of losing his entire life's hard work to a large corporation or the government seizing his farm property to call it their very own if these laws get put in place.  With the lack of education and technology farmers have, they will be uncapable of keeping up with the demands of what the new free market will come with. With no sense of reliance on the government building this infrastructure, without your support today, our most promising occupation and roots that lay in the hands of our farmers in India will be doomed for generations to come.  One extra dollar towards this cause, is one extra mouth fed, that is one more person willing to take a stand and proudly stand in the protest in the hopes of making an impact on the Government of India changing their minds.  Together, we can make a difference. 

Link To Donate - https://ca.gofundme.com/f/gnsdmw-no-farmers-no-food