Career Boosters: An MBA Podcast

We’re joined by MBA Alumni Suraj Wadhwani (‘25) to break down what case competitions really are and why they matter for more than just aspiring consultants. Picture a Shark Tank-style challenge with tight timelines, new teammates, and a real business problem to solve. Suraj shares how competing sharpened his problem-solving, teamwork, and storytelling skills, why clarity beats complexity every tim...

We’re joined by returning guest Priyanka Singh, now a second-year International MBA student, to talk about BUS 501: a foundational course that, if approached with openness, can shift the entire MBA experience. From uncovering core values and strengths to exploring unspoken brand, empathy, and energy management, Priyanka shares how self-awareness has shaped her journey. She reflects on taking initi...

Meet first-year MBA student Majid Nikouee (PhD, Educational Psychology) as he walks us through orientation week: what surprised him, what settled the nerves, and what actually helps on day one. We talk about reviewing materials without overdoing it, owning your unique story, asking for help early, and finding small recharge habits that kept him steady. Majid explains why the personal branding sess...

We’re kicking off Season 3 with two international 2nd year MBA students, Fabliha Mahmood and Arthur Benitez, who share what it was really like to land in Canada, face the nerves of orientation, and start building a brand-new life. From getting lost on the way to campus to assembling furniture and finding their people, they talk candidly about what helped, what they wish they’d done differently, an...

In our season finale, we sit down with Ange McCabe, CEO of Intuity Performance, certified coach, and fellow “recovering HR professional”—to explore what it really means to lead with your whole self. Ange shares why leadership transformation is often quieter than we expect, how coaching can bridge the gap between technical skill and human connection, and why we can't separate who we are at work fro...

Trying something a little different this episode as we talk with (instead of ‘to’) part-time MBA student Curtis Middleton all about the fear that gets in each of our ways. Curtis with the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), Tiffany with the Fear of People’s Opinions (FOPO), and Paul with the Fear of Joining In (FOJI). We each share our own experiences with these fears, where they show up, how they can act...

Talking with Katie O’Malley, owner of (en)Courage Coaching and self proclaimed “Career Nomad” about how her (really interesting and squiggly) career has been guided by both but, and yes-and. She gives us great advice on how to find your career non-negotiables while at the same time understanding that no experience is a waste. Katie is a true demonstration of the true alignment and fulfillment that...

Talking to Jenna Dahl, Manager, Student Wellness Services with MacEwan University - who also happens to be Paul’s previous colleague - about how she harmonizes her role, being a mom of 2, business owner, and competitive Pole dancer. Jenna quickly notes that it’s not about work/life balance, but rather it’s work/life harmony that adjusts through the ebbs and flows of life. Finding her own harmony h...

Talking with recent MBA grad Guoxu Li about the mindset needed to truly find success. Known as someone highly skilled in the world of finance and economics, what makes Guoxu truly stand out isn’t (just) his technical skill, but more so his approach to mindset, relationships, and life in general. A conversation so powerful and inspiring, it sparked the first tears we’ve seen in 60 episodes (from Ti...

Talking with Griffin Mumby, MD/MBA student as he wraps up his MBA journey and shares how impactful it has been, but how it was also born from a setback. If you had asked Griffin a few years ago, an MBA wasn’t his plan. But life sometimes has other plans, and it’s up to us to either lean in, embrace the suck, and focus on what we can control - or lean out. Griffin is a prime example of what can hap...

Talking with Vivika Sharma, one of our team’s stellar interns, about how her year-long internship in CWIL has helped shape her and her personal brand. Vivika is very much ‘ahead of the curve’ when it comes to what she knows about herself, how she’s grown, and her confidence in her ability to thrive ‘wherever the wind takes her’. There are just some students that you know are going to make big diff...

Talking with 2nd year MBA student Shida Liu about what it is that has led to a truly successful MBA journey. As someone who is always authentic, and focused on treasuring every experience and building strong relationships, it’s easy to see why Shida is well respected AND why he’s had a successful MBA journey. He’s a brilliant demonstration of why you should never say never, and always be open to w...

Talking with MBA alumni Marina Barbu (‘21) about how she successfully navigated a (rather significant) career pivot from hospitality management into pharmaceuticals and innovation. Marina skillfully navigated the (large) gap between these seemingly disparity industries because she know what was important to her: impact, adventure, and curiosity. And utilized an unwavering dedication to building st...

Talking with 2nd year MBA student Michelle Ritchie about her ‘Yes Era’ where she’s saying yes to far more networking and relationship building than she ever thought she’d be comfortable with. As an experienced Registered Nurse, networking was a foreign (and uncomfortable) concept 1.5 years ago, but the shift in mindset, skillset, and impact to her career that relationship building is bringing is c...

We step FAR outside our usual ‘box’ and spend this entire episode talking with AI. Yup, that’s right - our friend ChatGPT. Considering we wanted to talk about all the ways you can use AI in career management, we thought who better to chat with than the chatbot itself? And what it came up with even surprised the two of us. Not only that, our key takeaways come from Google Illuminate - which if you...

Talking with a special guest, our boss, Amber Nicolson! As the Manager, Career & Work Integrated Learning at the Alberta School of Business, Amber has spend a lot of her career interviewing for many different roles and supporting students as they prepare. And unique to her, she’s the only person who has interviewed both of us in our careers. The entire episode is one big tip & trick, for a...

Talking with 1st year MBA student Ketsia Lombosso Engoya about the thing she has done for a longtime now, but didn’t fully realize - storytelling.

Talking with 2nd year MBA student Joe Harb about a topic he’s very familiar with, but has worked to expand and improve through his MBA - Networking. It’s SO much more than surviving large events. We do it every day, whether we realize it or not. And leaning into the ‘dance’ of building relationships, owning your weirdness, and leveling up your storytelling are key tools in your all-important netwo...

Talking with 1st year MBA student Arthur Benitez all about a topic he’s well-versed in: LinkedIn. As a user since 2014, Arthur brings a lot of experience and expertise in using the professional platform - but as a true learner, he also notes there’s room for him to grow and iterate. We chat about the power of storytelling, realities of attention pans, the pros and cons of using AI, and more. 1.1B...

Talking with our first-ever repeat guest, Chandler Holyoak, Employer and Community Partner Outreach Specialist at the Alberta School of Business. As someone with both previous HR experience, and current daily interactions with employers, he is full of valuable tips and tricks for resumes and cover letters that will get noticed. You get less than 10 seconds to make an impression, do you know how to...

Talking with 1st year MBA student Mila Zhang about how she tackles new. Recently she’s experienced a new country, new MBA program, new people, new part-time job, new courses, new semesters….new year even. So much new! But you’ll find that Mila is quite an ‘old soul’ in her approach to the discomfort that new brings. Her wisdom extends far beyond her years, and there’s something for everyone to lea...

Talking with MBA Alumni (‘17) Ashton Rudanec about her MBA journey and career where she has made big impacts within her own cohort, as the President of the University of Alberta Alumni Association, in her role as Director, Sustainable Investing, busy mom of 2, and new this year - as one of Edify’s Top 40 Under 40 in Edmonton. These impacts and ripples didn’t happen by chance. They are a result of...

Talking with 2nd year MBA student Jeevana Mandala about how her first 16 months in Canada and in the MBA program have set her up for the final push, and all important post-grad job search. And as she so expertly note - it’s much more than just about finding a job. And that the most unexpected twists and turns in an MBA journey can actually set you up for more success than you would have ever expec...

Talking with Deanna Dow (MBA ‘18) about her vibrant and memorable brand (which you see in seconds, and feel throughout the entire episode), how she developed it, and the impact it makes on her ability to connect with people anywhere in the world. It’s one thing to catch someone’s attention with your brand, and it’s a whole other thing to hold and inspire that attention. Deanne both sparks interest...

What do you get when you put two coaches certified in an Emotional Intelligence model (EQi 2.0) on a call to talk about EQ? This conversation! Paul & Tiffany talk about how emotional intelligence plays a big part in their lives, where they struggle (we all do) and what comes more naturally, and an expansion into the many different skill sets that make-up emotional intelligence. Because no, it’...