Page 8 - NJC Newsletter 2013-Spring

Alumni
Adventures
BARRY LANDO | NJC ’58
AWARD-WINNING INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER
A graduate of Harvard and Columbia University, Barry Lando spent over 26 years as an award-winning investigative producer with 60 Minutes. Barry was born and raised in Vancouver and attended NJC, Class of 1958. The trip that Barry remembers most vividly was the Christmas journey to Morocco.
“I was blown away by the exotic nature of the places we were visiting – remember this was some 50 years ago! I took notes every day, keeping a detailed diary of the trip. When I got back to NJC, I started writing letters home about each day of the journey and I found I was obsessed with describing what I had seen, typewriting 10 to 15 pages about each day! My trip to Morocco with NJC gave me the first glimmer that journalism might be what I really loved doing.”
Today, Barry Lando continues to blog, write and speak about the things that upset him, outrage him, and drive him to his computer. A few years ago, he produced a documentary about the trial of Saddam Hussein and subsequently wrote a book, Web of Deceit: The History of Western Complicity in Iraq from Churchill to Kennedy to George W. Bush. He also produced a documentary of the same name that can be viewed on YouTube.
CHRISTINA SUTHERLAND | NJC ‘03
INNOVATIVE ENTREPRENEuR lAuNCHES
COMPANy THAT WIll lITERAlly SERVE ITS PuRPOSE
Following NJC, Christina Sutherland ‘03 went on to study Political Science at Queen’s University and worked in various capacities ranging from a
role at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City to an Associate in Institutional Equity Sales at Caris & Company in Los Angeles. Christina then obtained her MBA from the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. Christina reflected upon her NJC experience and the lessons learned:
“My NJC experience gave me the confidence to go at things on my own and never be afraid to step out of my comfort zone. It also taught me a new level of independence and the importance of always challenging oneself. Since NJC, I’ve never forgotten that there is a whole wide world out there, and so I should never be afraid to explore it!”
In 2012, Christina launched a new business that provides responsive concierge solutions. Just as Uber has revolutionized how you access taxis in Toronto, My Stewards is revolutionizing the concierge industry. Her company, My Stewards, offers services ranging from household help such as interior design, property management and relocation services to errand running and event planning.
My Stewards mission is to help individuals simplify their lives by providing a convenient, mobile responsive platform for them to utilize so that they can spend their precious time doing what matters most to them. Don’t forget to mention your NJC alumni connection at www.mystewards.com or when you contact her at Christina.sutherland@mystewards.com.
ROBIN H. SMITH | NJC ’78
GlOBE-TROTTING ENTREPRENEuR MAKES OAKVIllE HOME
After NJC, Robin earned a degree in Archaeology and Historical Geography at the University of Toronto and ultimately a Master’s Degree in International Relations from Webster University in Vienna, Austria. After a wide variety of work experience, including a year as Data Analyst in the UN Office in Vienna, Robin returned to Canada to gain more work experience. He served as a computer trainer for executives, oversaw computerization projects, was appointed Director of International Liaison for TEMIC and worked with Foreign Affairs Canada, Canadian Embassies and High Commissions around the world.
“No other school gives students a complete immersion into European culture that NJC does. Lots of Canadian schools are offering the international experience through service projects, but it’s not the same. NJC is really very unique in what it offers and I want my sons to have that incredible experience. NJC gave me the confidence to embrace new challenges, and enjoy and learn from the adventure.”
The combination of his educational and professional experiences ultimately gave Robin a wealth of international contacts and a granular understanding of how computers could be applied to provide business solutions. In 1994, he and a colleague from CANAC founded a private company, Virtual Logistics Inc., with offices located in Mississauga, which has over 200 clients across North America, and is now a key player in the EDI/XML and Electronic Commerce data integration marketplace.
KYLA ZANARDI | NJC ‘05
yOuNG CREATIVE IS CARVING HER NICHE IN PHOTOGRAPHy AND FIlM
Kyla Zanardi ‘05 is freelance food photographer and filmmaker based in Toronto and is also co-creator of Third Way Productions. After graduating NJC, Kyla attended Queen’s University, completing a BAH in Gender Studies. During that time, she co-founded Youth RISE (www.youthrise. org), an international youth-led harm reduction organization. One of Kyla’s most recent passions has been to co-develop, alongside Ayah Norris, The INSIGHT Project, a digital media platform sharing stories, insights and workshops from grassroots creative game-changers. Kyla reflected on her NJC experience, vis à vis her career, in this way:
“As a storyteller, I often find myself in unpredictable and unfamiliar situations, telling incredible stories of people from all walks of life. As
a result of my experience at NJC, I was able to travel the world and be independent at such a young age, which in turn taught me how to perfectly balance between being adaptable and comfortable in any situation.”
In fall 2012, the INSIGHT project was featured in The Huffington Post Canada, which highlighted the power of these stories to catalyze change for Gen-Y. Kyla and Ayah recently launched a workshop series featuring premium video content from game-changers and creative experts sharing their industry insights and advice. Series 2 of game-changer videos will debut Fall 2013. Learn more about the INSIGHT Project at www.insightproject.tv.
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Neuchâtel Junior College Magazine
Read their full stories and those of other featured alumni at www.njcgrads.com/notable-alumni
One of the best ways of supporting NJC is by simply sharing how transformative the experience was for you, through the telling of your own journey since graduation. If you have a story to tell, we would love to interview you, and it doesn’t matter if you attended decades ago or just graduated a few years back.
If you would be willing to share your story of how life has been unfolding since your year at NJC, please contact us in NJC’s Canadian Office: 1.800.263.2923 | 416.368.8169 or alumni@neuchatel.org.