Shows
The Ampersand - UnpluggedWelcome to Season 5: The Ampersand, Read AloudSend a textWelcome to Season 5 of The Ampersand Unplugged. This season, we’re doing something a little different. While Kiara Tyler—the creative force behind our first four seasons—is away on maternity leave, Adam Pekarsky will be bringing you audio readings of our monthly Ampersand blog posts.For 17 years, The Ampersand has landed in inboxes as a written reflection on work, leadership, community, and the everyday questions that shape our professional lives. Season 5 translates those essays from page to sound—no interviews, no hot takes, just the original pieces read aloud, designed to keep you...
2026-01-3111 minThe Ampersand - UnpluggedThe One That Got Away - The Ampersand February 2026Send a textFor those who prefer to listen, The Ampersand Unplugged brings you an audio version of our February 2026 edition of The Ampersand, read aloud by the author himself, Adam Pekarsky. This month’s piece reflects on decision-making, missed opportunities, and the enduring question of “what if?"—from large-scale civic moments to the quieter choices leaders face every day.You can find the full written blog on our website here.Want to stay connected with us? Follow us on our LinkedIn!
2026-01-3012 min
The HR Hub by Andrea AdamsOwn Your Career GrowthSo you want career growth. But how do you make it happen?
You need to answer the question of 'what do you mean by career growth'. And the answer could be ANYTHING. Time with family. Travelling. Money. Praise. Promotions. Prestige. Specialization. Really it could be anything and an honest, personal answer will help you achieve it.
This was the focus of my conversation with Adam Pekarsky. He's had career growth, but not really of the traditional kind. He started out as a lawyer and now he is a leader...
2024-10-0124 minThe Ampersand - UnpluggedThe Arete Advantage: Unlocking Your Potential Through ESG PrinciplesSend a textOn this week’s episode of The Ampersand - Unplugged, co-hosts Kiara Marika and Adam Pekarsky sit down with Matt Mayer, Founder of the Arete Initiative and sessional instructor at the Haskayne School of Business. Pronounced ah-reh-tay, the term was used in Ancient Greece and can be considered as the confluence of moral virtue and excellence. Arete is the “act of living up to one’s highest potential.”As a leading expert in the area of 21st century organizational systems, structures and strategies, Matt walks us through a sort of level-setting exercise around t...
2024-08-2356 minThe HR Hub by Andrea AdamsExecutive Search Explained'The difference between the skill of job seekers and those who are employed is often significant.'
So, for executive search, you are almost exclusively looking for leaders who are in good jobs that they probably like. So how do you entice them away?
If you think about it, this has many implications to the talent acquisition process.
I had a great conversation with Adam Pekarsky of Humanis Advisory. Adam started out as a lawyer, but has been in executive search for 20+ years. He...
2024-07-3026 min
Calgary Connects - A CFA Society Calgary PodcastThe Employment Landscape – What's Next? This episode features a discussion of current trends, hiring practices, and what to watch for in the labour market with Adam Pekarsky. Adam Pekarsky is the Founding Partner of Pekarsky & Co. and has been recruiting executives, advising Boards, and offering thought leadership in Western Canada for over 20 years. A frequent writer, teacher, and speaker on topics of interest to the legal and business communities, Adam has achieved success as a member of the management team of a national law firm, a Partner in a global executive search firm and, once upon a time, a practicing lawyer.
2023-10-2443 minThe Ampersand - UnpluggedESG in Tourism & Hospitality: Adapting to a Changing Landscape with Sol ZiaSend a textIn this edition of The Ampersand: Unplugged, co-hosts Kiara Marika and Adam Pekarsky sit down with Sol Zia, the Executive Director of the Calgary Hotel Association. The discussion again focuses on our Season 3 topic of ESG, this time through the lens of the Tourism and Hospitality sector. While the sector has returned to form following two very difficult Covid years, the impact of ESG has forced the industry to adapt to the changing landscape and to balance the expectations of the traveller with the imperatives related to environmental sustainability. Proving yet again that ESG...
2023-07-1039 minThe Ampersand - UnpluggedFrom Articling to ESG: Articling Tales & ESG Insights from the Longest-Serving Partner, Alex MacWilliamSend a text*Disclaimer* We were having some technical difficulties with our audio on the day we recorded this episode, so please bear with us while you tune in for a really interesting conversation. We appreciate your patience!* In this edition of The Ampersand: Unplugged, co-hosts Kiara Marika and Adam Pekarsky sit down with longtime friend of Adam’s, and of the firm, Alex MacWilliam, the longest-serving partner of the law firm Dentons’ Calgary office. In addition to some nostalgic, and at times hilarious, reminiscing about Adam’s year as Alex’s articling student 25 years ago, Alex...
2023-06-191h 00
Lifetime at Work: Finding the Meaning in Our CareersThe End of Work from Home with Adam PekarskyEpisode 32. Our working habits have changed, but not everyone thinks that should stay. Many employers out there feel like everyone working from home right now should head back to the office. Others thing embracing the work from home or the hybird lifestyle is here to stay.Adam Pekarsky works in the recruitment industry and has witnessed employers grappling with this issue. Is work from home dead, dying, or here to stay? Adam emphasizes that a career is a contact sport. He believes those who return to the workplace will have advantages over those who don’t. That sa...
2023-03-0659 minThe Ampersand - UnpluggedKate Spencer - A Sit Down With One of Our Own!Send a textOn this episode of The Ampersand: Unplugged, we visit with our very own Kate Spencer for a highly enjoyable conversation about her role at our firm, how she arrived at Pekarsky & Co. after having known Adam for 25 years. We share stories about the firm, Kate’s views on equity, diversity and inclusion and have a proper conversation about Taylor Swift. As you can easily tell from the banter among Kate and our co-hosts, Kiara Marika and Adam Pekarsky, the culture at Pekarsky & Co. is, indeed, our secret sauce. We hope you enjoy this light-hearted an...
2022-04-111h 09The Ampersand - UnpluggedFrom Surviving to ThrivingSend a textIn this episode, co-hosts Kiara Marika and Adam Pekarsky discuss their plans for the season ahead as well as look back at the lessons learned from their inaugural season of hosting The Ampersand: Unplugged. A candid conversation where Kiara puts her boss on the hot seat about returning to work, and the two have a funny, honest conversation about the season ahead and even sprinkle a few Easter eggs about plans at Pekarsky & Co. in 2022. Want to stay connected with us? Follow us on our LinkedIn!
2021-12-3145 min
The Ampersand - UnpluggedThat Is How You Do It!Send a textIn this, our final episode of Season One of The Ampersand: Unplugged, our co-hosts, Kiara Marika and Adam Pekarsky spill the tea on what worked, what didn’t, how Podcasts are made and their plans for Season 2. This at times giddy second-take recording of our big finale is a must listen as Adam and Kiara compare life in Alberta to the Lord of the Flies, opine on the art of being a welcoming guest and how to reach the mountain top of becoming a trusted advisor. And, Adam reveals when Season 2 will launch…wait unti...
2021-09-0331 minThe Ampersand - UnpluggedThe Inaugural We Know People Podcast!Send a textIn this episode of The Ampersand: Unplugged, our inaugural podcast, our two co-hosts, Kiara Marika and Adam Pekarsky, sit down to discuss the idea behind the podcast, the evolution of the firm that brought us to this point and set the stage for future episodes. While this candid conversation between two colleagues and friends reveals some little known facts about Pekarsky & Co., its origins and the road ahead, this episode was really an opportunity to work out the kinks and find our mojo.Want to stay connected with us? F...
2021-03-151h 14
Live Love Local Podcast - A journey into the heartbeat of our economyEpisode 3: Getting to "know" Adam PekarskyToday my guest is Adam Pekarsky, the founder of Pekarsky & Co - a local Calgary Executive Search Firm.
Pekarsky & Co. is an award-winning, independently owned and operated boutique executive search firm headquartered in Calgary serving exceptional clients from Vancouver to St. John’s.
Their corporate tag line "we know people" really defines what they do, and that they do it extremely well.
Adam is one of those guys that once you know him, or have heard him talk you won't forget, and I'm so excited to bring his real world ex...
2020-11-301h 22
Calgary Business PodcastEpisode 7 | Interview with Adam Pekarsky, founder of Pekarsky & CoIn this episode, Allen Wazny speaks with Adam Pekarsky, the founding partner of Pekarsky & Co, a search and recruiting firm in Calgary. Allen seeks to find out what prompted a law student to enter the field of recruiting. And I have to say the photo of Gordie Howe on the conference room shelf caused goose bumps on my arm! Legendary.
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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/allen-wazny/message
2019-10-1028 min