Our Story Canada Careers Conversation
The Story Behind The Canada Careers Conversation: Laughs, Lessons, and Coffee
The Canada Careers Conversation Podcast is the brainchild of Gurleen and Taran, two BFFs and In-Flight Career Strategists. Picture this: one fine summer afternoon, we were stuffing our faces with pancakes and chugging coffee, all while updating each other on our dogs, hobbies, love lives, and just life in general. Amidst the giggles, we delved into our career paths and how we ended up pursuing the careers we’re in. We laughed at our blunders, celebrated our victories, and found the humor in trying to navigate our career paths, which ultimately led us to this exact moment.
In each of our stories, there was a pivotal conversation with a professional who was already in the role we were eyeing. These conversations helped us determine whether our desired path was a sturdy mirror reflecting reality or just another pair of rose-colored glasses. Here’s the kicker: we each had at least one mentor who provided guidance and direction on our career alignments, from our good ol’ university days right up to now, considering our unique skills and interests. It’s been quite the ride!
Gary Ware, the talented Improv Comedian, Author, and Workshop Facilitator, beautifully emphasizes the two essential states we operate from: the Clown and the Editor. Embracing the Clown state allows unrestricted creativity and idea generation, while the Editor state helps refine and identify the true gems. That summer afternoon, as we savored a delightful pancake feast, we seamlessly embodied both roles, leading to an exciting idea – the creation of a video library for Careers in Canada, akin to browsing through fashion websites. This concept would provide a unique window into the diverse careers and common challenges encountered by individuals in Canada.
The internet is jam-packed with data, articles, and guides on careers, but it seems like everyone forgot to shine a spotlight on the juicy, neglected area of career navigation – you know, the real-life tales and wacky insights from all sorts of professions in Canada that are just waiting for their moment to shine! It’s high time we gave these stories a cozy home, so they can work their magic in expanding folks’ awareness of career options and arming them with cool, out-of-the-box tools to conquer the wild world of work. Let’s sprinkle some humor and pizzazz into the career scene, because why should job stuff be all serious, right?
The Clown and the Editor in us finally stopped juggling and editing long enough to decide it was time to pursue our dreams! We wanted to create something awesome for people like us who are eager to explore unique opportunities in Canada. We believe it’s the perfect place to unleash our special talents and make our mark on the world. So, we bravely decided to go our own way and help others facing the same circus of choices. What followed were countless pancake gatherings, where we cooked up and polished our grand plan. It’s time to turn those ideas into reality!
Introducing our very real video vault of everything Career, straight from our wild chats with real-life pros in Canada. Our mission? To help up-and-coming and seasoned talent waltz through their careers with a touch of creativity, a sprinkle of imagination, and a whole lot of pizzazz.
Navigating careers is like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded in a room full of banana peels – full of unexpected twists and turns! It’s a wild ride that requires juggling relationships, data, intuition, and more alternatives than a multiple choice test. We’re constantly in the hot seat, having to channel our inner detectives to uncover the hidden gems beneath the surface. It’s like a never-ending game of career Clue – “Who killed the productivity, in the office, with the overflowing inbox?”
The Careers Canada Podcast is like a cozy campfire where SMEs and professionals gather to spill the beans on navigating the wild jungle of career challenges. From choosing the right career path to dodging the occasional rogue coworker, we’ve got the scoop on it all. So grab your popcorn, kick back, and let’s laugh (and maybe cry a little) about the rollercoaster ride called the real world. Welcome aboard!
Through her experience with consulting giants like EY and Deloitte as well as Blackberry, HCL Gurleen identified a recurring gap: many candidates were unaware of potential career opportunities that matched their skills and ambitions. This realization led her to advocate for a broader vision of what a career could entail—one that went beyond job boards and pre-defined roles.
One major hurdle she observed was the tendency for individuals to self-reject before exploring the possibilities fully. Gurleen noted that those who succeeded often came from non-traditional backgrounds, displaying grit and resilience that defied conventional norms. They set their own narratives and refused to let traditional constraints impede their aspirations.
With over a decade of interviewing expertise, Gurleen poses targeted, actionable questions that listeners can implement to navigate their career journeys effectively. Her engineering background lends her an edge in understanding the technological frameworks critical to modern professional landscapes.
Gurleen currently resides in vibrant Mississauga with her daughter and husband, actively participating in the community. Beyond her professional endeavors, she is a trained dancer, marathon runner, and weightlifting enthusiast. Gurleen believes - By exploring, innovating, and drawing upon one's unique strengths and passions, individuals can create fulfilling careers that weren't initially evident.
It's never too late to redefine what's possible in our professional lives.
She is enthusiastic about learning and developing in the field of human resources, and looks forward to contributing to the success of both her organization and its people. In her spare time, Taranjit takes the time mentor other young women and men from the BIPOC communities. Her other interests include reading, cooking and working on making her own short films."
