In today's fast-paced and rapidly changing world, learning, adapting, and growing are keys to success. As Wavemakers, we embrace these values and are excited to announce our brand refresh, including a new website, reflecting our mission to prepare the next generation to lead and transform work for all Canadians.

The job market is constantly evolving with a recent shift to a virtual, technologically advanced world disrupting nearly every industry. Traditional office settings are becoming less relevant, with remote work rapidly increasing in popularity. What we do has even been turned on its head, with technological developments creating an increase in automated systems, intelligent machines and virtual environments.

Entering the workforce often feels equal parts exciting and overwhelming. There may be uncertainty about the future and curiosity about the skills needed to succeed. At Wavemakers’ recent Career Pathways & Networking event hosted with Deloitte in Wavemakers’ virtual campus on May 24th, when asked what helped to prepare for the career path ultimately taken, the panelists all stated that keeping an open mind and being receptive to different opportunities was key to shaping their progress.

Unlock a world of inspiration and possibilities with our inaugural Wavemakers Magazine, launched in celebration of World Day for Cultural Diversity on May 21. The role of diversity in the workplace is more important than ever, and we’ve brought together some of North America’s leading voices to bring us powerful insights as we strive toward a more inclusive future and empower today’s students to be successful in their careers.

Curiosity. Connection. Collaboration. Innovative Technology. Wavemakers believes that these four components make up the recipe for building strong relationships and developing the skills necessary to succeed in the future of work.

We recently had the chance to be part of Canada’s Career Development Conference Cannexus23, hosted by CERIC - Advancing Career Development in Canada in Ottawa.

In honour of Mental Illness Awareness Week 2022, Wavemakers had the privilege of hosting a conversation with student alumni, mentor alumni, post secondary institution partners, and employer partners on how to create work environments that honour, respect, and support mental wellness.

Student Profile - As a mature student and newcomer to Canada, Celine saw the Wavemakers program as an opportunity to build bigger and stronger networks in her new home country. Connecting with other students, mentors and potential employers through a work-integrated learning program felt like a smart move, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic had made connecting with peers and colleagues more difficult over the past few years.

Student Profile - As a mature student and newcomer to Canada, Celine saw the Wavemakers program as an opportunity to build bigger and stronger networks in her new home country. Connecting with other students, mentors and potential employers through a work-integrated learning program felt like a smart move, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic had made connecting with peers and colleagues more difficult over the past few years.

Student Profile - When Stephanie logged onto the Wavemakers platform for the first time, it felt like a video game. Far from being another online meeting platform, Wavemakers leverages virtual reality technology to bring students a rich and immersive work-integrated learning program, with unique features you won’t find on Zoom or similar programs.

Post-secondary programs give students the educational foundation necessary for their success, but having the opportunity to apply that knowledge through a work-integrated learning program can often help students develop the skills and capabilities that aren’t so easily learned in a classroom setting. But while work-integrated-learning programs are beneficial for students, helping them develop necessary skills and mindsets necessary for success, they haven’t always been accessible to all students.

Adopting an entrepreneurial mindset means adopting habits that can create the conditions for new ideas, opportunities and success. One of the most beneficial habits is also one of the most simple: having conversations.

To build the future you want to see, you first need to fail. But it’s not enough to fail, or even just fail fast, as the Silicon Valley mantra goes. What’s more important is to learn from each failure and keep trying, until you reach success, says tech and innovation expert Pascal Finette.

What if we spent less time focusing on having all the answers and instead devoted our brain power to coming up with better questions? It might leave us with more questions than answers, and ultimately that’s OK. In fact, for Jeffrey Rogers, that’s the point.

Our world is changing and so is the way we interact with each other, especially in educational and work environments. The metaverse is enabling new ways of social interaction, with virtual and augmented reality becoming more mainstream.

Who is a wavemaker? It’s someone who demonstrates curiosity and interest in skillsets and networks needed to build a thriving future for all of us. It can be anyone who adopts the mindsets necessary to drive change and the courage to try. It can be you.