Work It: A UVic career exploration podcast

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 episodeNechako: It will be a river again - documentaryAisha's story - documentaryThe UVic Co-op ProgramAccessing career support Connect with usSign up for our weekly e-newsletterFollow 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?

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 episodeThe UVic Co-op ProgramAccessing career support Connect with usSign up for our weekly e-newsletterFollow 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

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 hopinghow common it is to make a major changehow UVic Career Services can help you plan your next stepsPlus, Emma shares her own career journey and how her goals have changed.Resources from this episodeMeet with your career educatorCareer options for your program areaConnect with usSign up for our weekly e-newsletterFollow 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

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 episodeTCG MachinesThe UVic Co-op ProgramAccessing career support Connect with usSign up for our weekly e-newsletterFollow 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?

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 strengthshow to find the right employerputting together an elevator pitchthe perks of meeting with your career educator Students and alumni can book one-on-one appointments with Joy and her team.Resources from this episodeMeet with your career educatorConnect with usSign up for our weekly e-newsletterFollow 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?