Take On The Future

Episode OverviewJennifer McClure joins Stacey and Jacquie to talk about career ownership, better leadership and the value of asking good questions. She shares the blunt feedback that changed her approach as an HR leader: stop being the person who explains why something can’t be done, and start helping people figure out how it can.Jennifer also makes the case for thoughtful disruption and using AI to free people up for higher-value work, rather than simply cutting tasks or jobs.Chapters00:51 Meet Jennifer McClure02:14 Why HR Belongs in the Room08:25 Who Owns Your Career?13:33 The Feedback That Changed Her Leadership17:24 Disrupt What’s Already Working21:04 AI as an Empowerment Tool26:04 Can Jennifer Defend a Terrible HR Idea?Relevant Links / ResourcesJennifer McClure: jennifermcclure.netDisruptHR: disruptHR.coLinkedIn: Jennifer McClureHosts: Stacey Allan and Jacquie DanielsExecutive Producer: Ann Normand

Safety is about keeping people from getting hurt. But the companies that do it well often see something else too: better quality, less rework, and stronger retention.Mark Hoosein, CEO of the Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA), joins Stacey and Jacquie to talk about what separates a genuine safety culture from a safety program. They explore why workers are especially vulnerable during their first year with a company, even when they already have years of experience; how supervisors and coworkers influence whether people feel comfortable speaking up; and why investing in safety can make good business sense.Mark also offers practical advice for smaller employers that want to improve their safety systems and explains why, at its core, workplace safety comes down to one simple responsibility: taking care of each other.Chapters00:09 Introducing Mark Hoosein00:47 Why the First Year Is Higher Risk02:00 What “Crew Culture” Really Means05:35 Can Workers Tell If You Take Safety Seriously?07:42 Where Small Employers Can Start09:16 Why Safe Companies Perform Better12:50 COR, SECOR and the Business Case for Certification15:39 The One Thing Employers Should Remember16:28 Would You Rather?19:14 Free Safety Resources for Employers and WorkersLinks: https://www.youracsa.ca/https://www.youracsa.ca/cor-secor/https://www.youracsa.ca/ipc/Hosts: Stacey Allan and Jacquie DanielsExecutive Producer: Ann Normand

We’re living longer, but many of our ideas about careers are still built around retiring at 65. What does that mean for employers overlooking experienced workers, and for people who still have plenty they want to contribute?Lisa Taylor, co-founder and CEO of Challenge Factory, joins Stacey Allan and Jacquie Daniels to explore how longer working lives are changing the workplace. She challenges the idea that older workers need to step aside for younger people and explains how employers can create new career paths that put experience to work. From the ageism hiding in birthday cards to the importance of a present-tense introduction, Lisa makes the case for rethinking what comes next. There’s also a little Justin Bieber.Chapters00:00 Meet Lisa Taylor01:07 Justin Bieber and the writing process02:10 Why Lisa founded Challenge Factory05:28 Five drivers of workforce change08:23 Retirement needs an update11:51 Finding purpose beyond retirement14:15 Why older workers aren’t taking younger workers’ jobs17:04 The ageism we reinforce ourselves22:07 From anti-aging to pro-aging24:20 Rethinking career paths and the value of experience28:14 Keeping healthcare experience in the workforce30:03 Everyone deserves a present-tense introduction30:53 What Canada can learn from other countries34:19 Rapid fire35:34 A Bieber Easter egg36:14 Where to find LisaRelevant Links and ResourcesChallenge Factory: https://challengefactory.ca/Hosts: Stacey Allan and Jacquie DanielsExecutive Producer: Ann Normand

Episode OverviewEconomic reconciliation is about more than consultation. It means Indigenous communities having a meaningful role in the businesses and opportunities shaping their lands and their futures.JP Gladu, Founder and Principal of Mokwateh and an Anishinaabe leader from Sand Point First Nation, joins Stacey and Jacquie to talk about what that looks like in practice. He shares his own community’s history of displacement and return, and explains why economic participation, ownership, and employment are essential parts of reconciliation.The conversation also turns to the enormous opportunity represented by Indigenous youth. JP challenges employers to move beyond good intentions, spend time in communities, rethink traditional approaches to recruitment, and create workplaces where Indigenous employees can genuinely see themselves belonging.And, naturally, it ends with a competitive moose call.Chapters00:01 Meet JP Gladu01:20 Sand Point First Nation’s displacement and return08:10 What economic reconciliation means11:10 What economic reconciliation looks like when it works17:10 How employers can start building Indigenous relationships20:30 Creating better opportunities for Indigenous youth22:00 The impact of the Outland Youth Employment Program29:30 Why employers need to spend time in communities34:00 Building an Indigenous engagement strategy that lasts40:50 Indigenous youth and Canada’s workforce opportunity45:55 Why representation and belonging matter51:55 What gives JP hope54:25 Rapid fire and the great moose-call competitionRelevant Links & ResourcesMokwatehJP is Founder and Principal of Mokwateh, an Indigenous-owned consulting firm focused on building relationships and economic partnerships between Indigenous communities and organizations.Indigenous-owned Consulting & Advisory Services | MokwatehCanadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB)JP previously served as President and CEO of the organization, which supports Indigenous businesses and economic development across Canada.Canadian Council for Indigenous Business | CCIBHosts: Stacey Allan and Jacquie DanielsExecutive Producer: Ann Normand

Episode OverviewAlberta is training more apprentices, but demand for skilled workers is still climbing. Minister of Advanced Education Myles McDougall joins Stacey and Jacquie for Alberta Apprenticeship Day to talk about what comes next. He explains why employers have a major role in apprenticeship completion, how the province is expanding training capacity, and why access to skilled workers matters to Alberta’s ability to attract new investment. The conversation also looks at getting young people into the trades earlier, and ends with the Minister being challenged to say “Happy Apprenticeship Day” in another language.Chapters02:43 Meet Minister Myles McDougall04:44 How Serious Is Alberta’s Skilled Trades Shortage?06:24 Expanding Apprenticeship Training Capacity09:38 Getting More Apprentices Onto Job Sites11:55 Why Apprentices Don’t Always Finish14:01 Starting the Trades Conversation Earlier16:03 Why Workforce Capacity Matters to Investment18:05 A Very Specific Language ChallengeRelevant Links• Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training• Become an Apprentice in Alberta• NAIT Advanced Skills Centre• CAREERS: The Next GenerationHosts: Stacey Allan and Jacquie DanielsExecutive Producer: Ann Normand