Careerchella - Career Conference Recap

Headshot collage of all alumni speakers at Careerchella

October 2025

On Friday, October 17, 2025, FIMS held its 9th annual MACS Career Conference for upper year undergraduate students looking for tips, ideas and some confidence as they plan to enter the job market next Spring. Fourteen amazing FIMS alumni made the trip back to campus this year to share their experiences and advice, including this year’s keynote speaker, Brooke Morgan, Senior Manager, Artist & Label Services at The Orchard.

As always, the conference was funded through the generous financial support of the Undergraduate Student Fund. With several music festivals and events scheduled in the London area in September, the conference committee decided to build on the fun by going with the theme Careerchella.

As she does every year, Acting Dean Susan Knabe provided some thoughts on the theme:

Music festivals are happenings: a coming together of disparate elements (performers, audience, venue, weather, buzz) in ways which are serendipitous and potentially transformative. People find themselves in these moments of serendipity and transformation.

Finding our career paths are often similarly experienced as intersections of serendipity and transformation. We may have our eyes on the headliners, but being present to opportunities that arise unexpectedly may open the door to something that becomes your new go-to listen. Careerchella is a music festival style speed-run to those great experiences. Like any festival, today helps you prepare for the rain, and maybe gives you the opportunity to dance in it, too. - Susan Knabe

Career Conference Gallery

All photos by Sam Simner - www.samsimnerphotography.ca 

Headliner:

  • Brooke Morgan (2012), Senior Manager, Artist & Label Services, The Orchard

Onstage:

  • Alicia Baertseon (2017), Senior Account Director, Edleman
  • Sophie Baron (2015), Producer, CBC
  • Michelle Guignard (2015), Senior Development Officer, Annual Giving, Campfire Circle
  • Kate MacRae (2011), Senior Specialist, Communications and Public Relations, Save the Children Canada
  • Sydney Mai (2019), Senior Marketing Communications Manager – Public Mobile, TELUS
  • Jennifer Mc Elhone (2007), VP, Client Experience – Healthcare, Weber Shandwick
  • Stephen Megitt (2001), Partner, EY Studio+
  • Nyren Mo (2015), Digital Engagement Coordinator, Western University
  • Albi Nani (2020), Sr. Consultant – AI and Platform Strategy, CIBC
  • Bryson Parks (2017), Business Operations Manager, Badal
  • Shahad Rashid (2015), Communications Officer, Digital Media, Public Service Alliance of Canada
  • Ingrid Rosaeg (2008), Manager, Customer Success, Spotify
  • Gennelle Smith (2009), Production Supervisor, Creative Services, WildBrain Television


We returned to the Wave this year for the wrap-up dinner and enjoyed another great sit-down affair surrounded by Careerchella-themed lights and decorations courtesy of the Wave staff team.

This year’s event was organized and run by the Career Conference Committee and a great team of student hosts and volunteers. Upper year MACS students Rhea George and Emilia Sferrazza hosted the conference while a number of first- and second-year students helped ensure that the logistical elements of the event ran smoothly.

A big thanks to student volunteers Marlee, Elisa, Kate, Simone, Shelly, Jackie, Jessie and Skye as well as to the additional staff who helped out, including Academic Advisor Meg Thorne, Media Specialist Ryan Travers and Computing Support Matt Ward.

This years Career Conference Committee consisted of FIMS staff members Kathie Hess (Manager, Undergraduate Student Services), Claire Jordan (Career Services Officer), Susan Knabe (Acting Dean), Heather Maccrone (Academic Advisor), Meaghan Skinner (Academic Advisor), Bryan Wood (Undergraduate Programs Assistant), Becky Blue (Communications Specialist), Becky Horst (Digital Engagement Coordinator) and student reps Rhea George and Emilia Sferrazza.

Until next year!

Career Conference Committee Photo2025 Career Conference Committee