PBSN Presents: The IMPACT Series

General Manager of Snapchat Inc.  Matt McGowan chats with PBSN directors to go over his experiences studying at the University of Oxford and progressing through his career as part of the advisory board at CPA Ontario, a member of the national board of directors for Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Canada, and currently a general manager at Snap Chat. Throughout our conversation, Matt shares his wisdom on career progression and advice for students and young adults. Matt verbally illustrates what it takes to recognize and tap into your own potential.

President and CEO of Honda Canada. Jean Marc Leclerc chats with PBSN director to go over his experiences from starting as an ambitious University of Ottawa graduate to leading the Canadian subdivision of a Fortune 500 company. As starting up a long corporate ladder can be daunting, we wanted to learn more about Jean Marc's experience doing just that throughout his 25-year career with Honda Canada. Throughout our conversation, Jean Marc provides plenty of anecdotes and advice for students and young adults when it comes to finding their passion and purpose. Jean Marc exemplifies the importance of understanding a business really well through dedication and commitment in order to successfully lead the industry as a whole forwards. Jean Marc also provides invaluable perspectives on the future of the auto-industry, drawing back to his experience in all facets of the business from marketing to logistics, and anything in between.

Co-Founder and COO at Onova, Ex-Capgemini and Western alumnus, Helen Yin, chats with PBSN director to go over her experiences from Founding Western's Marketing Association to helping corporations like McDonalds and HSBC innovate like startups. We wanted to know what the experience was like for a woman in consulting at a multinational consultancy firm as well as starting up her own firm. She provides invaluable advice on recruiting for internships as well as skills needed to break into the consulting workforce. Also weighing in on the techniques she uses to motivate herself when she's working from home, similar to all Western students during the COVID pandemic.

How does your unique background bring value? What kind of choices should the modern university student be making in a pivotal information age? We wanted to know what the work experience is like at both big-name firms as well as small startups, so we brought in Boston Consulting Group consultant Vedant Suri. Pulling from experiences in banking and tech, Vedant weighs in on his transition from school to the workplace and the lessons he's learned along the way. Disclaimer: This episode was recorded in February 2020 - the release date of this episode may not reflect its contents entirely due to current COVID-19 concerns and implications for present and future economic activities.