Work It: a career exploration podcast
You spend a quarter of your life at work--you deserve to find a career you love.
Join hosts Katy and Emma as they talk with alumni about their careers: what they love, what they've learned, and how they got there. Tune in to hear how UVic grads are making meaningful contributions to people, place and the planet.
Plus, get actionable advice to help you succeed at work, like how to feel confident in job interviews, applying to grad school, avoiding burnout & more.
Season 2
Building a sustainable future with Jayesh Verariya (MBA 2019)
On the first episode of season 2, hosts Katy and Emma speak about career journeys with Jayesh Vekariya, a UVic MBA graduate who is the CEO and one of the founders of Joni, a Victoria-based company that produces organic, sustainable menstrual products.
Coming September 24, 2024.
How to use AI in your work search
How can you use AI as you search for work? Hear from career educator Karae White about how to use generative AI and machine learning as you write résumés and cover letters, prepare for interviews and more.
Coming October 29, 2024. Photo by Charles Etoroma.
The power of switching career paths with Matt Heywood (MEng '21)
What you study is just a starting point. On this episode, Katy and Emma chat with Matt Heywood, a UVic mechanical engineering graduate, about pivoting career plans to launch Heywood Academies, a tutoring business that supports students in math, science and engineering.
Coming October 15, 2024.
How to gain experience without a job
How the heck do you gain experience related to your degree if you don’t have a job? What if you're already up to your eyeballs in everyday life? In this episode, we connect with career educators and community-engaged learning staff for their tips and tricks.
Coming October 1, 2024. Photo by Cash Macanaya.
Decolonizing Canadian law with Patricia Barkaskas (BA 2005)
We speak with with Patricia Barkaskas, a Métis woman and UVic history and gender studies graduate who has worked closely with Indigenous peoples and residential school survivors in their encounters with the justice system. She is currently the strategic advisor to the dean with the National Centre for Indigenous Law at UVic.
Coming November 5, 2024.
Is grad school worth it?
Wondering if you should come back to school for a graduate degree? It’s a big question, but we’re here to help. We speak with Allison Benner, associate director of UVic's Career Services team, to learn what kind of research to do and whether graduate school is worth the time and money.
Coming January 14, 2025. Photo by Eben Kassaye.
Blending business and science with Ashley Roulston (BCom 2010)
Have a business idea? Not sure how to get it off the ground?
In this episode, Emma and Kate speak with Ashley and Robert Roulston, co-founders of Industrial Plankton, a company that makes equipment to grow live algae cultures that are used to stabilize the aquaculture food chain. They share tips on how to build a business from scratch, and what it's like working with a partner.
Coming January 28, 2025.
Carving out a creative career with Mark Leiren-Young (BFA 1985)
Don’t want to commit to just one career path? Being flexible can lead you on some amazing adventures.
Hear from Mark Leiren-Young, UVic's second ever double major in Theatre and Creative Writing, who is an author, screenwriter, podcast host, comedian and currently works as a UVic professor in the Writing department, among many other roles.
Coming February 11, 2025. Photo by Eben Kassaye.
Season 1
Indigenous environmental stewardship with Hannah Gentes (2021)
Hannah Gentes (Indigenous studies and environmental studies) is a Saulteaux-Métis woman and senior project manager and Indigenous initiatives lead at Coastal Restoration Society. She shares her journey to a career in Indigenous environmental stewardship.
How to stand out on the job hunt
Career educator Richard Myers shares tips and tricks on how to make an impression on employers with résumés, cover letters, follow-ups and more.
Photo by Lucas Wesney.
Advancing the clean energy sector with Dayah Johal (MBA 2022)
Master of Global Business graduate Dayah Johal works as a senior program developer with the provincial government’s Innovative Clean Energy Fund. She talks about how her co-op work term helped her launch a career in the public sector.
Demystifying the job interview
The idea of an interview can be scary—learn from career educator Selina Jorgensen on how to manage your nerves, practice common interview questions and prepare to wow employers.
Photo by Lucas Wesney.
Working in adventure tourism with Kat Craats (BCom 2020)
Kat Craats is a photographer and marketing manager with WildPlay Element Parks. She tells us how UVic’s BCom program inspired her love of marketing and how she landed her dream job.
How to advocate for yourself at work
Career educator Amy Chen shares everything there is to know about how and when to disclose information to your employer, plus strategies to advocate for yourself at work.
Photo by Matt Nelson.
Improving public health with Natasha Thambirajah (BA 2008)
Natasha Thambirajah is a third-generation public servant and the director of Digital Health Policy at the Ministry of Health. She joins us to talk about her passion for citizen-centered policy making and how she carved out a career she’s passionate about.
Preventing burnout and practicing self-care at work
We get it; work can be overwhelming. Tune in to hear from career educator Darcie Gabruck about setting boundaries and carving out a healthy work/life balance.
Coming February 13, 2024.;Photo by Lina Trochez.
About the podcast
Work It was developed to showcase how UVic students and alumni are bringing their passion and skills to solve real-world problems around the globe. It's a way to tell in-depth stories beyond the page and share career advice for folks at every stage of their career.
Season 1 was developed and hosted by Katy DeCoste, Emma Ulveland and produced by Joy Poliquin. It is distributed in partnership with CFUV and with support from Alumni Services and University Communications and Marketing.
Work It is recorded at the University of Victoria. We acknowledge and respect the lək̓ʷəŋən people on whose traditional territory the university stands and the Songhees, Esquimalt and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.
Share your story
We’re always looking to speak with folks who have had adventures (big or small), are doing something that brings them joy or makes them proud, and who are excited about what’s next.
If you're interested in being a guest on season 2 of Work It, please contact us and tell us a bit about yourself.