We’re living longer, but many of our ideas about careers are still built around retiring at 65. What does that mean for employers overlooking experienced workers, and for people who still have plenty they want to contribute?

Lisa Taylor, co-founder and CEO of Challenge Factory, joins Stacey Allan and Jacquie Daniels to explore how longer working lives are changing the workplace. She challenges the idea that older workers need to step aside for younger people and explains how employers can create new career paths that put experience to work. From the ageism hiding in birthday cards to the importance of a present-tense introduction, Lisa makes the case for rethinking what comes next. There’s also a little Justin Bieber.

Chapters

00:00 Meet Lisa Taylor
01:07 Justin Bieber and the writing process
02:10 Why Lisa founded Challenge Factory
05:28 Five drivers of workforce change
08:23 Retirement needs an update
11:51 Finding purpose beyond retirement
14:15 Why older workers aren’t taking younger workers’ jobs
17:04 The ageism we reinforce ourselves
22:07 From anti-aging to pro-aging
24:20 Rethinking career paths and the value of experience
28:14 Keeping healthcare experience in the workforce
30:03 Everyone deserves a present-tense introduction
30:53 What Canada can learn from other countries
34:19 Rapid fire
35:34 A Bieber Easter egg
36:14 Where to find Lisa

Relevant Links and Resources

Challenge Factory: https://challengefactory.ca/

Hosts: Stacey Allan and Jacquie Daniels

Executive Producer: Ann Normand

Episode Overview

Economic reconciliation is about more than consultation. It means Indigenous communities having a meaningful role in the businesses and opportunities shaping their lands and their futures.

JP Gladu, Founder and Principal of Mokwateh and an Anishinaabe leader from Sand Point First Nation, joins Stacey and Jacquie to talk about what that looks like in practice. He shares his own community’s history of displacement and return, and explains why economic participation, ownership, and employment are essential parts of reconciliation.

The conversation also turns to the enormous opportunity represented by Indigenous youth. JP challenges employers to move beyond good intentions, spend time in communities, rethink traditional approaches to recruitment, and create workplaces where Indigenous employees can genuinely see themselves belonging.

And, naturally, it ends with a competitive moose call.

Chapters

00:01 Meet JP Gladu

01:20 Sand Point First Nation’s displacement and return

08:10 What economic reconciliation means

11:10 What economic reconciliation looks like when it works

17:10 How employers can start building Indigenous relationships

20:30 Creating better opportunities for Indigenous youth

22:00 The impact of the Outland Youth Employment Program

29:30 Why employers need to spend time in communities

34:00 Building an Indigenous engagement strategy that lasts

40:50 Indigenous youth and Canada’s workforce opportunity

45:55 Why representation and belonging matter

51:55 What gives JP hope

54:25 Rapid fire and the great moose-call competition

Relevant Links & Resources

Mokwateh
JP is Founder and Principal of Mokwateh, an Indigenous-owned consulting firm focused on building relationships and economic partnerships between Indigenous communities and organizations.
Indigenous-owned Consulting & Advisory Services | Mokwateh

Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB)
JP previously served as President and CEO of the organization, which supports Indigenous businesses and economic development across Canada.
Canadian Council for Indigenous Business | CCIB

Hosts: Stacey Allan and Jacquie Daniels

Executive Producer: Ann Normand

Episode Overview

Alberta is training more apprentices, but demand for skilled workers is still climbing. Minister of Advanced Education Myles McDougall joins Stacey and Jacquie for Alberta Apprenticeship Day to talk about what comes next. He explains why employers have a major role in apprenticeship completion, how the province is expanding training capacity, and why access to skilled workers matters to Alberta’s ability to attract new investment. The conversation also looks at getting young people into the trades earlier, and ends with the Minister being challenged to say “Happy Apprenticeship Day” in another language.

Chapters

02:43 Meet Minister Myles McDougall

04:44 How Serious Is Alberta’s Skilled Trades Shortage?

06:24 Expanding Apprenticeship Training Capacity

09:38 Getting More Apprentices Onto Job Sites

11:55 Why Apprentices Don’t Always Finish

14:01 Starting the Trades Conversation Earlier

16:03 Why Workforce Capacity Matters to Investment

18:05 A Very Specific Language Challenge

Relevant Links

• Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training

• Become an Apprentice in Alberta

• NAIT Advanced Skills Centre

• CAREERS: The Next Generation

Hosts: Stacey Allan and Jacquie Daniels

Executive Producer: Ann Normand