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WTJ? Live: Career Stories Unplugged is an engaging series of live episode recordings of the What The Job? (WTJ?) podcast, produced by the U of A Alumni Association. WTJ? offers an authentic and unfiltered look into the professional lives and experiences of U of A alumni. Each event in the WTJ? Live series features a dynamic panel discussion on a unique topic, recorded in front of a live audience and later edited into an episode for the WTJ? podcast. Attendees also enjoy a networking reception following the panel discussion, where they can connect with the panelists and fellow guests.

This event is open to all alumni and their guests.

Program begins at 6 p.m.

About the speakers

Sama Ahmed

Sama’s experience spans countries and continents. It ranges from teaching and tutoring science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in Bangladesh to being the marketing specialist for a STEM outreach program in Canada. She has researched energy recovery from wastewater as a graduate student at the ß÷ßäÉçÇø. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Sama graduated with a Masters in Engineering from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. She now leverages the skills gained in those previous roles as a Technical Principal of Product Management at RUNWITHIT Synthetics Inc. (RWI), an artificial intelligence (AI) technology company based out of Edmonton. In her career, she has gained extensive experience in working with AI to create city-simulations (like SIM City, but for real) that help municipalities, utilities, planners, and emergency responders build resilient communities. Sama’s collaborations of note include NASA, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Electric Power and Research Institute. She believes in the power of “better together”, and strives to create a world that is inclusive and uplifting for all through strong leadership and knowledge sharing. Sama enjoys photography and connecting with people.

Erik Einsiedel

Erik's 20+ year career in communications started in 2000, a month after he graduated from the ß÷ßäÉçÇø - not with a degree in journalism, media, English, or any other degree that would've "made sense" for a comms professional. Instead, Erik is a proud drama grad who studied acting, theatre history and ballroom dance (ok just that one semester). Turns out, that was the perfect foundation for a comms career. He started as a U of A recruiter, "learning by doing" things like marketing, web design (anyone remember Netscape?), media relations, and other things that put the word "Communications" into almost every job title he's had since then. Brands like BioWare, Warner Bros. and Electronic Arts are just some of the clients he'll name drop just to try and sound cooler than he actually is (but it never works). You know what is cool? His current job as U of A lead for alumni and donor communications, telling stories about all the world-changing things U of A students and researchers are doing. He loves board games, karaoke, and his two rambunctious cats, Putzy and Bootsy.

Cole Pearson

Cole Pearson is a proud alum of the ß÷ßäÉçÇø School of Business. He holds a BCom with a marketing major and a human resources management minor, and he is a Registered Professional Recruiter (RPR). Cole’s varied employment experience ranges from student roles with the City of Edmonton to facilitating the Job Shadow Program at the U of A Career Centre where he works as a Career Education Coordinator. In this role, he facilitates career exploration opportunities for students, alum, and postdoctoral scholars. He co-leads the Career Centre’s mentorship program while being a mentor himself with the ß÷ßäÉçÇø School of Business. Cole is a member of the ß÷ßäÉçÇø Dean of Students’ Inclusive Community Collective. He draws on his experience in human resources and communication to provide staff members with ways to increase belonging within the DoS community. In his spare time, Cole pursues portrait photography.