On this month's episode, we're speaking with mechanical engineering alumni Graeme Gordon, who ditched the oil and gas industry to transform his passion for Magic: The Gathering trading cards into a thriving business.

He is the founder of TCG Machines, which produces automatic trading card sorting machines for commercial use. In the past four years, Graeme’s business has grown into a multi-million-dollar business with 27 full-time employees and machines operating in ten countries (at the time of recording, there were 20 employees, proof that it's growing fast!).

We chat with Graeme about how he pivoted to become a business owner, the path to launching his own business, and what he's learned along the way.

Resources from this episode

• TCG Machines
• The UVic Co-op Program
• Accessing career support

Connect with us

• Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter
• Follow UVic Co-op and Career on social media

• (02:10) - How did changes to the oil and gas industry impact Graeme's career path?
• (04:15) - Where did Graeme's passion for tabletop card games like Magic The Gathering come from?
• (06:55) - How did playing Magic The Gathering lead Graeme to launch a card sorting business?
• (08:41) - How did Graeme go from sorting business idea to the reality of launching a company?
• (09:48) - The importance of validating that there’s a market for your idea
• (10:22) - All about TCG Machines - growing pains, and the reality of building a business
• (14:16) - Using Reddit as a marketing tool
• (14:50) - How UVic shaped Graeme’s career path
• (16:25) - What is next for Graeme and TCG?
• (17:25) - Graeme’s advice for students interested in launching their own business
• (19:37) - What has surprised Graeme about being involved in the gaming card industry? Psst…it may involve Post Malone!
• (20:54) - Rapid fire questions
• (21:05) - Favourite snack while on campus
• (21:10) - If you could be a student again for one day, what would you do?
• (21:43) - What was the hardest engineering project that you worked on?

On today’s episode, we're tackling a pretty common question—what the heck can you do with your degree?

Whether you’re considering what program to pursue or are about to graduate with a degree, it can be hard to know what’s next. We’re joined by Joy Andrews, one of UVic’s amazing career educators, who will walk us through:

• how to identify your passion and your strengths
• how to find the right employer
• putting together an elevator pitch
• the perks of meeting with your career educator

Students and alumni can book one-on-one appointments with Joy and her team.

Resources from this episode

• Meet with your career educator

Connect with us

• Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter
• Follow UVic Co-op and Career on social media

• (02:10) - - What does it look like to meet with your career educator?
• (02:45) - - Step 1 - Identify your passion - what made you want to do your degree?
• (03:55) - - Step 2 - Figure out your strengths - what are you proud of?
• (06:00) - - Step 3 - Digging deeper - understanding your strengths, passions and career fits.
• (07:05) - - Step 4 - Exploring possible career paths
• (08:06) - - Step 5 - Planning your next steps
• (09:05) - - Step 6 - Sharing resources and contacts so you can learn more
• (09:55) - - What if you don’t have any idea of what you want to do?
• (10:56) - - How do you find the right employer?
• (11:55) - - How to put together an elevator pitch
• (14:15) - - How to prepare for a job interview
• (14:40) - - How to navigate today’s labour market
• (16:03) - - What are the perks of an appointment with your career educator?

On our season 3 kick-off episode, we speak with Fiona Wong, a UVic Law graduate with a passion for labour and employment law. She has served as President of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers, helped produce an award-winning law documentary called “But I Look Like a Lawyer”, and launched a podcast featuring Asian-Canadian lawyers.

During her time at UVic, Fiona founded the First Generation Network at UVic to reduce barriers for law students who are the first in their family to attend post-secondary.

We talk with Fiona about facing discrimination as an Asian student and lawyer, how her identity shapes her career in law, and much more.

Resources from this episode

• First Generation Network
• But I Look Like a Lawyer
• UVic Law
• The UVic Co-op Program
• Accessing career support

Connect with us

• Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter
• Follow UVic Co-op and Career on social media

• (02:52) - What drew Fiona to the field of law? Why UVic?
• (04:42) - What inspired Fiona to start the First Generation Network to connect with other students who are the first to attend post-secondary?
• (07:30) - What does it mean to be a labour and employment lawyer, as well as a civl rights lawyer?
• (09:50) - Fiona tells us what she loves most about her job
• (12:05) - Fiona shares how her identity as an Asian woman has shaped her experience in the field of law
• (15:50) - What opportunities does Fiona see for change in removing barriers for Asian students to study and practice law?
• (18:12) - Fiona gives advice to students who are interested in a career in law
• (22:39) - What’s next for Fiona?
• (24:04) - Rapid fire questions
• (24:20) - Favourite off-campus spot
• (24:55) - Favourite on-campus spot
• (25:05) - Faculty members who inspired Fiona