Accidental Apprentice - Odd Jobs Explored

Back from a brief hiatus with our latest episode featuring Rooks to Cooks Founder & CEO Chef Shai Mandel. Before Shai stepped into the world of culinary education as an amazing entrepreneur and role model she was working a slightly different path. Hear how Shai went from a BA in Kinesiology to running 12 locations across Toronto for one of the most amazing culinary experiential experiences available for students and parents in Toronto! To find out more about rooks to cooks head over to their WEBSITE Also give them a follow on Twitter and Instagram

Keith Williams founder and producer behind Goadilo sits with Accidental Apprentice Podcast.  Goadilo stands for "Glimpse of a Day in the Life of" and that exactly what Keith does. He connects with people in their careers and provides a video experience diving into the day in the life of their careers. In our conversation Keith takes through why and how he started Goadilo, what's been happening so far and what's next.  There is an amazing library of content that you must see when looking at the world of work  www.goadilo.com https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz2RUKq2N8uP7IvMgPUZN7w https://www.facebook.com/Goadilo/ http://www.instagram.com/goadilo1/ 

Electricity Human Resources Canada CEO Michelle Branigan sits down with the Accidental Apprentice Podcast to discuss the bounty of opportunities in the Electricity Sector. She discusses with us the challenges to breaking stigma, championing diversity and holding an industry to the goals they set to lead the way in change. To see some of the work Michelle is leading at EHRC or to find out more on navigating a career in the Electricity Sector in Canada visit their website www.electricityhr.ca Have a look at how they are EMPOWERING FUTURES over on YouTube Don't forget to follow their Twitter and Facebook accounts to see the programs and initiatives changing the industry

We are hearing all the time conversation that we don't even know what the jobs of tomorrow look like. Well here is Mike Bembenek, an Executive Producer for a online gaming company. A career that 10 years ago no one would even think could be a thing.  Here how his career journey from Ontario Canada to London England crossed some shows you may have watched, from Degrassi the Next Gen to the Juno and Gemini Awards shows to filling the SSE arena, over 12 000 people, in London for a Massive Live Event! No matter how new the opportunities can be in tomorrow's world of work, hear how Mike highlights some of the most important age old skills which have also been huge factors to his success. Find more about FaceIt Ltd here www.FACEIT.com or check out their YOUTUBE channel Music "Back to the Woods" by Jason Shaw From the Free Music Archive CC BY

What happens when what you are doing for a career has you beat. You don't feel the passion and fit you once did and are now wondering if you can ever find the success and fulfillment you once dreamed of? You have to hear how the now CEO of the Whitby Chamber of Commerce reached a similar point and took a chance, she simply spun the "career wheel" as she called it and took a few important things with her. Her commitment to hard work and dedication to always giving the best effort she can, no matter the challenge. Listen as she shares with us the notion that you cannot learn if you do not try.  To see some of the innovative and valuable work Natalie is leading at the Whitby Chamber of Commerce head over to their website or their Facebook page. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review if you like this episode or have a career or professional you would like to hear more about.

Episode 21 has me sitting with Sheridan College School of Skilled Trades Faculty Craig and Larry in front of a live audience! We journey through both of their Industrial Millwright careers and discuss how they became Instructors of their craft. At the end of the episode we take some Questions from the audience and are able to hear from both of the Instructors what they hope for the industry that has been apart of both their lives for so long.

I am joined by Darryl Spector, President at Promation Nuclear. This podcast is jammed with content around career exploration, the looming demands in the skilled trades industries and so much more. Listen as we delve into the value of establishing hands on experiences into all sectors of employment and how that can make the next generation of worker beyond competitive with a more comprehensive skill-set. There is even a point in this interview where Darryl ventures from the Interviewee into the Interviewer! Darryl provides us with a no-nonsense review of our current career exploration formulas and provides tangible realistic ideas of how we can be improving it to the benefit of both the employers of today and employees of tomorrow.   Head over to Skills Ontario Website to learn more around Skilled Trades Exploration! 

Wrapping up our series on workplace diversity, inclusion and equity has us sitting down with Jessica and Jacob from Mediaplanet. Mediaplanet is currently underway with an amazing campaign promoting Women in the Skilled Trades (click here to see) and having spoken with them recently I knew they had a great story to tell in why this campaign was so special. Additionally I was able to have both Jacob and Jessica take us through their career journey's, plus share with us what it takes to be apart of such an amazing and dynamic company as Mediaplanet. Not to mention we discuss lessons learned and the impact felt from working on the Women in Trades campaign to date and where it is headed next. For more information on Mediaplanet, head over to their site www.mediaplanet.com and be sure to follow them on Instagram and Twitter to see the amazing work they are up to!

I am joined by Nicole and Molly who currently serve as the minds behind the Skill Trade Employment Pathway (S.T.E.P.) program in partnership with the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (O.C.N.I.). We get into all kinds of amazing conversation from classroom and situation tactics for diversity and inclusion to Nicole wanting a job where she could ride a horse. Not only do we talk about this local initiative but Nicole and Molly take us through their career journeys and how they ended up doing some amazing work from the world of Human Resources. This episode is brought to you by KickAss Careers and their Workplace Equality Campaign. Find our more about this campaign for Workplace Equality at kickasscareers.org & on Twitter and Facebook

I am thrilled to be joined by Director of Workforce Development for the Canadian Building Trades Unions, Lindsay Amundsen. I've had the privilege to have known Lindsay for a few years now and am excited to have been able to get an episode recorded with Lindsay. Her journey into this role is a great story for everyone to hear. We discuss the work that she has been doing across Canada, collaborating with different Provincial advocates & with the Buildtogether Program. We talk about diversity and inclusion in both the world of Construction and the Building Trades across Canada and just have a great time really. Lindsay was my second guest in my series taking a deeper look at workplace diversity, inclusion and equity and she picked up right where Annemarie left off last week and raised the bar. Don't forget to check out the Buildtogether website and the Mentorship Matters video we talk about in the episode, links below. Check out the Canadian Building Trades on Twitter and Facebook and their Website Find Buildtogether on Twitter and their Website Mentorship Alliance Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9g0xcNk2RM

We are back with a special episode. This is not only the last episode for 2018, it is the first Episode in a series on workplace Diversity, Inclusion & Equity. I have gathered a group of special guests who have unique and special expertise and perspectives related to the world of workplace diversity & inclusion. We come out of the gate very fast on the first episode with Annemarie Shrouder. Annemarie Shrouder is an international speaker, corporate trainer, and consultant on issues of Diversity and Inclusion. She is committed to fairness and belonging. These commitments mean that she believes in playing fair in the sandbox, and that everyone should have a place at the table – not just a seat, a place, which implies that we are valuable and valued. She is passionate about challenging people to see more, and assisting in the creation of organizational cultures where people can learn, be all of who they are, connect and thrive. Annemarie works with diversity broadly, and specializes in LGBTQ positive spaces and racial equity. You can visit Annemarie's website at www.annemarieshrouder.com Follow the link for Annemarie's learning more about the ABCs of Inclusion program: http://eepurl.com/c85TBP Do not forget to sign up for the Inclusion Insight weekly http://eepurl.com/dM0jCs

On Episode 15 I am Joined by Canada Research Chair in Regional Innovation/Author/Professor/Speaker/Canadian Historian and just an outstanding Human Being, Ken Coates. Ken was raised in Whitehorse, Yukon, and has long-standing professional and personal interests in Aboriginal rights, northern development, northern Canadian history, science, technology and society, and Japan Studies. I cannot express how amazing it was to have Ken on the show, it truly was a dynamic conversation taking you deeper into one of the authors of "Dream Factories" and conversations around the skilled trades and the future of work. I stand by "Dream Factories" as a must read by those thinking about what to do after Highschool and for the educators, parents and influencers who weigh in on these decisions, hopefully this podcast will get you to pick up this Book by Ken and also take a look at some of his other books, like "What to consider if you're considering University: New Rules for Education and Employment" & "Campus Confidental:100 Startling Things you need to know about Canadian Universities" find out more about Ken at www.kencoates.ca

Strap in and enjoy the ride in this conversation with Glen Reyes. Glen is a Career Coach & Mentor who holds a Bsc. with a Double Major Kinesiology and Psychology. Listen to how he developed presentations and motivation through his Leadership in Hip-Hop work across Ontario after Graduating from University. Additionally we delve into all kinds of great topics around Post Secondary education, skills development & what the actual skills for tomorrow's working world look like. Check out Glen over at www.glenreyes.com for what he is up to and where you can find him. Find him on both Instagram & Twitter - @h4glen Show note Links RBC Future Skills Report http://www.rbc.com/newsroom/_assets-custom/pdf/03-2018-rbc-future-skills-report.pdf Daniel Kahneman Ted Talk https://www.ted.com/talks/daniel_kahneman_the_riddle_of_experience_vs_memory

In episode 13 I sit down with General Manager & Co-Founder of WRKS Michael Ehling. WRKS is a Hiring Network that is revolutionizing how employers and job applicants connect and build stronger connections resulting in better opportunities and greater success stories ultimately helping to create meaningful careers. We discuss where the idea and need for this system came from, how WRKS is changing the game and dig into what was wrong with the system we have used for the past 50 years. The process of hiring has changed dramatically over the past decade and in our conversation we outline those changes and why it isn't working the way it used to. Michael shares how WRKS is allowing both employers and applicants to quickly adapt to the modern landscape of employment matching while ditching the old clichés and trends that have been held on to for much too long. Head over to www.wrkspro.com to see what they are up to and check them out on both Instagram and twitter @wrkspro.

We are joined by Skills Ontario Program Manager and all around awesome guy Scott Verhoeve. Scott serves as a critical backbone across our Province for building networks and opportunities for people interested in Skilled Trade Pathways and for those advocating and building awareness and opportunity for those pathways. Have a listen to his own pathway which provides an excellent perspective on the view of todays' career pathways and exploration process.

In this episode I was able to sit down with the creator and innovator behind the research initiative JobTalks, Jon Callegher. Additionally to the work with the YouTube series JobTalks, Jon authored the report Trading Up - Why the future of Education in Canada must be Skilled I have linked both the report and YouTube series below. This podcast is jammed with conversation around being happy with work, making efforts to unpack the stigma around skilled trades and how efforts have been successful and not so successful along with the reasons of possibly why. Jon is an extremely motivated and committed person to helping others and his focus on broadening the public perspective to the skilled trades is something like I have not seen before. JobTalks report https://www.jobtalks.org/report JobTalks YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsIWDqEMDKOYm4BO30Edq6g

It is my absolute pleasure to bring you this episode of Accidental Apprentice Podcast with the current Director of Program Services at the Yonge Street Mission Paul Lim. Paul's journey started in the United States where he became a Mechanical Engineer in the Petroleum Industry. Listen to how Paul took pause and did something so many talk about but never do, he took the steps and transformed his life and that of his families' to do something of purpose and fulfillment, ultimately putting others before himself. Paul never ceased to impress me with his class and character coupled with his commitment to living up to the challenge set by the YSM to end chronic poverty in a generation. Have a listen to what a journey looks like of selflessness, sacrifice and some solid supports from those who maybe doubt you at first.

On the latest episode I sit down with Jennifer Green. Aside from being a Red Seal Industrial Millwright and Current Maintenance Planner/Scheduler for the Upper Grand District School Board. Jennifer is a much sought after Keynote Speaker and Advocate for Skilled Trades, Inclusion and Diversity. With all that she gives from her career, advocacy and speaking she still finds time to serve as a mentor for young women pursuing skilled trades and apprenticeship. We dig into what makes Jenn tick, her path and why she puts so much of herself out there. Also we touch on the value of mentors to her and why they play such a huge role to her today.

As I wrap up my series at Skills Ontario 2018 Provincial Competition I am bringing you a special double header episode. First is Plumber and Plumbing Instructor Tim Wilkinson. Tim really breaks down the idea of you get what you pay for when hiring and considering hiring a plumber. On the second half of the episode we get to sit with Skills Ontario Alumni Association Board Member Dalton Bird. Dalton shares his journey through his Skills Competitions both Provincially and Nationally and what the Alumni Association is up to. I hope these longer episodes are more your flavour as I move forward in the podcast I will be spending more time deconstructing my guests on a larger scope to bring you more about how they got where they are, the challenges they have faced and what they hope for the future.

Finally I was able to coordinate a chance to sit down with Ironworker, Boilermaker and KickAss Careers Founder Jamie McMillan. I have had the pleasure of knowing Jamie for sometime and have seen first hand her dedication and passion as an advocate and mentor for students and youth exploring the skilled trades. We only had a short time on this day and were able to cover so much. We talked KickAss Careers, the newly unveiled MITC contest and why she puts so much of herself into every KickAss Careers event she does. We will be catching up with Jamie again in the future but with her impact continuing to explode across North America I am fortunate I was able to catch her when I could!