Career Boosters: An MBA Podcast

Talking with Sarah Kowalevsky, Assistant Dean of Development at the Alberta School of business about how the skill set of using her unique energy to make strong connections has served her in everything from her first 10 years as a performer on cruise ships to her role now dedicated to development (fundraising) for the university. Curiosity, bravery, and a good pair of sparkly shoes all factor into...

Talking with Jerry Perez, 1st year MBA student, about what makes him so naturally gifted at relationship building (aka networking), and how you can be too. He really boils it down to what networking is at it’s core, what we often get wrong, and an easy trick to use to be more successful. Relationships are truly important, personally and professionally, so let’s stop being scared of networking, and...

Talking with Leona McLean, Academic Department Manager for the Alberta School of Business, who has 30 years of HR experience, so she knows a thing or two about hiring! One of the biggest challenges candidates face is the wide variety of hiring practices, preferences, and approaches - so listen up and learn from another skilled perspective on hiring. With of course a few thoughts from us as well.

Talking with Ted Han, a combined MD/MBA student about how he survived the rigorous last 3 weeks with 11 interviews across 3 different medical specialties. Talk about pressure! But Ted approached it all with the best mindset possible… which is what you ask? Listen and find out as he talks about understanding the long game, self reflection, story telling, and how to truly put your best authentic foo...

Talking with Matt Horbay, 1st year MBA student, about the immense power of storytelling. It’s a skill often overlooked, but when used effectively - it’s truly a power that can supercharge almost any interaction in any setting. The key is understanding your audience, being adaptable, and knowing a few key things that make a story great. What are those key things? You’ll have to listen to find out…

Speaking with Sophia Khan, a first year MBA student about all things LinkedIn. We dive into making this professional social networking tool your own, with rich, story driven content that should be authentic and simply just you. From a content perspective, whether it's an organization trying to attract new talent or finding/following industry and thought leaders, LinkedIn is the place to be. So...

Talking with first year MBA student Deepu Padmadalan about all things resumes and cover letters. This topic is VAST - but Deepu starts off the episode with a big tip on utilizing a master story… and the tips just keep coming from there. Whether you’re new to Canadian resumes, pivoting from a technical to more general role, or just want to elevate your resume game - there’s a nugget (or two, or thr...

Talking with Raj Mukherjee, 2nd year MBA student, on his secret ingredients that when added together result in explosive leaps forward in both his MBA and career journeys. Networking, technology, extra-curricular, leadership, coaching, reflection… the tools he uses to power his leaps are so valuable that there is something in this podcast for anyone looking to supercharge their career. Grab a note...

Talking with Peter Keith, MBA Alumni (‘20), co-founder of an Artisan food market Meuwlys, Director of the University of Alberta Entrepreneurship HUB (eHUB), and oh ya - chef! His focus on following his north star (purpose) to guide him to the next right step has created a fascinating squiggly career that offers more boosts that we can list in this short intro. A must listen episode!

Talking with Bhavneet Kaur, 2nd year MBA student on how her willingness to try new things and focus on self-discovery in her 1st year catapulted her through a successful internship and into her 2nd year. She has mastered the understanding that a career journey is a puzzle, and that the key is simply finding the next right piece - even if you don’t know what picture you’re creating yet.

Talking with Jory Simard, 1st year combined JD/MBA student, about how his learnings this semester have given him a very real, tangible, and valuable boost early in his career. Jory is the epitome of what can happen when you truly lean into personal development as a tool for professional growth and success. What do red cars, blue suits, and storytelling have to do with career success… listen and fi...

We talk with Taylor Doucette (MBA ‘22) about her successful decade-old digital brand (@whenimolderblog), confidence growth, how her MBA has impacted her career, and maybe most importantly - how Taylor Swift should run for president! Buckle-up for a ‘Taylor-forward’ episode: Taylor Doucette, Paul Taylor, and T-Swift.

Talking with Curtis Benavides, 1st year MBA student, about the value of focusing on personal reflection, development, and growth BEFORE focusing on the tactical actions of career management (resume, interviews, etc). So rarely do we get the opportunity to intentionally put development before action, but when we do, the impact to our career journey can be more than we ever thought.

Talking with Nick Chankasingh in our Part 2 on emotional intelligence, digging into the risks of high EQ scores and the vital focus of balance rather than individual assessment scores. The EQ journey is a marathon, not a sprint, where the goal is a well-balanced EQ stool. What the heck is an EQ stool? Listen and find out.

Talking with Bari Mohammed, 1st year MBA student, about how emotional intelligence impacts leadership, and what it takes to truly be a great leader. And spoilers, it isn’t technical skills - and it has to do with so much more than just empathy. Join us as we talk about the EQi 2.0 model, Growth Mindset, and the intentionality it takes to develop key EQ skills that will make positive ripples in the...

Talking with Jasleen Saini, 1st year MBA student, about her realization that the things she thought made her different in a bad way, actually make her different in a GREAT way. Understanding those things (aka Strengths) that differentiate us is key to a successful career journey, so we dig into Gallup’s CliftonStrengths and how to use it to give your career a boost.

Talking with Justin Pritchard, part-time MBA career coach, graduate student, and mindfulness expert on how to cultivate a practice of being present that can be used as a powerful tool for stress management. He guides us through a bite-sized one-minute mindfulness practice and shares resources for those looking to start, or grow, their own practice. It’s not about getting rid of stress, but rather...

Talking with Kathryn Byron, 1st year MBA student, about navigating the discovery, definition, and living of our personal values. We all have them, but so often avoid getting really clear on what they are and how they’re impacting our decisions. From simplicity to service, family to career, we peel back the layers to uncover what’s really important to us and why it matters.

In this episode we chat with….ourselves! It’s (past) time for you to learn more about us, the Career Boosters hosts, our backgrounds, approaches to coaching, how we ended up hosting this podcast, and where we think we might be headed next. Take a sneak peek into our professional domains and discover more about how our experience and skills can offer you a career boost.

Chatting with Viren Jithesh Dave, a first-year MBA student, about brand, and how he and other MBA students are given a unique opportunity to hear from their peers on how their brand is being perceived. Our brand is our most valuable asset as a professional, and as a human being, and it can be rare to get feedback to confirm that our ‘message sent’ is the same as the ‘messages received’. We lean in...

Talking with Matthew Scott, 1st year MBA student, about his approach to the biggest large-learning event of his professional and education career: Our week-long MBA Orientation. His authentic take on pre-event nerves, the value of connection, and focus on balance offers valuable insights for anyone approaching a multi-day, information-rich, event.

Talking with Eashan Bulsara - 3rd Year Business student and one of our team’s Co-op Students, about how to effectively approach the start of a new semester. We talk about getting involved on campus (even in things that don’t seem immediately interesting), taking an active role in your classes, and how purpose and intention in both areas really can boost your academic and career experience.

Talking with Chandler Holyoak - Employer Relations Specialist with the Alberta School of Business about all things networking and building relationships. We dig into insightful tips and advice on reframing networking, how to prepare, enjoying the experience, utilizing reflection, and recognizing connection opportunities happen every day.

Talking with Chris Lynch - Senior Director of Admissions, Recruitment and Marketing at the Alberta School of Business, Masters Programs. We spoke about stepping into a new event: MBA Orientation and how to ensure you are purposeful and intentional to make a successful experience.

Get ready for The Career Boosters podcast trailer, where personal and professional growth converge. Discover transformative self-discovery, peak career secrets, and the art of navigating modern careers. From self-awareness to cutting-edge tools, embark on a journey that reshapes your career trajectory. Subscribe now, your dream career awaits!