Guelph-Humber Media alum Alex Maveal proves you don’t have to have a linear career to be successful
Alex Maveal has cultivated a passion for content creation with strong technical skills that have taken his exciting career from the fast-paced world of broadcast journalism to the creative realm of marketing. And his riveting journey began at the University of Guelph-Humber (U of GH), where he first nurtured this zeal and his talents.
The Media & Communication Studies (MCS) alum (class of 2010) has embraced risk with enthusiasm, seizing new opportunities, even when they required bold career pivots.
“It’s unlikely that your career is going to be linear,” Maveal explained, whose education in the Media program prepared him for professional versatility. “If you decide to try something new, you don't have to stay in it forever… Work hard and do your best while you're in it. And that dedication and commitment and hard work is what opens new doors for you.”
One fact remained true from the start: Maveal was drawn to a career in media. Growing up, he was fascinated by television and through his parents, became a fan of the news program 60 Minutes. This is what sparked his career aspiration in broadcast journalism. And prior to attending Guelph-Humber, he was also keen on pursuing comedy writing and performance. He was unafraid to dream big.
Maveal applied to U of GH as it aligned with his interests, would provide him with dual credentials upon graduation, and he liked that the University is based in Toronto, which allowed him to moonlight in the city’s comedy scene as he pursued his studies. He also felt the Media program would help him develop core skills in storytelling that could serve him in different avenues, such as applying his media skillsets with his experience in comedy writing and performance. He craved an education that truly opened doors for his future success.
During his time at Guelph-Humber, Maveal learned valuable tools, made lifelong friends, met his now-wife (also a student in the same program), and was selected for an internship at CBC News. Maveal described his experience at that internship as “super exciting” and a “great place to start” his career.
He would wake up long before the sun would shine at 3:30 a.m. for a 4:15 a.m. start time, working on the CBC News Morning Show and on CBC News: The National. His work included being an editorial assistant and running the teleprompter.
After his placement concluded, CBC News offered Maveal a temporary freelance role where he took on a variety of tasks, including producing morning sports hits. By saying yes to different experiences and being open to novel opportunities, he was exposed to new chances for growth and more opportunities to meet new people he could learn from. This took his career to CBC Sports, Hockey Night in Canada, and Global News.
“I took on a mantra where I’d say yes to new opportunities and make educated and strategic decisions in my personal and professional life. That opened the door for me professionally and got me a wide range of experiences,” Maveal shared.
Working in broadcast was “full of adrenaline” and he loved being part of the industry for nearly a decade. But as time went on, Maveal got married, purchased a home outside of Toronto, and started a family. In his heart, he felt it was time for a change; journalism wasn’t the right fit anymore.
So, he shifted his career to becoming a corporate content creator, harnessing his media literacy and skills to build marketing and communications materials. He started off as a content creator at Evertz before transitioning to Bunzl Canada after a few years, first in the role of senior manager, content creation, then being promoted to senior digital media lead for the company.
In his current role, he’s responsible for producing all video marketing content for internal and external audiences. He puts together live webinars, writes, films, and edits content for all Bunzl platforms, while aiming to grow the organization’s social media platforms to position Bunzl as a global leader in the distribution industry.
In this role, he continues to say yes to new ventures, such as being a technical and content producer for Bunzl’s bi-annual national sales conference – a four-day event, uniting over 400 people, including those in sales, executives, vendors, and more.
Though he loves his role, the transition wasn’t without challenges that he overcame with hard work and drive. As a journalist pivoting to this area of media, he leveraged previous expertise and transferrable skills, such as being a strong listener and observer, which aided him in shortening the learning curve. Additionally, as a journalist, Maveal honed the art of asking questions, so he was unafraid to ask questions that may be perceived as “silly” as he grew in content creation.
“At the heart of it, you’re just trying to learn and do the best you can do,” he stated.
Embracing change is important to Maveal. He wants students to feel encouraged to be exposed to new experiences in their education and careers because you never know when it can be useful.
“If there's a class you're not really into, try to embrace it. You never know; you could pick up skills and discover that you really enjoy that… Be dedicated while you’re in it. That dedication, commitment, and hard work is what opens up new doors for you,” Maveal shared.
Learn more about Guelph-Humber’s Media & Communication Studies program by clicking here.