Why Career Development Belongs at the Core of the AI Conversation

What happens when you put career development at the heart of conversations about AI, longevity, and the future of work?    On this Career Buzz episode, we’re diving into the future of work with Lisa Taylor, Founder and CEO of Challenge Factory — an organization that helps people and companies rethink careers for longer lives, changing demographics, and new technologies.    Lisa Taylor’s work focuses on career services for older workers, and bridging business, policy, and human potential. She authored The Talent Revolution: Longevity and the Future of Work, paperback edition. Lisa’s message in this AI-enabled world, is that to thrive, we must put career development at the centre of the conversation.     For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Isn’t there a faster way to gain job-ready tech and AI skills — without committing to a whole degree program? Today on the show… imagine you want to step into a new career — but the idea of spending years earning another degree feels out of reach. There is another path. As the saying goes, AI won’t replace people — but people who use AI will replace people who don’t. Through short, focused “nanodegrees” and online courses, Udacity is helping individuals and organizations build the skills that shape the future of work. Jared Molton, Vice President at Udacity, is part of the movement forging futures in tech — empowering learners worldwide to unlock their potential in an AI-enabled world.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

In this episode, we’re tackling a topic that affects not just companies, but communities and careers: how we find and grow the people who keep our industries moving. Our focus is on the aerospace, engineering, and manufacturing sectors—areas where Canada has deep strengths but also faces big challenges. To help us unpack this, we’re joined by the owners of a Toronto- based executive search firm that does things a little differently. Instead of focusing only on C-suite leaders, they recruit across the entire spectrum—from tradespeople and technicians to engineers, managers, and executives. We’ll explore their business model, the unique dynamics of aerospace, trends across manufacturing, and how AI impacts recruiting.   Guest Bios Our Guests today are a father and son team. Barry Wohl has over 30 years in HR leadership, including roles as Vice President of Human Resources at major aerospace firms like Safran and Bombardier. He brings deep expertise in talent acquisition and organizational growth. Now leading a recruitment firm specializing in manufacturing, engineering, and aerospace, he has helped thousands of professionals find the right roles in areas such as quality, supply chain, and compliance. Matthew Wohl is the VP and Partner at The Wohl Group, bringing over 14 years of experience in recruitment and talent strategy. He’s helped countless professionals and companies find the right fit while building a LinkedIn network of 135,000 followers who engage with his insights on modern hiring. Focused on making recruitment more human and effective, Matthew is passionate about improving the hiring experience and supporting people through career transitions.    For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

When Helene Clarkson’s kids were a bit older, and her husband’s career was on track, she asked herself: Hey, what am I gonna do? Today on Career Buzz, we talk with Helene Clarkson, founder of a Canadian sustainable fashion label that designs stylish, smart, versatile clothing for women on the go. After an earlier career, in theatre and acting, in 2014, Helene launched her own clothing line, and what began with pop-up shops in Toronto has since grown into a global brand. From launching and scaling a mission-driven brand, to navigating the complexities of design, production, and identity in fashion — clothing designer Helene Clarkson shares her story behind the seams.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

In career, there are fast shifts - and slow shifts. Fast is quitting, layoff, retirement. Slow is the build-up to fast. How can you optimize slow to weather fast? On Career Buzz, we explore transitions with Marilyn Hintsa — a retirement readiness coach and facilitator of Next Chapter Dialogues. After navigating her own unexpected early retirement, Marilyn now helps others move beyond the ‘shoulds’ of what retirement is supposed to look like, and instead create meaningful, fulfilling lives.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Why are team-building and career development critical for creating engaged, high-performing workplaces? How do trusting relationships between employees lead to stronger collaboration, better productivity, and lasting success for organizations?   Heidi Heung and Mark Franklin and Rich Feller lead and coordinate the teams at OneLifeTools and CareerCycles. Our teams of career professionals have helped thousands of employees navigate career and life transitions by sparking powerful conversations that build clarity, confidence, and connection. Listen in as we have a conversation about the positive outcomes of organizational team building and internal career development.    ALSO on this episode:   When you’re overwhelmed by news, ads, tech and the fast pace of life, how can you slow down, focus on what you want and then actually get it?   David Cohen has taught thousands over the years to sell, plan and market their ventures successfully. He’s recently published the book, “Live Life SWIFT: The Ultimate Guide Filled With Actionable Steps to Help You Live Your Best Life.” In it, he takes readers through the simple but effective SWIFT framework to help anyone make good plans, and take inspired action.    For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Entrepreneurship is the process of identifying a commercial opportunity and putting it into action by developing new products, services, or business models, often involving innovation and risk-taking. It encompasses a wide range of activities, from starting a small business to launching a scalable startup, and can occur independently or within an existing organization, such as through intrapreneurship.  At its core, entrepreneurship involves creating new value, whether economic, social, or otherwise, by utilizing resources in innovative ways to address market needs or gaps.  The entrepreneur is typically seen as an innovator who bears the primary risk and potential reward of the venture, driving change through activities like “creative destruction” to replace outdated offerings with new ones.  65% to 85% of entrepreneurial ventures fail and only 10% reach a 20th anniversary. Our Guest Today is Rahi Tajzadeh a seasoned executive strategist, Certified Management Consultant, and trusted advisor known for guiding boards, C-suites, and founders through complex transformation, turnarounds, and strategic growth. With 19 years of experience across diverse sectors, Rahi delivers actionable, research-driven strategies that drive measurable growth, innovation, and ethical leadership. A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University with a Master of Science in Management and a Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurship, Rahi is a recipient of awards such as the CMC Canada President’s Award and recognition as a Top 10 Alumni.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

In this special episode, Dr Michael Stebleton and Dr Abby Razink present an engaging discussion about a new concept they are playing with, namely, Career Play. Explore the meaning of Career Play and its value for your career and life success. Listen & join Hoda and her guests on Career Buzz to increase your Career Literacy.   Guest Bios Dr Michael J. Stebleton is Professor of Higher Education in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. He teaches at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. His academic interests focus on college student development and career development. His work has appeared in numerous venues including: Journal of Career Development, Journal of College Student Development, and Career Development Quarterly. In 2017, Stebleton received the Merit Award from the National Career Development Association (NCDA) for his contributions to the career education field. Dr. Abby Razink, is an organizational consultant and recent Ph.D. graduate in Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Her dissertation explored the influence of experiential learning on career development during the college-to-work transition. At the University of Minnesota, she taught sales courses and directed an intercollegiate sales competition. Abby serves on the editorial board of NASPA’s Journal of College and Character. Her writing on educational trends has appeared in Psychology Today. Abby can be reached via LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/abbyrazink.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters! at onelifetools.com

How can everyone a student meets help them in their career exploration? Professor Michael Stebleton from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and colleagues argue in their publications that anyone can be a “career influencer” and that career conversations can be effective when everyone on campus adopts this helpful mindset. Tune into this wide ranging conversation with career expert Mike Stebleton where we talk about gamification and play as a form of career development, AI’s impact on careers, how students can articulate their skills, and even how to be a “reasonable adventurer.”   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters!

Industrial design is a process of design applied to physical products that may be manufactured by mass production.  It is the creative act of determining and defining a product’s form and features, which takes place in advance of the manufacture or production of the product. Industrial Design can also be described as “creative problem solving”. At times, at the end of the design process, there won’t actually be a new product emerging. One of the first questions asked is “is a new product necessary?” But what does it take for an industrial designer to transition from a purely design role into an entrepreneur path building a design/manufacture/install business in the area of home renovations.   Guest Bio Kevin Karst an Industrial Designer and journeyman cabinetmaker with 50 years of experience. Kevin moved from the Canadian prairies to Ontario in 1984 to pursue higher education. His Industrial Design degree, with high distinction, from Carleton University (1988) builds on his certified tradesman status. With a background of product development at Knoll, Teknion and OSF, Kevin currently excels at custom design, fabrication and installation for his client base in Toronto, specializing in residential cabinetry and furniture.  Currently working from his well-equipped facility in the East Downtown area, he provides innovative solutions with superior craftsmanship to discerning clients.   For career counselling for you or someone you care about, start with a free discovery call: careercycles.com For gamified, story-based professional development, learn about and schedule a demo of Who You Are Matters! at onelifetools.com