Claim OwnershipCareers Under Construction
Subscribed: 2Played: 10
Subscribe
© The Pederson Group
Description
Careers Under Construction keeps it real—sharing personal stories of grit, growth and how to build meaningful careers from the ground up. Host Justis Pederson sits down with leaders who open up about the wins, the struggles and the lessons that shaped their success. Produced in our professional studio in Winnipeg, Manitoba, you can watch or listen on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.
Build with us.
Powered By: The Pederson Group (TPG)
Build with us.
Powered By: The Pederson Group (TPG)
30 Episodes
Reverse
Is Manitoba holding itself back?Carly Edmundson thinks so.She grew up in a small Manitoba town. Today, she leads a 20,000-acre inland port that could reshape Canada’s trade future.As President & CEO of CentrePort Canada, Carly isn’t just talking about economic development — she’s challenging how Manitoba thinks about growth, risk, and bold action.In this episode of Careers Under Construction, we dive into:• Why she says Manitoba isn’t a “have-not” province — it’s a “don’t-do” province• The billion-dollar investments transforming CentrePort• The bold vision behind the Prairie Arctic Trade Corridor and Churchill• Why certainty drives investment• What it takes to lead as a female CEO in a male-dominated fieldThis isn’t just a conversation about supply chains.It’s about risk.And being bold.And whether Canada is ready to build big again.🎙️ Watch the full episode and decide for yourself — is Manitoba thinking big enough?
From being born with a cleft lip and palate to becoming one of the most relentless linebackers in CFL history, Adam Bighill has built a 15+ year professional career, playing over 200 games and winning 3 Grey Cup championships.Today, Adam is both a CFL linebacker and Investment Advisor at Pejovic Bighill Private Wealth, helping families and individuals build long-term wealth off the field.In this episode, Adam shares:• The underdog mindset behind his success• Lessons from winning and losing Grey Cups• Why discipline beats talent over time• The financial mistakes many pro athletes make• Why wealth is built slowly, not overnight• What it means to be a 3× Grey Cup Champion• What it takes to become a 3× CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player
Iain Crozier began his career far from venture capital, first as a competitive athlete travelling internationally as a professional squash player before entering the business world.After helping grow and exit his family’s business, Iain moved into technology and investing and eventually founded Trillick Ventures, a Manitoba-focused venture capital firm backing early-stage founders and helping build the province’s startup ecosystem.In this episode, Iain breaks down how venture capital really works, what investors actually look for and what it means when startups and capital head to the U.S. for founders and innovation in Canada.
Melissa Cattini is one of Canada’s go-to advisors on franchise law. In this episode of Careers Under Construction, Melissa shares how she went from a criminal justice student to a corporate lawyer, built a national franchise law practice from the ground up and became a law firm partner in just eight years.She opens up about mentorship, imposter syndrome, what big law is really like (not the TV version) and why empathy can be a powerful leadership skill in high-pressure careers like law.Melissa Cattini is a Partner in corporate and commercial law at MLT Aikins LLP, the founder and head of the firm’s Franchise Practice Group, a nationally recognized female trailblazer and a trusted advisor on M&A and franchise matters.
QDoc started with a simple question: why is it so hard to see a doctor?Canada’s healthcare system is under pressure, and startups like QDoc are stepping in to improve access to healthcare and to build technology that connects patients and providers across Canada more quickly.In this episode, the founders share how they built a virtual care platform, scaled from 55 patients to 11,000 a month, and navigated regulation, funding and tech challenges.If you care about the future of healthcare and how to improve it, this conversation is for you.
Sande Higgins survived a plane crash while serving in the RCMP — an experience that changed everything.Years later, struggling with PTSD, she turned to an unconventional path she never thought she’d take.After 15 years in the RCMP, Sande Higgins was carrying the invisible weight of trauma.In this episode of Careers Under Construction, Sande shares her experience with PTSD, the stigma around mental health in law enforcement and the unconventional path that helped her begin healing.We talk about:– The plane crash that changed the course of her life– Why she was hesitant to explore psychedelic therapy– What a guided psychedelic retreat actually involves– The difference between stigma, legality and reality– What recovery looks like after the uniform comes off
In this episode of Careers Under Construction, Justis Pederson sits down with Alisdair Dickinson, Senior Vice President at Graham Construction and a Chartered Civil Engineer with 25+ years of experience across Canada and the UK, to unpack what truly separates successful projects from failed ones and how contracts, collaboration and people all intersect. From starting his career in Scotland to moving his family across the world to Canada, Alisdair shares the moment that changed everything — including why Graham didn’t just interview him but interviewed his wife too.Tune in as Alisdair challenges common myths around construction, shares how the industry created life-changing opportunities for his family and explains why projects often fail because of contracts — not people.
What does a full life actually look like?In this episode of Careers Under Construction, we sit down with Grant White, Managing Partner at Endeavour Wealth Management, for a thoughtful conversation about money, freedom and the moments that matter most.Grant is a Winnipeg-based wealth advisor and entrepreneur who has spent his career helping individuals, families and business owners make decisions that support the life they actually want to live.This episode is a reminder that success isn’t measured by what you accumulate — it’s measured by how you live, who you impact and the moments you create along the way.
In this episode of Careers Under Construction, Loren Remillard, President & CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, reflects on leading through the most unprecedented time and what the pandemic meant for local businesses — COVID, economic uncertainty, inflation and political pressure — and what it takes to keep showing up when everything feels like it’s on fire.Loren shares why the Chamber chose to speak publicly when others stayed quiet, how values-driven leadership means putting people ahead of optics and why measuring success isn’t about attention or approval — it’s about real impact. This conversation is about making the hard calls, earning trust and leading with intention.
Jake Karls is known online as the hype man — the Rainmaker behind Mid-Day Squares. But the real story of how he got here goes much deeper and regular therapy has been a core part of that journey.In this episode, Jake opens up about the two rock-bottom moments that reshaped his life: getting rejected from 36 job interviews while pursuing a career he didn’t even want and later burning out while Mid-Day Squares was scaling fast.He explains how therapy, vulnerability and rebuilding his identity helped him regain momentum — momentum that ultimately fuelled the growth of Mid-Day Squares into a brand set to generate over $45M in annual revenue this year and sold in 10,000+ stores across North America.
We talk a lot about careers — but what about the work that happens at home?In this episode of Careers Under Construction, Justis sits down with Shauna Hewitt — a teacher, family wellness consultant and founder of Roots to Thrive, a coaching practice helping parents and educators build stronger relationships, calmer homes and healthier classrooms.With over 20 years of experience in Canada and the UK, Shauna has supported families with behaviour challenges, emotional regulation and the everyday chaos of raising kids. From breaking generational patterns to setting boundaries to managing the moments that push you to your limit — this conversation is packed with insight for anyone raising kids, leading teams or trying to build a more connected life.
Shawn Black is the founder of Sheepdog Brew Co, a Winnipeg-based brand that grew from a church-basement side hustle into a growing business right here in Winnipeg, Manitoba.A former military member and police officer, Shawn left behind a stable career to chase a vision most people told him wouldn’t work. Even his original business partner chose to stay in the police force and handed the keys over to Shawn to take the business forward on his own. What started with homemade batches brewed before night shifts eventually grew into retail partnerships, a loyal following and a brewing facility with a storefront.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re capable of more but something keeps holding you back, this episode is the wake-up call you probably need.Dr. Jason Brooks has coached everyone from surgeons to Olympic athletes and he’ll tell you straight: the biggest thing stopping most people isn’t skill or talent or opportunity — it’s the voice in their own head. In this conversation, Jason breaks down why imposter syndrome shows up even for the highest performers, how to quiet the thoughts that mess with your confidence and the small mindset shifts that can actually change your trajectory.If you’re tired of second-guessing yourself, waiting for the “right moment” or feeling stuck in your own potential, tune in and learn from the man who breaks the mental barriers of Olympians, doctors and other high-performing professionals.—Work with Dr. Jason Brooks → https://coachjb.ca/
From sheet metal worker to Dean of Skilled Trades and Technologies at Red River College Polytech — Derek Kochenash’s career proves there’s no single path to leadership.In this episode, he shares how his dad pushed him into his first job at 6:30 a.m., what it took to balance family life while earning multiple degrees, and how he overcame imposter syndrome to lead more than 70 programs across construction, aviation, and manufacturing.Derek breaks down why the trades aren’t Plan B — they’re one of the smartest career moves you can make — and how Red River College is reshaping opportunities for women, Indigenous students, and underrepresented groups in the skilled trades.
When Chris Hewitt joined SMS Engineering in 2003, he never imagined one day helping lead it from a 30-person team to a 100-plus-person firm. Now President of SMS, Chris opens up about overcoming imposter syndrome and finding his voice as a quiet and compassionate leader in one of Manitoba’s top engineering companies.He shares how SMS built a culture rooted in mentorship, trust and accountability and why the firm doubled down on specialization in power systems, healthcare design and forensic engineering. Chris also talks about the realities of investigating failures, testifying in court and leading with kindness in a high-pressure industry.Whether you’re an engineer, a leader or someone navigating your own growth, this episode dives into what it takes to build confidence, lead with empathy and leave a legacy that lasts.
Alex Akman joined Shindico in 2015 as a property analyst, spending three years learning the ropes before being promoted to Vice President of Development and Property Management and later stepping into the role of Chief Operating Officer in 2023.He’s helped lead more than $275M in real estate acquisitions, over $115M in new developments and launched Shindico’s own construction division, SNR Construction Ltd.In this episode, Alex shares how learning every part of the business helped him earn trust, climb the ladder and lead without ego.
What happens when you take a family plumbing company and rebuild it around people?Justin and Christina Thorsteinson share how Thor Plumbing & Heating transformed from a small family business into one of Manitoba’s most connected and culture-driven teams on this episode of Careers Under Construction.From literally breaking down walls and creating a staff gym and sauna, to sitting down with every employee to talk goals and growth — they’re proving that the trades can be both people-first and wildly successful.In this episode, they open up about the growing pains of taking over a family business, finding their rhythm as partners in life and work and what it really takes to build a company people love to be part of.
Mike Fata went from dropping out of high school and struggling with his health to building and selling multiple 9-figure companies.He’s the best-selling author of GROW and now dedicates his time to building world-class businesses and mentoring entrepreneurs behind brands like Mid-Day Squares, SmartSweets, Nuts For Cheese, Sol Cuisine and Blume.In this episode, he shares how shifting his mindset and prioritizing wellness helped him rebuild his life after what he calls the “triple whammy” — losing his mom, going through a divorce and selling his business all in the same year.#CareersUnderConstruction #Entrepreneurship #Mindset #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Winnipeg #Millionaire
From working on his dad’s crew at 12 to running one of Manitoba’s top cost consulting firms, Ben Postma’s story is about risk, family and finding your own path.After getting a finance degree, Ben spent years in estimating and project management for major contractors — helping deliver projects wort up to $400 million.Then in 2020, he left a secure six-figure job to take over his father’s two-person company Postma Consulting. Five years later, he’s grown it into a 14-person team leading cost management across Western Canada.In this episode, Ben shares how he rebuilt the family business, self-doubt and what he’s learned about work-life balance.
Jeremy Read went from political advisor to downtown developer. As CEO of the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation 2.0, he’s helping grow a nonprofit into one of Manitoba’s most active developers — leading projects that are reshaping Winnipeg including Canada’s first net-zero carbon residential high-rise.In this episode, Jeremy opens up about turning down contracts for the right reasons, the housing crisis and why he believes risk is a neutral term. He also shares how to find purpose in your work and why joining a company for its mission can matter more than the paycheck.
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States