UpSkill Talks

In this episode, we are joined by special guest Silvia Caicedo to discuss the concept of range.  Silvia is a Learning Facilitator and Professor at the School of Immigrant and Transitional Education at George Brown College in Toronto, Ontario. What is "range"? Range refers to the variety and depth of your skills, knowledge, and experiences. In the workplace, having range means having a wi...

Last week, Dr. Wisdom Tettey, Vice President of the University of Toronto and Principal of the University of Toronto, shared valuable insights with UpSkill on being an inclusive leader.  This week, we're spicing things up with a Q&A. You asked, and Dr. Wisdom Tettey answered. This is part three of a three-part exclusive fireside chat series.  Part One: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1849741/1...

This is part two of a three-part exclusive fireside chat series.  Part One: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1849741/12846931 Part Three: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1849741/12930595 From interns to CEOs, I've worked with a wide array of leaders across all levels of organizations. Naturally, I wondered, who could truly benefit from embracing the principles of inclusive leadership? Dr. Tettey's...

This is part one of a three-part exclusive fireside chat series.  Part Two: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1849741/12873588 Part Three: In this episode, we are joined by an exceptional guest who shares his insights on creating an inclusive learning environment, promoting diversity, and overcoming challenges faced by underrepresented groups in academia.  Dr. Wisdom Tettey is the Vice President at the U...

This week, we wrap up our special series on Radical Integrity with a thought-provoking question: how can leaders like YOU embody radical integrity, foster inclusive leadership, and create a diverse culture -- even in a high-stress environment that lacks support? Join us as we explore groundbreaking strategies, share inspiring stories, and empower you with the tools to create a thriving, values-dri...

This is episode 76 of the UpSkill Talks podcast. This week, we continue the conversation about Radical Integrity, particularly, how to measure it in different social contexts.    This is part 4 out of 5 in a special series about Radical Integrity.  Find the first episode here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1849741/episodes/12625114 In this special series, we have a group of UpSkillers joining us: Tif...

This is episode 75 of the UpSkill Talks podcast, and part 3 out of 5 in a special series about Radical Integrity.  This week, we continue the conversation about Radical Integrity, particularly, if it looks the same for everyone. Can integrity be subjective? Find the first episode in the Radical Integrity series here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1849741/episodes/12625114 In this special series, we h...

This week, we continue the conversation about Radical Integrity, particularly in our external environment -- in society, politics, and our workplaces. We explore the relationship between integrity and personal freedom.  This is episode 74 of the UpSkill Talks podcast, and part 2 out of 5 in a special series about Radical Integrity.  Find the first episode here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1849741/e...

Welcome to episode 73 of the UpSkill Talks podcast. In this special episode,  we kick off part 1 out of a 5-part series on radical integrity. To start off, we explore what exactly is meant by the term "radical integrity". To help us delve deeper into this topic, we have a group of UpSkillers joining us: Tiffany Castell, Silvia Caicedo, Diana McIntyre, Cadeem Lalor, and Michel Shah. This...

In episode 72 of the Upskill Talks podcast, our host Michel Shah discusses the importance of mentorship for accelerating your career and achieving your goals. Michel identifies the three key relationships you need to foster: 1. with oneself 2. with mentors who add value to your life 3. with mentees who you add value to You might be thinking..... but how do you go about building your network of han...

In episode 71 of the Upskill Talks podcast, our host Michel Shah discusses networking and the importance of building authentic, reciprocal relationships.  Many people wrongly view networking as solely self-serving. In this episode, we break down this myth and explain what it's actually about -- cultivating trust and building network currency. We outline the five key steps to network in the ri...

In this episode, Michel shares 5 important milestones to help you measure your confidence along your journey. Confidence is lacking across the organizations from top to bottom and sideways. In educational institutions from early childhood to higher education and across all industries. You have a way of building your own confidence and getting back up when you get hit down. You're going to lea...

In this episode Michel shares strategies to rebuild your confidence when you get knocked sideways - especially in a new context. Whether you're an ex-pat, a student or newcomer,  when we enter a new context -   a new country, community, province, state, borough, whatever that is for you -  think about how that impacts your confidence. It's not your accent! Listen to learn how to build co...

In this episode, Michel covers the last component of the CIA formula for developing confidence. Action. The best visions, goals and dreams don't take us anywhere without action. We introduce the PDSA (Plan. Do. Study. Act) Cycle for consistently taking action to step into creating your reality - a confident you! Listen to stories of how action resulted in unintentional discoveries that change...

This is the second episode of three where Michel addresses one of the most popular questions we get here at upscale talks. How do I develop confidence? She uses the UpSkill CIA Confidence Formula for effectively developing confidence. The steps are  C - Courage I - Intention A - Action This episode focuses on the C- Courage. Go back to episode #66 for the episode on I - Intention. Courage is what...

In this episode Michel addresses one of the most popular questions we get here at upscale talks. How do I develop confidence? She introduces the UpSkill CIA Confidence Formula for effectively developing confidence. The steps are  C - Courage I - Intention A - Action In this episode she leads with the I for - intention.  Even developing confidence requires a Plan! Do miss the key questions to ask y...

In this episode Michel talks about  setting boundaries, and practicing the art of saying no! Setting boundaries is easy. Maintaining boundaries is the real skill. She discusses 5 types boundaries that you need to set to give yourself and others space: Mental, Emotional, Physical, Material and Time. We can set boundaries around the use of our time. We can set boundaries around our emotions. We can...

It's a new year, new journey and new opportunities abound. Are you Set for Success? In this episode Michel invites you to take 4 easy steps to win for yourself in 2023 Step 1: Choose a theme for your year - a word or phrase. Make this year, a themed year for you. Choose a theme. That's going to make a big difference in your life. Whether that's a verb, that's going to tell you...

We've focused on storytelling format for the past few posts.   It's an important part of effectiveness, but it isn't the whole. At its core, storytelling is about eliciting an emotional response from your audience. That emotional response does not have to come at the expense of knowledge or facts. You can intertwine the two and create effective stories that sell your ideas and value...

When you have an important presentation, you always aim to impress. Sometimes we think that we must wow our audience with our intelligence, and that the best way to do so is to dive into technical terms and throw a lot of information at them. That is often not the right approach. Even if your audience understands the information you throw at them, it doesn't mean it's engaging or convinc...

If you want your business to have an identity, a story can be so much more meaningful than a list of values.  In this week's episode, Colleen Stewart discusses the four key phases of a story that you can use to organize your ideas: setting, challenge, solution and outcome. Using these four pieces effectively can help to grab your audience's attention and change their perception of you. L...

In this week's podcast we will take more insights from our Fireside Chat with Colleen Stewart. A few weeks ago she shared her insight on Joseph Campbell and The Hero's Journey, which goes back to the mid 1900s. Campbell obtained his B.A from Columbia and later studied in Europe. Upon returning to America, he couldn't get a job. Campbell then went to live with friends in Upstate New...

"The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place," George Bernard Shaw. Colleen Stewart shared her favoured storytelling structure during her talk with UpSkill Community, and we want to let all UpSkillers learn from it as well. Using the structure she shares will allow you to better build the stakes and hold your audience's attention, whether it...

"The universe is made up of stories, not of atoms," Muriel Rukeyser. In this episode we will continue to explore the importance of storytelling for our brand. The mechanics of storytelling can come easy to us in social situations. You can share a funny anecdote using the right speed and the right emotion in the right places. You can get your audience going. The issue is translating that...

Public speaking is one of the most common fears that people face in the corporate or academic sphere. However, presenting your ideas effectively is key to business. You don't have to think of "presenting" as something that only happens on a stage in front of an audience. Any time you are sharing ideas verbally you are presenting.  In this episode, we will give you some actionable ti...