Work It: A UVic career exploration podcast

By University of Victoria Co-op and Career ServicesBusiness Education Careers

Work It: A UVic career exploration podcast episodes

September 22Lyana Patrick: Building a career that lifts Indigenous voices (BA'97, MA'04)
Lyana Patrick is a UVic double alumna who holds an undergraduate degree in creative writing and history (BA 1997) as well as an MA in Indigenous Governance (2004), and whose co-op experiences made a major impact on her career trajectory. Lyana also earned her PhD in Community and Regional Planning at the University of British Columbia.
Lyana is Dakelh from BC’s Stellat’en First Nation and her Indigenous identity has shaped her career path—she is a professor at Simon Fraser University where she teaches courses about Indigenous health and justice, and is also an award-winning filmmaker. Her documentary about the Stellat’en and Saik’uz communities’ intergenerational fight to restore the Nachako River east of the Kitimat mountain ranges, was released last year, and draws on Lyana’s body of work going back to her time at UVic.
Resources from this episode
Nechako: It will be a river again - documentary
Aisha's story - documentary
The UVic Co-op Program
Accessing career support
Connect with us
Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter
Follow UVic Co-op and Career on social media
(02:58) - All about Lyana – her role at SFU and the Indigenous health classes that she teaches
(05:39) - Lyana tells us how her passion for journalism led her to carve out a career in storytelling
(07:08) - Lyana shares how UVic and her studies in History, Creative Writing and Indigenous Governance helped her develop her career in film
(09:30) - Lyana talks about how to tell Indigenous stories that honour and give back to community
(10:32) - The skills and takeaways that Lyana gleaned from her co-op experience at UVic (hint – it includes leveraging shyness into a superpower)
(12:32) - How doing co-ops in government led to Lyana’s first job after graduation
(13:39) - How failing is just a form of learning
(13:53) - How Lyana approaches Indigenous community-based research and work
(17:47) - Lyana shares her favourite storytelling project – a half-hour documentary about the Canada/US border bisecting the Blackfoot Nation territory
(19:36) - Lyana talks about how storytelling can humanize people and connect humans from across cultures and lived experience
(21:37) - Lyana shares how she carries hope and how she champions students’ growth
(24:25) - Rapid fire questions
(24:40) - The professor that made a huge impact on Lyana at UVic: Elizabeth Vibert
(26:31) - Favourite on-campus spot: Multifaith Centre
(26:52) - Favourite off-campus spot: Blue Fox Café
(27:12) - What would Lyana do more of if she could do it all again?
30 min
March 10Solving space-sized problems with Julie Claveau (BSc 2009)
On this episode, we are speaking with Julie Claveau, a UVic physics and astronomy graduate who manages Earth Observation satellite programs and previously worked as Canada’s deputy mission manager for the James Webb Telescope.
She is also an advocate for diversity and inclusion, and is a blogger, a Youtuber, an avid World of Warcraft gamer, a violist, a dancer, a baker, a gardener and a mom of three.
We talk with Julie about learning to trust yourself, following your passion, dismantling imposter syndrome and so much more!
Resources from this episode
The UVic Co-op Program
Accessing career support
Connect with us
Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter
Follow UVic Co-op and Career on social media
(02:32) - Julie breaks down the steps in her career path - from working at McDonalds to working in government
(04:58) - What Julie has learned from her diverse career experiences (hint…it’s about trusting yourself)
(06:37) - How Julie turned her passion for space into a career in science
(08:40) - Julie shares what she’s most proud of from her time at UVic and in her career
(10:42) - Julie tells us why it’s key to have diverse perspectives and lived experience to solve problems in science
(12:40) - How Julie strives to achieve work/life balance in these busy times
(14:30) - Julie shares advice about how to carve out a career in science
(16:40) - How to get rid of imposter syndrome (even Julie has it!)
(17:55) - Julie tells us how her time at UVic inspired her pathway
(19:58) - Why you shouldn’t underestimate your own special mojo
(21:10) - Rapid fire questions
(21:29) - Julie’s favourite class at UVic
(22:03) - Favourite drink when studying
(22:21) - Favourite campus building to spend time in
(22:32) - Why Julie would do it all again and her love of physics
26 min
February 10How to change your career direction
On this month's episode, we’re digging into a question that can seem a bit scary—what happens if you want to change your career path?
Luckily, we’re joined by Kerry Vaughan, who is UVic’s career educator for alumni. She speaks to us about:
what happens if your career looks and feels different than you were hoping
how common it is to make a major change
how UVic Career Services can help you plan your next steps
Plus, Emma shares her own career journey and how her goals have changed.
Resources from this episode
Meet with your career educator
Career options for your program area
Connect with us
Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter
Follow UVic Co-op and Career on social media
(02:00) - How common is it to want to change your career path?
(03:00) - Examples of students and grads who have made a career transition: tips and tricks
(07:02) - What can you do if you’re feeling stuck? How your career educator can help you figure it out.
(11:10) - Emma shares her experience of shifting careers what she learned and how she found her passion.
(15:10) - How to navigate a big change
(17:02) - What if your career looks and feels different than you were hoping?
(20:12) - How to decide that you’re ready for a career change AND how we can help
(21:30) - Why you don’t have to have it all figured out
24 min
January 13Graeme Gordon (BEng 2012) lays his cards on the table
On this month's episode, we're speaking with mechanical engineering alumni Graeme Gordon, who ditched the oil and gas industry to transform his passion for Magic: The Gathering trading cards into a thriving business.
He is the founder of TCG Machines, which produces automatic trading card sorting machines for commercial use. In the past four years, Graeme’s business has grown into a multi-million-dollar business with 27 full-time employees and machines operating in ten countries (at the time of recording, there were 20 employees, proof that it's growing fast!).
We chat with Graeme about how he pivoted to become a business owner, the path to launching his own business, and what he's learned along the way.
Resources from this episode
TCG Machines
The UVic Co-op Program
Accessing career support
Connect with us
Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter
Follow UVic Co-op and Career on social media
(02:10) - How did changes to the oil and gas industry impact Graeme's career path?
(04:15) - Where did Graeme's passion for tabletop card games like Magic The Gathering come from?
(06:55) - How did playing Magic The Gathering lead Graeme to launch a card sorting business?
(08:41) - How did Graeme go from sorting business idea to the reality of launching a company?
(09:48) - The importance of validating that there’s a market for your idea
(10:22) - All about TCG Machines - growing pains, and the reality of building a business
(14:16) - Using Reddit as a marketing tool
(14:50) - How UVic shaped Graeme’s career path
(16:25) - What is next for Graeme and TCG?
(17:25) - Graeme’s advice for students interested in launching their own business
(19:37) - What has surprised Graeme about being involved in the gaming card industry? Psst…it may involve Post Malone!
(20:54) - Rapid fire questions
(21:05) - Favourite snack while on campus
(21:10) - If you could be a student again for one day, what would you do?
(21:43) - What was the hardest engineering project that you worked on?
24 min
December 09, 2025What can you do with your degree? A guide to getting support from your career educator.
On today’s episode, we're tackling a pretty common question—what the heck can you do with your degree?
Whether you’re considering what program to pursue or are about to graduate with a degree, it can be hard to know what’s next. We’re joined by Joy Andrews, one of UVic’s amazing career educators, who will walk us through:
how to identify your passion and your strengths
how to find the right employer
putting together an elevator pitch
the perks of meeting with your career educator
Students and alumni can book one-on-one appointments with Joy and her team.
Resources from this episode
Meet with your career educator
Connect with us
Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter
Follow UVic Co-op and Career on social media
(02:10) - - What does it look like to meet with your career educator?
(02:45) - - Step 1 - Identify your passion - what made you want to do your degree?
(03:55) - - Step 2 - Figure out your strengths - what are you proud of?
(06:00) - - Step 3 - Digging deeper - understanding your strengths, passions and career fits.
(07:05) - - Step 4 - Exploring possible career paths
(08:06) - - Step 5 - Planning your next steps
(09:05) - - Step 6 - Sharing resources and contacts so you can learn more
(09:55) - - What if you don’t have any idea of what you want to do?
(10:56) - - How do you find the right employer?
(11:55) - - How to put together an elevator pitch
(14:15) - - How to prepare for a job interview
(14:40) - - How to navigate today’s labour market
(16:03) - - What are the perks of an appointment with your career educator?
19 min
November 04, 2025Challenging discrimination and bias in law with Fiona Wong (Law, Juris Doctor, 2020)
On our season 3 kick-off episode, we speak with Fiona Wong, a UVic Law graduate with a passion for labour and employment law. She has served as President of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers, helped produce an award-winning law documentary called “But I Look Like a Lawyer”, and launched a podcast featuring Asian-Canadian lawyers.
During her time at UVic, Fiona founded the First Generation Network at UVic to reduce barriers for law students who are the first in their family to attend post-secondary.
We talk with Fiona about facing discrimination as an Asian student and lawyer, how her identity shapes her career in law, and much more.
Resources from this episode
First Generation Network
But I Look Like a Lawyer
UVic Law
The UVic Co-op Program
Accessing career support
Connect with us
Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter
Follow UVic Co-op and Career on social media
(02:52) - What drew Fiona to the field of law? Why UVic?
(04:42) - What inspired Fiona to start the First Generation Network to connect with other students who are the first to attend post-secondary?
(07:30) - What does it mean to be a labour and employment lawyer, as well as a civl rights lawyer?
(09:50) - Fiona tells us what she loves most about her job
(12:05) - Fiona shares how her identity as an Asian woman has shaped her experience in the field of law
(15:50) - What opportunities does Fiona see for change in removing barriers for Asian students to study and practice law?
(18:12) - Fiona gives advice to students who are interested in a career in law
(22:39) - What’s next for Fiona?
(24:04) - Rapid fire questions
(24:20) - Favourite off-campus spot
(24:55) - Favourite on-campus spot
(25:05) - Faculty members who inspired Fiona
28 min
February 11, 2025Carving out a creative career: an interview with Mark Leiren-Young
Don’t want to commit to just one career path? Being flexible can lead you on some amazing adventures.

On today’s episode, Katy and Emma speak with Mark Leiren-Young who was UVic's second ever double major, in Theatre and Creative Writing and who currently works as a UVic professor in the Writing department, among many other roles.

We chat with Mark about:
Working in creative fields as diverse as writing award-winning movies The Green Chain and the Hundred-Year-Old Whale
Hosting the Skaana podcast, where he covers ocean-related environmental issues
Touring Canada as half of the comedy duo, Local Anxiety
Teaching classes on the Marvel and DC universes
…and much more!

Resources from this episode
Skaana podcast
UVic Writing Program
The UVic Co-op Program
Accessing career support
Connect with us
Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter
Follow UVic Co-op and Career on social media
(00:00) - Music intro
(00:32) - Welcome and host intros
(02:18) - All about Mark Leiren-Young
(03:20) - Stumbling into a journalism job after graduating in the late 80's
(05:42) - Why it's important to study something you love
(06:56) - A cornucopia of all the jobs that Mark has done in the arts
(09:17) - What's the common thread in careers by creative people?
(11:02) - How Mark started writing tv scripts in the 90's, starting with an episode of The X Files
(12:22) - How Mark landed the writing gig for the Orca Exhibit at the Royal BC Museum and became "the whale guy"
(16:05) - How Mark became a podcaster focused on stories about Orcas
(20:15) - How Mark helps students from all disciplines tap into their creative side in FA 101 "Creative Being"
(23:43) - Mark's advice on how to translate your passion for the arts into a career you love
(26:02) - Rapid fire: what's something on campus that's stayed the same since the 80s
(26:51) - Rapid fire: best place to grab food on campus
30 min
January 28, 2025Is grad school worth it? The pros and cons of doing a graduate degree.
Wondering if you should come back to school for a graduate degree? It’s a big question, but we’re here to help.

This week, Katy and Emma connect with Allison Benner, the associate director of UVic’s Career Services team to talk about:
What kind of research to do
Whether it’s worth the time and money
The reality of today’s economy and the job market
Resources from this episode
Accessing career support
Co-op for graduate students
Applying to graduate school
Connect with us
Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter
Follow UVic Co-op and Career on social media
Photo by Kimberly Farmer on Unsplash.
(00:00) - Intro music
(00:32) - Welcome & introductions
(02:32) - Introduction to Allison Benner, associate director of UVic Career Services
(03:32) - Allison shares what she learned from dropping out of her first graduate school
(06:16) - How to decide what the right grad program is for you
(09:35) - How to stand out in your grad school application
(13:00) - How to approach applying to grad school if you've been out of school for a while
(14:34) - The cost of going to grad school
(16:52) - Do you need to go to grad school to get a good job?
(18:52) - How to make the most of your grad school experience
(19:56) - How co-op can enrich your grad school experience
(22:43) - What to research when you're looking at grad schools
(27:02) - How grad school can help you follow your passion
31 min
January 14, 2025Blending business and science to change the future of algae: an interview with Ashley and Robert Roulston
Have a business idea? Not sure how to get it off the ground?

In this episode, Emma and Kate speak with Ashley and Robert Roulston, co-founders of Industrial Plankton, a company that makes equipment to grow live algae cultures that are used to stabilize the aquaculture food chain. Fourteen years into their business, they share tips on:
How to form a partnership that combines different degrees and skill sets
What it’s like to build a business from scratch
Why they hire UVic co-op students
…and much more!

Resources from this episode
Industrial Plankton
The UVic Co-op Program
Coast Capital Innovation Centre
Accessing career support
Connect with us
Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter
Follow UVic Co-op and Career on social media
(00:00) - Intro music
(00:32) - Welcome and introductions
(02:45) - The algae of it all: how is algae used in aquaculture and biotechnology?
(04:20) - What technology does Industrial Plankton make and how does this help the world?
(05:08) - How did Ashley and Robert come up with the idea for their business, Industrial Plankton?
(06:35) - How to set yourself up for success when partnering in your own business
(07:57) - How to start an entrepreneurial business as a student
(11:05) - How have things changed 14 years into your business? What have you learned?
(12:32) - What skills do you look for in an employee?
(13:53) - Ashley and Robert share what they learned through the co-op program
(15:42) - What do co-op students do at Industrial Plankton?
(17:24) - What does a day-in-the-life look like as business owners?
(20:12) - What are some of the most exciting problems that Industrial Plankton helps solve?
(21:41) - How Industrial Plankton is tackling climate change and ecological restoration
(23:46) - Rapid fire questions with Ashley and Robert about their time at UVic
(29:10) - Episode credits
30 min
January 08, 2025 How co-op can help you develop a career you love
1 min

About Work It: A UVic career exploration podcast

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You spend a quarter of your life at work - you deserve to find a career you love!

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Work It: A UVic career exploration podcast

Work It: A UVic career exploration podcast episodes

About Work It: A UVic career exploration podcast