Welcome to Coffee with Convery, where we explore the journeys of innovators and leaders who inspire us to think differently about success, careers, and life. In this special edition of Legacy in Motion: Black History Month, I’m excited to be joined by Jordan Robinson, a trailblazer in health, technology, and fitness. Jordan is the CEO and Founder of FTNSS, a groundbreaking marketplace making short-term gym memberships accessible anywhere in the world. With a background spanning healthcare IT, music marketing, and chronic pain research, Jordan combines creativity, technology, and a passion for wellness in everything he does. In this episode, we’ll unpack his unique career path, his perspectives on leadership and innovation, and how he defines success in work and life. Let’s dive in!
Welcome to Coffee with Convery, where we explore stories, insights, and careers that inspire the next generation. In this special edition of Legacy in Motion: Black History Month, we sit down with Dr. Patience Adamu—an influential leader in equity, diversity, and inclusion. With a wealth of experience in social impact, policy, and education, she is dedicated to empowering historically underrepresented communities. Whether you're navigating your first job, looking to make a meaningful career shift, or seeking ways to contribute to a more inclusive society, this conversation is for you.
Welcome back to another inspiring episode of Coffee with Convery. This Black History Month, we introduce our Legacy in Motion series with a powerful conversation featuring Manny Almonte—a visionary leader dedicated to empowering men of color and fostering community transformation. Manny is the founder of Mastermind Connect, a dynamic men’s collective, and the Young Masterminds Initiative, a nonprofit creating transformative experiences that help men of color connect with their passions, inner selves, and communities. His impact extends beyond city limits into the great outdoors, where he leads Camping to Connect, a pioneering BIPOC-led youth mentorship program promoting justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Manny’s advocacy for nature accessibility shines through his award-winning short film, Wood Hood, which has sparked conversations on inclusion in outdoor spaces at national conferences and news outlets. With a background in business and community building, Manny is also the principal of MA Reloaded, a boutique web design firm. Originally from the Dominican Republic and now based in Denver, Colorado, Manny lives with purpose—alongside his family and dogs—dedicated to driving lasting change. Tune in to hear how Manny is putting Legacy in Motion and inspiring the next generation.
In an era where the challenges facing at-risk youth are more complex than ever, Coffee with Convery continues its Legacy in Motion series with a conversation on justice, mentorship, and systemic change. Joining us is Demetrius Watson-Williamson, a rising voice in criminology, to discuss the critical importance of intervention and support. Currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Criminology after completing his BA at the University of Windsor, Demetrius brings a unique perspective shaped by both academic research and hands-on experience. He explores the systemic factors contributing to youth vulnerability, the innovative strategies he’s employing to drive positive change, and the essential role of mentorship and community engagement in fostering resilience. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in youth justice, advocacy, and building a more equitable future. Tune in as we continue to put Legacy in Motion.
Welcome back to Coffee with Convery. As part of our Legacy in Motion: Black History Month series, I’m honored to welcome Chris Studer to the show. Chris is a visionary leader, advocate, and changemaker dedicated to fostering inclusivity and creating positive social impact. Chris is the Executive Director and co-founder of The Get REAL Movement, a nonprofit tackling homophobia and promoting inclusivity since 2011. Through authentic conversations and impactful campaigns—like the To My Grade 7 Self video—Get REAL has transformed lives across Canada. Beyond his advocacy, Chris has worked in branding, advertising, and non-profits, collaborating with brands like Nintendo, CIBC, and Coca-Cola. As a Black man adopted from South America, his journey of embracing identity and allyship has inspired many. Grab your coffee as we dive into Get REAL’s mission and impact with Chris Studer.
Join us on Coffee With Convery as we sit down with Alexander De Ridder, a visionary entrepreneur and AI innovator revolutionizing enterprise efficiency. From his early days as a 13-year-old coding prodigy in Bruges, Belgium, to founding cutting-edge AI companies like SmythOS and INK, Alexander's journey is a testament to the power of passion and innovation. We'll explore his insights on the future of AI, how collaborative AI systems are transforming businesses, and the valuable lessons he's learned building a successful career while balancing life as a husband, father, and proud American. Get ready for an inspiring conversation that blends technical expertise with real-world application, offering a glimpse into the mind of a true AI pioneer.
🎙️ Start 2025 with a Dose of Career Inspiration! 🚀 We’re rewinding to the #1 most popular episode of Coffee with Convery featuring Tad Chisti, Head of Digital Experience Practice at IBM Canada. Fun fact: your host, Convery, hired Tad as an intern 10 years ago! Get ready to dive into Tad’s incredible journey as he shares:- How to build diverse, high-performing teams- The surprising power of curiosity- His secret key to success This is one story you can’t miss. So, grab your favorite brew, settle in, and get ready to be inspired! ☕ For more career-boosting conversations, visit coffeewithconvery.com. 🚀
Welcome to another inspiring episode of Coffee with Convery! Today, I’m delighted to introduce Brandon Lapointe, an ambitious recent graduate from Sheridan College's Pilon School of Business. With a Bachelor of Business Administration specializing in Human Resources, Brandon is ready to take his next big step in the HR field. Brandon’s journey showcases an impressive blend of hands-on customer service expertise, talent acquisition experience, and a knack for innovative problem-solving. His work with PC Express at Fortinos Supermarket highlights a commitment to excellence in customer relations, while his stint as a Talent Acquisition Recruiter at Gordon Food Service demonstrates his ability to connect talent with opportunity. Brandon is now looking to channel these experiences into an impactful role where he can contribute to organizational success while continuing to grow as a professional. If you’re on the lookout for a dedicated, driven, and innovative HR talent, you’ll want to tune in to hear his story. Let’s explore what makes Brandon a standout candidate for the future of work!
Welcome back to Coffee With Convery ! Today, we’re joined by Sanjay Padhiar, a dynamic business consultant and Fractional COO with over a decade of experience helping businesses streamline their operations 📈, improve processes 🔄, and, most importantly, turn customers into raving fans 😍. Sanjay is the Principal Consultant at IMA Consulting 🏢, where he leverages his deep knowledge of business management to help companies like Loblaw, adidas, Reebok, Bell, and Staples 🏅 boost profits 💰 and productivity ⚙️. His entrepreneurial journey 🚀 was inspired by his father’s approach to customer care 💖, and now Sanjay is on a mission to help businesses serve their customers better by enabling their employees to work smarter 🧠. Let’s dive into Sanjay’s fascinating career journey 🌍, his insights on business 💼, and his advice for young professionals eager to make an impact! 👏
Welcome back, innovators 🚀 and dream-chasers 💡, to another electrifying ⚡ episode of Coffee with Convery! Today, we're diving into the digital deep end 🌊 with a true titan of tech sales! 💻 Imagine a journey that starts in the vibrant pulse of South Africa 🌍 and leads to the cutting edge of Canada's tech scene 🇨🇦. Our guest has conquered continents 🌐, led legions at tech giants 🏢, and now he's revolutionizing the game for small and medium businesses across the Great White North ❄️. Fasten your seatbelts ✈️ and prepare for takeoff with the sales savant 🎯, the leadership luminary, the SMB superstar himself – Kree Govender! 🎉 From igniting innovation at IBM 💡 to masterminding Microsoft's moves 🎮, he's the Beethoven 🎶 of business growth, composing symphonies of success 🏆 wherever he goes. So, whether you're a budding entrepreneur 💼, a curious coder 💻, or just someone who loves a good success story 📖, you're in for a treat 🍬. Get ready to download decades of wisdom 🧠, unpack the secrets of sales mastery 🛠️, and maybe – just maybe – discover the key to unlocking your own potential 🔑.
Hey there, go-getters and world-changers, welcome to another energizing episode of Coffee with Convery ☕🎙️. Today, we're serving up a steaming cup of inspiration ☕💡 with a side of girl power! 💪👩💼 Get ready to meet a true force of nature who's shaking up the innovation landscape and empowering women left and right. She's an award-winning leader 🏆, a 2x TEDx speaker 🎤, and the founder of Women Helping Empower Women 👭. Our guest today is Dr. Georgette Zinaty 💼, a powerhouse professional who's making waves 🌊 as the Chief of Staff at Myant, a cutting-edge Canadian company driving innovation in advanced material science 🧬 But that's just one of her many impressive roles. 🚀 Dr. Zinaty is also the Canada Country Chair for G100: Mission Million 🇨🇦💯, advocating for a gender-equal future ♀️, and a member of the prestigious Forbes Coaches Council 🌍. With over 15 years of experience at the University of Toronto 🏛️, she's raised millions in funding 💸 and created groundbreaking programs. Named one of 6 Canadian Women of Inspiration, Dr. Zinaty's expertise in leadership, diversity, inclusion 🌍, and innovation 🧠 has made her a sought-after speaker and thought leader. So grab your favorite brew ☕ and get ready to be inspired! We're about to dive into a conversation with a true trailblazer who's redefining leadership in the 21st century 🚀💡.
Welcome to Coffee with Convery ☕️, the podcast where we explore the journeys and experiences with talented individuals from all different backgrounds and careers. Today I’m talking with filmmaker extraordinaire, Billy Nawrocki. 🎬🎥 Billy’s journey in the world of film and media began at Providence College 🎓, where he earned his B.A. in English with a minor in Film Studies. Since then, his career has been nothing short of a thrilling adventure in the world of visual storytelling. 📚🖋️ From launching a startup sports network in Connecticut 🏀🏈 to founding his own production company, D.I.Y or DIE Productions, LLC 🎭, Billy has always been at the forefront of creating compelling content. His talent for storytelling has found a particularly chilling home in the horror genre 👻🔪, with his short films and screenplays earning accolades at numerous notable festivals and competitions 🏆. But Billy’s skills aren’t limited to scares — he’s also edited three feature films 🎞️ that have been distributed by companies like Gravitas Ventures and Breaking Glass Pictures, showcasing his versatility as a filmmaker. Most recently, Billy made waves as the lead editor for Bleacher Report’s Branded Content team, Playmaker, at Warner Bros. Discovery 🌊✂️. There, he crafted campaigns for an impressive roster of clients including Facebook, Netflix, Adidas, and many more 💼. Now, he’s returned to the world of freelancing 🆓, lending his expertise to brands like Vogue, Samsung, Cartier, and Google 💄📱💎🔍. As if all that wasn’t enough to keep him busy, Billy is currently in pre-production for his debut feature film 🎥🍿, set to shoot in the fall of 2025. When he’s not immersed in the world of filmmaking, you can find him in Peekskill, NY 🏡, where he lives with his wife 👩❤️👨, two daughters 👧👧, and a trio of cats 🐱🐱🐱 who I’m sure provide plenty of inspiration for his storytelling!
Welcome to another energizing episode of Coffee With Convery! ☕️🎙️ Today we’re brewing up some career inspiration with Amy Davies, the CEO of First30 and author of “What Employees Want.” Amy’s not your average business guru — she’s a Doberman owner who’s mastered the art of getting inside people’s heads (in a good way!) to revolutionize how companies attract and keep great talent. With over two decades of experience exploring what makes professionals tick, Amy’s insights are like a secret decoder ring for the modern workplace. 🕵️♀️🔍 Her company, First30, is transforming everything from onboarding to outplacement, helping organizations create environments where people actually want to stay. Her latest book, “What Employees Want,” is like a treasure map for creating engaging workplaces. And since launching First30 in 2020, Amy’s impact has gone global, with clients spanning North America, the UK, and South Asia. 🌎🤝 So grab that coffee, settle in, and get ready for some game-changing insights from the incredible Amy Davies! 👏👏👏
☕ Coffee with Convery | Meet the Rising Stars of the University of Windsor 🌟 Welcome to Coffee with Convery 🎙️, where we spotlight rising stars 🌠, emerging talent 🚀, and the seasoned professionals driving change in their fields. Today’s episode is a special celebration of the exceptional students from the University of Windsor 🎓 who have earned the prestigious Rising Star Student Awards for Summer 2024! 🏆✨ These outstanding students were nominated by their employers for the Co-op/Internship Rising Star Student Award 🌟—an honor reserved for those who have not only excelled in their roles 📈 but have also gone above and beyond to make impactful contributions to their workplaces and communities 🌍. Their hard work 💪, dedication 🕰️, and unique achievements 🎉 have set them apart as ambassadors of the Cooperative Education and Workplace Partnerships department. Please join me in congratulating this summer’s Rising Stars: 🌟 Connor Demelo – Business Administration Co-op, Scotia McLeod Inc. 💻 Abbie Dewhirst – Computer Science Applied Computing Co-op, Research Into Internet Systems Inc. (RIIS) 👨💻 Karandeep Singh Dhillon – Computer Science with Software Engineering Co-op, City of Windsor 🚗 Malek Mekawi – Electrical Engineering Co-op, Stellantis - Automotive Research Development Centre (ARDC) 🛠️ Jules Wilson – Mechanical Engineering with Environmental Option Co-op, Irving Shipbuilding Today, we are joined by Abbie, Karandeep, and Jules for a conversation about their journeys and aspirations. 🎧
Greetings, listeners! 👋 It’s time to wake up your career potential 🚀 with another invigorating episode of Coffee With Convery ☕🎙️. Today we’re in for a treat 🍬 as we sit down with Jordan Berman, a global business executive 🌍💼 and thought leader in building better workplaces 🏢✨. Jordan is the Founder and President of SHIFT Advisory Group, a Senior Faculty member 🎓 at Schulich ExecEd, and a lecturer 📚 at the Schulich School of Business. With extensive experience across multiple industries 🏭📈, Jordan has been a trusted advisor to C-suite executives 💼🏢 on complex issues related to organizational culture, change, and communications 🔄🗣️. He’s also the author of ‘The Trust Trifecta’ 📖, a book focused on fostering high-trust workplace cultures 🤝. Jordan’s diverse background includes work with multinational corporations 🌐, fast-growing organizations 🚀, family-owned companies 🏠, and public sector entities 🏛️. Today, we’ll be diving 🏊 into Jordan’s insights on leadership development 🏅, organizational capabilities 🛠️, and creating thriving workplace cultures 🌱🏢.
🎙️ Welcome back to Coffee with Convery! ☕️ Today we’re in for a treat 🎁 as I sit down to chat with Brandon Duan, a rising star in the world of full-stack development 💻. Brandon’s journey is as fascinating as it is inspiring💡. With a degree 🎓 in Management and Information Technology from the University of Toronto 🏫, he’s already making waves 🌊 in the tech industry. From his current role as an API Specialist at Points to his impactful internships at tech giants 🏢 like Nokia, Brandon’s career trajectory is one you won’t want to miss 🚀. In this episode, we’ll dive into: Brandon’s experience as a Full-Stack Developer at Nokia, where he maintained and developed the Network Developer Portal, impacting over 1000 users 🧑💻 His innovative approach to problem-solving 🤔, including how he increased server efficiency ⚙️ by 50% with a custom garbage collector ♻️. The challenges 🏋️♂️ and triumphs 🏆 of managing major framework upgrades 🔄 and ensuring website stability 🖥️. His current role at Points and how he’s applying his expertise as an API Specialist 🛠️. Brandon’s unique perspective on the intersection of management and technology 🧠, and how it shapes his approach to development 🚧.
🎙️ Welcome to another energizing episode of Coffee with Convery! ☕️ Today, we're brewing up a conversation that's guaranteed to supercharge your entrepreneurial spirit. 🚀 Our guest is the one and only Billy Samoa Saleebey, a man who's reinvented himself more times than a chameleon in a kaleidoscope! 🦎🌈 From award-winning filmmaker 🎥 to Tesla executive 🚗, and now the podcast guru behind Podify 🎧, Billy's journey is a masterclass in pivoting with purpose. He's gone from capturing stories on the big screen to amplifying voices in the digital age 🌍, helping visionaries and change-makers leave their mark on the world. ✨ Billy's not just talking the talk – he's walking the walk with his own top 1% globally ranked podcast, 'Insight Out' 🎤. And if that wasn't enough, he's also racking up millions of content views on LinkedIn and YouTube 📱📊. Oh, and did I mention he's doing all this while coaching Little League ⚾ and being a dad to Kid? 👨👧 Get ready for a conversation about turning passions into professions, 🎯 the art of the pivot, and how to make your voice heard in the crowded world of podcasting 🎙️. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur, a seasoned professional looking for a change, or just someone who loves a good success story, Billy's insights are sure to leave you buzzing with inspiration. 💡🔥
Welcome to Coffee with Convery ☕️, the podcast where we explore career journeys 🚀, diversity in the workplace 🌈, and empowering advice for talent 💪. Today I'm thrilled to be joined by Mathias Memmel 👨⚖️, a lawyer at Fasken specializing in litigation and dispute resolution ⚖️. Mathias brings a unique and multifaceted perspective to our conversation. He holds a Doctor of Law degree from York University's Osgoode Hall Law School 🎓, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Political Science 💻🏛️, and a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance 🎵, both from the University of Toronto. His diverse background includes serving as President of the University of Toronto Students' Union 🎓, working as a Communications Advisor for a Toronto City Councillor 🏙️, and even directing music for various churches and choirs 🎼. Mathias has also been actively involved in LGBTQ+ advocacy 🏳️🌈, including work with The 519, a prominent LGBTQ+ community center in Toronto. With this rich tapestry of experiences in education, law, politics, and the arts 🎨, Mathias offers a distinctive voice on career development, diversity, and inclusion.
Hey there, changemakers 🌍 and animal lovers 🐾❤️! Welcome to another wild and wonderful 🦁 episode of Coffee With Convery☕️🎙️. Today, I am welcoming Cogie Cogan, a Huron University student, studying and pursuing their Honors Bachelor of Arts, Animal Ethics + Globalization Studies (double major) expected to graduate in 2025. 🎓 We’re diving 🏊♂️ into a conversation that’s going to make your heart purr 😻 and your mind soar 🌈! We’ve got a true champion 🏆 for our furry 🐕, feathered 🦜, and scaled 🦎 friends joining us. They’re a varsity athlete 🏅, a climate change warrior 🌿💪, and a visionary with a U.S. patent-pending 💡 Put your hands 🙌 or paws 🐾 together for the one and only, Cogie Cogan! 🎉🎊
🎙️ Welcome to Coffee with Convery, the podcast where we explore the journeys, challenges, and triumphs of inspiring individuals. Today, we have A.J. Stanat, a multi-faceted talent from the University of Windsor 💙💛. A.J. recently made waves 🌊 in the Ontario University Athletics championships, finishing first 🥇 in men's weight throw and shotput and earning the prestigious title of Male Field Athlete of the Year for 2024 🏆. But there's more to A.J. than just athletics—he's also a dedicated Kinesiology student 📚, focusing on movement science, and brings a wealth of real-world experience from his seasonal work as an Equipment Operator 🚜 at Ryckman Contractors. From operating heavy machinery to excelling in academics 🎓 and athletics 🏅, A.J. embodies the spirit of versatility and determination 💪. Join us now as we dive into A.J.'s story, exploring how he balances these diverse aspects of his life ⚖️ and what drives him to excel in everything he does 🚀.
Brien Convery
Super Excited to have Coffee With Convery featured on Castbox as the go-to podcast for Business & Careers, Education and Society and Culture for the listeners.