UpSkill Talks

In this episode, Michel invites us to take a moment to reflect on our goals as we come to the middle of the year.  She suggests we go back and think about the goals we set for ourselves at the beginning of the year provides some questions consider: How am I doing on the goals that I've set myself at the beginning of the year, now that I'm at the midway point. Do they provide a transforma...

You may have heard the popular saying that some things cannot be taught, they must be learned or experienced.  Some things will only become clear when we engage in it ourselves. When we give ourselves the opportunity to be enlightened, to shift our mindset, to open up our frame of reference, to disrupt our usual ways of doing things. In this episode Michel shares an experience she recently had, wh...

If the only thinking you do is automatic, that is risky for you as a leader. As Leaders, we are required to intentionally think and about our thinking.  In this episode Michel provides tips and tools to UpSkill your thinking so you can thrive in this more complex Leadership space. Although we think continuously, many of us are not mindful, conscious or intentional about our thinking. In this uncer...

So much buzz about innovative, critical, creative thinking. But what is thinking?  And how do you do it? In this episode Michel invites you to think about your thinking.  She shares a story of a mother whose three year old daughter Samantha asked a simply question, “why” that mommy couldn’t answer. Mommy had to call grandma for the answer because she was not actually thinking about what she was do...

This episode is the 3rd in a five-part series examining leadership lessons and the parallels from the 2022 Boston Marathon. This year, like many, many years previous, the winners of the Boston Marathon were from Kenya.  As a matter of fact, the winner of the elite women's category (Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya) became the first athlete in history to win the NYC, Boston and Olympic Marathon titl...

As leaders, we must see our journey as a marathon, but also have the skills needed for sprints. In this second part of a five-part series, Michel continues the parallels of our leadership journey, to the 2022 Boston Marathon. Developing leadership skills is like interval training.  While you are on a marathon, you have the need for sprints. These sprints can be a quick burst of new ideas, fresh pe...

This episode, begins a five-part series on Leadership Lessons that you can take with you to become better leaders in this new world. Leadership is not a sprint, it's a marathon. In this episode, Michel shares her reflections on the 2022 Boston Marathon and parallels how today's leaders, must be like the runners in this marathon. The Boston Marathon requires a lot of experience before you...

The leadership journey is a mixed bundle of wonderful experiences and some very unique challenges. And no challenge greater, than the scrutiny that comes from those we lead. In this episode, Michel shares a simple, but incredibly effective strategy to help navigate situations where scrutiny is "thrown" at us by those we are meant to encourage and inspire. As leaders, we often have made t...

As leaders, we are expected to always maintain control.  But what happens when we are (literally) slapped in the face? In this episode, Michel looks at the incident at the Academy Awards from Chris Rock's perspective. In order to control your emotions, no matter the situation, start by identifying your emotions.  When we see others who are "emotionally aware", what are the qualities...

Anywhere human beings show up is a space filled with emotions. Emotions formed from our backgrounds, values and our experiences.  In this timely and poignant episode, Michel looks out the "Will Smith Incident" through the lens of emotional awareness. What are emotions? Emotions are simply a class of feelings that sends us signals about what is happening around us.  Under normal circumsta...

With every goal you are going after, there will be a price. In this episode, Michel asks the question, "what price are you willing to pay to get your goals?" When you set a new goal, you must ask yourself what are you willing to do to get that goal? Or, what are you willing to give up to get that goal? What changes must you make to your life to make these goals achievable? This is the pr...

You might have heard the saying from Neale Donald Walsch, "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." The same can be said for your goals. In this episode, Michel shares how one of the biggest challenges between you and your goals, is the comfort zone you currently live in. We all have comfort zones, whether it's our friends, our current financial situation, our job and more. Yet...

As you are looking to GET YOUR GOALS, we discussed in the last episode, surrounding yourself with the right people. Now...we build a team. In this episode, Michel shares how incredibly powerful having a team can be to help you get your goals. In the world of boxing, we see one person fighting in the ring, but in reality, it's an entire TEAM that helps a boxer get there. Selecting a team to su...

One of the most important factors in achieving success with your goals is choosing the right people. In this episode, Michel shares from her book, UpSkill: Soft Skills and Professional Development Essentials, the FIVE crucial steps in getting your goals. The first four steps, such as aligning your goals with your purpose, have been extensively covered in the previous episodes.  However, the fifth...

Over the past few episodes, we've discussed in length, the necessary steps to SET effective goals. Now, it's time to GET those goals! In this episode, Michel breaks down the action required to truly GET goals. Goal-getting, in relation to goal-setting, is like having a strategy, and then the tactics used to implement that strategy. It's shifting from where you ARE to where you want...

It's time to look at how to design the process of getting your goals. Imagine a builder who sets a goal to build a house in two years. Once the builder sets the goal, do you imagine the first step is start construction? No. The first step is to design the process to make the goal achievable in the time stated. In this episode, Michel brings the process of goal-setting to the surface to help u...

Self assessment is the next step in the process of setting the most effective and impactful goals for your self. In this episode, Michel explores the importance of self-assessment with goal-setting. These concepts build off of "self-reflection" which was discussed thoroughly in episode 12. Self assessment is determining key factors that make you...you. Strengths, knowledge, skills, attit...

As we move forward into Black Futures Month, we wanted to take a moment to share a special poem with you. In this episode, Michel shares her original piece, "The Time Is Now".   This piece was crafted for the inaugural Black Futures Month ceremony at George Brown College, and we are thrilled to share it with you now. Thank you for listening, sharing and, of course, your continued support...

While you have probably heard many times that you should set "SMART" goals, the real power comes when you set the SMARTEST goals! In this episode, Michel continues the conversation on goal setting by introducing us to not only SMART goals, but also FAST goals. As leaders and individuals, goals aligned with our purpose, are the most powerful and effective goals. But how do ensure that we...

There are two important, yet frequently overlooked steps that you should take before setting goals: The first step is self-reflection which we covered in the previous episode of Upskill Talks. The second step is defining your purpose. In this episode, Michel shows the importance of aligning your goals with your purpose, and through the story of Carol, an aspiring filmmaker, what can happen when th...

For many of us, the beginning of the calendar year is the time when we put most of our focus on setting goals. However, this crucially important activity gets lost in holidays, wrap-up meetings and family time. Unfortunately, leaving little time to properly set goals that are the most effective for your personal and professional journey. In this episode, Michel asks us to take the first, very impo...

In this final part of our 4-part series discussing and defining the world of skills, we dive into what it means to "Upskill". Breaking down the word "Upskill" -  "Up" is to move to a higher level with our "Skills" In this episode, Michel breaks down the incredible importance for all of us, as leaders, to continuously upskill. According to the World Economic...

Continuing our conversation and learning around skills and skill development, we now dive into the two broad categories of Soft Skills: Intrapersonal Skills and Interpersonal Skills In this episode, Michel clearly defines these two sets of soft skills and highlights the benefits of developing both. Starting with intrapersonal skills, these are the personal skills that help us to get to know and ma...

Around the conversation of defining skills, the two areas we hear most about are... Hard Skills and Soft Skills In this episode, Michel breaks these two areas down to help gain clarity on what they are,  and how we use both of them. Hard skills, also referred to as "technical", "functional" or "academic", often refer to WHAT you do. These skills are defined by your pr...

There is so much talk around skills. Hard skills, soft skills, personal and interpersonal skills, and yes...Upskill. Thus, it is very important to clearly define exactly what a skill "is" and what a skill "is not" In this episode, the first of four new episodes to clearly define and level set skill-learning, Michel provides clarity and shares how to develop skills - a  crucial...