Making Your Mark Podcast

What happens when your early career path doesn’t fit, your strengths pull you in a different direction, and the work you’re “supposed” to do no longer aligns with who you’re becoming? For Caroline Samne, the turning point came when teaching, human‑centric leadership, and organizational development revealed a clearer path than the one she originally studied. Reinvention wasn’t a detour — it was the...

What happens when the career you worked so hard to build no longer feels aligned with who you are? For Nogol Madani, leaving engineering wasn’t a setback — it was the beginning of discovering her mission around culture, leadership, and psychological safety. After completing her master’s in engineering at McGill, Nogol spent nearly six years in the field. Early on, she experienced facilitative lead...

What happens when your business is growing, the opportunity is huge, but your values are no longer aligned with the people beside you? For Antoine de Brabant, co‑founder of Wordans and later Jobbook, the turning point came when success and identity no longer matched. Walking away wasn’t failure — it was the beginning of rebuilding a career rooted in clarity, integrity, and long‑term purpose. Antoi...

What if the best career move you can make is choosing curiosity over the script everyone expects you to follow? For Tarun Kohli, stepping away from traditional and trendy paths opened doors he never could have predicted — IBM, consulting, ESG strategy, and a career built on learning, contribution, and long‑term purpose. Tarun shares how uncertainty, exploration, and self‑awareness shaped his early...

What does career clarity really look like? For Grace Anniskett, it meant learning to advocate for herself, understanding her working style, navigating job‑change guilt, and redefining what “enough” means — all while building a meaningful career in project management. Grace, a project manager and founder of Anniskett Consulting Group, shares a grounded and honest leadership story shaped by non‑line...

What does it take to leave a successful family business and reinvent your life with purpose? Eric Ouimet shares how stepping away from ownership opened the door to a mission rooted in human impact: protecting people through fraud awareness and digital safety. After years of leadership at Camionnage CP Inc., where he eventually took over his father’s share, Eric knew it was time for a new chapter—e...

What defines a career built on values? For Michael Wodzicki, it’s navigating privilege, politics, and transformation while staying true to the motto he and Mark Bundang shared at Loyola High School: “Men for Others.” More than 30 years after graduating together, Mark and Mike reconnect to explore how formative values shape leadership across non‑profits, government, and corporate consulting. Michae...

What defines perseverance? For Alex Salvaggio, it’s the ability to take one step at a time through challenges — whether climbing a mountain at 17, guiding youth athletes, or navigating the chaos of ERP implementation. His story is about being coached, becoming a coach, and helping others persevere through hard times. Alex Salvaggio, CFO of Thread Collective Inc., shares three defining experiences...

What happens when a micro‑finance professional pivots to farming, becomes a national biotech advocate, and joins a global network to amplify farmer voices? AD Alvarez’s journey spans finance, agriculture, and international policy — from Cebu’s cornfields to the halls of the FAO. In this episode, he shares how farming became a family legacy, why technology and respect must evolve together, and what...

What happens when a healthcare strategist moves to France, launches a coaching service, and begins training to become a therapist — all in pursuit of deeper service and personal truth? Alina Yarova’s career spans consulting, health tech, and now a bold new chapter: embracing therapy not just as a personal tool, but as a professional calling. In this episode, she reflects on immigration, identity,...

What happens when a professor known for impact and connection is forced to slow down — and discovers that saying “No” might be the most powerful lesson of all? Jordan LeBel is a marketing professor and food industry expert whose superpower lies in the spoken word — the ability to move people, build trust, and create lasting connection. In this episode, he reflects on the joy of teaching, the legac...

What happens when a corporate president walks away from power — and finds clarity in the space that follows? Martin Featherston shares how leaving corporate life gave him the freedom to breathe, reflect, and rediscover who he truly was. Martin didn’t leave to write a book. He left to reclaim his identity. Only after gaining space and distance did he find clarity, humor, and the creative spark that...

🔥 Quick insight from Saaj Patel on why integrity matters in auto service. In this clip from the Making Your Mark Podcast, Saaj shares how he’s building SP Mecano to stand for honesty, integrity, and doing right by the customer. In an industry often criticized for upselling and mistrust, his approach is about creating a mobile auto service brand people can actually trust. Because doing good busine...

🔥 Quick insight from Derick Kulibaba on turning pain into purpose through movement. In this clip from the Making Your Mark Podcast, Derick shares the story behind Kuli-Box, the exercise initiative he launched at CN just months after losing his first wife. What began as a step toward his own healing sparked a powerful response — with participants calling it life-changing. His journey shows how res...

🔥 Quick insight from Kim Gutierrez on why nurses must be valued as essential professionals. In this clip from the Making Your Mark Podcast, Kim shares her perspective on the realities of nursing and why recognition must go beyond seeing nurses as caretakers. She calls for change, highlighting the critical service nurses provide to society every day. A powerful reminder to value the people who hol...

🔥 Quick insight from Anne Pertus on the power of support and community in healing. In this clip from the Making Your Mark Podcast, Anne opens up about her personal health journey — and how everything changed when she found her tribe. Her story highlights the importance of listening to your body, embracing community, and seeking belonging when the world tells you to push through. A perspective for...

🔥 Quick insight from Samantha Bateman on the moment her business began to gain traction. In this clip from the Making Your Mark Podcast, Samantha reflects on when her executive recruitment firm, Integria Consulting, shifted from struggle to stability. Her story captures the turning point every entrepreneur remembers — the moment things start to click and growth feels possible. For anyone building...

🔥 Quick insight from Stella Filippatos on how to evaluate your career through a simple but powerful lens. In this clip from the Making Your Mark Podcast, Stella explains why you should either be earning, learning — or, ideally, both. Her framework helps professionals optimize their path, make intentional moves, and avoid stagnation. A smart perspective for anyone navigating career growth and seek...

🔥 Quick insight from Kim Handysides on how creatives can respond to the rise of AI. In this clip from the Making Your Mark Podcast, Kim shares her perspective on why adaptation, authenticity, and strategy matter more than fear when facing technological change. Her timely insight is especially relevant for artists, freelancers, and creatives navigating the future of work in a rapidly evolving indu...

🔥 Quick insight from Johnny Luk on resilience, ambition, and public life. In this clip from the Making Your Mark Podcast, Johnny reflects on running for UK Parliament twice — and losing both times. What he gained instead was perspective, resilience, and clarity. His advice to young people is a reminder that success isn’t always about the seat — sometimes it’s about the story you carry forward. 📌...

🔥 Quick insight from Kate Good on the shift from world-class competition to the corporate world. In this clip from the Making Your Mark Podcast, Kate shares what she discovered about the fundamental differences between elite sport and marketing — and how she had to adapt her mindset, expectations, and definition of success. Her story is a must-listen for anyone navigating high-performance transit...

🎙 What does it take to lead, adapt, and thrive in today’s world? Season 2 of the Making Your Mark Podcast explored exactly that — through powerful conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, public servants, athletes, healthcare professionals, and more. In this special recap episode, host Mark Bundang reflects on standout moments from Episodes 11 to 19. From building a mobile auto service busines...

Trades to entrepreneurship, mobile auto service, and building a business on your own terms are at the center of Saaj Patel’s story. After years working in dealerships, Saaj made the bold decision to leave stability behind and launch SP Mecano, a mobile automotive servicing business built around convenience, integrity, and customer trust. Saaj opens up about transitioning from technician to busines...

Purpose, mental wellness, and rebuilding life after loss are at the center of Derick Kulibaba’s story. A Montreal entrepreneur and coach, Derick transformed personal tragedy into a mission to support others through movement, community, and resilience. Before founding Seconds Out Boxing, Derick built a successful corporate sales career. But life’s hardest moments shifted his priorities, leading him...

Nursing resilience, frontline reality, and the emotional toll of COVID‑19 shape the journey of Filipino‑Canadian nurse Kim Gutierrez. From hesitating to pursue nursing to becoming a travel nurse in the U.S. and later serving on Montreal’s frontlines, Kim’s story highlights the courage required to thrive in one of the most demanding professions. Kim reflects on the pressures of nursing school, the...