Making Your Mark Podcast

How do integrity, transformation, and community shape a successful career? Anne Pertus, co‑founder of The Pillars, has built her professional journey around meaningful change, human‑centric leadership, and the power of finding your tribe. Her path spans large corporations, boutique consulting firms, and entrepreneurship — all grounded in the belief that shortcuts aren’t worth sacrificing integrity...

Resilience, purpose, and building a business through adversity are central to Samantha Bateman’s story. As the founder of Integria Consulting, Sam has spent 20 years growing a purpose‑driven executive search firm rooted in service, second chances, and a deep commitment to helping people find meaningful work. Sam shares how early hardship shaped her drive, why she chose entrepreneurship over the sa...

Career growth, self‑advocacy, and navigating corporate dynamics define Stella Filippatos’s journey across engineering, aviation, and business. After years of delivering results, she realized that performance alone wasn’t enough—she needed to understand the unspoken rules of the workplace to earn the recognition, opportunities, and compensation she deserved. In this episode, Stella breaks down how...

Reinvention, voiceover mastery, and building a sustainable creative business in a rapidly changing industry are central to Kim Handysides’ story. From her early days as a weather woman to becoming an award‑winning voiceover artist and entrepreneur, Kim has built a thriving career by adapting, evolving, and trusting her ability to grow. Kim shares the forced pivots that shaped her path, the busines...

How do you transition from elite sports to politics and leadership? Johnny Luk, former rowing champion and UK political candidate, has built a career defined by grit, service, and a commitment to creating real impact. His journey spans competitive athletics, government roles, private‑sector leadership, and two runs for UK Parliament — all driven by a belief that change requires both policy and act...

What happens when your identity is tied to being an athlete — and that career suddenly ends? Kate Good, former world‑class competitive figure skater and now a mental performance coach, shares her powerful story of reinvention, resilience, and redefining success beyond sport. Forced into early retirement at 21, she had to rebuild her confidence, identity, and sense of purpose from the ground up. In...

🔥 Quick insight from Rob Bourbeau on why manufacturing in North America is about more than economics. In this clip from the Making Your Mark Podcast, Rob raises a critical question: should we continue to manufacture locally or outsource entirely? He explains why preserving manufacturing capabilities is essential for long-term resilience, skills development, and independence. This conversation goe...

🔥 Quick insight from Slava Pisanka on what it really takes to succeed in ERP consulting. In this clip from the Making Your Mark Podcast, Slava shares the three keys that have helped him thrive as an independent ERP contractor: strategy, mindset, and relationships. His perspective shows that success in tech and consulting isn’t just about technical skills — it’s about how you position yourself, bu...

🔥 Quick insight from Dr. Rafik Naccache on the weight of choosing between academia and industry. In this clip from the Making Your Mark Podcast, Rafik shares how his post-doctoral fellowship led him to a pivotal career decision: return to industry or pursue a long-term path in academic research. His reflection highlights the challenges and clarity that come when standing between two meaningful di...

🔥 Quick insight from Sam Watts on why the nonprofit sector is overdue for innovation. In this clip from the Making Your Mark Podcast, Sam explains how traditional approaches often fall short — and why bold leadership, fresh thinking, and systems-level change are needed to unlock real progress for the communities that need it most. His perspective is a wake-up call for anyone working in social imp...

🔥 Quick insight from Olivia Dufour on why networking alone isn’t enough. In this clip from the Making Your Mark Podcast, Olivia explains how building true alliances leads to greater growth, trust, and long-term opportunity. Her perspective highlights the mindset shift that turns simple connections into collaborative relationships — showing that real career success comes from going deeper than bus...

🔥 Quick insight from Dr. Muthucumaru Maheswaran on how one spark can change everything. In this clip from the Making Your Mark Podcast, Dr. Maheswaran reflects on the moment during his undergraduate studies when he stumbled into the world of computers — a discovery that reshaped his research career and set him on a trajectory he never imagined. His story shows how a single turning point can redef...

🔥 Quick insight from Minh Josefsson on thriving in people-oriented situations as an introvert. In this clip from the Making Your Mark Podcast, Minh shares the intentional strategies he uses to show up with presence, confidence, and energy when it counts. His story proves that introverts can excel in communication and leadership — they just prepare differently. 📌 Discovery Optimization: introvert...

🔥 Quick insight from Hannah Flostrand on how clarity and values make career pivots less overwhelming. In this clip from the Making Your Mark Podcast, Hannah shares how staying grounded in what matters most helps reveal the right path forward. Her perspective shows that when you align decisions with your values, career changes become not only manageable but empowering. 📌 Discovery Optimization: c...

🔥 Quick insight from Shah Chaudhry on why success in IT is about more than technical skills. In this clip from the Making Your Mark Podcast, Shah shares how a mindset focused on helping others has shaped his career, built trust, and opened doors he never expected. His story shows that leadership starts with service — and that putting others first can be the key to lasting career growth. 📌 Discov...

🔥 Quick insight from MJ Plebon on fulfilling a lifelong dream after a successful corporate career. In this clip from the Making Your Mark Podcast, MJ shares how decades of experience prepared him to finally live out his purpose — helping communities in need around the world. His story proves it’s never too late to reignite your passion and make a lasting impact. 📌 Discovery Optimization: childho...

🔥 Quick reflection from host Mark Bundang on the success of Season 1. In this bonus clip from the Making Your Mark Podcast, Mark expresses gratitude to the incredible guests who made Season 1 possible and shares why their stories proved the concept of the show. With Season 1 complete, the podcast now has a foundation to grow into future episodes and seasons — built on resilience, leadership, and...

Leaving engineering, launching a manufacturing startup, and building a purpose‑driven brand during a global pandemic are at the heart of Rob Bourbeau’s story. As co‑founder of Do+Dare Undies Co., Rob has navigated one of the toughest entrepreneurial paths: manufacturing in North America. His journey blends risk‑taking, resilience, and a commitment to building something that matters. Rob shares the...

Immigration success, ERP consulting, and breaking into the job market as a contractor—that’s the journey Slava Pisanka shares in this episode. From Kazakhstan to Canada, he explains the exact steps he took to overcome barriers, build a network from scratch, and launch a thriving ERP consulting career. Slava breaks down a systematic approach to immigrating, finding work, and navigating the contract...

PhD journey challenges, academia vs industry decisions, and work‑life balance are at the center of Dr. Rafik Naccache’s story. He shares how he navigated full‑time work, graduate studies, and family life while building a meaningful research career shaped by curiosity, uncertainty, and resilience. Rafik opens up about transitioning from industry to academia, pursuing graduate studies while working,...

What does it take to create meaningful change in the non‑profit sector? Sam Watts, CEO of Welcome Hall Mission and author of Good Work Done Better, has spent years reshaping how organizations serve their communities. His journey from the private sector to purpose‑driven leadership reveals why the non‑profit world is ready for innovation — and how leaders can rise to meet that moment. Sam shares th...

Executive presence, intentional growth, and learning to trust your voice are central to Olivia Dufour’s story. She has carved her path into senior leadership by pairing confidence with curiosity, and strategy with service — proving that executive presence isn’t about perfection, but about clarity, consistency, and the courage to step forward before you feel fully ready. Olivia shares the mindset s...

What defines a meaningful career in computer science? For Dr. Muthucumaru Maheswaran, it’s the combination of curiosity, resilience, and opportunity that carried him from Sri Lanka’s competitive education system to becoming a respected researcher and professor at McGill University. Mark and Mahesh explore how early obstacles, political unrest, and a pivotal discovery of computers shaped his academ...

Business transformation, career growth, and strategic networking are the pillars of Minh Josefsson’s career journey. He shares how intentional moves, strong relationships, and a reputation for delivering results helped him build a meaningful, legacy‑driven career across multiple industries. Minh breaks down how he navigated major transitions, won competitive interviews, and stepped into leadership...

Trusting your instincts, navigating career change, and redefining your path when the familiar no longer fits are central to Hannah Flostrand’s story. She has moved through multiple transitions, each one guided not by certainty, but by intuition, curiosity, and the courage to act before everything felt clear. Hannah shares the signals that told her it was time for change, the discomfort of stepping...