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Career X

Career X: Explore. Connect. Exchange.

Join a three-day, cohort-based experiential learning program that blends the best of our Job Shadowing and In the Field programs, with a special thematic twist.

You, along with a tight group of fellow students and recent grads, can expand your career exploration journeys together by visiting real-world Toronto cultural organizations as we explore careers intersecting with music, festivals, visual arts, dance, theatre and more.

In collaboration with U of T’s Hart House Global Initiatives Programming, this year we will be focusing specifically on arts and cultural organizations that see their work through a global lens. Be it through spotlighting and celebrating work specifically originating from cultures and communities outside of North America, or through the perspective of Toronto’s evolving cultural diaspora, we wish to centre the influence the wider world has on our own creative practices and careers.

Who can join

  • Students from all programs at U of T
  • Graduate students, including Masters and PhDs
  • Recent alumni (up to 2 years post-graduation)

Registration is free and first-come, first-served.

This is a three-day cohort program.  All registrants will be expected to attend each session for all three days.

Upcoming Career X sessions

Career X will return for the 2026 Fall Reading Week, running October 26-30. Stay tuned for program updates over the coming weeks.

There’s nothing on the schedule right now, but check back soon to see what’s coming up.

In the meantime, visit Folio for similar events or explore our website to discover other programs and opportunities.

*The Folio link is only accessible to people who are eligible to register for the Career X program. This program is open to U of T students/recent alumni (within 2 years).

What to expect from Career X

Experience careers up close

Visit diverse workplaces, meet working professionals, and explore a range of different careers and industries focusing on Toronto’s vibrant cultural and artistic scenes.

Connect and exchange ideas

Make new connections and build career-minded relationships with our featured host organizations, guest speakers, U of T staff, and your fellow participants. Ask questions, learn new career insights, and experience how personal identity and values can show up in the workplace.

Gain real-world perspective

Gain “a day in the life” perspectives from current working professionals and better understand the skills and experience needed to succeed in specific roles. Reflect on your own career path with support from your fellow cohorts.

Students at a table in Hart House looking at Adidas shoes.
Students listening to a host in the Bata Shoe Museum gallery.
Students listening to a talk by Universal.
Students being welcomed in the Makeway office space.
Students listening to a panel discussion from Makeway

2025 Hosts & Speakers

Abby smiling and sitting on a couch.

Abby Albino

Co-Founder, Makeway
Makeway website

Throughout her career, Abby has led PR & Marketing strategies for many sports & entertainment brands including Nike Toronto, Toronto Raptors, Toronto Maple Leafs, Foot Locker & many more. Currently, she is the Head of Brand and Business Strategy at Canada Basketball.

As a proud child of immigrant parents, Abby also co-founded Rise Tribe, a non-profit aimed to power the next generation of Filipino-Canadian leaders. Her love of sneakers, streetwear culture & building community led her to launch Makeway as a way to give women a much-needed space to feel celebrated & to cultivate a community that has been, for so long, underserved.

Elizabeth smiling and looking off to the side in front of The Bata Shoe Museum sign.

Elizabeth Semmelhack

Director and Senior Curator, Bata Shoe Museum
Bata Show Museum website

Elizabeth Semmelhack is the Director and Senior Curator of the Bata Shoe Museum. Her work focuses on the intersections of fashion, culture, and economics with a particular interest in the history of footwear. She is widely quoted in the media from the New York Times to Vogue and since starting in 2000, she has curated over 30 exhibitions, written 14 books and catalogues and over 30 chapters and articles.

Her most recent exhibitions are Rough and Ready: A History of Cowboy Boots (2025), Art/Wear: Sneakers x Artists (2024), Exhibit A: Investigating Crime and Footwear co-curated with Dr. Alison Matthews Davids (2024), Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks (2022), All Dolled Up: Fashioning Cultural Expectations (2021), The Great Divide: Footwear and the Age of Enlightenment (2020).

Her most recent publications include Rough and Ready: A History of Cowboy Boots (Rizzoli, 2026), Roger Vivier (Rizzoli, 2026), Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks (Rizzoli: 2022), The World at Your Feet: The Bata Shoe Museum Collection (Rizzoli: 2020), Collab: Sneakers x Culture (Rizzoli: 2019), Dior by Roger Vivier (Rizzoli: 2019), Shoes: The Meaning of Style (Reaktion: 2017).

Jess Sanchez portrait

Jess Sanchez

Santa Isla
Santa Isla website

Jess Sanchez is an artist, jewelry designer and founder of Santa Isla. Santa Isla makes jewelry in partnership with Embera Chami artisans of Colombia. Chami means “mountain,” and Embera means “people”; they are an indigenous group who practice the power of the spirits who they trust to regulate life, health, livelihood and nature. The Embera Chami believe they weave spiritual intentions as a way to connect back to nature.   

Established in 2013 by Jess Sanchez, Santa Isla is a love letter to Colombia. Santa Isla celebrates the Embera’s weaving practice and respects its cultural significance, to create playful and intentional pieces that bring joy. 

Santa Isla has been featured as part of the AGO exhibition Faith and Fortune: Art Across the Global Spanish Empire. It is committed to representing the Embera Chami and keeping their cultural legacy alive. Santa Isla helps Embera culture breathe and expand. They work with a small group of Embera artisans, providing them with a source of income and an opportunity to showcase their art to the world. 

Headshot of Nadine smiling and sitting on a stool with her arms and legs crossed in front.

Nadine Brown-Stoddart

Owner, Her Collective Agency
Her Collective Agency on Instagram

Nadine Brown-Stoddart, owner of Her Collective Agency, dedicated seven years to one of the leading footwear retailers, Foot Locker. During her five-year tenure in community engagement, she served as a connector fostering relationships, creating opportunities, and building events that resonated with the vibrant and diverse city of Toronto.

With over 20 years of experience in marketing, Nadine has held various roles at major retail companies such as Danier Leather, Club Monaco, Foot Locker, and Loblaws.

Nadine is passionate about curating experiences that connect with enthusiasts of sneakers, art, sports, and fashion, with a strong focus on women-led events. She is committed to celebrating vibrant cultures and the diverse communities they inspire, bringing together like-minded industry movers and shakers to craft unforgettable gatherings that leave a lasting impact and create space for those seeking opportunity.

Shanelle McKenzie in a studio portrait shot looking to the right

Shanelle McKenzie

The Villij
The Villij website

Shanelle McKenzie is the co-founder of The Villij, a wellness studio for women of colour where “movement meets community.” Founded in 2017 by Shanelle and her business partner, Kimberley Knight, The Villij began as a pop-up yoga experience and has since evolved into a thriving movement and wellness studio in Toronto’s East End.


Rooted in community care and meaningful connection, The Villij reflects Shanelle’s vision to transform the way women of colour nurture their well-being. Under her leadership, the studio continues to grow as a space that supports clients through every stage of their fitness and self-care journey. The Villij will celebrate the second anniversary of its brick-and-mortar location next month, marking another milestone in Shanelle’s ongoing commitment to building inclusive wellness spaces.

Shelby Weaver

Co-Founder, Makeway
Makeway website

Shelby is the owner & founder of Mack House, North America’s first self-service sneaker customization studio, as well as the Director of Basketball Advancement for the Toronto Raptors. Playing Basketball is what ignited her love for sneakers & she hasn’t looked back since.

She founded Makeway because she was tired of putting up with an industry & retail experience that was unwelcoming & made for men, but more importantly, to build a safe place for women to come together in the name of sneakers. Shelby also works with underserved youth as a basketball coach and mentor for her athlete’s off-court development.

Sydney Reyes

Sydney Reyes

Makeway / Hoopqueens
Makeway website
Hoopqueens website

Sydney Rey is a multidisciplinary creator and storyteller blending journalism, fashion, and culture through an authentic, visually driven lens. With roots in journalism and a love for travel, she’s built a creative career that spans writing, modeling, and digital storytelling, all grounded in exploration and self-expression.

Currently, Sydney works as a Digital Manager for Makeway and Hoopqueens, where she combines creative direction and digital strategy to elevate brand stories and community engagement. Through her content creation and modeling, she’s partnered with global brands including Nike, Adidas Canada, CIROC, Captain Morgan’s, WNBA x Peace Collective, Toronto Raptors, BMW Canada, Footlocker, UGG, AMEX, Coors Light, and the Bahamas Tourism Board, creating campaigns that connect culture, creativity, and community.

Her storytelling thrives at the intersection of sports, fashion, and lifestyle, with a special focus on sneakers and streetwear culture. Beyond her brand work, Sydney is also a published writer with bylines in Sportsnet, Complex Canada, MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance, and ByBlacks, where she explores the worlds of sports, entertainment, and business.

Whether she’s behind the camera, in front of it, or leading digital strategy, Sydney brings a collaborative spirit and a distinct cultural voice to everything she creates.

Tee Fergus kneeling with a paintbrush pointed to the ground, outside on concrete.

Tee Fergus

The Quantum Garden
The Quantum Garden on Instagram

Thomarya ‘Tee’ Fergus is a visionary artist whose work transcends boundaries and explores the depths of human, universal, and spiritual connections and imaginations. With a passion for creativity that has burned brightly since childhood, Tee has honed her craft over the years to become a recognized force in the art world. 

Born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and now based in Toronto, ON, Tee draws inspiration from the rich tapestry of life experiences, cultural influences and the ever-changing world around her. Her art is a fusion of various mediums, from bold acrylic paintings that burst with color and energy, to photography, illustration, and textiles that invite viewers to delve into intricate worlds of imagination. As an artist, Thomarya believes in the transformative power of art to inspire, heal, and connect.  

The Quantum Garden represents a place where potential is tangible, and possibilities are endless. Venture with Tee through an imagination oasis, an offering of sanctuary for peoples’ healing, a place to shed and renew, a hub to reconnect or disconnect. The collection is housed in Makeway’s flagship store. 

Universal Music Canada Square Logo

Universal Music Canada

Universal Music Canada website

Universal Music Canada is the country’s largest music company and home to artists such as Lady Gaga, Drake, Maroon 5, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes and many more. 

Featuring the most comprehensive catalog of recordings and songs across every musical genre, Universal Music Canada identifies and develops artists, produces, and distributes the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music in the world. 

Committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship, Universal Music Canada fosters the development of services, platforms and business models in order to broaden artistic and commercial opportunities for our artists and create new experiences for fans.

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