From Listener to Podcast Guest

Throughout university, commuting filled many hours of my time. I studied in downtown Toronto but lived in an adjacent city in the suburbs of the region. Traveling from my home to school took out about 2-3 hours per day now imagine doing this 5 days a week for 4 years. That totals to about 1600 hours!  In order to fill in that time I found myself listening to many, many podcasts.

Of course I listened food related podcasts but one stood out in the crowd the- My Food Job Rocks podcast hosted by Adam Yee.

A Long Time Listener

Due to my involvement with FoodGrads I learned about the My Food Job Rocks podcast fairly early in it’s infancy. I believe I started listening when Adam began his Graduate Student Series. I particularly enjoyed this series because in the following year I was going to be entering my final year and I had to make some tough decisions whether or not I was going to going to pursue a higher degree.

It has been a pleasure listening to Adam develop over the past three years he has been doing the podcast. He has interviewed so many interesting guests and every week I still continue to be amazed about learning about the reach of careers in this industry. A gem that still resonates with me is the one with Dr. Darin Detwiler, Assistant Dean and a Professor of Food Policy at Northeastern University College.

From Listener to Guest 

When I started listening to the podcast I never imagined that I would become become a guest so early on in my career. At the time of the recording I had only been out of school for one month yet somehow I have a story people (hopefully) want to hear about. So you might be asking, “Well if you don’t have a job yet–if you haven’t begun your career in the food industry–what do you actually have to talk about?”

The FoodGrads Campus Ambassador program.

For the past year and a half I have been a FoodGrads Campus Ambassador. Honestly, it has changed my life and I truly believe it has become a part of my identity. FoodGrads has connected me with students across the region, I’ve attended events I never could have imagined and it’s given me a place to share my voice.

On the podcast I speak about what exactly is the FoodGrads Campus Ambassador and how students can get involved. By my choosing I have helped FoodGrads out by writing blog posts, making videos, helping with events and helping to run the campus ambassador program. I am honored and proud to be apart of this initiative, In this podcast I share my passion for it and I send out a call for students to join because I know it will have a positive impact for them

Like I said FoodGrads connect people and one person I met through FoodGrads is Yenci Gomez.

A Campus Ambassador Killing it in the Industry

I couldn’t ask for a better person to co-podcast with.

I first met Yenci Gomez at the CIFST Annual Table Top Event Show back in November 2017. It is amazing how fast time flies! My first impressions of her was that she had a warm personality and laugh that  fills the room. She instantly makes you feels comfortable making the conversation flow. Based on our initial conversation you could easily tell that she has a huge passion for the industry.

So why is she killing it?

Before Yenci even graduated she was paving her way in the industry working in QA/QC, R&D  and PD at prominent companies. Some how she still managed to find the time away from studies to be involved in various clubs at her school like the Food Science Club.  Oh, and did I mention she only just recently graduated and found a job as a product developer!

And of course she is representing the FoodGrads as a Food Campus Ambassador! Yenci acted as an MC at the first ever FoodGrads/Taste Your Future Career Showdown, an event for students and recent graduates to mix with Food & Beverage industry professionals.

Go check it out! 

The podcast has already been published and I would humbled if you were to listen. It gives you an in depth look about what the FoodGrads Campus Ambassador program is all about and why myself and Yenci truly believe that it will help out all students.

Link to the podcast here!

Author: Veronica Hislop Veronica is a Chemistry student studying at Ryerson University and is now a Quality Assurance Technician at a snack food company. She has a passion for bringing awareness to sustainability in the food industry. When Veronica is taking a break from her food endeavors you will find her at home reading a great novel and playing with her cats.