When Mohammad Dahleh immigrated to Canada from Jordan, he was eager to use this fresh start as an opportunity to explore the world of finance. While his background was in computer and electrical engineering, he had always loved math and held a keen interest in finance and the stock market. “Coming to Canada felt like it was the right time to make a shift and really explore my passion,” says Mohammad. “I knew that continuing education would be the key to making this leap, and I trusted the School of Continuing Studies (SCS) to be my guide. I just went for it!” 

Mohammad dove head-first into the realm of finance, earning three certificates—Financial Analysis, Financial Analysis and Investment Management, and Financial Trading and Option Strategies—in only a couple years. With this solid foundation, he then decided to pursue his Canadian Securities Course (CSC®) credential, and again turned to SCS to support his efforts. “I wanted to be fully prepared for the exam, so I registered for Passing the Canadian Securities Course Exam in September 2019,” explains Mohammad. This intensive course, developed by SCS instructor Michael Hlinka, gives learners the opportunity to prepare for—and pass—both Volume I and Volume II of the CSC® exam within four months. “The course was such a worthwhile investment,” says Mohammad. “Michael is extremely experienced, the materials were very detailed, and the quizzes really helped me think critically and prepare for the two-part exam.”

His time was well spent; Mohammad passed both exams on his first try, and attributes this success to hard work and his learning experience at SCS. “Michael really pushed us. I also had a positive relationship with my classmates; we helped one another and studied together. That peer support was invaluable,” recalls Mohammad. “Earning three certificates at SCS, and completing the test preparation course, was the perfect way for me to explore a new industry and examine next steps for my career. As someone new to Canada, SCS was a welcoming and supportive space to learn and grow, and envision possibilities for my new life in Canada.”

Equipped with his new finance skills and CSC® credential, Mohammad’s next goal is to become a financial advisor. “Continuing education changed my life; I can’t imagine not taking these courses. Coming to Canada was the push I needed to pursue my dreams,” says Mohammad. “Figure out what drives you, what you are passionate about, and then explore educational opportunities. You are never too old, and it is never too late to learn new skills. I am 54, and just starting a whole new career in a new country! Putting myself out there and committing to learning was the best thing I ever did.”

Nishangan Paranthaman was eager to develop new management skills in order to navigate the challenges and nuances of leading in a unionized environment. After immigrating to Canada from Sri Lanka 11 years ago, Nishangan began working for Canada’s largest telecommunications company, and worked his way up to an Operations Manager role. Managing unionized employees was a new experience for Nishangan, and he decided that to fully thrive within the company culture, he needed to expand his skills and explore new leadership strategies.

“I can be a black-and-white thinker, and unionized culture was new to me,” explains Nishangan, who enrolled in the Project Management Certificate at SCS. “In my current role, I am managing unionized employees, some of whom are highly seasoned. I wanted to improve my ability to set employee objectives, foster motivation, make strategic decisions, and lead change management. In a unionized environment, with many specific rules and a distinct culture, I wanted to explore ways to implement meaningful and positive change, and how to work collaboratively with my peers.”

Nishangan found Leading Projects in Organizations to be particularly helpful. The course helped him navigate how to have difficult conversations, and prepare for potentially high-stress meetings. “I learned how to stay calm, enter a meeting prepared, and be thoughtful about the messages I choose to communicate. I’ve also learned to grow from my experiences! Now after meetings I do a quick audit; what went well, what didn’t, and what can I learn from that interaction” reflects Nishangan. “I bring a whole new level of respect, trust, and strategy to the table. I know how to use empathy to neutralize situations, and to really hear what the other person is saying from their unique perspective.”

Instructor Jose Costa ensured the classroom was a safe space for learners to share their experiences, and bounce ideas off one another. “Jose offered very real and tangible strategies for things I was struggling with. He encouraged me be more open in my thinking, and to put myself in other’s shoes when it comes to having difficult conversations or implementing organizational change. He was a real mentor in conflict management and effective leadership,” says Nishangan. 

After earning his certificate in April 2020, Nishangan is now confident in his capacity to implement change in a strategic and sensitive manner. “My ability to work with others and communicate with tact has resulted in more mutual agreement with our union. We are seeing fewer grievances, and increased collaboration,” says Nishangan. Next, he plans to pursue a certificate in Agile Project Management at SCS, and continue advancing his soft skills. “Continuing education is so important,” he asserts. “It’s important to embrace learning opportunities with an open and humble mind. When you aren’t learning and changing, you’re limiting yourself and missing the bigger picture.”

The pandemic has shown us just how fragile many of our operational systems are. From health care to supply chains, we are seeing the importance of organizational resilience — a concept that is often overlooked in business strategy. Most organizations want to be more resilient, however many do not know how. 

A company’s ability to adapt, recover, and thrive in altered circumstances is critical to its longevity and success. “Innovation and resiliency are two sides of the same coin, a coin that unlocks our potential to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world,” says John Dumo, Director of Customer Experience and Business Transformation at Softchoice, a leading North American IT solutions provider. “When paired with the tools to quickly anticipate and address obstacles to innovation, that coin buys us the insurance we need to avoid pitfalls and enables us to pivot while staying ahead of the pack. In these times, it is those individuals and companies that put innovation and resiliency to work that future-proof their organizations, and create an environment of relevancy for years to come.”

Today’s business environment is unpredictable; factors such as rapidly evolving technology, interconnected markets, changing climates, and mounting social inequalities all contribute to a highly dynamic landscape. And of course, the pandemic has had unimaginable effects on businesses. “In January 2020, every single company, small or large, had some business plan for the year ahead. By March 2020, every single one of those plans were worthless and impractical. When the pandemic hit, nobody in the business world had a plan for it,” says Ferhan Bulca, a VP in the medical device industry, serial entrepreneur, and innovation expert. “As a result, hundreds of thousands of businesses worldwide went out of business, or will in 2021. In contrast, a large number of companies thrived in the pandemic.” According to Ferhan, some well-known companies have expertly innovated in the face of chaos. For example: 

1. Amazon quickly adapted to an enormous increased demand by continuing to offer fast delivery while prioritizing high-demand items, such as coffee and dog food.
2. The Gap utilized its textile business to address the  shortage of personal protection equipment (PPE) in the USA. 
3. Givenchy, Louis Vitton, and Dior all leveraged their perfume and cosmetics manufacturing capabilities to deliver hand sanitizers, instead of luxury fragrances. 

“These companies used their strengths to address a rapidly emerging market need in a way they had never planned,” he explains. “The fundamental capability they had was their ability to recognize an emerging need, know their strength, and create a solution to meet the need. Innovation is addressing a real need in a timely manner. Companies that can do that, repeatedly and consistently, will continue to be with us for a long time. Those that cannot, will have a short shelf life.”

So how can companies cultivate and exercise resiliency and innovation? According to Michelle Sengara, a learning innovation strategy consultant, innovation is not just a business outcome, but a systemic process that directly connects to organizational culture. “With many moving parts to consider, it's critical that both individuals and organizations are able to better identify and address the components required for a culture of innovation,“ she says. “By breaking down innovation into smaller themes, such as lifelong learning and data management, we are able to train specific skills, like creativity and communication, and learn how to more sustainably build and maintain either an individual's or an organization's capacity for agility.”

If you are eager to foster innovation and resilience within your organization, our Innovation program explores concepts, frameworks, and processes that will help you identify, develop, and deploy innovation opportunities. Through hands-on, practical exercises and projects you will learn skills you can apply directly in your day -to-day work, while receiving valuable feedback from innovation experts.

Check out our program if you are ready to:

• build resilience
• improve processes
• gain competitive advantage
• evaluate current processes and resources
• identify opportunities for resource reallocation
• find solutions for new and unexpected challenges
• stimulate idea generation

Upcoming courses:

• Foundations of Business Innovation, Instructor: Ferhan Bulca, starting March 3, 2021
• Systematizing Innovation, Instructor: Michelle Sengara, starting March 10, 2021
• Leading Innovation and Managing Development, Instructor: John Dumo, starting March 11, 2021

Thanks in part to the generosity of writer and Creative Writing Certificate earner Marina Nemat, the School of Continuing Studies offers this award to the most promising Creative Writing Certificate learner(s) each year. Up to two $1000 awards are given to the most outstanding Final Project of a Creative Writing Certificate learner. The winner is chosen by an esteemed panel of Canadian publishing industry professionals. 

This year’s judging panel includes:

Elizabeth Philips, Senior Editor, Thistledown Press, 
Douglas Richmond, Senior Editor, Anansi
Patrick Crean, Publisher and Editor-at-Large, HarperCollins, Canada

2019/2020 Shortlist:

The Marilynn Booth Award of Excellence was established in 2017 in honour of former Dean Marilynn Booth upon her retirement from the School of Continuing Studies in 2016.

Throughout her career, former Dean Booth has shown how continuing education broadens horizons, creates opportunity, enriches our culture, and builds stronger communities - in our city, across Canada, and around the world. The award was created to recognize and reward career-focused learners who have demonstrated academic success, personal commitment, and exemplary leadership. 

The Marilynn Booth Award of Excellence is valued at $1,000; primary donors to this award include staff, friends, and family of former Dean Booth. On February 10th, 2021, we hosted a virtual event where our six exceptional winners shared the impact of continuing education on their lives and careers. 

Congratulations to all winners! 

2020 Winners

Michael Coelho 
Daniel Fernandes 
Lauren Hummel 
Taara Smith 
Jordan Stevens 
Clara Tsim 

After serving for 18 years as a Canadian Armed Forces Officer specializing in intelligence and strategic risk analysis, Karine Lachapelle had gained extensive experience in risk management and global affairs; throughout her career, she served and supported deployments to the Baltics, Africa, Afghanistan, and NATO headquarters in Belgium. Upon retiring from the Armed Forces in 2016, she began working for a global gold mining company as their Senior Manager, Risk and Assurance. Her new role involved performing audits - a skill that was relatively new to Karine - and she wanted to up her game. Karine chose to pursue an Internal Auditing Certificate at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies (SCS) to enhance her abilities and support her team.

“I was determined to better understand the audit process and apply it in my daily work,” recalls Karine. “I wanted to gain credibility with my peers, and was excited to learn new skills. Being in the Armed Forces means you have to be open to constant learning and new experiences. I was a bit unsure about the demands of an in-class experience, but it was great because I really got to know my classmates and grow relationships. I was working full time, commuting, and dealing with the demands of daily life, but I really enjoyed coming to SCS, participating and building my confidence. The final course was online as a result of the pandemic, which was also a great learning experience. I felt very supported by my instructor.”

Karine appreciated the clear class structure and real-life auditing examples provided by her instructors. She especially appreciated instructor Jason Yarmolinsky’s sense of humour and knowledge. “He created such a fun learning environment, which really made a difference on cold dark November evenings,” she reflects. Now that she has earned her certificate, Karine is eager to use her new skills to craft and implement an audit plan and schedule for 2021. “My new abilities are helping me plan, interview, pull and assess information, and execute an audit. I’ve learned how to systematize my approach to auditing and produce efficient reports,” she says. “I know my skills are going to really support my team and expand my impact on my company.”

Reflecting on her time at SCS, Karine refutes the notion that learning becomes more challenging as we age. “I think learning as an adult is easier than as a teen or young adult! When you start learning again, even if you know nothing about the topic or material, as an adult you’ve accumulated time management, organizational, and adaptability skills that can help you succeed,” she says. “My professional experience has made me a more efficient learner. If you’re motivated and committed, you’re golden!”

Paul Baretto knew there was a communication gap he needed to fill. As a Senior Manager of Software Portfolio Management at Scotiabank, his role involves implementing new internal systems and technologies, and communicating with staff to ensure these technologies are embraced and used effectively. “I’m involved in digital technology transformation, and could see that we needed to be better at communicating with end-users. I wanted to improve my ability to communicate to staff about how these technologies will affect them and their daily work,” explains Paul. “We do presentations and training sessions, but I knew we could do more. This is what drew me to multimedia journalism; I wanted to find more creative ways to reach my audience, and to use different channels to help them absorb knowledge.”

He chose to take the Multimedia Journalism course at SCS to expand his communication abilities. Paul valued the opportunity to connect with-and learn from- his diverse classmates, particularly those from a younger generation. “Most of my classmates worked in journalism or communications, so it was a great learning experience to hear their unique perspectives,” reflects Paul. “Our instructor Barbara Shecter really created a safe space to talk and share. We did a lot of round table discussions, where people explained how they would communicate a specific issue and why. I had a lot of ‘ah-ha’ moments, and I was comfortable speaking without the fear of judgement, which is a powerful thing.”

Paul says the course content, and his in-class interactions with his instructor and classmates, really shifted his frame of thinking. “I’ve learned how to adapt my communication to meet the needs of different audiences, and how to use different communication tools to connect with them,” says Paul. “I’ve also become more skilled at communicating priorities, and building relationships with my audience so they feel engaged in our collective goals.”

With his new arsenal of communication strategies, Paul is eager to focus on creating  audience-specific, accessible, and engaging content. “I’m experiencing the dividends of taking this course on a daily basis,” asserts Paul. “If you are feeling hesitant about continuing education as an adult, that’s a good thing! We only grow when we are pushed outside of our comfort zone. If you are afraid, you are in the right place.”

Marketing and communications instructor Samantha Mehra says modern copywriting has two goals: to convince your reader to take action, and build a relationship with them. A key element of writing effective and persuasive copy is having a deep understanding of your audience-or buyer-personas. 

Ready to build or finesse buyer personas for your business? Check out Samantha’s tips for success.

Tips for building your buyer persona

1. Start grassroots: Ask yourself what you already know about this audience. What do you not know? What knowledge gaps do you need to fill? Avoid negative assumptions and stereotypes.
2. Tap in-house resources: Focus groups, customer surveys, social media comments, questions asked on forms or during customer service chats, existing personas and customer profiles, and more! Talk to your sales and customer service colleagues - they are on the front lines and know a lot about audience pain points!
3. Do the deep research: Get more information. Look at associations, blogs, articles, and other content written specifically to your audience. Also look at industry publications, online communities and groups, and surveys and studies related to your audience.

Information to provide in your buyer persona

• Give your persona a name (fun or otherwise) that really captures them in a nutshell - and an image (i.e. "Samantha Social Media Star"; "Yoga-loving Yohan", etc.)
• Create bullet points of their characteristics
• Consider whether this should include personal or professional characteristics (B2B or B2C)
• Include information on traits, work habits, company and industry, academic education, daily challenges, geography, job title, income level, age, living situation, aspirations, goals, motivators, and preferred channels (phone, email, social media, etc.)

Further Reading

Sam referenced a book by an SCS colleague Steven Slaunwhite. Steven's book The Everything Guide to Writing Copy is available for purchase on his website or on the U of T Bookstore website.

If you are interested in taking your marketing and communication skills to the next level, check out Samantha’s course Copywriting that Sells, starting February 1, 2021.
 

We know that many new Canadians face career and educational barriers. Training and skill development is essential to help people create positive change in their own lives, as well as the lives of others. At SCS, we are committed to empowering new Canadians. That’s why we’ve partnered with Windmill Microlending.

Windmill supports immigrants and refugees who come to Canada with education, skills, and experience, but struggle to resume their careers here. By providing low-interest microloans of up to $15,000 to skilled immigrants and refugees, Windmill helps newcomers obtain the Canadian licensing or training required to work in their field, or to secure a position that matches their level of education, skills, and experience. 

Together with Windmill, we aim to support under-employed new Canadians who cannot afford the cost of professional development. In fact, Windmill will assist eligible newcomers to help them identify and chose career-based programs at SCS that are suitable for funding. Newcomers from anywhere in Canada can work with Windmill to explore learning options, and select courses or certificates that will support career growth. With hundreds of courses available online, and a strong commitment to inclusivity, we aim to remove barriers to education, and make learning accessible to all.

When Jennifer Chao entered her first Cybersecurity Boot Camp classroom, she was excited. Completely new to cybersecurity and coding, she was entering uncharted territory. Jennifer was one of only three females in a class of 19, and did not have a background in IT. However, she was eager to step up and learn new skills to expand her mind, and possibly launch a new career path.

Jennifer currently works in the scrap metal trading industry, with a focus on sales. “I decided I was ready to explore the idea of a career change and expand my skill set,” explains Jennifer. “I have many friends in IT, and they encouraged me to check out cybersecurity. I started researching programs, and was drawn to the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies (SCS) boot camp because it was in-class and very hands-on, which I wanted as someone who was completely new to the field.” 

She enrolled in the 24-week UofT SCS Cybersecurity Boot Camp, which is offered in partnership with Trilogy Education Services. Her bold move to dive head-first into learning a completely new skill inspired her classmates, most of whom worked in IT. “For a moment it was a bit intimidating to not have an IT background, but my classmates were amazing; they were beyond supportive, and we are still in contact today,” reflects Jennifer. “When I experienced challenges in my learning, I easily connected with an online tutor who helped answer the questions I had. I also enhanced my ability to problem solve. I really enjoyed learning something completely new…I felt like a kid again!”

While Jennifer immersed herself in mastering new technical abilities, she also found value in learning important soft skills. “There was a big emphasis on technical skills, however we also focused on the wide range of soft skills that are necessary to really succeed in cyber security; communication and teamwork skills are critical,” says Jennifer. “We explored issues and strategies around cybersecurity governance, attack responses, and how to build and manage policies and procedures. We also learned the importance of promoting and advocating for cybersecurity awareness.”

Having completed the boot camp in November 2019, Jennifer is excited about where her new skills will take her. “Learning something entirely new was a worthwhile experience in and of itself. I loved challenging myself to think in different ways, push past boundaries, and explore future career and certification options,” reflects Jennifer. “I now have a solid educational foundation and the confidence to pursue whatever opportunities come my way.”

Donna Hughes had a story to tell. 

But first, she needed to gain the skills and tools to share her story in a way that would engage young readers. After exploring various options, she decided to pursue a Certificate in Creative Writing at SCS. “I noticed instructors at SCS were top-notch published Canadian authors,” says Donna. “I saw that Michelle Berry taught Writing the Novel classes. I liked her unique voice, so I took a chance and enrolled in her course.” Online learning was new to Donna, however she was immediately engaged and appreciated the course’s clear structure and expectations. “I knew I could do it,” reflects Donna. “I admired the way Michelle found strengths in every single story.”

Learning creative writing online was far more interactive than Donna imagined. “I really liked my classmates, and was quickly drawn into their own unique stories. Workshopping our stories kept us constantly improving them as we critiqued each other’s work and received detailed feedback from the instructor,” says Donna. “We gained so much from each other that we even formed a writing group, Nine Pens, to keep the process going. Some of the members have since published, which is exciting for all of us.”

Donna has also thrived taking in-class courses. She particularly enjoyed a course on Popular Fiction taught by instructor and author Eve Silver. “Her classes were well-orchestrated and highly engaging,” says Donna. “Eve is so business savvy and has such good instincts about a story. In fact, some of us formed a writing group called After Eve to keep going with our writing.” Learning from highly skilled instructors in a friendly environment made Donna feel safe to share her story, and give and receive feedback. “The instructor creates this environment of mutual respect. It’s the quality of students that SCS attracts that ensures you’ll have classmates with amazing stories and valuable insights,” she says.

While working towards completing her certificate, Donna continues to write, edit, and finesse the story that haunts her. “In 2005, my 19-year-old niece was murdered by her ex-boyfriend who then committed suicide. We were so shocked by the events and overwhelmed by sadness,” she says. “We read about these things in the media, but I don’t think anyone expects it to happen in their family. There was just so much to piece together. What led up to this? Was it preventable? I have a background in social science, so I went that route first. But I wanted to talk to young people, not provide analysis. I realized that writing a young adult novel based on her story, exploring the underpinnings of teen dating violence, would be the most powerful way I could share her story and do my part in developing awareness.”

At SCS Donna learned the nuts and bolts of putting a story together. With vital ongoing feedback from instructors and classmates, the story developed into a page-turner. “It gave us confidence when Michelle encouraged us to submit our writing to the Penguin Random House Canada Student Award for Fiction. Being a two-time finalist was a wonderful confidence-booster,” Donna recalls. “When Eve suggested I enter the Writing for Children Competition held by the Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers (CANSCAIP), I started submitting. Being a finalist was so encouraging.”

This year Donna was surprised and thrilled to be named the winner in CANSCAIP’s Young Adult category. “The first thing I thought about was my instructors Michelle and Eve and how I couldn’t possibly have achieved this without their instruction, and without them creating such positive classroom environments where I learned from my classmates. Having people believe in my story keeps me going. It’s a hard story to write,” says Donna.

Pursuing continuing education is allowing Donna to realize her vision of creating a young adult novel to sensitize young adults to the warning signs of teen dating violence. “I thought I’d be logging in and logging off, or attending classes and just leaving,” she says. “I didn’t realize I would make good friends, gain strong supporters, and experience this much success along the way.”

At the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies (SCS), we celebrate the continuous journey towards knowledge, expansion, and new understanding in the workplace and the world around you. That’s why we’re so excited to share Brave Change, our digital collection of stories, inspiration, and program information to help you choose your bold next step. During these difficult times, we’ve found an innovative way to connect and tell our story; from the comfort of your home, we invite you to explore our vision of how we can help you achieve personal and professional greatness. 

As you navigate Brave Change, you’ll witness the multitude of ways that learning empowers us to improve life circumstances, meet changing employment demands, challenge our minds, and improve our knowledge. In fact, 80% of later-in-life learners report improvements in quality of life, including increased self-confidence, life satisfaction, and coping abilities. Meanwhile, 68% of Canadians who participate in training report improved employment prospects, and 55% report heightened job security. 

Explore stories about learners just like you who took a chance and have never looked back. Learn more about our unique programs, powerful partnerships, inspirational alumni, and award-winning instructors. Absorb impressive facts around continuing education, which will prove what you probably already know: lifelong learning means taking ownership of your future, again and again.