Successfully Ambiguous?

What does it really take to build a career, a community, and a sense of belonging in Canada? In this Canada Day special of Successfully Ambiguous , host Christine Brooks-Cappadocia brings together powerful stories and practical insights from newcomers, international graduates, and industry leaders who have navigated the realities of building careers in Canada. Together, they explore the challenges...

What if you're not falling behind at all? Christine Brooks-Cappadocia sits down with Joceline Kozhipatt, communications professional and intercultural engagement specialist, to discuss career transitions, relationship-building, and why every season of life can be an opportunity for growth. From arriving in Canada as a newcomer to becoming Student of the Year, Joceline shares how continuous learnin...

What if the best career moves aren't the ones you planned? Christine Brooks-Cappadocia sits down with Laura Babcock, communications strategist, executive trainer, national media commentator, and host of The OShow, to discuss how relationships, trust, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty can create opportunities you never saw coming. From journalism to entrepreneurship, leadership, media commen...

What if the reason you feel “not fully qualified” is exactly what’s holding you back? In this episode of Successfully Ambiguous, Christine Brooks-Cappadocia speaks with Michelle Aarons, Executive Director, Programs & Partnerships at the York University School of Continuing Studies and recent TEDxOshawa speaker, about non-linear careers, redefining success, and why no one truly checks every box...

Staying relevant in the age of AI is about more than technical skills. So what actually matters when everything is changing? In this episode of Successfully Ambiguous , Christine Brooks-Cappadocia speaks with Hashmat Rohian, Vice President, Enterprise Technology and Data at EQ Bank, about what it really takes to stay relevant in a world shaped by AI, automation, and rapid change. Drawing on his ex...

What if you could do everything right — and still not get the outcome you expected? And what matters more — what happens to you, or what you decide to do next? In this episode of Successfully Ambiguous, Christine Brooks-Cappadocia sits down with Richard Pinnock, President of Diversity of Thought Strategies and former Chief Diversity Officer at Export Development Canada. From being the first in his...

Most people try to plan their careers. What if that’s the wrong approach? In this episode of Successfully Ambiguous , Christine Brooks-Cappadocia speaks with Katherine Chong — product manager, startup coach, and cultural consultant on Pixar’s Turning Red — about how one decision to step away from a traditional career path led to unexpected opportunities, including working with Pixar. After experie...

Uncertainty isn’t temporary — it’s the new normal. The way we create value at work is changing. In a world shaped by AI, automation, and constant transition, stability isn’t something we wait for — it’s something we learn to navigate. In this episode of Successfully Ambiguous , Christine Brooks-Cappadocia speaks with Andrew Temes — Fractional CMO, Marketing & Revenue Leader, and Professor — ab...

What does success really mean? In this special Podcasthon episode of Successfully Ambiguous, we revisit powerful moments from past conversations where guests share why contributing to their communities has become an important part of their definition of success. Across industries and around the world, our guests have spoken about the causes they care about most — from helping students access educa...

How do you shorten time to competency without lowering standards? In Part 2 of this conversation, Christine Brooks-Cappadocia continues her discussion with Manja Horner, Founder & CEO of Boost LD, and moves from diagnosing slow training systems to designing a practical solution. With labour shortages and mass retirements reshaping skilled trades, construction, and manufacturing, organizations...

What if the biggest barrier to career growth isn’t effort — but the systems around learning? In this episode of Successfully Ambiguous, host Christine Brooks-Cappadocia speaks with Manja Horner, Founder & CEO of Boost LD, about why upskilling needs to happen faster, how careers are being held back by slow and sporadic training models, and what it really takes to become job-ready in today’s wor...

What if personal branding isn’t about performing — but about becoming more of who you already are? In this episode of Successfully Ambiguous , host Christine Brooks-Cappadocia speaks with Leigh Mitchell, founder of Changemaker Leader Podcast, about self-leadership, career growth, and authentic personal branding. Leigh works with high-impact leaders, laid-off professionals, and burned-out business...

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In this episode, Olatunji Saliu shares his journey of rebuilding his career in Canada, turning early setbacks into opportunities, and discovering clarity as the driving force behind creative and professional success. From navigating the barriers of “Canadian experience” to launching his own photography business and founding a charity that provides school uniforms to students in need, Olatunji’s st...

How do you build a successful career in Canada—quickly? When Ramiz Essani arrived in Canada, he secured a job in his field in just 53 days. In this episode, he shares the mindset shifts, job-search strategies, and practical steps that helped him make it happen. Ramiz opens up about staying motivated during unemployment, building an online presence that employers trust, and why “smart work” beats m...

Privacy matters — because trust is everything. In this episode of Successfully Ambiguous , host Christine Brooks-Cappadocia (AVP, Continuing Studies at York University) sits down with Peter Kosmala, global privacy expert and York instructor, to explore how data culture differs across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, revealing why protecting what’s personal has never been more important. From cybersec...

How do you build something meaningful when the odds are stacked against you? In this episode of Successfully Ambiguous, Olu Villasa, Program Manager at the Black Entrepreneurship Alliance (BEA), shares how lived experience, purpose and community can turn barriers into opportunities — and how BEA is helping reshape entrepreneurship in Canada. Plus, stay tuned for an exclusive offer for professional...

Meet Dr. Christine Sawchuk, President and CEO of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators (CICBV), to explore a career path that’s not just rewarding—it’s practically guaranteed. With a near 100% employment rate , business valuation is one of Canada’s most secure and in-demand professions. Christine shares how this field is critical to navigating succession planning, legal disputes,...

Maham Abbasi, entrepreneur and founder of the No Shame Project, joins Christine Brooks-Cappadocia to share her journey of turning advocacy into impact. From challenging stigmas around period poverty to supporting students in education and study abroad, Maham shows how purpose and passion can build stronger futures. Join the conversation with today's leaders and share your career questions . Make s...

Meet Gayathri Rajamohan—one of only five global finalists for the prestigious PIEoneer Alumni of the Year Award and the only from a Canadian institution. Her story is one of courage, community, and commitment to empowering women in cybersecurity. In our conversation, Gayathri shares how her upbringing, her father’s example of service, and her own journey as an international student shaped her pass...

When I first met Dana Stephenson nearly a decade ago, we were both deep in the trenches of trying to solve a problem that still challenges educators and employers today: how do we prepare students for a future that’s anything but predictable?  In this episode, I sit down with Dana—co-founder of Riipen, a platform that connects students, educators, and employers through real-world project-base...

In this episode of  Successfully Ambiguous , I sit down with Erick Bauer, a fellow communicator, educator, and changemaker. Erick is the Head of External Relations at Meridian Credit Union, Founder of the Bauer Group, author, host of The Bottom Line with Erick Bauer podcast, and passionate about giving back to his community. Erick shares his journey from policing to public relations, and how...

I first met Katherine Chong when she was helping our School build Canada’s first academic program in Product Management. I was struck by her fearless curiosity and the way she turned a sabbatical into a masterclass in human connection. In this episode, I sit down with Katherine—product manager, startup coach, instructor, and cultural consultant for Pixar’s  Turning Red —to talk about how 300...

In this episode, I sit down with someone I deeply admire and have had the pleasure of getting to know through the Canadian Chamber of Commerce— Diana Palmerín Velasco , Senior Director, Future of Work. Diana brings a rare combination of lived experience as a newcomer and deep policy expertise that makes her voice essential in today’s conversations about immigration, labour, and the future of work...

What do you do when the job you’ve worked so hard to land turns out to be nothing like you imagined—on day one? In this episode, I’m joined by the vibrant Michelle Aarons , who shares the story of how her dream job quickly became a wake-up call. But instead of letting that moment define her, Michelle used it as a catalyst for growth, clarity, and purpose. We talk about: The power of reframing disa...