Food for Thought: First Session Recap

Our first-ever Food for Thought event was a feast for both the mind and the stomach, as members gathered to listen to Paul Giancarlo (SEDP Director) and Anna Shen (ICPD SPDO) — who took us on a journey through their careers in the public service.

We weren’t just fed ideas, though—we were fed really good food too. Members were treated to vegetarian Indian cuisine from The Host to celebrate Hindu Heritage Month, and let’s just say: the food was so good, it almost made us forget about the delay in starting the event. Almost.

I promise you though that Nicole & I (your Food for Thought organizers) are dedicated to making this experience smoother, and we thank you all for the feedback you have provided so far! They are definitely being taken into serious consideration.

Thank you also to Paul and Anna who dished out their career-related wisdom, answering all kinds of burning questions about career advancement and their history in the public service. Those who attended, you did not hold back with your questions and we love to see it! One of my biggest takeaways from Paul and Anna is to work on expanding your portfolio. The more programs you have worked on, the more transferrable skills you have.

One of my favourite questions was how both speakers manage to stay aware of difficulties faced by those who directly report to them. I really liked this question because both Paul and Anna stressed the importance of understanding each role and empathizing with all of their coworkers. I personally enjoyed hearing about how each of them understand the relationship between supporting employees and providing better public service. While both gave differing answers tailored to their respective roles, it really showed me how approachable both Paul and Anna are. So much so that someone even asked Paul to give them more space lol.

By the end, we were all fully stuffed—both with knowledge and a mountain of paneer. So here’s to Food for Thought: where growth happens, both professionally and in our waistband.

If you want to see what’s on the menu next time or have any feedback to dish out, click the link below!