Developing Leadership Skills with PYP

Ian Oldaker has more than 15 years of diversified leadership experience working in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, most recently serving as general manager and chief operating officer of Skyscape. In his free time, Ian Oldaker maintains membership with the Pittsburgh Young Professionals.

The Pittsburgh Young Professionals strive to enhance Pittsburgh and surrounding areas by creating a strong network of professionals and future leaders. Members enjoy many benefits, including access to more than 45 events each year and a scholarship fund that encourages academic development. They also build strong connections with other professionals and cultivate leadership skills.

More active members can participate in several committees, which are instrumental to the organization’s success and logistics. The committees plan and organize events for members and take on other administrative responsibilities. Committee participation is a great way for young professionals to build leadership skills, especially those who take on increasing amounts of responsibility as committee chairs or board of director members.

For more information about the Pittsburgh Young Professionals, visit https://pyp.org/.

Tips to Manage Diabetes at the Workplace

With extensive experience building and operating museum exhibits, Ian Oldaker implements initiatives to foster customer satisfaction and improve brand representation. His portfolio includes overseeing the operations department at the September 11 Memorial and Museum, and managing visitor experiences at the espionage history museum Spyscape. Alongside his work in interactive education, Ian Oldaker is interested in research about type 1 diabetes, and day-to-day management of the condition.

The primary challenge with managing diabetes in a workplace involves making time and energy to maintain lifestyle needs while meeting job requirements. While this varies depending on the work environment, it is important to coordinate with colleagues and managers regarding your diet and movement schedules, and to inform them of symptoms and how to deal with emergencies involving low or high blood sugar. Keeping your team in the loop about changing accommodations is the first step in making sure that your office-based strategies work smoothly.

Since managing diabetes with or without insulin requires managing blood sugar, it is crucial to not skip meals. Make meals ahead to bring to work; if your workplace has a kitchen, it may help to keep some frozen lunches or snacks for the days you may forget or be too busy. High fiber, slow-digestion snacks are good for tasks that require travelling and movement, so that you ensure a steady release of blood sugar even while on the go.

If possible, incorporate exercise into your schedule, in between assignments. Tasks that require manual labor or walking, such as tour guides or construction workers, may not need extra exercise over the workday. However, for desk-bound or limited movement tasks, take time out to stretch, walk, or meditate. This helps to lower blood glucose by burning energy, controlling blood pressure, and keeping stress in check. Lastly, always keep your glucometer at hand and take regular checks, especially if you feel dizzy or tired.

The Basics of the Carolina Dog Breed

An accomplished senior operations executive, Ian Oldaker served as the general manager and chief operating officer of the espionage-based entertainment and education venue SPYSCAPE from 2017 to 2020. This exciting immersive museum, featuring espionage history and skills challenges, debuted in New York, NY in 2018. Outside of the professional environment, Ian Oldaker enjoys spending time with his rescued mixed-breed Carolina dog, Taco.

Experts believe that the origins of the Carolina dog breed are likely as old as the movements of primitive humans from Asia to North America. As these prehistoric populations made their way across the Bering land bridge into modern-day Alaska, they brought along with them a precursor to the modern dog, a domesticated wolf that looked and behaved much like a Carolina dog.

Resembling a wild Australian dingo in many ways, the Carolina dog is physically defined by its pointed ears, vulpine snout, and fishhook-curved tail. Behaviorally, they retain much of the focused pack mentality that made them so successful in prehistoric times. This means that they may be alarmed by the presence of strangers, but they are extremely devoted to the families that own them.