The One Where We Cleaned Up
Nadzeya Rahavaya and Angela Lyrette
Curriculum Conversations: Ideas from a century of cleaning
Tapping in to On-Site Expertise
When deciding on an industry partner for the FICM project, Professor Nadzeya (Nadia) Rahavaya didn’t have to look very far. Shannon Hall, Executive Director of Sales and Marketing at Dustbane Products Ltd., has been an active and enthusiastic supporter of Algonquin College students for over 10 years. Shannon has hired at least a dozen graduates from the College’s programs. So far, her team has had only one unsuccessful hiring experience. They adapted their onboarding process to better prioritize the needs of new hires.
Leadership Skills Transferable to the Workplace
Shannon has served on the Business Marketing Program Advisory Committee (PAC) for many years, and in that capacity, has been invited on campus to:
- Judge and coach student marketing and sales competitions
- Provide feedback on student client projects
- Conduct mock interviews
- Attend networking nights
- Guest lecture
Shannon and Nadia met a few times via videoconferencing, talking about everything from assessment strategies, cleaning products, teaching, to sustaining healthy relationships at work. Nadia was particularly interested in how the workplace has adapted to a digitally connected world, how they are maximizing effectiveness and operations, and meeting the needs of a diverse workforce. Shannon credited a group of younger workers (some of them our alumni) with advocating and presenting a compelling argument for the company to adopt a work-from-home Wednesday. The young people immediately set a new goal for two days a week next year.
“I have been blessed to have the opportunity to support the college and students for over 10 years now in a number of roles and capacities. It all started with a chance meeting with a professor in the school of business at a networking event in Ottawa. He originally reached out to ask if I could join an industry leader round table event with students so the students could ask questions and engage with industry professionals. It’s been my passion project to help support students and at the same time it keeps me fresh and in touch with the younger generations.” (Shannon Hall, 2025)
Nadia has been teaching skills courses for several years and was curious to get a feel for Shannon’s day-to-day experience and observe the marketing team in action. So on a crisp afternoon, Nadia was warmly welcomed on-site at Dustbane’s Ottawa location.
Dustbane is a proudly Canadian family-owned cleaning products company with over a century of history, specializing in sustainable cleaning solutions. Committed to continuous growth, customer experience excellence, and environmental responsibility, the company exemplifies the values of innovation and leadership.
The visit included a tour of their collaboration spaces and a review of ongoing marketing initiatives with members of Shannon’s team; Beril Daigle, Caren Olmedo, and Anum Fatima; all Algonquin College graduates who have found rewarding careers under Shannon’s leadership.
Nadia and Shannon discussed changing workforce needs, industry challenges, and the evolving role of generative AI in marketing. Check out Nadia Rahavaya’s Generative AI Tips for Student Success.
Spending Valuable Time on Campus
Nadia then invited Shannon for a visit to the College campus. The visit kicked off with a delicious three-course meal at Restaurant International, a student managed full-service restaurant on campus, followed by a campus tour. Given Shannon’s long-standing connection to the College, Nadia still managed to surprise her with some little-known hidden gems.
Shannon’s empowering presentation to the class of graduating Business Marketing students was the highlight of the day. She shared valuable insights on developing essential marketing skills, avoiding common pitfalls, and standing out in today’s competitive job market. The session wrapped up with a live resume review and Q&A, giving students a rare opportunity to gain real-world feedback from an industry leader.
Shannon’s generosity, both in time and expertise, is making a profound impact on the next generation of marketers. As a dedicated ambassador of Dustbane Products Ltd., a business committed to giving back to the community, she embodies the spirit of mentorship and industry collaboration.
Key Takeaways for Workplace Skill Development
Shannon suggested that applicants to Dustbane were often unable to articulate how they could use the skills they had learned in class. They had obviously worked in teams, created compelling marketing assignments, and learned about the business of marketing, but it wasn’t evident in their resumes and in their interviews. Nadia uses a ‘STAR’ reflection activity to help students use assignment examples in career search activities:
- S-SITUATION: Provide a snapshot of the project, activity or assessment
- T-TASK: Explain the expectations, your objectives and responsibilities
- A-ACTION: Describe the strategies, tools, and process you used to meet your goals
- R-RESULT: Highlight the outcomes and impact of your project.
Check out Nadia Rahavaya’s STAR Business Marketing Project Analysis here.
About the authors
Nadzeya (Nadia) Rahavaya is a dedicated partial load professor and communications specialist with extensive experience in post-secondary education, career advising, and equity-driven program development. She holds Master’s (Honours) and Bachelor’s (Honours) degrees in Linguistics from Belarusian State University, along with certification in Business Analysis (Honours) from Red River Polytechnic. Nadia has designed and delivered engaging courses in career development, workplace skills, and communications, tailoring her approach to meet the needs of both domestic and international students. Her passion for empowering students extends beyond the classroom through her work mentoring students, collaborating with industry partners, and fostering inclusive environments. Committed to opening doors and elevating potential, Nadia continues to inspire and support the next generation of learners.
Angela Lyrette is a full time Professor and Educational Developer at Algonquin College. Angela holds a Master’s Degree in Education, specializing in workplace and adult learning from the University of Calgary, a Teaching Adult Lifelong Learners Certificate (with Honours) from Algonquin College, and a variety of financial services designations from the Canadian Securities Institute. A self-professed life-long learner, her curiosity and enthusiasm for teaching, learning, and serving the community is evident in her body of work.
