Discover how Kaliyha De Sousa went from volunteering at Regeneration Toronto, a thrift store supporting homeless individuals and newcomers to Canada, to leading major iPhone campaigns at OMD. In this impactful episode, our ChangeMaker Kaliyha, who is an OMD Supervisor, shares her unconventional path into media planning, including how she grew the nonprofit's TikTok account to 30K followers, leveraged a data analytics internship with an Australian beauty and fashion startup while in university, and landed her dream job with one strategic LinkedIn message.

What makes this episode extra special is that Kaliyha is a student I taught at the University of Guelph Humber in the Media Studies program.

Learn the insider secrets to breaking into competitive marketing agencies without traditional experience, including:

• How to build a marketing portfolio through volunteer work and create compelling case studies
• The exact TikTok growth strategy that launched her career (hint: trend monitoring and testing)
• What media planners actually do: translating business objectives into media placements across social, streaming TV, and connected platforms
• Inside look at managing Apple AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, and iPhone 14-16 launches across Canadian markets
• Navigating Quebec's unique media landscape and French-language marketing requirements
• Agency vs client-side marketing: scope management, vendor relationships, and cross-team communication
• Real talk about hybrid work culture (3 days in office), summer Fridays, unlimited PTO, and work-life balance at top agencies

Episode Benefits:

Perfect for marketing students, recent graduates, career changers, and anyone interested in media planning, digital marketing, data analytics, or breaking into agencies like OMD, Publicis, and Starcom. Kaliyha also shares insights on her upcoming transition to Holt Renfrew as a supervisor, where she will manage luxury retail campaigns for Dior, Gucci, and Prada.

Featured topics: Consumer journey storytelling, KPI strategy, streaming TV evolution (Prime Video, Netflix ad tiers), career networking at university job fairs, and the transferable skills between tech and luxury fashion media buying.

Guest: Kaliyha De Sousa, Supervisor, OMD

Topics: Media planning careers, TikTok marketing, agency life, product launch strategy, data analytics, portfolio building, volunteer marketing experience

Featured insights: Data analytics for beauty brands, leading iPhone 14-16 launches, transitioning to Holt Renfrew luxury campaigns, and the power of social impact work in career development.

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Patrick McCaully of PointMan! News Creation and Rachel Ott of Varger Girl Design—a husband-and-wife duo who've successfully built thriving businesses while sharing both a workspace and a marriage for over 25 years.

In this masterclass on business, creativity, and life, Rachel and Patrick share their journey from having zero business experience to becoming award-winning entrepreneurs. They open up about the early challenges—from quitting steady jobs to navigating financial stress—and the major world events (9/11, SARS, power outages) that tested their resolve.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How humour and boldness can transform your PR strategy
• Why "audacity trumps authenticity" in today's media landscape
• The real impact of AI on earned media and graphic design
• Behind-the-scenes stories of award-winning campaigns (including the "Post-Pandemic Primer")
• Honest advice about working with your spouse—including why separate workspaces matter
• Why sales skills are essential for every entrepreneur and social impact leader

Whether you're building a business, navigating a professional partnership with a loved one, or looking to stand out in a crowded market, this episode offers practical wisdom from two entrepreneurs who've mastered the art of collaboration, creativity, and resilience.

Connect with our guests:

• Rachel Ott:Varga Girl Design
• Patrick McCaully: Pointman News Creation

How do you stand out in one of the most competitive job markets in recent memory? What are hiring managers really looking for? And how can you break into your industry when everything seems stacked against new grads?

In this special episode for post-grad marketing students and emerging professionals, we’re joined by Courtney Sebu, HR executive and founder of Shastra Inc., to discuss how to navigate the early stages of your career with clarity, confidence, and strategy. With over two decades of experience in recruiting and leadership consulting, Courtney doesn’t hold back — offering honest, tactical advice on what works now when it comes to landing roles, building your network, and crafting a standout personal brand.

Whether you’re polishing your resume or networking your way into a new industry, this episode is your inside track to HR insights you won’t find in a textbook.

• It’s an employer’s market: With the job market saturated by experienced professionals post-pandemic, it’s tougher than ever for new grads to land roles — but not impossible.
• AI is gatekeeping your resume: Many companies use AI tools to filter applications. If you don’t include job-specific buzzwords, you may be auto-rejected in under 5 minutes.
• Tailor strategically, not endlessly: Instead of rewriting your resume for every role, build a core version with the right industry keywords to "manipulate" the AI in your favour — ethically.
• Networking is your superpower: Referrals and personal introductions are often the only way to get past automated systems and actually get seen by a human recruiter.
• Canadian experience bias still exists: Despite legal changes, many private companies still prioritize local experience. Volunteering, internships, and shadowing can help bridge that gap.
• Don’t dilute your resume too much: If you have international experience, don’t hide it. Focus instead on contextualizing it for Canadian employers and roles.
• Referrals don’t guarantee roles: Even strong recommendations can hit internal company politics or pre-decided hires, which is why persistence and presence matter.
• Certifications are optional, not essential: Courtney has built a successful HR career without formal credentials, emphasizing experience and relationships over letters after your name.
• AI writing tools are just a start: Use ChatGPT and others to brainstorm ideas, but personalize and humanize your content before submitting anything — static, robotic language is a giveaway.
• Your brand = your currency: How you show up online, how you communicate, and how others perceive you will open more doors than a polished resume alone.