Mid-Career Conversations was created for alumni to connect and learn from the experiences of other mid-career professionals. This virtual event will feature a talk from York U Alumni Career Coach, Lisa Petsinis. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and join virtual breakout rooms to discuss their own career path and ambitions with other York alumni.
Tickets are complimentary but registration is required. You can register now by using the buttons below for each session. We'll send you a reminder closer to the event date.
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 23
Time: 12 p.m. ET
Alumni Speaker: Lisa Petsinis (BA ’91)
Many professionals launch a job search by updating their resume, refreshing their LinkedIn profile, and applying to job postings – without first identifying a clear target. Without clarity, it’s easy to spend hours on job boards, submit generic applications, and network without purpose. Yet one of the most important predictors of a successful job search is having a focused understanding of where you’re headed and why. This practical session will help mid-career professionals understand why career clarity matters, identify the questions that help them define a realistic and motivating direction, and see how a clear target can strengthen every aspect of their job search from their resume and LinkedIn profile to networking and interview performance.
Previous Sessions
Alumni Speaker: Natalia Kaplan (MACC ‘15)
We celebrate pivots once they succeed, but we call them failures while they’re happening. In this session, Natalia Kaplan explores how the words we use to describe our careers shape how we experience challenges and how others see us. Drawing from her own nonlinear path, she shares how the way we frame what we go through can influence confidence, opportunity, and direction, and how to balance being honest about difficult moments while still shaping the story we tell.
Speaker: Sonia Sheechoria, York U Alumni Career Coach
Negotiating your salary or asking for a raise is not about luck; it is about strategy. You have the skills, delivered results and added value. It's time to make sure your compensation reflects it. This session will show you how to assess your worth and approach salary conversations with confidence. Whether you are preparing for a new offer or planning to ask for a raise, you will gain practical tools to help you advocate for your value and achieve your earning potential.
Storyteller: Delisa Abraham (BA ’20) CEO, 3CL Communications and Co-Founder Faith & Sparkles World
When machines can write our words and predict our choices, what makes a leader truly stand out? Uncopyable human code is a thought-provoking exploration of how trust, empathy and purpose, have become the new leadership code. In an age where algorithms can mimic intelligence and authenticity feels increasingly rare, the leaders who rise are those who lead with humanity.
Storyteller: Jackie Staub (BA '01), Retail & Brand Strategy Leader, Executive Positions at L’Oréal, Coty and Estée Lauder
This talk will explore how confidence becomes essential even when feeling out of place. Drawing on stories from brand leadership, moments of creative divergence and decision‑making moments under pressure, the speaker will share practical lessons on showing up authentically, navigating pushback and finding the strength to stand by what you believe in.
Storyteller: Sonia Sheechoria (BHRM ’15, MLCE ’19)
Sonia Sheechoria is a proud two-time alumna. She holds an undergraduate degree in Human Resources Management and a graduate degree in Leadership and Community Engagement and has worked in executive recruitment roles throughout Canada and the U.S.
Whether you’re exploring your next step or aiming to level up in your career, your resume is one of the most powerful tools in your job search. In today’s hyper-competitive job market, even small tweaks can make a big difference.
Storyteller: Klaudia Zinaty (BA/BEd ‘95)
Klaudia Zinaty is a visionary leader, entrepreneur and advocate for women’s empowerment. She has led a transformative movement dedicated to amplifying women’s voices and creating opportunities for success, collaboration and growth.
This conversation is designed to inspire and empower you to take charge of your legacy now—whether you're an entrepreneur, professional, student, or changemaker. You’ll walk away not only with a deeper understanding of your impact but with tangible strategies to bring your purpose to life.
Storyteller: Jamie Read (BA ’03)
In this inspiring session, Jamie Read (BA ’03) will dive into the art of making bold decisions, embracing uncertainty and leveraging perspective to create lasting impact. As a visionary leader, Jamie has redefined the traditional agency model by curating diverse, high-performing teams of global experts to deliver flexible, impactful solutions for businesses. His journey exemplifies the courage and innovation needed to break boundaries and inspire others to do the same.
You will learn:
• Practical strategies for assessing risks and opportunities.
• How to harness diverse perspectives to navigate uncertainty.
• The power of taking calculated leaps in career and entrepreneurship.
Storyteller: Dolly Shao (MBA ’11)
Effective networking is an essential skill whether you are a working professional aiming to advance your career or a business owner seeking a partner. Dolly Shao will share her experience and proven tactics on how to initiate engaging conversations and build lasting relationships to help you thrive in any setting. You will walk away with a fresh perspective and eagerness to expand your network as you kick off 2025.
Dolly Shao brings over 20 years of experience in empowering brands across China and Canada. Her expertise in multicultural marketing has enable her prestigious clients to forge authentic connections with Asian markets. Dolly has overseen branding and marketing in China for the Schulich Executive Education Centre and nurtured partnerships for the Centre for Career Design at Schulich.
Storyteller: Keith Loo (MBA ’12)
Whether you're an entrepreneur, aspiring business leader, or simply curious about making a bold career move, this conversation will provide insight on navigating the balance between a thriving enterprise career and the unpredictable, often challenging, world of startups. Storyteller, Keith Loo (MBA ’12) will dive into the leap he took launching Skinopathy, a company in a sector completely new to him—one that has since been recognized as one of Canada's top startups.
Storyteller: Monika Monga (MHRM ’14)
Changing careers during your professional journey can be both challenging and rewarding. Whether you're a seasoned professional looking for a change or a newcomer to Canada, having the right strategy is key to achieving success.
Join us for an insightful presentation led by Monika Monga, an experienced career coach with a diverse background in both the public and private sectors. Monika specializes in guiding professionals through the job search process, including résumé and cover letter reviews, interview preparation and networking best practices.
Storyteller: Dr. Nidhi Sachdeva (MA '09)
Discover key strategies and actionable tips to optimize your LinkedIn profile and engage with your audience authentically. In this session, Dr. Sachdeva will explore tangible ways to elevate your online presence and leverage LinkedIn's potential for career growth.
Nidhi Sachdeva is an evidence-informed learning designer, post-secondary educator, researcher, and an educational technology specialist. With more than 15 years of experience developing and facilitating learning content for both face-to-face and online courses, Nidhi is extremely passionate about integrating the science of learning in her pedagogical practice. Nidhi is currently teaching graduate level courses (Science of Learning) at OISE.
Storyteller: D'Arcy Cameron (BA ’86), Career Coach at D’Arcy Cameron Coaching
Are you a middle manager trying to stay relevant and grow your career while navigating platforms and the latest technologies? Listen to Mélissa Romulus Lisanti talk about what it takes to showcase your leadership and create a successful client and people experience in a rapidly changing world of technology and GenAI.
Mélissa Romulus Lisanti is a highly accomplished professional with over 18 years of experience leading complex business and digital transformations.