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Strength in Community
Special Episode
Subscribe to Always Blue with Tim Rahilly: An MRU Alumni Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube Podcasts.
Meet our Guests
Paula
Paula Worthington
Paula Worthington is the President and Founder of Worthington PR & Story, a Calgary-based public relations and communications agency. Paula and her team are sought-after and trusted advisors to local, national and international brands, entrepreneurs and charities. A creative and dynamic thinker, Paula engages in community by serving on the Board of Directors for Enactus Canada and the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, Calgary Chapter. She shares her experiences in the classroom, too, teaching in the Public Relations program at Mount Royal University. She was inducted into the Canadian Marketing, Advertising, Communication and PR Hall of Fame in 2022. Outside of the office and classroom, Paula is a travel storyteller, using words and photography to encourage others to explore the world in authentic and meaningful ways.
Sarah
Sarah Nwaerondu
Sarah Nwaerondu is the Vice President of Marketing & Communications for Calgary Wild FC. A Mount Royal University graduate, she began her career in community and player relations with the Calgary Flames, where she saw firsthand how sport can bring people together and create impact far beyond the game. She later led marketing and communications at Calgary’s POD Marketing before starting her own marketing business to help organizations, like the Calgary Roughnecks, stand out, take risks, and connect with people in meaningful ways. Today, Sarah brings that same community-first, fearless approach to Calgary Wild FC, helping grow women’s professional sport while creating space for the next generation of leaders and athletes. She believes there are many paths to success and that you can build something that matters if you have the courage to show up and take chances.
Jasmine
Jasmine Palardy
Jasmine Palardy is a community-builder who specializes in innovative engagement methods that encourage imagination, collaboration and co-design, resulting in communities where people thrive. As an MRU alumnus, she has spent her career balancing the worlds of innovation, technology, and design. She is the founder of The Good Future Collective - a boutique futures lab and community engagement consultancy, where she’s worked with Calgary institutions like SAIT and TELUS Spark, while also building global projects in New York, San Francisco, Vancouver, Copenhagen and Singapore.
- Community is built on trust and belonging
True community goes beyond an audience—it’s rooted in mutual trust, shared experiences, and a sense of belonging where people feel safe to participate and grow. - There’s a difference between an audience and a community
An audience is one-directional, while a community is interactive, inclusive, and mutually beneficial, where people contribute and feel connected. - “Return on community” is powerful but hard to measure
Unlike traditional ROI, the impact of community shows up in long-term relationships, loyalty, confidence-building, and opportunities—often intangible but deeply meaningful. - Small, intentional actions create strong communities
Simple rituals—like shared meals, local events, or regular gatherings—can significantly strengthen connection and trust over time. - We must actively combat loneliness by showing up
Despite being digitally connected, many people feel isolated. Building community requires vulnerability—stepping into spaces, inviting others in, and creating consistent opportunities for connection.
Listen to Always Blue with Tim Rahilly: An MRU Alumni Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube Podcasts.
The views expressed by the host and speakers reflect their personal experiences and perspectives, and are not representative of Mount Royal University or the Office of Alumni Relations.
Have questions about Big Ideas? Contact alumni@mtroyal.ca