Career Buzz

Unusual ways to help people & make a difference

Humans have difficulty knowing what to want.
Have you ever wanted something - a certain food, a job - gotten it, then realized you don't like what you wanted? There's a technical term for that - it's called "Miswanting."
According to researchers Dan Gilbert and Tim Wilson, Miswanting happens when we poorly forecast what we'll actually like. "Wanting" is a prediction we'll like what we want, but so often we don't. Miswanting is a common problem we humans have, therefore knowing why it happens and how to avoid it can be a very helpful when you're considering different careers, and in career counselling.
So many people want a job where they can "help people" and "make a difference." We hear it frequently in our CareerCycles practice. But when it comes to generating possibilities people hit a wall.
Mark met Christine Nam, a new car delivery specialist, and noticed how much she loves helping people on a happy day when they get into their new car for the first time. After working in retail for years, Christine thought she'd move up to auto sales. In which she thrived. Yet, despite the better money, she left that role to work as a delivery specialist where she likes making a difference and helping people. 
Tune in to this episode, where you'll hear Christine's story - an illustration of learning what to want, and repairing past miswants.
 
For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.comFor gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Stop, look back, take stock and celebrate!

In this episode with Hoda Kilani, the guests shared spectacular stories that showed them stepping out of their comfort zones. You could almost feel Nerel’s passion to support every student transitioning from high school to college or career. What did you think of his approach? Katherine reminded us that we have more strengths, we’ve achieved more than we give ourselves credit and it’s important that we just stop, look back, take stock and celebrate what we’ve achieved. How often do you stop and reflect on your accomplishments? Share your thoughts.
 
Guest 1 Bio
Nerel Winter is the CEO and Founding Principal of Bostonia Global, a TK-14 school model dedicated to creating personalized learning experiences that connect students’ strengths, interests, and values to their future goals. 
Drawing on his passion for school redesign and global learning, Nerel has collaborated with schools nationwide to develop innovative educational experiences. He has extensive experience working in dual and multilingual learning models, with a focus on student advocacy and connecting passions to global understandings. 
Born and raised in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Nerel’s personal experiences with opportunity gaps, along with his work in school redesign and student advocacy, have led him to develop a thriving college and career coaching business. Through this venture, he passionately supports high school and college students in navigating the often-overwhelming transition from high school to college or career, offering personalized guidance that empowers them to connect their unique strengths and passions to a successful and fulfilling future. Information regarding his work can be found at nerelwinter.com.
 
Guest 2 Bio 
Katherine Jennick is a UK-based Career Development Professional, Mentor, and Educator. 
In 2019, she founded What's your strength? ®, which started as a card activity to empower teenagers and has since evolved into a series of award-winning resources for all ages that are used in 16 countries. Katherine’s innovative work has been recognised by the Department of Education, and she has been shortlisted for CDI Careers Adviser of the Year and two business startup awards. 
Her resources are recommended by National Careers Week, the CDI, and The Careers and Enterprise Company. Katherine also offers 1:1 career guidance for young people and delivers collaborative creative workshops to a variety of audiences. She is the co-architect of the #SoMuchMoreThanTalkingAboutJobs campaign and a passionate advocate for the career development sector.
 
For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.comFor gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Why You Need an "Empathetic Sherpa"

When you lose your job, do you need resume-writing tips & job interview best practices?
 
Or, do you need an empathetic sherpa to guide you through the stages of grief, so that when you land your next job, you are prepared for success?
 
Born and raised in sunny San Diego, Steve Jaffe began his writing journey at San Diego State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communication. After a 25-year career in advertising and marketing—including work on the iconic “What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas” advertising campaign—he has returned to his writing roots. His new book is “The Layoff Journey From Dismissal to Discovery: Navigating the Stages of Grief After a Job Loss”.
 
For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.comFor gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

The Heart of Being Human: Why the Humanities Matter in the Age of AI

Stephen Armstrong and Fail Vanstone explores how a humanities education can help us understand not just the systems we live in, but what it means to live well within them. From art and literature to ethics and philosophy, we’re looking at how stories, emotions, and imagination connect us- to each other, to our world, and to ourselves.  So, if the Humanities help us understand what it means to be human, how do they shape the ways we express that humanity -through creativity, emotion, and imagination? And in the age of AI do humanities even play a bigger role or is humanities under threat.
 
Guest BioProfessor Gail Vanstone is an Associate Professor in the Department of Humanities at York Uni, Toronto and coordinates the Humanities Program. She works at the intersection of feminist theory and women’s documentary film production. Her ongoing research frames women and the stories they tell as powerful critical tools for understanding women’s experience in a world where their voices are often muted. She is author of many Published essays including “D is for Daring (2007)”, a history of Studio D, feminist film unit at Canada’s National Film Board; and, with Brian Winston and Wang Chi, “The Act of Documenting (2017)”.
 
For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.comFor gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Just Ask AI

Join Hoda and her guests for conversations that boost your career literacy. In this episode, Dr Marilyn Maze suggested that we should “just ask AI” during our job exploration. Do you use AI in your career exploration? Dr Steve elaborated on the statement, “if you want to change performance, change the audience”. Did his explanation help you envision how you can enhance the work you do? Share your thoughts.
 
Guest 1 Bio
Dr Marilyn Maze is the Financial Administrator of the Asia Pacific Career Development Association (APCDA). In her previous role as Executive Director of APCDA, Dr Marilyn organized the annual APCDA Conference since its inception. She has conducted numerous research projects on significant labor market and career counseling issues, and presented at international conferences. 
Dr. Maze is a Fellow of the National Career Development Association and she received NCDA’s Eminent Career Award in 2022, the NCDA President’s Award in 2016, and the NCDA Credentialing Commission Service Award in 2016. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Maryland Career Development Association in 2010. Dr. Maze formerly developed the ACT Profile (previously called DISCOVER).
 
Guest 2 Bio 
Dr Steve Regur, the founder and CEO of Educators Cooperative, leading ground breaking projects to provide more opportunities for students. From developing global career readiness initiatives to maximizing collaborative learning networks, Steve transforms lofty ideas into sustainable, impactful results. 
Steve has been in the job of school transformation for over 25 years working across the U.S. and internationally. He has co-founded nine schools, led multi-million-dollar grant projects, and is now launching the Career Connected Schools network.
 
For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.comFor gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Why Career Development Belongs at the Core of the AI Conversation

What happens when you put career development at the heart of conversations about AI, longevity, and the future of work? 
 
On this Career Buzz episode, we’re diving into the future of work with Lisa Taylor, Founder and CEO of Challenge Factory — an organization that helps people and companies rethink careers for longer lives, changing demographics, and new technologies. 
 
Lisa Taylor’s work focuses on career services for older workers, and bridging business, policy, and human potential. She authored The Talent Revolution: Longevity and the Future of Work, paperback edition. Lisa’s message in this AI-enabled world, is that to thrive, we must put career development at the centre of the conversation.  
 
For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.comFor gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Upskilling for careers of the future

Isn’t there a faster way to gain job-ready tech and AI skills — without committing to a whole degree program?
Today on the show… imagine you want to step into a new career — but the idea of spending years earning another degree feels out of reach. There is another path. As the saying goes, AI won’t replace people — but people who use AI will replace people who don’t.
Through short, focused “nanodegrees” and online courses, Udacity is helping individuals and organizations build the skills that shape the future of work. Jared Molton, Vice President at Udacity, is part of the movement forging futures in tech — empowering learners worldwide to unlock their potential in an AI-enabled world.
 
For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.comFor gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Executive Search in the Age of AI

In this episode, we’re tackling a topic that affects not just companies, but communities and careers: how we find and grow the people who keep our industries moving. Our focus is on the aerospace, engineering, and manufacturing sectors—areas where Canada has deep strengths but also faces big challenges. To help us unpack this, we’re joined by the owners of a Toronto- based executive search firm that does things a little differently. Instead of focusing only on C-suite leaders, they recruit across the entire spectrum—from tradespeople and technicians to engineers, managers, and executives. We’ll explore their business model, the unique dynamics of aerospace, trends across manufacturing, and how AI impacts recruiting.
 
Guest Bios
Our Guests today are a father and son team. Barry Wohl has over 30 years in HR leadership, including roles as Vice President of Human Resources at major aerospace firms like Safran and Bombardier. He brings deep expertise in talent acquisition and organizational growth. Now leading a recruitment firm specializing in manufacturing, engineering, and aerospace, he has helped thousands of professionals find the right roles in areas such as quality, supply chain, and compliance.
Matthew Wohl is the VP and Partner at The Wohl Group, bringing over 14 years of experience in recruitment and talent strategy. He’s helped countless professionals and companies find the right fit while building a LinkedIn network of 135,000 followers who engage with his insights on modern hiring. Focused on making recruitment more human and effective, Matthew is passionate about improving the hiring experience and supporting people through career transitions. 
 
For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.comFor gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Designing a fashion brand

When Helene Clarkson’s kids were a bit older, and her husband’s career was on track, she asked herself: Hey, what am I gonna do? Today on Career Buzz, we talk with Helene Clarkson, founder of a Canadian sustainable fashion label that designs stylish, smart, versatile clothing for women on the go.
After an earlier career, in theatre and acting, in 2014, Helene launched her own clothing line, and what began with pop-up shops in Toronto has since grown into a global brand. From launching and scaling a mission-driven brand, to navigating the complexities of design, production, and identity in fashion — clothing designer Helene Clarkson shares her story behind the seams.
 
For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.comFor gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Next Chapter Dialogues

In career, there are fast shifts - and slow shifts. Fast is quitting, layoff, retirement. Slow is the build-up to fast. How can you optimize slow to weather fast?
On Career Buzz, we explore transitions with Marilyn Hintsa — a retirement readiness coach and facilitator of Next Chapter Dialogues. After navigating her own unexpected early retirement, Marilyn now helps others move beyond the ‘shoulds’ of what retirement is supposed to look like, and instead create meaningful, fulfilling lives.
 
For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.comFor gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!