Photo: Michael Ledda at his home in Winnipeg

Before Covid-19 wreaked havoc on Winnipeg, Michael Ledda was living life as usual. He was busy working full-time as a chef, happy with his job, and making a steady income to support his three children. 

But when the lockdown started, Michael’s entire world quickly crumbled. Before long, he was out of a job. Things got so tight financially, he had to sell off his possessions just to pay rent. 

Sadly, Michael’s story is not unique. So many Winipeggers lost their jobs during the pandemic, the CBC wrote an article about it, featuring Michael and several others. 

Jenna Boholij (Herzing’s Director of Marketing Communications) read the CBC story and was so moved by Michael’s struggle, she proposed an idea.  

Why not offer him a full scholarship, so he can re-train and get back on his feet? 

The entire Herzing team got on board and reached out to Michael with the offer. He happily accepted and is now enrolled in the Broadcasting and Media Communications program. 

This week, we chatted with Michael to find out how his life has changed since going back to school. Here are the highlights of our conversation.

Updated December 2022

People will tell you that starting a career in broadcasting is incredibly difficult. So you should prepare yourself for a gruelling journey, countless rejections, and years of working as a lowly assistant. 

And while it’s true that most newcomers start at the bottom, there are far more opportunities to advance and succeed than people realize. The broadcasting and media communications industry is truly vast.  

There are many career paths to choose from; many ways to nurture your talents and find your niche.What do you need to get started? You need a good strategy.