Podcast
That's A Food Job!
Hosted by FoodGrads · EN
No matter what your passion is, there's a career for everyone in food—and we're here to help you find it!
On this podcast, we interview professionals across the food processing sector to uncover the stories behind their unique roles Discover what they do, why they do it and how they are shaping the world of food.
Whether you're a student figuring out your next steps, a young professional seeking career guidance, or an industry veteran exploring new opportunities, this podcast offers valuable insights to help you navigate your career journey.
Join host Veronica Hislop as she speaks with experts from all corners of the food industry. From food scientists to farmers, plant managers to programmers, food safety technicians to skilled trades, supply chain managers to sales, we'll explore a wide range of exciting careers.
We're here to celebrate food industry professionals and proudly say—That's a Food Job!
15episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Manager of Features and Education of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair with Paige Mawson
1w ago00:38:59Tap to summarizePaige Mawson is Manager of Features and Education at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, a 104-year-old event that draws around 300,000 visitors annually to downtown Toronto. In this episode, Paige reveals how one of Canada's most iconic events is bridging city life and rural tradition through unforgettable experiences, hands-on learning, and storytelling that sparks curiosity. Discover how she leverages her museum studies background to transform the fair into a living, breathing educational hub that connects millions to our food system. --- Shownotes --- AgCareers is on a mission to provide global talent solutions in agriculture and food. They strive to "Feed the World with Talent" in the industries they serve. Their passion for agriculture is evident in their investment of time and resources in engaging with candidates and employers in the industry. Visit AgCareers.com to explore career opportunities and build your future in agriculture. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 00:58 - What the Royal Is 05:07 - Connecting Country and City 09:27 - Year-Round Planning Cycle 11:49 - Paige's Collaborative Role 13:16 - Designing Educational Programming 17:28 - Paige's Career Path 19:26 - Common Misconceptions 20:43 - AgCareers Sponsor Break 21:48 - Where to Start: Local Agricultural Fairs 25:23 - Roles Beyond Farming 27:00 - Transferable Skills in Agri-Food 29:48 - Paige's Royal Highlights 31:20 - Champion Showcase and Food at the Fair 33:35 - Getting Involved: 4-H, AgScape, Farm Tours 35:55 - One Takeaway for Listeners 37:19 - Tickets and What's Coming at the 2026 Royal --- 📙 Career Guides 💭 Career Advice --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Paige Mawson LinkedIn 💼 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair LinkedIn 🌐 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Website CONNECT WITH US 📸 Instagram 🎵 TikTok 💼 LinkedIn
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Quality Assurance and Regulatory Manager and Consultant, Aparajhitha Sudarsan
2w ago00:42:57Tap to summarizeAparajhitha Sudarshan is a Quality and Regulatory Manager in pet food manufacturing and the founder of Food Strategy Consulting, where she helps small and medium food businesses with compliance, training, and food safety systems. In today's episode, we talk about the 80/20 rule of food safety leadership, how to build soft skills nobody teaches you in school, and practical ways students can network at conferences without it feeling forced. --- Shownotes --- 🎵 Music: 'Piano Sway' (Intro A - 4 seconds) by Jay Man / OurMusicBox (our-music-box.com) --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 01:41 - About Apara's Food Job 02:59 - Foundations of Food Safety 03:56 - Building Team Culture 05:50 - A Typical Day on the Floor 09:26 - Pre-Op Conversations 11:06 - The Soft Skill Nobody Teaches 15:44 - Most Surprising Part of the Job 17:46 - Her Career Path 20:10 - Comparing Industries 22:22 - Practicing Soft Skills Early 24:05 - What Is Toastmasters? 27:56 - Reframing Mistakes 30:34 - Conference Networking Advice 40:14 - Low-Stakes Ways to Start 42:27 - Closing Thoughts --- 📙 Career Guides 💭 Career Advice --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Aparajhitha Sudarshan LinkedIn 💼 Food Strategy Consulting LinkedIn 🌐 Food Strategy Consulting Website --- CONNECT WITH US 📸 Instagram 🎵 TikTok 💼 LinkedIn
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Academic Director and Founder of Toronto Metropolitan University's Diversity Institute, Dr. Wendy Cukier
Jul 1700:39:33Tap to summarizeDr. Wendy Cukier is Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Ted Rogers School of Management and Founder of the Diversity Institute, a research centre with 80 staff and hubs across the country studying skills, technology, and inclusion. In today's episode, we talk about why agriculture rarely comes up in conversations about entrepreneurship, the succession crisis facing Canadian farms, and how community gardens can be a real first step into an agriculture career. --- Shownotes --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Intro 00:25 – Meet Dr. Wendy Cukier 05:06 – A Day in Her Career 08:32 – Breaking the Farmer Stereotype 12:22 – Career Openings from Succession 16:41 – A Non-Traditional Path In 17:57 – Research Students Can Use 20:00 – Spotting Gaps as Opportunity 23:56 – Volunteer Your Way In 28:02 – Where AI Jobs Are Growing 31:30 – Skills You Need Now 35:07 – Where to Aim Your Career 38:43 – Advice for Your Next Step --- 📙 Career Guides 💭 Career Advice --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Dr. Wendy Cukier LinkedIn 🌐 Diversity Institute Website CONNECT WITH US 📸 Instagram 🎵 TikTok 💼 LinkedIn
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Rainmaker and Co-Founder with Jake Karls, Mid-Day Squares
Jul 500:35:58Tap to summarizeJake Karls is Co-Founder and Chief Rainmaker at Midday Squares, a Better-For-You chocolate and snacking brand now sold in over 10,000 stores across North America. In today's episode, we talk about what it actually looks like to build a career on relationships instead of resumes, how to network without an agenda, and why your story matters more than you think, even if you don't feel like you have one yet. --- Shownotes --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Intro 00:20 – Meet Jake Karls 07:37 – Networking Without Feeling Fake 10:39 – Why Your Resume Isn't Enough 12:30 – Finding What Makes You, You 14:16 – Overcoming Fear of Public Speaking 17:56 – Mentorship You Already Have Access To 20:39 – Using Social Media For Good 21:44 – What To Say At A Networking Event 24:46 – What Actually Makes A Good Story 27:30 – Why Facts Alone Don't Land 28:38 – Dealing With Online Haters 30:22 – What's Next For Midday Squares 34:54 – Final Advice For Students --- Opening Song by "Track Title(s)'' Jay Man - OurMusicBox https://www.our-music-box.com / ourmusicbox --- 📙 Career Guides 💭 Career Advice --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Jake Karls LinkedIn 💼 Midday Squares LinkedIn 🌐 Midday Squares Website CONNECT WITH US 📸 Instagram 🎵 TikTok 💼 LinkedIn
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Plant Manager with Tony Wong, 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters
Jun 2100:43:54Tap to summarizeTony Wong is the Plant Manager at 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters, a specialty coffee roastery in Vancouver that supplies retail chains, independent cafes, and a growing e-commerce operation across Canada. In this episode, we talk about what plant management actually looks like in a food and beverage manufacturing setting, how speciality coffee is actually made and how a food science background in quality can lead you into a path in operations. --- Shownotes --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 02:21 - About Tony's Food Job 04:36 - What Are KPIs? 06:00 - How Coffee Beans Are Processed 09:23 - Quality Control and Cupping 11:40 - About Coffee Roasting 17:00 - Quality and Safety Above Profits 19:23 - Tony's Career Path: QA to Operations 21:37 - Why He Stayed in Operations 24:01 - Food Safety Background as an Asset 26:17 - Skills Needed in His Role 35:37 - Role Evolution and Financial Skills 38:01 - Learning from Subject Matter Experts 40:24 - Networking and Asking Questions 41:50 - Advice to His Younger Self --- 📙 Career Guides 💭 Career Advice --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Tony Wong LinkedIn 💼 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters LinkedIn 🌐 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters Website CONNECT WITH US 📸 Instagram 🎵 TikTok 💼 LinkedIn
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Senior Human Resources Manager with Olga Cenic, Voortman Bakery | HR Mini-series
May 1600:49:42Tap to summarizeVeronica Hislop sits down with Olga Cenic, HR Manager at Voortman Bakery, to talk resumes, interviews, mentorship, and the overlooked ways students can break into food manufacturing - all in part three of FoodGrads' HR mini series! Olga Cenic is the HR Manager at Voortman Bakery - a 75-year-old cookie and wafer manufacturer in Burlington, Ontario, and home to the number one sugar-free wafer in North America. --- Shownotes --- De Lacy Executive Recruitment offers professional recruitment services for employers and candidates in agriculture and food. As a candidate, De Lacy will provide career development advice, career consulting, as well as preparation for interview success. Open communication, confidentiality, and complete transparency are a priority for De Lacy consultants — check out De Lacy Executive Recruitment for more information on exciting opportunities! --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Episode Intro 02:57 - What HR Looks For In New Hires 03:43 - LinkedIn Strategy 05:00 - Foot in the Door 06:36 - About Voortman Bakery 09:01 - Culture & COVID 11:49 - Co-op Programs 14:11 - Sanitation Crew Opportunity 16:28 - Temporary Agencies Explained 21:34 - Resume Tips 29:33 - What Is Mentorship? 38:00 - Interview Tips 40:52 - Questions to Ask 43:00 - Following Up After Interviews 45:00 - Assessing Company Culture 49:12 - Final Advice --- 📙 Career Guides 💭 Career Advice --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Olga Cenic LinkedIn 💼 Voortman Cookies LinkedIn 🌐 Voortman Bakery Website CONNECT WITH US 📸 Instagram 🎵 TikTok 💼 LinkedIn
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VP of People and Culture with Steve MacIntyre, Fine Choice Foods | HR Mini-series
May 900:47:56Tap to summarizeThis is part two of FoodGrads' three-part HR miniseries, built for students entering the food and beverage industry with support from De Lacy Executive Recruitment. In this episode, we get into what hiring managers actually do when they open your resume - and what happens in those first five to seven seconds that determines whether you make the pile or not. Steve McIntyre is the Vice President of People and Culture at Fine Choice Foods, a Richmond, BC-based manufacturer of spring rolls, gyoza, bao buns, and other premium dim sum products. Steve started his career as a maintenance electrician. He did not plan to end up in HR - but food manufacturing has a way of creating lateral opportunities for people who stay curious, and that is exactly what happened to him. In this conversation, Steve shares what hiring managers are really looking for, why your education section is not doing the work you think it is, and how to make yourself visible in a market where four hundred people are applying for the same role. If you are a student or new grad trying to figure out your next move, this one is worth your time. --- Shownotes --- De Lacy Executive Recruitment offers professional recruitment services for employers and candidates in agriculture and food. As a candidate, De Lacy will provide career development advice, career consulting, as well as preparation for interview success. Open communication, confidentiality, and complete transparency are a priority for De Lacy consultants — check out De Lacy Executive Recruitment for more information on exciting opportunities! --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 01:30 - Steve's Role at Fine Choice Foods 04:00 - About Fine Choice Foods 07:30 - Steve's Path into HR 13:00 - How Students Get Hired 17:00 - Reading Entry-Level Resumes 22:00 - Personal Summaries That Stand Out 26:00 - Are Cover Letters Worth It? 29:00 - Extracurriculars on Your Resume 32:00 - Showing Technical Skills 34:00 - What Impresses in an Interview 38:00 - Managing Interview Nerves 41:00 - Common Interview Mistakes 44:00 - How to Research Company Culture 48:00 - What Hiring Managers Actually Ask 52:00 - Job Searching in a Tough Market 56:00 - Final Advice for Students --- 📙 Career Guides 💭 Career Advice --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Steve McIntyre LinkedIn 💼 Fine Choice Foods LinkedIn 🌐 Fine Choice Foods Website CONNECT WITH US 📸 Instagram 🎵 TikTok 💼 LinkedIn
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Talent Aquisition Manager with Nicolas Pretorius, High Liner Foods | HR Mini-series
Apr 2500:45:42Tap to summarizeIn episode one of our HR-Miniseries we are talking about what hiring managers actually look for, how to approach resumes and interviews, and realistic ways that students can build experience and momentum as they start their careers. Nicolas Pretorius is Talent Acquisition Manager at Highliner Foods, one of North America's leading processors of frozen, added-value seafood. In this conversation, you'll learn: What hiring managers actually look for on an entry-level resume Why soft skills often separate candidates more than technical ones How to use the skill bucket resume format with limited experience What "culture fit" really means and better questions to ask instead You might think getting hired is about having the right degree or the right experience. As Nicolas will show you today, it's really about how you tell your story and the soft skills that most candidates overlook. If you're a student or new grad figuring out your next move, this one is worth your time. --- Shownotes --- De Lacy Executive Recruitment offers professional recruitment services for employers and candidates in agriculture and food. As a candidate, De Lacy will provide career development advice, career consulting, as well as preparation for interview success. Open communication, confidentiality, and complete transparency are a priority for De Lacy consultants — check out De Lacy Executive Recruitment for more information on exciting opportunities! --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 00:59 - Nicolas's Role at Highliner 02:37 - Long-Term Talent Planning 04:43 - Highliner's Facilities 05:55 - Nicolas's Career Path 08:06 - Embrace Unexpected Opportunities 09:47 - Casting Nets to the Future 14:45 - What Stands Out on a Resume 17:04 - The Skill Bucket Resume Format 20:41 - Technical vs. Soft Skills 24:42 - Interview Prep Tips 26:05 - What to Wear to an Interview 27:34 - Researching the Company 28:59 - From Co-op to Full-Time 30:49 - Culture Fit vs. Values Alignment 32:50 - Assessing Culture as a Candidate 36:24 - Behavioral Interview Questions 41:35 - Advice for Students Job Hunting Now --- 📙 Career Guides 💭 Career Advice --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Nicolas Pretorius LinkedIn 💼 Highliner Foods LinkedIn 🌐 Highliner Foods Website CONNECT WITH US 📸 Instagram 🎵 TikTok 💼 LinkedIn
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Confectionery Specialist with Enea Lelaj, Tilray Brands
Mar 3100:44:27Tap to summarizeEnea Lelaj is a Confectionery Specialist at Tilray Brands, working at the intersection of food science, product development, and one of Canada's fastest‑changing industries. In this episode of That's a Food Job!, Enea shares how his path into food science was anything but planned. Starting in chemistry at Toronto Metropolitan University, he followed curiosity into a food research lab and discovered a field that combined science, creativity, and real‑world impact. Today, Enea develops gummies, chocolates, and tablets infused with active cannabinoids. He talks candidly about what real R&D looks like beyond textbooks — balancing regulation, rapid iteration, and problem‑solving in a fast‑moving, highly regulated space. The conversation explores why creativity matters just as much as technical skill, how graduate school prepared him to tackle unsolved problems, and why staying open to unexpected opportunities can lead to surprisingly cool careers. --- ShowNotes --- CareersNOW! is Food and Beverage Ontario's multi‑year workforce development initiative that is connecting students and job seekers with employers in Ontario's food and beverage processing industry for exciting career opportunities. Check out CareersNOW.ca for more information on jobs, career pathways, industry mentors, and professional development opportunities. --- 📙 Career Guides 💭 Career Advice --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Enea Lelaj LinkedIn 🌐 Tilray Brands CONNECT WITH US 📸 Instagram 🎵 TikTok 💼 LinkedIn
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President with Domenique Mastronardi, Beck's Bone Broth
Mar 3100:41:28Tap to summarizeDomenique Mastronardi is President of Beck's Bone Broth, a Canadian food startup bringing bone broth-based lattes to market — blending comfort, wellness, and innovation for retailers across Canada. In this episode of That's a Food Job!, Domenique shares her journey from engineering student to co-leading one of Canada's most creative emerging food startups. She opens up about what entrepreneurship really looks like behind the scenes — navigating uncertainty, balancing structure with creativity, and learning to trust your intuition. --- Shownotes --- CareersNOW! is Food and Beverage Ontario's multi-year workforce development initiative that is connecting students and job seekers with employers in Ontario's food and beverage processing industry for exciting career opportunities. Check out CareersNOW.ca for more information on exciting jobs, career information, industry mentors and training opportunities for professional development. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction to Startup Life and Entrepreneurship in Food 01:27 – A Week in the Life of a Startup President: Strategy, Travel, and Flexibility 03:00 – Canadian vs. U.S. Trade Shows: Brand Awareness vs. Direct Selling 05:04 – How a Startup President's Role Evolves: Fundraising, Finance, and Networking 06:34 – Getting Into Retail: Why Relationships Come Before Strategy 09:04 – Navigating Uncertainty: Mindset Tools for Startup Life 10:51 – What University Actually Teaches You: Resilience, Teamwork, and Problem Solving 12:02 – From Engineering to Entrepreneurship: Transferable Skills That Surprised Her 14:14 – [Sponsor: CareersNOW!] 15:26 – Finding Your Spark: How Food Product Development Changed Everything 18:20 – Listening to Your Intuition: Why Your Hobbies Are Telling You Something 21:17 – Book Rec: EOS Traction by Gino Wickman 21:53 – Unconventional Marketing: Spice Girls, Karaoke, and Authentic Branding Online 26:06 – Vulnerability as a Strength: Building Confidence to Share Your Story 27:55 – Career Advice That Doesn't Always Land — and What Actually Works 30:30 – Skills and Habits to Build Now If You're Curious About Startups 33:39 – How to Test If Entrepreneurship Is Right for You: Incubators, Side Projects, and Startup Jobs 35:17 – Getting Co-op Positions at Startups: What You Need to Know 36:03 – How to Network Without It Feeling Forced: LinkedIn, Events, and Cold Outreach 40:07 – What's Next for Beck's Bone Broth 40:53 – Where to Find Beck's Bone Broth --- 📙 Career Guides 💭 Career Advice --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Domenique Mastronardi LinkedIn 💼 Beck's Bone Broth LinkedIn 🌐 Beck's Broth Website 📸 Beck's Bone Broth Instagram CONNECT WITH US 📸 Instagram 🎵 TikTok 💼 LinkedIn
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