Career Crossroads

All good things must come to an end. It's been a wonderful journey over the last 3+ years but today marks the end of Career Crossroads.In this final episode of the podcast, I discuss why I'm saying goodbye and thank those who have helped me make it this far.___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#100 - Like most kids, Mike developed his musical tastes as a teenager. He liked a wide range of bands and one day decided to try and mash up a couple of his favorite songs and publish the mix on YouTube. That simple action had a much bigger impact than Mike ever could have predicted. It was the first step in launching his YouTube channel which at its peak had over 325,000 subscribers and was getting up to 2 million views per month. In this interview, we talk through Mike's early career plans that led him to university, the ride of his YouTube channel, and why he left it behind to begin a career in Student Affairs. Find Mike's YouTube channel at youtube.com/@MagikMikeOFFICIAL___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#99 – As Betty Xie headed toward post-secondary education, she had a plan: study math because that would lead her to a good job. The closer she got to starting classes, the more she realized that while that was practical and she had a talent for it, she wasn't actually interested in math and the career options it would provide. Instead of looking at studying something similar but more interesting, Betty decided she wanted to explore perhaps the farthest areas of study from math - cinema studies and contemporary Asian studies.Upon graduation, she followed parallel paths of film creator and arts administrator and further education until burnout finally hit and she realized she needed to make a choice. Her experience with further education led her to realize that while she could help organizations as an arts administrator, it was when she was helping individuals that she really thrived. That realization led Betty to her current path of career coaching with a specialization in helping creatives.Find Betty on LinkedIn, Instagram, or on her website at xiebetty.comYou can also find her on The Everyday Talent Podcast and take her Creative Career Archetype ___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#98 - Matt Cooksey ended up in his first career because he was following a family member's footsteps, and it took him almost a decade to realize he wasn't happy. He was always chasing something - more money or a promotion - that would make him happy, right?It wasn't until he unexpectedly broke down that Matt that Matt realized that staying on that career path wasn't going to make him happy no matter how good it seemed like he had it. That breakdown was the beginning of a journey that helped Matt discover who he really was and what he really wanted, and it was during that journey that Matt came to the realization that assisting people to figure out what makes them tick was his true passion.Then, in his 30s Matt ventured back to school with a new plan and a new purpose. Was the pivot the right choice? Absolutely. Listen to Matt's interview for the full story.Find Matt online at matthewcooksey.com___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#97 - Getting a law degree and passing the bar is quite the task, so it's not often people go through all that work only to leave their law career behind. That's what makes Stephanie Chan such an anomaly - she did exactly that. Today, I talk to Stephanie about how why she left law behind and what prompted her to found Home to Home Advisory Services and myCareBase.To read more about Stephanie's companies or get in touch with her, use the links below:Home to Home Advisory Services Inc.myCareBasestephanie@mycarebase.com___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#96 - As Mike Gallagher spent his teenage years filming his friends skateboarding around the Metro Vancouver area, someone took notice. A high school teacher recognized Mike's aptitude for film and developed an independent study course that allowed Mike free reign over the school's media equipment. It didn't take long for Mike to become hooked and as he approached graduation he applied to the Art Institute of Vancouver's Digital Film and Production program. The plan was for Mike to live out his dream of working in Vancouver's continually expanding film industry. The early years of Mike's career as a production assistant were a GRIND. Long hours, inconsistent work schedules, and low pay doing the work no one else wanted to do certainly wasn't glamorous but Mike looked for opportunities where he could learn from those around him. He was watching and he was learning. Once he had a few years of experience under his belt Mike knew he was ready for something more so when he got a call for his next PA gig he said ‘no, what else have you got?' The answer to that question was the props department and it was there that Mike got to flex his creative muscles while continuing to learn from expert prop masters – true veterans of the industry. Over time, the lifestyle of the film industry began to eat away at Mike's personal life and he saw a potentially complicated future in the family lives of many of his colleagues. After a particularly difficult night on a set in below-freezing temperatures, he realized he needed a major change and the next day he called his parents to let them he was moving home because he was going back to school. That decision propelled Mike into a new career that has given him the opportunity to work on video game franchises like Electronic Arts' NHL and UFC titles and allowed him to rub shoulders with athletes like Connor McDavid, P.K Subban, Connor McGregor, and Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse' Johnson.How did Mike do it? Listen to his Career Crossroads interview to find out.Find Mike online on LinkedIn or at www.mikegallaghermedia.com___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#95 – When you go to a tech conference like Collision, you might expect that all the founders attending to showcase their companies have deep roots in the tech industry, My experience at Collision, however, shows me that is not always the case.In this episode, you'll head my conversations with Austin of Seaube Software, Kaleda of Kilo, and Adam of Elo Gaming as we discuss how their careers have taken them on a winding road that unexpectedly led them to Collision.___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#94 - This week's guest on Career Crossroads is Kelvin Beachum, a professional football player who plays left tackle for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. As an 11-season veteran who has played in over 150 NFL games, you might think that Kelvin lives and breathes football but the truth is that Kelvin is not just a football player. Outside of football, Kelvin is an investor and philanthropist with a specific interest in ending hunger around the world while also spreading information about science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) to people who have never considered careers in those areas.As the eighth oldest offensive lineman in the NFL last season, Kelvin knows football isn't forever and during our conversation, we chat about his rise to the NFL, how he got involved in so many areas outside of football, and how he'll continue to use his knowledge, platform, and resources to make the world around him better long into the future.Find Kelvin online at:kelvinbeachum.com@kelvin.beachum.jr on InstagramKelvin's LinkedIn profile___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#93 – When Sam Demma started his undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto Scarborough it didn't take long for him to realize that while he might be in the right place, he was there at the wrong time. Had he put enough thought into his programs of study? Was he just going to school because that's what he was supposed to do? These were questions running through his mind, but ultimately, he was thinking about what he really wanted; to build his own business motivating youth to take action.Sam already had plenty of practice speaking to high school students from his time running PickWaste, a volunteer organization that mobilizes youth to pick up litter in their communities, and he felt like motivating our youth is what he was meant to do. So, Sam had to make a choice. Stay in school and find the right academic path, or leave to start his entrepreneurial journey? To find out what path Sam took at his academic crossroads,  listen to my interview with him on Career Crossroads today.Where to Find Sam online:samdemma.com@sam_demma on Instagram@sam_demma on Twitter@sam_demma on YouTube___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#92 - When clients come to Soma Ghosh to help them with their careers, they often want support in getting out of an untenable situation. As a Career Coach Soma can certainly help them move to a new job but if there are unaddressed underlying issues outside of their 9-5 they may end up feeling the same way soon enough. That's why Soma likes to go deeper to find the root of the problem because helping clients find 'the next thing' may only be a temporary solution. As a Career Coach in London, England, Soma brings an international perspective to Career Coach Conversations. During our conversation, we talk about:How her interest in mental health brought her to career coachingThree themes related to career pivots that she's noticed recentlyHow high school students aren't getting enough career support at workWhy we should all tell ourselves not to worry so muchLinks in this episode:Find Soma online at somashosh.comFollow/connect with Soma Ghosh on LinkedInFollow @the_careerhappinessmentor on InstagramThe Career Happiness Podcast___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#91 – Every good magician has a stage name and Dan Chan is known as ‘The Millionaire's Mentalist'. He has earned that name after a career of performing at events for wealthy tech moguls from companies like Twitter and Amazon but when he was first starting out he was making balloon animals at children's birthday parties. That's because magic was not Dan's first full-time job. After getting a degree in Finance from the University of California, Riverside, Dan was hired as one of the early employees at PayPal – before the merger with Elon Musk's X.com – and Dan worked his way up from Customer Service to the Finance department. After 13 months, Dan's path split dramatically from members of the ‘PayPal Mafia' who went on to found companies like YouTube, LinkedIn, Yelp, SpaceX, and Tesla. Instead of staying in the world of tech, Dan committed himself to magic full-time and now, 20+ years later, he reflects on his career journey on Career Crossroads.Mentioned in this episode:Danchanmagic.comMillionairesmentalist.comFollow Dan on Instagram @danchanmagic___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#90 – Today's episode of the podcast isn't an interview- it's just you and me talking. Now that we're two months into the new show format, I wanted to give an update on how things are going and let you know about the podcast's record-breaking month of May.I also want to talk a bit about the importance of preplanning to take time off and my own experience with it. The best month in the history of the podcast came during the month I was paying the least attention.Take a listen and let me know what you think.___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#89 – As a first-year offensive lineman on the University of Waterloo's varsity football team, Ben Brown was supposed to be living his dream. With the support of his father, who had been his football coach, Ben received a football scholarship to an excellent school and was excited for the next chapter of his life. Before Ben's university career began, however, tragedy struck as Ben's father passed away. Suddenly, Ben was carrying the weight of his and his father's dream all on his own.Despite this incredible hardship, Ben pressed on and outwardly, had a successful first year of university. His grades were good and he seemed to be happy, but internally Ben was struggling. He decided that he needed to step away from the football team and take a term off school for his mental health and when he came back, it did not take long to realize he no longer saw a future in his program of study.With the help of a career counsellor at the university, Ben found a new path in an unexpected place that involved leaving the university behind. Now, years after graduating from Conestoga College, Ben is living a new dream as a firefighter.Listen to Ben's Academic Crossroads today to hear the whole story.___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

When you know you want to change your career but you are unsure of where to go, you might seek the help of a professional. Chris M. Wilson, this week's guest, struggled to find the help he was looking for and that challenge led him to dedicate his life to helping people going through similar struggles. As a career coach, Chris helps people find clarity in what they really want because without that you can't move forward. Before we talk about that, Chris walks me through the early part of his career as a helicopter pilot and mechanic and why he felt he needed to move on from that field. Find Chris on social media and YouTube at @iamchrismwilson ___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#87 - What would you do if your ability to do your job disappeared overnight? How would you react? That's a question Andy Thibodeau wrestled with in March 2020 when Covid-19 shut down his career as a public speaker. As a 25+ year veteran of the industry, this was the only job Andy had ever really known and in the span of 48 hours, 31 bookings cancelled and his ability to make an income evaporated.As Andy struggled with this new reality and the recognition that he was a people person who could no longer be around people, he visited a friend one last time before we headed into lockdown. Something that friend said gave him the mental slap he needed to act and less than 5 days later Andy had a new job lined up to provide him with both the income he needed and the interaction with others that he craved. Hear about Andy's career crossroad on this week's CC Shorts episode.___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#86 -If you told 20-year-old Josh Green that he was going to be a business consultant in the future, he would have thought you were joking.  How did he end up a business consultant when he was well on his way to a successful career as an actor and improv comedian? He was getting regular work, making more money than most actors he knew, and even had scenes in movies with Ice Cube and Danny Glover.As 20-year-old Josh would soon find out, the way you feel today may not be the way you feel tomorrow, and when that happens you need to know what else interests you. It took years of travel and teaching abroad for Josh to realize that he wanted to be his own boss, and the best way for him to do that was to run his own company. Moving back to his hometown of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Josh set to work on making that a reality. This is the story of how over the past 12 years....Josh went back to school as a mature student to obtain a Bachelor of Business Administration (his second degree)Created, sold, and/or shut down many successful (and sometimes unsuccessful) businesses from a wake park to dog walking to cookie cough and beyond Ultimately, realized his passion is in helping other people through the process of navigating the difficult world of taking an idea for a business and turning it into something realEveryone has a story to tell. Listen today to hear Josh's._____________Links from the episode:The Tangible Plan  ___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

85 - Attending university can change your life. Sometimes, in ways you don't expect. For Frank Chen, coming to Canada from his native China to study at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) was a way to get into a stable career, while also making his parents proud. To satisfy both desires, Frank chose to study accounting and he was successful in his studies. During one of his co-op terms, however, Frank came to the realization that he wasn't passionate about accounting. When he shared this knowledge with a colleague who was also from the co-op program at UTSC, Frank was informed he wasn't the only one who felt that way. The more they conversed, the more they realized that a lack of love for accounting wasn't the only thing they had in common. Both of them were interested in entrepreneurship and it didn't take long for Frank and his colleague to decide they were going to start their own company. That is how Frank, a university student, became the co-founder of Sumer, a grocery delivery service in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. From the challenges of running a startup as a university student, to the difficult decision to shut it down in 2022, Frank and I talk through what he learned from his Sumer experience and how he is applying those lessons today.More importantly, Frank and I discuss how accepting that he lacked passion for what he chose to study taught him a lesson that has influenced every decision he's made since then.Links from this episode:Ideas Can't Wait PodcastFind Frank on LinkedIn  ___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#85 – “What can I do with my degree?” This is one of the most common questions asked by students who have nearly finished pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into completing a difficult academic program and are now realizing they are unsure of what comes next. With a decade of experience working as a Career Counsellor at the University of Toronto Scarborough Academic Advising and Career Centre, and another decade of experience prior to that in Toronto Employment Centres, Wei Huang is well equipped to help students navigate this question.Wei's biggest piece of advice? Reflect on your values; they will guide you in determining what careers fit what you are looking for. Listen to our conversation for the full story. If you are a student at the University of Toronto Scarborough you can book an appointment with Wei by calling the UTSC Academic Advising and Career Centre. For everyone else, email her at findyourwaycareer@gmail.com ___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#83 - In the early days of his career, Brian Millado jumped between jobs in the Department of Student Life at the University of Toronto. He wasn't jumping because he didn't like his roles, or because he was chasing higher pay; he was jumping because he was continually offered the chance to work on different programs as his skillset was in demand. Things were good. Until one day, they weren't. One day, Brian looked around and realized that all his peers knew what their next step was....but he had no idea what was next. He had exhausted all areas of interest and suddenly, he didn't see a path forward in Student Life.In this, the first CC Shorts episode of Career Crossroads, Brian and I discuss this moment in time where he hit a dead end. We walk through the emotions of his situation, how he overcame it, and what advice he has for others who experience a similar crossroads.If you'd like to get in touch with Brian, you can find him here on LinkedIn.___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#82 – Chris Lewarne is well known in the Toronto fitness community as one of the trainers at Barry's Bootcamp, helping people achieve their fitness and health goals. Fitness, however, was not the path Chris set out on when leaving high school. Growing up, his family struggled financially, and Chris worked some awful jobs as a teenager to help contribute. With those experiences pushing him forward, he dreamed about the financial stability a high-paying career could provide and as a successful student, he chose a career in law to help him achieve his goal. Upon graduation, Chris was obsessed with making his way to New York City and it didn't take long for that to happen; his first job offer was with a corporate law firm in NYC and Chris jumped at the chance. Then one day, Chris's life changed. It changed so profoundly that he quit his job at the law firm without any real plan and spent the day wandering the streets of New York.  Ultimately, one of the worst experiences of Chris's life set him on a new path that brought him back home to Toronto, years later. Listen today to hear about:What it was like working in corporate law in New York CityWhat prompted Chris's move from law to fitnessHow Chris ended up back in TorontoHow his new career led him to become a contestant on Canada's Ultimate Challenge. Links from this episode:Follow Chris on Instagram @the_cuddlycanadian Take a class with Chris at Barry's Bootcamp's Richmond studio in TorontoWatch Canada's Ultimate Challenge on CBC Gem___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

Today, we get vulnerable. In this short and final episode of the Chronicles series,  we discuss what new episode formats are on the horizon and how this series has driven Jonathan's public speaking work forward. Despite the good news we share, plenty of work remains to do. If you're invested in the Career Crossroads journey, this episode is a must-listen to.Referenced in this episode:Chronicling Career Crossroads #1 - The Career Crossroads CrossroadNew Podcast Episode Formats Explained___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

When products change, their marketing has to change: that's the core of the fourth episode of the Chronicling Career Crossroad series. But how to market something that is still in flux? It's not a question I can answer on my own so I need to bring in an expert. Enter Ronak Patel. As a business owner, former guest of the show, and a friend, Ronak is the perfect person to bounce ideas off of.  Listen to our conversation about how marketing and promotion are changing in an ever-evolving social media landscape and how getting a 'rubber stamp' could be a game changer for Career Crossroads.___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

Content is king. You've probably heard or read that phrase over the last decade with the rise of online content creators, but the origins of the phrase can be traced to magazine editing in the 1970s. What does that have to do with this episode? Well, content is the subject of Chronicling Career Crossroads #3. For a podcast, every episode is considered content, but in the context of the Chronicling Career Crossroads discussion, what content is really king? What is the best content available and how can it be utilized in a different way? Those are the questions I look to answer in this episode. ___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

When this episode was first conceived it was titled “Research – or how to make sure what I'm doing isn't a waste of time”.As the episode title was….simplified, the core idea for the episode stayed the same: research. In order to determine if the planned Career Crossroads pivot is hitting the mark, I need to find out if the audience I intend to support (high school students, university/college students, and young grads) will actually benefit from this content.To find the answers to these questions in this episode I speak to three people: Denise, a retired high school Guidance CounsellorWei, a Career Counsellor from the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC),Tara, UTSC's Director of Alumni RelationsListen in to hear their takes on what young people know and need to know about their career trajectory, and how Career Crossroads can help them.___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

How do you handle change? Sometimes it's forced upon us, and sometimes we just know it's time. Sometimes change is needed. That is where I'm at with Career Crossroads. It's changing. It's evolving into something better and I'm going to take you along on the journey through that evolution.This is the first in a five-part series I'm calling Chronicling Career Crossroads. Without spoiling too much, it talks about where Career Crossroads and I have been, and where we're going. Whether you're a faithful listener or stumbling across the podcast for the first time, I think there's something in this episode for everyone. ___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#75 – Although he would never do it, Claudio Teixeira could probably pull a Frank Abagnale and fake his way through flying a jet aircraft. That's because Claudio has over 5000 hours in the ‘sky' on the Boeing 777 simulator that is the crown jewel of his company, uFly Simulator Inc, which exists to entertain, help people get over their fear of flying, and train soon-to-be pilots.For years before he started the business, he would spend his evening playing Microsoft Flight Simulator flying between Toronto and New York, or setting the auto-pilot overnight so he could take off from Rio de Janeiro before going to bed, and land in Toronto when he woke up in the morning. With such a passion for flying, why did Claudio never become a pilot himself? Well, that's a long story involving his father's gas station business in Brazil, multiple border crossings in the cover of darkness, and a window-washing empire in Toronto. Sit back, relax, and enjoy my conversation with Claudio.______________________Find uFly Simulator Inc. online at uflysimulator.ca or on Instagram @uflysimulator.___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#74 – As the creator of the 40th podcast in the world way back in 2004, Evo Terra has had an impact on the world of podcasting for almost two decades and was recently honoured as a 2022 inductee into the Podcast Hall of Fame. You might imagine that someone given that honour makes a career in podcasting, and while that is true now, podcasting as a ‘career' was not an option for Evo until the mid-2010s. On a recent episode of Evo's own podcast, Podcast Pontification, he mentioned some of the jobs he has had in the past. Tire sales….advertising…travel blogging….I knew Evo must have an interesting story to tell so I invited him to share it on Career Crossroads. Luckily for me, he was willing to tell his story, so sit back, relax, and listen to Evo walk me through all the twists and turns of his career.  Here's where you can find Evo online:Evo's Twitter Podcast PontificationsSounds ProfitableSimpler MediaAlso mentioned in this episode are previous Career Crossroads guests:James CridlandLindsay Graham___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#73 – Have you ever wanted to collect data on wild jaguars or help rehabilitate a monkey with a broken arm? Well then let me introduce you to Hailee Hallas. Along with tree-planting in northern Ontario, studying these animals was some of the first employment opportunities she received in her young career after completing an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies from Carleton University.Despite how amazing these jobs may seem they were not without their drawbacks. Little pay and massive competition made that industry incredibly difficult to break into beyond short-term contract roles. Given that, Hailee decided that a more specific education would help her in the future, so she headed off to Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland to obtain her Master of Science. With her new degree in hand, Hailee obtained a job as a Field biologist studying bird and bat mortality on wind farms. As an outsider looking in, it would seem that her further education had paid off and her career in conservation was well underway. How then, did Hailee come to enter an entirely new career as a Police Officer just three years later? That is a long story and you'll have to listen to the interview for the details.Also discussed in our conversation is how Hailee has been able to balance employment opportunities with another passion of hers – travel. Having visited more than 30 countries by her 30th birthday, Hailee tells me about how the flexibility of her first career allowed her to enjoy her life, even if that career didn't provide the financial stability she eventually sought. ___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

Career Crossroads is back after an unplanned break! Before we get into some new interviews, I've got some updates about why there has been such a long break as well as some information about some other projects I've been working on.After you've listened, check out my wife and I's new travel vlog on YouTube - Jon and Tash Travel ___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#71 – In 2016, Jenn Harper founded Cheekbone Beauty despite having no previous experience in the cosmetics industry. This was a major career change as up until that point she had worked exclusively in hospitality and in wholesale foods, leveraging her strong relationships with chefs to succeed. So why cosmetics? What changed? Well, in 2015 as Jenn was learning about her Indigenous grandmother's experience in residential schools she had a dream. In this dream she saw “native little girls covered in lip gloss” and as soon as she woke up, she grabbed her laptop and started making notes. She did not yet know what she would call her company, or what skills she might need to make it successful, but she knew she needed to make that lip-gloss and she knew she had to work ethic to achieve her goal.In this episode, Jenn tells me about the jobs and experiences that led her to Cheekbone Beauty and all the things she's had to learn over the last six years to make her company such a success. With Cheekbone's sustainability efforts, support of Indigenous youth and women, and general success as a business, it's clear Jenn made the right choice when confronted with her own career crossroad.You can read more about Cheekbone Beauty and browse their online store at www.cheekbonebeauty.com.Follow Cheekbone Beauty on Instagram at TikTok, @cheekbonebeauty___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#70 - Isil Uysal Cavelli grew up in Izmir, Turkey, and didn't have a lot of role models.  Consequently, if you told her that she couldn't have a specific career she would believe you without giving it much thought. Dancing? No, she was a chubby kid and it was unlikely she would become a professional. Doctor? No, it was too stressful and required too much studying to become a professional. Artist? No, it was not a stable career and art is more of a hobby anyway. Influenced by her family, Isil decided that what she really needed was a good stable career with a respected employer where she could separate work from her personal life, so she headed off to Istanbul to study Management. During her studies what she really enjoyed was marketing, but upon graduation, she was fearful about not getting a job quickly enough. When the job offers did not come, Isil quickly pivoted to accept a job as an auditor for a barge bank and left her marketing dreams behind. The work was far more technical than what she wanted to do but there were also many positives to working at a bank, specifically the stability and having a respected employer. She was also good at it and over time moved up the ranks to become part of a global team working all around Europe and this allowed her to travel to fancy balls in Vienna (which is how she met her Italian husband - but that's a story she'll talk about in the interview).Eventually, Isil became unfulfilled in her career, and by now she was living in Munich, Germany. Her role had become overly technical and she needed more freedom to be creative and more one-on-one work with people. How could she pivot thought when this was all she had done? She had this one specific skill set and was a foreigner so she was concerned about who would hire her. In this episode, Isil shares the journey that led her to her career crossroads and all the steps she took to overcome it.  ______________________To buy a copy of Isil's new book, The Gift of Being Unfulfilled at Work, click here.Join her workshop, Unwrap Your Gifts on April 17th, 2002 from  4 PM - 7 PM CET. Register by clicking here. You can sign up for Isil's newsletter here, and listen to her podcast, Unique Careers, Unique Lives, here.___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#69 – Priya Sam grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan, and was torn between two interests. Should she explore her interest in teaching, something she developed entirely on her own, or should she work towards a path in journalism, a career her parents suggested she had a specific skillset for? In this episode, we talk about how Priya chose journalism, and how she ended up teaching in South Korea for six years immediately following her post-secondary education. We hear about her rise to becoming the co-host of CTV's Your Morning News and the things she noticed about the industry that led her to leave it behind – at least for now. Priya also tells us how someone with experience in journalism ends up working at Hoostsuite as a Solutions Engineer and how she gets to utilize the transferable skills she picked up from her broadcasting career on the dailyThis episode is for you if you want to learn:How putting in extra work in your chosen field can pay offWhen to make the decision that it's time to move onPractical steps to figure out how to pivot when you're unsureFind Priya on Instagram (@priyasam) and Twitter (@priyasam) or by searching her name on Facebook and LinkedIn.Find Turning Point at these locations: YouTubeApple PodcastsSpotify___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#68 - After eight weeks off, Career Crossroads is back! I'm rested and somewhat recovered so it's time for an update on what's been going on with me and the podcast. This episode recaps everything that's gone on in the time I was off, including;Rediscovering old passionsSome podcast achievementsChanges to the podcastThe future of the podcastStarting next week we'll be back to new interviews, and in the meantime, please take a second to subscribe to the NEW Career Crossroad's YouTube channel by clicking here, or searching for Career Crossroads on YouTube.___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#67 - This week is the fourth and final episode of the Best of Career Crossroads series before I return with new episodes. This week we're revisiting my interview with Lindsay Graham from March 2021. _____________________Composer, voice actor, sound designer, and host. These are some of the words you can use to describe what Lindsay Graham does in his current career as a full-time podcast creator. He's the man behind American History Tellers, American Scandal, Business Movers, and many other hit podcasts that are part of the Wondery network, however, podcasting has really only comprised the last handful of years of Lindsay's career. Prior to that, he worked in insurance sales, marketing, accounting, and a variety of other roles that are not directly related to what he does today. So how did he go from those jobs to podcaster? You'll have to check out his Career Crossroads interview to find out.___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

In episode #3 of the Best of Career Crossroads series, we revisit my interview with Ashlee.Being LeBron James' first intern is a pretty cool way to start your career, and that's exactly the job Ashlee Ammons was recommended for while attending university. All her involvement in university paid off as others were noticing her talents, work ethic, and how she was able to balance her extracurriculars with her Broadcasting, Mass Communications, and Public Relations degree at Baldwin Wallace University just outside of Cleveland, Ohio.In her role as LeBron's intern at LRMR Ventures in Cleveland, Ashlee took on every opportunity she was offered from answering phones to sorting mail and cleaning the office. Again, Ashlee was noticed, and her hustle allowed her to be exposed to the event management side of the business. That experience was what she needed to live her dream and move to New York City when she was hired as an Executive Assistant for the CEO of a luxury hospitality company. Over a number of years, she worked her way up in the company until she became an Events Manager and was working on events for brands like Monet-Hennessy and Coca-Cola.With all her success also came the burnout that many people experience and Ashlee realized she needed to make a change. As she was exploring her options, she attended a conference to try and network but came home frustrated with the lack of good opportunities to make connections with other attendees. As she explained this issue to her mother, they began brainstorming and a question was asked – why don't we create a better way for people to network and meet others at events? They got to work immediately and Miztroz was born.Hear Ashlee tell me how she and her mother built a product that can best be summed up by their tagline - “We Connect Humans”. Along the way, they became the 37th and 38th Black women in America to raise $1 million for a start-up. Find Miztroz online at mixtroz.com, on social media @mixtroz, and find Ashlee on social media @shemixalot87___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

In episode #2 of the Best of Career Crossroads series, we revisit my interview with Kait.Kait's journey to her current career took her through a winding road in her late teens and early 20's.  She tried multiple educational paths and finally settled on fashion as her career of choice.  But the path to being a Merchandising Manager was bumpy, and she turned to a more stable office administration role where she thrived.  With a constant urge to better herself, and with the support of her colleagues and friends, she moved across the country, again, to begin a marketing program at Humber College. Going back to school as she was turning 30, she wanted to have the traditional student experience she had heard about and joined the Humber College First-Year Experience program; a decision that proved to be very beneficial to her long term.  After two lectures with her Organizational Behaviour professor, she had a conversation that changed the whole path of her degree.  Listen now to how Kait ended up in a career in Human Resources.___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

As I take a break from posting new interviews I'll be hightailing some of my favorite episodes from the past year and a half. This is week one of the Best of Career Crossroads series of episodes. Today, we're featuring Robbie. Robbie Berardi's story of becoming a skilled blacksmith starts when he graduated high school with plans to work at his local gas station. With a number of twists and turns along the way, he was able to train under master blacksmiths in Germany and the United Kingdom. A number of injuries from a variety of jobs kick-started his interest in health and he is now pivoting to take on a new challenge as a Massage Therapist. Take a listen to his story.___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#63 - We've had twelve new interviews since Career Crossroads one year anniversary so it's time for another update episode. Let's talk about both the good and the bad of the last three months of running Career Crossroads, and what changes are coming in the short term.___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

 #62 – Dakota LaMarre has never thought of his career as a way to make money. Yes, making money is necessary and yes, it's a by-product of the jobs he has had over the years, but he needed more out of a career. He needed to find a career that would allow him to live the values his parents instilled in him when he was young: achieving his potential, doing something great, and helping people.While he tried to figure out what career path would provide that fulfillment, he spent his free time learning and growing as a person. Even then, being a hard worker doesn't mean there won't be bumps in the road. Dakota's story involves ‘accidentally' quitting a job, getting fired from another, and buying a one-way ticket to Barcelona, all in the name of finding a career that he loves. Did he find what he was looking for? Yes. Now, as a professional co-author, Dakota helps people put their ideas on paper, and his first book, I Love Mondays, looks like it will be the first of many in a successful writing career.Where you can connect with Dakota:Website: dakotalamarre.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dakota-lamarreInstagram: instagram.com/dakotalamarre___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#61 - With influences like Stephen King and Lemony Snicket, Robert Kingett, who was born blind and with cerebral palsy, realized at a young age that writing was a fantastic way to express himself.  Initially setting out to start his writing career as a journalist, Robert built up a portfolio by writing about anything and everything from human interest stories to sports coverage. While he had a solid plan for how to get noticed by the big local Chicago newspapers, it didn't take long for Robert to realize that newspapers did not value the stories he wanted to write about. As he considered how to pivot, blogging became an obvious way for him to express his opinions and educate people about topics surrounding the disability and the LGBTQ communities, a crossroads in which he sits at the intersection of.His blog was a hit, but not with the audience he expected it to resonate with, and that opened up a number of unexpected doors for Robert. Now, he works as a web accessibility consultant as well as an expert witness for lawyers in accessibility cases. Between these jobs and his work in the Audio Description industry, Robert has built up a safety net that allows him to spend time writing works of fiction. These works allow members of his intersecting communities to see themselves reflected in the characters and hopefully, the stories will allow Robert to one day join the ranks of his esteemed childhood influences. Find Robert's work on his website blindjournalist.wordpress.com and follow him on Twitter @wweirdwriter___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#60 – Greg Noack was not happy with his life in his early 20's. He had moved to British Columbia with plans to start anew after being unhappy with the options his business diploma afforded him in Ontario. He was not in B.C for long before his life was profoundly impacted on a cold morning in November of 1996. As he was walking home from work in the early hours of the morning, Greg was assaulted from behind in a random act of violence. Greg fell into a coma and for fifteen days he teetered on the brink of life and death. On day fifteen, Greg suddenly woke up with no recollection of what happened but more concerningly, had almost no control over his own body. He had lost most of his motor function control including the ability to express emotions and was reliant on a feeding tube for nutrition. Despite his circumstances, Greg had an incredible group of people supporting him in his family and friends. All the while, there was another group supporting Greg; the doctors, nurses, and therapists who helped him on his road to recovery. This is the story of Greg's recovery, and how these individuals led him to want to help others recovering from traumatic brain injuries.Greg has written a book about his recovery process called My Invisible Disability which can be found at Chapters or Amazon in Canada or Amazon in the United States___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

 #59 – Many people know Sydney as the ‘TikTok travel sales girl' where she's gained a significant following (160k+) by telling stories about the crazy phone calls she received while helping people book their dream vacations. Does Sydney's TikTok fame figure into the future of her career? No, Sydney is a realist and sees social media for what it is: a way for people to share funny stories, trends, and ultimately take a break from the pressures of their lives. Given that, what does Sydney want to do with her life, and what has been the path that's led her to where she is today? Listen to her interview to hear how softball, travel sales, and a job that just wasn't the right fit have all played a part in getting Sydney into a career she loves. Along the way, we hear how intentional planning and research can both help you find the perfect fit, but still, sometimes lead you into a job where there isn't a cultural fit.  Follow Sydney on TikTok @poorandhungry or on Instagram @poorandhungry____________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

 #58 – Ken Coleman is known as America's Career Coach, and for good reason. As the host of The Ken Coleman show, a nationally broadcast radio show on SiriusXM radio, he spends an hour each day talking to people about their career struggles and how to overcome them.The reason Ken is so effective at helping people navigate their career crossroads is that he's been there himself. After years working in politics, Ken realized that was not the future he wanted for himself so he had some soul searching to do. In his 30's with a wife and children he was starting from scratch and Ken knew he had a lot of work to do. When he decided that broadcasting was the path he wanted to pursue, Ken went after that goal with everything he had, including buying his own airtime on a local radio station to get experience. His hard work and talent were noticed and one job opportunity led to another until Ken landed a role working with Dave Ramsey at Ramsey Solutions. It was there that Ken was offered the chance to host his own show and reached the peak he had been working towards.Standing on top of his Everest, Ken knew that he could do more to help people struggling with their careers the way he had. That thought led Ken to write his newest book, From Paycheck to Purpose, where he gives the reader a clear path to doing the work they love. Broken into seven stages that you will experience on your path to the dream job, Ken's easy-to-follow advice will get you where you want to be, as long as you are willing to put in the work required.Listen to his interview to hear more about the path that led Ken to where he is today and what inspired him to write From Paycheck to Purpose.You can purchase From Paycheck to Purpose and Ken's other guides and resources at kencoleman.com and follow Ken on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube.______________________To support Career Crossroads, click hereTo leave Career Crossroads a review, click hereYou can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroadspodcast.com or follow us on social mediaInstagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTwitter: @jcollatonTikTok: @jonathancollaton___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

 #57 – From his beginnings in South Africa, to his education in the United States and Ireland, on to his careers in South Korea and Taiwan, Crain Padayachee has experienced more change in his 39 years than most of us will experience in a lifetime. So how does a man who purports to not like change end up living in five different countries? A combination of education opportunities, visa applications, and relationships have all played a part in his world travels and with each plane ride came the need to pivot his career. After his childhood dream of becoming a fighter pilot due to the TV show JAG, Crian has worked in accounting, teaching, and programming. Now, after 12 years of living in Taiwan, Crian could have settled into his teaching career for the rest of his life, but he's shifted his career once again. As the community manager for Amun, a company in the crypto space, as well as working in public relations for a well-known Taiwanese architect, Crian's career path continues to evolve.Curious how he pivoted his career while moving across 5 countries? Listen in to Crian's interview to find out more.You can listen to Crian's Inside Crypto podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find podcasts.You can Follow Crian on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook______________________To support Career Crossroads, click hereTo leave Career Crossroads a review, click hereYou can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroadspodcast.com or follow us on social mediaInstagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTwitter: @jcollatonTikTok: @jonathancollaton___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

  #56 – Lena Xiang is the founder of Open Classroom Experience, a virtual global innovation program for Gen Z leaders that helps them have a valuable virtual intercultural experience that prepares them to thrive in an everchanging world. This venture is relatively new and is the culmination of Lena working to determine how she could create a positive social impact on the world around her. The journey that led Lena to Open Classroom Experience has taken her from Toronto to Shanghai, New York, San Francisco, and Hanoi, all before settling back in Toronto. In this time she's explored the world of economics, engineering, and technology, and it's the culmination of a lot of learning and discovery that's gotten her to where she is today. The best part: in high school, Lena thought she might work in animation or graphic design! Read more about Open Classroom Experience on their website or follow them on Instagram.______________________To support Career Crossroads, click hereTo leave Career Crossroads a review, click hereYou can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroadspodcast.com or follow us on social mediaInstagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTwitter: @jcollatonTikTok: @jonathancollaton___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

 #55 – Politics runs in Brooke Crewson's blood. From the age of five, she was helping her dad go door-to-door in his political campaigns, and at 15 she made the conscious decision to start volunteering to support campaigns she believed in. Despite that, she wasn't 100% convinced of her future and pursued the parallel path of history and politics while studying at Wilfrid Laurier University.When she received job offers in both fields after graduating, Brooke had a tough decision to make. Should she pursue the potentially more stable job at a museum, or keep working towards a job she'd been dreaming about since she was 15? Brooke chose an internship at the Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and immediately was hooked. Not long after, however, a change of government left Brooke without a job – an experience she's had more than once in her career.Brooke isn't a quitter, and she's bounced back each time. As she's advanced her career, gaining new experiences in new offices, Brooke has developed a passion for creating and influencing positive public policies. With the instability of working for a government that can be voted out of office, Brooke has learned to take her extensive skill set and apply it to other areas, which has led her to work with Ryerson University's Diversity Institute, and more recently as a Government Relations Consultant at Crestview Strategy.What can we learn from Brooke's career journey? Listen to her interview to find out.You can connect with Brooke through LinkedIn ______________________To support Career Crossroads, click hereTo leave Career Crossroads a review, click hereYou can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroadspodcast.com or follow us on social mediaInstagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTwitter: @jcollatonTikTok: @jonathancollaton___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#54 – Growing up in Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and the United States, Keith Honda had a world of options when he finished university. With his deep voice and talent for singing, Keith chose to come to Wilfrid Laurier University for their renowned music program where, as my roommate, he proceeded to wake me up every morning when he sang in the shower. Despite all the fun we had, the transition to university was not so smooth and after his first year, Keith headed back to Michigan where his parents resided at the time.Now, more than a decade later, Keith is the General Manager of Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters in Rochester, Michigan, and creates the rotating coffee-infused cocktail menu for the whole café chain. So how did he end up there? Keith's story involves a six-and-a-half-year college degree, an American Idol audition, an attempt at working in real estate, and a part-time job where he found his true passion in coffee. Listen in to hear his entire fascinating story, and to hear what lessons I think we can learn from Keith's journey.Find Dessert Oasis on Instagram - @dessertoasiscoffeeroastersFind Keith on Instagram - @khonda66 ______________________To support Career Crossroads, click hereTo leave Career Crossroads a review, click hereYou can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroadspodcast.com or follow us on social mediaInstagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTwitter: @jcollatonTikTok: @jonathancollaton___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#53 – Growing up in Mozambique, Jabez Ivan Joshiraj was always interested in building things when he was younger. Both cars and airplanes were fascinating and he decided that one day, he wanted to be the person behind their design. As a means to that end, when he graduated high school he headed to India, where he was born, to study mechanical engineering.As he progressed through university, he worked on an engineering project that required him to source supplies. With this, he discovered the world of supply chain management, and that prodded him to continue to look deeper into how businesses function once they have a product to sell. Supply chain led to marketing, marketing led to sales, and suddenly Jabez was hooked. When it came time to do his placement at the end of his education, he was committed – understanding the processes of business was his new passion and he was going to pursue it, despite graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering. Now, years later, Jabez is a business consultant working with a multitude of clients, while also running a support group for African start-ups as a way to give back to the place that he grew up. You can email Jabez at hello@jabezivanj.con or find him on Instagram at @jabezivanjYou can find Jabez's Startup Africa - Support Group here ______________________To support Career Crossroads, click hereTo leave a review, click hereYou can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroadspodcast.com or follow us on social mediaInstagram: @career_crossroads LinkedIn: Career Crossroads Podcast Facebook: Career Crossroads Podcast Twitter: @jcollaton TikTok: @jonathancollaton___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#52 – The first thing Lauren Vandervecht ever thought she wanted to do for a career was be an interior designer. At the time it was the only job she knew of where she could be creative and while that career never came to pass, the thought process gives us a good indication of the direction she would head in.With stops in retail, music, and e-commerce both in Canada and the United States, Lauren's story is full of twists and turns. She left opportunities that didn't feel right and went after new opportunities without fear of failure. This, tied with her ability as a quick learner, led Lauren to be given increasing levels of responsibility and in early 2020 she was working as the E-commerce Coordinator for a Toronto-based jeweler. While she learned a lot in that role, the company placed outlandish expectations on her. When she was asked to add weekends to her already busy work schedule, it was an easy decision to move on to the next thing.This clean break provided Lauren with the time to work more fully on a concept she had been thinking about: mobile flower shops. There are plenty in Europe, but why aren't there any in Canada? A week of research was all she needed to commit to the idea and her business, Sunday Love Mobile Flower Shop was born. Listen to Lauren tell me about how she started her business and how every decision on her career path has led her to this point in time. A time where she gets to do a job that she loves every single day. Follow Lauren's business @sundayloveflovers on Instagram______________________To support Career Crossroads, click hereTo leave Career Crossroads a review, click hereYou can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroadspodcast.com or follow us on social mediaInstagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTwitter: @jcollatonTikTok: @jonathancollaton___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#51 – Cayla Schafer has had to pivot her career more than once due to her health. Misdiagnosed celiac disease wreaked havoc on her life while she made her way through university and her illness ultimately forced her to leave her thoughts of pursuing a career in acting behind. As she began to recover, she picked up a job serving at a restaurant in Toronto and was immediately hooked. Serving ticked all the right boxes: she could talk to people, problem solve, and each day was different. She began to see a future in hospitality and thought about how to climb the ladder and what her future would look like. At the same time, she valued the flexibility of being a server as it allowed her to work in other cities if she needed a change of scenery. Cayla found the right balance of serving while picking up opportunities as a shift leader and trainer, and everything was great - until it wasn't. After a 5 week trip to Calgary where she trained the staff of a new restaurant while working 16+ hour days, her adrenal glands were shot. After a few days off in Toronto where she just couldn't sleep, she was headed back to her first shift at her serving job but collapsed on the sidewalk. While the change wasn't immediate, it was at this moment she knew that she needed to leave hospitality behind and once again pivot to another career for her health.By this point in time, fitness had become an important part of Cayla's life outside of her job. She had trained as a trauma-sensitive yoga instructor and had an experience at a Soul Cycle in New York City that showed her how valuable that could be to her life. As Soul Cycle had expanded to Toronto, she was able to get a job as an instructor and suddenly her path became more clear: work as an instructor there while teaching trauma-sensitive yoga on the side.While all this was happening, Cayla had also started a blog, The Move to Heal Project. As the blog grew, so did Cayla's ambition and she began to plan a future as an entrepreneur. She has all these skills to help others heal – why not do that while working for herself?In February 2020 she left Soul Cycle and has been working on The Move to Heal Project full time ever since. Listen to her interview to hear the full story.Find Cayla and The Move to Heal Project at the following links:movetohealproject.com @themovetohealproject on Insta, TikTok, YouTube, PodcastsInstagram: @caylameredithEmail: themovetohealproject@gmail.com Also mentioned in this episode:Food Truck Faceoff Episode – The Distillery District DuelDavid Emmerson - Overcoming Trauma Through YogaBessel van der Kolk - ___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton

#50 – This week marks one year since the launch of Career Crossroads, and it's time to celebrate and reflect! In 23 minutes, I pack in all of the following:How I've improved as a podcaster over the last yearI talk about whether I've achieved the goals laid out in my first episode a year agoI share some stats about who is listening to Career CrossroadsI thank the people who have helped me get this farI discuss the future of Career CrossroadsI really can't express how happy I am with how this episode turned out and I hope you enjoy it!To support Career Crossroads, click hereTo leave a review, click hereFor Ronak's business Play A Latte, click hereFor Ardi's Fiverr Page, click hereFor Helen's coaching website, click here______________________ You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroadspodcast.com or follow us on social mediaInstagram: @career_crossroads LinkedIn: Career Crossroads Podcast Facebook: Career Crossroads Podcast Twitter: @jcollaton TikTok: @jonathancollaton___________________You can find Career Crossroads at careercrossroads.ca or follow us on social media: Instagram: @career_crossroadsLinkedIn: Career Crossroads PodcastFacebook: Career Crossroads PodcastTikTok: @jonathancollaton