Share
Successfully Ambiguous?
Careers With Impact: Why Giving Back Matters | Podcasthon Special
Season 1, Ep. 21
•
What does success really mean?
In this special Podcasthon episode of Successfully Ambiguous, we revisit powerful moments from past conversations where guests share why contributing to their communities has become an important part of their definition of success. Across industries and around the world, our guests have spoken about the causes they care about most — from helping students access education, to empowering girls in technology, supporting youth leadership, and addressing period poverty.
Podcasthon is a global initiative where podcasters dedicate an episode to raising awareness for charities and the people behind them. For one week, voices from around the world come together to amplify organizations making a difference in their communities. We hope this episode inspires you to discover a cause that matters to you and find your own way to contribute.
Hope & Threads Child Foundation
Founded by Olatunji Saliu
Working to restore dignity and confidence in students through access to clean, complete school uniforms.
https://www.linkedin.com/company/hope-threads-child-foundation/
Lit The Light
Supported by Gayathri Rajamohan
A volunteer-driven initiative assisting visually challenged individuals through reading sessions, technology support, career guidance, and community programs.
Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton
Supported by Richard Pinnock
Promoting diversity and inclusion while supporting cultural development, community engagement, and educational programming.
York University – School of Continuing Studies Fund
Supported by Ramiz Essani
Support initiatives ensure everyone has the opportunity to achieve success that transform the lives of students at York University’s School of Continuing Studies through scholarships, programs, and educational opportunities.
https://donate.yorku.ca/site/Donation2?df_id=1800&mfc_pref=T&1800.donation=form1
No Shame Project
Founded by Maham Abbasi
Championing menstrual health, dignity, and education for girls and women while addressing period poverty in India.
https://www.instagram.com/thenoshameproject.in/
Check out these other causes chosen by guests:
• Black Creek Community Health Centre - https://www.bcchc.com/
• Daily Bread Food Bank: https://www.dailybread.ca/
• Cystic Fibrosis Canada: https://cysticfibrosis.ca/
• Gore Park Community Outreach: https://goreparkoutreach.ca/
• Indspire: https://indspire.ca/
• Rainbow Health Ontario: https://www.rainbowhealthontario.ca/
• Red Door Shelter: https://www.reddoorshelter.ca/
• Reena Foundation: https://reenafoundation.org/
• Rise: https://www.risehelps.ca/mentoring-tool-kit/
Join the conversation with today's leaders and share your career questions. Make sure to subscribe, like, and share!
More episodes
View all episodes
31. Why Great Leaders Don't Avoid Conflict | Oliver Martin
09:17||Season 1, Ep. 31What if the best leaders don't avoid conflict? They embrace it.In this episode of Successfully Ambiguous, Christine Brooks-Cappadocia sits down with mediator, facilitator, and leadership coach Oliver Martin. Drawing on more than two decades of experience helping individuals, teams, and organizations navigate workplace conflict, strengthen communication, and build healthier relationships, Oliver explores why conflict isn't something to fear, but one of the most powerful drivers of innovation, growth, and stronger leadership.From psychological safety and learning from failure to navigating difficult conversations with confidence, Oliver shares practical strategies for transforming workplace tension into better communication, stronger relationships, and healthier teams.Whether you're leading a team, navigating change, or preparing for a difficult conversation, this episode will challenge the way you think about conflict and give you practical tools you can apply immediately.
30. How to Reinvent Yourself at Any Stage of Your Career | Josie Ferry
08:02||Season 1, Ep. 30Career reinvention rarely begins with a perfect plan. More often, it begins with an unexpected change.In this episode of Successfully Ambiguous, Christine Brooks-Cappadocia speaks with Josie Ferry, who transformed an unexpected career setback into an opportunity to reinvent herself.After a workplace restructuring, Josie made the decision to invest in herself by returning to school through York University School of Continuing Studies, launching her own business, and building a career helping people navigate life's most significant transitions through coaching, mediation, and education. Together, they discuss career reinvention, lifelong learning, mentorship, and why asking for help and embracing honest feedback can become catalysts for growth.Whether you're navigating a career transition, considering a return to school, starting a business, or simply wondering what's next, this conversation offers practical insights for building your next chapter with confidence.In this episode:How to reinvent yourself during times of changeWhy investing in yourself is the best career moveReturning to school as an adult learnerTransitioning from employee to entrepreneurFinding mentors who help you growThe value of honest feedbackWhy asking for help creates opportunity
29. Building a Career in Canada: The Advice Every Newcomer Needs
09:36||Season 1, Ep. 29What does it really take to build a career, a community, and a sense of belonging in Canada?In this Canada Day special of Successfully Ambiguous, host Christine Brooks-Cappadocia brings together powerful stories and practical insights from newcomers, international graduates, and industry leaders who have navigated the realities of building careers in Canada.Together, they explore the challenges of entering a new job market, adapting to a different workplace culture, building confidence through community, and recognizing that careers are built through connection as much as qualifications. Along the way, they share practical strategies for job searching, networking, and creating meaningful opportunities for themselves and others.Whether you're new to Canada, changing careers, supporting newcomers, or looking to build more inclusive workplaces and communities, this conversation offers thoughtful perspectives on resilience, belonging, and lifelong learning.In this episode, you'll learn:Why belonging often begins with asking for helpHow to approach your job search more strategicallyHow confidence and community create career momentumWhy career success is about more than qualificationsHow giving back creates opportunities for others to thriveFeaturing:Diana Palmerín Velasco – Senior Director, Future of Work, Canadian Chamber of CommerceGayathri Rajamohan – Global PIEoneer Alumni of the Year finalist and cybersecurity educatorRamiz Essani – Digital marketing professionalOlatunji Saliu – Entrepreneur and Founder, Hope & Threads FoundationIf this conversation resonates with you, follow Successfully Ambiguous for more honest discussions about careers, lifelong learning, and the future of work.
28. You're Not Falling Behind | Joceline Kozhipatt
13:41||Season 1, Ep. 28What if you're not falling behind at all?Christine Brooks-Cappadocia sits down with Joceline Kozhipatt, communications professional and intercultural engagement specialist, to discuss career transitions, relationship-building, and why every season of life can be an opportunity for growth.From arriving in Canada as a newcomer to becoming Student of the Year, Joceline shares how continuous learning, meaningful connections, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty helped shape her career journey.Together, they explore why networking is about building relationships long before you need them, how career breaks can develop valuable professional skills, and why growth often happens during the seasons that don't feel productive at all.In this episode:• Why networking starts before you need it• How meaningful relationships create opportunity• Why career breaks can build valuable skills• The importance of continuous learning and adaptability• How to navigate uncertainty with confidence• Why every season can be a season of preparationHosted by Christine Brooks-Cappadocia, Successfully Ambiguous explores non-linear careers, unexpected opportunities, and the skills needed to thrive in a changing world.
27. The Best Career Moves Aren't Always Planned | Laura Babcock
14:25||Season 1, Ep. 27What if the best career moves aren't the ones you planned?Christine Brooks-Cappadocia sits down with Laura Babcock, communications strategist, executive trainer, national media commentator, and host of The OShow, to discuss how relationships, trust, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty can create opportunities you never saw coming.From journalism to entrepreneurship, leadership, media commentary, and podcasting, Laura shares why some of the most important opportunities emerge when you're willing to say yes before you feel fully ready.Together, they explore the role relationships play in creating opportunity, why trust and reputation matter more than credentials alone, and how confidence is often built through action rather than certainty.In this episode:• Why the best career moves aren't always planned• How relationships create unexpected opportunities• Why trust and reputation matter more than credentials• The value of saying yes before you feel fully ready• How confidence grows through actionHosted by Christine Brooks-Cappadocia, Successfully Ambiguous explores non-linear careers, unexpected opportunities, and the skills needed to thrive in a changing world.
26. You Don’t Need to Check Every Box | Michelle Aarons
19:09||Season 1, Ep. 26What if the reason you feel “not fully qualified” is exactly what’s holding you back?In this episode of Successfully Ambiguous, Christine Brooks-Cappadocia speaks with Michelle Aarons, Executive Director, Programs & Partnerships at the York University School of Continuing Studies and recent TEDxOshawa speaker, about non-linear careers, redefining success, and why no one truly checks every box.Michelle shares the surprising story of being hired for a role she wasn’t initially shortlisted for, why the “dream job” still didn’t feel right, and how she learned to build a career aligned with who she really is instead of who others expected her to become.Drawing on experiences across the private sector, higher education, leadership, lifelong learning, and public speaking, Michelle explores how authenticity, adaptability, and confidence can open unexpected doors throughout your career.In this episode, you’ll learn:• Why no one truly checks every box• How non-linear careers can become your greatest advantage• Why the “dream job” may not always be the right fit• The importance of lifelong learning and career reinvention• How authentic relationships create future opportunities• Why confidence often comes after taking the leapIf you’ve ever questioned whether you’re qualified enough, ready enough, or following the “right” path, this conversation will change how you think about growth and opportunity.🎙 About Successfully AmbiguousSuccessfully Ambiguous explores non-linear career paths, future-of-work questions, and how people prepare for unexpected opportunities in a rapidly changing world of work.25. Staying Relevant in the Age of AI Means Staying Human | Hashmat Rohian
18:34||Season 1, Ep. 25Staying relevant in the age of AI is about more than technical skills.So what actually matters when everything is changing?In this episode of Successfully Ambiguous, Christine Brooks-Cappadocia speaks with Hashmat Rohian, Vice President, Enterprise Technology and Data at EQ Bank, about what it really takes to stay relevant in a world shaped by AI, automation, and rapid change.Drawing on his experience as a data scientist and faculty member, Hashmat shares how the value of work is shifting, why problem solving is evolving, and what professionals need to focus on now to stay competitive.This conversation challenges the idea that more tools or more technical knowledge are the answer. Instead, it highlights the importance of how you think, communicate, and continuously adapt.If you’re navigating career growth, change, or uncertainty, this episode will help you rethink where to focus next.For those looking to build these skills in practice, there are structured programs in data, technology, and business designed for this shift:👉Explore Our ProgramsIn this episode, you’ll learn:• Why staying relevant is less about tools and more about how you think• The shift from solving problems to defining the right ones• How AI amplifies your strengths and exposes your gaps• Why communication and storytelling are now essential career skills• How to continuously adapt and reinvent your career over time• A practical framework for navigating uncertaintyActionable takeawayDon’t just focus on keeping up. Focus on how you think.The professionals who stay relevant aren’t the ones with the most tools. They’re the ones who can define the right problems, communicate clearly, and adapt as things change.About Successfully AmbiguousSuccessfully Ambiguous explores non-linear career paths, future-of-work questions, and how people prepare for unexpected opportunities. If you’re navigating change, rethinking your career, or learning in real time, this show is for you.24. It’s Not You: What Actually Shapes Career Outcomes | Richard Pinnock
19:36||Season 1, Ep. 24What if you could do everything right — and still not get the outcome you expected?And what matters more — what happens to you, or what you decide to do next?In this episode of Successfully Ambiguous, Christine Brooks-Cappadocia sits down with Richard Pinnock, President of Diversity of Thought Strategies and former Chief Diversity Officer at Export Development Canada.From being the first in his family to graduate university to becoming a senior leader in a Fortune 500 organization, Richard shares the early career experience that could have stopped everything — and the decision that shaped the direction of his work in diversity, equity, and inclusion.This conversation explores what it really takes to navigate setbacks, move forward with clarity, and make intentional career decisions in a rapidly changing world of work.In this episode:• What to do when setbacks aren’t within your control• Why your response matters more than the moment itself• How stepping outside your comfort zone creates new opportunities• The role of culture, context, and awareness in career growth• Why “diversity of thought” is essential in today’s workplaceTakeaways you can apply:• How to turn a defining moment into long-term direction• A simple way to separate what you can control vs. what you can’t• One action you can take to move outside your comfort zone• How to approach setbacks with more clarity and perspectiveIf you’re thinking about your next step, explore programs at the York University School of Continuing Studies designed to help you build in-demand skills and navigate change with confidence:👉 Explore Our Programs👉 Certificate in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in ActionSuccessfully Ambiguous explores career twists, real stories, and the strategies professionals need to thrive in a changing world.23. Career Growth, Pixar, and 300 Conversations | Katherine Chong
10:15||Season 1, Ep. 23Most people try to plan their careers. What if that’s the wrong approach?In this episode of Successfully Ambiguous, Christine Brooks-Cappadocia speaks with Katherine Chong — product manager, startup coach, and cultural consultant on Pixar’s Turning Red — about how one decision to step away from a traditional career path led to unexpected opportunities, including working with Pixar.After experiencing burnout, Katherine took a six-month sabbatical and had over 300 conversations with people from different industries — with no agenda. What started as a simple experiment in curiosity became a powerful way to navigate career uncertainty, build meaningful connections, and uncover new opportunities.This conversation is for anyone navigating career change, questioning their next step, or trying to grow in a world of work that doesn’t follow a clear path.In this episode, we explore:• Why having conversations with no agenda can open unexpected doors• How curiosity can be a better compass than following what you “should” do• Why career clarity comes from action, not overthinking• How asking for what you want can lead to new opportunities• Why many career breakthroughs come from conversations, not planning• How one moment of reflection can change how you see yourselfIf you’ve ever felt stuck, burned out, or unsure of what’s next, this episode offers a different way to think about career growth — one rooted in curiosity, connection, and experimentation.