Podcast · Business

Careers Under Construction

by The Pederson Group · English · Business

Careers Under Construction keeps it real—sharing personal stories of grit, growth and how to build meaningful careers from the ground up. Host Justis Pederson sits down with leaders who open up about the wins, the struggles and the lessons that shaped their success. Produced in our professional stud

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 56 min
Latest: 13 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 1 minNew

Ace Burpee vs. Kevin O’Leary: What Dragons’ Den Cut Out

Ace Burpee was writing radio commercials at CJOB when his boss stopped him in the hall and asked, “Is this how you talk all the time?” This is how a kid from Cooks Creek, a town with two churches and no stores, became one of Winnipeg’s best-known voices. Ace hosts mornings on 103.1 Virgin Radio, creates the annual Top 100 Fascinating Manitobans list and is a member of the Order of Manitoba. In this episode of Careers Under Construction, Ace shares: How a hotel booking for a Jets game turned Dave into Ace Why his first talk show was horrible and what it taught him The weather sign-off that…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S1 · E57 · 6 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 16 min
From Kijiji Ad to VersaPile: Stan Higgins
Stan Higgins was working in executive search when he saw an ad on Kijiji for a helical pile dealership. He had no background in construction. He bought the dealership anyway and started VersaPile in 2011. In this episode of Careers Under Construction , Stan talks about: Why his mom started her own search firm out of her house in 1999 How he tested the competition before buying in Why he handed his phone to his first salesperson What 5 dealers talked about that the other 95 didn’t Why the owner can become the bottleneck in the early years Why he eventually walked away from two-thirds of his…
S1 · E56 · 29 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
How to Pitch a Prime Minister in 10 Minutes: Sorella Strategies
After 14 years in government, Sandra Hodzic realized she couldn’t do it anymore and it was time to go. Today, she runs Sorella Strategies, a government relations firm that helps organizations understand government decisions and policies and prepare for what’s ahead. In this episode, Sandra talks about: Why she left government twice and what finally made it stick How she translates government jargon into plain language clients can use Why she brings her own folding chair to rooms that weren’t built for her Her work on First Nations citizenship and why it feels personal Why she might run for…
S1 · E55 · 22 Sep 2026 · 56 min
Ryan Behie: 60 Days’ Notice After His Best Year
Ryan Behie had just come off his best year yet. Then, on a Tuesday morning right after the August long weekend, the phone rang: 60 days’ notice. No cause. No explanation. He’d been with the company 11 years. He opened their Winnipeg office himself — first and only person there on day one. At home: a wife, a mortgage and a first-born who wasn’t a year old yet. He told his team himself. Then he called his clients. One of them stopped him mid-sentence. They hired Ryan, they said. Not the company he worked for. Two or three weeks later, he was filing the paperwork for his own brokerage. A year…
S1 · E54 · 15 Sep 2026 · 56 min
Cole Akerstream: Inside the North West Company
Early in his career, Cole Akerstream was working in commercial real estate on 100% commission, waiting months for deals to close. Today, Cole is Vice President of Facilities and Store Development at The North West Company, a 360+ year old Canadian company with roughly 230 stores across northern Canada, Alaska, the Caribbean and the South Pacific. In this episode of Careers Under Construction, Cole shares: What playing junior hockey, going to university and selling TVs at Future Shop taught him about closing and relationships What the financial uncertainty of his early commission years really…
S1 · E53 · 8 Sep 2026 · 54 min
U.S. Army Ranger to Manitoba Hydro Chair: Jamie Wilson
Some of the hardest conversations Jamie Wilson has walked into have started with people yelling at him. His approach? Listen, understand where people are coming from, and find common ground. He started his career as a teacher before becoming a U.S. Army Ranger, Treaty Commissioner, Deputy Minister, and eventually the first Indigenous Chair of the Manitoba Hydro board. Today, he serves as VP of Indigenous Strategy, Research & Business Development at RRC Polytech. In this episode of Careers Under Construction, Jamie shares: How he got into BMX racing and became a professional racer How he went…
S1 · E52 · 1 Sep 2026 · 59 min
David Asper: The Man Behind the Milgaard Case, Bombers & Sea Bears
Three days after David Asper started practising criminal defence in Winnipeg, he was pulled into his boss’s office. Joyce Milgaard was sitting there. Her son David had already spent 17 years in prison for a murder he said he didn’t commit. A six-year fight followed, culminating in an April 1992 Supreme Court of Canada decision. Later DNA testing confirmed another man was responsible. After helping win Milgaard’s freedom, David walked away from criminal law. In this episode of Careers Under Construction , David shares: How he challenged the Crown’s version of the Milgaard murder using a…
S1 · E51 · 25 Aug 2026 · 48 min
She’s Not the Expert. She’s the Leader.
Krystyn MacKinnon started her career in banking at 19 and became an assistant branch manager a year later. She went on to help launch a title insurance startup across Western Canada, lead 100% commission sales teams, and is now Principal at Colliers Project Leaders—with no technical background in engineering or project management. In this episode of Careers Under Construction , Krystyn shares: The feedback that changed how she leads Why she had to learn to lead herself first How achievement became tied to her identity How a startup and layoff changed her career The “will vs. skill” question…
S1 · E50 · 18 Aug 2026 · 56 min
He Helps Business Owners Sell Their “Ugly Baby”
Catch Fire Group helps mid-sized business owners sell the companies they’ve spent a lifetime building. Gary Brownstone’s job is to help owners see their business the way a buyer does.Sellers look back at the sacrifices, risks and legacy they’ve built. Buyers look at cash flow, growth and what happens when the founder leaves. In this episode of Careers Under Construction, Gary shares: Why he never puts a price on a business and lets the market decide The question every owner should ask: “If I disappeared for 30 days, what would break?” Why one seller accepted $1.5 million less to protect his…
S1 · E49 · 11 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
The Winnipeg Factory Behind Every Paint Chip You've Held
Those little paint colour cards you flip through at the hardware store? There's a good chance they were made by one family right here in Winnipeg. The Duha Family. Rick's first job in the family business was screwing posts into paint fan decks. Now, a robot does it. Rick isn't buying robots to replace his team. He's buying them to replace the repetitive tasks. That's where people get AI wrong. It's not about replacing people — it's about making time for the tasks that keep getting pushed down your to-do list. At 16, Rick wanted out. The Duha Group, the family paint-chip business, seemed…
S1 · E48 · 5 Aug 2026 · 53 min
How Kyle Romaniuk Turned an 80% Loss Into a Better Business
Kyle Romaniuk is a serial entrepreneur who started selling T-shirts on consignment at just 10 years old before launching his own design agency straight out of Red River College. That agency grew into Cocoon Branding, where he worked with brands like Red Bull and GoodLife Fitness. When COVID wiped out 80% of his agency's revenue, Kyle changed direction and launched FRAKXION. In this episode of Careers Under Construction, Kyle shares: How he started his first business at age 10 and built a successful design agency. Why losing 80% of his revenue during COVID led him to start FRAKXION. What…
S1 · E47 · 28 Jul 2026 · 42 min
He Fired a Rifle at Their Truck. The Court Ruled He Didn't Mean To
In 2018, 20-year-old Hailey Dugay was sitting in the back seat of her boyfriend's truck, heading home with friends. Earlier that night, Jesse Paluk had been involved in an altercation at a bar near Fraserwood. Later, when three vehicles approached on a gravel road, Paluk stood in the road holding a rifle and told William Comber to have his back. What no one inside the truck could see was Comber standing off to the side. As Hailey's boyfriend drove away, several shots were fired. A bullet from Comber's hunting rifle struck the truck and hit Hailey. Her boyfriend rushed her to the hospital,…
S1 · E46 · 21 Jul 2026 · 58 min
Dale Weise: From Cuts to 500+ NHL Games
Dale Weise was cut multiple times during junior hockey before going on to play 513 regular-season NHL games. Today, he buys and grows established businesses in Winnipeg. In this episode of Careers Under Construction, Dale shares: How getting cut built his determination The time he thought he made the Rangers, only to be cut two days before opening night How he recorded the fastest Gordie Howe hat trick in Philadelphia Flyers history Why signing a four-year, $9.4 million contract with Philadelphia didn’t go as planned Getting traded while his wife was eight months pregnant with twins Why a…
S1 · E45 · 14 Jul 2026 · 45 min
From an Illegal Apartment Cake Shop to Winnipeg's Most Famous Bakery
Jenna was studying to become a dentist when she watched an episode of Cake Boss and decided to make a cake just for fun. She made it in the tiny apartment she shared with her twin sister Ashley. She was hooked right away. Then a competitor called the city on her. That push forced her to turn a hobby into a real business. Today Jenna and Ashley run Jenna Rae Cakes: 4 locations and around 40 employees, heading into their 12th year Grew from Jenna's solo custom cake business into a full lifestyle brand with two national bestselling cookbooks Plus their Dazzle Dust edible glitter and Liquid…
S1 · E48 · 7 Jul 2026 · 52 min
How a Psychology Nerd Became a Construction Partner
Jaime Mann believes one thing above all else: connection isn't soft, it's strategic. As a keynote speaker, leadership coach and partner in a construction company, she blends psychology, leadership and a little sass to help people lead with more clarity, courage and confidence. In this episode of Careers Under Construction , Jaime shares: Why connection is one of the most overlooked leadership skills What years of anxiety, loss and perfectionism taught her about looking fine versus actually being fine The two-word email that made her realize how much perfectionism was quietly stealing from…
S1 · E47 · 30 Jun 2026 · 58 min
From Gangs to Men's Mental Health Coach
In 2019, Jason Tyler McLean put a brand new gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. It jammed. The odds of that happening are one in millions. He woke up the next day, wrote himself a letter and made a promise he has kept ever since. Long before he became a coach, Jason was just trying to make it through each day. Drugs at 13. The streets of Winnipeg at 15. Gangs. A sales career that brought financial success, but not peace. Then a two-year battle with depression brought everything to a breaking point. After his attempt, he taught himself how to heal and that work became his first book, One…
S1 · E46 · 23 Jun 2026 · 52 min
He Wants Toxic Road Salt Banned for Good
When Todd Burns took over his dad’s company in 2011, it was a one-man operation running out of a basement. Today, Cypher Environmental sells green infrastructure products in more than 50 countries and Todd is on a mission to replace toxic road salts with better alternatives. In this episode of Careers Under Construction, Todd shares: Why he refused to compete on price and focused on building better products How he spent seven or eight years grinding before his breakthrough around 2019 Why he stopped chasing the public sector and focused on mining and forestry The project that saved nearly $6…
S1 · E45 · 17 Jun 2026 · 35 min
How She Went From $10 a Post to a Canon Campaign
Amanda Fiebelkorn didn't know what she wanted to do after high school, so she flew to Tahiti. After six months of nannying and teaching English, she came home with a new mindset and a new direction. Today, Amanda is the founder of The Social Manor, working with brands like Canon, Popeye's Supplements, Melted, Don's Photo and other local favourites. In this episode, Amanda shares: Why she didn't wait for years of experience before starting her own business How she hired her first employees out of her own marketing class How she landed her first client at $10 a post and what it took to raise…
S1 · E44 · 9 Jun 2026 · 57 min
Why She Left CTV Right Before the Show Got Cut
Three weeks after Nicole Dubé left CTV Morning Live, the role she had just left was eliminated. She didn't know it was coming. She just knew it was time. After 20 years in broadcast journalism, Nicole bet on herself and launched DUBÉ MEDIA, where she helps leaders communicate with clarity, whether it's on stage, on camera or in the conversations that matter most. In this episode, Nicole shares: • How “embarrassment resiliency” as a kid shaped her career • What it took to leave Hamilton and build a career in Winnipeg • Why she walked away from a job she loved • How she built a business…
S1 · E43 · 2 Jun 2026 · 50 min
He Hit His $1 Billion Goal, Then Realized It Meant Nothing
Rob Tetrault spent over a decade chasing one number: $1 billion in assets under management. When he finally hit it, he sat at his desk and felt nothing. No confetti. Just the realization that the goal he'd sacrificed so much for didn't change much. Today, Rob is the founder of Tetrault Wealth Advisory Group, overseeing more than $1.2 billion in assets with a team of 16. But the story he shares in this episode is about much more than business success. Rob shares: Why he walked away from a law career to start cold-calling 200 people a day The Ironman journey that helped him quit drinking and…
S1 · E42 · 26 May 2026 · 43 min
The Winnipeg Startup Taking Over Bars
It started with a beer ad during a Jets game. Taiv co-founder & CEO Noah Palansky was at a bar when he noticed the TV was advertising a competitor’s cheaper pint. He realized restaurants had zero control over the screens on their own walls — and built a solution to fix it. A few years later, Taiv is in over 5,000 locations across North America, with around 100 employees and more than $20 million USD raised. Noah made the call to build it all from Winnipeg — turning down repeated pressure to move to Silicon Valley. In this episode of Careers Under Construction, Noah shares: The bar idea that…
S1 · E41 · 19 May 2026 · 50 min
Building Billions: The Shindico Realty Story
Sandy Shindleman started with nothing and built one of Manitoba's largest privately-held real estate companies. Today, Shindico Realty manages close to 200 properties and $3 billion in assets across Canada and the United States. In this episode of Careers Under Construction, Sandy shares: The roles he played in the early days vs now Why he looks at how much he can lose, not how much he can make The 2019 stroke that forced him to rebuild the entire company How a dentist became his very first business partner The rule most entrepreneurs ignore 🎙️ Watch the full episode on YouTube, Spotify &…
S1 · E40 · 12 May 2026 · 1 hr
How a Winnipeg Lawyer Helped Bring the Jets Back And Rebuild Downtown
Most people don't bet their career on a city.Jim Ludlow did.As President of True North Real Estate Development, Jim has helped shape downtown Winnipeg — the MTS Centre, the return of the NHL, True North Square, and now the $1 billion redevelopment of Portage Place and the Bay.In this episode of Careers Under Construction, Jim shares: What it really meant to be "the first hire" at True North The Phoenix deal that almost happened and why Atlanta turned into the Jets How True North ended up taking on Portage Place when no one else would Why he believes Winnipeg is undersold and underestimated…
S1 · E39 · 5 May 2026 · 51 min
Two Dance Teachers Quit to Make Ice Cream
Élise Page and Teri-Lynn Friesen met teaching at a local dance studio. One random conversation changed everything. Now they run Fête Ice Cream & Coffee, one of Winnipeg's most loved scratch-made ice cream shops.In this episode of Careers Under Construction, Élise and Teri-Lynn share: What Covid did to their numbers and their biggest lessons learned Getting into retail stores like VitaHealth The hardest parts of being young mothers and business owners How they complement each other as a duo They thought everybody made their own ice cream. Turns out, almost nobody makes their own base. But…
S1 · E37 · 28 Apr 2026 · 55 min
From $15 Lawn Cuts to a Million-Dollar Company
He started a landscaping company in his early 20s. One year later, he was diagnosed with stage three melanoma. Matt Bell is the founder of Gellers — a luxury design-build landscaping company in Winnipeg — and co-owner of Shelmerdine Garden Centre. In this episode, Matt opens up about: Going from mowing lawns to running a 200-person company Being diagnosed with cancer at 25 Beating stage four melanoma and having a son, doctors said would never exist Why he acquired Shelmerdine Garden Centre His people-first culture and why a 97% staff retention rate is no accident How clinical trials…
21 Apr 2026 · 59 min
From $40 to Grammy Swag Bags in 3 Months
She started with $40… and a candle kit in her kitchen after surviving an ectopic pregnancy. Three months later, her product was in the Grammys and Oscars swag bags. Amanda Buhse didn’t set out to build a business but what started as a small side project turned into a fast-growing brand, Coal & Canary — a hand-poured candle company known for bold scents and storytelling. In this episode, Amanda shares: • How she went from $0 to national exposure in 90 days • The reality behind rapid growth (and what broke) • How she rebuilt after her partner left • Building a business after an ectopic…
S1 · E25 · 14 Apr 2026 · 1 hr
Katie Hall Hursh on Building a Better Winnipeg
Katie Hall Hursh walked away from law just three years in. Not because she couldn’t do it — but because she wasn’t fulfilled. Today, as Board Chair of the Health Sciences Centre Foundation, Katie is helping drive real healthcare innovation across Manitoba, including surgical robotics and advanced technology that are improving patient outcomes, reducing recovery time and helping people get home faster. In this episode, she shares: Why she walked away from her law career How innovation is changing healthcare in Manitoba How investing can shape stronger communities How she balances motherhood…
S1 · E33 · 7 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 11 min
Why She’s Riding Across Canada for Cancer
She’s biking 7,500 km across Canada for cancer. Mady Kennedy spent over 10 years building a makeup brand and growing an audience, then walked away from everything and never posted again as the “makeup girl.” For two years, she felt lost. Then she got sober.Started training. Now she’s biking across Canada. Starting this May. In this episode, we talk about: • Why she’s doing it and how • Losing 30,000 followers and starting over • Getting sober and rebuilding her life • Training for an Ironman in just 4 months • What her life looks like now
S1 · E32 · 31 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
From $80 Clients to $5K/Month
At 21, Maddie Thompson dropped out of architecture school. Today, she runs MAD Social Agency with a team of 30+ and works with 400+ brands. We sit down to talk about: • The moment she decided to drop out • Why taking risks is easier when you’re young • How she went from $80/month clients to $5,000/month • Why personal brand and outbound is the “cheat code” for growth • How she built a fully remote team based on trust • Why emotional content is what actually drives views and sales 🎙️ Watch the full episode on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts
S1 · E29 · 24 Mar 2026 · 54 min
What 30 Years in Construction Teaches You
Kevin Dandewich started in construction at 15. 30+ years later, he’s leading operations at Gator across Manitoba and Saskatchewan — helping grow the Winnipeg team from 1 to 20 in under 2 years. He’s worked on major builds like the Selkirk Hospital and built his career by learning on site. He’s also the kind of leader who will run to the store if his team needs something. No ego. Just gets it done. Outside of work, he’s a hockey dad and coach. Kevin shares his career in construction, lessons from big projects and his thoughts on change orders.

About Careers Under Construction

Careers Under Construction is a English business podcast from The Pederson Group. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: The Pederson Group
Language: English
Category: Business
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 56 min
Latest episode: 13 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1836207562
Rights: The Pederson Group

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