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

How do you stand out in one of the most competitive job markets in recent memory? What are hiring managers really looking for? And how can you break into your industry when everything seems stacked against new grads?

In this special episode for post-grad marketing students and emerging professionals, we’re joined by Courtney Sebu, HR executive and founder of Shastra Inc., to discuss how to navigate the early stages of your career with clarity, confidence, and strategy. With over two decades of experience in recruiting and leadership consulting, Courtney doesn’t hold back — offering honest, tactical advice on what works now when it comes to landing roles, building your network, and crafting a standout personal brand.

Whether you’re polishing your resume or networking your way into a new industry, this episode is your inside track to HR insights you won’t find in a textbook.

• It’s an employer’s market: With the job market saturated by experienced professionals post-pandemic, it’s tougher than ever for new grads to land roles — but not impossible.
• AI is gatekeeping your resume: Many companies use AI tools to filter applications. If you don’t include job-specific buzzwords, you may be auto-rejected in under 5 minutes.
• Tailor strategically, not endlessly: Instead of rewriting your resume for every role, build a core version with the right industry keywords to "manipulate" the AI in your favour — ethically.
• Networking is your superpower: Referrals and personal introductions are often the only way to get past automated systems and actually get seen by a human recruiter.
• Canadian experience bias still exists: Despite legal changes, many private companies still prioritize local experience. Volunteering, internships, and shadowing can help bridge that gap.
• Don’t dilute your resume too much: If you have international experience, don’t hide it. Focus instead on contextualizing it for Canadian employers and roles.
• Referrals don’t guarantee roles: Even strong recommendations can hit internal company politics or pre-decided hires, which is why persistence and presence matter.
• Certifications are optional, not essential: Courtney has built a successful HR career without formal credentials, emphasizing experience and relationships over letters after your name.
• AI writing tools are just a start: Use ChatGPT and others to brainstorm ideas, but personalize and humanize your content before submitting anything — static, robotic language is a giveaway.
• Your brand = your currency: How you show up online, how you communicate, and how others perceive you will open more doors than a polished resume alone.

What does it take to close Canada’s gender gap in leadership? In this episode, we sit down with Julie Savard-Shaw, Executive Director of The Prosperity Project, to explore the transformative power of the Rosie Mentorship Program — a free, bilingual, and virtual initiative designed to support mid-career women on their path to leadership.

Julie shares her personal journey, the inspiration behind Rosie, and the real barriers that women in Canada still face in the workforce — from bias and burnout to the lack of accessible childcare. We also discuss why mentorship is a two-way street, the critical role of workplace flexibility, and how corporate Canada can take a leading role in creating lasting change.

Whether you’re a mentor, a mid-career woman seeking support, or a ChangeMaker advocating for gender equity in Canada, this conversation is filled with insight, heart, and action.

• The origin and impact of the Rosie Mentorship Program
• Why mid-career women often fall through the cracks
• Promotion bias, pay gaps, and the “leaky pipeline”
• Mentorship as leadership development — for both mentor and mentee
• How flexible work and advocacy are reshaping the future of equity
• Julie’s vision for a more inclusive Canada

🔗 Learn more or sign up at canadianprosperityproject.ca

In this episode, we sit down with Rebecca, founder of Detour Co., a natural skincare brand born from a personal need for clean, effective products. After relocating to Muskoka, Rebecca transformed her passion into a thriving business, guided by authentic customer feedback and a deep connection to community. She shares how she transitioned from crafting products at home to opening a studio space, her transparent pricing strategies, and her refreshing marketing approach that emphasizes human connection over trends. If you’re curious about building a meaningful brand that resonates with real people, this conversation is for you.

Join for Our Outdoor Connect & Reset Leadership Day

Want to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs and reset your leadership mindset? Join us for our Future Leader Outdoor Connect & Reset Day. Experience a day of inspiration, reflection, and growth in nature. Details and registration at https://www.changemakerco.org

AI is Changing Media & Careers, Are You Ready?

In a world where AI is disrupting every industry, CBC News hired its first-ever AI Advisor — and it wasn’t a Silicon Valley technologist. It is CBC's Rignam Wangkhang, who is leading CBC into the AI era.

In this episode, Rignam shares how he carved out a role that didn’t even exist a year ago, the cultural challenges of introducing AI inside a legacy media organization, and why the future of journalism depends on adaptability, not coding skills. We’ll break down the AI tools every professional should master, how AI is reshaping job searches and entrepreneurship, and why you don’t need to be an “expert” to lead in this space.

Whether you're a student, a media professional, or just curious about how AI is transforming industries from the inside — this conversation is packed with practical advice and fresh perspective.

• How Rignam transitioned from journalism to AI leadership at CBC
• The cultural shifts AI is creating in traditional media
• The top AI tools you should be using right now (besides ChatGPT)
• How to future-proof your career in a world of AI disruption
• Why personal branding is more important than ever in the AI age
• Real talk: Why nobody is truly an AI “expert” yet

Ready to future-proof your leadership mindset?

Join us at our Future Leader Outdoor Connect & Reset Day — an immersive in-nature experience designed to help you disconnect from the noise, reconnect with your purpose, and lead with clarity in a disruptive world.

Register now

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