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In this special episode of Gale Force Wins, guest host Spencer Carew sits down in Kassel, Germany with his host Mark Kohler—an architect and entrepreneur—to explore life, business, and culture through an international lens. Mark shares his journey from freelancing to leading a firm of 25 employees, designing schools and public buildings, and even transforming a historic swimming pool into a vibrant office and event space. The conversation dives into architecture as a tool for community building, the value of hosting international students, the challenges of Germany’s labour market, and the importance of work-life balance. With reflections on creativity, burnout, and what makes Germany’s quality of life so unique, this cross-cultural exchange is both thoughtful and inspiring.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Welcome to Gale Force Wins Season 5
0:15 – Introduction to the episode: Spencer in Kassel, Germany
0:52 – What excites Mark about the future of Kassel
1:27 – Why Mark became an architect
2:31 – The value of hosting international students
3:30 – First impressions of Germany and opportunity for youth
3:56 – The biggest challenge of running a business in Germany
4:44 – Where Mark sees himself in 5–10 years
5:28 – How Mark built his architecture career
6:38 – Transforming an old swimming pool into an office and event space
7:39 – Breathing new life into heritage buildings
8:48 – Current sustainable projects: all-wood school gymnasium
9:54 – Favourite spaces to design
10:42 – Discipline, deadlines, and burnout in architecture
12:14 – The importance of self-awareness and stamina
13:19 – Canada vs. Europe: work-life balance and creativity
14:30 – Creating beauty where there’s scarcity
15:31 – Germany’s quality of life and its impact on business
16:14 – Wrapping up the interview
17:10 – Thank you for watching Gale Force Wins

Gale Force Wins started out simply as an inspirational podcast releasing episodes wherever you get your podcasts every Tuesday evening. We continue to do that every Tuesday but have expanded into custom content for clients. We also have perfected a conference and trade show offering where you can receive over 20 videos edited and posted to social media at the same time the event is unfolding.

For businesses and organizations we also create digital content quickly and efficiently.
Visit our services page here:
https://galeforcewins.com/services

To message Gerry visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerrycarew/

To message Allan visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allanadale/

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In this inspiring episode of Gale Force Wins, we sit down with Aisha Umar, the newly appointed Chief Operating Officer of Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador. Originally from Nigeria, Aisha shares her remarkable journey through Kentucky to St. John’s, where she found both a community and a calling. We explore her academic background, love for social enterprise, and deep commitment to community-driven work. Aisha opens up about overcoming cultural challenges, building a life in Newfoundland, and stepping into leadership with purpose and passion. This is a story of bold moves, big impact, and the power of belonging.

Timestamps – Aisha Umar | Hospitality NL

00:00 – Welcome to Gale Force Wins Season 5
00:50 – Meet Aisha Umar, COO of Hospitality NL
01:17 – From Nigeria to Kentucky to Newfoundland
02:35 – First impressions & surviving Snowmageddon
04:08 – Growing up in Nigeria: family, values, and early life
06:00 – Business lessons from mom & dad
08:51 – Academic journey: degrees in accounting & finance
12:00 – Culture shock & adapting to Kentucky
14:39 – Discovering Memorial University’s MBA in Social Enterprise
20:00 – Moving to Newfoundland for education and staying for community
24:25 – Snowmageddon: the turning point
26:00 – Small cohort, big support at MUN
28:30 – Career path: nonprofit work & government roles
30:30 – The value of mentorship
33:10 – Embracing Newfoundland’s hospitality & giving back
34:50 – New role as COO of Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador
36:04 – Representation, responsibility, and love for tourism
39:04 – Vision for supporting the province’s tourism industry
42:01 – A rising tide: collaboration and optimism
44:00 – What excites her most about the road ahead
46:05 – Final advice: “Do it even if you are afraid. Enjoy the ride.”

Gale Force Wins started out simply as an inspirational podcast releasing episodes wherever you get your podcasts every Tuesday evening. We continue to do that every Tuesday but have expanded into custom content for clients. We also have perfected a conference and trade show offering where you can receive over 20 videos edited and posted to social media at the same time the event is unfolding.

For businesses and organizations we also create digital content quickly and efficiently.
Visit our services page here:
https://galeforcewins.com/services

To message Gerry visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerrycarew/

To message Allan visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allanadale/

Send us a text

In this episode, we sit down with Mia Francis, the dynamic founder of Chic Celebrations NL, a business focused on event planning, decorating, and creating unforgettable experiences. Mia takes us on a journey through her entrepreneurial path, sharing her background growing up in Birmingham, UK, and transitioning to life in Canada.

She talks about how her family and early experiences sparked her entrepreneurial spirit and the challenges she faced in starting her own business. From running a juice stand at 18 to working in the aviation industry, Mia’s story is filled with valuable lessons on resilience, hard work, and the power of following your passion.

0:00 - Introduction
0:54 - Mia discusses her business at Chic Celebrations NL
1:01 - Mia explains her event planning and decorating services
1:18 - Overview of Chic workshops and events
1:31 - Discussion of the event space and its character
2:00 - Mia talks about her upbringing in Birmingham, UK
2:19 - Transition to life in Goose Bay, Canada
2:43 - Mia’s parents’ background and their influence on her
3:01 - Entrepreneurial inspiration from her grandparents
3:37 - Mia shares her entrepreneurial drive and the moment of starting her business
4:29 - Growing up in the UK and the transition to life in Canada
5:01 - Mia describes life in Birmingham and its combination of city and countryside
6:06 - Adjusting to life in Goose Bay and the impact on Mia’s entrepreneurial mindset
8:02 - Mia’s early entrepreneurial ventures and the juice stand she started
10:00 - Discussing her role in the aviation industry and its impact on her business mindset
13:02 - Mia talks about her experience in the aviation industry and meeting influential people
13:57 - Pivoting during the pandemic and how it shaped her journey
16:04 - Transition to working in Nunavut and the remote work experience
17:10 - Mia shares her return to St. John’s after her time in Nunavut
18:05 - Mia’s move to St. John’s and the start of her business venture
19:06 - Introduction to Chic Socials and its range of services
19:46 - Mia’s unique approach to events and creating memorable experiences
21:30 - Hosting social events, workshops, and collaborations with local businesses
22:45 - The future growth of Chic Socials and upcoming summer events
23:51 - Challenges and the importance of community involvement in business
25:51 - Mia talks about Newfoundland hospitality and its influence on her
27:04 - Mia compares her life in Newfoundland with her time in the UK
28:04 - Future plans for Chic Socials and business aspirations
29:08 - Mia discusses the entrepreneurial leap and overcoming self-doubt
31:13 - The importance of motivation and staying focused on business goals
33:59 - Mia’s advice to others about embracing the entrepreneurial journey
36:03 - Final thoughts from Mia on staying motivated in business

Gale Force Wins started out simply as an inspirational podcast releasing episodes wherever you get your podcasts every Tuesday evening. We continue to do that every Tuesday but have expanded into custom content for clients. We also have perfected a conference and trade show offering where you can receive over 20 videos edited and posted to social media at the same time the event is unfolding.

For businesses and organizations we also create digital content quickly and efficiently.
Visit our services page here:
https://galeforcewins.com/services

To message Gerry visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerrycarew/

To message Allan visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allanadale/