Machine Learning and Product Development School Career Panel Recap with CIHC

Once again CIHC has brought another group of career panelists to inspire and shed light on their career fields for the benefit of these high school students.

We brought these guests to help students to look at careers from the eyes of the professionals already working there.

The main objective of CIHC is to provide a platform where students can interact on a one-on-one basis with professionals in different careers. That way, the students learn first-hand what it is like to work in a certain career field, what it takes to succeed in the job market and many other things.

The students get an opportunity to connect what they have been learning in class to what it takes to fit in the real work place.

Vladimir Bogdashkin and Tobin Ansong, who are the founders of CIHC hosted this event graced by 20 students and two inspiring panelists.

Here are the bio details of the two panelists:

Brad Arsenault – Artificial Intelligence consultant

Brad is an artificial Intelligence (AI) engineer, entrepreneur and consultant. He delved into the field of software development from a young age. This led him to create machine learning based solutions, email analysis, real estate valuation and data extraction.

Brad also dabbles in product management and product development. He also develops advanced reinforcement learning based automation systems. His work has earned him a high reputation in the Artificial Intelligence industry in Canada and beyond.

Martina Montero – Consultant for small business growth

Martina has been working as a product manager with various organisations in Canada. Over her career, she has held various positions with different tech companies in Canada. Her last product manager role was with Prodigy Education. She left two years later after driving the company employee base to grow from 200 to 500.

At one time in 2016 to 2017, she was managing a portfolio of more than 300 clients, engaging in processes such as user interviews, data analysis, onboarding improvements and other roles.

Today, Martina consults for several sectors including small businesses, YouTube channels and others on culture creation and growth.

Preliminaries

As soon as the introductions were over, the CIHC founders opened the floor by posing thought-provoking questions to motivate the students. This was followed by a session where the panelists gave a brief overview of their career path and the professional roles they hold currently.

This introductory session is designed to help the students ask better-structured questions that will paint a clearer picture of the relationship between what they study in the classroom and the likely career path that they might take.

Engaging with the students

The questions below were asked. These are basic questions, designed to boost the confidence of the students so that they can know that it is okay not to know, but important to start thinking about the possibilities.

• What is your most favorite memory of high school?
• What would you advise your 15-year-old self if you could go back in time?
• How did you know that you wanted to follow this career path?
• What high school classes do you have the fondest memories of?

These were simple questions; more of a break-the-ice kind of questions intended to help everyone relax and feel comfortable discussing the practicalities of their future self.

The CIHC founders led the group to the next session, where more serious questions were asked. They were as follows:

• How did you transition into your job from college?
• What courses have you taken to prepare for your career path?
• What are the future prospects of your career field?
• What would you advise students regarding job search and getting ready for the job market?
• What do you enjoy most about your career and what do you find most challenging?
• How would you advise a high school student regarding university applications if they want to pursue the same career path? Would you share how you made your application?
• What changes in job roles can you anticipate in the near future, say, 5 years?

On to more serious business

The next session involved the students to ask the questions below. These brought out the concerns that they have about making good career choices. They were as follows:

• What degree should I get to become a product development manager?
• Is the university that I attend important?
• What jobs can I get if I study machine learning?
• Is it possible to get a product development or machine learning job without experience?
• What skills do product developers need?

Adjournment

The panelists answered all the questions, giving sufficient details for each answer. After they had answered all the questions, the students and panelists gave their experience for the day, with everyone admitting that they had had a great day.

We hope to see you for the next CIHC session, as we bring you inspiring panelists from other career fields.

The Importance of Networking for High School Students

Most high school students assume that hard work and good grades are the be-all and end-all when it comes to finding a job one day. The truth is that they believe this because it is what the school system has been erroneously teaching them, and their parents, for the past 50 years. Good grades and hard work are indeed essential, and without them, you will not get very far professionally. Yet, on their own, these two factors do not have the power to open up a challenging and innovative career path. Just like with most things in life, two heads are better than one, and being able to network from a young age is vital for success.

Many students believe that networking is something you only need to do once you finish college, or when you start looking for a job. Although networking is something you will probably be doing for the rest of your professional life, the younger you start, the easier and more productive networking gets. In this professionally competitive and demanding age, high school students not only need to learn how to network but should be actively networking for their future.

 

So, What Exactly Is Networking?

In a professional setting, networking’s definition is:

“The action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts.”

Networking may seem daunting to high school students, with thoughts of meetings and suits in a stiff professional setting arising. The truth is, though, that times have changed so dramatically that the best networking often takes place in an informal social setting. The casual and relaxed atmosphere promotes honesty and straightforward communication and, more often than not, results in a new friendship.

Undoubtedly, on some level during their career, students will have more formal opportunities for connecting with peers or leaders, but at high school age, networking will rely heavily on the exchange of information and ideas, mostly on an informal level. Therefore, to redefine networking for those young, eager, energetic, and intelligent high school students, I would say that networking is:

“The desire and ability to learn something new and to share your thoughts through interacting with people you may not necessarily know already.”

The Benefits of Networking in High School

Indeed, the earlier a student starts, the more connections they will have by the time they graduate from college or start looking for a job. More importantly, the bonds they form at the high school level will shape their professional ideas and dreams. Speaking with other likeminded individuals has the power to transform thought and can open up entirely new professional avenues for young students— especially if they connect and interact with someone who is more experienced in their specific field of interest.

In this way, networking can:

• Shape, renew and transform a student’s career ideology
• Ease the process of college applications, including where to apply and what subjects to focus on
• Ease the process of searching for a job, including help on where to start looking and what to expect
• Open up career opportunities once students finish college; and
• Open up funding opportunities for college or extended studies.

What Should Schools and Organizations Be Doing?

If students need to start networking at the high school level, then educational organizations and schools should be doing these three important things:

1. Educating students on the necessity of networking
2. Teaching them how to network effectively
3. Creating opportunities for students to network with professionals

Although networking does come naturally for some, this is not the case for all people, especially not in a high school setting where peer pressure, popularity, and cliques often create social boundaries. Shy or introverted students will not naturally be inclined to mingle with people outside of their comfort zone, so it should be promoted and facilitated by educational institutions.

Introverted students can learn to network very effectively by merely applying a few useful tips to their networking strategy. When they realize that networking is all about talking about what you are passionate about, communicating becomes a whole lot easier. Getting this process started in a friendly, judgment-free environment is vital while starting with networking skills in smaller groups will also facilitate shyer students opening up more quickly.

Networking Tips for Students

The tips and tricks discussed below are easy for students to apply and learn daily, and can quickly be promoted at school or career events and opportunities.

1. 1. Expand their social circle Increasing a student’s social circle is relatively simple and can be applied daily. Students should be encouraged to move out of their comfort zone, slowly if necessary. This change can be as simple as trying to sit at a different lunch table now and then or striking up a conversation with a fellow student taking the same classes. Joining a new sports team or extramural activity is an excellent way of making new contacts. If the activity is a passion of theirs, such as an art class or a book club, and they enjoy the endeavor, it will be so much easier for the student to start up a conversation. The secret is to be open to new possibilities and to be friendly.
   2. Get a part-time job or internship. Having a job or internship serves a dual purpose, as a part-time job will count as work experience on the student’s resume and will also promote networking opportunities. Although any job will serve as experience, it would be more beneficial to get a job or internship in an area related to the student’s career of choice. If a job is not available in their specific area, a volunteer position or an internship will serve as great alternatives. The connections they make here will be beneficial for applying to college and finding a future job. Students should be taught to leave a job or internship on good terms to keep connections open. They should also maintain contact with their colleagues and supervisors to retain that connection for future use. Online platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram are great ways to keep in touch. (More on this later.)
   3. Use parents and teachers as resources. Parents and teachers have years of networking and professional experience that they can share with students. Students should talk to parents about their networking tips and possible contacts that may lead to valuable advice. They should schedule meetings with their favorite teachers and speak to them about their career and their networking experience. The main thing is to ask questions and take notes. When interacting with a more experienced individual, students should assume a humble but inquisitive attitude. Arrogance does not promote open communication and will hamper the networking process.
   4. Use fellow students as a resource Students will be astounded to find out how resourceful their peers can be when put to the task. Students can be asked to form impromptu groups to discuss and share career advice or college application advice that they have received. These discussion groups can be based on interests such as science, technology or arts, or can even be mixed to promote lateral thinking. Students exploring the same fields of interest should keep contact through the years as this connection can open up job opportunities in the future.
   5. Create an online professional profile We are living in a digital age, and even though there is no substitute for face-to-face communication, students should be motivated to make connections online as well.
      • The most important professional online community can probably be found on LinkedIn, and students should be inspired to create a LinkedIn account in high school. Initially, these accounts are free but can be upgraded to a more professional version later, if desired. The advantage of LinkedIn is that it serves as a networking and job-hunting base and can be updated and edited as the student attains additional qualifications. It serves as a current and relevant source of information from around the world in almost any field imaginable. By following several experts in their field, students can also keep up to date with the newest developments and trends.
      • b. Twitter and Instagram are two social media sites that are not new to students. These sites can be utilized to create an online following and awareness within their fields of interest. Instagram is a fantastic platform for budding photographers or photojournalists. Similarly, tweeting about market trends or an exciting newspaper article can set the stage for more professional connections on Twitter. If necessary, students can create alternate accounts on each of these sites to separate their personal and professional posts.

      To conclude, I would just like to reiterate how vital these networking skills are for youth. It will teach them skills they will use for the rest of their professional and personal lives. In the future, it will mean the difference between getting a dream job or no job at all.

CIHC – Earl Haig Secondary School Career Panel Recap

The Canadian Institute for Human Capital successfully launched its first event at the local Earl Haig High School on May 15, 2019. We assembled a group of fantastic and inspiring panelists consisting of an entrepreneur, a bank manager, a software developer and a lawyer.

The CIHC is a new, not-for-profit organization aimed at exposing high school students to a novel, innovative way of thinking about career options, through the unique perspective of young professionals in the STEAM fields (science, technology, engineering, arts and mechanics) as well as the studies of law, politics, financial services, public sector, accounting and consulting.

 

The whole event was hosted by the passionate co-founders of CIHC, Tobin Ansong and Vladimir Bogdashkin, and in attendance were 10 eager and inquisitive high school students.

Before we get into the exciting details of the event, let’s have a closer look at our panelists and the expertise they brought to the floor.

The Panelists

• Ralph Maamari from CheapeEats

Ralph is an entrepreneur and the co-founder of Toronto-based startup CheaperEats. CheaprEats is a mobile ordering platform with a focus on operational efficiency across the board. With improved menu discovery, in app tipping and a more visual experience we offer business with increased revenue, happier employees and pleased customers. We also provide a large amount of free digital marketing through our social media outlets, on the ground strategies and contests which spill off into sales for your business!

 

• Megan MacKenzie from Meridian Credit Union

Megan is a senior manager of innovation at Meridian Credit Union, a well-established financial organization.  Meridian is the third largest credit union in Canada, and the largest credit union in Ontario, serving more than 360,000 members with total assets under administration of over $23.9 billion. Meridian offers banking, wealth management, credit products and services through 92 branches, and fourteen Commercial Business Centres.

 

• Moe Ahmed from IBM

Moe is a software developer for multinational technology company IBM. Moe’s job requires expertise in mathematics, computer science, physics, and engineering.

 

• Derek Kim from Drudi-Alexiou-Kuchar LLP

Derek is a lawyer for the local Drudi-Alexiou-Kuchar legal firm specializing in (amongst others) commercial law, contract law, and employment law. Derek has a degree and a doctorate in law. He has experience in editing a law journal as well as acting as director and treasurer of the Korean Canadian Lawyers Association. As a lawyer, his excellent interpersonal skills are also a bonus.

 

The Introduction

After introductions were made, the founders of CIHC got the ball rolling with some interesting and thoughtful questions to inspire the students. First, the panelists were asked to take a moment to tell us a little more about their career path and to give a short overview of their current professional role.

 

This question was received with great interest as such a diverse group of people brought a whole range of specialties, including some unexpected ones, to the table.

The diverse group enabled the children to think about more specific and structured questions that they could pose to the panelists to help them in their personal career journey.

 

Engaging with Students

In an effort to make each panelist more relatable to the students, which enables them to engage more directly with the panelists, the following questions were asked.

1. What is your favorite high school memory?
2. Which classes did you enjoy the most?
3. If you could go back in time, what are one or two pieces of advice that you would give your younger self?
4. What initially attracted you to this line of work?
5. How did you break in or transition into the field?

Naturally, these questions relaxed everyone enough to have a good laugh and allowed each student to have an honest evaluation of where they currently are with regards to their interests and where these may be leading.

It is very common for high school students not to have a clear idea of what they want to become, and having professionals reminisce about their professional past can give students a sense of security in that “not knowing is OK.”

 

Let’s Talk Business

Tobin and Vladimir then opened up the floor for more directed and professional questions that would enable the children to get a better perspective of each profession. They asked the following:

6. Can you provide your perspective on current trends, challenges and opportunities within your sector?
7. In the next four years, what developments and changes do you foresee in your profession?
8. Talk about your job search experience and headline any advice you may have for the students.
9. What can students do to improve their job prospects?
10. What is your best piece of advice for someone interested in pursuing this career path?
11. What do you enjoy most about this career path?
12. What is the most challenging aspect of this career path?
13. Which courses helped you prepare for your role?
14. What strategy did you follow in applying to university, and what advice can you offer the students for this process?
15. What were your undergraduate and graduate study choices?

The Students Take the Lead

Finally, the students had the opportunity to ask their questions. The questions that surfaced were a clear representation of the common concerns among high school students and included:

1. Does it matter which university that I attend?
2. How do I get a job at a FANG (Facebook, Apple, Amazon and Google) company?
3. How can I get a job with no experience?

Once all the questions were answered, the meeting came to an end. All in all, it was a very successful day, with great reviews from both students and panelists.

We can’t wait for the next one! Hope to see you there!