What the Job
Education & Explainer
About
What the Job? is an advice podcast on all things jobs. Listen to University of Alberta alumni talk about their career paths and learn tips from the Career Centre on everything from networking to resume writing. WTJ is proudly sponsored by our affinity partner TD Insurance.
Episodes
- TD Mini Episodes: UofA grads and their careers at TD
Each week WTJ will feature a different University of Alberta grad chatting about their careers at TD. This week features Yingsha Zhang '14 BCom.
- TD Mini Episodes: UofA grads and their careers at TD
Each week WTJ will feature a different University of Alberta grad chatting about their careers at TD. This week features Rami Elzein '11 BCom.
- The Music of Pharmacy: Accomplished woman pharmacist helps build a renowned music program in the US
Bonnie Kirschenbaum,'71 BSc(Pharm) grew up in small-town Alberta and decided to become a pharmacist when very few women were entering the field. Her career took her from national organizations in Ottawa to international companies in the US…
- The Business of Sports featuring Victor Cui, '95 BA
Victor Cui, '95 BA is a prominent Canadian sports executive, best known as the co-founder and former CEO of ONE Championship, Asia's largest mixed martial arts organization. Born and raised in Edmonton, he served as President and CEO of th…
- Piecing Gigs Together : Building a passionate career with variety and creativity with Sam Chimes '12 BA
Sam Chimes is a DJ, Busker, Stunt Man, Actor, Producer who has worked around the world. In this podcast he discusses the importance of doing what you are passionate about even if it feels risky. He provides tips and tricks for how to piece…
- WTJ? Live at Edmonton Global: Local Roots, Global Reach
From our live event at Edmonton Global for Startup week, exploring what it means to grow globally while staying rooted in the Edmonton region. Featuring esteemed business leaders from the Edmonton Startup community (who are UofA grads!): C…
- The Happy Fisherman: Leo Seewald talks about his journey from lawyer to Taiwanese TV host and fisherman.
Leo Seewald ('97 Law) studied at the University of Alberta and oversaw International operations of large companies like Manulife and Blackrock. While living in Taiwan, he learned Mandarin and became the host of Happy Fisherman on TaiwanPlu…
- On The High Seas: Graeme Stout talks about his career as a Naval Engineer
Engineering students at the University of Alberta who are Naval Reservists have an opportunity to gain hands-on learning on the high seas. A new co-op program in partnership with the Royal Canadian Navy will have them train and serve aboar…
- WTJ? live: Careers in Education Administration
Considering a leadership role in education? Hear from three women leaders in education and their personal stories. For more information on the Faculty of Education's leadership programs visit ualberta.ca, Faculty of Education. https://www.…
- TD Mini Episode 4: Access to capital for your small business
This is the fourth part in our TD mini-episode series on how to start your own business. We posted the other three in the spring. You might want to have a listen/re-listen to them. We hope you find some useful pointers on the steps needed…
- WTJ? Live: Navigating Career Disruptions featuring the Career Centre
These panelists have overcome a pandemic, restructuring, and other disruptions at various points in their careers. They discuss how they got through these challenges and excelled. Featuring alumni Sama Ahmed, Erik Einseidel and Cole Pearson
- WTJ? Live: Academic & Research Administration careers in the Life Sciences
This podcast was recorded in front of a live audience in March of 2025. The panel discusses unique career paths in the life sciences, with a particular emphasis on roles in academic administration and features Eric Loo,’07 BSc,’13 PhD; Gra…
- TD Mini episode 3: SWOT analysis
This is the third in our four part mini series on starting your own business. This episode discusses the importance of and how to complete a SWOT analysis.
- TD Mini Episode 2: Creating your business plan
This is the second in our four part mini series on starting your own business. This episode discusses steps to create a business plan.
- TD mini episode: Starting your own Business
This is the first in our four part mini series on starting your own business. This episode discusses steps to take prior to beginning your business plan.
- WTJ? live: Arts Stories Unplugged
This month's live panel features Arts alumni Kelly Mellings, Xinting Zhao and Fiwanda Mithrush discussing owning an art's related business, quitting your day job and working in the music, publishing, arts admin and literature fields.
- Connected Through Sport: Live in Calgary
Listen to this inspiring panel of U of A alumni who have turned their passion for sports into dynamic careers. Hear from: Natasha Staniszewski, '00 BCom – Former TSN SportsCentre anchor and current media host for the Calgary Flames and Cal…
- From The Gateway to Economist featuring Ross Prusakowski, '07 BA
Ross Prusakowski is the Deputy Chief Economist & Director with Export Development Canada. In this episode, Ross discusses how he moved along his career path from his days at The Gateway to now. Ross explains how he and his team manage work…
- Mini episode: Fraud Awareness Part 4
Fraud Awareness: a series of mini episodes where we provide tips to young grads about how to protect yourself from fraud brought to you by TD Insurance. This episode includes some tips and tools to protect yourself from fraud and what happ…
- Live WTJ?: Tips for thriving as you transition from Student to your career
Our panelists this month discuss their career paths and experiences overcoming common dilemmas that face us as we start our careers and give pointers on how to thrive as you transition from being a student to looking for work and the workf…
- Mini episode: Fraud Awareness Part 3
Fraud Awareness: a series of mini episodes where we provide tips to young grads about how to protect yourself from fraud brought to you by TD Insurance. This episode includes scams that target international students and those who are new t…
- WTJ? Live: Consulting Careers in Bio/Life Sciences
AlumLab teamed up with the What The Job? (WTJ?) podcast to bring you a live episode recording Jennifer Jenkins '95 BEd interviewed three amazing alumni on the topic of carving out unique career paths in the bio/life sciences with a focus o…
- Mini episode: Fraud Awareness Part 2
Fraud Awareness: a series of mini episodes where we provide tips to young grads about how to protect yourself from fraud brought to you by TD Insurance. This episode includes Phishing, AI and frauds and scams that specifically impact Canad…
- An International Architect: featuring Aziz Bootwala '12 MBA
Aziz, VP Business Development for Kassian Interior Design and Planning, has been practicing architecture around the world for 30 years. He is also the Chair of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce and a member of the University of Alberta's Al…
- Mini episode: Fraud Awareness Part 1
Fraud Awareness: a series of mini episodes where we provide tips to young grads about how to protect yourself from fraud brought to you by TD Insurance. This episode includes fraud statistics and reporting. WTJ is sponsored by TD Insurance…
- Cutting Edge of Sports Science in the NFL
Adam Pinkoski ('16 BKin) Asst. Director of Performance Science for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers speaks about the limitless possibilities of his relatively new field and how he came to work with this incredible group of athletes. His journey to…
- Live WTJ?: Unique Career paths in Bio/Life Sciences
AlumLab teamed up with the What The Job? (WTJ?) podcast to bring you a live episode recording and networking event where WTJ? podcast host Matt Rea, '13 PhD, will interview three amazing alumni on the topic of carving out unique career pat…
- Mini Episode: Career Centre Series
Christine Gertz from the University of Alberta's Career Centre discusses great uses for Linkedin and Silver medal applicants. Silver medal applicants are job candidates who have "everything": great skills, strong resume, appear to have a g…
- Mini-Episode: Career Centre Series
Tyree McCrackin from the University of Alberta's Career Centre speaks about the magic of saying "yes!" and letting go of the transactional model for networking.
- How to Handle Stress as you start Your Career Journey: live podcast recording
Podcast recording in front of a live audience with a panel speaking about how to handle stress as you start your career journey featuring: Pegah Salari ('08 MBA), John Fontaine ('08 BA, '09 MA, '20 PhD), Aggie Mikulski ('91 BCom, '14 MBA)…
- Mini Episode: Career Centre Series
Marek Komar from the University of Alberta's Career Centre speaks about generalization vs specialization in your career and your identity at work. WTJ is sponsored by TD Insurance. Got a question? Email us at: wtj@ualberta.ca What the Job?…
- Producing the News, with Augustana Grad Craig Wilson
Join Craig Wilson '89 Augustana (CLC), the award-winning Senior Editor of CBS Weekend News, as he shares his journey from growing up in Medicine Hat to attending Augustana University, where he laid the foundation for his dynamic career in…
- Mini-Episode: Finance 101 Building Savings
Finances 101: a series of mini episodes where we provide tips to young grads about finances brought to you by TD Insurance. This episode includes some tips on creating some savings for yourself. WTJ is sponsored by TD Insurance. Got a ques…
- Entrepreneur, Academic, and Community Activist: Nakita Valerio ('09 BA, ‘17 MA) Follows Her Values
Nakita Valerio is a community organizer, has been an entrepreneur, ran a school in Morocco, has been the head of an independent research institute and now she is a Religious Studies PhD student. Nakita is clear that she wants to be of serv…
- Mini Episode: Finances 101 MANAGING DEBT
Finances 101: a series of mini episodes where we provide tips to young grads about finances brought to you by TD Insurance. This episode includes some tips on managing debt. WTJ is sponsored by TD Insurance. Got a question? Email us at: wt…
- Five Foundational Leadership Tips featuring Elan MacDonald
In the episode Elan MacDonald (VP External Relations at the University of Alberta) discusses her career and key moments in her career that helped build the skills in order for her to become a leader. She shares five foundational lessons sh…
- Mini Episode: Finances 101 USING CREDIT
Finances 101: a series of mini episodes where we provide tips to young grads about finances brought to you by TD Insurance.This episode includes some tips on using credit. WTJ is sponsored by TD Insurance. Got a question? Email us at: wtj@…
- Building a Wide Network with Pegah Salari '08 MBA
Pegah Salari, member of Alumni Council and Chair of the Career Services Committee, shares lessons she's learned about networking, notably about the importance of not tying your entire network and identity to your current job. She also disc…
- Mini Episode: Finances 101 BUDGET TIPS
Finances 101: a series of mini episodes where we provide tips to young grads about finances brought to you by TD Insurance.This episode includes some tips on budgeting. WTJ is sponsored by TD Insurance. Got a question? Email us at: wtj@ual…
- Live WTJ? podcast recording: the last in our Entrepreneurship series
Joel Huculak and Jennifer Keith speak further at our live recording about their entrepreneurship journeys.
- Hit musical actors discuss their paths with Tammy Lamouche('20 BEd, '20 NS) & Rodney McLeod('11 NS)
Learn about the wonderful careers of these two stars from Bear Grease, the hit musical- including how they came to the acting profession, their tips for staying grounded and adjusting to life on campus. If you would like to see Bear Grease…
- Entrepreneurship: Youtube and motivation as a business with Joel Huculak '16 BSc(PetEng)
Joel Huculak is the CEO and founder of Motiversity, one of the largest motivational media companies in the world with over 10 million subscribers and 1 billion lifetime views on YouTube. In this episode, Joel discusses his journey from eng…
- Entrepreneurship: Leaving your comfort zone with Jennifer Keith '11 BComm, '17 MBA
Part of the WTJ?'s series on entrepreneurship. Jennifer Keith had a great, stable job before she left it all behind to launch Epic Food and Drink with her co-founder. She tells us why she made the decision as well as some of the many lesso…
- Entrepreneurship: An attitude more than an occupation with Faaiza Ramji '04 BComm
Part of the WTJ?'s series on Entrepreneurship. Faaiza Ramji is probably the only person you'll meet who makes booze out of peas. She and her business partner own Field Notes, a company that makes distilled field spirits. In this episode Fa…
- Women in Business and Tech
When Iana Dogel came to Canada with her husband she was looking for a career change. She already had a PhD in Life Sciences, but decided to pursue an MBA from the UofA to gain career flexibility. Now, as a consultant with Grant Thorton, sh…
- Interviews are not a time for false modesty
If you're looking to make a change there are few people better suited to offer advice than Paul Ingram. Now a partner with the Silverberg Group, Paul has had a long and winding career which started in accounting but quickly shifted to many…
- Fundraising as a Career: Knowing your impact & celebrating accomplishments
Featuring Kyla Amrhein ‘09 BA, Director for the Edmonton Public School Foundation, who discusses the importance of knowing your impact when you are fundraising and how to make career changing moves and celebrating your accomplishments as a…
- An Arts degree and leadership in an Engineering firm with Pooja Happy, '11 BA
Avid Alumni Association volunteer, Pooja Happy talks about how her Arts degree led her to a career working with large international engineering firms managing projects such as building the Anthony Henday. She discusses how people working t…
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with Gwenna Kadima '18 BComm
Gwenna Kadima is a BIPOC Career Activator and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultant. Through her consulting business, Gwenna works with BIPOC students and professionals to help them reach their career potential, and with diverse organ…
- From Cruise Ship to Venture Capital
Arden Tse '95 BSc, '99 BCom, '13 MBA Investment Manager, Yaletown Partners discusses the “talent scout” side of investing, his work history that includes working on cruise ships and in a casino, and how to become a great networker. WTJ is…