Skillpod is an executive skills coaching program that helps young adults build, demonstrate and articulate 7 executive skills critical to working and living in the digital age.
The Skillpod Vision
Today we are facing economic uncertainty. Old business models are out and new disruptive models are growing. New models require that people have flexible, adaptable and agile, “21st Century skills”.
Our program focuses on 7 executive skills: Strategic Thinking, Smarter Learning, Selfwork, Teamwork, Communication and Networking, Design and Innovation, and Information Management.
Skillpod helps you prepare for employment by helping you hone and share your own, unique, essential executive skills required for success in the entrepreneurial economy.
The Skillpod Team
Connie Wansbrough
Co-Founder & CEO
B.Sc., M.A.
Bio
Connie is a designer, entrepreneur, teacher and now Co-Founder of Skillpod, Inc. For the past 20 years, she has straddled the worlds of philanthropy and design, taking a design thinking and design-driven approach to social issues and social enterprise. She has taught and developed curriculum at the College level for 10 years, focusing on design research, design entrepreneurship and work/life skills.
Barry Wansbrough
Co-Founder, Program Lead,
B.A., M.Ed.
Bio
Barry Wansbrough is a visionary educational reformer and founder of the peer tutoring program, Licensed to Learn, now reaching 3500 students. He has a master’s degree in school reform and served on the Clinical Ethics and Business committees at McMaster University. He is a sought after consultant both locally and internationally. His focus has been in preparing youth for the coming digital era: building technological systems into strong interpersonal learning communities.
Michaele Robertson
Co-Founder & Program Lead,
B.A., M.A. (T)
Bio
Michaele is an outstanding leader, collaborator and communicator with expertise in conflict resolution. With over 50 years experience as a teacher, coach, school head, she has demonstrated a lifetime of commitment to excellence in learning. She is very active in community boards and is sought after as Chair. While her career previously focused on ways in which school systems could better enhance learning, she is now focused on the mobility and personalization of learning that will help students succeed.
Contributors
Richelle Sibolboro
Advisor – Business Strategy & Media Production
Bio
Richelle is a communication and design strategist who specializes in transmedia storytelling. She has extensive experience in brand strategy as well as all forms of media production. Richelle has a Masters degree in Design from Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology and is a graduate of the Institute without Boundaries, George Brown College.
Palu Philips
Advisor – Business Strategy & Entrepreneurship Coach
Bio
Palu is a tech entrepreneur turned enterprise sales enthusiast.
She is passionate about supporting and encouraging more women to work in sales and technology. She was the founder of WinSales, a non-profit dedicated to advancing the careers of women in sales. She is also the VP, Corporate Relations for Young Women in Business and a mentor for League of Innovators, Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, Women in Tech and Women in Leadership. .
David Ho Sang
Beta Tester/Graphic Design
Bio
David is a 2nd year Graphic Design student at George Brown College, School of Design. In his former life, he studied culinary arts and worked many years as a master breadmaker. David has been helping the Skillpod team as a beta-testing the learning program from a users perspective, helping to troubleshoot and simplify the product. He is the designer of the Skillpod Skill cards.
Sisley Leung
Product Design
Bio
Sisley Leung is a designer, architectural technologist, illustrator and model maker who is inspired by simple, relevant, sustainable design that sets high standards in craftsmanship. Her work has been featured at the Interior Design Show and Gladstone Hotel as well as in publications such as Designlines, MOCO LOCO, QUIP, and American Craft. Sisley has been exploring the design and use of products to make our learning more “sticky”.