Coffee With Convery

Welcome to Coffee With Convery, the podcast that’s your launchpad for career inspiration.Today’s guest is someone who didn’t just notice a broken system, she chose to stand between families and it.Christine Lai is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Special Education Legal Fund.Since 2018, her work has helped provide over $1.3million in grants and thousands of hours of legal support to families navigating special education, families who too often feel unheard, overwhelmed, or alone.Christine’s journey spans Wall Street to nonprofit leadership, but this conversation isn’t about titles.It’s about advocacy.About translating skills into meaningful impact.And about building systems that protect families when they need it most.

Welcome to Coffee With Convery, the podcast that’syour launchpad for career inspiration.I’m your host, Brien Convery, and around here we believe success isn’t just about climbing the corporate ladder - it’s about building your own jungle gym.Each episode, we share real stories from all kinds of careers and all levels, to help you design a careerportfolio of sorts that fits you and your passions.Let’s dive into today’s conversation.Today’s guest is someone who reminds us that careers don’t start in boardrooms, they start with people.Adam Castle is a developer and growth coach, mental health ambassador, and the Director of Venture Services & Partnerships at WEtech Alliance. But before startup accelerators, innovation programs, and ecosystem building - Adam’s career began in social work, youth services, recreation, and community care.

Welcome back to Coffee with Convery, where we caffeinate your curiosity with bold stories, real conversations, and fresh perspectives on how you define success - in work and in life.Today’s guest represents something I love spotlighting on this show: drive without entitlement, ambition with humility, and discipline with heart.Kofi Boateng is a second-year Commerce student-athlete atMcMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business, a Defensive Lineman for the McMaster Marauders, a former Commercial Banking Analyst Intern at BMO, an award-winning entrepreneur, and a young leader who’s already built impact across finance, community, and business.From founding a lawn care company that served seniors and earned youth entrepreneur awards…to interning at BMO and KPMG…to leading corporate relations for Black in Business and representing firms like ICON Talent Partners and KPMG on campus…Kofi’s story isn’t about having it all figured out - it’sabout showing up, stacking reps, and building optionality early.

Welcome back to Coffee with Convery, where we caffeinate your curiosity with bold stories, actionable insights, andreal conversations about building meaningful careers. Today’s guest is someone who embodies purpose-driven leadership in higher education and in talent development.Kelly Hart is a strategic higher education leader, a driver of successful outcomes, an advocate for equity and inclusion, and a connector who has spent nearly two decadesshaping how employers engage talent and how students prepare for meaningful work. From staffing firms to corporate recruiting at Aramark, from managing 400+ employer partnerships to now overseeing student and employer engagement at Temple University’s centralized Career Center, Kelly’s career journey has been amasterclass in collaboration, strategic thinking, and creating opportunities at scale. She’s an educator, a mentor, a bridge-builder, and someone who believes deeply in empowering young people to step into their confidence and their careers.

Welcome back to Coffee with Convery, where we caffeinate your curiosity with bold stories, real conversations, and fresh perspectives on what it means to build a career —and a life — with purpose.Today’s guest is someone who embodies reinvention, creativity, and the power of community:Jon Levesque - global community builder, AI and automation evangelist, keynote speaker, YouTube creator, and founder of Seeq, the world’s first Experience Network.Jon has built massive global communities at Microsoft and DocuSign, spoken on international stages, architected award-winning engagement programs, mentored over 130 MVPs, and helped millions learn how to turn technology intopossibility.  And now?He’s building Seeq — a platform designed to kill “save-and-forget” discovery and turn curiosity into action.Jon’s story is a masterclass in following your creativity, betting on yourself, and building communities that actually care.

Welcome back to Coffee with Convery, where we caffeinate your curiosity with bold stories, actionable insights, and fresh takes on how you can define and design your own success.Today’s guest is a career professional turned coach who is helping high-performing men reset, rewire, and reclaim control of their lives. Please welcome Gareth Hellen — Certified Life & Accountability Coach, founder of EvolvedMen Coaching, and experienced financial services professional.Gareth’s career spans over a decade across roles at Deloitte, Capita, Huntswood, and the Development Bank of Wales. From managing financial risk and compliance, toleading client engagement and conflict resolution, Gareth has worked at the sharp end of finance where trust, problem-solving, and resilience is essential.These experiences gave him a front-row seat to how stress, pressure, and burnout affect professionals — and inspired him to create The Reclaim Method, his 12-week coaching framework helping men reset their nervous systems, rewire their habits, and reclaim their sense of purpose.Whether you’re a student exploring a career in finance, an emerging professional balancing ambition with well-being, or someone looking for practical lessons on resilience and leadership, Gareth’s story will spark ideas for your own journey.

Welcome back to Coffee with Convery, where wecaffeinate your curiosity with bold stories, actionable insights, and fresh takes on how we define and design success.Today’s episode is all about breaking the mold —deconstructing the old ways of hiring and reimagining what recruitment can look like in an age of ethical AI, human connection, and smart technology.My guest is Nick Mastromattei, Co-Founder and ChiefTechnology Officer at Picsume — the Windsor-based tech company transforming how employers and job seekers connect.Nick is a seasoned technical product leader, solutionarchitect, and AI advocate with over 15 years of experience leading digital innovation for global organizations — from Ticketmaster to Harvard and Steelcase.At Picsume, Nick is the architect behind the platform’spowerful, bias-reducing AI — proving that when you combine technology with empathy, you don’t just build better systems, you build a better way to connect people and work.

Welcome back to Coffee with Convery, where we caffeinate your curiosity with bold stories, actionable insights, and fresh takes on how we define and design success.Today’s episode is extra special — we’re shining a spotlight on one incredible student from the University of Windsor, winner of the 2025 Rising Star Award.This award celebrates students who have excelled during their co-op placements and demonstrated the qualities that make them true leaders of tomorrow.Cameron Anderson, a third-year mechanical engineering student whose curiosity and initiative turned a co-op at Stellantis into a journey of technical discovery and personal growth.Cameron story remind us of the power of work-integrated learning, resilience, and the courage to ask questions. Whether you’re a student just beginning to explore your career options, or a professional reflecting on your own journey, their insights will inspire and challenge you to keep growing.

Welcome back to Coffee with Convery, where we caffeinateyour curiosity with bold stories, actionable insights, and fresh takes on how we define and design success.Today’s guest is a leader in AI innovation, a keynotespeaker, and an advocate for mental health and resilience. Please welcome TJ Walia — creator of the PWR-AI Framework, former Microsoft leader, and passionate mentor helping professionals and entrepreneurs thrive withoutburning out.TJ’s journey is one many can relate to — after 15 yearsof corporate success, he hit rock bottom in 2021 with severe burnout and anxiety that forced him to completely rebuild his life. From that moment, he transformed his struggle into a system — one that now helps thousands harnessAI, protect their mental health, and accelerate their careers and businesses sustainably.Whether you’re a student entering the workforce, a youngprofessional feeling the pressure to always be “on,” or a man navigating the unspoken challenges around mental health, this episode offers real talk and real tools.

Welcome back to Coffee with Convery, where we caffeinateyour curiosity with bold stories, actionable insights, and fresh takes on how we define and design success.Today’s guest is the definition of homegrown innovation.From small-town beginnings in Blenheim, Ontario to leadingone of Canada’s most exciting tech startups — Picsume, Jordan Goure’s journey proves that big ideas can be built anywhere.Jordan is a serial entrepreneur, ethical AI advocate, andco-founder and CEO of Picsume — the Windsor-based company transforming how employers and job seekers connect. He’s also a creative force behind severalsuccessful ventures in hospitality, manufacturing, real estate, and winemaking.Whether he’s crafting a bold new business model or a bottleof wine, Jordan has one mission: to make work — and life — more human, connected, and meaningful.