Career Boosters: An MBA Podcast

This week, we're joined by Veronica Alfred, a global talent acquisition specialist who introduces us to something she calls ‘talentless recruitment’: a growing reality where anywhere from 50 to 70% of candidates in a pipeline are fraudulent, AI-generated, or simply not who they say they are. She shares what recruiters are now having to do to catch it, and what it costs legitimate candidates in the process.Her advice: standing out is no longer about being polished on paper. It's about being visible, verifiable, and human. And most importantly, communicating that before someone ever opens your resume.Connect with Veronica on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicaalfred/

This week, we're joined by Varsha Govindarajan, a part-time MBA student and energy professional, who came on to talk about something she calls the quarter-life crisis: that stretch between 25 and 35 where the path you were expecting turns out to be different than your reality. She talks honestly about growing up with strong expectations, learning to make peace with the gray, and what happens when perfectionism meets real life. And in sharing her realization that between work and school, the first ball she dropped was herself, she offers some strong advice: let's be important to ourselves.

This week, we're joined by Brea Elfer, Marketing and Communications Partner at the Alberta School of Business, who opened up about her own difficult undergraduate experience and how it shaped why she does this work. The conversation kept circling around a central idea: the best brands (personal or organizational) aren't built on a polished, curated version of yourself. They're built on presence. Brea makes the case that our quirks, our failures, and our real personalities are the actual assets, and that's as true for the school's brand as it is for a student figuring out how to show up in an interview.

This week, we're joined by Harkirat Malhi, first-year MBA student and varsity soccer player for the U of A Golden Bears. He is doing the MBA while training five days a week, playing games on weekends, volunteering, and adding a summer internship to the mix. His surprising realization is that thriving isn't about having less on your plate. It's about building the habits and mindset that make a full plate feel manageable.

This week, we're joined by Rachel Lachman, the Employer and Community Partner Outreach Specialist on the CWIL team at the Alberta School of Business, whose job is building relationships between employers and students. Her take on networking is straightforward: it's just a conversation, and the only real mistake is standing next to the appetizers all night. She also shares her own recent embarrassing moment networking, and proves that we’re all human and that networking doesn't require a perfect performance. It just requires showing up and showing out.

This week, we’re joined by Danyelle Bernier, MBA/MAg student, to talk about what the MBA has reflected back to her.She came into the program with a solid sense of who she was, but still found herself surprised by what started to surface through the classes, the coaching, and the conversations along the way. What comes through in this episode is not a total reinvention. It’s a clearer view of her own strengths, her leadership, and the parts of herself that were already there but easier to miss when you’re in the middle of living them. It’s also a good reminder that sometimes growth looks less like becoming someone new and more like finally seeing yourself clearly.

This week we talk with Andriy Tovstiuk (MBA 19‘) about networking, curiosity, and what actually makes someone interesting to talk to. From serving in the military to teaching around the world and now working in AI, Andriy shares how saying yes to experiences creates better conversations and stronger professional relationships. We also talk about a surprising benchmark from Stanford MBA students, who aim to have five to ten informational conversations every week. And we’re reminded that networking is not about collecting contacts. It’s about being curious, participating in things, and becoming someone others genuinely want to talk with.

This week we walk through the AI career management simulation Tiffany ran in class, with Paul as the guinea pig. We load real context into AI, ask it to build a “perfect” job posting for Paul, draft resume profile lines, create a cover letter hook, generate interview questions, and practice a story-based answer. And we show that the value in partnering with AI in career management isn’t in the first output. It’s in how you challenge it, refine it, and stay in control of the thinking.Here is the link to the Career Management AI Simulation document:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1apbnlBVtovq1_5RLQ6By9dLwTnVPZvFgW_-qXrL8S0Y/edit?usp=sharing

Part-time MBA student Jason Kaban is doing what many assume is unsustainable. A demanding leadership role, family life, and an MBA layered on top. Instead of describing his life as overwhelming, he talks about it as intentional. Jason shares how shifting from “I have to” to “I choose to” reshaped how he spends his time, how he leads, and how he listens, even when the calendar stays full.

Kalie Van Ree (MBA ’16), Senior Manager at KPMG, joins us to talk about interviews from the hiring side of the table. We get into what strong candidates do early, the story mistakes that quietly hurt otherwise solid interviews, and why trying to “impress” is often the wrong strategy. And we even admit something students don’t always believe: interviewers get nervous too. Got an interview coming up? You’ll want to give this a listen.

A lot of MBA students are convinced they don’t have any good stories. Brooke Rose, part-time MBA student, sees it differently. Drawing from healthcare fundraising, improv, and stand-up, she talks about what happens when you stop trying to sound impressive and start paying attention to what’s actually happening in the room. The conversation touches on reading the audience, naming awkward moments, and why being human tends to land better than being polished. And hopefully by the end, you’ll realize that you truly do have better stories to tell than you think.

Jordan Mayers, full-time Fast-Track MBA Student, has a way of making networking feel less intimidating and more human. In this conversation, he shares how his mindset around networking shifted during the MBA, especially as a fast-track student with less time and more pressure to make connections count. He talks about curiosity, momentum, and why networking works best when you treat it like a muscle you build over time, not a one-off performance. It’s an honest look at how confidence grows through repetition, relationships, and showing up as yourself, even when it’s uncomfortable at first.

Most people have LinkedIn. Fewer people are intentional about how they’re showing up there. Our colleague James Kuang joins us for a thoughtful conversation about visibility, signals, and how small choices on LinkedIn quietly shape how others read you. We talk less about optimization and more about awareness: what gets noticed, what gets inferred, and how to use the platform in a way that feels aligned rather than performative.

MBA student Sydney Fournier brings a valuable perspective to this conversation. She reviews hundreds of resumes a day as part of her work in recruitment and sees firsthand what helps candidates move forward and what quietly gets them screened out. She shares what it’s like on the other side of the application process, how AI is shaping early decisions, and why clean, thoughtful resumes still matter more than flashy ones. And we consider if resumes are even going to be a thing in the not-to-distant-future…

Fast-track MBA student Phil Fung reflects on what happened when an unexpected career turn pushed him to rethink his story. Stepping into the MBA shifted how he sees himself, not as someone needing to justify a non-linear path, but as someone who actually belongs in the room. He talks candidly about confidence, comparison, and the quiet work of naming what you’re good at without downplaying it. The conversation looks ahead to the goals he’s setting for 2026 and how clarity around his personal brand is shaping what he’s working toward next.

This wrap-up episode pulls together the moments that changed us this year, inside the classroom and out. Tiffany shares how somatic work opened a new way of coaching, and Paul talks about the power that comes from actually knowing yourself, not just talking about it. We chat about the real stuff we all wrestle with: finding buffer when life gets loud, stretching without snapping, and learning to care less about imagined judgment while still showing up with intention. We also get into what’s shifting in careers, why AI literacy matters more than people think, and where we see students needing to grow next. If you like hearing people think out loud about work, growth, and being human, you’ll enjoy this one

Career educator and EMBA grad Michelle Height joins us to unpack what three decades in career development have taught her about helping business students land, and thrive in, roles that fit. She shares how her Executive MBA started as a “check the box” exercise but then ended up reshaping her confidence, skills, and path. The conversation zooms out to the bigger picture of branding, communication, and how AI and ATS tools are changing the first rung of the career ladder, while human skills and genuine connection still do the heavy lifting.

MBA student Deen Ajayi joins us for a conversation about emotional intelligence that goes way past empathy. Deen shares how his thinking of EQ has recently shifted as pays attention to things like self-expression, decision making, and how others read you. And he tells a story about his car being towed after a long day and responding in a way neither of us saw coming. It’s an honest, grounded look at regulation, presence, and the quiet impact those skills can have on how you study, lead, and move through the program.

MBA student and Registered Nurse Frans Hanna joins us as we shift from knowing your talents to using them together. In week two of Strengths, we explore how the four domains connect and how self-awareness becomes a team advantage. Frans shares what it’s like to land in the Influencing corner, how trust goes deeper than first impressions, and why honesty and transparency help teams do their best work. We also look at common tensions like speed versus deliberation and head versus heart, and how naming them early helps teams work smarter and with more care.

In this solo episode, host Paul Taylor sits down with MBA student Hajira Malik to explore how understanding your natural talents can transform your career trajectory. Hajira shares her unique journey from government work to nursing to pursuing her MBA, driven by a desire for new challenges and growth. Through the lens of the Gallup CliftonStrengths assessment, they dive deep into Hajira's top five talents—empathy, positivity, connectedness, futuristic, and harmony—and how these strengths show up in her daily MBA experience. The conversation reveals the power of leaning into what you're naturally good at rather than trying to be well-rounded, explores how positivity helps Hajira navigate the pressures of grades and deadlines, and discusses the importance of building genuine relationships in business school. With candid insights about the "groan moments" when strengths can work against us and practical advice for leveraging talents in group projects, this episode offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to maximize their impact by understanding and embracing their unique strengths.

MD/MBA student Muhammad Israr-Ul-Haq joins us to explore what happens when you slow down and define what truly matters. Through a class exercise that helped him narrow in on a few core values, he shares the unexpected mix of clarity and discomfort that comes with naming them—and how that awareness is shaping how he studies, leads, and prepares for the next stage of his medical journey. It’s a grounded, thoughtful conversation about self-knowledge, purpose, and the power of aligning what you do with what you believe.

Fast-track MBA student Jasmeen Dhah joins us to unpack an exercise where classmates reflect your brand while you stay silent. No justifying, no explaining, just listening. Jasmeen shares the nerves of going in, the surprise of how much peers could pick up from simple images, and the possible tensions it revealed between her career ambitions and her need for quiet space. She also reflects on feedback as a gift, learning to stretch into extroverted moments without abandoning her introverted strengths, and how those insights shape the way she thinks about her future

First-year MBA student Joshua Eszczuk joins us to unpack what it actually looks like to manage energy instead of time. He points out it’s not about how many hours you spend, but the quality of energy you bring. From recognizing his current “half tank” energy level, to noticing what “sharpens or dulls his shovel”, Josh shares how small shifts in awareness change the way you work, rest, and say no. Along the way, he reflects on why nobody really has their ducks in a row, how discomfort fuels growth, and why managing your own capacity might be the most important MBA lesson of all

We’re joined by MBA Alumni Suraj Wadhwani (‘25) to break down what case competitions really are and why they matter for more than just aspiring consultants. Picture a Shark Tank-style challenge with tight timelines, new teammates, and a real business problem to solve. Suraj shares how competing sharpened his problem-solving, teamwork, and storytelling skills, why clarity beats complexity every time, and how leaning into discomfort can be the biggest growth driver. If you’ve ever wondered whether case comps are worth it, this episode makes the case for saying yes.

We’re joined by returning guest Priyanka Singh, now a second-year International MBA student, to talk about BUS 501: a foundational course that, if approached with openness, can shift the entire MBA experience. From uncovering core values and strengths to exploring unspoken brand, empathy, and energy management, Priyanka shares how self-awareness has shaped her journey. She reflects on taking initiative in projects, leaning into improv, and why understanding yourself is the foundation for growth.

Meet first-year MBA student Majid Nikouee (PhD, Educational Psychology) as he walks us through orientation week: what surprised him, what settled the nerves, and what actually helps on day one. We talk about reviewing materials without overdoing it, owning your unique story, asking for help early, and finding small recharge habits that kept him steady. Majid explains why the personal branding session and the negotiation exercise stood out, and how staying curious with your cohort makes the week manageable. Great info and advice for anyone approaching a multi-day learning experience like orientation.

We’re kicking off Season 3 with two international 2nd year MBA students, Fabliha Mahmood and Arthur Benitez, who share what it was really like to land in Canada, face the nerves of orientation, and start building a brand-new life. From getting lost on the way to campus to assembling furniture and finding their people, they talk candidly about what helped, what they wish they’d done differently, and how new students can ease into the whirlwind. If you’re about to start your MBA (or any big new chapter), you’ll see yourself in their stories.

In our season finale, we sit down with Ange McCabe, CEO of Intuity Performance, certified coach, and fellow “recovering HR professional”—to explore what it really means to lead with your whole self. Ange shares why leadership transformation is often quieter than we expect, how coaching can bridge the gap between technical skill and human connection, and why we can't separate who we are at work from who we are everywhere else. A grounded take on leadership, coaching, and why the small shifts often matter most.

Trying something a little different this episode as we talk with (instead of ‘to’) part-time MBA student Curtis Middleton all about the fear that gets in each of our ways. Curtis with the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), Tiffany with the Fear of People’s Opinions (FOPO), and Paul with the Fear of Joining In (FOJI). We each share our own experiences with these fears, where they show up, how they can actually help us, and how we use others to help balance us. If you subscribe to any of these fears, know you’re not alone. We struggle with them too!

Talking with Katie O’Malley, owner of (en)Courage Coaching and self proclaimed “Career Nomad” about how her (really interesting and squiggly) career has been guided by both but, and yes-and. She gives us great advice on how to find your career non-negotiables while at the same time understanding that no experience is a waste. Katie is a true demonstration of the true alignment and fulfillment that can be found when you lean into self-awareness, intuition, and hard work. If you’re trying to figure out how to honor yourself in your career, and find what truly fits, this is a must listen.

Talking to Jenna Dahl, Manager, Student Wellness Services with MacEwan University - who also happens to be Paul’s previous colleague - about how she harmonizes her role, being a mom of 2, business owner, and competitive Pole dancer. Jenna quickly notes that it’s not about work/life balance, but rather it’s work/life harmony that adjusts through the ebbs and flows of life. Finding her own harmony hasn’t always been easy, and she offers some great tips and experience how to navigate life in a way that truly allows you to do it all.

Talking with recent MBA grad Guoxu Li about the mindset needed to truly find success. Known as someone highly skilled in the world of finance and economics, what makes Guoxu truly stand out isn’t (just) his technical skill, but more so his approach to mindset, relationships, and life in general. A conversation so powerful and inspiring, it sparked the first tears we’ve seen in 60 episodes (from Tiffany). He starts reminding us that ‘growth is more about mindset than academics’ and the wisdom continues the entire episode. Truly a must watch/listen.

Talking with Griffin Mumby, MD/MBA student as he wraps up his MBA journey and shares how impactful it has been, but how it was also born from a setback. If you had asked Griffin a few years ago, an MBA wasn’t his plan. But life sometimes has other plans, and it’s up to us to either lean in, embrace the suck, and focus on what we can control - or lean out. Griffin is a prime example of what can happen when you choose the former. Experiencing a set-back? Not sure what to do when life doesn’t go according to plan? Give this a listen.

Talking with Vivika Sharma, one of our team’s stellar interns, about how her year-long internship in CWIL has helped shape her and her personal brand. Vivika is very much ‘ahead of the curve’ when it comes to what she knows about herself, how she’s grown, and her confidence in her ability to thrive ‘wherever the wind takes her’. There are just some students that you know are going to make big differences, and Vivika is one!

Talking with 2nd year MBA student Shida Liu about what it is that has led to a truly successful MBA journey. As someone who is always authentic, and focused on treasuring every experience and building strong relationships, it’s easy to see why Shida is well respected AND why he’s had a successful MBA journey. He’s a brilliant demonstration of why you should never say never, and always be open to what possibilities might show up.

Talking with MBA alumni Marina Barbu (‘21) about how she successfully navigated a (rather significant) career pivot from hospitality management into pharmaceuticals and innovation. Marina skillfully navigated the (large) gap between these seemingly disparity industries because she know what was important to her: impact, adventure, and curiosity. And utilized an unwavering dedication to building strong relationships that continues to support her success today. Facing a pivot? No matter how big it is, Marina’s advice is a sure-fire recipe that anyone can use to find success.

Talking with 2nd year MBA student Michelle Ritchie about her ‘Yes Era’ where she’s saying yes to far more networking and relationship building than she ever thought she’d be comfortable with. As an experienced Registered Nurse, networking was a foreign (and uncomfortable) concept 1.5 years ago, but the shift in mindset, skillset, and impact to her career that relationship building is bringing is clear. So if you currently don’t think you could ever lean into networking, give this episode a listen. Michelle is proof that anything is possible!

We step FAR outside our usual ‘box’ and spend this entire episode talking with AI. Yup, that’s right - our friend ChatGPT. Considering we wanted to talk about all the ways you can use AI in career management, we thought who better to chat with than the chatbot itself? And what it came up with even surprised the two of us. Not only that, our key takeaways come from Google Illuminate - which if you haven’t heard of (we hadn’t until this week), go Google it now. Enjoy this unique episode!

Talking with a special guest, our boss, Amber Nicolson! As the Manager, Career & Work Integrated Learning at the Alberta School of Business, Amber has spend a lot of her career interviewing for many different roles and supporting students as they prepare. And unique to her, she’s the only person who has interviewed both of us in our careers. The entire episode is one big tip & trick, for anyone prepping for an interview!

Talking with 1st year MBA student Ketsia Lombosso Engoya about the thing she has done for a longtime now, but didn’t fully realize - storytelling.

Talking with 2nd year MBA student Joe Harb about a topic he’s very familiar with, but has worked to expand and improve through his MBA - Networking. It’s SO much more than surviving large events. We do it every day, whether we realize it or not. And leaning into the ‘dance’ of building relationships, owning your weirdness, and leveling up your storytelling are key tools in your all-important networking toolkit. We are built for connection, which is all networking is, connecting with others. So get out there, connect in a way that is authentic to you, and use this episode to help boost your toolkit along the way.

Talking with 1st year MBA student Arthur Benitez all about a topic he’s well-versed in: LinkedIn. As a user since 2014, Arthur brings a lot of experience and expertise in using the professional platform - but as a true learner, he also notes there’s room for him to grow and iterate. We chat about the power of storytelling, realities of attention pans, the pros and cons of using AI, and more. 1.1B people use LinkedIn - if you want to know how to stand out, this episode is for you.

Talking with our first-ever repeat guest, Chandler Holyoak, Employer and Community Partner Outreach Specialist at the Alberta School of Business. As someone with both previous HR experience, and current daily interactions with employers, he is full of valuable tips and tricks for resumes and cover letters that will get noticed. You get less than 10 seconds to make an impression, do you know how to get your resume and cover letter into the ‘yes’ pile?

Talking with 1st year MBA student Mila Zhang about how she tackles new. Recently she’s experienced a new country, new MBA program, new people, new part-time job, new courses, new semesters….new year even. So much new! But you’ll find that Mila is quite an ‘old soul’ in her approach to the discomfort that new brings. Her wisdom extends far beyond her years, and there’s something for everyone to learn from this episode, no matter what ‘new’ you’re currently tackling!

Talking with MBA Alumni (‘17) Ashton Rudanec about her MBA journey and career where she has made big impacts within her own cohort, as the President of the University of Alberta Alumni Association, in her role as Director, Sustainable Investing, busy mom of 2, and new this year - as one of Edify’s Top 40 Under 40 in Edmonton. These impacts and ripples didn’t happen by chance. They are a result of understanding her strengths, the common threads through past experiences, the power of relationships (especially with alumni), and so a continuous focus on her high school's motto: Ut Qui Ministrat (As One Who Serves).

Talking with 2nd year MBA student Jeevana Mandala about how her first 16 months in Canada and in the MBA program have set her up for the final push, and all important post-grad job search. And as she so expertly note - it’s much more than just about finding a job. And that the most unexpected twists and turns in an MBA journey can actually set you up for more success than you would have ever expected. For anyone looking for a new role (not just MBA students) - this is an important listen!

Talking with Deanna Dow (MBA ‘18) about her vibrant and memorable brand (which you see in seconds, and feel throughout the entire episode), how she developed it, and the impact it makes on her ability to connect with people anywhere in the world. It’s one thing to catch someone’s attention with your brand, and it’s a whole other thing to hold and inspire that attention. Deanne both sparks interest, and maintains your attention - so this episode is a bright and vibrant masterclass in truly understanding, refining, and shining your personal brand.

What do you get when you put two coaches certified in an Emotional Intelligence model (EQi 2.0) on a call to talk about EQ? This conversation! Paul & Tiffany talk about how emotional intelligence plays a big part in their lives, where they struggle (we all do) and what comes more naturally, and an expansion into the many different skill sets that make-up emotional intelligence. Because no, it’s not just empathy, or always being willing to help others when needed. We don’t do this often - talk just us - so grab a warm drink and get a glimpse into what it’s like to work with Paul & Tiffany

Talking with Holly Johnson, 1st year MBA student, about the complexity around Emotional Intelligence (EQ), and how her core value of humanity helps her focus her foundational approach to EQ, and to all those she connects with. We talk about the power in understanding biases, the downsides of higher EQ scores (over indexing), and the value of an open and growth-oriented mindset.

Talking with Cori Fodeg, previous Director of Career Education at the Alberta School of Business (read, Paul’s boss!), current Lead, Corporate Learning for the GoA, and soon to be Manager, Experiential Learning at NAIT–about all things Public Sector. Her advice that “you’re only limited by your imagination for what you can do within the Government” is so true, and she is yet another shining example of the power of career pivots, and the ability to trust that there’s always a next ‘right door’ for you.