Today's Leaders for Tomorrow's Future

Amanda Calzolaio

A podcast to redefine the narrative about what it means to be a leader in society. You will hear a collection of stories about how people are making this world a better place for tomorrow’s future. Today’s leaders need not have an organizational leadership title. Their power rests in the people they serve, the communities they form, and in their ability to lead today. If you take only one thing away from this podcast it would be to see yourself as the leader you want and choose to be knowing that parts of you already are one. read less
EducationEducation

Episodes

"Digging Deep" with Jennifer Siripong Mandel & Anika Chabra
May 30 2023
"Digging Deep" with Jennifer Siripong Mandel & Anika Chabra
In this episode, Co-Founders Anika Chabra & Jennifer Siripong Mandel discuss their company Root & Seed and its mission to end the loss of tradition. As a social enterprise advancing intergenerational and culturally sensitive work, both Jennifer and Anika share what digging deep means to them and how the richness of their histories and its stories, along with those of the families they engage with, led them to where they are now both personally and professionally. While honouring the past and nurturing the future, the Co-Founders remind the audience to never stop exploring the past, to evolve, listen and lead without a solution in mind. Anika and Jennifer offer insight into the ongoing development of their start-up, noting there is value in purpose, feedback, perseverance, being grounded, and celebrating successes. Anika Chabra & Jennifer Siripong Mandel are founders of Root & Seed, a startup disrupting the culture and preservation space.  After working in advertising for two decades and together for five years, they were motivated by very different reasons to rediscover their cultural roots and came together to harness the age-old power of storytelling with intuitive technology to help people claim, honour, and document their unique family stories and traditions. Two years into their entrepreneurial journey, Root & Seed has expanded to include The Root & Seed Podcast, a mobile web app, and physical products. In addition, Root & Seed is entering the B2B consulting space, and Anika & Jennifer are advocates for inclusivity in the workplace, having often been the only women of colour in boardrooms and workspaces.
"To Be a Strong and Resilient Afghan Woman" with Sana Askari
Mar 31 2023
"To Be a Strong and Resilient Afghan Woman" with Sana Askari
In this episode, Sana Askari unveils the many struggles she was faced with as an Afghan women, which makes  Afghan women beautifully resilient. She speaks to her journey and the risks she took and continues to take to resist the societal and gender norms to not give up and disappear. Sana discusses how education is the key to not lose a generation to darkness and how important it is to continue to amplify the voices of Afghan women so the world does not forget them. It is worth it to Sana to stand for her rights, and that for other Afghan women, and face the consequences. Sana shares how drawing became a form of self care in time when she needed - like many leaders do - to take a break from the fight and push through on your own.  Sana Askari  was born in Ghazni Province of Afghanistan, but grew up as a refugee in Quetta, Pakistan.  She founded Esheel Stitching Circle – a social enterprise that primary employs home-restricted and vulnerable women thereby helping these women to continue sending their children to school both in Afghanistan and in refugee-settling areas in Quetta. She represented Afghanistan at the 2022 Global Summit organized by Fora: Network for Change in Canada in November 2022. Sana is one of the founders of UNESCO Youth and AI Ethics Steering Committee, and now a first year student and Dorsey Scholar recipient at McDaniel College. She is pursuing a dual major in Political Science and Business Administration.
"Going Above and Beyond the Call of Duty in Catastrophic Impairment Law" with Andrew Leroy Rudder
Feb 8 2023
"Going Above and Beyond the Call of Duty in Catastrophic Impairment Law" with Andrew Leroy Rudder
In this episode, Andrew Leroy Rudder takes a deep dive into what and who motivates him to practice catastrophic impairment law along with the approaches he takes to help his clients, inclusive of recognizing that the persons behind the case are worth the fight.  Rudder earns the trust of his clients, often Indigenous and living on reserves, through intimacy, openness and challenging the notions he holds. Andrew discusses how important, yet intimating, it was to start his own firm that enabled him to go above and beyond the call of duty for his clients and now look to serve those most in need. He speaks to the barriers his clients face as well as a specific case whereby provincial legislation was amended in favor of his young Indigenous client. Rudder wants to continue to influence and leverage change within catastrophic impairment law while making himself available for the next generation of black lawyers in Canada.Andrew Leroy Rudder is a civil litigation and personal injury lawyer specializing in catastrophic impairment law. Andrew is a published author of the LexisNexis Inc. book entitled, “Catastrophic Impairment Law in Canada,” a director at Head Injury Rehabilitation Ontario, and the founder of Rudder Law Group Professional Corporation (Rudder Law Group). He blogs and vlogs regularly on the vlog entitled, “Personal Injury Lawyer Tips".His practice is devoted to severe and catastrophic plaintiffs’ personal injury tort cases, including motor vehicle collisions, slip and falls, and assaults, as well as accident benefits and disability benefits claims. His clients include people who sustained catastrophic impairments, such as a catastrophic traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and fracture(s), paraplegia, tetraplegia, severe impairment of ambulatory mobility or the use of an arm, amputation of a leg or an arm, loss of vision, and/or a mental and behavioural disorder.He is a recent award winner of the 2022 Reisman Award for the best new law firm recognizing his work to press for change in the legal system. He also won an Advocacy Award from the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers in November 2022. Rudder received an Honours Bachelors of Arts degree from York University, majoring in Philosophy. Rudder earned his law degree from the University of Windsor.
Capturing the Beauty and the Unapologetic Self with Art & Science with Dr. Nicole Crimi
Nov 9 2022
Capturing the Beauty and the Unapologetic Self with Art & Science with Dr. Nicole Crimi
In this episode, Dr. Nicole Crimi discusses how her art is an expression of the unapologetic self,  a symbol of courage, and a representation of a complex story. Through both art and science, Nicole illustrates how she moved out of her typical character to move past perceived creative limits and out of her comfort zones to develop works such as "Two elephants" donated to Stop Poaching Now as well as Patty and the Pandemic. Through the synergies of her artistic and medical experiences, Nicole shares the importance of owning who you are, becoming the 'different' leader you are meant to be, and building stronger relationships with an ability to combine and communicate what you are good at. Nicole leaves the audience with a wish to push boundaries and think outside the box, while continuously looking for beauty in every day, to overcome the bumps in the road. Dr. Nicole Crimi is a head and neck surgery resident at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario. She received her Honours Bachelor of Science degree from McMaster in 2018, and spent a year away from school to focus more on her passions for art, hiking, and philanthropy. Nicole’s artistic career began as an actress at the young age of 4. She is most well known for playing Kylie George, in "Mean Girls" when she was 8 years old. After leaving the film industry, Nicole founded "Nicole Crimi Art" and began selling her art on an international platform in 2013. While in University, she realized that her art meant more to her when she was creating it with the goal to share a message or help others. She believes that art allows people to connect with each other in a way deeper than words could ever allow, and as a result, she has gone on to use her artwork for advocacy and education. She has donated meaningful custom paintings to fundraisers, and has presented it at events such as McMaster's United Nations conference titled "Art for Change" where she was the keynote speaker. As a physician and medical learner, Nicole is constantly seeking out ways to combine her passions for health and art together – co-founding her McMaster HeART (Health and Art) interest group, teaching art workshops centred around wellness to students and patients, and, creating creative works such as “Patty and the Pandemic” a children’s book for 3-8 year olds which use art for medical education with all profits made from book sales being donated to Face the Future Foundation, a charitable organization that provides life saving/changing surgeries for children in developing countries.
Sources of Renewal and the Keys to Health Leadership with Dr. Shira Brown
Sep 28 2022
Sources of Renewal and the Keys to Health Leadership with Dr. Shira Brown
In this episode, Dr. Shira Brown shares her perspectives on health leadership as a source and function of renewal when making a difference in someone's life. She talks about the value of team, the role of leadership to serve said team, her special work family, and she is reminded of the human condition through the power of why and an inquiry towards how you are living. Dr. Brown discusses the pandemic's impact on health teams along with the key findings from the EMBA project she conducted pinpointing communication, strategy and emotional intelligence as key leadership qualities. Shira taps into the importance of community based research in the community, the intersection of medicine and the social determinants of health, and her vision for healthcare to include access to the right people at the right time and to the best access possible. Dr. Shira Brown completed residency at the University of Toronto at North York General Hospital in 2003 where she remained for several years.  In 2009, she joined Niagara Health as an Emergency Medicine specialist.  She has served as a Deputy Chief of Emergency Medicine for South Niagara from 2011 to 2022 where she developed a proven track record in physician change management and financial governance.  During her tenure as Deputy Chief, Dr. Brown led important interdisciplinary initiatives such as Niagara Health’s nationally recognized Difficult Airway program.  In partnership with McMaster University, she organized the funding and governance to create the Emergency Medicine Researchers of Niagara, a rapidly expanding research incubator in our region.  Dr. Brown is currently beginning a new role at Niagara Health as the Physician Lead for the new South Niagara Hospital project which will involve preparing the 469 bed hospital for operational readiness.  Most recently, Dr. Brown graduated from the joint global executive MBA program with Brown University in Rhode Island, and IE Business School in Spain.  Her approach to knowledge acquisition, adoption and practice, while serving patients and leading a team of physicians during the pandemic led her to be recognized as one of the top 102 “Best & Brightest” Executive MBA graduates from across the world.   Dr. Brown continues to provide leadership and frontline care to patients and their families while balancing a career and life as a wife and mother of three children.
Embracing Changes to Education: Approaches for Equity Deserving Groups
Sep 1 2022
Embracing Changes to Education: Approaches for Equity Deserving Groups
In this episode, a panel of Black women from diverse backgrounds and members of the Backpack Project discuss their experiences growing up in the Caribbean and Canada, the differences in the education systems from their lived experiences, and the impacts on equity deserving groups, specifically those in the black community. Melissa Enmore, who was introduced in episode 5, and I co-host the episode alongside panelists Alicia Sullivan and Michele Mitchell. Themes and topics that emerged from the discussion included: education as a means to find ways in and out; variability by location; school as hub; classism and racism; cultural sensitivity; degradation; guardianship; mentorship and coaching; representation; and entrepreneurship. Alicia Sullivan manages a project devoted to cultivating the signature learning experience at Sheridan College. She is passionate about building relationships, has an eye for systems-thinking and is dedicated to designing processes to drive forward implementation outcomes. She is also a part time professor of Sociology at Sheridan. Alicia is actively involved in the local community where she lives, serving as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program and Outreach Advisor for the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton and as an advisor to the Halton Children’s Aid Society African Black Caribbean Advisory Committee. During the heights of the global pandemic in 2020, Alicia co-authored an anthology, 21 Resilient Women: Stories of Courage, Growth and Transformation. Alicia’s inspiration comes from her desire to live in a world where her children (and all children) are treated equitably and provided universal access to the highest quality educational resources and experiences to optimize their potential.Michele Mitchell is a vibrant, conscientious Black Canadian woman of Caribbean descent from the beautiful island of Antigua. Her quest to make a positive impact on others’ lives has led her to live and work in three different provinces (AB, SK, ON) and a different country (Dominica). Her educational background is diverse with a focus on health studies, psychology, and biology from the University of Toronto and a Masters in Public Health (MPH) from the University of Saskatchewan. Over the years, she has been involved in a number of community and church initiatives near and dear to her heart. One of her most gratifying initiatives is the BackPack Project as she believes she can help BPP support children to reach their full potential. Two members of the Backpack Project who contributed to the discussion prior to recording and could not be on the panel included:Diana Raymond-Watts is the founder and principal consultant at DRW & Associates - a boutique management consulting firm focused on improving health services through strategic planning, operational excellence and enhanced relationship management. Michelle McFarlane is a scholar in STEM academics and, outside of her work as a Board Member with the Backpack Project, she  works as an equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) Consultant.
Creating a Narrative about Living when Discussing Death, Dying and Estate Administration with Debbie Stanley
Jun 20 2022
Creating a Narrative about Living when Discussing Death, Dying and Estate Administration with Debbie Stanley
In this episode, Debbie Stanley brings awareness to life today asking "If today was my last day, would I be okay with that?".  Debbie discusses how to be compassionate, understanding and respectful to executors, grieving families and beneficiaries through a difficult time and a long process. Debbie details what estates are and what considerations are important when exploring your responsibilities. Debbie shares a page in her story leaving the audience with warmth and a readiness to celebrate today and plan for tomorrow.  Debbie Stanley is the Founder and CEO of ETP Canada, a boutique firm located in Guelph Ontario that specializes in Estate Administration. With over a decade in the accounting world, working with hundreds of families, Debbie was plagued by needs that her clients expressed, beyond accounting issues.  Everyday, she faced the frustration of families trying to resolve estates without the full understanding of what lay before them.   From comprehending the mountains of official paperwork, to even the simple things like closing a loved one’s social media presence – Debbie felt the call to clarify this process for Canadians.  Debbie’s vision for making the estate process easier for families has been recognized several times. In 2019, ETP Canada was awarded the Emerging Business of the year by the Guelph Chamber of Commerce. She was awarded the 2022 Rhyze Award by Innovation Guelph recognizing local female entrepreneurs who exemplified ingenuity, passion, and perseverance. Debbie’s passion for helping others shows both in her business and personal life. She is the founding member of the Guelph Estate Planning Council, the founding member of the Guelph Women’s Leadership Group, a board member of Chalmers Community Services, and a committee member for Black Tie Bingo with the Guelph General Hospital. On the home front, Debbie is married, she is a Labrador Retriever lover, and the mother of two incredible young women, who keep her on her toes, and she learns more from them than they could ever realize!
A Journey of Exploration in Healthcare and Founding a Start Up with Kristin Gross
Jun 14 2022
A Journey of Exploration in Healthcare and Founding a Start Up with Kristin Gross
In this episode, Kristin Gross takes us on her journey of exploration with "on the job" learning in a complex health system. She discusses the significance of being your own experience, developing a business that becomes a "must have" for its target audience, and being ready to pivot when founding a start-up company. Kristin's strengths of grit, endurance, a love for learning, and a network of relationships has helped her to be apart of numerous incubators and accelerators while continuously striving towards breaking the viscous cycle that limits the advancement of health literacy and health equity within the healthcare system. Kristin's professional experiences as well as her journey as a patient and caregiver reminds us to be easy on ourselves, know that may takes time to see progress, and it is most important to pour into our minds what is positive and uplifting for us. Kristin Gross is the founder of the startup NavDee (previously Parakletos), a digital platform focusing on empowering patients and caregivers to better advocate for themselves in a complex healthcare system. Kristin Gross started out in the healthcare industry while in the Northeast working at various medical facilities in New England and New York until she relocated to the West Coast. Her experience spans from direct healthcare services to medical sales and business development over the years. She is active member of numerous accelerators and incubators. She is a Board member of YANA Cancer Comfort, Harvard Club of San Diego and Women in Bio. She holds a Masters in Biology from Harvard University.
The Search for Talent On and Off the Ice: Living the Hockey Life as a Family with Dave and Charmaine Draper
Jun 14 2022
The Search for Talent On and Off the Ice: Living the Hockey Life as a Family with Dave and Charmaine Draper
In this episode, Dave and Charmaine Draper discuss growing up in a hockey family and living a life in professional hockey on and off the ice. Dave and Charmaine share how they navigated through a professional hockey career, found their way and gave it their best. Dave discusses what talent was to him, how he went about scouting and coaching players, and what his approach was to meeting the needs of his team.  Dave and Charmaine give voice to their talented family members in the industry, including Kris Draper, and how incredible and difficult it was and is to make it for as long as they had in such a competitive industry.  Charmaine, acting as a sounding board to Dave, and Dave a coach and mentor to many, send a message to all professional athletes that with sensing and believing in yourself, even when it is tough, you can do it.Charmaine Draper, a first stay at home mom, great listener and advisor to women in fashion appraisal and makeup, travelled alongside Dave and the family as Dave pursued his hockey career. Dave Draper began his hockey career in 1965 as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Michigan Tech. He twice led Loyola College (Montreal) of the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union (CIAU) to the Quebec Provincial championship as their head coach. Before moving to the NHL, Dave was the director of scouting for the Canadian National Junior Team guiding Canada to World Junior Championships in 1988 and 1991. He served several positions with Hamilton in the Ontario Hockey League for a 17-year term. As head coach and later general manager of the junior team, he won a Memorial Cup championship in 1976. Dave Draper served four seasons with the Phoenix Coyotes and nine years with the Colorado Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques. He joined the Coyotes as the team’s vice president of scouting and director of player personnel, overseeing all aspects of the team’s scouting, including both the professional and amateur scouting departments. Dave was director of player development and pro scout (1991-95), his was chief scout (1996-98) and later consultant to the president (1998-2000) for the Avalanche. With the Colorado Avalanche, Dave and the team won the Stanley Cup in 1996. In 2005 the Washington Capitals named Dave to the team’s pro scouting staff, vice president and general manager. Dave has been inducted into the Concordia University Sports Hall of Fame and Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame.
A Message to Black Youth: Believe it is Possible with Charles Agyemang
May 4 2022
A Message to Black Youth: Believe it is Possible with Charles Agyemang
In this episode, Charles Agyemang speaks to the importance of black youth having exposure at critical times in their development to career stories and seeing themselves in a career before it becomes a past thought. By breaking the cycle of "what is cool", through the power in representation and having access to accurate and relevant information, more avenues that youth can tap into become visible. Charles speaks to the floating targets black youth face and the community being formed and paying it forward to shed more positive light into the world. In the context of the future of work, he shares the importance of highlighting and applying acquired skills in the workplace,  having accountability and being revered for your black girl magic. Charles  wants black youth to "always believe anything everything is possible...and you are not less than...None of this determines the outcome of your story." Charles Agyemang is the Founder of Influential Team - a platform to help minority youth research potential careers and find a mentor within their respective communities. Charles is a dedicated and committed educator with several years of classroom strategy experience. He is a Guidance Counsellor at TCDSB, building the capacity of educators to make data-driven decisions and support students as they pursue their education and career goals at an individual and institutional level. Core strengths include curriculum and instruction design development; student centred classroom instruction, mentoring and leadership skills; and the development of innovative curriculum. His career has spanned numerous youth and student centred programs and activities within the government, higher education and insurance sectors.  His experience as an educator and his experience as a varsity basketball player has fostered strong communication, collaboration and leadership qualities that he applies within every workplace environment. Charles is a strong believer in youth sport and is passionate about making sure that sports are accessible to all neighbourhoods no matter the socio-economic backgrounds, simply because the kids deserve it.Follow on Instagram and support the Black Health & Wealth Fund.
A Social Obligation to Advocate for and Reconnect Families of Video Gaming Addiction with Elaine Uskoski
Apr 25 2022
A Social Obligation to Advocate for and Reconnect Families of Video Gaming Addiction with Elaine Uskoski
In this episode, Elaine Uskoski shares her experience as a parent and caregiver of an adult aged son with a video game addiction. She talks about how important it was to take care of herself, lead with empathy and understanding, and take a holistic skills building approach to mental health recovery. Elaine discusses the journey of admission and how fulfilling it is step into what now feels like a social obligation to reconnect parents and their children in a purposeful way.Elaine Uskoski is an Author of two books “Seeing Through the Cracks” and “Cyber Sober; A Caregiver’s Guide to Video Gaming Addiction”. Her chronicles began when she faced one of the biggest crisis of her life in learning her youngest son Jake had a video gaming addiction. She is a Speaker and Coach for Video Gaming Addiction Awareness sending a message of hope to parents, caregivers and for those living with addiction. She is a Canada Clinical Partnership Specialist for Intenta Clinical Training for Gaming Disorder. Elaine has been featured by many media outlets including CTV W5, CBC’s The National, CHCH TV, Global News, National Geographic, The Wall Street Journal, and CBC Radio. Prior to her work in video gaming addiction, Elaine was an Iridologist and holistic nutritional expert.  She is a mother, Wife, Photographer and Lover of Tennis. Follow her on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.