Careers Under Construction

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Careers Under Construction

Conversations with people about moments, challenges and experiences that shaped who they are and their careers. Produced in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

10/06/2026

A Kijiji ad completely changed Stan Higgins’ life.
He had no construction experience and knew nothing about helical piles.
He bought the company anyway.

Today his company, VersaPile Inc. - Helical Pile Contractors, works with clients like Shell, Enbridge and Manitoba Hydro.

This is also one of the most personal conversations we've had yet. Stan talks about his marriage, his health and the work it took to turn both around.

🎙️ Hear the full story on Careers Under Construction

10/02/2026

No construction experience ➝ Kijiji ad ➝ One of Canada's Top Growing Companies

Meet Stan Higgins:
• Former executive recruiter
• Founder of VersaPile Inc. - Helical Pile Contractors
• Started VersaPile in 2011 off a Kijiji ad for a helical pile dealership
• Built VersaPile into one of Canada's Top Growing Companies (The Globe and Mail, 2023)
• Clients include Shell, Enbridge and Manitoba Hydro
• Trains Indigenous and remote community contractors through the First Foundations Program
• Entrepreneurs' Organization member since 2015
• Red River Métis
• Married to Sandy, a retired RCMP officer and past Careers Under Construction guest
• Previously ran youth cultural programs at Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre, Inc.

🎙️ New episode this Tuesday with host Justis Pederson!

09/29/2026

Why would someone walk away from a government pension, not once but twice?
Sandra from Sorella Strategies shares the moment she told her husband, "I made a mistake. I got to go."

Sorella Strategies is a women-owned, multi-partisan government relations firm that helps nonprofits, companies and First Nations organizations understand where government is headed and get ahead of it.

Basically, Sandra and her team speak fluent government.

🎙️ Hear Sandra Hodzic's full story on this week's ep of Careers Under Construction

09/27/2026

What does opening a store in a remote community have to do with a 10-year-old eating an orange for the first time?

Cole Akerstream, VP of Facilities & Store Development at The North West Company, shares a story that has stuck with him since this trip to Gambell, Alaska.

The North West Company operates more than 230 stores in remote communities across the world, from the Arctic to the Caribbean, navigating winter roads and supply chain challenges to keep essentials on the shelves.

🎙️ Hear the full story on Careers Under Construction

09/25/2026

Quit government twice ➝ Started her own firm ➝ Prime ministers' tables

Meet Sandra Hodzic:
• Founder of Sorella Strategies
• Multi-partisan government relations firm working with nonprofits, publicly traded companies and First Nations organizations
• Roughly 14 years of government experience, primarily with the Manitoba Government and Government of New Brunswick
• Left government, returned, then eventually left for good
• Has worked with political and international leaders in Canada, Croatia and the UAE
• Works on First Nations governance and policy issues
• Has contributed to Indigenous housing initiatives
• Her family immigrated to Canada from the former Yugoslavia
• Philosophy undergrad with an MPA and MBA

🎙️ New episode this Tuesday with host Justis Pederson!

09/23/2026

Best year of his career
Then he got the call: 60 days, no reason given

11 years building that office.
Mortgage, baby under 1 and 2 months to figure out what's next.
3 weeks later, he filed the paperwork for his own brokerage.

Ryan Behie is a Winnipeg commercial real estate broker and the founder of Behie Real Estate Inc.

🎧 From 60 days’ notice to his own brokerage, hear Ryan’s story

09/20/2026

When the Winnipeg Blue Bombers faced an uncertain future, David Asper helped rebuild the organization from the ground up.

Hear David talk about his role in the Bombers’ comeback in this episode of Careers Under Construction

🎙️ Watch or listen on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts

09/18/2026

2021: 60 days' notice ➝ 2026: President & Broker of his own brokerage

Meet Ryan Behie:
• President & Broker at Behie Real Estate Inc.
• Got into commercial real estate in 2010 with NO salary and NO safety net
• On a Saturday he got a call from the CEO, "Open our new Winnipeg office"
• Said yes and built it from the trust accounts up as employee #1, then ran it as Managing Director
• 2020 was his best year
• Then his contract ended on 60 days' notice, no cause
• Founded Behie Real Estate in 2021
• Represented BOTH the seller and the buyer on a major sale in his first 18 months
• Sold Kildonan Crossing Shopping Centre
• Worked on North Town Centre in Bridgwater
• Still skateboards, books it like a tee time

🎙️ New episode this Tuesday with host Justis Pederson!

09/15/2026

How do you keep a store running in some of the harshest climates in the world?

Cole Akerstream, Vice President of Facilities and Store Development at NWC, gives us a look at what it takes to keep 230 stores stocked and operating across Northern Canada, Alaska, the Caribbean and the South Pacific.

The North West Company (NWC) serves communities in some of the most remote parts of the world, navigating winter roads and supply chain challenges to keep essentials stocked on the shelves.

🎙️ Out now on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts!

09/12/2026

Should NHL players get to handpick their next team?
Former NHL player Dale Weise and host Justis Pederson dig into an idea raised by Craig Button of TSN:

If a player requests a trade, should their no-move clause become void, allowing the team to trade them anywhere?

What does Dale think? Hit play to find out.
Hear the full conversation on Careers Under Construction!

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