Baljit Aujla’s Journey: From Engineer to CEO at Enermax
How to Become a General Manager After achieving a P. Eng designation, Aujla began looking for a new opportunity. “I think I applied for a thousand jobs,” he says. “Either I was overqualified, the money wasn’t right, or the move wasn’t good.” It was at this point that Aujla received an unsolicited call from Goldbeck […]
Empowering Migrant Workers: Ingrid Mendez’s Mission
Mendez is the Executive Director of Migrant Workers Centre BC, a non-profit organization dedicated to legal advocacy for migrant workers in the province. In her role, she pushes for better working conditions, performs community outreach, and, together with a group of committed team members, runs the organization. She spoke with Goldbeck Recruiting about the importance […]
Hiring for Soft Skills in a Technical Environment
“I believe that you hire the athlete and teach the sport,” says Mike Barr, President and CEO of Storm Guard Water Treatment Inc. “Technical mastery can be learned, but fundamental skills and attitudes cannot.”1 Since assuming the role in 2022, Barr has worked to empower leaders, develop culture, and manage growth within the Vancouver-based fluid […]
High Stakes Communications Not for the Faint of Heart
Reputation Protection and Enhancement On a typical day, Purdy will find herself fielding requests from the media, coaching her team, and offering guidance to those who speak on SAIT’s behalf. She also crafts statements with her team on various topics of interest. “I’ve been quoted in a number of places that have made my parents […]
Sales, Growth & Eggs: Lessons from a Mature, Dynamic Market
Golden Valley Eggs Sales Director Craig Ansell tells us why distributing and grading a stable food product still requires a fluid effort. “I used to think, ‘If I’m not growing by 20% a year, what am I doing?’” remembers Craig Ansell. When the long time sales professional became Director of Sales for egg wholesaler and […]
Unlocking Employee Individuality with Larry Gilman
The veteran actor/director’s credits include such fan favourites as Final Destination, Cool Runnings, and M*A*S*H. These days he’s just as busy with, and just as passionate about, the Mastery Workshops. Based in Los Angeles, he’s been bringing the workshop to Vancouver since 1982. He now visits twice a year. The program features exercises designed to […]
COO Aims to Balance ‘Financialization of Homes’
“Housing, for me, should be a roof over your head and a safe place that you can afford to live in,” says Michelle Cooper Iversen.1 The Chief Operating Officer at the Co-operative Housing Federation of BC is passionate about her job and the purpose-driven work it entails. She recently spoke to Goldbeck Recruiting about the […]
Communication, Public Speaking, and Leadership in Business
“Certainly some people are born with the gift of gab but anybody can become a public speaker,” says Camilla Burgess, Founder, CEO, and Coach at Viva Voce Speech Arts Studio. “The more you practice the better you become.”1 The Vancouver-based studio provides executive coaching and speech coaching to individuals and organizations both locally and internationally. […]
Building Resilient Teams: Insights from Leader Lourdes Juan
To say that Calgary’s Lourdes Juan is ambitious would be an understatement. The entrepreneur, who turns 40 this month, has started multiple businesses and charities. “I love taking organizations from zero to one and being a part of small, scrappy teams,” she told Goldbeck Recruiting during a recent interview.1 Juan is also a mom, having […]
Nail Your Career-Change: Top Tips from a Career Strategist
“I call myself a career strategist because I really don’t like the name coach or counsellor,” says Helen Dewar.1 Whatever the title, Dewar has been helping her clients, mostly from the management level up, get job-ready for about three decades. Career transitions can be difficult to navigate, but Dewar sees them as an opportunity to […]