Shawn Black is the founder of Sheepdog Brew Co, a Winnipeg-based brand that grew from a church-basement side hustle into a growing business right here in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
A former military member and police officer, Shawn left behind a stable career to chase a vision most people told him wouldn’t work. Even his original business partner chose to stay in the police force and handed the keys over to Shawn to take the business forward on his own.
What started with homemade batches brewed before night shifts eventually grew into retail partnerships, a loyal following and a brewing facility with a storefront.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re capable of more but something keeps holding you back, this episode is the wake-up call you probably need.
Dr. Jason Brooks has coached everyone from surgeons to Olympic athletes and he’ll tell you straight: the biggest thing stopping most people isn’t skill or talent or opportunity — it’s the voice in their own head.
In this conversation, Jason breaks down why imposter syndrome shows up even for the highest performers, how to quiet the thoughts that mess with your confidence and the small mindset shifts that can actually change your trajectory.
If you’re tired of second-guessing yourself, waiting for the “right moment” or feeling stuck in your own potential, tune in and learn from the man who breaks the mental barriers of Olympians, doctors and other high-performing professionals.
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Work with Dr. Jason Brooks → https://coachjb.ca/
From sheet metal worker to Dean of Skilled Trades and Technologies at Red River College Polytech — Derek Kochenash’s career proves there’s no single path to leadership.
In this episode, he shares how his dad pushed him into his first job at 6:30 a.m., what it took to balance family life while earning multiple degrees, and how he overcame imposter syndrome to lead more than 70 programs across construction, aviation, and manufacturing.
Derek breaks down why the trades aren’t Plan B — they’re one of the smartest career moves you can make — and how Red River College is reshaping opportunities for women, Indigenous students, and underrepresented groups in the skilled trades.
When Chris Hewitt joined SMS Engineering in 2003, he never imagined one day helping lead it from a 30-person team to a 100-plus-person firm. Now President of SMS, Chris opens up about overcoming imposter syndrome and finding his voice as a quiet and compassionate leader in one of Manitoba’s top engineering companies.
He shares how SMS built a culture rooted in mentorship, trust and accountability and why the firm doubled down on specialization in power systems, healthcare design and forensic engineering. Chris also talks about the realities of investigating failures, testifying in court and leading with kindness in a high-pressure industry.
Whether you’re an engineer, a leader or someone navigating your own growth, this episode dives into what it takes to build confidence, lead with empathy and leave a legacy that lasts.
Alex Akman joined Shindico in 2015 as a property analyst, spending three years learning the ropes before being promoted to Vice President of Development and Property Management and later stepping into the role of Chief Operating Officer in 2023.
He’s helped lead more than $275M in real estate acquisitions, over $115M in new developments and launched Shindico’s own construction division, SNR Construction Ltd.
In this episode, Alex shares how learning every part of the business helped him earn trust, climb the ladder and lead without ego.
What happens when you take a family plumbing company and rebuild it around people?
Justin and Christina Thorsteinson share how Thor Plumbing & Heating transformed from a small family business into one of Manitoba’s most connected and culture-driven teams on this episode of Careers Under Construction.
From literally breaking down walls and creating a staff gym and sauna, to sitting down with every employee to talk goals and growth — they’re proving that the trades can be both people-first and wildly successful.
In this episode, they open up about the growing pains of taking over a family business, finding their rhythm as partners in life and work and what it really takes to build a company people love to be part of.
Mike Fata went from dropping out of high school and struggling with his health to building and selling multiple 9-figure companies.
He’s the best-selling author of GROW and now dedicates his time to building world-class businesses and mentoring entrepreneurs behind brands like Mid-Day Squares, SmartSweets, Nuts For Cheese, Sol Cuisine and Blume.
In this episode, he shares how shifting his mindset and prioritizing wellness helped him rebuild his life after what he calls the “triple whammy” — losing his mom, going through a divorce and selling his business all in the same year.
#CareersUnderConstruction #Entrepreneurship #Mindset #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Winnipeg #Millionaire
From working on his dad’s crew at 12 to running one of Manitoba’s top cost consulting firms, Ben Postma’s story is about risk, family and finding your own path.
After getting a finance degree, Ben spent years in estimating and project management for major contractors — helping deliver projects wort up to $400 million.
Then in 2020, he left a secure six-figure job to take over his father’s two-person company Postma Consulting. Five years later, he’s grown it into a 14-person team leading cost management across Western Canada.
In this episode, Ben shares how he rebuilt the family business, self-doubt and what he’s learned about work-life balance.
Jeremy Read went from political advisor to downtown developer. As CEO of the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation 2.0, he’s helping grow a nonprofit into one of Manitoba’s most active developers — leading projects that are reshaping Winnipeg including Canada’s first net-zero carbon residential high-rise.
In this episode, Jeremy opens up about turning down contracts for the right reasons, the housing crisis and why he believes risk is a neutral term. He also shares how to find purpose in your work and why joining a company for its mission can matter more than the paycheck.
From defending Métis harvesting rights in court after shooting a duck without a license to leading housing solutions for families, Will Goodon’s journey is rooted in resilience. As Minister of Housing & Property Management with the Manitoba Métis Federation, he shares how broken promises still affect Indigenous communities, the importance of culturally grounded housing and why reconciliation must go beyond words.
In this episode, Will reflects on his landmark court case that affirmed Métis rights and his work tackling Manitoba’s housing crisis.
From pharmacist to landlord, Kris Thorkelson, Owner of Thorwin Properties, has built one of Winnipeg’s largest rental empires.
In this episode, Kris talks about his career shift from pharmacist to property management, the challenges of building in Winnipeg’s unique rental market and what it takes to create homes people want to live in.
What does the future of construction in Manitoba look like? As Executive Director of Workforce and Learning Pathways at the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology, Marnie Bickerton is helping shape the answer.
In this episode, Marnie talks about growing up in a small town, the setbacks that made her tougher, and what it takes to earn respect in a male-dominated field. She gets real about mentorship, building trust, and why collaboration matters if the industry is going to move forward.
Tom Sparrow is making history as the first-ever Chief Construction Officer for the City of Winnipeg — and in Canada. After decades of leading multi-billion-dollar projects across the country, Tom came to Winnipeg to oversee some of the city’s most critical infrastructure projects, including the North End Sewage Treatment Plant, as well as future schools, hospitals and roads.
In this episode, Tom shares what it means to hold this brand-new role, how he’s using AI and data to cut project costs and why transparency and community engagement are key to rebuilding trust in public construction. He also opens up about his career path, the major projects that shaped him and why he believes Winnipeg is about to become one of Canada’s most exciting cities to build in.
Before starting his own business, Jaret Horbatiuk got his start in structural steel shop drawings. But when drawing plans wasn’t enough, he built a company to bring them to life — a gamble that paid off and grew into Tractus Projects, now a 20-year success story.
In this episode, Jaret shares how he overcame imposter syndrome, what running a small roofing company taught him about cash flow, why he avoids relying on a single big project and how a breakfast club helped him overcome his biggest business hurdle.
Fun Fact: If you work out at a Planet Fitness in Winnipeg, there’s a good chance Jaret and his team built it. Clients like Planet Fitness trust Tractus Projects not just for the quality and speed of the work, but because they build strong relationships that keep them coming back.
David Peters went from building houses to building software. After more than a decade running his own construction company, he sold his tools, his truck — even the business itself — to solve a problem every contractor knows too well: bad timesheets.
In this episode, David shares how selling his construction business allowed him to tackle that problem head-on and how the idea evolved into Construction Clock, an app now used by thousands of crews worldwide. He talks about the risk of starting over, why he prioritizes character over skills and how he’s built a team that allows him to focus on the bigger picture.
You’ll also hear how one social media platform became his best growth channel — and why he believes the future of construction tech belongs to the small contractors driving the industry forward.
Shreeraj (Raj) Patel’s path was anything but straightforward. After failing out of university, he took a year off working retail before finding his footing, returning to school and eventually becoming Vice President at one of Canada’s largest banks.In this episode, Raj shares how mentorship and second chances changed the course of his life, what he learned leading multi-million-dollar portfolios and why he walked away from the security of corporate banking to launch Seva Capital, a national debt brokerage and advisory firm helping businesses secure smart capital, restructure with confidence and unlock transformative growth.Raj also opens up about the mental shift it takes to leave a corporate role, the importance of gratitude in everyday life and how he’s creating opportunities for the next generation of entrepreneurs.
From engineering student to COO, Janet Gauthier’s career has taken her from northern project sites to leading one of Canada’s largest real estate developers! She shares how teaching 6 a.m. spin classes shaped her leadership style, why aligning with the right company culture is a game-changer and what it’s really like to climb the ranks in a male-dominated industry.
Plus, hear Janet’s take on how AI could transform construction — from schedules to estimating.
With over 30 years in construction, Dom Costantini has seen it all—from finishing concrete at 8 years old to leading major operations across Canada. In our first episode, Dom shares what it really takes to build strong teams, why culture beats strategy every time and how he’s helping the industry evolve through his new consulting work.
Plus, hear the story behind his famous “sock collection” and how something small became a symbol of connection and giving back.
🎙️ Local voices, real stories.
Careers Under Construction isn’t just a podcast—it’s a blueprint for resilience and a playbook for building a stronger career.
Each week, Justis Pederson sits down with the builders, the leaders and the risk-takers—the ones who’ve faced the chaos and come out stronger.
Powered by The Pederson Group, we’re spotlighting the people shaping businesses and the truths behind their success.
This is Careers Under Construction.