Toronto Metropolitan University Alumni Blog – Advice for alumni, by alumni

5 steps to a greener closet

Narishdath Maraj is the founder of Narishdath Maraj Design Inc. in Toronto, focusing on sustainable fashion and visual arts. Maraj, Fashion Communication ’22, has also spearheaded initiatives at Toronto Metropolitan University, where he led the Branded Materials Transition Project. He is currently the creative director at M Polo Designs, working on multiple sustainability projects across Toronto.

Sustainability is more than a buzzword these days; it’s a lifestyle. What better place to start than with your wardrobe? Making your closet more eco-friendly might seem tricky at first, but it’s easier and more fun than you think. You can make a significant impact by focusing on a few essential habits, such as choosing quality pieces, supporting ethical brands, thrifting, getting creative with upcycling and caring for your clothes correctly.

Redefining Success: Unlocking new potentials in work

Gori Bhullar, Law and Business ’13, is a seasoned management consultant with a specialization in understanding human behaviour in the workplace. She has spearheaded transformative people and culture initiatives for several organizations. Currently, Gori works in the financial services industry in Toronto, Canada, where she leads strategic people & culture efforts for more than 60,000 employees across North America. Her commitment to fostering talent is her hallmark, making her a standout figure in her field. Stay tuned for her insights in this series.

Recent studies indicate that the average human is expected to live up to 120 years of age, posing a question about the future of work. Are we destined for 100-year careers, and if so, how does this affect the concept of retirement? In this ﬁnal installment of the work-life harmony series, we’re here to challenge conventional notions of what it means to “work”.

Are you a recent graduate? Here are four tips for starting out in your career.

Dan Shaikh, Business Technology Management ’13, is the co-founder of Speaker Slam®, a speaker development agency that builds speakers and cultivates changemakers. He is dedicated to empowering others to embrace their authentic selves, share their stories, and create ripples of inspiration that create global change.

Redefining Success: Nurturing the essence of well-being

Well-being has become such a buzzword, with employers promoting employee wellness, social media advocating daily meditation and societal expectations urging us to lead healthier lives. But beneath the surface of this well-being trend lies a complex landscape, leaving many of us perplexed about where to start and what truly matters to us. In this post, we embark on a journey to unravel the layers of well-being, focusing on elements that help us establish boundaries, cultivate healthy habits and foster resilient mindsets applicable at any stage of life.

Redefining Success: Re-balancing energy with family and friends

Isn’t it fascinating to observe how the post-pandemic world has shaped us? Some emerged seemingly unaffected, while the rest of us found ourselves in a state of confusion, uncertain about where to invest our energy, especially in our interactions with others. If you’re feeling any form of text fatigue, social pressure or a lack of interest in engaging with others, this piece is crafted with you in mind.

Redefining Success: Revitalizing life through fun

What even is fun? Is it being mischievous, laughing or feeling utterly content? Do you make having fun a daily practice?

Here’s our take on fun as a vital element of work-life harmony. Fun isn’t just a ﬂeeting moment of laughter or entertainment; it’s a purposeful act of infusing joy and enjoyment into your life. It’s about consciously dedicating time to relish experiences that truly matter to you. In the realm of fun, the activity itself isn’t a means to an end; it is the end itself.

Redefining Success: Rediscovering the joy of exploration

Remember when you were very young? You were a little explorer, reaching out with tiny hands to touch and feel the mysteries of textures, from velvety softness to bumpy curiosity. The world was a vivid kaleidoscope, ﬁlled with colours that danced, objects that beckoned and faces that radiated warmth. Sounds were hidden treasures, making you coo in delight. Playing peek-a-boo with those towering giants, Mom and Dad, was a delightful game of hide-and-seek. Every day held a new secret, even though your attempts at conversation were just babbling. Life was an enchanting expedition and you savoured every moment!

Redefining Success: Celebrating the magic of community

Have you ever watched the television series Community? It’s a whirlwind of hilarity and heartwarming moments, centring around seven individuals who initially gather for Spanish tutoring and unintentionally build profound friendships. This show beautifully exempliﬁes the essence of community – people coming together around a shared interest and discovering connections they might never have otherwise.

Redefining Success: Embracing the adventure of learning

Remember what Einstein once said, ‘Once you stop learning, you start dying.’ So, let’s start with this vital dimension: learning. It’s a cornerstone that profoundly impacts both our personal and professional journeys.

Redefining success: The work-life harmony series

Say goodbye to the age-old concept of work-life balance; it’s time to embrace a new perspective — work-life harmony. This fresh framework acknowledges that our lives extend far beyond our work roles, encompassing a rich tapestry of dimensions that interconnect and support our careers.