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UNBeknownst: a podcast for alumni, by alumni

Want to meet impressive individuals you may not have known are UNB grads? UNBeknownst digs deep into insights, ideas and solutions from UNB alumni around the world who are making a difference in their communities. Join us as we unravel their stories.

Latest episode

Serial entrepreneur Matt Symes (BA'04/BEd'04) is an expert on helping leaders confront change and develop sound strategies to navigate through uncertain times. As founding partner and CEO of Symplicity Designs, based in Atlantic Canada, he and his team have helped over 500 organizations and institutions both scale and recover from some of their darkest moments.

In addition to Symplicity Designs, Matt also manages a portfolio of companies of which he holds a majority or minority stake, in a range of industries. He was named Business Leader of the Year in 2020 from the Halifax Chamber of Commerce and one of Atlantic Canada's Top 50 CEOs in 2022 and 2023 by Atlantic Business Magazine. Matt goes out of his way to embrace leading-edge environmentally sustainable practices at his companies, no matter how much effort and resources are required. He believes in stoicism – that we all have 100 percent control over our mindset. With that frame of mind, it's possible to do almost anything, and he enjoys solving complex problems.

Hosts Kayla Ossachuk (BA'15) and Andrew Martel (BCS'15) chat with Matt about embracing change, planning for the future, and, in particular, how to adopt AI for efficiency and growth.

Browse the full catalogue of UNBeknownst episodes!
Matt Symes on confronting change – and why every business must embrace AI
Matt Symes on confronting change – and why every business must embrace AI
“AI can and will radically disrupt your business. Within two years you’ll need to do 3x what you do today, not from working harder, but from working differently”
Mike LeBlanc on innovative tech for good
Mike LeBlanc on innovative tech for good
“When it comes to what AI can do, just because we can do it doesn’t always mean we should”
Aimée Foreman on the silver economy, care economy and addressing the needs for aging well
Aimée Foreman on the silver economy, care economy and addressing the needs for aging well
“Aging is not an illness. We need to see older adults as a person, not a patient”
Andrew MacLean on traveling and discovering our own backyard – and why storytelling and history matter
Andrew MacLean on traveling and discovering our own backyard – and why storytelling and history matter
“Storytelling is important here because it reflects our values and our culture”
Alexandre Hayward on rising up after a tragic accident to compete on the world stage
Alexandre Hayward on rising up after a tragic accident to compete on the world stage
“Anytime I’m feeling low I’ve got this life event in my back pocket where it makes me feel pretty grateful. It’s hard to get too far into a hole”
Randy Hatfield on the realities of poverty and practical solutions
Randy Hatfield on the realities of poverty and practical solutions
“If you want to decrease poverty rates, you have to get money into people’s hands, and there are two ways of doing that: one is through labour force attachment and the other is through income supports and benefits”
Kelsey Hogan on the universal lessons learned from ultramarathon trail running
Kelsey Hogan on the universal lessons learned from ultramarathon trail running
"We all have ultras in our lives, sometimes chosen and sometimes ones that life throws you along the way"
KJ Conyers-Steede on community-centric innovation and creating sustainable policies for rural Atlantic Canada
KJ Conyers-Steede on community-centric innovation and creating sustainable policies for rural Atlantic Canada
"We need to create ecosystems and lead with community-based solutions"
Josh LeBrun on social enterprise and building community
Josh LeBrun on social enterprise and building community
"When you take on something beautiful, it draws talented people"
Shilo Boucher on building a healthy, strong community
Shilo Boucher on building a healthy, strong community
Focusing on preventative healthcare will create a positive overall community healthcare model
Katie Davey on public policy, social innovation and social entrepreneurship in New Brunswick
Katie Davey on public policy, social innovation and social entrepreneurship in New Brunswick
"We have a fragmented information environment. Figuring out how we have more understanding and empathy toward each other is the underpinning to solving the largest challenges we face"
Nicole LeBlanc on sustainable communities, tech investment and women in venture capital
Nicole LeBlanc on sustainable communities, tech investment and women in venture capital
"Cities are already smart. They're just not connected. Digital, physical and policy innovation all need to come together. The solutions are out there"
Jen Woodland on integrated health research and the importance of knowledge translation
Jen Woodland on integrated health research and the importance of knowledge translation
Translating research into meaningful health policy
Victoria LaBillois on economic reconciliation in Canada
Victoria LaBillois on economic reconciliation in Canada
"People fear what they don't understand. Becoming an ally involves listening and learning about how we can make economic reconciliation happen together"
Entrepreneur Tosin Ajibola on blending social good with technology in Canada
Entrepreneur Tosin Ajibola on blending social good with technology in Canada
"Newcomers coming into Canada want stability. So the quicker we can help these newcomers get access to what they need, the more likely it is that they stay"
UNB Chancellor Wade MacLauchlan on the role of universities and education in our collective future
UNB Chancellor Wade MacLauchlan on the role of universities and education in our collective future
"Universities have a responsibility for innovation, creativity, invention, creating community and the core contribution of giving people the opportunity to be better"
Mohamed Bagha on growing strong communities by engaging newcomers
Mohamed Bagha on growing strong communities by engaging newcomers
“We are only on the front end of growth right now. Growth will be fueled by newcomers”
Barbara Wasson on how technology and AI are shaping the future of learning
Barbara Wasson on how technology and AI are shaping the future of learning
"Creativity and innovation may be threatened if we all begin seeing the same things that computers generate for us for learning. Who decides what knowledge is?”
Sara Taaffe on the tension between economic progress and sustainability
Sara Taaffe on the tension between economic progress and sustainability
“Knowing that there are a lot of people who really care and are working every day to make change leaves me feeling optimistic that we’re doing better than we were doing a year ago. There is hope and people have power.”
Mike Corey on facing your fears to go far
Mike Corey on facing your fears to go far
“Our body is an amazing tool. We have a superpower which is adaptability. Our body will adapt to where we are and what we do. We need to use that beautiful tool more”
Teresa Fowler on the need for a reckoning in Canadian hockey culture
Teresa Fowler on the need for a reckoning in Canadian hockey culture
“We need to consider the role of grooming - it happens with boys in hockey and it glorifies aggression and violence, along with a culture of silence.”
Lea Nicholas-MacKenzie on championing Indigenous human rights
Lea Nicholas-MacKenzie on championing Indigenous human rights
“Advocating for Indigenous Rights with Indigenous Peoples instead of for Indigenous Peoples is important work”
Mark Leger on the future of local journalism and its importance in building communities
Mark Leger on the future of local journalism and its importance in building communities
“We need to continue to have an optimistic spirit as we innovate new solutions for local journalism.”
Balarama Holness on education, politics and confronting systemic racism
Balarama Holness on education, politics and confronting systemic racism
“Racism creates oppression, but it also creates mystic-like fiery rebels and revolutionaries with the ability to transform evil into optimism, change and humanity.”
Ambassador Deborah Lyons on why education for women is critical for global stability
Ambassador Deborah Lyons on why education for women is critical for global stability
John Leroux on why architecture and art are so important in attracting and inspiring people
John Leroux on why architecture and art are so important in attracting and inspiring people
“You can’t say you love a place and build cheaply or not care about its history or environment or landscape or culture. If we truly love a place, we have to act like it.”
Krista Jones on the future of work and how Canada can be competitive globally
Krista Jones on the future of work and how Canada can be competitive globally
“Intelligent work is the intersection between people, process and technology."
Donald Savoie on the centralization of power in Western governments, lack of public trust in our leaders, and what government IS good at
Donald Savoie on the centralization of power in Western governments, lack of public trust in our leaders, and what government IS good at
“We’ve added layers upon layers of bureaucracy.”
Emilie Chiasson on creating human-centred designs and solving big challenges through collective action and gender equality
Emilie Chiasson on creating human-centred designs and solving big challenges through collective action and gender equality
“As the world increasingly navigates complex conflicts, the solutions we implement need to be equally complex”
Josh O’Kane on Sidewalk Labs and “the city Google couldn’t buy”
Josh O’Kane on Sidewalk Labs and “the city Google couldn’t buy”
The Globe and Mail reporter who has spent much of his career reporting on technology and music discusses the failed effort by Google's Sidewalk Labs to build a future-focused neighbourhood in Toronto
Mitch Cobb on purpose-driven entrepreneurship and making a positive community impact
Mitch Cobb on purpose-driven entrepreneurship and making a positive community impact
Julia Wright on finding your path through trial and error, and journalism in challenging times
Julia Wright on finding your path through trial and error, and journalism in challenging times
“Failure is not the opposite of success – it's part of success.”
Brandon Mitchell on creating comic books and teaching youth through visually telling Mi’kmaq stories
Brandon Mitchell on creating comic books and teaching youth through visually telling Mi’kmaq stories
Tom Liston on Bay Street and how the Canadian tech sector can help us overcome big global challenges
Tom Liston on Bay Street and how the Canadian tech sector can help us overcome big global challenges
Mike Harrison on emergency medicine during a pandemic, flight surgery and the long way to get to what you love
Mike Harrison on emergency medicine during a pandemic, flight surgery and the long way to get to what you love
Listen to the podcast
Alexandra Pope on leading Canadian Geographic, life balance and the polarization of media
Alexandra Pope on leading Canadian Geographic, life balance and the polarization of media
From Artsy to Shopify, Ash Furrow on compassionate software development and separating yourself from your work
From Artsy to Shopify, Ash Furrow on compassionate software development and separating yourself from your work
Listen to the podcast
James Gitau on the dangers and rewards of leading humanitarian work with UNICEF around the globe
James Gitau on the dangers and rewards of leading humanitarian work with UNICEF around the globe
Olive Ozoemena on promoting diversity and inclusion through employment initiatives and economic development
Olive Ozoemena on promoting diversity and inclusion through employment initiatives and economic development
Asif Hasan on the entrepreneurship ecosystem, and the role of businesses and individuals in building a diverse, flourishing community
Asif Hasan on the entrepreneurship ecosystem, and the role of businesses and individuals in building a diverse, flourishing community
“Don’t let fear take you over. It’s ok to be vulnerable.”
Jason Stephen on the hot real estate market and working through uncertainty
Jason Stephen on the hot real estate market and working through uncertainty
Matt Anderson and Chris Simpson on leading healthcare in a pandemic and adapting to change
Matt Anderson and Chris Simpson on leading healthcare in a pandemic and adapting to change
The health human resources problem and burnout of healthcare workers, and so much more
Samantha Stewart on competition, mental fitness and developing a growth mindset
Samantha Stewart on competition, mental fitness and developing a growth mindset
Eric Cook on Industry 4.0 and automation
Eric Cook on Industry 4.0 and automation
“Innovation is the conversion of ideas into money not to be confused with invention, which is the conversion of money into ideas. Discoveries remain invention until there is economic or social value achieved for them to become innovation.”
Cayman Grant on storytelling in Hollywood and why failing is important 
Cayman Grant on storytelling in Hollywood and why failing is important 
Natalie Weigum on the challenges of climate change as a specialist at the World Bank
Natalie Weigum on the challenges of climate change as a specialist at the World Bank
Listen to the podcast
Michaela D’Intino on building a strong local supply chain and leading at a young age
Michaela D’Intino on building a strong local supply chain and leading at a young age
"The supply chain got crazy when COVID-19 took over the world."
Jason Goldlist on Wealthsimple, Venue and an unusual path to tech entrepreneurship
Jason Goldlist on Wealthsimple, Venue and an unusual path to tech entrepreneurship
"That Superbowl ad really helped Wealthsimple burst onto the scene"
Pam Palmater on decolonization and how to make good on Indigenous reconciliation
Pam Palmater on decolonization and how to make good on Indigenous reconciliation
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