UNBeknownst (UNB Associated Alumni)

In this episode: 

• How Samantha got into wrestling at an early age 
• Breaking down big long-term goals into small, manageable steps 
• Sam’s experience in being persistent even in the face of failure 
• Her experience competing on the world stage 

• How to stay mentally fit in any situation 
• Practical ways to develop a growth mindset in order to succeed 

Links and resources: 

Sam’s website: https://www.samanthastewart.ca/ 

Eric Cook is Executive Director and CEO of RPC, New Brunswick’s provincial research organization that provides science and engineering services to over 1100 clients annually. Eric’s career spans leadership in the application of science and technology in sectors including advanced manufacturing, space science, aerospace, and wireless communications. He’s served as the project engineer for Canada’s first interplanetary space instrument (a mission to Mars), and as General Manager of internationally recognized COM DEV Wireless. He’s an avid researcher into Industry 4.0 as part of the sixth wave of innovation that we’re now entering.   

In this episode: 

• Why innovation can happen anywhere and not just in big cities, and how students and employers today can build talent right at home 
• What Eric learned at NASA early in his career 
• What he does at RPC and how they work with the cannabis industry in NB 
• How young employees are helping to companies move in a more sustainable direction 
• How to identify future trends and be on the leading edge 
• Eric’s thoughts on SMR technology and the fossil fuel challenge 
• Discussion on Industry 4.0 and automation – and how changes to industry are on the way 
• What companies should have in their toolbox for the future - in a post-pandemic and climate-emergency world 

Links and resources: 

Research & Productivity Council (RPC): http://www.rpc.ca/ 

Milk Analysis Powered by IoT and AI: https://somadetect.com/ 

High-end Specialized Handsaw: https://robcosman.com/ 

James Gitau (BBA'87, MA'89) came from Kenya to Canada in the 1980s to study at UNB and later returned to Africa to cultivate an esteemed career with UNICEF across the globe. He’s part of UNICEF’s senior leadership and operations group, and over the years has developed cross-cultural team leadership skills and has gained international experience within the humanitarian and development context. He’s currently Deputy Representative, Operations for Yemen.   

In this episode:  

• How taking the chance to study abroad in Canada during the 1980s changed the course of his life.  
• James’ perspective on travelling to over 30 countries with UNICEF, and the mystical, fulfilling, and challenging experiences of his career. 
• How ensuring policy framework and policy changes were fair, transparent and ethical, was an important yet challenging task in many third world countries.  
• Experiencing diverse cultures and learning the history and heritage of the places he’s travelled to.  

Links and resources:  

In this episode: 

• Lessons learned from consulting in Africa and then jumping to work for the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver 
• Jason’s philosophy around choosing career moves to intentionally build the right skills and follow the right people 

• What’s needed more than flashy websites and ads to be successful as a company 
• The Superbowl ad that helped Wealthsimple burst onto the scene 
• The story behind TechTO and what’s needed to grow tech startups in Canada 
• The origins of Jason’s new company, Venue 
• Jason’s advice for anyone wanting to build an idea into a venture  

Natalie Weigum (BSc’10) is currently living in Washington, DC working as a Climate Change Specialist at the World Bank, where she helps integrate climate change into the organization's development lending. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Physics and Chemistry at the University of New Brunswick she completed her PhD in Atmospheric Physics at the University of Oxford and worked in London, UK as a Policy Advisor for the UK Government's Department of Energy and Climate Change. Natalie enjoys living in DC with her fiancé and two cats, and finds time to visit Fredericton as much as she can! 

In this episode: 

• Pivoting out of academia into policy work and experiencing its more tangible day to day impacts 
• Overcoming an internal crisis of working on the energy side for implementing the shale gas industry  
• Working on transformative climate change projects to help countries adapt to climate change especially in the developing world 
• The challenges and rewards of pushing the World Bank’s green lending and convincing stakeholders that climate change is important  
• Natalie’s optimisms about the future of climate change and how we as individuals and consumers can reduce admissions  
• Advice for trusting the process and not being afraid of change in your career 

Ash Furrow (BCS’09) is a compassionate software developer who launched his career while still a computer science student at UNB. After graduating, Ash and his partner moved to Toronto, then Amsterdam, and then New York, where he joined Artsy as it was just beginning to grow into the world’s largest online marketplace for art. He finally moved home to New Brunswick in 2020 and is now working at Shopify. Ash has authored a number of books, built many apps, spoken at conferences around the world, and is a prolific contributor to open-source software. On his blog, he writes about programming, team leadership, mental health, and his explorations of the humanities. 

In this episode:   

• How Ash’s UNB experience helped launch his career and led to developing his own apps 
• The lessons he learned through early explorations of building apps during the rise of the smartphone   
• Ash’s approach to compassionate software development and his motivation for building a psychologically safe work environment  
• How his career with Artsy inspired his work with open-source software and building online communities of contributors  
• The challenges of moving to New York and introducing the idea of e-commerce to a market that had previously resisted the internet   
• Helping people gain new perspectives and grow as a community through open-source software 
• Ash’s advice for coders and developers to separate themselves from their work  
• The transition of moving back to New Brunswick to work for Shopify, and shifting to a beginner’s mindset  

Links and resources:   

Ash’s LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashfurrow/

Ash’s blog: https://ashfurrow.com/blog/  

Discover Ash’s published books: https://ashfurrow.com/books  

Olive Ozoemena is Director of Programs and Operations for the New Brunswick Multicultural Council. Olive is from Nigeria and came to New Brunswick in 2015 to study in the MBA program at UNB Saint John. She stayed in the community and has been an integral part of helping to build a multicultural society that is welcoming and inclusive for newcomers and people from all backgrounds. She is also a member of UNB’s Alumni Council, and is passionate about building inclusive communities and moving beyond unconscious biases. 

In this episode: 

• The experience for international students 
• Why Olive is optimistic about breaking down societal biases 
• What individuals can do to break down and eliminate our own biases 
• How organizations can intentionally include more people and build more representative teams 
• The challenges of moving the needle and the reward of positive change 
• What employers can do to recognize experience and enhance their workforce 

In this episode: 

• Why Michaela is passionate about local supply chains and building strong operations for a local Atlantic company. 
• The satisfaction of having personal connections with local suppliers. 
• The philosophy behind Made with Local. 
• How supply chain got crazy when Covid-19 took over the world. 
• The lesson Michaela learned about leading and working with diverse teams. 
• Tips for quick success after graduation and how to lead as a young professional.  

In this episode:   

• The risk of centralization of power among various Western governments 
• How lack of regional ministers has contributed to a public lack of trust in the government 
• The breakdown of accountability 
• What government is good at  
• How Donald became such a prolific researcher and writer
• Why he’s a “Maritime nationalist” 

• How attending a small university had a lot to offer and encouraged Jason’s community involvement, spirit, and sense of belonging. 
• Serving as the president of the Canadian Real Estate Association and how he has developed a deep involvement with the community through volunteer work  
• Jason’s insights into the current hot real estate market in Canada and its volatility 
• How there has been population growth in Saint John and how the hybrid system of the world due to the pandemic may have been a contributor.  
• Why Jason feels giving back to the community is important to help others along the way 
• Jason’s career advice for planning, having a road map to achieve work goals and networking with others to help close a deal 

Links and resources:  

Jason Stephen real estate: http://jasonstephen.ca/  

UNB Saint John Faculty of Arts:  https://www.unb.ca/saintjohn/arts/  

Thanks to:  

Pam Palmater (LLB'97) is an award-winning public speaker, author and social justice activist. She was one of the spokespeople and public educators for the Idle No More movement and continues to advocate alongside other social movements focusing on Indigenous rights, social justice and climate action. She is also a well-known media commentator and public speaker - considered one of Canada’s Top 25 Influential Movers and Shakers by the Financial Post. Pam is a member of the Eel River Bar First Nation in northern New Brunswick and has four university degrees, including a law degree from UNB in 1997. She’s been a practicing lawyer for 22 years and is currently a Professor and the Chair in Indigenous Governance at Ryerson University.   

In this episode: 

• Pam discusses her law background and how she got into activism 

• Her time working to make change within government and why it wasn’t for her 
• Kids, personal time and social media 
• Her experience at Ryerson and the university's decision to change its name 
• Insights into the decolonization process and how Pam is emboldened by community and seeing change happen 
• Ways in which every Canadian can make a difference when it comes to Indigenous reconciliation 

Asif Hasan is an alum from UNB’s Electrical and Computer Engineering and TME programs, and the CEO and co-founder of SimpTek Technologies, a Fredericton startup company that helps residential homeowners and electric utility companies to better understand, engage and predict energy usage. He’s a world citizen - born in Bangladesh, educated in India and Canada, and now building a company in New Brunswick. He’s fully immersed himself into the community through co-chairing in the creation of Fredericton’s immigration strategy, acting as Dialogue Director for the City of Fredericton and Dialogue NB, as an Advisor for the local immigration network and as Director at the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce. 

In this episode: 

• Importance of ecosystem to welcome newcomers and make them feel heard and understand they belong.  
• How international students are risk managers and entrepreneurs - and how good policies can help keep them in the community 
• How TME helped Asif understand business and help with the foundations of the company.  
• Simptek’s mission to decarbonize every building in North America and make an impact in the world 
• The grid-edge economy and how climate change is disrupting the industry 
• How collaborations, open source and creation of shared digital tools are the path to evolution and success 
• The entrepreneur’s job to create a “trailer” for the movie 
• Promoting courage over fear, and not worrying about failure 
• How giving back to the community helps everyone feel they belong 
• How permanent residents are highly invested in society and need a voice through the vote 

Links and resources: 

• Places to visit in Bangladesh: Sundarbans - Chittagong - Cox's Bazar 
• SimpTek: https://www.simptekinc.com/ 
• NB Power: https://www.nbpower.com/ 
• HOT2000: https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy-efficiency/homes/professional-opportunities/tools-industry-professionals/20596 
• NB Foster Family: https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/social_development/foster_care.html 
• International Students' Association New Brunswick: https://www.isacanada.ca/ 
• Fredericton Chamber of Commerce: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fredericton-chamber-of-commerce/ 
• Ignite Fredericton: https://www.ignitefredericton.com/ 
• Favorite Productivity Tools: 

• SLACK: https://slack.com 
• JIRA: https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira 
• Asana: https://asana.com 
• Trello: https://trello.com/en 
• Canva: https://www.canva.com 

• Bengali Language 101: 

• Hello: Ki obostha
• Thank you: Dhonnobad
• Goodbye:  Bidai

• Traditional Dishes: 

• Tehari, is an authentic Bangladeshi rice that packs a pleasant punch with green chilies and curried beef. 
• Kitchari, is a homey, comforting, lightly spiced rice and lentil dish 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asif-hasan 

Mike Harrison (BScKin’02, MScExSS’05) is a flight surgeon as well as an emergency medicine and critical care physician at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. He was recently one of the flight surgeons for SpaceX’s Crew-1 Dragon - which launched in 2020 and returned in 2021. Mike graduated from UNB with a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology and a Master of Science in exercise and sport science. We talk with Mike about his work as a physician during these strange times, what it’s like to be part of a space crew, and what it takes to follow your dreams and shoot for the stars. 

In this episode:   

• What is aerospace surgery and how Mike got into it 
• How emergency medicine has changed since the pandemic
• The different perspectives of health care workers during the pandemic 
• Why the longer path to getting to where he’s supposed to be was helpful 
• The excitement of being part of the future of space travel 
• The unknown physiologic effects on humans in space 

Links and resources:   

• Emilie’s non-linear path from UNB to living on five different continents 
• What human-centered design means in the field 
• Innovative interventions Emilie’s been working on 
• Complex solutions to complex conflicts and problems  
• Gender education and equality efforts in Uganda – and why it’s so important  
• Prioritizing health and wellness and a social network to maintain momentum 

Links and resources:   

Tom Liston (BBA’96) is one of the most sought-after minds in Canada’s tech investment sector. Tom currently serves on several Board of Directors for public and private technology companies, and he has a strong track record of shareholder value creation in that capacity. As Chief Investment Officer of a leading technology-focused venture capital firm, he made investments in SaaS, FinTech, and Healthcare IT fields – two of which were among the top exits in Canadian technology in the past decade. Tom is consistently ranked among the top technology analysts in industry surveys and has received more StarMine stock-picking awards than any other technology analyst. He also volunteers his time as a mentor at the Future of Sport Lab in Toronto, has raised over $100,000 for the MLSE Foundation to support kids' sport, and just recently was a lead investor and advocate for refurbishing Canada’s oldest basketball court in St. Stephen, NB. 

In this episode: 

• How Tom broke into the big leagues on Bay Street 
• Why he strategically chose technology companies as his focus 
• Tom’s secrets to investment success 
• Tom’s thoughts on cryptocurrency as part of a portfolio  
• Blockchain tech used in everyday practices 
• The need for more homegrown large Canadian tech companies and the investment needed to do it 
• The lessons in life that come from team sports 
• Why Tom values giving back to the community 

Links and resources: 

• Canadian ICT Sector Performance 
• Well Health, a Canadian Telehealth company 
• CubicFarm Systems, a Canadian AgTech company 
• World’s oldest basketball court  
• Tom’s LinkedIn 
• Tom’s Twitter    

Thanks to: 

Our alumni hosts, the AAA Team: Arsham, Arash and Armin Ahmadi https://www.unb.ca/alumni/alumni-news/unb-alumni-podcast.html 

In this episode: 

• The very different paths to healthcare leadership and knowing vs. not knowing what you want as a student 
• COVID-19 as a change agent that forced change quickly in healthcare 
• Using data and evidence to guide decisions and create the most benefit  
• The health human resources problem and burnout of healthcare workers 
• Managing stress and avoiding burnout 
• Advice for building a successful career – and defining what success really means 

Links and resources: 

• The magnificent historical architecture of New Brunswick and the not-so-magnificent modern architecture of New Brunswick. 
• What it means to love a place and steward it  
• Why the places that are popular are because of the quality of the environment 
• John’s favourite building in New Brunswick 
• The unique nature of wooden architecture in the Maritimes John’s favourite buildings on UNB’s campuses and why they’re significant 
• The history behind the built environments of the Saint John and Fredericton campuses John’s favourite artwork in Fredericton – and it’s on the UNB campus! 
• His thoughts on the expansion of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery 

 Links and resources:   

John’s website 

Beaverbrook Art Gallery 

Brandon Mitchell (BIS’16, MEd’18) is a Mi'kmaq graphic artist, published writer and entrepreneur from Listuguj, Quebec, now residing in Fredericton. Brandon is a two-time graduate of UNB, with a Bachelor in Multimedia and Art Culture and Master in Education, Adult and Continuing Education. He is the founder of Birch Bark Comics and creator of the Sacred Circles comic series. His work includes a series of illustrated books that fuse contemporary graphic novel artistic approaches with traditional Mi’kmaq stories and language. Brandon feels that comic books and graphic novels are a path to better teach Indigenous youth about their culture, rather than from a textbook. 

In this episode:   

• How Brandon realized he could write and how he got into graphic novels 
• His initial experience teaching Indigenous youth in his home community, and how it inspired creating Mi’kmaq graphic art stories 
• The challenge of starting and growing an Indigenous business, and in being both an entrepreneur and a creative 
• Growing a career as a published author
• Why Brandon feels incorporating the Mi’kmaq language into storytelling is a better way to expose young readers to culture and pride  

Links and resources:   

Birch Bark Comics 

• How Krista gained the confidence to go big on projects and ideas. 
• Going deep in different areas of MaRS and supporting entrepreneurs. 
• The future of jobs and how people can use tech while keeping the focus on people. 
• How automation – or rather augmentation - plays a role in the evolution of jobs.  
• Why companies are making short-term decisions right now. 
• Krista dives into the Momentum program to help solve Canada’s productivity gap. 
• How to close the innovation loop. 
• Why Canada should embrace the success metrics of good, better, best. 
• The challenges that persist in Canada when it comes to joining the global competition. 
• What Krista is excited about for the future.  

Links and resources:   

MaRS Discovery  

Mitch Cobb (BA’02) is co-owner and CEO of Upstreet Craft Brewery, on Prince Edward Island. But Upstreet isn’t just a brewery (even though it's grown to become a major player in the Atlantic Canada brewing industry), it’s a Certified B Corp, intent on doing business differently and making a positive impact in their community. Mitch has been named one of Atlantic Canada’s Top 50 CEOs by Atlantic Business Magazine. He graduated from UNB with an Arts degree in Anthropology and International Development and says that a lightbulb went off for him when he realized that community development and business are not on the opposite sides of the spectrum. 

In this episode: 

• The origin story for Upstreet 
• The meaning behind being a certified B Corp and why it’s important 
• Why Mitch is drawn to purpose-driven entrepreneurship 
• The passion and technology behind Upstreet reducing its carbon footprint  
• An honest conversation around corporate greed and a shift in Millennial and Gen Z consumers 
• How to find balance as an entrepreneur 
• Leaning into shifts in society, including creating a non-alcoholic craft beer 

Links and resources: 

• Upstreet Craft Brewing Beer Collection: https://upstreet.ca/beer/ 
• Libra Non-Alcoholic Craft Beer Collection: https://drinklibra.ca/collections/all 
• Partnership with Local Musicians - Serena Ryder Video - Libra’s Balance Ambassador: https://drinklibra.ca/pages/our-story 
• B Corporation: https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/ 
• Bullfrog Power Utilized in Taproom: https://bullfrogpower.com/ 

Thanks to: 

Our alumni hosts, the AAA Team: Arsham, Arash and Armin Ahmadi https://www.unb.ca/alumni/alumni-news/unb-alumni-podcast.html 

Music by alumni artist, Beats of Burden: https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/beats-of-burden/1451387846 

Alexandra Pope (BPhil’06) graduated from UNB’s Renaissance College Bachelor of Philosophy in Leadership program and went straight to work in social media and journalism for local newspapers. She jumped to The Weather Network and then joined Canadian Geographic as digital editor – a dream job. Recently, she was named Editor-in-Chief of Canadian Geographic magazine and its sister publication, Canadian Geographic Travel. Alexandra has had the opportunity to travel to many amazing places in pursuit of interesting stories, including a tidal energy platform in the middle of the Bay of Fundy, a fur trading post in northern Saskatchewan, and the Vimy Ridge battlefield. 

In this episode:   

• Alexandra’s role as Editor-in-Chief of Canadian Geographic and her path from local weekly newspaper journalist to leading a major national magazine 
• The struggle and successes with work-life balance 
• The polarization of media and influence of social media – and where journalism is heading 
• Travel adventures and the rewards of doing what you love 

Cayman Grant (BBA’01) graduated from UNB's Saint John campus with a BBA in 2001 and has since become an Emmy award-winning writer and director who’s been making films and TV that have been screened in over 100 film festivals worldwide. She’s written and directed several projects, including Playing for the Mob, which earned her an Emmy for the feature-length documentary. Her film, The Boy, was a finalist in the prestigious NBCUniversal Short Cuts Film Festival earning her the Oxygen Best Female Director Award chosen and presented by Academy® Award Winner, Geena Davis. She’s currently a participant in the prestigious NBC/Universal Emerging Directors TV Program and recently sold a studio feature to New Line Cinema / Warner Bros Studios. 

In this episode: 

• Why growing up in the small village of St. Martin’s, New Brunswick is the reason Cayman became a filmmaker.  

• Why Cayman believes you can parlay a business degree into anything you want. 
• How Cayman got into telling stories of underdogs. 
• Why Caman created the podcast Whitespeak and why she’s so interested in helping White people understand racial problems with our language and culture and learn how to be a true ally.  
• The importance of being comfortable with who you are and embracing what you’re good at. 
• Why mistakes and failures are important and need to be talked about more.