On this episode, we are speaking with Julie Claveau, a UVic physics and astronomy graduate who manages Earth Observation satellite programs and previously worked as Canada’s deputy mission manager for the James Webb Telescope.

She is also an advocate for diversity and inclusion, and is a blogger, a Youtuber, an avid World of Warcraft gamer, a violist, a dancer, a baker, a gardener and a mom of three.

We talk with Julie about learning to trust yourself, following your passion, dismantling imposter syndrome and so much more!

Resources from this episode

• The UVic Co-op Program
• Accessing career support

Connect with us

• Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter
• Follow UVic Co-op and Career on social media

• (02:32) - Julie breaks down the steps in her career path - from working at McDonalds to working in government
• (04:58) - What Julie has learned from her diverse career experiences (hint…it’s about trusting yourself)
• (06:37) - How Julie turned her passion for space into a career in science
• (08:40) - Julie shares what she’s most proud of from her time at UVic and in her career
• (10:42) - Julie tells us why it’s key to have diverse perspectives and lived experience to solve problems in science
• (12:40) - How Julie strives to achieve work/life balance in these busy times
• (14:30) - Julie shares advice about how to carve out a career in science
• (16:40) - How to get rid of imposter syndrome (even Julie has it!)
• (17:55) - Julie tells us how her time at UVic inspired her pathway
• (19:58) - Why you shouldn’t underestimate your own special mojo
• (21:10) - Rapid fire questions
• (21:29) - Julie’s favourite class at UVic
• (22:03) - Favourite drink when studying
• (22:21) - Favourite campus building to spend time in
• (22:32) - Why Julie would do it all again and her love of physics

On this month's episode, we’re digging into a question that can seem a bit scary—what happens if you want to change your career path?

Luckily, we’re joined by Kerry Vaughan, who is UVic’s career educator for alumni. She speaks to us about:

• what happens if your career looks and feels different than you were hoping
• how common it is to make a major change
• how UVic Career Services can help you plan your next steps

Plus, Emma shares her own career journey and how her goals have changed.

Resources from this episode

• Meet with your career educator
• Career options for your program area

Connect with us

• Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter
• Follow UVic Co-op and Career on social media

• (02:00) - How common is it to want to change your career path?
• (03:00) - Examples of students and grads who have made a career transition: tips and tricks
• (07:02) - What can you do if you’re feeling stuck? How your career educator can help you figure it out.
• (11:10) - Emma shares her experience of shifting careers what she learned and how she found her passion.
• (15:10) - How to navigate a big change
• (17:02) - What if your career looks and feels different than you were hoping?
• (20:12) - How to decide that you’re ready for a career change AND how we can help
• (21:30) - Why you don’t have to have it all figured out

On this month's episode, we're speaking with mechanical engineering alumni Graeme Gordon, who ditched the oil and gas industry to transform his passion for Magic: The Gathering trading cards into a thriving business.

He is the founder of TCG Machines, which produces automatic trading card sorting machines for commercial use. In the past four years, Graeme’s business has grown into a multi-million-dollar business with 27 full-time employees and machines operating in ten countries (at the time of recording, there were 20 employees, proof that it's growing fast!).

We chat with Graeme about how he pivoted to become a business owner, the path to launching his own business, and what he's learned along the way.

Resources from this episode

• TCG Machines
• The UVic Co-op Program
• Accessing career support

Connect with us

• Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter
• Follow UVic Co-op and Career on social media

• (02:10) - How did changes to the oil and gas industry impact Graeme's career path?
• (04:15) - Where did Graeme's passion for tabletop card games like Magic The Gathering come from?
• (06:55) - How did playing Magic The Gathering lead Graeme to launch a card sorting business?
• (08:41) - How did Graeme go from sorting business idea to the reality of launching a company?
• (09:48) - The importance of validating that there’s a market for your idea
• (10:22) - All about TCG Machines - growing pains, and the reality of building a business
• (14:16) - Using Reddit as a marketing tool
• (14:50) - How UVic shaped Graeme’s career path
• (16:25) - What is next for Graeme and TCG?
• (17:25) - Graeme’s advice for students interested in launching their own business
• (19:37) - What has surprised Graeme about being involved in the gaming card industry? Psst…it may involve Post Malone!
• (20:54) - Rapid fire questions
• (21:05) - Favourite snack while on campus
• (21:10) - If you could be a student again for one day, what would you do?
• (21:43) - What was the hardest engineering project that you worked on?