Dan Manns (he/him)

Career Development and Relationship Manager

McMaster University, Faculty of Science

Roles/Involvement with EWO: Presenting at EWO Conference (2023); EWO Member  

My professional background starts in HR, where I worked while in the private sector (Staples, Apotex, American Express), I worked as an entrepreneur, and then as a Director of HR for a small startup, that unfortunately did not receive the seed funding I was led to believe was guaranteed. At that point, I sat down and took a hard look at what I wanted to do and where I wanted to take the next chapter of my career journey.  I realized it was about people and my passion for seeing them succeed, rather than solely making money for shareholders. I started looking at non-profits where I could go in to work every day feeling like I would make a difference in someone’s life. I ended up as a Program Manager for the YMCA of Hamilton, Burlington, Brantford, where I implemented an employment and training program for individuals with barriers to employment.  The focus of the program was seeing our participants obtain sustainable employment. After 4 years in that role, I was tapped on the shoulder by a former colleague of my current director (Alice O’Carroll) about a role she was struggling to fill. I applied, and I have been at McMaster for just over 2 years!

2. We work with a talented group of individuals across the province who are passionate about the work they do.  What do you consider your ‘superpowers’? 

I am passionate about seeing people succeed. The work I am doing now on our “Design Your Science Career” is absolutely a passion project for me! This program is based on Stanford’s popular “Design Your Life” model. At McMaster’s Faculty of Science, we will be giving students opportunities to think creatively about their careers and consider career futures that they will find personally fulfilling. It is very exciting to bring this to life with science students.  

3. Who are you outside of work? Where would we find you on a weekend or holiday? 

I love fitness! I am an avid runner; in addition, I practice hot yoga and meditation. I love to socialize, read, go to the theatre, and have an immense appreciation for art. I also love to travel and enjoy wine, hence my socks! *Reveals - socks with wine bottle designs* 

4. Tell us about what themes or topics in Co-op/WIL/EL that you are passionate about. (ex. EDI, career exploration, international students, mental health, employer networking events, strategic planning, research and data, etc.)

I’m very passionate about EDI, mental health, and supporting international students. A program I led called “Advancing Tomorrow’s Actuaries” allowed us to support international students in actuarial sciences with employer-tailored training and mentorship, leading to several successful co-op hires.  

5. What impact do you feel you have on the students/employers/teams/communities that you work with?

With the Design Your Science Career project I am coordinating, we are having a huge impact working with students and helping them use creative exploration to see what they want to do with their degree. We show that career exploration can be fun! The students will be using their curiosity and exploring opportunities they didn’t think possible, including Experiential Learning.  

6. What advice would you give to your younger professional self?

Where you think your career will start, is probably not where you will end up. I had a solid career in HR, consulting, and operations management. But I changed careers many times, and that’s okay! Be open to opportunities and find passion in work.  

7. How have you gotten involved in EWO (committees, conferences, networking events, etc.) and what has your experience been like?   

I will be presenting at the EWO conference on our “Advancing Tomorrow’s Actuaries” program. I’ll have 2 students join me. It’s very important for EWO members to hear authentically from students, so please do come! 

8. What’s the best part of working at your institution?  

I work with an amazing team in the Science Career and Cooperative Education office at McMaster University. The team is wonderful and everyone is driven to the same goal - seeing students succeed. There has not been one day that I haven’t been excited to come to work.