Career Slay

Can storytelling change the world for good? On this episode of Career Slay, I interview Meg Griffiths, co-founder of Universe Creative, a documentary production company, and director "Impossible Town."We discuss Meg's career journey, including her transition from photojournalism to Teach For America to filmmaking and the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated field. Meg also shares her insights on parenting while pursuing a demanding career, the importance of relationships and community in her work, and the power of storytelling to create understanding and catalyze change.Don't miss this inspiring conversation with a talented and passionate storyteller.Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer

How do you turn a neighborhood bakery into a beloved brand?In this episode of Career Slay, I interview Maricsa Trejo, the owner of La Casita Bakeshop. Maricsa shares her journey from working in professional kitchens to building a successful James Beard-nominated bakery with lines around the corner. She gives her advice for anyone who is trying to turn their passion into their full-time gig and emphasizes the importance of surrounding yourself with good people, setting boundaries, and not being too hard on yourself. We also talk about her recent success, the challenges of being in the spotlight, and the excitement of being nominated by the James Beard Foundation. Get ready for some sweet career advice!La Casita Bakeshop is open to the public every weekend in Richardson, TX.Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer

Has anyone ever encouraged you to “bring your whole self to work”?In this episode Jeff Roberts, the President of Augustine Agency, discusses the importance of bringing your authentic self to work and how critical building relationships are in his role as an advertising executive. He shares the challenges he faced coming out as openly gay mid-career, and how being true to oneself changed the trajectory of his career and deepened his relationships with his clients and peers. Jeff also shares more about his leadership style of transparency and caring candor. He was named the Agency Leader of the Year 2022 from the American Advertising Federation in Dallas, for which he was nominated by his team.Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer

In this episode of Career Slay, I interview Chrissy McGarry, who shares her journey from being a stay-at-home mom to becoming the COO of a national security software company, Second Front Systems. She talks about the challenges of transitioning into a full-time job after becoming a mom, finding work-life harmony, and dealing with workplace bias as a female executive in a male-dominated industry. Chrissy also emphasizes the importance of trusting your gut, establishing a self-care regimen, and finding purpose in your work. She's on a mission to guide others, especially women and working moms, to realize their potential and power, just as she has.Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer

Are you interested in learning more about a career in design? In this episode of Career Slay, I sit down with design consultant, Dan Jacobs. Dan is an innovation lead, design director, and lifelong entrepreneur who has worked in various fields such as industrial design, interaction design, service design, and innovation consulting. Dan is currently part of the leadership team of the Innovation Consulting practice at Accenture and he offers valuable insights for those who are starting or considering a career in design.Dan emphasizes the importance of focusing on outcomes, having a growth mindset, infusing passion into work, and taking career breaks to reflect and refocus on what makes you happy.Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer

Have you ever heard of a pelvic floor therapist?In this Career Slay episode, I interview board-certified pelvic and abdominal health physical therapist, Kat Nasseri. We talk about what pelvic floor therapy is and how she found her passion for this unique practice. Kat discusses her work advocating for patients of all genders and ages and helping them through some of the most taboo health issues. Kat reassures her patients that they're not alone and helps them overcome the stigma and shame surrounding these topics. We also talk about the role of mentorship in her career, being your authentic self, and playing to your strengths.Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer

Have you ever made a pivot in your career? Now imagine doing that, not just once, but twice!!In this episode of Career Slay, Dr. Gary Orosy, Adjunct Professor of Marketing at SMU Cox School of Business, takes us through his three career stints in marketing, consulting, and academia. An accomplished global marketer, Gary talks about his time at Procter & Gamble, Frito-Lay, and Gillette. He also discusses the importance of finding meaningful work and continually challenging oneself to set higher standards. Finally, he also shares advice on when to pivot in one's career and the most rewarding part of his job as an educator.Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer

What's it really like being a woman in tech?My next Career Slay guest is Robin Brown. Robin has over 12 years of experience in tech spanning across organizations like Whirlpool and Google. Robin currently leads a team of engineers and technical consultants within the Professional Services Organization at Google.We talk about how she uses her sociology major everyday, mentorship, and how to deal with imposter syndrome, especially as a woman of color.Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer

I'm sure you've heard someone at work say: “Don't stress. It's not like we're curing cancer.”Well my next guest on Career Slay literally is. I interview Paula Schneider, the president and CEO of Susan G. Komen. Paula is responsible for the world's largest breast cancer research portfolio, almost 1 billion in funding to date, and a network of more than 80 Komen affiliates serving millions of women and men in the United States and globally.In this episode, we talk about Paula's entrepreneurial beginnings, how she crafted her own college major, started her own fashion company, and then went on to be the CEO of several other fashion companies. Paula shares how mentorship played a role in her career, how she stays calm under pressure, and how her own personal experience conquering breast cancer led her to her most impactful role to date.Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer

Have you heard the saying: “If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life?” My next guest on Career Slay, Dr. Shad Hattaway, LOVES what he does, but it's his passion for dentistry that fuels his extraordinary work ethic.In this episode, we talk about how Dr. Hattaway grew up the 9th of ten children and how early financial hardships shaped what he wanted to do with his career. Seeking financial stability, he wanted to become a dentist since the age of 12. We talk about the rigorous years of education and training it took to achieve his dream—all while managing his dyslexia. What sets Dr. Hattaway apart is his dedication to providing the best care for his patients, even if meant sacrificing his own salary the first couple of years after starting his own dental practice.Dr. Hattaway is the owner and CEO of Indian Creek Dental, a deaf-friendly dental practice in north Dallas, Texas. He is also the president of a non-profit dental clinic, Dental Health for Arlington.Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer

Have you ever thought about the #legacy you want to leave behind?In this episode of Career Slay, I interview Erin Sarofsky, the President, Owner, and Executive Creative Director of Sarofsky Corp. As a female founder and director, Erin is breaking barriers in her industry and designing her own legacy. We talk about how she built her company one step at a time and the biases she's faced. Erin also gives us such real advice about the importance of putting in the time early on and building a foundation for your career. Finally, we discuss motherhood and open up about how our career ambitions rely on having a supportive partner. This is such an honest and inspirational conversation. You don't want to miss this.Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer

Have you ever asked yourself “When in my adult life was I the happiest?” That's the question my next guest on Career Slay asked, and his answer led him to a meaningful career that he loves.In our latest episode, I sit down with Dave Jackson, a journalist turned public relations expert, and now, the Director of Admissions for the Master of Accounting program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dave and I discuss so many great topics about career development including:Identifying and filling a skill gap [12:22]How communication is a leader's greatest tool [16:03]Finding what makes you truly happy and the courage to pursue it [22:33]The importance of running towards an opportunity vs. running away from your current situation. [29:14]Why finding purpose in a career is important [33:21]This episode is filled with so much inspiring and insightful advice. You don't want to miss out!Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer

Do you find yourself running away from change? My next Career Slay guest chases it. In this episode, I interview Jorge Almeida, a seasoned marketer who has worked on iconic brands like Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, and Avocados From Mexico. Jorge talks about how change was the central theme of his childhood and how dealing with change shaped his career through mentorship and networking. We also discuss the difference between advertising agency and corporate marketing roles and how creative ideas need champions on both sides to bring them to life. Finally, we discuss how Jorge turned his greatest passion, running, into a side hustle. Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer

On this episode of Career Slay, I'm sitting down with Michael Ytem, Senior Vice President at Younger Partners. Michael has over eight years of commercial real estate experience in the North Texas land market and was twice named a D CEO Power Broker. We talk about how Michael's entire family is in real estate, how he's found “ikigai”, and the value of networking. Michael attributes his success to building relationships and offers candid advice to young brokers who are just starting out.Listen now on all platforms, and please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareerEnjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer

In this episode of Career Slay, I interview my sister and fashionista, Kimberly Poquiz. Kim has worked in fashion for the past 10 years as a product developer for companies such as Halston, Guess, Uniqlo, Theory, Helmut Lang, and most recently, CUTS Clothing. We talk about how our grandma inspired her passion for fashion when she was only in 2nd grade and how she navigated through fashion school. Kim also discusses the importance of leaving her legacy through sustainability and building a lifestyle brand.Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer

How do you build a career you love when school just isn't your thing?In this next episode of Career Slay, I'm catching up with massage therapist, Sean Lopez. We talk about his struggle to stay motivated at school and how he was told that you can't make money off your passions. Sean proved the doubters wrong and is now the owner of Glory Manual Movement Therapy, where he provides holistic rehabilitative care to patients and builds community by teaching other therapists. His story shows how every career journey is unique and a work in progress.Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer

Do you love the path you're on even if you just fell into that career?In this episode of Career Slay, I'm catching up with banking and finance guru, Nat Amaratana. With over 15 years of experience at prominent companies like J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, and Amazon, Nat tells us how he fell into a finance career after immigrating from Thailand, but ultimately rose through the ranks to become a VP, and eventually how he pivoted into tech. Nat also shares about his journey as a fellow cancer survivor, and how that experience shifted his priorities in life, including his approach to work. Nat reveals that his greatest pride comes from investing in people and developing his team.Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer

Does using creativity to impact social change sound inspiring? My next Career Slay guest, Lane Lowe, turns inspiration into action every single day. As a cofounder of Matterlab, Lane combines her marketing expertise and passion for educational equity to help leaders clarify their identities and communicate their impact.In this episode, we talk about how a Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteer experience inspired Lane to dedicate her career to social impact, her early years as a designer, and how she found her way to the classroom through Teach for America. Lane also tells us why she decided to get an MBA, and how she used that to pivot and become an entrepreneur.Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer

How many of us know a passionate educator who quit teaching as a result of the pandemic?My next Career Slay guest, Camille Awayan, always knew that education was her vocation. Camille talks about how her immigrant experience highlighted the value of education and the role it played in shaping her career choices.As an English middle school teacher, Camille not only taught her students language arts curriculum but also the foundational lessons of life. Like many teachers who took on additional burdens to keep classrooms running, Camille found herself unable to sustain the demands of this new reality, and ultimately decided to transition out of the classroom. We talk about her journey to identify a new career path and how she leveraged her strengths to carve out a new role uniquely suited for her passions.Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer

Do you know anyone who already had it figured out at the age of 17? In this episode, I'm chatting with serial entrepreneur, Kristian Bottini. Kristian is the CEO and founder of the digital marketing agency, 270B. We talk about Kristian's early beginnings as a young entrepreneur selling candy at his high school, how he dropped out of college to pursue his passion for business, and how he found mentorship from a network marketing millionaire which put him on a lifelong path of personal development.Check out 270B: https://270b.com/Books mentioned: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. KiyosakiIf you're enjoying Career Slay, please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareerEnjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer

In this episode, I'm talking with HR-guru, Michelle Milberger. She's the VP of People Operations for Kizen in Austin, TX and has over 10 years of experience in the human resources space. We discuss how she fell into HR, her international career journey, and how she's putting people first in people ops.Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer

For our first episode, I'm talking to Kinza Azmat. She's a multi-hyphenate: an entrepreneur, CEO, ex-consultant, former engineer, and my best friend. We discuss the genesis of Career Slay, her journey as a Pakistani-American woman in male-dominated industries, and her decision to eventually buy her own business and become her own boss.Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer

After getting diagnosed with breast cancer at 30, while pregnant with my first born, during a global pandemic, I never wanted to treat life like it was a dress rehearsal ever again. And because I got this second chance, I hope to help as many people as I can live their lives authentically and find a career that brings them joy. I'm Kelly Poquiz Burke, and this is the Career Slay podcast.Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer