Career Conversations for Equity-Deserving Groups: Facing Unique Challenges Transitioning into the Workplace | Seneca Works | Seneca Students

Hear from our diverse panelists as they have conversations about the unique challenges and setbacks encountered throughout their career journey and learn about the tools and strategies they use to transition from post-secondary education into their chosen careers.

Topics will include:

• How to navigate challenges along the way
• Importance of self-care and its impact on building career resilience
• How to identify and access support to help face challenges
• Tips and advice when you are starting a new career

Meet our panelists:

• Akeisha Lari (She/Her), Manager, Student Inclusion, Seneca Polytechnic
• Everton (Jaime) Caine (He/Him), Co-Executive Director, Tubman Community Director
• Mark Dunn (He/Him), Employment Consultant, Empowering the Future
• Patricia Jaggernauth (She/Her), Host & Creative Director, www.PJGLAMGIRL.com
• Ren Navarro (She/Her), Owner & Operator, Beer. Diversity.

We look forward to seeing you online!

Bios:

Akeisha Lari (She/Her), Manager, Student Inclusion, Seneca Polytechnic

Akeisha is an Indo-Caribbean woman, settler here on Turtle Island, a mother of 3 children and partner in a multi-racial family. She is a lifelong-learner and passionate educator with 16 years of experience in the field of Student Affairs at various post-secondary institutions in Ontario. 

As the Manager, Student Inclusion in the Office of Reconciliation and Inclusion at Seneca Polytechnic, Akeisha is responsible for guiding practices and creating opportunities for students to learn, develop and become more inclusive. She works to provide opportunities for equity-denied students to reach their full potential by identifying and removing barriers that perpetuate inequities. She connects with departments across the institution to ensure that services and systems are inclusive and equitable, contributing to Seneca's pillar of equity which embraces our shared responsibilities for reconciliation, diversity, and inclusion.

Akeisha believes that knowledge equals power, and power equals change. It is with that sentiment that she has committed to her own education having obtained a Bachelor of Social Work from Toronto Metropolitan University and a Bachelor of Education and Master of Education in Sociology and Equity Studies from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. She uses her education and career experiences to motivate and inspire others, by sharing her journey of successes and challenges that has led her to where she is today.

Everton (Jaime) Caine (He/Him), Co-Executive Director, Tubman Community Director

Everton (Jamie)  Caine is an advocate for social and political change for all young people.  He is a current Master of Teaching Primary/Junior Stream at The Ontario Institute of Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto,  and also a  graduate of the Honours Bachelor of Child & Youth Care Program, and Child & Youth Care Advanced Diploma obtaining both from Humber College.

Jamie brings over five years of knowledge from working extensively within the social service sector in post-secondary, not-for-profit, community health  and corporate sectors. While most of Jamie's work has been focused on the advancement and support of EDI initiatives', he has also worked with some of the most vulnerable youth within several underserved neighbourhoods across the Greater Toronto Area.
 
Jamie's approach to youth work is engaging, entertaining and extremely interactive. He uses Accelerated Learning Methodologies to empower young people to integrate new concepts, both quickly and efficiently, so they can immediately apply these learnings to their workspaces and throughout all aspects of their lives.
 
Jamie has worked with various organizations, including; Humber College, Wellfort Community Health Centre, among others. Jamie currently is working in the community health sector in a leadership capacity. In the past he has held positions such as; the Co-Executive Director of Operations at a non profit organization, Community Organization, Mental Health Programs Coordinator at a Community Health Centre in Toronto, and a board member for Hemophilia Ontario. He previously was a board member of Ontario Trillium Foundation's Youth Opportunities Fund Grant Review Committee.
 
Jamie's vision is to support youth, especially racialized youth, to recognize their inherent potential and provide gainful opportunities to grow and lead meaningful and fulfilling lives.

Mark Dunn (He/Him), Employment Consultant, Empowering the Future

Mark Dunn is an Employment Strategist who graduated from Carleton University with a BA in Sociology /Anthropology. Shortly after graduating, Mark started his career as teacher and guidance counsellor at a private school. He stayed in this profession for 5 years before transitioning into the mental health industry. Mark worked as a youth case manager with the Canadian Mental Health Association. While in this position Mark focused on assessing resiliency, recovery and strategy to help his clients make progress.
 
After 10 years in this profession Mark made a career change. He spent time working as marketing/community outreach coordinator, marketer, team manager in the professional fundraising space, business developer for a staffing agency, a success coach, program delivery manager and employment strategist. Mark's unique professional experience has allowed for him to build a brand that can support recent graduates, newcomers and career changers. He will provide tools and strategies that are customized to meet the individual's needs.
 
Patricia Jaggernauth (She/Her), Host & Creative Director, www.PJGLAMGIRL.com

With a career of more than 20 years as a professional television host & media heavy weight, Patricia Jaggernauth is an EMMY Award Winning & Canadian award-winning television and media personality who is celebrated globally as a beloved and exuberant storyteller of LIVE television. Patricia has a 12 year career as a national TV Weather Anchor & an international Weather Expert covering major storm systems and historic weather occurrences.

Patricia has been most notably seen on CP24, Toronto's Breaking News and CTV, having worked 12 years with Toronto #1 news team and top rated morning show across Canada, on CP24 Breakfast as a beloved co-host, LIVE EYE/remote host, weather specialist & special presentation host (lead host of the star studded Caribbean Carnival for 11 Years, St. Patrick's Day Parade & International Pride Parade) broadcasting to millions of viewers across the nation and online. She has also been seen on CTV's Your Morning as a Co-Host & Weather Presenter broadcasting to millions of viewers across the nation as well as CTV Toronto as a Weather Specialist.

Patricia also adds E! News and NBC to her resume having co-hosted the daytime talk show "E! Daily POP" LIVE from Los Angeles, California. 
Patricia appears on BBC, BBC World News, BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio & PBS NEWS to an audience of more than 110 million, LIVE, as a Canadian & American Weather Expert for the BBC Network.

Patricia is the host & executive producer of "The Patricia J Show" seen across Canada on demand on Bell Fibe TV1 and internationally online. Patricia invites celebrities, professional athletes and social icons to share stories of struggle, inspiration and special moments. Her trending hashtag #REALTALKREALCONVERSATION & #PJREALTALK is the essence of her brand and has brought conversations back to being REAL!

As one of the most followed & recognized television personality in Canadian television, Patricia has now more than 600 thousand accumulated social media followers across all social media platforms - 470+ thousand on Instagram alone!

Patricia is a trusted go-to Brand Ambassador for many major brands via social media. She has worked with and collaborated with brands like Estée Lauder, Audible, Barbie, Netflix Canada, Aperol/Campari, Tim Hortons, DC Comics, Barefoot Wine, TD Bank, Canada Goose, McDonald's / McCafe, Porter Airlines, Endy, Hayu, Porter Airlines, Daniel Wellington Watches to name a few.
Patricia frequents the stage as a highly requested LIVE event host, hosting a plethora of events across North America of all genres to crowds in the thousands. Patricia hosts close to 25 live events per year!
 
Patricia's IG talk series: "LIVE WITH PJ" is available *exclusively* on Patricia's IGTV and IG LIVE. With "REAL TALK, REAL CONVERSATION", the platform was created during COVID-19 and the BLM movement to provide a space to have powerful and uplifting conversations. The show has seen hundreds of thousands of viewers thus far, both LIVE and on IGTV, with interviews from highly notable guests including political heavyweights, advocates, notable television personalities, business moguls, Grammy Award Winning musicians, world class photographers and celebrities, ALL of which are friends and supporters of Patricia! This show is a true HIT and fan favourite!

She is also the CEO & Creative Director of www.PJGLAMGIRL.com, an online glam fashion boutique created by Patricia Jaggernauth herself.
 
As national spokesperson for arrive alive DRIVE SOBER for more than 8 years strong with a clear mission to eliminate impaired driving in Ontario and across the nation, Patricia can been seen and heard singing her national 30 second tv + radio public service announcement which plays on high rotation. Her original song: "Arrive Alive" was produced by Universal Music Canada.
 
Patricia is the President & CEO of PJ11 ENTERTAINMENT LTD. producing talk shows, web series, reality tv, social media + brand ambassador campaigns and events across North America.

Ren Navarro (She/Her), Owner & Operator, Beer. Diversity.

Ren Navarro brings over 20 years of corporate customer service and management experience, alongside 12+ years of hands-on knowledge and experience in the beer world. She is certified by some of the world's largest alcohol programs, Prud'homme, WSET, Cicerone and AFicioNAdo (alcohol free certification). She has also appeared on national television talking about historical aspects of alcohol, new trends in alcohol, and the benefits of stronger communities.

 In 2018, Ren created Beer. Diversity., a company/advocacy group whose focus was for folks to be able to have open conversations one beer at a time. With the evolution of the company into non-alcohol spheres, she introduced B. Diversity. in early 2023. This expansion into the B. Diversity. Group aims to create safer spaces in which to have open and honest conversations and support to create meaningful change in a multitude of industries.

Since 2022, she has been working toward her HR Management certification through Seneca Polytechnic. She has also taught the History of Beer and Brewing course at Niagara College, teaching students about both the well known and the forgotten aspects of history, focusing on bringing diversity to the forefront of learning.
 
She has been the go-to diversity, equity and inclusion expert for breweries of all sizes, from small family run to multinational conglomerates. Ren has helped breweries with everything from procedures and policies through to hiring and retention, alongside understanding the community they inhabit. She has also worked extensively outside of the drinks world, assisting organisations with their DEI journey and learning.
 
She loves tattoos, goats, and gives pretty good hugs.

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