Less than a year after graduating from McMaster, Mackenzie Barwell is stepping into the broadcasting booth as a digital host for CBC Olympic coverage.
Barwell’s move to the CBC is just the latest step in a fast-moving broadcasting career that has already taken her from hosting with Forge FC to the World University Games in Torino, to a magical full-circle moment.
The pace of that progression still catches her off guard, Barwell said.
“I’m in rooms with people who are really who I’ve looked up to and who I’ve watched, and it is surreal,” she said.
“But at the same time, I’m increasingly understanding that I belong here.”
Her interest in the Olympics stretches back well before her own career in broadcasting began, said Barwell, who graduated in 2025 with a BA (Hons) in Political Science and Communication Studies.
“I’ve always been a fan of the Olympics,” she said. “We would always watch it as a family growing up, and I remember (Team Canada soccer player) Diana Matheson scoring the winning goal against France to win bronze at the 2012 Games.”
And now, in her role for CBC, Barwell will be sharing similar stories from the Milano-Cortina Winter Games with Canadians across the country.
It marks the culmination of years of jumping at opportunities, building experience, networking and even treating her Instagram as a resume and branding tool.
“Admittedly sometimes that’s hard!” she said.
“Sometimes I have to bite my tongue and think, ‘Ok Mackenzie, you have to post this,’ ” she said. “It feels arrogant, but really it’s just advocating for yourself and promoting your accomplishments!”
It worked, landing Barwell a gig as a Ski Cross World Cup reporter, which led to her current role.
“It’s been surreal, just stepping into that digital studio for the first time,” she said. “It’s so rewarding and exciting.”
And others can be just as successful, she said, given the amount of quality opportunities to cut their journalistic teeth at McMaster.
“Don’t be afraid to tell people what your goals are,” she said. “People at McMaster will listen and they’ll say, ‘That’s great, because this opportunity came up,’ or, ‘There’s someone in my network who can help you with that.’ People are ready and willing to help you.”
The other key, said Barwell, is finding your passion and diving into it.
“Say you love hockey,” she said. “Put a camera in front of you and start talking about the Leafs! People will notice, even if it feels cringe at the time. Don’t wait for the perfect opportunity to present itself on LinkedIn: Start creating content and the opportunity will present itself.”
For Barwell, the common thread through every step — her political science and communication classes, creating videos for McMaster Marauders, working for Forge FC and now CBC — is a passion for sport, a drive to pursue it, and a willingness to seize and create opportunities.
It’s that mindset she hopes other students will take to heart as they launch their own careers, whatever field they’re passionate about.
And the full-circle moment?
“I got to meet Diana Matheson this year! And I’m working with (former speed skater and Matheson’s partner) Anastasia Bucsis,” said Barwell. “It’s just unbelievable. There have been real ‘pinch me’ moments.
“But I remind myself that there’s a reason why I’m here: it’s because I’m good at what I do. And I worked hard to get here.”