Work.Learn.Repeat hosted by:
Jodi Szimanski (she/her), BA, CAAP, MBET
Associate Director, Communications, Engagement and Digital Experience
Jodi joined Co-operative and Experiential Education at the University of Waterloo in 2020 as the Associate Director, Communications, Engagement and Digital Experience. She has held several positions in marketing and communications at the University of Waterloo including the Faculty of Mathematics, the Institute for Quantum Computing, the Student Success Office and the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business. Prior to that, she managed the Marketing and Advertising team at OpenText after working for 10 years at advertising agencies as a copywriter.
She herself was a co-op student majoring in English – Rhetoric and Professional Writing at the University of Waterloo, and in 2020 graduated with a Master of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (MBET), also from Waterloo. In addition, she is a Communications and Advertising Accredited Professional (Institute of Communications and Advertising). In 2012, Jodi had the opportunity to co-author a book with Tom Jenkins, Chairman of the Board at OpenText called Behind the Firewall – Big Data and the Hidden Web: The Path to Enterprise Information Management.
Latest episodes
Work.Learn.Repeat Podcast - S1 E7 | Dr. Andrea Prier
How can reflection enhance your work-integrated learning experience? Dr. Andrea Prier discusses the practice of reflection in co-op education and its role in helping students plan, engage, and evaluate their work experiences. Learn how intentional reflection at different stages of the work term can improve skill articulation, personal growth, and career preparedness for both students and employers.
Work.Learn.Repeat Podcast - S1 E6 | Dr. Richard Wikkerink and Ben McDonald
In this episode, Dr. Richard Wikkerink and Ben McDonald discuss the importance of engagement in cooperative education at the University of Waterloo. They explain how meaningful connections with students enhance their educational experience and help them thrive. By focusing on strategies such as professional development courses, advisor-student relationships, and facilitating job opportunities, they show how engagement can set students up for future success. The conversation also highlights skill development, including teamwork, intercultural effectiveness, and the value of regular assessments and student reflections. Ultimately, this episode emphasizes the need for ongoing improvements in engagement to better equip students for their careers.
Work.Learn.Repeat Podcast - S1 E5 | Dr. Norah McRae
How can you make a positive impact in the workplace? Dr. Norah McRae, associate provost of Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE), discusses how the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals are used as a framework to create meaningful work experiences. Learn how concentrating on impact can open doors to new opportunities and enable both students and employers to tackle the future of work head-on.