Together, we will explore: How writing memoirs, personal essays, or even short reflections can help you process big life transitions, grief, burnout, or change your relationship with alcohol.

Ann Dowsett Johnson is an award-winning journalist, bestselling author, and psychotherapist. For more than 25 years, she worked at Maclean’s magazine, where she was perhaps best known as the chief architect of the Maclean’s university rankings. She worked as Vice-Principal (Development, Alumni and University Relations), McGill University. Since writing Drink, Ann has worked hard to destigmatize mental health and addiction, earning an honorary Doctor of Laws from Queen’s University for her efforts. She is also the recipient of a Transforming Lives award from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the American Research Society on Addiction’s Media Award, plus the T. A. Sweet Award from the Ontario Psychiatric Association for helping address stigma related to mental health and addiction. Ann followed a dream to get a Master’s of Social Work program at Smith College and now has a psychotherapy practice specializing in working with women in life transitions.

Ann is the bestselling author of Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol, named one of the 10 best books of 2013 by the Washington Post.

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We all have a story—or stories—to tell. Excavating those narratives, finding the courage to give voice to our secrets, takes time. I believe writing is a process of discovery. At the heart of good writing is finding a compelling, authentic voice. To locate that voice, each individual must get in touch with what is most integral in their experience.

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Discover how Kaliyha De Sousa went from volunteering at Regeneration Toronto, a thrift store supporting homeless individuals and newcomers to Canada, to leading major iPhone campaigns at OMD. In this impactful episode, our ChangeMaker Kaliyha, who is an OMD Supervisor, shares her unconventional path into media planning, including how she grew the nonprofit's TikTok account to 30K followers, leveraged a data analytics internship with an Australian beauty and fashion startup while in university, and landed her dream job with one strategic LinkedIn message.

What makes this episode extra special is that Kaliyha is a student I taught at the University of Guelph Humber in the Media Studies program.

Learn the insider secrets to breaking into competitive marketing agencies without traditional experience, including:

• How to build a marketing portfolio through volunteer work and create compelling case studies
• The exact TikTok growth strategy that launched her career (hint: trend monitoring and testing)
• What media planners actually do: translating business objectives into media placements across social, streaming TV, and connected platforms
• Inside look at managing Apple AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, and iPhone 14-16 launches across Canadian markets
• Navigating Quebec's unique media landscape and French-language marketing requirements
• Agency vs client-side marketing: scope management, vendor relationships, and cross-team communication
• Real talk about hybrid work culture (3 days in office), summer Fridays, unlimited PTO, and work-life balance at top agencies

Episode Benefits:

Perfect for marketing students, recent graduates, career changers, and anyone interested in media planning, digital marketing, data analytics, or breaking into agencies like OMD, Publicis, and Starcom. Kaliyha also shares insights on her upcoming transition to Holt Renfrew as a supervisor, where she will manage luxury retail campaigns for Dior, Gucci, and Prada.

Featured topics: Consumer journey storytelling, KPI strategy, streaming TV evolution (Prime Video, Netflix ad tiers), career networking at university job fairs, and the transferable skills between tech and luxury fashion media buying.

Guest: Kaliyha De Sousa, Supervisor, OMD

Topics: Media planning careers, TikTok marketing, agency life, product launch strategy, data analytics, portfolio building, volunteer marketing experience

Featured insights: Data analytics for beauty brands, leading iPhone 14-16 launches, transitioning to Holt Renfrew luxury campaigns, and the power of social impact work in career development.

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Patrick McCaully of PointMan! News Creation and Rachel Ott of Varger Girl Design—a husband-and-wife duo who've successfully built thriving businesses while sharing both a workspace and a marriage for over 25 years.

In this masterclass on business, creativity, and life, Rachel and Patrick share their journey from having zero business experience to becoming award-winning entrepreneurs. They open up about the early challenges—from quitting steady jobs to navigating financial stress—and the major world events (9/11, SARS, power outages) that tested their resolve.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How humour and boldness can transform your PR strategy
• Why "audacity trumps authenticity" in today's media landscape
• The real impact of AI on earned media and graphic design
• Behind-the-scenes stories of award-winning campaigns (including the "Post-Pandemic Primer")
• Honest advice about working with your spouse—including why separate workspaces matter
• Why sales skills are essential for every entrepreneur and social impact leader

Whether you're building a business, navigating a professional partnership with a loved one, or looking to stand out in a crowded market, this episode offers practical wisdom from two entrepreneurs who've mastered the art of collaboration, creativity, and resilience.

Connect with our guests:

• Rachel Ott:Varga Girl Design
• Patrick McCaully: Pointman News Creation