The Problem Spaces

Meet Peter Riddles, a global science and innovation leader. His Twitter bio, ‘Science for Everyone’, perfectly sums up his lifelong pursuit to use the power of science to generate both economic and social benefit. In 2020, Peter was awarded The Order of Australia for his significant service to science, biotechnology and innovation. Join Lisa & Peter as they explore his remarkable career, with insights about building a lifetime of work embedded with creativity and passion. These are the stories at the intersection of life, and business life. Welcome to The Problem Spaces. 

"Just because someone stumbles and loses their way, doesn't mean they're lost forever."Clarence Cachagee is a highly regarded leader in Waterloo Region, and has held a variety of roles in organizations supporting housing and outreach in the community. He is a visionary Indigenous leader, the founder of Crow Shield Lodge, an author, dad, and the Aboriginal Services Coordinator at Conestoga College. Join us in conversation as Clarence opens up about life, leadership, and navigating Problem Spaces. 

This week we're welcoming an incredibly innovative leader in Canada's fashion  industry - and strong, female entrepreneur Carrie Kirkman. With almost three decades in retail and wholesale experience, and currently President of Kirkman Consulting, Carrie offers strategic advisory services, leadership development and coaching.She recently joined Artists for Peace and Justice, an international organization that provides educational support to the youth of Haiti. She is an Independent Director of Whitehouse Design and a member of he Humber College Program Advisory

This week we're welcoming a highly accomplished and award winning filmmaker with a long list of directing, producing and writing credits to the Problem Spaces. Rebecca Snow specializes in history and social issue documentaries, winning the 2018 Canadian Screen Award for best direction in a documentary program. Born and raised in London England, Rebecca's early career was spent working at the BBC in the documentary Arts and History units. A few years ago, Lisa had the privilege of working with Rebecca for an Overlap endeavour; our documentary series The Better Is Possible Project, with a number of the short films playing festivals worldwide. Today, Rebecca opens up about Leadership, Life, and Navigating the Problem Spaces. 

Born in Uganda and raised in Yemen, Zahra is an award-winning creative serial entrepreneur; a force, a whirlwind - in the best sense. In recent years, Zahra has been recognized as one of Canada's most powerful women. She is a connector, a problem solver, and her rebellious nature has been at the heart of her life's trajectory, navigating major turning points in both her personal and business life. Zahra is also an award-winning author of What It Takes, a best-selling non-fiction book about her life and career. Join Lisa and Zahra as they discuss what it means to understand people, and exploring problem spaces not everyone is willing to go. 

We're talking to serial entrepreneur and one of Canada's leading marketing strategists, Mike Girgis. In the late nineties, he started a couple of businesses, One Stop Media Group, and Fourth Wall Media, which created an entirely new marketing category in Canada. From singing in a rock band and opening a bar, to creating and selling several successful media companies to the Jim Patterson group, Mike is one of the most energetic, fun, and positive human beings. Join us today as he opens up about leadership, life, and navigating problem spaces. 

We're connecting with the Vice President of Consultation and Engagement at Environics Research, Jodi Shanoff.  Jodi has built a career around understanding people, gaining trust, to understand motivations, exploring why people might say one thing, especially publicly, but then go and do something totally different. Essentially Jodi delves deep into people's contexts and opinions. Today, Jodi continues to be driven to get involved with issues that are most pressing in our communities, social justice, environment, health, and wellbeing.Listen in as Lisa and Jodi talk about passion, politics, and managing growing careers on top of growing families. 

We're sitting down with Cheryl Blackman, the Interim General Manager of Economic Development and Culture with the City of Toronto. She is responsible for leading Toronto's efforts to create arts and culture plans, roadmaps for cultural vitality, strengthening arts spending and for launching a new era of collaboration among arts and culture groups across the City. Prior to her role as Interim General Manager at the City she was Director of Museums and Heritage Services, where she was responsible for the ten city-owned and operated historical museums, the City collection of historical objects, archaeological specimens, moveable fine art and an extensive portfolio of heritage buildings. Cheryl also served as the Assistant Vice-President of Audience Development at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). Cheryl holds a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), and a Master of Business Administration (MBA), and is a Fellow of Inclusion and Philanthropy from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). She is the Chair of the Board at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery.An incredible woman and friend, Cheryl and Lisa talk the positives of failure, pathways for innovation, and taking action to create sustained change. 

Selam, the creator of The Antiracism Course, is a Black Ethiopian queer woman identified antiracism educator, an anti-oppression coach, a social justice advocate, a student in dismantling anti-Black racism, an accomplice in dismantling anti-Indigenous racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia and an advocate in 2SLGBTQ+ & disability rights through an intersectional lens. Also the founder of Juici Yoga, a yoga and meditation instructor, a restorative yoga teacher trainer, a holistic life coach, a reiki master, and a Lululemon Ambassador.Lisa and Selam discuss Women-Owned businesses,  motherhood, and the lessons they hope to pass along. 

We're talking to Sharon Avery, CEO of the Toronto Foundation and one of Canada's most visionary and successful fundraisers. She's raised hundreds of millions of dollars for organizations, including sick kids foundation, UNICEF Canada, and she's been at the helm of the Toronto Foundation for five years. Sharon has a gift for inspiring and educating people about giving and engaging with people who wouldn't typically call themselves philanthropists. She's gone way beyond traditional fundraising to create innovative programs and compelling approaches that have a way of bringing individuals together around a vision of what's possible when we're all in this together. Join Lisa and one of her very best friends, who met on the first day of university at Ryerson!

Georgia is the CEO of a family owned construction company, SG Cunningham. As the female CEO of a full-service General Contractor and Construction Management firm, Georgia is more than a little unique. It’s safe to say that she is often the only woman at the table in her day-to-day, and she’s passionate about changing that reality in her sector.  Today, she’ll open up about leadership, life and navigating problem spaces.