Fashionably Late

In this final episode, Amy talks about what she has learned doing this podcast and why she is ending the podcast now. 

Today Amy introduces us to Bailey Surtees.  It won't be the last time you will hear about her as the work she and a team of cofounders are doing is consequential.  Her career pivot is in progress, and we're on hand to witness as she and her work evolve.   Bailey tells us she was interested in science at an early age.  She loved biology in high school, and she loved what she had learned to that point about engineering and problem solving.  As she headed off to college from home in Oklahoma to Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, she wasn't yet sure how her two interests would coalesce, but once she arrived, she fit in nicely as a bioengineering major.   Bailey's career journey began in earnest during her senior year at JHU.  As an assignment in a senior design program, she and some fellow students were challenged with a problem solving project. They teamed with field clinicians and what they eventually came up with was   remarkable work they hoped would be game changing. Their project eventually led to the founding of a business, and Bailey became the lead.    Originally, the team's goal was to study both breast cancer diagnoses and treatments for patients in low resource countries.  But they soon modified their study after they learned professionals in the field were far more concerned about treatment than about diagnosis. This was because they had no viable way to treat in the field following a diagnosis. This revelation caused the team to put their focus on finding a way to provide treatment methods that would work in field conditions. They determined they'd spend a year researching this, and by the end of that year, they had come up with their own treatment method which was unlike anything else available.    The team applied for grants to sustain their efforts post-graduation.  They wanted to work full time on the project as they'd become convinced that it had commercial potential.  They eventually were ready to move from research to development. Six years have passed and Bailey's company, Kubanda Cryotherapy, is growing.  But what is this treatment?   It is a minimally invasive cryotherapy technique for lumps and bumps and is currently being used on pets, Bailey explains. Kubanda started in the pet therapy market to help them fast forward to human treatment.  It is a cost effective alternative to surgical resections, and right now it's being used by veterinarians with the hope for an eventual go-ahead for human trials.   Bailey says the treatment trades a “knife for a needle”. She describes the simple procedure and emphasizes how inexpensive it is.  All that's needed is a CO2 tank. No electricity is required.  A needle is inserted into the lump or tumor.  The needle is then chilled to -70 degrees.  This rapidly creates ice in the tissue, and those sharp ice shards quickly attack and burst the cells.  The patient experiences minimal pain and does not have to go through the traditionally long recovery period.   As they move hopefully forward to human trials, they continue to rely on grants but are now raising money through investors too. Bailey has nothing but confidence in the viability of their cryotherapy treatment, and she hopes her enthusiasm is contagious as fund raising is a part of her job now.  The founding group plans to continue expansion by reaching out to even more veterinarians around the country. She manages this task as part of what she does on a day to day basis as well.  She often fills in or helps out with the work being done by the other founders too. She describes how she loves being a jack of all trades for the business.  She says at present she's learning about HR functions as the company takes on new hires.   Bailey gave Amy some advice and takeaways she would pass on to other entrepreneurs:   It's more doable than you think. Don't be intimidated Reach out to other entrepreneurs for their support. There is a powerful network of people willing to help you the same they were helped when they began. Network with people who are a step ahead of you Be patient. It takes time to reach your ultimate goal Be open to taking on unexpected roles as you might learn something new about yourself in the process.   Links:   com com/in/bailey-surtees

Today we meet Sharon Werner who will share with us the story of her fascinating career pivot from New York thespian to Senior Vice President at Home Box Office. Sharon begins her narrative as an undergrad at Bryn Mawr.  She initially thought she would study medicine, but after experiencing some related classes, she changed her major to English and turned her focus to studying the rich literature of both the Renaissance and Medieval periods.    By graduation, she had not found her career direction yet, so she took a job as a “gofer” at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The job paid very little, but it gave her more time to explore and think about her future.  With a great interest in theater, she signed up for a scene study class at the Herbert Berghof Studio but felt she should pursue something more conventional as well.  Thus she sent out applications to graduate schools where she hoped to continue her English literature studies.  Just as she was accepted at Princeton, she landed a plum part in a musical she had auditioned for.  The production was the Fantasticks and she was cast as The Girl (Luisa), a leading role.  This posed a career dilemma for sure, but in the end, the road less traveled led off-Broadway.   Sharon learned quickly that you need to know a thing or two about business if you're going to live on actor's wages.  She was young and inexperienced but learning quickly.  She left the Fantasticks role after almost 2 years, and did summer stock and small parts in other off-Broadway productions.  A series of theater gigs, and jobs like being a gift wrapper or a salesperson at B. Altman, followed.  Where was she going?   A friend suggested to her that she possessed skills that might make her a good attorney.  Sharon scoffed and thought being an attorney was “one step up from being an accountant.”  But since nothing else was coming her way, she decided she had nothing to lose by taking the LSAT. She was sure she wouldn't do well, and she could chalk off that occupation from the list of possibilities.  Fortunately, she was very wrong and she received a high score. Still reluctant, friends encouraged her to apply to top law schools with her stellar test performance.  She again mailed out applications, while she continued to keep her theater options open.    While her applications were out to various law schools, she received a last minute call to back up a singer in a musical revue. (The actress who had the role was not feeling well, but she thought she'd still be able to go on.) And though the music didn't match Sharon's style or range, she took the job since the production was in a pinch, and she was available. Again, fate stepped in and she actually had to perform as the original actress could not.  Sharon did well and was hired to understudy all the female parts for the show.   Sharon intended to stay with the revue through its run, but again there were other plans afoot for her in the universe.  With only 2 weeks left for the show, Sharon received an acceptance letter from Harvard Law School. And this would not be the only acceptance letter she received.  She had come once more to a fork in the road. Should she take the route towards the more conventional law school choice or stick with the ever quixotic theater work?   She decided to give law school a try. Harvard was not offering the scholarship money she needed, so she chose to attend Columbia which proved more generous. Amazingly, she loved law school.  She found the coursework engaging and stimulating. She made law review and Law Revue!  Keeping her love of theater alive, she and some of her fellow students put together fun sketches and parodies about life at law school.  Her time at Columbia was greatly successful, and when her studies were completed, she was hired as a clerk for the Honorable James Oakes of the Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.   She was in the clerkship for a year when another opportunity came her way.   Sharon was hired for a position in the entertainment department at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. This prestigious firm had the reputation of being the best in entertainment law in New York City. Although her friends assumed this was exactly what Sharon should do, Sharon reserved judgment as to whether this was really the right course for her.  She began tentatively but found out she was well-suited.  She truly enjoyed her work and learned a lot in the 3 years she was there.    She next moved on to a position at MTV but was there for just a year when she was recruited by HBO.  It was at HBO where the rest of her career awaited her. The work was immensely fun, challenging and gratifying, and Sharon retired from HBO recently as a Senior Vice President.  Listen to her recount the growth and changes that took place at the media giant while she was there. She describes for us what it was like to work at HBO and we catch a glimpse of some programs and stars she encountered.    Amy asks if she is happy she made the pivot from theater to law.  Sharon tells her she enjoyed both occupations, but law “is the kind of career that makes sense.”  She also discusses how she's handling her recent retirement as after a merger, HBO offered many employees near retirement age the opportunity for a buy-out.  Sharon describes how coming to terms with a new lifestyle has unfolded, especially during the pandemic.  She says she was surprised at how the pivot from work to retirement was emotionally more difficult than she anticipated, and how the first year of retirement was a struggle.  You will enjoy hearing about Sharon's unique career pivot.  If you're like me, you'll find yourself wishing you could hear some more of the fun anecdotes she surely could tell about her times as both an actress and an entertainment attorney.   Sharon offers some advice and some takeaways today in her interview: When you are just starting, if you lack confidence, listen to the advice of those who know you. They will send you in directions you might not dare to go without a push Keep an open mind to all possibilities, even those that seem unlikely You don't have to rush with your career choice. It's okay to have some life experience first Find joy in whatever work you are doing There are transferable skills in all types of work

Dr. Pinkey Patel grew up helping her parents run motels.  Her mother and father had come to the United States with no education and no money and were determined Pinkey would eventually go to college. Pinkey was an excellent student, especially in math and science, so although she would have to pay her own way, she was in agreement with her parents that college was in her future. As her high school class valedictorian, she was well prepared to gather scholarships to help pay her college expenses. Interested in studying some area of healthcare, she chose pharmacy to be her major. She went directly from undergraduate school to her Pharm.D degree, finishing in 6 1/2 years by 2011. As she scouted for scholarship opportunities throughout that time, Pinkey looked to the Miss America Pageant system as a scholarship source. On a second try she won a regional level pageant. In order to advance to the state competition, among other things, she was required to work with a fitness trainer. It was at this point that Pinkey was introduced to both fitness training and body building, interests that would influence and steer her career for the future. Through the pageant experience, she became very interested in muscle mechanics and physiology.  She decided that she was more than just an enthusiast, so she eventually gained certification as a personal trainer through the National Society of Sports Medicine.  She taught fitness classes during both her graduate and undergrad years, and after her marriage, she participated in a couple of body building competitions.  Her education coupled with her fitness avocation came together to form the foundation for her career pivot. In order to keep her fitness certification, Pinkey enrolled annually for continuing education classes.  She decided to put her focus on pre and post-natal fitness.  Though she had no children of her own yet, she was listening to the concerns of other women as they talked about a myriad of health and fitness problems they experienced before and after they gave birth. She began to investigate some of the fallacies that traditionally drove fitness and health care in this period of women's lives.  Her investigation finally culminated in The Snapback, an all-inclusive and intuitive postpartum app, but it didn't happen overnight.  Her first move in the app's eventual creation was to launch a like-minded community in 2018.  She interacted with other women on topics of concern they brought up like bladder control, breast feeding, etc.  This community convinced her she definitely had found an audience in need of sound, factual information, and it reassured her that an app to address their many needs would be extremely useful. In this interview, you will hear her detail some of the creative features she's developed for her app to address the vast variety of questions new mothers have. In September of 2019, she launched The Snapback in 166 countries. Her app has grown sufficiently that in April of 2021, she gave up her full time clinical pharmacy position to oversee her growing online presence. She continues to do one-on-one consulting though in order to stay close to the market she serves. Amy broaches the question of motivation. She asks Pinkey what drives her and makes her so passionate about her new work. Pinkey responds by saying that leaving her pharmacy position was the hardest thing she has ever had to do. She had focused all her early years on building that stable career and walking away from it was a big risk to take.  But she says she had seen too often unqualified people badly advising vulnerable, exhausted new mothers.  She knew she had the knowledge and tools to do better for them.  Pinkey also tells us about her continued search for funding now and how The Snapback is currently operating financially. She confesses what a big learning curve she is grappling with when it comes to business practices. She's often engaged in on the job training.  The pandemic made it even harder to learn, but now as things open up, she's able to take advantage of the more available resources for learning.  She points out that less than 3% of women receive venture capital funding, but she is working hard to be included in that statistic.        Takeaways:   Don't be in a rush. Give yourself ample time to think about your options Patience is very necessary. Your big idea won't come to fruition overnight.  Be prepared to have some failures but keep tweaking You can balance your side hustle(s) with your new venture, but know at some point if you're successful, you're going to have to go all in It's important to identify and build your values into your enterprise from the beginning Build your business culture from the ground up.   Links   https://www.linkedin.com/in/pinkeypatel/   com

Meet Viola Brumskine, a woman with many talents and interests.  Viola was a curious child who had many questions about everything.  With lots of energy and even more curiosity, her parents thought steering her towards journalism was appropriate.  By the time she entered Howard University, she was settled on a major in communications with a minor in journalism and public relations.  This initial plan was modified near the end of her undergrad years however, and at graduation, she had earned her baccalaureate degree in intercultural communications with an emphasis in public relations.   During the time she was working on the communications degree, Viola enrolled in a debate class.  She found she had an affinity for debate, and when her professor noted this talent, he passed along a favorable word to the Howard mock trial coach. The coach asked her to join the team and when she did, she found most in the group were prelaw majors. Viola then began to give thought to law school too, especially since she found success with mock trial.  She had family who really encouraged her as well, but she felt obligated to complete the undergrad major in communications she had first embarked upon. So at that point, though interested in law school, she was not ready for a commitment yet.   Her first job post-graduation was with a lobbyist firm. She spent 18 months in that position during which time she gave much thought to where her career was going.  At the end of that period, she had made a final decision to go to law school and eventually enrolled at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.   Following law school, she moved home to Maryland and prepared for the bar exam.  Upon completion, she landed a clerkship with the Montgomery County Circuit Court, an impressive early career accomplishment and a solid addition to her resume.  Her heart was still with the mock trial skills she had gained though.  Thus, when the opportunity came along, Viola signed on as a litigation associate at Saul Kerpelman & Associates where she stayed for 6 years.    Midway through her time there, she became restless.  She felt something was missing from her career even though she knew she had a great job many others would envy. She continued to think about what the missing “it” might be.  Finally, she revisited a goal she had considered during her youth. She had wanted to work in some capacity for the United Nations. Now she became focused on bringing that old dream to life.   One of the partners at the litigation firm helped her out.  He had a relative who worked for the U.N. who might give her some valuable insight. What she learned was how hard it was to get a job there.  But undaunted, she applied for nearly 100 positions, none of which resulted in a job.  Still she didn't give up.  At this point she dug in and decided to turn all her attention and focus to her U.N. goal.    A former classmate gave her a call and told her about a potential position she had learned of from friends working at the U.N.  Viola knew what she still needed was to find out the apparent secret to getting hired there.  She discovered through them that she hadn't understood the recruitment system nor how to communicate what she really had to offer.  Learning this, she was able to fine tune her application and rework her resume, and in a few months she was offered a U.N. position in Dakar, Senegal.    Viola had recently married and had a husband to consider if and when she accepted the post.  He was supportive of her desire to work there, but she explained how being with the U.N. would mean among other things, moving frequently. There would be potentially other sacrifices too that would impact on them as a family if she followed her dream job.  They made the joint decision that Viola would try out the position and see if it was truly what she wanted. Later then they would take a more informed look before she made a firm commitment.   Viola's U.N. employment only lasted for 18 months. She had become ill in Dakar and required medical treatment in the United States.  While being treated in the US, she reflected on the time she had spent in Dakar.  She realized that she had learned a lot from her short stint, but this had not turned out to be the missing “it” job she was searching for.  She explains she felt the U.N. position was a stepping off point for her to something greater though, and after much thought, she believed her next move might be in the area of consulting.     One of the valuable lessons she had gained from her time with the U.N. was how a business reorganization is done.  Since the U.N. was going through a huge reorganization process while she was with them, she was able to observe much about streamlining, facilitating change, evaluating processes, etc.  As she observed, she was fascinated by it all and found herself  closely evaluating every step that had been taken to restructure the vast entity. She now wanted to know more about change management.   In fall of 2019, she began exploring the available university study programs in organizational development.  She decided that an executive certificate program offered at Georgetown University in organizational consulting and change leadership might be what she was looking for.  The year-long course was designed for mid-level executives ready to pivot in their careers, and this was exactly what Viola was planning to do. So in January 2020, she began the Georgetown course and learned about the framework for successful consulting.  She was anxious to apply her own experiences, talents and competencies to that framework so she would have the confidence to find her place in the consulting field.   Since finishing her certification this past January, she has found a position as a Senior Consultant with a company called Corner Alliance in the Washington, D.C. area. She describes to Amy the work she's doing there now and gives great advice about what she's learned in order to make a successful pivot.  Here are some of the takeaways and advice you might find valuable to listen for in today's podcast:   Takeaways: Viola set up daily Zoom coffee meetings and networked with many of the professionals she had been taught by, gone to school with or worked with. This extensive networking opened lots of doors She hired a career coach/consultant; (her enthusiasm for doing this is truly worth listening to) She advises not to despair if you if you don't know your “dream job” right away, or if you think you've found your “dream job” but it doesn't work out She says learning about yourself is crucial if you want to find a position you will truly want to stick with   LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/violalbmoves

  Colin Levy knew his strengths as an undergrad at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.  He was only torn as to which interest he should pursue for his degree.  He chose public policy with a concentration in economics over an English major.  During his time at Trinity College, he determined he would follow his BA with a law degree, but not immediately.  He took a year off and worked for a large New York law firm as a paralegal.  There he received some first-hand legal experience and was introduced to technology as it applied to the law profession.    When that year was over, he entered Boston College Law School.  As law school began, he already knew he had no interest in being a litigator.  His focus became transactions and contract law, and he aspired to work as an in-house counsel some time in his future.  At the conclusion of his law studies, he had no job lined up, so he spent the following year exploring opportunities.    Eventually he took a position at Update Legal, a startup, in Boston.  There he did contract review and financial audits while he advanced in his knowledge of legal technology especially. He began to recognize a new interest in how computers could facilitate the work of legal professionals.  He created a contract management and review tool in the year he was employed there.   He moved on to a few brief stints as a compliance and contract attorney while he engaged his curiosity in the technology tools that were currently used in the field.  The short duration positions he took moved Colin along from contracts administrator to contract counsel.   In 2014 and 2015, he went to work with the Velcro Group.  As a contract counsel there, he was able to improve contractual systems and revise existing templates.  He maintained contractual records and assisted with corporate restructuring matters.  He often worked across departments, and he provided training to other employees. He frequently did research as well.  All in all, Colin experienced a broad spectrum of work that continued to refine his special interests, especially those involving applied technology.   After a year off for some health issues, Colin returned to law and signed on at C&W Services as a temporary contract counsel during the summer of 2016.  After this short term situation ended, he became the Manager of Contract Negotiations at Pearson Education where he was the sole in-house counsel.  He found this to be a period of great growth experience where he gained many transferable skills to carry him into the future.    In the summer of 2018, Colin moved on to be corporate counsel for Salary.com.  For the next 2 years he was the strategic advisor to both the CEO and CFO concerning cyber security.  During this time, he expanded his own brand which he had been working on for some years.  He was becoming the “go to” person in the world of tech advice for legal professionals.    In May of 2020, Colin spent some time as legal counsel for Lookout, a cyber security company.  While there, he learned even more about security technology and enjoyed a supportive team.  It was at this juncture that he really expanded his own brand.  And what is that?  Colin explains to Amy about his blog, his tweets and his all-important LinkedIn posts.  As Amy notes, he's developed quite a following as he educates and inspires about legal technology. He has become an authority as he posts every day on a variety of legal tech topics. His interactive posts afford a great networking opportunity for all who engage with him on topics surrounding technology for legal professionals. Colin defines the subject of legal technology as a set of tools that allows attorneys to perform their work more effectively and efficiently.  It encompasses a growing movement to push the legal industry into the 21st century.   This past February, Colin became the Director of Marketing and Business Development at WordRake.  This represented a big pivot for him as he is no longer an in-house counsel.  Instead, he now spends his days immersed in the legal technology which has become his passion.  He has managed to merge his personal brand with his professional work.   At WordRake, they provide a product that is an add-on for Microsoft Word.  It's an automated document editor, as you will hear Colin explain further.   They help legal professionals produce documents with clarity and without complicated legal jargon. With his love of both technology and writing, Colin has found his niche.  He shares with Amy and her listeners some of the lessons he's found valuable in his career journey.  Perhaps he has some advice that will help you enhance your personal brand.   Links: LinkedIn- linkedin.com/in/colinslevy Website- colinslevy.com/     Takeaways: If you are overwhelmed with the growing amount of law technology, know you are not alone. Take on only the specific area you are involved with rather than trying to absorb all of the law tech that's out there Learn about all the branding tools that will help you. LinkedIn is underutilized and a great place to learn and build your brand Always be consistent when you blog, tweet and post Respond and comment on other people's posts Deliberate relationship building on LinkedIn and other professional sites is the new way to network. Learn to take advantage of these resources and use them to your best advantage

In her early school days, Jamie wanted to be a doctor.  When she headed off to her first classes at DePaul University in Chicago, she was dismayed by just how long science lab classes were, so her childhood career choice was dashed shortly thereafter. She decided to stick to the core classes until she was forced at the end of her sophomore year to declare a major.  She decided to go with business. While taking a variety of business related classes her last two undergrad years, she encountered business law. Finally, she had found a discipline that truly interested her.   Since De Paul has a community service component to its curriculum, Jamie chose to mentor group home boys who were wards of the state. She enjoyed this work and thought as she went off to law school, she would explore child advocacy law.  She enrolled at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, which offered a concentration of courses on children and the law.   Midway through law school it occurred to her that she was amassing a lot of student loan debt.  She began to think about how she would eventually repay it and she came upon an idea she thought would help her. It happened that Hamline offered a dual degree program with the nearby University of St. Thomas where she could earn an MBA to accompany her JD. When she finished these two degrees, she felt she would be better prepared to land a good first position and relieve some of her debt.   Jamie's first job out of law school was as a business litigator.  She did this for 2 years and got her feet wet, and as she did, she was able to define her career direction further.  She felt she wanted to be an integral part of building a business and creating new systems.  She left this initial job then and hired on at US Bank where she might find more opportunity to grow.   At U.S. Bank she was brought in to support the IT department. In that role she did everything from litigation to software licensing to contract negotiations.  Each of these areas offered her more experience to help her continue to define and develop her career path.  When she had finished at US Bank, she felt better prepared to step up to the role of an in-house counsel.   Jamie's next move was to Kroll Ontrack as a contract negotiator and then associate legal counsel.  Besides contract negotiations she did compliance and document discovery. After a 3 year stint, she moved on as counsel at St. Jude Medical where she continued to do contract law.   In 2017, she was hired as the first in-house attorney at Gitlab.This was her first remote job.  During her time there, the company enjoyed tremendous growth. They went from 150 to 1200 employees. Jamie built the legal team from just herself to 7 others.  It was exciting and a lot of work, she tells us.  She felt an integral part of the team, and this was the type of work she had been building towards.   When the pandemic hit, Jamie took a sabbatical.  During her time off, an opportunity came to join Mattermost, an open source collaboration platform for developers.  The entire company works remotely.  Jamie took the position and has found remote work affords her the flexibility she needs. With four children and her academic responsibilities at Georgetown University where she is a candidate for an Executive LLM in Securities and Financial Regulations, flexibility is essential. As the first in-house attorney at Mattermost, Jamie is busy setting up the requisite legal systems for the company. Her responsibilities often include reworking contracts, document discovery and compliance issues too.   Jamie discusses with Amy some of the work she does to promote rising people in technology fields and other areas. For example, she works as a mentor with TechStars, an incubator program with United Health Care. Recently she's developed a list serve for attorneys who work for remote businesses, many being technology startups. (You can find the link below). The list has grown to 60 or 70 lawyers so far.   So at this stage of her ever-evolving career, she wears many hats.  She's happy with her current work and lifestyle and shares some advice about what she's learned as an attorney at several startups.  She says networking is vital.  She tells the listener exactly how she networked to make her way into the startup world. She has pivoted successfully because she has acquired an impressive array of transferable skills, learning and adapting as she moves forward.  During a time of rapidly changing technology, her ability to stay current makes her highly valuable to every organization she chooses to be involved with.   Takeaways:     Network and develop relationships of trust Keep learning Lawyers working with startups experience a unique set of challenge Not everyone follows a career path plotted early on   Links: linkedin.com/in/jamiehurewitz www.allremotelegal.com

In junior high school, Fatin was sure she wanted to be a doctor like others in her family. But by high school, and after a few science courses, she was convinced medicine was not in her future.  She did however love French and English classes, especially those in composition.  One goal she fostered was to travel abroad eventually, so when it came time for college, she decided French would be her major.    Fatin chose to attend Kenyon College in Ohio for her undergrad years. When she finished, she wasn't sure what direction she was going to take, but she tells us she had no desire to teach at that point.  After some thought, she decided to explore the possibility of a career in publishing. She had a college friend who knew someone at the Oxford University Press, and so she interviewed and was hired there in an entry level position.  Although she found her work to be boring, it gave her an introduction to what publishing was all about.  It also allowed her to put some relevant work experience on her resume.   Her next job was as an editorial assistant at Savoy Magazine, an African-American lifestyle and business publication.  While there, she had the opportunity to interview many interesting and influential people.  As she listened to their stories, she was impressed by the contributions so many of them were making. Given to serious reflection, Fatin was prompted to ask herself what she was doing professionally to impact the lives of others. This lingering personal question would take some time to answer.   Fatin next decided to study for a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing. She enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh in their 3 year program, and to help pay for tuition, she received a graduate assistantship. This meant she was required to teach freshman composition classes. Though she had no teacher training, she stuck with her assignment and surprisingly enjoyed it.  Upon finishing her master's degree, she gave thought to her next move.   Most of her graduate school peers chose to be teaching artists. These were active writers who held teaching positions to make ends meet. This choice enabled them to continue to be in an academic environment as well.  Fatin considered this option, but she was primarily a poet.  For her, the poetry she wrote was intensely personal and the thought of sending her work off to publishers with the chance for rejection was untenable. Then what to do?   She had enjoyed teaching freshman composition, so she thought perhaps she might like a teaching career after all. But of course now she knew she needed professional training and credentialing.  She enrolled in the School for International Training, Graduate Institute in Vermont in order to earn an MA in ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages).  Her degree  work would enable her to travel to Saudi Arabia and Palestine where she taught EFL (English as a Foreign Language) students. These positions were fulfilling as they made her feel she was finally using her talents to help others.  After finishing a practicum in Saudi Arabia, she returned to SIT to finalize work for her degree. Once completed, she moved home to New Jersey and began teaching as an adjunct professor at various community colleges in the vicinity. Her experiences as an adjunct provided crucial on the job teacher training but not much in the way of job perks. She continued for nearly 11 years however, but eventually she wanted to find a teaching position that offered more in the way of financial security and benefits.   This took her to public education where she entered the world of high schools and adolescents.  Prior to this, she had taught students who were often highly motivated.  She had not dealt much with classroom management problems, behavioral issues, special needs students and so forth. She felt unprepared to wear all the hats of a public high school teacher who must work with the whole child, rather than solely teaching academic content to eager minds. She struggled but gave this 5 years. In the end, she decided the many responsibilities were too overwhelming for her and so once more she considered her options.    Without a plan in place initially, she decided to get back to basics.  She began to ponder the idea of opening her own business to “do what you know”.  And what Fatin knew was how to write. She also knew poetry wasn't marketable, so she eagerly began to tackle copywriting, marketing, content writing and a variety of other specialized written genres she hadn't worked with much in the past.  When crafting these specialized writing tasks, one must achieve specific goals in order to engage the reader effectively.  Fatin dug in.  She loves learning new things and so she began to absorb all the information she could about writing for business.  She engaged a copywriting coach and had a supportive peer group too. She observed once more that she would need to wear a lot of hats, this time all of them belonging to a business owner.  As she immersed herself in learning everything she could, she began to market her brand on LinkedIn.  She found how effective networking got her name and business in front of the right people.  She says she's discovered marketing is much more difficult than writing!  Slowly clients began to find her, and through her diligent networking, referrals materialized.   At first she worked for all sorts of clients in order to get her feet wet and to find a specific niche for herself. Her priority was to become known.  But now, after a year and a half, she's narrowed down the type clients she takes on. Her work concentrates currently on the nonprofit and education markets.    And so while her fledgling business takes hold, she must also work an outside job to keep it  going.  She is currently applying for work as a storyteller and research lead for a curriculum company.    Fatin has pivoted many times throughout her career, but writing is the thread that has run through it all.  She took her love of language and the written word with her wherever she's been.  Each position she's held gave her new experiences that enriched her and her work.  She's developed a variety of transferable skills over time, and reminds us never to discount how valuable those old skills can be in a new job. Her advice to listeners is to tap into our inner compasses to find the best directions.   Topics in this episode: How to make the most of every job you have   How to make the most of your valuable transferable skills   How to deal with the fear of pivoting   How social media and networking can get a new business off the ground   Contact:  fatin@lovelivingcopy.com LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/in/fatinabdalsabur/ Worthy Quote: “Tap into your inner compass.”

Michael Cox is a real career pivoter. Unlike many of Amy's guests who have “spun off” from one related career to another, Mike has changed fields entirely. He chats with Amy today about the thoughtful process he followed to find his eventual career fulfillment. If you are fearful of moving away from work and a career you don't enjoy, listen to how one man managed a deliberate and brave major change for his own life and career.   Mike grew up in Maryland and the Washington, D.C. metro area where he became an avid reader, yoga enthusiast, hockey player, skier, kayaker, hiker and rock climber. He participated as a youth in the prestigious National Outdoor Leadership School in Alaska as well.  His academic interests in high school were government and politics with a special curiosity about international affairs. So, with this background, Mike chose the University of Colorado at Boulder for undergrad school. There he could easily pursue his hobbies as he studied for a double major in international affairs and philosophy. While attending, he developed a particular interest in Latin America. It was at this time when he began to focus on foreign service as his ultimate career.   After graduating magna cum laude, Mike received an opportunity to be a paralegal and the assistant to the Honorary Consul of Mongolia at a law firm in the greater Denver area. This was good experience while he considered the best route to take forward to his foreign service goal.  He decided his next step would be to enhance his resume further with a law degree, so he enrolled in the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law. While there, in the summer of 2011, he traveled to Argentina with the Southwestern Law Study Abroad Program and became fluent in Spanish. It was also during law school that he determined to take the foreign service exam.  The FSOT is part of a rigorous 6 step process for entry into foreign service. He was cut at step 5, the oral evaluation phase.  He could have easily retaken the exam as many do, but the experience caused him to rethink this long time goal. He sought out conversations with people in the foreign service and others who could help him better understand the reality of what life would be like. Did he want to move every couple of years?  What would family life be like if he did? He had a myriad of questions that needed honest answers. As he explored more deeply, he was inclined to think that a career in the foreign service was not really what he wanted after all. But then what was?   He was still in law school, and he needed to finish while he continued to think things through. He hadn't entered the law program with the intention of eventually practicing law, but that's what happened next. It didn't happen right away though.  It was 2013 and graduates were having a difficult time finding work in the post-recession job market. (The unemployment rate for this group was 18.3% at the time.) It took Mike 9 months, but he landed a position in a law office in the Washington, D.C. area.  The firm specialized in government contracts and construction, neither of which held much interest for him, but it allowed him to gain yet more experience. He stayed for 3 years. He learned some necessary legal fundamentals, but that period of time assured him this was not the fulfilling work he sought to spend his career doing. He began a process of self-examination which included quite a few tough questions.   Mike explains a “red flag” for him was the realization that there was no one's position there at the firm he had an interest in or aspired to.  This was a clear indication to him that he had no goals to accomplish or strive for where he was.  He also realized that no one was going to come along and offer him the perfect job.  He was going to have to become proactive. But how? Where would he look?  What work would he find joy in doing? As it turned out, the answers were waiting to be discovered within himself.   During high school and college, Mike had enjoyed many outdoor sports and activities.  Throughout his school years, he had spent his free time in competition with others or just challenging himself. He had even entertained passing his love of all his favorite activities on to others as an instructor. These thoughts were fleeting as he never seriously considered turning his recreational pastimes into a career.  He had pushed ahead with his more intellectual interests in political science and international affairs.  But now he revisited thoughts of this old passion that was still an integral part of his life.    Amy inquired how he made this big transition.  Mike said he began by looking to outdoor travel companies, outdoor education organizations and so forth.  This led him to the then Baltimore based Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School, conveniently close to Washington, D.C. where he lives.  The school had an administrative opening, so he applied, hoping to get his foot in the door.   Outward Bound is a non-profit, experiential education organization. It serves people of all ages and backgrounds by offering challenging outdoor programs of many types designed to inspire strength of character, leadership and service to others, both in and out of the classroom. This organization seemed like a perfect fit for Mike, and hopefully he would be able to have some direct interaction with the students who participated.    His interviewer (later his mentor and supervisor) called him and told him she could tell he really wanted to be an instructor, not an administrator.  Mike had to admit that was the case.   So, she offered to place him in an apprenticeship program that would teach him the basics he would need to begin as an instructor.  Mike accepted the offer, took a deep breath and resigned as an attorney.  Listen to him describe how this hugely difficult decision changed his life. He shares with listeners how he summoned the courage to reinvent his own personal narrative.    After four years as a field instructor, he is now the Associate Program Director of the Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School. He still gets out in the field with students and enjoys sharing his passion for nature and outdoor adventuring. He has some good advice to offer for those who might also struggle to make a major career change as he did. If you're on the career fence, listening to this podcast might just be time very well spent.   Topics in this episode:   How to face the tough questions   How avoidance and regret can catch up with you   Why to become proactive and how to go about it   Networking with people in the know   How to recognize what you can control and what you cannot   Worthy Quote: “I didn't want anyone's job there.  If I'm not striving, going for the next position, that means something's wrong. That was a red flag.”   Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-cox-82929970/   www.outwardbooundchesapeake.org  

As a teenager Tatia Gordon wanted to be a model.  She thought this might be her calling after she won some contests and landed a few jobs, but eventually the reality of the limitations of her 5 ft. 4 inch height sunk in.  Luckily she had a teacher who would not let her become discouraged.  Her teacher took a special interest in her, and Tatia credits her for inspiring and convincing her that she had potential in other areas.   Even so, Tatia's first year of college did not go well.  She felt overwhelmed and unprepared.  She dropped out for a year, and when she returned, she took only one or two courses at a time.  By the time she graduated, she had matured and gained the confidence needed to build an admirable 3.8 average.    She went to work as an accountant, as she had very little exposure to other career possibilities. An uncle, impressed by her grades, suggested she might consider going on to law school.  Tatia hadn't thought too much about a graduate degree yet, but this idea intrigued her.  She began researching, and within a year, she was accepted and enrolled at the University of Baltimore School of Law.   It was her time in law school that helped her discover her love of writing. How would she follow this path? She decided journalism classes might be in order, and rather than waiting until she finished law school, she signed up for some journalism courses at another college nearby.  She had been watching legal analysts on TV during the OJ Simpson trial and decided with a law degree and some journalism skills and practice, she too could stand before the cameras.  She managed to get as far as auditioning for Court TV, but when her husband was hesitant about pulling up stakes in Baltimore and moving to New York, she rethought her goals.   Tatia didn't give up on either journalism or law though.  Instead, she found a job as a reporter for the Daily Record, a legal paper in Baltimore.  There she was in charge of the legal beat and wrote newsletters. She put in 3 years at this work and gained a lot of skills including writing with deadlines to meet. The job also gave her the opportunity to interact with many movers and shakers.  It was at this time she met the influential Representative Elijah Cummings from Maryland's 7th District.  The congressman took a liking to her, and within a few short months of knowing him, he offered her a job as his press secretary in Washington, D.C.   She jumped at the chance for this new and exciting prospect.  She was constantly busy, but the job was disappointing in that she found she really didn't like politics.  But again, the work taught her many new skills and provided a helpful addition to her resume.    Tatia next moved on to a small law firm in Baltimore to practice law for the first time. The position reaffirmed for her that neither politics nor the practice of law truly were her forte.  She stayed for a couple of years before moving to an association for immigration attorneys, the American Immigration Lawyers Association. She wrote, edited, collaborated, proofread and did a myriad of other related tasks.  She helped grow the association through her work and spearheaded the efforts to publish the award winning, first-ever member magazine, Immigration Law Today.  She eventually became the Director and Senior Legal Editor. She also was the founder and publisher of Attorney at Law Magazine, an edition published for attorneys practicing in some of the Washington, D.C. suburbs.   Fifteen years passed and Tatia loved the work she was doing. But it occurred to her she might have found yet another fulfilling role to explore. She didn't pivot too far though, because she would still do what she loved. Tatia became an entrepreneur, starting her own publishing company with the goal of helping other attorneys self-publish.  Ramses House Publishing LLC has existed for over 6 years now. In her role she educates and guides attorneys who want to have their works published.  She offers assistance at any and every step of the publishing process. She also consults, calling on the experience she has gained, making organizations not only sustainable but also profitable.    Tatia has found her business very rewarding. She successfully managed to blend her law degree with her love of the written word. Her law school experience taught her how to think outside the box, and that skill has been invaluable to her every day.   She tells Amy she would advise anyone starting their own business to know what they are getting into.  “Running your own business is a 24/7 hustle,” she says. She suggests if you fall flat, it's because you didn't realize you have to do everything on your own. She works hard to nurture new professional relationships. She writes two regular columns on LinkedIn to reach out. You can find these on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. “The What Nots” which offers advice on what not to do if you want to be published.  The second column is “Behind the Book”.  Here she gives advice on the ins and outs of publishing, and serves up great food for thought.   Enjoy listening to this affable entrepreneur describe her climb to success by staying true to herself and making the very best of her innate talents.    Topics in this episode:   A law degree can prepare you for much more than practicing law   It's important when you own a business to steadily network and build relationships   Build on your often discounted “soft” skills too when you're deciding on a career   Find online resources that help you make connections with clients and others who are doing what you are   Always seek out new skills to develop in a job that you can carry forward to your next step     Links:   publishingforlawyers.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiagordontroy/ tatia@ramseshp.com  

We meet Dr. Therese Canares today, an extraordinary physician and entrepreneur.  Not only will she tell us about her current practice, but she will also explain how her medical career helped her pivot into a new role as the founder of an innovative AI product. She will demonstrate for listeners what is possible when motivation and great organizational skills come together. Therese is a pediatric emergency physician, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the founder and CEO of CurieDx, a new and exciting concept she is developing. But first, let's learn a little about her background. Therese was raised by a single mother who came to the U.S. from the Philippines. She credits both her mother and an aunt for providing lifelong inspiration.  They taught her a strong work ethic and the importance of achieving good grades.  Her mother, an architect and engineer, and her aunt, a physician, were the influential role models then who made sure she always had the support and guidance she needed. Their influence led her to choose medicine as her first career. Therese was a biology major as an undergrad at Penn State University.  After finishing in 2003, she took a year off before starting med school. She made the decision to defer because her boyfriend, now husband, survived the 9/11 attack on the twin towers in New York City. The time felt too traumatic to her to begin medical school studies, but she found other work to occupy her that was significant and would help her when she was able to return to academics.  Therese went to work in the lab of Dr. Henry Pollack, a pediatric infectious disease specialist.  While there, she assisted with his research.  The work was worthwhile and cemented her commitment to pediatrics. That experience was also helpful for her as she planned to resume her medical school application.   After acceptance at NYU, she spent nearly 10 years in preparation to become a physician.  She is currently at Johns Hopkins where she sees patients, teaches and continues research work.  She and her husband have two children, and as you will hear, she gives her husband much credit for being a true equal partner, and without whom, she would be unable to follow the career path that she has chosen.  So certainly Dr. Canares leads a busy life.  But like many other people doing complicated daily work, she saw possibilities and opportunities others might not recognize or consider. As a pediatrician and parent, this happened to Therese.  She realized there were times as a busy parent her child needed to be diagnosed by her own doctor, but it seemed difficult to get to the doctor's office when the need would arise.  Sometimes it was in the middle of the night.  Sometimes either she or her husband would have to squeeze the time from within their frequently long work schedules. And it seemed most times the needed visit was on very short notice.  Therese began to think about how to help solve this universal problem.  In doing so, she came up with CurieDx. CurieDx is a software platform which offers point of care medical tests from a picture you send from your cell phone.  But how did Therese get from her concept to a functioning website?  Although obviously capable in many ways, tackling the inception of an AI software platform was not something she thought she could successfully do with the skill set she had at the time.  But she felt passionately about her idea, and with the support of her husband, she decided to go back to school for an MBA so she could acquire the knowledge she knew she would need to move forward. You will hear her describe to Amy some of the many hurdles that came her way including gender bias, but in the end, she achieved her degree. She found a variety of benefits in the program, all of which gave her the knowledge and confidence she needed to move forward on her start up company. In her final month before completing the MBA program, she and her team took first prize in the Johns Hopkins Business Plan Competition. The prize has provided some seed money to get her idea going.   She explains her next step is to build the product and test the algorithms. With success there, she'll need to raise more funds. Her ultimate goal is to make her product available to every telehealth company that can use it.  What has she enjoyed about starting her own business? She tells us it's the “start to finish aspect” or closure that is achieved as she sees things through. She also likes the ability to think creatively while bringing organization to the chaos.  All in all, she is happy with her additional yet very busy career. Dr. Therese Canares is a model to follow for those overachievers out there.  She has la ot of irons in the fire and is thriving.  Here are some takeaways from her story today: Early influences are often the most important You are capable of more than you think and your talents can take you in more than one direction Biases are a reality. Choose how to deal with them before you encounter them so you can stay on track Self-care is vital to multitaskers and overlooking it can derail you A supportive partner makes all the difference   Links: Therese (Waltz) Canares, MD | LinkedIn curiedx.com

Today Amy takes a peek behind the curtain to learn the trick of pivoting from “almost famous” magician to keynote speaker, coach and workshop presenter. You will enjoy hearing Brian Miller tell his very unusual career story.   Brian comes from a family involved with music, math and science.  Those influences brought him, at the end of high school, to a decision to study rock guitar at a very prestigious school. He was delighted when he was accepted there, but shortly thereafter he realized the money spent for that education might never be returned through a career in music.  So as a 17 year-old, he made the sobering decision to enter a local college on a full scholarship as an audio engineering major.   During his freshman year, the music industry nearly collapsed with the advent of Napster and uncontrolled file sharing.  This brought Brian to reconsider his thoughts of continuing his major because a future in audio engineering was beginning to look bleak. He returned then his sophomore year with the intention of studying to be a math teacher.  Although he thought this might be a good fit, it wasn't, and by the time he finished his last undergrad year, he had earned a dual degree in math and philosophy.   What to do with this new degree?  He decided to go directly for a Ph.D in philosophy.  He applied and was accepted to the program he wanted. But Presto Chango! The would-be doctor of philosophy was now going to be a professional magician! What?   Brian had always been interested in magic, and as a kid, he often performed in magic shows. He had continued performing in college and was often tapped to entertain for college events. It was a sideline interest and hobby that occasionally brought in some spending money.  Listen to him explain to Amy how this major reversal on his career path took place.   But how do you become a professional magician?  Can someone really do that?  Brian detailed his process.  He had already developed a website and had business cards printed.  He began working for very little as an entertainer in restaurants ad each time he performed at a table, he handed out one of his business cards.  His earnings were hardly enough to live on, and he went through all his savings in no time.  Luckily his college Director of Student Activities had taken an interest in him, having put him on stage for several events during his undergrad years.  Through him, Brian was introduced to the owner of Neon Entertainment where he signed on. Little by little he began to be hired for more professional gigs.    A second lucky break occurred when he was in the right place at the right time and was hired by Foxwoods Resort Casino, one of the 2 largest casinos in North America.  He became their exclusive magician, and he hadn't been out of college a year yet. Over the following ten years, he became a better magician and “was about as successful as he could be without being famous.”  But in 2015, his career took another turn.   He had been performing at colleges and doing corporate events for some time, and this set him up for his transition from magician to public speaker. He began by giving a few speeches and incorporating a little of his magic in them.   He was somewhat surprised to see how much audiences loved his blended performances.  They lined up to thank him for his insightful presentations afterwards, and this was when the real magic happened.  Brian realized he was having a different kind of impact than he had when he performed solely as a magician. He found this extremely gratifying, enough so that he pursued even more speaking engagements.   At about this time, he was invited to give a TEDx talk.  He was hoping the video might get at least 5000 hits so that he could justify raising his fees a bit.  As it turned out, it received over 3.3 million views!   Why was his speech so successful? Brian listened to the presentations of other magicians and realized they were discussing topics that were generally of real interest only to other magicians.  He found himself thinking about what he could take from his magician's life to share with a general audience that would be of more consequence.  What he arrived at was “perspective taking”.  He explains to us what that is and what a valuable tool it can be for anyone if they learn how to use it properly.  As a magician, he had intuitively used perspective taking all through his life and now he was ready to share his insight through his speaking engagements. Thus, was born his speech, “How to Magically Connect with Anyone”. This speech explains the power of perspective taking and how it can help anyone who cares to use it.   His talks were so well received that at this point he became fully involved with public speaking.  But as his popularity grew, he began to feel inadequately prepared.  How could he be an “expert” without having done any formal research or learning?  He decided to remedy the situation by delving into the psychology behind what he was delivering in his presentations. He explored every avenue he could think of to gather data and proof of his assertions.  After a year or two immersing himself in the topic, he felt more qualified to speak authoritatively about “human connection”. His speaking engagements gradually then became his mainstay, dedicated to promoting the benefits of perspective taking to make meaningful human connections.   What advice does he have to share from his unusual career?  He says don't worry if you don't know what your passion is.  You will find it by putting yourself out there.  Meet new people, try new things. Take risks. Step out of the box. Yes, hard work, talent and persistence are vital, but a measure of luck is also involved. Open yourself up to opportunity.  Who knows what's in the cards for you?   Takeaways:   Risk taking is often rewarding but may also involve a lot of work   People skills can be improved and in turn can improve your life   Staying positive helps you to find and focus on the good in seemingly bad situations   Allow yourself to step outside the box   Networking is a skill that puts you at great advantage, so it pays to learn to network well   Prepare in school as best you can for the road you think you'll take, but don't be afraid to take a detour, as it may be the better road   Contact:   softskillsarehard.com   Podcast-Beyondnetworkingpodcast.com   https://www.linkedin.com/in/bmillermagic/

Xi Chen is the Founder and Designer of Sonderlier, a sustainable clothing brand offering women camera-ready clothing they could sleep in. Xi dreamed of fashion design since she was a little girl. Yet, no one around her worked in a creative capacity, so she initially pursued “more practical” careers. Likewise, she also did not have any entrepreneurial role models. She opted for a degree in mathematics, with intentions to transition into finance. By leveraging her unexpected experiences into her career as a fashion designer, Xi's story will inspire you to embrace your individual background to disrupt any industry.   However, like all great founding stories, Xi strayed from her initial path. When she came across industrial engineering, she knew this field was a strong match for her “optimization brain.” After graduation, she focused on how sustainable policies affected companies' supply chains. Xi earned her M.S. and PhD in industrial engineering at University of Minnesota. She also became an engineering professor at University of Michigan, Dearborn.    Despite enjoying teaching and researching in the industrial engineering field, Xi wanted a career immersed in creativity. She still thought about her life-long dream of becoming a fashion designer. After struggling for years to find clothes that would allow her to be comfortable yet still feel inspired and put-together, she discovered that many other women had the same problem. Specifically, she and her friends worked from home and felt like they had few occasions to wear their fancier clothing, other than her kitchen table. Yet, while they wanted to be comfortable, they still wanted to wear something that made them feel special, as opposed to sweats/athletic apparel. In 2019, she decided to fill this gap and finally pursue a career that would allow her to introduce herself as “Xi Chen, fashion designer.”   When starting and naming her company, Sonderlier, Xi stayed true to her motivations. She resonated with the word, “sonder,” meaning, the realization that everyone passing by has a life as vivid and as full as one's own. The name's root word pairs perfectly with Xi's vision, as she aimed to create apparel that draws attention to the every-day. With the suffix, “lier,” she included it to emphasize that “sonder” is her clothing line's guiding principle.   Xi has found that her background provides a unique perspective in her design. Channeling her industrial engineering “optimization brain,” she did not want to create apparel for the sake of designing, but rather, she intended her clothes to provide long-term multi-functional value to customers. With her passion for sustainability, Xi also noticed how much waste the fashion industry created, as pieces were only meant for certain occasions. She calls her designs “camera ready,” easily worn for an event, but that also functions as sleepwear or working attire. All materials used are certified eco-friendly. Driven by wanting to fight unethical approaches in the fashion industry, Xi partnered with a women-owned production company, where all the seamstresses are women and are paid a living wage.   She enjoys combining her love for fashion with a focus on functionality that allows the pieces to fit seamlessly into everyday life. In March 2021, Xi launched Sonderlier's first collection on Kickstarter, which was successfully funded in under 24 hours. Aligned with its mission to decrease waste, Sonderlier only fulfills orders that are placed. Following making prototypes, doing wear tests, and the Kickstarter campaign, the company is now producing its first line. She has also been featured on Nasdaq as a woman founder disrupting her industry.   Through Sonderlier, Xi hopes to create clothing that serves women's everyday wellbeing so that they feel beautiful and inspired whether it's a special event or a regular Tuesday. Let this “regular Tuesday” (or whatever day you listen) be one that creates a lasting impression on you. Xi's ability to combine her background in supply chain management with her passions for sustainability and fashion will encourage you to bring your full self to any sector you pursue. Topics covered in this episode: How a fashion designer really starts their career (it's not just drawing a design and getting someone to sew it) Advice on conducting an effective Kickstarter campaign  Xi's take on fashion's “million dollar question”-How Covid has/will transform the industry The importance of seeking out mentors in your field and to achieve specific goals, like starting a Kickstarter campaign from the ground up How two unlikely areas-sustainable policies and fashion-can pair together to reimagine an entire industry Why an unlikely career path to a new industry can enable you to be a changemaker

Goals. Drive. Adaptability. Passion. Follow through. To start your own business, especially if you are completely changing your career, you need to have a combination of all of the above qualities. Not only does Jamion Berry possess these qualities necessary for him to found the apparel start-up, Execumask, but as a multipreneur executing FIVE business pursuits amid a pandemic, he exemplifies each of these traits to the fullest.   Evident that these characteristics are innate to Jamion's personality, his story of doing whatever it takes to achieve his professional goals begins 20+ years ago. Classmates with host Amy Rowland, he graduated from the small liberal arts school, Kenyon College, with a degree in chemistry. He'd also always aspired to be an engineer. So, Jamion opted to do a partnership program with Washington University St. Louis's engineering department. He graduated with not one, but two—Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.   With his degrees in hand hand, Jamion did not hesitate to push himself out of his comfort zones to achieve his professional goals. When given the opportunity to gain experience with capital and process improvement projects as a project manager for Kraft Foods, he moved from the Midwest to Florida. His vibrant personality and interest in finding ways to “continuously improve” enabled him to excel in this role, in which he was traveling to and making recommendations to increase efficacy at Kraft's multiple southern plant locations. In line with making his dreams a reality, he networked with the right people to move up the corporate ladder as a continuous improvement lead engineer in Atlanta, a city where he'd always wanted to live. Jamion thrived finding ways to better Kraft products' efficiency, procurement, and quality. He especially enjoyed that in this role, he was able to travel globally, adapting to solve international plants' needs.    His drive for learning was not just confined to improving business practices, as he decided to pursue an Executive MBA at Emory University in 2013. Likewise, so that he could pursue his MBA while working full time in his management/engineering role, he needed to adapt his already driven self to leverage unprecedented levels of determination and eagerness. Simultaneously, Jamion also bought a condo and became a landlord/property manager. Despite how demanding it was to be a full-time student, manager, and landlord, Jamion reflects on his time at business school as “one of the best decisions [he] ever made.”    His commitment to personal growth paid off; shortly after graduating from Emory, Jamion received a call from McDonald's to join its executive team, located in Chicago. Jamion had always aspired to live in Chicago, but was only willing to make the move if he could afford to live in the city. As McDonald's new Director of Continuous Improvement, Jamion saw himself as a change agent, building the improvement program “from the ground up.” Between training 1000+ employees and working in Germany, he reflects very positively on this career step. However, it was also at this time that Jamion realized that after 20 years in corporate America, he was ready to transition to a career that allowed him to be his authentic self.    Driven to find a fulfilling career hallmarked by his happiness, Jamion left McDonald's in February 2020-a month before the pandemic. Through reflecting upon “what [he] wanted to focus on… and create,” Jamion realized that he could adapt his interest in men's fashion to fit a growing need in the apparel industry-luxury face masks to match custom pocket squares. With the encouragement of his peers and professional connections, as well as thorough research into the mask market, he founded Execumask. Where many Americans were deterred by the pandemic, he adapted to the situation, following through to become an entrepreneur. Execumask marked the beginning of Jamion's success in pivoting from 20 years in the food production industry to his new saga as a multipreneur.    Not one to settle, Jamion simultaneously pursued his dreams of owning/managing a luxury apartment building. Despite the obstacles in quitting his corporate job and applying for loans in a pandemic, he overcame the odds, opening his building in August 2020. From both not paying rent and garnering an income through his residential building, Jamion is investing in himself so that he can also accomplish his goals of being a public speaker. In mere months, his YouTube channel of motivational videos gained a large following, large enough that it caught the attention of a fellow Kenyon College graduate. She urged him to invest in himself by studying to become a life coach. Jamion is also in the preliminary stages of opening his own consulting firm.   Jamion's story is one of allowing yourself to rise to the occasion to achieve your professional goals. Be inspired by how, for his entire life, Jamion radiated positivity needed to persevere through challenges. The only move that makes sense for Jamion so that he can manifest his happiness and career aspirations. Having the courage to pursue five of your entrepreneurial goals at once? You will be encouraged by Jamion's resilience and energy in this episode to accomplish any (or all) of your ambitions.   A recurring theme in Jamion's interview is “creating your own life.” This episode will motivate you to shape an idea or aspiration you have into reality.   Topics in this episode: Advice on transforming your interests and/or hobbies into a career The importance of both leveraging connections to support your business pursuits, as well as in being open to new ideas or opportunities those in your network suggest How to fully observe/analyze a problem to then create a marketable solution A keen sense on problem solving to accomplish every step in developing a start-up Why visualizing and writing your goals out is key to achieving them How a multipreneur compartmentalizes his very busy day Seeking out relationships and pursuits that are rooted in appreciation

Fashionably Late is proud to release our Female Founder Series. Each week in April, Fashionably Late will feature a different female founder. From the tech space to the wellness industry, our four business leaders are eager to share their journey, advice, and fun personal tidbits. For our final episode in the series, we have She is the creator/founder of SoChill.io, “The world's first meditation and digital wellness platform focused on helping companies take an integrated approach to mindful leadership and corporate wellbeing.” Amy discusses with her the pivot she made from working in the international hospitality business to forming this innovative program focusing on mindfulness and meditation.   Although in her early career years Xochitl was involved with public relations and creating partnerships for luxury hotels, she was always offering meditation and mindfulness coaching on the side.  These methods are second nature to her as she grew up with them from childhood as a result of her parents' teaching and involvement with the techniques. She has also found inspiration over the years from more formal sources such as the writings of Deepak Chopra. She has continually attended seminars offered by many others influential in these anciently rooted practices too. Thus immersed, Xochitl began to formulate an idea that would take her away from the hotel industry and move her towards a new career encompassing her extensive knowledge and interest in mindfulness and meditation.   So, what did she come up with?  In essence, her platform focuses on assisting two groups.  First, it focuses on business leaders.  It educates them to the many benefits of integrating mindfulness into the culture of their companies and teaches them how to gain personally from engaging in mindful behavior.  SoChill.io can also work then with employee groups to carry through with infusing mindfulness habits within their daily work tasks and their lives outside of the office.   SoChill.io was born of the Covid 19 Pandemic.  Xochitl had written her business plan before the pandemic, but she was waiting for the opportune time to take action.  When the pandemic struck, it was the right moment to dust off the business plan and get to work.  The launch took place on July 1, 2020, and things have been busy since then as concern for mental health issues of employees has moved to the forefront of nearly every type of business.   She explains to Amy that the most difficult part of preparing for her launch was doing the necessary research.  She describes herself as impatient, but holding off for the right moment was obviously a good choice. She has lots of future plans for her company, but she's learned to unfold her ideas in a measured way. Her newest service will be unveiled 5/5/21, so watch the website for details!   Amy inquires about crossover skills she was able to transfer from her previous work.  Xochitl explains that although on the surface the two businesses don't have much in common, she did learn a lot in the hospitality field about public relations.  Marketing strategies might differ, but she had learned how to make effective cold calls, create brochures, write good promotional emails and develop a powerful website.  The biggest difference was starting everything from scratch as opposed to working for a well-oiled and established international brand.     What can a business gain from engaging with SoChill.io?  Leaders and employees will learn how to focus better and stress will be reduced.  People will find they are more resilient.  Ongoing surveys will help refine the personalization of the program for individuals and groups.  Xochitl uses the word “sculpted” to describe the process by which the program becomes highly individualized to each leader or group.   What advice can Xochitl give from the experience she's gained on her entrepreneurial journey? She tells us that establishing and being aware of your personal values is a crucial first step. Once you have these in mind, you can better put in place the values you want your company to support and advance.  You must have these values in mind as you write your business plan because they will guide decision making going forward.  “It's your company's DNA,” Xochitl says. She also reiterates the need for patience. Don't try to do everything at once. Timing is critical.    Xochitl Ivory gives us a very contemporary story to consider.  She is energetic, thoughtful, passionate and a risk taker.    Topics in this episode:   Getting to know yourself is important Why patience is invaluable The differences between mindfulness and meditation How can mindfulness benefit me? When is the right time to start your own business? What are some of the necessary steps in crafting a good business plan? What crossover skills can you put to work for you? What are the steps from concept to launch?   Links: https://sochill.io/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/xochitl-de-groot-ivory-10809794/    

Fashionably Late is proud to release our Female Founder Series. Each week in April, Fashionably Late will feature a different female founder. From the tech space to the wellness industry, our four business leaders are eager to share their journey, advice, and fun personal tidbits. This week we have Caroline McCaffery, Co-Founder & CEO Her story is one about following your passions, using them to drive your professional trajectory, and trusting yourself to transform your career at any point. Driven by her desire to constantly learn and solve problems, Caroline has met job, career, and industry shifts with an openness integral for her success of founding her own company. Her adaptability and excitement for online privacy, her company's sector, will empower you to take the risks necessary for finding professional fulfillment.    Starting her career when the .com bubble burst, Caroline has always been intrigued by and worked in the tech space. A lawyer by training, Caroline's first role as an attorney was at Gunderson Dettmer, a firm that works with startups in the tech and life sciences spaces. As a Corporate Securities Attorney, she aided startups with financing, often debt and equity, as well as mergers and acquisitions. Spending almost ten years with the firm, Caroline was able to get a lot of experience working with startups.    Excited and challenged by supporting startups, in 2011, Caroline transitioned into her first in-house role. Still eager to work in tech, she joined the marketing and advertising automation company, Sailthru. She notes that she started this position at a transition moment in the internet space, as big data emerged as the leading technology. As Sailthru processed online users' data, Caroline recognized a problem: how could users ensure how/if their digital information would be protected? Following her budding curiosity in data while still staying in her industry of expertise (tech), Caroline shifted her focus as an attorney to commercial and privacy.    These new interests in data security and privacy led her to seek another general counsel role at another tech start-up, Clarifai. She entered the AI facial recognition company in its early stages. She found her role morphing outside its job description, as she also supported the company's strategy and operations. By leveraging what she learned about startups while at a firm and as Sailthru's privacy-focused general counsel, as well as embracing her intuition and openness, Caroline became the VP of Business Affairs while retaining her General Counsel title.   Continuing to focus on privacy law while tackling unfamiliar strategy-based challenges as VP of Business Affairs gave her “a taste of the entrepreneurial side of [her]self.” As the “type of person who loves to constantly learn new things,” she recognized that new challenges and new opportunities to develop solutions fuel her drive.   In addition to expanding her hard skills while at Clarifai, Caroline also gained a much deeper understanding of AI and cybersecurity, contributing to her growing passion for technology and data privacy. From there, she developed a hunger to create tech to ameliorate issues affecting users' online protections. After meeting George Rosamond, her future co-founder and CTO, a conversation about anonymity online evolved into a problem they were determined to solve. The security questionnaires that companies send to potential vendors who process online information can 1000+ questions long, plaguing vendors. These are sent pre-sale and in some cases the vendor will spend hours to complete the questionnaire without even landing a sale!   Since she and George clearly identified the challenge they wanted to solve and through discussions, discovered potential software solutions, it seemed as if the natural next step would be to start their B2B SAAS company, ClearOPS. They even had large goals for ClearOPS working as a “wheel in the spokes” type of mode, in which their services can connect other businesses and ultimately improve privacy communications. George was ready to commit full-time to transition their idea into an executed product. But starting a business is never linear. For Caroline, first came her “professional identity crisis.”    Caroline wavered between staying at the job she loved, finding a new GC role, or following her dream to start ClearOPS. She asked, “Am I a lawyer? Am I capable of being a COO? .Or am I a founder?” As a lawyer, she is trained to circumvent risks. Pursuing a career marked by innumerous risks seemed like the choice to avoid. Even when she conducted extensive research to evaluate if there was a market for their security/privacy product- there was- she was still uncertain. Until one day at breakfast, she got the push needed to “take a leap of faith” to begin identifying as a founder.   Listen to Caroline's journey of founding and becoming ClearOPS CEO and you will realize that you do not have to be just one career label, as she constantly adapted to execute whatever work she wanted to get done. You will be motivated by how she and George completely pivoted their initial model after taking potential investors' “fair critical feedback.” Despite ClearOPS losing its biggest deal during the pandemic, as CEO, Caroline again adjusted to the circumstance, conducting business so that their company finished the year with a product on the market and multiple customers. ClearOPS' founding story is one of balancing the line between following your passions and adapting to meet the needs of your business, ever-evolving market, and customers' needs. Both Caroline and ClearOPS continue to meet goals, providing the team confidence that ClearOPS will be a central player in the growing privacy tech space.   A recurring theme in Caroline's narrative is that a passion for learning, then trying new things offers fulfillment and fuels success.   Topics covered in this episode:   Why it is in a startup's best interest to be proactive and hire a lawyer early Insight into evolutions within the internet space, including the emergence of big data and privacy  A lawyer's take on overcoming and managing risk The different lessons learned from working at a firm, as an in-house GC, and as a founder The importance of leaning on your support network and only taking “fair critical feedback” Why execution is more imperative than conjuring an idea    Links: https://www.clearops.io/

Fashionably Late is proud to release our Female Founder Series! Each week in April 2021, Fashionably Late will feature a female founder. From the tech space to the wellness industry, our four business leaders are eager to share their journey, advice, and fun personal tidbits. This week we have Susannah Bailin, Founder & CEO of AC-Health. She is an enthusiastic entrepreneur and a staunch supporter of women in the “second commencement” of their careers.  Susannah shares some great advice in this episode.   Susannah began her professional life after earning an MBA from Harvard Business School.  In fact, she set up her first business, RPC, in Harvard Square. She sought out angel funding and modeled her business plan after the successful Kaplan, Inc. educational preparation programs. Her business focused specifically on career development training. The company was successful with its students and also provided for Susannah's own development as an entrepreneur. She learned through trial and error how to manage a business and she did so until selling it 6 years later.   While deliberating on her next career move, Susannah provided career counseling, and sat on several nonprofit boards which focused on concerns such as fundraising, literacy and women's health issues.  She had learned that she loved being a problem-solver and she liked being her own boss as well.  After a period of time, she made the decision to return to the for-profit world, and so she began collecting her ideas and doing research.    As she considered what she would do, she sought out advice and opinions from others. During this time, she experienced a very painful physical condition. Her shoulders were “frozen”.  This impediment actually helped prompt an idea, and she began to gather input. Eventually she found that she, as well as many she interviewed, were often frustrated with the “follow through” aspect of their caregivers' treatment plans. She learned many people don't follow the advice, exercises or other post-treatment directives given because to keep track of the instructions was sometimes cumbersome or confusing. Rather than try to get clarification, many people just ignored what their caregiver had instructed. Susannah saw a problem and began work on a solution.   What she came up with is now AC-Health, a digital platform that customizes a patient's follow up instructions and helps him or her to achieve the treatment goals set by caregivers. No more looking for loose sheets of paper that may or may not make it home!  Patients can see live demonstrations of the exercises they are to do and they don't have to fidget through a lengthy menu to find what they need.  Patients easily retrieve customized, live and recorded videos from their trusted provider as well as behavioral motivation and rewards to redefine their engagement. Trust, Easy Access and Rewards!   As an entrepreneur, Susannah finds fulfillment in several of ways.  She says entrepreneurship goes to her core values.  She values creativity, those things new or novel, and she loves to problem solve.  She is fascinated by how technology can be used as well.  Her work offers her all of this, and more.   Her experience has taught her that an entrepreneur has to deal with the limits encountered for  many needed initial resources.  Of course, your financial resources and ability to raise funding are major primary concerns. You are also limited by your own implicit biases.  You can't understand or immediately take in the perceptions of others, so you must seek those perceptions out in order to study and address them.   Susannah was initially helped by angel investors when she started out and now she's become one herself.  She has an interest in helping other women entrepreneurs and angel investing has given her the opportunity she sought to encourage and help other women who want to begin their own businesses.   On the topic of the Covid health crisis, Susannah explains that the pandemic has unintentionally advanced telehealth.  Patients have been forced to become more familiar with using computers in order to interact with their caregivers.  This has pushed the fledgling telehealth field ahead by ten years, Susannah estimates.    Susannah has good advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.  Start a new business?  Yes!  Start now, she says, but you must do your research, and this could take some time so make sure to allow for it in planning.  Spend wisely.  Susannah learned this through her own experience.  If need be, start your business as a side hustle.  She also says to put your focus into making a quality product, not into making money at the start.  It will pay off in the long run.    As for AC-Health, Susannah says her future will be in strengthening its offerings in occupational and physical therapies.  She wants to continue to emphasize user involvement and engagement.      Topics in this episode: Why you need to identify your core values before starting a business; How your career focus in the first part of your work years can change radically in the second part Methods to determine what kind of business you want to start How to equip yourself to start a successful business Why you have to study implicit biases carefully How to thoughtfully strategize for success. Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susannahrabbbailin/ https://ac-health.com/ susannah.bailin@ac-health.com

Fashionably Late is proud to release our Female Founder Series! Each week in April 2021, Fashionably Late will feature a female founder. From the tech space to the wellness industry, our four business leaders are eager to share their journey, advice, and fun personal tidbits. This week we have Alexandra Zatarain from Eight Sleep.   Identify a problem. Develop a solution. Sell that solution. This is the roadmap for many startups and budding entrepreneurs, including for Alexandra Zatarain. Co-Founder and VP of Brand and Marketing for the pioneering mattress company, Alexandra explains just how intricate, scientific, and collaborative the process was in founding her start-up, as well as in establishing its trajectory for long-term success.   Nearly a decade ago, Alexandra's husband and soon-to-be co-founder and CEO of Eight Sleep, Matteo Franceschetti, struggled with sleep to the extent that it was beginning to impact him. Looking into the sector for relief, Matteo discovered there were three options for helping with sleep: mattress companies, sleep trackers, and pharmaceuticals. Both having worked for tech startups, the couple identified the need for a product that used innovative technology to actively improve sleep. Thus, the idea for Eight Sleep, the world's first sleep fitness company, was born! Eager to utilize her background in marketing/PR, Alexandra left her job at a successful fintech startup to be “all-in” in founding the tech-based mattress company.    Driven by their fundamental belief that technology is key for improving sleep, Alexandra and Matteo set out to develop their general concept into a tangible effective product. The first step included moving to San Francisco to join their cofounder and Chief Technical Officer, Massimo “Max” Bassi. The team faced their first challenge: they were creating a “smart mattress cover,” a product that was the first of its kind.    Once they set up their office- an apartment full of desks- Alexandra believed it was most important to validate that people besides her husband desired their tech-based sleep product. She dedicated months to inviting “everyone they knew in San Francisco” to view a prototype and share their sleep experiences. Alexandra used this data about most pressing issues regarding sleep, as well as information about sleeping environments, to completely inform their product design and eventual crowdfunding campaign. Likewise, she spoke to sleep experts/medical professionals, ultimately leading them to develop technology that regulates biometrics including a sleeper's temperature, heart rate, humidity etc.   The thorough research in learning about the sleep problem, who was affected, and the contributing factors proved vital when the team launched their Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign in 2015. Alexandra employed her marketing/pr experiences to Eight Sleep, spending 5-6 months connecting with potential customers and working entirely on the campaign. She found that consumers resonated with her startup's two-fold approach in personalizing and improving sleep through tech, as well as tracking data so someone can make individual changes to achieve sleep fitness. The campaign was extremely successful, raising over $1.2M.    Both the original model, the smart mattress cover, and their latest mattress, The Pod, have redefined the sleep market. Since 2015, 30,000+ restless sleepers have relied on Eight Sleep. This immense popularity has led to the company securing over $65M in venture funding. Alexandra's leadership in helping Eight Sleep reach these achievements did not go unnoticed, as in 2017, she was named as one of Forbes's 30 Under 30 in Consumer Technology.    Listen to her describe the most valuable lessons she has learned on her continuous journey as a co-founder, including how she balances working with her business and life partner, Matteo. You will be motivated by her thoroughness, especially in how it enabled her to accomplish Eight Sleep's goals during the pandemic, despite difficult challenges, including layoffs. Few companies can say they supported their staff and adapted their business plans to accomplish their best year in revenue in 2020 and are already rehiring employees. More so, Alexandra has no plans for stagnating Eight Sleep. Hearing how she envisions continuing to disrupt the sleep and tech industries by transforming their technology to detect preventative health signs will help you understand how to pilot and grow your startup.    A recurring theme in Alexandra's interview is that you have to be “all in” in order to surpass your goals; get ready to be “all-in” for this informative, down-to-earth, and refreshing episode.   Topics covered in this episode:   How to market new revolutionary products/innovations in an already robust market The importance of validation from prospective customers before developing a product, and how to attain this necessary step The significance of mental health and self-reflection for a founder What it's like to start a company with co-founders, especially when one is your spouse Why it's beneficial not to have a “plan-B” and why your ideas should always be ambitious   Links: https://www.eightsleep.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrazatarain/

Today you'll meet audacious Austin Kaiser. Austin is not following a career path, he's forging one. He is a media pioneer. You will be fascinated by his creative, synergistic thinking and how that thinking is helping him carve a niche that spans current media and artistic endeavors of every sort.   Austin began his journey at Rutgers University. He majored in economics and environmental science. Both areas interested him but he found he was not passionately driven to pursue either, so he made his first pivot before he even had a career. At the end of his junior year, Austin decided he needed to find quickly what he was truly meant to do.   He and his housemates spent a lot of time watching YouTube and visiting many other popular media sites. Austin was very enthusiastic about social media and began to think that maybe this was the path his career should take. As he considered the possibility, it occurred to him that every major company and the smaller ones as well, were hiring media managers to advance their products effectively on sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. He began to shape a plan to make his way into the social media world.   During his senior year, many of his friends were taking internships, hoping to segue effectively into their respective careers. Austin decided to do the same. Unfortunately, none of the major social media sites seemed to be offering media manager internships as the field was so new. Not to be daunted, Austin created his own internship by making contact with popular YouTubers offering his volunteer services. He became familiar with as many tasks as he could that a media manager might encounter. For example, he ran surveys, collected memes and was a willing gopher. He was building a unique resume targeted at a market which he knew had already or soon would have, positions for someone with his unique background.   His diligence paid off. Austin landed his dream job. He was hired by Complex Magazine in his first media manager position. He loved it. He says it changed his life as he then knew this was exactly the kind of work he wanted to do. How is it then that he only stayed with the magazine for 9 months?   He decided he didn't know enough. He began reading everything he could to bring himself up to speed. His scope continued to widen as he realized the concept of “media” was far greater than he realized. He was not only learning from the content he was devouring, but he was also observing how the authors wrote. As he continued to educate himself, Austin says he was increasingly enthralled with writing and the power it has. Cue the pivot.   While at work, he became curious about anything that caught on and went viral. Why do some things take off and become instantly popular? As he considered that, he says he realized he was asking a “golden goose “ question. He was so curious about this that it prompted his big pivot. He exited his great job to work full time researching and writing a book exploring viral ideas from past to present. He thought this might very well be the opportunity to be one of the first to write about this 21st century topic.   Luckily, his parents remained supportive, and he moved back home so he could tackle his writing and research full time. Amy was curious as to why he didn't keep his job and work on the book in his free time. Austin says he needed to be fully immersed in the writing in order to produce the outcome he wanted. His efforts took 25 months and became much broader in scope than he originally anticipated. When he finished, he self-published Putting Wings on Ideas.   He wanted to say even more than he did in that first book, so he wrote yet a second and a third. (He has now been writing for 5 years.) But he realized all of his work would probably go unnoticed if he didn't develop a following. Who better than a social media expert to advance that? Thus, he opened an Instagram account called Advice for Artists where he currently has a whopping 30,000 followers.   Artists and talent of all types interact with him and each other on Advice for Artists. Austin gathers inspiration from them all, he says. He now also has a newsletter that comes out each Saturday, and his next big venture is a digital magazine called Artfest, a compilation of contributions from his myriad Instagram followers. Eventually, if it's successful, there will be a $10 charge for the magazine with its over 5 hours of creative content, and artists will be paid while helping to support each other. Austin Kaiser sparks creativity from his daily interactions with artistic people from every field. His passion and enthusiasm for his own creative work and the managing of his Instagram community is obvious and infectious. You will enjoy listening to a genuinely excited Austin Kaiser explain how he is creating a 21st century career path for himself and others who will follow. Topics in this episode: Inspirational Quote: “Everybody in their life uses creativity. The artistic process is relatable for everybody.” Find something that inspires you to jump in with both feet How art is important to daily life and how to promote it How passion creates persistence; How to develop media followers How and why you can be fearless and create real meaning in your career life Links:www.artfest.com Instagram: Advice for Artists Putting Wings On Ideas: How Content Travels And Becomes Popular: Kaiser, Austin: 9798618288507: Amazon.com: Books Feel Free To Feel Free: Secrets Of The Universe Condensed Into Clever One-Liners: Kaiser, Austin: 9781702639347: Amazon.com: Books

Anu Chadha is a delightfully upbeat entrepreneur who sits down with Amy to discuss her most remarkable life and career. Her message of empowerment and positivity and her indomitable “can do” attitude will leave you inspired.   Anu attended school in the northern part of India at Sacred Heart College where she studied psychology and English. When she finished there, she was just 18 1/2 years old and wasn't sure what she might be able to do with the education she had received to that point. She decided to go to Delhi. There she took a 9 month secretarial course to prepare her for a what seemed to an inexperienced young Anu to be a practical job. It was the late 70's, and she was still thinking about what direction she might take with her life when her parents intervened.   She was then nearly 20, and in her culture, it was time for her to marry. After a short two-month courtship, it was arranged she would be wed to a man from a well-to-do family. Her brief courtship and social mores disallowed her from learning much about her fiancé prior to their vows. This was unfortunate. He turned out to be an alcoholic and prone to violent outbursts. She endured 12 years with him in all, but because she by then had two young daughters, she felt she couldn't leave the abusive situation. Intimidated by her husband and his parents, she stayed in the union until she finally found the courage to take her children and return to her parents. Although she didn't know how they would react, she determined through prayer that she would go and ask for their help.   She found they were supportive, and they took in the family of 3. They advised her to find work and they would look after the children. She was ready and willing to do this, but she still had no past work experience to show. Luckily a member of her extended family ran a textile business, so she went there, not knowing what she could possibly do. Undaunted, for 6 months she was a focused observer. She also made friends with the buyers and the customers during this learning period. Her knowledge of English was very helpful, but her genuine and friendly approach proved her greatest asset.   She continued eagerly to demonstrate she was up to any work assigned to her. She set about cementing that impression in the minds of everyone she interacted with. She made herself indispensable, and little by little, she learned the textile business from top to bottom. As her confidence grew, and she proved her value to the business, she knew what she wanted her permanent assignment to be. She wanted to travel overseas as the business' product representative. She had not only proven her worth to the company by then, but she also had proven it to herself.   In 2004, Anu made her first career pivot. The company was moving the plant to the outskirts of town. This involved a 2 hour commute each way on public transport for her. Anu would rarely see her children if she stayed on. As she thought about what to do, fate once more stepped in to guide her. As always, the universe had her back. She was in Delhi for work when she met a Danish man, also in the textile business. He told her he was looking for someone to help him expand his company in India. She took this as a much-needed sign and gladly agreed to this big new job which involved going out on her own. For 2 years she worked with him and after that time, he told her he was having health issues. He said he needed to retire and intended slowly to shut down his business. Again, Anu faced a dilemma. What would she do now?   In January 2004, she was on a business trip to Norway. She happened into a shop and saw some exceptional Indian made merchandise there. She bought a few samples, and decided she wanted to make contact with the buyer who had sold the items to the shop. The salesperson gave her the number, and the next day she was able to make the contact. As Anu explained who she was and her interest in the samples, she discovered the person on the other end of the line was someone she had worked with for over a decade at her first job. Fortuitously, that phone meeting began a whole new association and the growth of Anu's business.   That business today, 3A Clothing Company, is housed in a 12,000 square foot factory where Anu hires and mentors her many female factory workers. She and her company have won numerous awards for their ethical practices and leadership in the fashion industry. Anu is a sought after speaker and shares her philosophy liberally with Amy throughout today's discussion. Most remarkable in Anu's story is that she built her business without any help. She will convince you that you can also meet your goals with some simple practices. Her incredible work ethic, grit and belief in karma make this an interesting and inspiring story that will help inspire you in your career journey.     Topics in this episode: How to make the most of on the job training How you empower others along the way and how those efforts later return to you The critical importance of building a networking habit How determination and positivity will drive your towards your goal Using meditation to stay balanced Inspirational Quote: “Don't be jealous of the success of others. It destroys you. Be happy for others, but in your heart say, ‘I want you to do well, but I want to do it better.'” Links: 3Aclothing – 3Aclothing

Meet Robert Read, a scientist who volunteers his expertise and his time for the greater good. His career didn't start out that way, but we learn today how he made the pivot from a world where patents and profits are the goal, to satisfying work creating and promoting inventions meant to serve mankind rather than a corporate culture.   Rob attended college at Rice University in Houston, Texas. His intention was to major in physics, but he eventually found computer science a better fit. During those early years, he was inspired by the 1981 Buckminster Fuller book, Critical Path. Those who have read it will hear some of its precepts loud and clear in Rob's career story.   Rob was busy raising and supporting a family as he prepared to enter the University of Texas to pursue a Ph.D. in computer science. His thoughts, of course, turned to what he wanted to do when he finished. He considered academia and research so he might explore theoretical work. His time at U Texas was teaching him that unlike many or his peers, his goal was not to become rich and/or famous. He was interested in finding positive solutions through science to benefit all of society without an emphasis on money or notoriety.   After he finished his degree at Texas, he took an altogether different direction. He decided he would like to have a business of his own. Unfortunately, this didn't work out. Still raising a family and needing a solid occupation, he turned to standard “.com” jobs. After a series of these, he again tried creating his own business, just to meet with the same results he previously experienced. He was now 15 years into his career and tired of pivoting, but he had not yet found his niche.   Fortunately, at this point, he learned of the Presidential Innovation Fellowship Program. He applied and won the fellowship which took him to Washington, D.C. He thoroughly enjoyed being an innovator for the federal government for 6 months. He found his work highly motivating because what he was doing had a lot of positive human impact. He was asked to stay on, and for 18 additional months he started a tech innovator-incubator program. He found this work to be enjoyable and it built his confidence. This entire period had helped to awaken his earlier desire to use science to benefit humanity rather than “making rich people richer,” as he says.   Buoyed by new self-confidence and a greater certainty about his direction, Rob began his non-profit organization, Public Invention. Amy asks Rob to tell us the differences between his nonprofit and those profit-oriented businesses he worked for previously. It is at this point in the conversation that the listener will understand how truly unique Rob's work is. His organization is the antithesis of the pressure, profit and patent driven companies of the world. Instead, he and the volunteer scientists and inventors strive to create designs that may be freely used by everyone. The culture of the workplace (pre-pandemic), is strikingly different as you might imagine. He also shares a bit about the tester Public Invention created to evaluate ventilators for use during the pandemic. It is fascinating to hear the process they followed in order to bring this item to speedy completion.   His work at Public Invention has fulfilled Rob. He finds great joy in encouraging and assisting others to help mankind. He spends his days now reaching out and involving himself with projects of other like-minded individuals. His time is spent Zoom conferencing since the pandemic, but he still does hands -work. He tells us there is a big difference in leading people who are being told what to produce as opposed to leading those who are following their own passion and creating their vision.   Topics in this episode: Don't hold back. Find the courage to move forward sooner rather than later How to swim successfully against convention How making a start on your project will eventually draw help, support and allies Why it's ok if you don't succeed but it isn't ok not to try How synergy surrounds creative energy and why that's important to personal fulfillment and continued success How to avoid being paralyzed by perfectionism Links: pubinv.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-read-878987/

Amy sits down today with Kirsten Beske. Kirsten does a deep pivot not matched by many of Amy's previous guests. Follow how she builds a skill set that allows her to make a big career move that fulfills her and takes her in both new professional and life directions. Kirsten was a government major at Harvard. She had a real desire to understand how cultures and societies have come to be and what makes them tick. She pursued this field until graduation when she thought about going to law school. Not yet fully committed, she decided to defer studies for a while to get some hands on experience. Fresh out of Harvard, she went to work as a paralegal for a small Boston law firm. She immensely enjoyed the experience as it introduced her to litigation. Kirsten is a highly competitive individual. She played tennis at Harvard, and she had learned there how much she likes to win. Litigation seemed like a natural choice for her, and so she locked in her intention to go to law school. Following her time as a paralegal, she took off with a friend for Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for a year. Besides skiing, she waitressed and found a love for nature and the mountains. She applied for law school following her Wyoming adventure and ended up somewhat regretfully heading back east and to city living at Boston University School of Law. Law school was challenging for Kirsten. As a quick study, she found embracing critical thinking somewhat laborious, but it helped her further clarify her professional goals. She enjoyed the competition of moot court and that too confirmed her desire to be a “hands on” attorney. Eventually her law degree led her to her first position at the large Boston firm of Peabody and Arnold. For 3 years she had a “dream job” at the elite law office. She had everything she had worked hard for, yet there seemed to be something more she was seeking. When her husband, a corporate attorney, wanted to follow a desirable opportunity in Vermont, Kirsten thought this might be fate moving her toward that something more that had so far eluded her. Vermont and Massachusetts did not have bar reciprocity, so for their first year in Brattleboro, Vermont, Kirsten made a commute to Springfield, Massachusetts to practice there. Eventually, her husband's Vermont firm needed a litigator, and Kirsten had gained the needed credentials by then to join him at his firm. Kirsten's ability to learn quickly kept her in good stead, and she became a partner. Again, she had achieved what would seem to most to be an ideal career. But there was more in store. This was the point in their lives when Kirsten and her husband decided to begin their family. With typical enthusiasm, Kirsten looked forward to taking on the additional new role, but she was not truly prepared for what was to come. First her daughter was born after a difficult pregnancy and was diagnosed with serious issues at just three weeks old. Caring for a sick infant was exhausting, especially with a work role that demanded so much focus. Kirsten was having trouble managing and was completely overwhelmed when she became pregnant with her son, who was born three months prematurely. He weighed a little over a pound and had complications. It was during the time period following 9/11/01 as well. Thoughts of protecting and nurturing her fragile children in the world after that event pushed her to reframe her thinking. With all she had been through, she had lost her enthusiasm for litigation. Her focus turned more to social justice issues more often at that point. Her growing questions and concerns sent her in search of a life coach. It was then that she accepted she didn't have to continue to be an attorney. She received “permission” to move in a different direction to find career fulfillment that was compatible with the attitudes and beliefs she had finally let come to the surface. She formed a plan. It was one that would send her back to school yet another time. With thoughts of being a psychotherapist, she began a master's degree program in psychology so she could work one on one with people. She was successful with this, and so she thought she wanted to help others who had faced the desire to make a big career pivot as she had. She began a coaching business while still seeing individual psychotherapy patients. She attained a certificate in positive psychology with its emphasis on helping healthier individuals learn to thrive and “uplevel”. By the time she received her coaching certificate, she had moved from her law career to her practice as a psychotherapist, and then on to mindset coaching. Her business today has two arms: one in which she works with individuals, and the other where she helps businesses create positive work environments. She's planning to open a third concentration later this year focusing on groups. Topics in this episode: Recognize that discomfort is the first stage of change How to decide if making a pivot is feasible How to choose and enhance self-discovery The need for value clarification and how to go about it Links: www.apropositive.com; https://ww.facebook.com/groups/youbecomingboundless Kirsten Beske | LinkedIn

Erika Parker Price has a story which will sound familiar to those who have a major employment gap in their resumes and have experienced the resulting fallout. She speaks to how determination and focus helped her recoup her long-term goal to be with a cutting edge tech company after leaving the workforce for 13 years.   Erika received her bachelor's degree from Santa Clara University in business administration. She later earned an MBA from Washington State University Vancouver. Her first job after undergraduate school was working on the sales floor at Nordstrom's. After a year, she landed an entry-level position with inside sales at Microsoft. She was promoted to marketing manager as she increased her responsibilities and knowledge base. At this point she married, and that decision, would influence the direction of her career. Her husband was studying to be a physician and it became necessary to relocate in order for him to continue his studies. She pitched a remote working situation to her Microsoft supervisor who favored the proposal, but unfortunately, the supervisor's superior was not so enthusiastic. Faced with the dilemma this presented, Erika left Microsoft in 1995 after a productive and successful 3 year stint.   Eventually she landed a position as a product manager at Symantec where she stayed for a year and a half before a better opportunity came along at Intel. There she and her team managed the top 500 solution providers in North America. Eventually she transitioned to Intel's inside program where she promoted most of their major products. At this point she was working remotely from Nebraska while her team was based in Oregon. Of course, this necessitated a lot of travel for her. She also had two young children by this time, and they were only two years apart in age. Erika's plate began to overflow with her family and work responsibilities. The family moved yet once more to Seattle as her husband was now practicing cardiology there. Erika was stressed, overwhelmed and feeling like she wasn't doing a good job at work or being a mom. It was at this juncture she decided to step back and take some time off to destress and sort things out.   When she made her decision to separate from Intel, she had no plan. Slowly though her life and career came together to follow a new course. She soon realized her career outside the home was not over. It was just on pause. Although Erika left employment, she didn't stop working. She had always wanted to have a podcast, so she made that happen. (Check it out: Ready Pause Go) She did a variety of other things from home too including writing children's books and blogging, as well as starting her own marketing business. As it happened, she did marketing for a friend with a construction company and handled that business for a couple of years. This job, along with her podcast, became her work focus. Eventually she worked for the contractor full-time and put a lot of energy too into producing dynamic, relevant podcasts.   During the period of 13 years at home, her kids grew while her desire to return to the tech world remained. After much effort, she was able to break back in by jumping over lots of hurdles, some of which she'll describe. And this is what is so special about Erika's story. She will share with you how there was power to be had in that lengthy hiatus she took. She will explain how if you choose to leave the marketplace for a period of time, you can continue your professional growth and develop additional marketable skills. It doesn't have to be all or nothing.   One year ago, Erika rejoined Microsoft. Her own inspirational podcasts continue to be her side gig. Listen as she shares her journey with Amy, and if you are entering into, or are in the midst of a resume gap situation, perhaps you will gain some helpful insight today. Topics in this episode: Realize that a resume gap is often a bigger deal to you than it is to a potential employer How to find ways to keep up to speed How to network and why it's important When to start your own business if that's your goal How you can turn frequent job moves and travel into a plus   Links: Erika Parker Price | LinkedIn About | Ready Pause Go

Luke Tonge studied graphic design at Falmouth University in Cornwall, England. He completed his studies in 2007, and he assumed he would find a good position immediately, but it didn't happen that way. Even though he had written many letters of inquiry to design agencies, it wasn't until a coworker at his hopefully temporary job at Woolworth's offered to help him. She said her ex-husband was in graphic design and she could ask him to give special consideration to Luke's CV at his agency. This kindness led to Luke's first position as a graphic designer. Networking does pay off!   Luke was enthusiastic as he took on his first professional graphic design job. The agency was somewhat overwhelming as it was large and Luke was assigned many tasks which, as a neophyte, he had not expected to encounter. But the exposure to the firm's many artistic endeavors gave him varied experiences that helped him narrow and refine his true design interests. It was in this way that he found he retained his youthful desire to work with poster and magazine design.   In order to do that sort of work, Luke began seeking side gigs. After three years or so of balancing his agency position with his outside work, Luke was ready to pivot. Not yet ready to go out on his own, he decided to change jobs. Not only did he move from one employer to another, but he also changed his bachelor status to that of married man. In doing so, he relocated to Birmingham. He was hired by another large agency which was similar in many ways to his previous firm. He continued though to expand his personal portfolio and his favorable reputation. His side work had also become more lucrative. But now the longer Luke stayed with the agency business, the more he realized his desire to work independently. Sometime during his seventh year at the Birmingham firm he determined the time had come to strike out on his own. Ten years at two large design agencies gave him the confidence to know he was capable.   Fortuitously on his final day with the Birmingham agency, he was offered a part-time visiting position at Birmingham City University. Although he had planned well and felt he could manage financially in his own fledgling business, the teaching job would provide a steady income stream to count on regularly. This reassurance prompted him to accept the offered position, though the idea of the act of teaching was daunting to him.   What followed was surprisingly fulfilling. After his initial tentative efforts, Luke found he enjoyed the type of interactions he had with students and faculty at Birmingham City University. He discovered teaching and consulting there to be rewarding. His new, independent freelance business was doing well too. His days were full, but now a third appealing opportunity presented itself. He became part of a team promoting, directing and encouraging art and cultural events in Birmingham and the surrounding areas. This work tied in readily with his professional projects as well as his educational duties at Birmingham City University.   How does he manage these three demanding facets to his career? He says it's a constant balancing act, and he shares with Amy some of the habits needed to keep everything running smoothly. He describes himself as a “funlancer” rather than a “freelancer”. He believes that if you are following your passion, you will experience joy in your work. He is glad to share his thoughts on this with groups and individuals, and consequently Luke is often sought out as a speaker. He shares some of his career advice with Amy today, and you will want to listen to his story for some good tips if you're considering freelancing yourself.   Topics in this episode: How networking proves vital and why you must “put yourself out there” How to build a case to yourself for a pivot out on your own Don't disqualify yourself if asked if you are able do something How you can establish balance and boundaries Honing organizational skills and time management tips is essential How to prepare to take on work you may not want or like to do in order to advance How to plan your freelance work in order to maximize success Plan, think, and plan some more Links: luketonge.com Luke Tonge | LinkedIn @luketonge on all social platforms

Today we'll meet Sheila Murphy. Sheila always wanted to be a lawyer. As Sheila approached her college years, she elected to attend Binghamton University. She completed her coursework early there, so she worked for a year before starting at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. After earning her JD, she was ready to meet her early vocational goal. She was now an attorney.   Sheila went to work for the firm of Thacher, Proffitt and Wood, and with much consternation, became a litigator for them. She had a fear of public speaking and was certain she didn't belong in the position, but she decided she had to give it a shot. To her surprise and relief, she became increasingly better at the work as time went on. Her successes gave her a new confidence and maturity, and she enjoyed her career at the firm until it was time for a change when she and her husband began their family.   Thus, Sheila's first professional pivot came after the birth of her child. Though she loved her work, she found herself looking for another position that might be more accommodating to her family needs. She had established a sizable professional network, and she began searching out leads for an opportunity to take her career in the new direction she wanted. She found that opportunity at MetLife. There she worked again in litigation along with business advising and some oversight of regulatory attorneys. Her years there were both happy and fruitful as she once more gained great experience and learned from the work she did.   It was during these years that Sheila had a realization and epiphany that made a huge difference to her career. Listen as she recounts to Amy what occurred and how that event caused her to assert herself in her work and thus move forward professionally.   She spent many happy years there, but she began thinking about what she should do next. As she thought over her idea of a bold move, she began what she calls an “interview tour”. She networked with knowledgeable individuals to gain clarity and insight into her possibilities. She did a verbal needs assessment to see where her skills might best serve. Then she pondered the “what ifs”. “What if I decide to do this? How would I go about it?” She refined her list of possibilities and made the decision that she wanted to continue to work with other attorneys. She tested her business concepts on many of them and they gave her great feedback. Eventually she was ready to resign from MetLife and become her own boss with her own business.   Her business now focuses on working with two groups. The first group is comprised of women attempting to gain control over their careers. She helps them find their way to the next level and/or develop their own book of business. The second group is made up of business professionals who are not lawyers. They gain guidance on climbing their own career ladders and navigating the corporate climate. In her new role as a career coach, consultant and advisor, she is helping professionals shortcut those hurdles she maneuvered. She works to help her clients find their own path to forging the careers that they deserve. Though her life remains full of challenges, she says her happiness is now “through the roof”.   Topics in this episode: Methods for attracting clients to your business How to meticulously build career and business models How good networking strategies enhance a career How to plan for a successful outcome How self-evaluation is an important first step Why careful financial planning is essential before starting a business   Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheilamurphyfocusforward/ focus-forward-consulting.com

Today Amy interviews David “Rev” Ciancio. This quick-paced episode is going to introduce you to a man who so far has gone from a motivated college radio station manager to a restaurant marketing guru and media influencer with 650,000 Instagram followers. Pay attention to how his ability to evaluate himself honestly has taken him far. His passion and energy will inspire you to get up and get going with your own career ASAP. “Rev” as he's known, went to Michigan State University and majored in communication and media studies as well as telecommunications and sociology. To make his parents happy he earned his degree, but his real desire was to be a DJ. He found a job at Michigan State's East Lansing radio station and by the time he finished school, he was the station manager. He loved music so in 1996 after graduating, he began to work for another local Michigan station. He only stayed there four weeks realizing that working weekend nights for little pay was not what he wanted in a career. He still enjoyed an appetite for the music business, so he found a job on the east coast promoting records for college radio stations. Eventually this led to interesting and fun employment with rock bands. He promoted and managed many of them over a period of 9 years or so, and was successful. Eventually he co-owned an agency with some like-minded friends. Over this period, he learned the recipe for steering bands to success. He tells Amy that successful talent learns and understands the business component of the music industry. After this long stretch of time, Rev made a decision. He knew he was not providing value at the level he wanted to since he could not always teach talent the concepts that were necessary for them to absorb in order to be successful. After some introspection, he realized it was time for another career pivot. All along his career journey, Rev had kept his hands in several different businesses. He and some friends from the music business shared ownership in a New York establishment, and after shuttering the music promotion and management agency, he decided to invest more time in the bar venture. Another side gig he had going was a very popular blog he wrote about great hamburgers and where to find them. His blog, “Burger Conquest,” was one of the top 3 on the topic internationally. At the urging of friends, his wheels started turning. How could he utilize the skills and experience from his previous years as a music promoter to promote his bar and food interests? Rev explains how he brought it all together. He found his many friends in the music business were delighted to patronize a bar that happily welcomed musicians and their supporters after performances. The place also hosted record release parties, and other music related events because of Rev's close ties. Unfortunately, they closed after 6 years, but not without Rev consuming quite a few lessons to carry forward. Most importantly, he realized how skilled he was at marketing and branding. Learning this about himself changed the direction of his career because he realized he could apply his marketing talent to businesses other than his own bar. In the future, he would spend his time focusing on bars and restaurants, helping with brand awareness, acquisition and retention in marketing location-based hospitality. Rev also explains the genesis of his current consulting busines. He was working as the Chief Marketing Officer of Single Platform, a software company when Trip Advisor bought out Single Platform. Initially Rev thought this might be a great thing for him because Trip Advisor was huge in comparison to Single Platform. Unfortunately in the shake up, Trip Advisor dismissed 60% of the senior staff at Single Platform and Rev was among the newly unemployed. Here again the occupationally agile David Ciancio reflexively pivoted. This was February of 2020, and he recalls the day's events vividly to Amy. It was on that same day that he landed some a client as a hospitality marketing consultant, providing support for awareness, acquisition and retention for restaurants and software providers. This consultancy became the seed of his new and present business. His latest venture was nurtured during the early months of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Thousands of restaurants have been tested during these challenging times. Those which have managed thus far to survive have specific problems to grapple with, and Rev is there with help and support. One major tool he has developed is a 4 week course for restaurant owners to give them solid strategies for surviving the current uncharted Covid waters. Rev provides he insight on where the restaurant industry will go from here. Whatever happens to the future of the restaurant industry, count on David “Rev” Ciancio to be fully engaged. His passion for food and the establishments that serve it drive him every day. His career story is a testament to how finding and embracing your passion can propel your career forward even through an unforeseen future. Grab a snack and have a listen! Topics in this episode: The importance of honest self-evaluation How to take calculated chances Why networking should be ongoing If you treat your work as a hobby, it will pay like a hobby Don't linger; know when to move on Links: yeahmanagement.com Instagram: @Fun with Fries; @RevCiancio https://www.linkedin.com/in/revciancio/

In this solo episode, Amy gives advice on how to answer the job interview question, “What is your greatest weakness?” Many people have a hard time answering this question. You might be thinking “Won't sharing one of my weaknesses put me out of the running for the job?” or “Would it better just to say I don't have any weaknesses?” How about answering with a weakness that is really a strength? Amy addresses these concerns and more in this episode. She also shares a simple formula for answering this question, so you can prepare for interviews ahead of time. Two complete sample answers are provided. Topics in this episode: Why interviewers like to ask about weaknesses Why it's important to prepare for job interviews Two sample answers to the question “What is your greatest weakness?” A formula for answering the question “What is your greatest weakness?”

Thom King is like some of the other guests we've met in our series of interviews. He is a career explorer-an adventurous soul who sees lots of possibilities and isn't afraid to take a side road if it looks promising. He initially worked in broadcasting. Eventually he managed 5 radio stations and this led to a position with Clear Channel. There he became the regional vice president of sales for the integrated marketing and online division of Clear Channel Worldwide. Though anyone would think he was following a great career path at this point, Thom was yet to feel fulfilled and discover his passion. One evening he was with a friend who had just returned from South America. His friend asked him if he'd like to sample some of a sticky green paste he had brought back with him. Thom was game, and this was his introduction to stevia (stevia rebaudiana), a plant native to Paraguay. Thom became curious about how he might introduce this more natural alternative sweetener into the market, so he began playing with formulations at home every free moment he had. You will hear Thom describe why he was convinced stevia would prove to be a superior product. As he progressed, he found himself immersed and driven. What he was doing was far more engaging to him than the broadcasting and sales work he was doing during his “real” daytime job. As he tells us, his interest and involvement became a “rabbit hole”. He was more and more involved in learning about, and experimenting with stevia. Eventually, he felt ready to start a retail brand. Initially he had to sell his products as supplements as stevia had not yet been approved by the FDA. This meant he could not market it as a sweetener to be displayed with other sugar/sugar-like products. Determined, he went from store to store to do product demos to gain wider exposure. He actually used home recipes and sample baked goods to promote his products at demos. When at long last the FDA finally approved stevia, the possibilities for Steviva, King's brand, opened up. The journey to that point had been long and hard though. He tells Amy there were plenty of times he wanted to quit, but unlike anything else he'd done, this business had given him purpose. He had found career fulfillment. But at one point as his star rose, he felt he needed to “walk the walk and talk the talk”. He was enjoying the good life and packing on pounds. He was advocating for healthier living through use of his products, yet he himself was overweight. It was time for a lifestyle change. He examined what he needed to do by collecting data on his habits and journaling his daily food intake. After a year making modifications to what he was putting into his body, he had lost the extra 35 lbs. he'd been carrying. He decided to turn his journal, and Guy Gone Keto was the result. It was popular, and for a short time, was a best seller on Amazon. The book also lent the extra benefit of boosting sales of his stevia products, and gave Thom “expert” status to those who were inspired by what he had shared with them. Thom King has lots of good advice to share with listeners about pivoting from work that is seemingly mundane to that which one finds exciting and inspirational. You will want to stick around to hear how his open mind, curiosity and marketing skills have led him to self-growth and a harmonious relationship with his world. Topics in this episode: On career happiness: how to create your own “hour of power” How to meditate with intention Why personal data collection and journaling are important tools for personal growth Why giving back and philanthropy matter How harmony makes us feel fulfilled and some ways we might achieve harmony in our own lives. How writing a book has helped his business Links: guygoneketo.com Guy Gone Keto on social media platforms iconfoods.com

Theresa Bradford pivots from scientific field work to parenthood to high school teaching. She has found all three stages of her life to be fulfilling and today will tell you why. Currently she is greatly enjoying her role as a high school teacher, even during the pandemic. Theresa graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in crop and soil environmental science and an accompanying minor in geology. Her desire was to work outdoors with soil applications. She did several jobs for her first 3 years out of school, the most interesting of which was a stint with the AmeriCorps Program. AmeriCorps is a voluntary civil society program that matches adults with public service projects.  As part of an AmeriCorps endeavor, Theresa worked in New Hampshire at Lake Winnipesaukee on a watershed project. She did adult education and water monitoring and in addition to a lot of new experience, she received a living stipend for her efforts. The work was also a great addition to her resume. Following this field work, she found something closer to home in Virginia. She began a job in community development and enjoyed the interaction with others involved, learning in this way about several fields related to her own. But soon, another career came into view, and she followed a new path. Theresa and her husband started a family. They determined they wanted to be hands-on parents and so Theresa ended her formal employment, and for twelve years, she became a stay-at-home mom. This pivot is one that we often see and is one that everyone approaches in their own way. For Theresa, she became totally immersed. Once the children were old enough, though, she began to explore the job market once again. A friend suggested that she try substitute teaching. With a degree but no teaching credentials, she gave subbing in an elementary school a try. This was not her cup of tea, but she liked working with junior high age students better. Finally, she moved into subbing at the high school level. Here she felt at home and decided to move forward with credentialing and a master's degree. In her third year now, she has a lot of enthusiasm, and a big challenge. Working with students during the pandemic has proven to be quite an experience for students as well as their fledgling teacher. She can see how different learning modalities impact student learning. All the same, she's enjoying her latest career and its challenges, and though she liked what she did in her post undergrad years, she would not go back. Theresa advises to research thoroughly when you are pivoting. She says it's important to talk to people and get out in the field to observe and/or experience. She says that perspective is important. To be able to see things from every angle makes all the difference. Topics in this episode: If parenting is in your life plan, there is more than one way to do it and still have a career How parenting can provide meaningful job experience How the Covid-19 pandemic has affected teaching and learning How testing the waters can help you to refine your preferences How continued academic studies and experience can sharpen perspective

This is a great story for neophyte entrepreneurs. If you are fearful of striking out on your own, or if you believe there are no new niches to develop in the current marketplace, think again. These motivated co-founders will explain how hard work, a strong sense of responsibility and a passion for creating an outstanding customer service environment can take a committed young entrepreneur a long way. First, let's introduce Miles Adams. Miles received his undergraduate education at George Washington University with majors in Economics and History. He followed up with an MA in International Relations at the University of St. Andrews (Scotland). His first jobs in banking and consulting left him unfulfilled and uninspired, so he began the hunt for something that would excite him. He thought he might be interested in becoming involved with a startup, thus he began to research. He ended up networking with a couple of British entrepreneurs who offered him a position with their startup cremation business, Tulip Cremation. Miles became their operations manager with no previous experience, but with an abundance of enthusiasm. He was impressed by Tulip's commitment to customer service as well as their desire to restructure pricing and to challenge similar but outmoded business models. The company was eventually bought, and Miles moved on to create his own cremation business. He had absorbed a great deal and was confident he was now ready to begin a startup of his own. Max Lemper-Tabatsky started out consulting after he finished school at Connecticut College where he majored in Economics and Sociology. He met Miles when they were consultants for the same company. Max, too, felt that consulting work was underwhelming. And while Miles moved on to the cremation startup, Max thought he wanted to travel for a while and explore other possible opportunities. He was looking for something that offered more mobility, and would draw on his creativity and need for independence. He wanted work that would lend itself to personal growth. He left his steady job for those purposes, but then Covid-19 hit. His immediate travel plans needed to change. He got in touch with Max and well, as you'll hear, the rest is very recent history. Together Miles and Max, with their company Loyal, have reimagined a business that many don't like to think about. It is also one that up until lately, has not changed much in many years. As Max says, “It isn't sexy.” But with fresh eyes, some newly acquired experience and knowledge of modern technology, Miles and Max have created a new niche in an old industry. With the unfortunate onset of the pandemic, they are now truly utilizing their skills to help many families deal with the end of life process for a loved one. They both pivoted early on in their careers into jobs they now find fulfilling and challenging. Listen to them describe how their business has caused them to stretch, grow and learn. You will be energized by their enthusiasm and sincerity. Listen to this success story and you might come to believe there's a place for you too somewhere in today's new e-commerce world.   Topics in this episode: Why making mistakes early can be a good thing How to choose a business partner for the right reasons How mindfulness can help your business The importance of synergy in working relationships and with customers How e-commerce can revitalize old industries when you think outside the box What does it take to move out of your safety zone? Links: www.trustloyal.com www.oaktreememorials.com @LoyalMemorials on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-lemper-tabatsky-10a35b69/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/milesmadams/

Today Amy sits down with Mary Anne Hardy to discuss the relatively new area of Patient Advocacy. Mary Anne details her journey through a variety of health care roles which, over time, prepared her to begin a patient advocacy business.   Mary Anne attended Oberlin College in Ohio. She majored in chemistry with the intention of becoming a doctor. Although she received an A.B., her grades were not strong enough to warrant moving on to medical school, so she made the decision to take two more years of classes to achieve a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Her first job as a nurse was working in a hospital unit dedicated to patients suffering from postpartum depression and other pregnancy related problems. Following that, she worked in adolescent medicine for a short time before taking a position helping women with high-risk pregnancies. These early experiences helped her decide to focus her career on preventive medicine as she saw that patients could greatly benefit if they received earlier intervention. After doing some serious research, Mary Anne chose to study for a Master's in Public Health. She enrolled in the highly regarded Public Health Program at Johns Hopkins University where she completed her degree. Shortly after, she and her husband made a move to New Jersey.   She began a search for a new position. Using word of mouth, she let her contacts know she was looking for something in the public health field. In discussing her history with her new doctor, she mentioned she was looking for a position suited to her skills. Her doctor suggested she should call someone she knew at the New Jersey Health Department about a new position there that might be of interest to her. She landed the job, and it was as a Community Coordinator for a Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies Program. Again, she had a great learning experience, but after a year, she and her husband returned to the Washington, D.C. area.   This time Mary Anne would find a position as a nurse-consultant for a health information service. This was an early version of what would later become known as “patient advocacy”.  Working in this position provided her with an introduction to what patient advocacy was all about. Mary Anne found that she had missed working with people one-on-one and this position gave her the opportunity to return to that gratifying role. She was highly successful in assisting her patients navigate through their difficult decisions. She often expedited red tape and helped with difficult communications. She wanted her patients to understand all aspects of their case as fully as possible so they could make sound decisions. The job also gave Mary Anne a look into corporate culture. She was able to observe and learn about the business of health advocacy.   After 7 or 8 years, the company's business model changed, and Mary Anne moved on to work with the Lupus Foundation as a health educator. The patients she worked with there often had rare and/or complicated diagnoses. These cases presented Mary Anne with more difficult challenges and tested her ability to really assist with problematic casework. Again, she learned a lot from her work and her focus on her career continued to sharpen. But as often happens with working mothers, it was that time when Mary Anne felt the need to stay home with her children, and she did so for 11 years.  Returning to work after her time at home found her involved with the FDA and reviewing/ evaluating medical devices. In this position, she helped patients who had problems learning to use their particular device. Sometimes they had questions and sometimes there were malfunctions. Mary Anne was able to assist the patient and also give accurate feedback to the FDA about issues her patients encountered. She enjoyed once more working with individuals and advocating for them. Mary Anne was now at a point of much experience. She knew she wanted to pivot into a business all her own where she helped individuals navigate the often confusing and circuitous route to confident medical decision making that many people could not do alone. She wanted to build her own patient advocacy practice and she wanted to take all she had learned in her career to provide the best services possible.   Mary Anne describes to Amy the many steps she has taken to build such a business, and the many services she performs to help her clients. From attending doctors' appointments to working with her clients and their families virtually, Mary Anne describes how the many services she provides help her clients to benefit fully from the healthcare provisions available to them. For many listeners, patient advocacy may be a health-related field they were previously unaware of. For others, it will be a lesson on how to prepare meticulously to open a business as a service provider. Either way, listening to the career journey of Mary Anne Hardy might very well provide you with some inspiration for your own career planning.   Topics in this episode:   The importance of “putting away” your work at night   How to use a variety of methods such as meditation to destress   How relocating often can be disruptive but it also offers opportunities The value of networking and media exposure   Evaluating if you are cut out to work for yourself   How to be flexible when building a business during a pandemic    Links: www.montgomeryhealthadvocates.com  As They Became Seniors, They Started Businesses for Them - The New York Times (nytimes.com) https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryannehardy/

Do job interviews make you nervous? If so, you're not alone. Many people get nervous because they don't know what questions will be asked. However, there is one question you can almost guarantee you will be asked. In this solo episode, Amy gives advice on how to answer the most frequently asked interview question, “Tell me about yourself.” Since you already know one of the questions, there is no reason not to be prepared with a great answer. Amy shares a simple formula for answering this question, so you can prepare for interviews ahead of time. Two complete sample answers are provided. Topics in this episode: Why it's important to prepare for job interviews Two sample answers for the most frequently asked interview question A formula for answering the question “Tell me about yourself” The importance of sharing quantifiable results in interviews (and on resumes)

Christine O'Neill is an “Intrepid Explorer.” She likens herself to those who subscribe to the idea that all who wander are not lost, and although she wandered a bit in her career life, she eventually found exactly what she was looking for. Christine was an English major in college, but she graduated without any idea of what she wanted to do. Sticking to an area involving her college studies, she went to work for Ogilvy PR. She learned a lot, but she knew this wasn't what she would do her entire career. She was also still living at home, and it was time to move on. The “Intrepid Explorer” had no job offer, but she decided to make a move to Chicago where many of her college friends were working. After several months she landed a job with Rapp Collins and this opportunity brought her into the advertising world. Again, she learned and enjoyed her work but when she felt it was time to take on the next challenge, she made a move to Discover Card. There she had the chance to experience product development. After a number of years in Chicago, she made the decision to return to New York. She had received a good severance package on her departure, so she was able to take some time for herself and think again about her career direction. These deliberations led her to Razorfish. With her years of experience, she became a publicist there. During her time at Razorfish, the company merged. She pivoted successfully into the newly formed company, and was riding high with great accounts and teams. But there came a point when she asked herself with all the successes she'd enjoyed, why was she not yet feeling really fulfilled? Christine made the decision to find someone to help her sort through what was going on. She spent a year thoroughly examining her feelings and refining in her mind what she truly wanted from her career. Eventually she realized that she was meant to be a coach. She initially rejected the idea, but with much consideration, she knew it was the right decision. Her first move was to enroll at IPEC, an accredited coach training program. She wanted to begin with a solid foundation. There she learned to really listen. Her training helped her to open new doors and explore new ways of thinking and problem solving. Once she had completed the IPEC training, she felt ready to strike out on her own. In beginning her own practice, she followed the methods she had been taught at IPEC. As time went on, she acquired on the job training as well. She realized that to help her clients, she often had to assist them in exploring fears and negative self-talk before they could understand their career situation. The work has proven highly gratifying for her, so much so that she has expanded her practice to include executive coaching, leadership coaching, coaching for entrepreneurs and a variety of other business-related coaching areas. Christine concludes by discussing with Amy the importance of resiliency. She explains how we can reframe the way we see things in order to deal more effectively at work and in our personal lives. She tells us some people know what they are meant to do from a very young age. But then there are those who need to sample many experiences before they find their true passion. Like Christine O'Neill, these are the “Intrepid Explorers.”   Topics in this episode: How positive self-talk is empowering How you can improve your resiliency and why you should How challenging yourself is important to your career and to your mental health How to take the best from a difficult situation and profit by the experience How being a risk-taker is a skill you can learn when you allow yourself to extend beyond your comfort zone Links: www.christineoneillcoaching.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/christineoneill/  

Meet Cathy Farmer, a woman who helped blaze trails by integrating computers into American businesses. The term “IT” was relatively new when she began her career journey. She forged the way for women in the field wherever she was employed as she was usually the first and only woman operating a computer in the office. Her acumen with both computers and business made her unique during the 1980s when few women were encouraged to explore career opportunities in the field. Here's a bit about the roots that produced this remarkable, independent woman. Cathy was one of six children, and knew if she wanted to go to college, she would have to pay her own way. Her father was a big influence in her life and he always encouraged her to pursue whatever she wanted to learn, and for Cathy, this meant math and science. She began her college studies at DePauw University. After 2 years, she decided to take time off and enter the workforce. She dabbled in lots of jobs from bartending to handling insurance claims. After a year and a half at the insurance company, she returned to school at UMass/Boston where she majored in math and computer science, earning a BA in 1986. At this point, she moved with her new husband to San Francisco. There she was hired by a beauty supply company to do coding and was their first female programmer. She was able to absorb a lot about business practices, and paid attention to how the entire company was run. Little did she know then how that knowledge would serve her well in the future. After a couple of years, she wanted more of a challenge and moved on to become a software programmer at Jandel Scientific. She learned DOS and used Windows 1 and gained maximum proficiency in a 6 1/2-year stint. Her next stop was a small computer consulting firm, and time teaching at a Berkeley extension. This was followed by yet more consulting work, and after consulting at Kaiser Permanente, she became an employee there in 1998. She stayed for 15 years, proving invaluable to the company because of her abilities in both business and computers. When she left, it was to consult on her own. A fascinating opportunity came along from Caesars' Entertainment. It was a departure from all she'd done before, and she gained valuable marketing experience while she was there. It was at this juncture that Cathy turned her attention to startups. She tells us she has always had an entrepreneurial spirit, so she jumped in by becoming a co-founder of a startup (which has now been put on the back burner). With two siblings on the autism spectrum, she gave some thought to how she could involve herself and support the efforts of those working for that cause. She became a member of the board of directors for the Organization for Autism Research in 2016, and in 2018, the National Science Foundation named her an Industry Mentor. She holds that seat still today. In 2019, she became the representative Consumer Reviewer of Grants for the DCMRP Autism Program. (Her list of titles in the autism support area is significant and you can access it on her LinkedIn profile.) In 2020, she co-founded “Autism Angels Group” to provide seed money for “private markets and for-profit enterprises that seek to include and empower those on the autism spectrum and “to aggressively drive economic opportunities and technology-driven solutions that create a positive social impact for the autism community.” Cathy describes this endeavor as the best thing she has ever done. She tells us she's found that the work immerses her and makes her happy. What a wonderful way to begin to begin a second chapter in one's career life! Links: www.autismangelsgroup.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathysf/   Topics in this episode: Don't let others determine your path Think about all of the strengths and skills you bring to the table when applying for a new job (or starting a business) Growth involves risk-taking How rewarding it can be to do something you're passionate about What is angel investing and how does it help startups

Kelly Travis found her path to success was a route through serious adversity at first. She sits down with Amy today to describe how she forged a successful and fulfilling career after passing through some dark times. But as is often the case, those painful experiences contributed to a passion to help others through their own difficulties. Kelly was and is a competitive runner, and an All-American, in fact. College for her was an opportunity to continue with her sport. Full of anticipation and willingness to work to advance, she was unfortunately placed in the hands of a bad college coach. His body shaming and demands for weight loss profoundly intimidated the impressionable 19 year-old. She tried hard to please, but relentless demands from him and those she imposed on herself landed her in the hospital for 6 months with a severe eating disorder diagnosis. During her hospital therapy, Kelly decided she would return to school, but not as the business major she had been. She determined she wanted to do something that would help her to empower women. When she returned to school, she began a major in public health, concentrating on mental health and addiction. This led to a first post college job as a social worker with at risk youth. Kelly was still struggling to find herself. After a couple of years, she did a complete pivot away from social work. Since she had always had an entrepreneurial streak, she ventured into the business realm where she spent a decade. She found her competitive nature was very helpful in the publishing field. But the arrival of her first son gave her a time to examine where she was in her life, and although she was financially successful, she was not fulfilled and happy. She felt a need to be authentic as well as creative. She pushed ahead, put in the work, and started her own consulting firm. She was edging closer to something that felt true to her. When her second son was expected, she pivoted once more. Her self work was not yet complete, but she moved forward and began a coaching practice. She initially started her business by being a trainer, but this morphed into something much more. She realized the commonality of what makes us happy and successful in any walk of life could and should be applied to the work she was doing. Her business model was taking new form. She began helping clients to learn successful goal-setting techniques. She discusses with Amy everything from establishing a client's real goals (as opposed to those created for them by others), to the incremental steps she or he must take to achieve those goals. She delves into self-sabotage, Imposter Syndrome, fear of taking action and other roadblocks people set up as she did, along the way to fulfillment. Kelly Travis has created a unique life coaching practice rooted in her own experiences and refined by her continued education. She offers clients guidance as they take their own journey of self-discovery. She helps them recognize those often self-imposed inhibitors that delay or even stop personal and professional growth. She teaches the structure of goal setting and importantly, holds clients accountable when they make excuses, fall back or aren't putting in the work. There's a lot to digest in today's episode with Kelly Travis. Her interview will leave you asking yourself more than one or two good questions. How to set attainable, realistic goals How ingrained habits and traits can be a double-edged sword Career success, like personal happiness, is a process not an event How “stepping outside the box” is important to anyone who wants to succeed Why an “all or nothing” mindset is a landmine. Links: kellytravis.net She Doesn't Settle (podcast) @kellythelp on Instagram

Ann Mincey Jetton is an inspirational leader and was not your garden variety top executive in a highly competitive industry. She is a supreme communicator who brings her enthusiasm for encouraging the human spirit to everything she does. Today you will meet this dynamic businesswoman whose success seems almost incidental next to her real passion for uplifting those she comes to know and care for. Her life and career paths illustrate her message, and today Amy guides her through that story. Ann grew up in southwestern Ohio and graduated from Southern Nazarene University in Oklahoma. She married her college sweetheart, but their union failed. She returned home to Ohio to rethink her future, and in doing so, took a part time job as a receptionist at a friend's hair salon. She enjoyed working there for a year while she thought about her future. One day a sales representative from Redken hair care products was in the salon and told Ann there was a Redken field rep job she'd be perfect for. (Redken was the premier hair care line at that time and is now owned by the L'Oreal Group.) Ann loaded up her belongings and traveled to California, and in April of 1975, she began training for the popular hair care line. During her California years at Redken, she moved into the area of client education as her communication abilities became more and more evident. You will not hear Ann describe how successful she was in her initial years, but when L'Oreal bought Redken in 1993, Ann was asked to continue on with them and move to headquarters in New York City. She had earned the title Director of Public Relations. She wasn't sure she knew much about public relations, but like most successful people, she risked the chance to move forward. She found good hires to support her efforts, and together they forged a powerful department. Ann began establishing strong relationships with influential beauty editors. These relationships opened doors, and increased Ann's respect in the industry. She was tasked by L'Oreal to promote a line of products designed to create healthy hair and skin from within. This line was surely ahead of its time and although the line eventually ended, Ann's hard work and exceptional skills were noted. Using the theme “you are what you think,” Ann created a campaign of inspirational messaging. Her efforts eventually led to another promotion and the title Vice President of Global Communications. Not content with sitting behind a desk, Ann identified the most elite L'Oreal clients and salons. She spent her last years before retirement working closely with them to inspire and encourage each to greater success by connecting more meaningfully with their clientele. She continues to maintain ties to L'Oreal and many of her clients to this day. Periodically she can be found directing or speaking at seminars, workshops and conventions because of those long time relationships. Although Ann retired from Redken, she has many other business and personal interests she pursues now. She's written inspirational books that have led to annual retreats in Laguna Beach and Palm Springs, California. She is a counselor for HeartMath, a wellness organization that emphasizes heart-brain science. (heartmath.com) She is also president of her own brand, Starshine Systems, Inc. Ann has remarried happily and supports the work of her pastor husband and his church. And today her work was to inspire you with her faith that has taken her far in both her personal life and in business. This is not a story you will hear every day, but it is one that says the strength of your values and your beliefs can uplift you to be the best possible no matter what avenues in life you take.   Topics in this episode: Harnessing the power of belief in oneself The importance of channeling gratitude How having a foundation allows one to risk with less fear How to create a positive attitude How giving to others brings a return in all aspects of your life and builds self-confidence; Aspects of self-empowerment in highly competitive business Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-mincey-7720121/

Miia Torera is another success story in Amy's podcast about people who have crafted unique careers. Prepare to be surprised by the major pivots she makes! She will inspire you to do the same if you're teetering on the edge of a career move. Miia didn't enter college to experiment with coursework. She knew she wanted to major in international politics, follow that up with a law degree, and then find a position with the United Nations, but she made a short route change on her career roadmap when she went to work for a nonprofit program after receiving her bachelor's degree. The job took her overseas where she worked for a democracy development program. She learned a lot as she taught people in underdeveloped countries about how democracy works. She continued on to law school though and eventually traveled globally with the UN and other international rights organizations. She found her varied work gratifying, but soon, her first major career shift loomed. While doing her second summer internship in law school at Columbia, she worked for a law firm. She did well, and when she finished her studies, she was offered a position. It was 2008, and new positions were not plentiful, so she gave the offer serious thought. She would be based in New York and would be able to spend more time with family. And the icing on the cake was that the firm would allow her to continue the pro bono work she had gained such a passion for. She decided to take the job and so became a corporate litigator working with compliance and anti-corruption issues. Fast forward now to early 2020. Miia had enjoyed over a decade of success in her law career and with her pro bono work, but it was time to grow and make a change. There was something undone but important in her life that she now felt ready to address more fully. Miia comes from a family of successful writers. She wrote too, but not professionally as they did. She considered her writing an avocation and didn't believe herself destined to write as a full-time occupation. But little by little, her humorous and anonymous online writing came to light, and she began to receive notice. It occurred to her that she might actually have a talent! The writing aspirations that had been quietly humming in the back of her mind became louder. When the Covid-19 Pandemic intervened in travel plans, she found herself at home writing to amuse her children, and thus her first children's books took shape. These were followed by comics, and the positive reader response was astonishing! She was inundated by the intense labor it took to produce and publish everything she was creating. With some help from family and others, she is now working full-time to produce new inspiring literature for kids. 2020 has turned into a pivotal year in Miia Torera's life and career. She has fulfilled her personal dreams of bringing justice to people in need, and now she plants those dreams of justice in the minds of children through her writing. Her superhero characters are written to provide “diverse stories for diverse children.”   Topics in this episode: This year has reminded us that life can change quickly, so go for your dreams Family influences and support should never be discounted Self-confidence can make a big difference in personal success You aren't one dimensional. Give yourself permission to make life changes based on your multiple talents and interests It's good to plan early, but be flexible with your career plan Maximize your creativity by figuring out when and where you are most productive. Make a space that allows for minimal distractions People often take on too much. Allow yourself to reach out for assistance when the time comes. Links: https://www.miiato.com amazon.com/author/miiato 

Today's episode of Fashionably Late will answer burning questions about our mysterious interviewer, Amy Rowland. Who is she anyway? How did she come to have a podcast about careers? And what does she bring that will help you learn something from listening to her interviews? We hope today to answer these questions and more as Amy sits on the other side of the table and is interviewed herself. Amy tells us she's learned a lot of great career tips from the interviews she's conducted, but she also has a wealth of experience of her own to contribute. Here's an example for you that Amy will tell us about in her own interview. Amy is an NCAA champion tennis player twice over! The drive to excel and her competitiveness were major motivators in her early years. From watching Wimbledon as a 7 year-old to past her master's degree, Amy was involved with the sport. She credits tennis with teaching her a lot about following your passion and striving to be your best. Most importantly, it taught her about who she was and what strengths she had. One disappointing fact she discovered was that she was not going to be an elite player, yet she still loved the game. She evaluated some of her other assets and realized that coaching might be the career route to take. After college, she enrolled at Smith College in a 2-year program for training coaches. Eventually this led to a college coaching position. Logically this should have been the right job for her, but it wasn't. She wasn't sure coaching suited her. It was time to pivot, but to what and how? Amy will describe the process that brought her to earn a Ph.D., teach and also coach again. This experience brought with it a whole host of new life lessons which Amy shares with us. Amy's career lessons weren't all academic, however. She was living in New York City and loved her life there. She was meeting interesting people who were working in many fields she was unaware existed. She was fascinated with their stories, and they were very willing to share with her. Amy realized people liked to talk with her and hear her opinions. This engaging quality helped her think about her next move which was law school. Was she ready to take on law school at age 33? There were others enrolled older than she and she was mature enough at this point to enjoy studying. She had developed a strong support circle and once more juggled her responsibilities to move forward. Her law degree took her first into litigation work and then into corporate law. She loved the challenges and learned that advising and helping clients suited her well. Eventually, she found a position with a legal recruiting firm. This work checked all the boxes for her. After a time, her entrepreneurial tendencies made her realize that she possessed the skills and enthusiasm necessary to have her own recruiting firm. Her business, Varia Search, is the next and most exciting stage in her career journey. At Varia Search, Amy has established a boutique legal recruiting agency. She specializes in bringing together startups and tech companies with the best matched legal professionals they require. She not only has her exciting new business, but she also writes a blog and of course, does this weekly podcast. She has recently been invited as a guest for another popular podcast called “She Doesn't Settle” centering on outstanding women who are excelling and raising the bar in business today. Hopefully, Amy's candor and tenacity will inspire you to keep searching for that position that's just right for you. Topics in this episode: Advanced degrees and law school require great commitment and financial expense; Do your research, weigh the pros and cons and make sure you truly have the resources to see you through such a big commitment How three common fears can hold you back from achieving the most you can from a career How to make successful cold calls or emails Learn to separate fact from fancy when it comes to what you truly enjoy doing and what is practical How to confidently make the decision to take a leap and pivot out of the situation you know   Links: www.variasearch.com contact@variaseach.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/amylrowland/

Amy interviews Dr. Margaret Rajnic today to discuss her varied career in health care and health care management. Through discussion of her own unique route, Rajnic will shine light on some of the many alternative ways one can find success and fulfillment in helping others be physically and mentally well. Margaret Rajnic initially wanted to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology. But at age 18, she was struck by a hit and run driver and it changed the trajectory of her career plans. Instead she headed off to a local community college where she majored in Hospitality Management. Though she didn't know it at the time, this would be the start of an academic career that would take her all the way to her current post-doctoral work. But, at the time, she was struggling with a new prosthesis, continued pain and marginalization in different jobs she tried. This began a 10-year period of job movement as she attempted to form a career path that would be fulfilling while accommodating her physical limitations. At one point she worked a job in security. With this work, she was able to continue her education, choosing to study medicine and nursing. She eventually found a part-time job in an emergency room as a patient transporter. Then upon receiving a scholarship, she entered nursing school and earned a bachelor's degree. She was highly successful in her work in the various departments she was assigned, but eventually felt she wanted more. She determined to continue on with classes and achieved a master's degree and became a Nurse Practitioner. She had shown facility with management skills, so with her latest degree, she was moved into several hospital positions which were administrative rather than hands on. All the while, she was gaining valuable experience in multiple hospital departments and units. Something better came along though that provided a better balance for her as she wanted to return to more involvement in direct patient treatment. For 5 years, she managed and built a new homeless program from the ground up. She enjoyed the work and gained new skills like grant writing. More importantly, she was able to have more contact with the center's residents. She set up a wraparound program too for the clients and was lauded for her innovation. With her program, services continued as clients were able to leave the center. Margaret found a new opportunity with the National Naval Medical Center. There her abilities and experience in programming and scheduling led her unit to be recognized for attending to more internal medicine patients than ever before. More opportunities came to her after she developed a medical/home model. Now she was ready to take another step forward on her career path. She became a private contractor. As a private contractor, she found a posting seeking senior leaders in her field. Responding to this, she was selected for a group that advised for the Affordable Care Act. Eventually the group's work culminated in the Psychiatric Inpatient Act and the Value Based Purchasing Act. At this juncture, she determined she would start her own practice and truly have the ability to be independent, focusing on those aspects of patient treatment she felt most passionate about. You will hear Margaret describe for Amy her current work and you will learn about some of the recent paths in modern medicine that have opened. These in turn offer new ways to think about a career in the medical field. Among other things, Rajnic will explain the effect of the pandemic on her practice and the people she serves. She will make you aware of how rapidly the field of medicine is evolving. Margaret Rajnic is an entrepreneurial health care provider. She is at the vanguard of new treatments, and she is doing it her own way. Topics in this episode: How adversity can be a catalyst for great success How to prepare yourself to begin a medical practice Exploring the diverse opportunities in medicine The advantages of tailoring studies to work How risk-taking becomes somewhat easier with time and experience Links: www.rejuvenatemaryland.com https://www.drzgreentherapy.com/ https://baltimoreketamineclinic.com/

Today's episode is a departure from learning how to pivot well from one career to the next. Instead it's about an accidental entrepreneur who has found his career satisfaction helping others effectively find their own personal success. His thoughtful approach to the structure of the work culture is a model worth studying for anyone, be they owner or employee. He shares with us some of the formula for creating a business environment that is stimulating, encouraging and ultimately high achieving. Amy introduces us today then to Bill Harper, CEO and Chief Creative Officer of wmHarper, a marketing and advertising house based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Listen to his story and you will have an entire plate of food for thought when the interview concludes. Bill started at Northern Illinois University thinking that he would major in mechanical engineering. He found that major too limiting and switched to business. He tried that on, but it didn't fit either. A serendipitous walk by an open classroom door led him down yet another path. He overheard a presentation on product marketing and he knew this felt like it was the direction he'd been searching for. He graduated from Northern Illinois with a BFA in Visual Communications. His first job after college was in St. Louis at the major firm, D'Arcy, Masius, Benton & Bowles. At that time, they counted among their clients Sega, M&M Mars, Purina, Pillsbury and others. This was a great learning opportunity because the company was both large and successful. As he progressed, Bill found himself attracted to the work to be done at smaller firms. He enjoyed the closer community and the increased project ownership they offered. Eventually he took an opportunity to join a small startup. This was the point where he found his true calling as an entrepreneur. He learned a lot and as you'll hear him emphasize, he's always learning. Most significantly, he learned that creativity and productivity didn't spring from him while delivering solutions and answers to employees. Instead, creating a culture where the employees were given the freedom and expectation to find their own answers changed everything for him as a company owner and for the people he would hire. He learned that if employees had the same values that the company espoused, everyone would experience more satisfaction, and their work would reflect their mutual trust as well as a cohesive sense of harmony. So how do you find the ideal employee? Bill explains how he threw traditional interviewing techniques out the window. His questions to potential hires changed. In job interviews, he looks for those working towards something rather than running away from something. Bill's philosophy and advice speak to everyone who works in a group situation. He provides a provocative slant on why you may not be achieving your personal best either as the boss or the employee.   Topics in this episode: How to empower employees to be their creative and productive best What elements make up an ideal work culture The art of curating employees How to stimulate team synergy and create a safe environment for risk taking How to answer the question “Do you know where you're going and why you want to go there?” What to do if you mess up an interview How to get out of a rut and propel yourself forward Links: wmharper.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/wmharper/

Today Amy speaks to Niki Spears, a motivational speaker. Niki began her career in education by teaching in a Head Start program. She worked in education for over thirty years and left her job as a school principal four years ago to support schools in creating and sustaining positive culture.  Niki is the Co-Creator of PositiveKidsToday and Culture Cre8ion. She has written two books---The Beauty Underneath the Struggle: Creating Your Bus Story and a new children's book titled The Hand Hug. Niki believes that if we support children and adults in embracing a positive mindset they will live a life filled with joy, love, and peace. Amy and Niki talk about Niki's pivot from working as a teacher and then a principal to supporting schools in creating a positive culture.  She will also talk about her recent transition to writing and motivational speaking. Niki offers advice to those struggling to find their career happiness. Topics in this episode: How to pivot in your career The importance of staying positive How skills can be transferred There are many things you can do with one interest An easy way to tell if you love your job Links: https://www.nikispears.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Hand-Hug-Baelor-Books/dp/B08DSYRZFD/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=niki+spears&qid=1603722268&sr=8-2 https://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Underneath-Struggle-Creating-Story/dp/B08GPW4B64/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=niki+spears&qid=1603722285&sr=8-1

Today Amy gives us the opportunity to sit down with her and Deian McBryde for a fun often surprising chat. Deian is an expert in making transitions. Not only has he made a number of career-altering transitions himself, but he has, throughout his many jobs, helped others make their own transitions successfully. Listen as Amy discusses with Deian his unique and fascinating life journey. As a child, Deian wanted to be many different things, but after watching the Carol Burnett Show on TV one evening with his mother, he told her that he really wanted to be a dancer. After high school, he headed off for a 4-year stint in the US Air Force. There he found himself involved with logistics and some historical work. These skills would come in handy later on in life, but they didn't translate very well into the civilian work world beyond his military time. After many unsuccessful applications, he landed a job as a typist at a health and life insurance company just to make ends meet. He didn't remain a typist for too long because he was able to work his way up in the company. Deian eventually chose to move to New York City to see what life had in store for him there. He decided he'd try for work in music as a singer. He began singing and booking gigs, all while meeting new people and networking broadly. To supplement meager earnings from his vocal career, he found positions with nonprofits, advocacy groups, and cultural projects. He knitted together a busy and fulfilling life with interesting people and travel. As time went on, though, in New York, he longed for a predictable income and the gig-to-gig existence began to wear. As these thoughts were taking form, a family event took place in his home state of New Mexico and he needed to return. His 15 years in New York City had come to a close, but another transition was about to take place. In New Mexico he found a new role as an organizational-behavioral consultant. He also owned his own yoga studio and worked as a salesperson at Apple, eventually leading a training team of 37 people. It was at this juncture and at the age of 50 that he determined it was time to return to school. He had attended college classes off and on over the years but never completed a bachelor's degree. He thus took his transcripts to the University of New Mexico to be evaluated. He was told he had enough credits to be classified as a senior, so he enrolled and finished his degree shortly thereafter. Next on his agenda was a master's degree. He thought that he would study counseling and he would continue helping people make their own life transitions. This was not to be. A friend encouraged him to attend law school. After much convincing, Deian took the LSAT and, sure enough, at age 51, he began law school. Today, Deian McBryde has his own legal firm. He finds his work to be the most fulfilling and enjoyable he has yet experienced. He sees primarily custody and divorce cases and, in this role, he finds meaning in helping individuals move safely and successfully from one life stage to another. Today he shares with Amy some of the truths he's discovered along his way.   Topics in this episode: How age and the experience it brings can work in your favor in unexpected ways How to view your career on a continuum even though on the surface, each job may seem unrelated If you are doing things that interest you, there will be a thread that strings everything together Why you should apply the “funnel” theory when choosing what direction to take when deciding on your next step How success is not always planned for and how to be okay with that How to attack every job, even menial ones, with enthusiasm and energy Remember, you can never get enough good advice Links: www.mcbrydelaw.com

Amy chats with energetic and informative Michelle Gomez today. Recent awards Michelle has earned include the NLPOA's Latina of the Year Award (2019), and the Distinguished Alumni Award Nominee, and University of Phoenix Leadership Impact Awards (2019). Michelle has a modern success story with a lot to share with anyone with real ambition. Greatly influenced by her mother's drive and work ethic, Michelle got her first job at McDonald's at age 16. Her mother's example helped steer her from the golden arches to a career in the supply chain industry where she remains today. There she found herself involved with transportation companies and 3rd party logistics which were male-dominated industries at the time, and her coworkers were often older and rarely from her Latinx culture. She decided to get an M.B.A. from Eastern New Mexico University. This helped bolster her confidence, and her work performance showed it. Coworkers saw her navigate with great success in a work culture that seemed such an alien environment for a woman like Michelle and often other people would come to her to ask for help and advice. Over a period of years, she became a “go to” person for someone in need of job coaching. She always enjoyed this work and knew she was helping others to succeed. In 2018 then, she deemed herself a “corporate entrepreneur” and launched a business of her own as a career and life coach. Influenced not only by her mother but also by her grandmother who recognized Michelle's drive and potential, Michelle took that business leap while retaining her position in corporate sales. As if she weren't busy enough at that point, she published a book called Own Your Brilliance: Overcome Impostor Syndrome for Career Success. Michelle writes of the self-sabotaging, self-defeating mindset or thought pattern that plagues many people, especially women and people of color. That is, the belief that you are not good enough, but have been given your position because of something other than your ability and accomplishments. It is a gnawing self-doubt that causes you to question your worth. Michelle explains how this deep-seated problem can keep many talented individuals from moving forward in both their careers and in their lives. Through her book (now in its second edition), as well as her online course, her speaking engagements and her one-on-one coaching packages, Michelle helps people first recognize this problem and then guides them to discover the solution. Michelle Gomez shares many of her success tips with Amy and her listeners.   Topics in this episode: How to internalize your success Exploring your thought patterns in order to recognize and eliminate underlying beliefs causing self-defeat How to transfer your skills to something marketable How to discover and accept that we don't arrive fully formed but must learn, grow and evolve Why mindfulness and being intentional with our self-talk is essential Helpful ways to validate yourself to change negative self-beliefs What is a self-inventory and how to go about creating one How reframing your narrative can silence negative voices The importance of being authentic Why taking care of your physical well-being is an important factor for success in all facets of your life   Links: michellemgomez.com MGSUCCESSCOACH on Instagram https://www.amazon.com/Own-Your-Brilliance-Michelle-Gomez/dp/1948404532/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=michelle+gomez+impostor+syndrome&qid=1602592970&sr=8-1

In this episode, Amy talks to Eric Newman. founder of Iceland With Kids, a company that helps families plan memorable Iceland vacations. Eric graduated from Kenyon College where he majored in Math. He went on to earn a master's degree from Johns Hopkins in Mathematical Sciences. He initially thought he would continue his education with a Ph.D. and become a college professor. However, he switched gears and decided to get a job in finance. His finance career continued for twenty years. Most recently, he was a partner and portfolio manager at a boutique asset management company. Once he knew his fund would be winding down, he decided he needed figure out what to do next. His interest in travel took him to Iceland and the product of his travels was a detailed travel guidebook called Iceland With Kids.  Eric is a Certified Iceland Specialist, and offers itinerary planning services for families visiting Iceland, as well as custom private tours. He also has written a children's book called Lundi the Lost Puffin: The Child Heroes of Iceland. Eric shares with listeners what inspired him to write a travel book and what's it's like to be midprocess in figuring out his Act 2.  Topics in this episode  The benefits of taking calculated risks in your career How experimentation can be a great way to figure out what you want to do next The importance of doing something that brings you satisfaction The wonders of Iceland and why it's a great travel destination Links: http://icelandwithkids.com/ Iceland With Kids: The Step-By-Step Guide to Planning Your Vacation in Iceland https://www.amazon.com/Iceland-Kids-Step-Step-Planning-ebook/dp/B081J54FMR/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=traveling+to+iceland+with+kids+eric+newman&qid=1601642727&sr=8-1 Lundi the Lost Puffin: The Child Heroes of Iceland.https://www.amazon.com/Lundi-Lost-Puffin-Heroes-Iceland-ebook/dp/B08CHMF292/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=lundi&qid=1601642702&sr=8-1 Podcast: http://icelandwithkids.com/the-iceland-with-kids-podcast/

Marianne Hardart sits down with Amy today to talk about her dual careers and the satisfaction that she continues to derive from these two very different occupations. Marianne graduated from Wheelock College, now part of Boston University, with a major in Child Life. Though originally intending to go into Special Education, she explored the Child Life option her freshman year and was drawn to it. (Child Life involves working with children impacted by illness or injury and helping them learn to cope.) She volunteered in Boston to work with such children and found the tasks to be challenging and rewarding. After receiving her degree in Child Life, Marianne was hired for a “dream job”. She found a position at New York University Medical Center where she was able to write and implement new programs and grow in her profession. Five years later, she went on to work with an organization helping children and families with AIDS. With new experience to share, she returned to NYU Medical Center as an administrator. In all, she had built a successful and happy 20 years in the Child Life field. As with many people though, a life event caused Marianne to reevaluate the path she was traveling. A serious health scare started her thinking about a childhood passion that she had never truly considered as an adult, and while she waited to learn the severity of her health concerns, she made a promise to herself to explore acting should things go favorably. Happily, the medical test results proved to be good news and so she enrolled in her first acting classes. She also found that she could manage to maintain her work with children while she began this new pursuit. She was very surprised to find how much she had to learn about herself and her new chosen craft. She describes to Amy how she had never been a “theater nerd” as a kid, but here she was, past 40, and working toward a stage career. And like so many of Amy's guests, Marianne Hardart was able to pivot with surprising success. Listen to her describe to Amy the advantages of having age and life experience in your corner along with a strong support network. She will convince listeners that what look like roadblocks to some, provide a leg up to others. Marianne has found that an acting career can involve a lot more than stage performance. She has broadened her acting CV by becoming a writer and producer as well. She's been successful with a one act play she's penned. She hosts a popular podcast and she's written a book about her famous restaurateur family called The Automat: The History, Recipes, and Allure of Horn & Hardart's Masterpiece. Listeners will undoubtedly be glad to learn that it's possible to be a success in two entirely different fields, and how though different, the first can bring a lot to the second. And some might also find it encouraging that you don't have to be 20 something to begin down that second fulfilling career path. It goes to show you can have your cake and eat it too, even if it doesn't come from an automat!   Topics in this episode  The importance of a peer support network How immersion in the study of your second field helps build necessary confidence to take on something new and different How learning who you truly are and having confidence in yourself makes a second career less intimidating to initiate How to use your previous work and experience to feed your new endeavors How to live in the present and enjoy it How to create “bite-size” career advancements in order to maintain balance and growth in both careers When you're undecided on your path, try a new hobby or avocation. You will learn something and you will find networking to be invaluable in your search Why it's important not to stand in place but to take action and keep moving Links: Mare Out There: Leaving a Message (podcast) mariannehardart.com

Today Amy speaks with realtors Jeff Kagan and Joel Pascua who are both life and business partners. The two own a growing, successful real estate agency currently operating primarily in the New Jersey and New York areas, but they are aggressively expanding. Was this thriving enterprise the result of years of planning to create a reputable agency with so many clients? Not at all! A series of life events like so many of us experience brought them to the place they enjoy so much now. Jeff Kagan wanted to be a veterinarian when he was younger. But by the time he reached college, he chose a major in Communication Arts. Jeff earned an M.A. in Communication Arts and found a position in program scheduling at HBO. Over the next 23 years, he advanced through a variety of positions. He thought he would spend his career at the TV giant, but that was not to be. During a reorganization there, he suddenly found his position had been eliminated. Jeff began searching for another communications position, hoping to build on his lengthy resume. During a period of 3 or 4 months of job hunting and serious thought though, he regrouped. Listen to him describe to Amy how he did an amazing pivot that led to a rewarding second career. Joel Pascua is a creative man. His earliest thoughts were about pursuing art in some way. As school years went by, he found he also loved math and science. He eventually took a nursing degree followed by an M.S. in Nursing, Community Health & Preventive Medicine. Though he loved working in the emergency room, after he earned his graduate degree, he moved into hospital administration. He, too, felt his career was on a solid track and he foresaw a predictable future. He tells Amy how Jeff's situation impacted upon his own career and their home relationship. Joel shares how he has managed to find career satisfaction in an area that he had never previously considered. This episode is chockful of good advice that listeners will find very useful and relatable. Both Jeff and Joel are highly motivated and have great “people” skills. They discuss how they cultivate both clients and good employees by expanding upon their social natures. They talk about working together and how Joel still keeps one foot in nursing, allowing him to have a dual career. They stress the importance of being honest and trustworthy and hiring like-minded individuals. They also expand upon how that philosophy positively impacts their clientele. In all, these two will let you in on their success secret-courage and confidence. They will inspire you to take those next steps forward if the unexpected happens. You will come away with how you should see yourself as multidimensional and capable.   Topics in this episode: Transitioning from the corporate culture to owning a smaller business Minding your finances to allow you freedom to recreate yourself if and when the situation arises How trust, open mindedness and organizational skills play a big part in striking out on your own Some tips for staying positive during a career change How a hobby or pastime helps keep you centered and focused on your new career path   Links: www.kpedgestone.com

Dr. Nancy Yen Shipley or “NancyMD,” as she's known to those familiar with her blog, podcasts, writing and speaking engagements, is Amy's guest today. Nancy encourages women to excel in traditionally male occupations. She helps them overcome the roadblocks they encounter on the way to fulfilling their potential and goals. Nancy wasn't always so focused. As an undergraduate at UCLA, she attempted pre-med initially, but wasn't sure that she was ready to commit. Off the pre-med track, she experimented with other appealing course work. But by the end of her sophomore year, she needed to declare a major. She looked over those courses she had taken to that point and decided on a degree in psychology. Still not focused on a clear path after graduation, she found a job in the snowboarding industry and worked in event planning. During this period, she also discovered she had developed a curiosity about complementary medicine and acupuncture. It wasn't a giant leap then for her thoughts to be rekindled about medical school. Starting nearly from scratch as much of her relevant undergrad course work was dated, she dug in. She enrolled at Drexel University in Philadelphia at the age of 29 and finally began her medical studies. Drexel offered a problem-based curriculum with a small group format which was very interactive. She found this was just what she needed to keep her engaged. This time her focus was in place. Around her 4th year, she determined she wanted to complete a residency in orthopedic surgery. Now she was really stepping onto a non-traditional path as only 6% of orthopedic surgeons in the U.S. were women at that time. She successfully completed her studies which also included fellowship training in sports medicine and arthroscopy. She is now doing the work she loves with an orthopedic practice in Portland, Oregon. Nancy describes herself as a Renaissance woman and a late bloomer. Although it took her what seemed like a long time on a winding road to gain focus, once she did, she realized she had many passions she wanted to explore. Today she has a fulfilling surgical practice and spends spare time with her family and her new-found interests of tennis and stand-up paddle boarding. But it is through her popular podcast, The 6%, her blog and her speaking engagements that she addresses yet one more compelling interest-the desire to inspire and encourage the next generation of women in medicine and other professions and fields. Today you will hear some of the advice she has to share that can help you, even if you too are “Fashionably Late”.   Topics in this episode: How to trust your instincts and not be pressured into committing until you are ready How important it is to stay focused on your goals Women no longer have to take on just one role. Everyone can be multidimensional How to identify your core values and then see if your activities are enhancing those values or not How to believe it's never too late to redefine yourself How to deal with imposter syndrome Learning to accept yourself and not always follow the expectations of others Links: wwwnancymd.com speaking@nancymd.com @nancymd on social media                                the 6% with NancyMD on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify

In this bonus episode, Amy wanted to highlight someone who just graduated from college and is working at her first real job. Rachel Rowland, who happens to be Amy's niece, just began working as a staffing coordinator at TaleMed, a company that places medical professionals. Rachel is a 2020 graduate of the University of Cincinnati where she majored in Biological Sciences with a minor in Professional Sales and Chemistry. When she started college, Rachel planned to go to dental school, but in her junior year she decided to switch gears.  In this episode, she shares her story and the steps she took to get a summer internship before her senior year and later, landing a full-time position. Before the end of the first semester of her senior year, in fact, she had received two job offers! She'll also share how she crafted her very effective elevator pitch. This episode will be useful to entry-level job applicants, of course, but Rachel also has some excellent practical advice for anyone looking for a new job. Topics in this episode The importance of casting a wide net when looking for an internship or job How to stay resilient when job hunting Tips for writing an effective elevator pitch How to prepare for interviews What to look for in a summer internship Tips on using the skills gained in a summer internship to land a permanent job offer

How is your LinkedIn profile?  Is it in great shape, or just ok?  Is it neglected, or worse, does it even exist?  Today's episode is going to help. Amy talks to Marc Halpert who is an expert LinkedIn coach and trainer. In fact, he describes himself as a “LinkedIn evangelist.” He will convince you that, with a little diligence, you can have a great LinkedIn profile that will go a long way toward getting that position that's a perfect fit for you. Marc describes himself as “multi-preneur”. He currently he has three companies, and his latest, Connect2Collaborate, he created in order to help job seekers expertly navigate LinkedIn to create notable profiles that help you get noticed.  With his guidance, many professionals have successfully augmented their resumes with powerful LinkedIn profiles that give potential employers a real grasp of WHO the applicant truly is and WHY they are the best hire in a field of candidates. Marc doesn't say to throw away that resume you worked so hard to pull together.  Rather, he advocates creating an outstanding LinkedIn profile to work with your resume by giving it and you, the candidate, dimension.  He tells us that resumes are not memorable, but your LinkedIn profile can be. But how do you go about maximizing your profile? You'll want to take notes during this episode because Marc is going to give you great tips.   If you are looking for ways to be that standout candidate, you're in the right place today.  Topics in this episode: Importance of having a LinkedIn profile which as strong as your resume Importance of being honest, direct and relevant Why and how to take full advantage of LinkedIn Tips for writing an effective headline and about section What an outstanding LinkedIn profile looks like How to use the skills section effectively Some tips for effective networking on LinkedIn How to make yourself memorable on LinkedIn How to effectively describe a prior career in your LinkedIn profile Links: https://connect2collaborate.wordpress.com/ ABA Book: https://www.americanbar.org/products/inv/book/279426434/ Nonprofit Book: https://www.amazon.com/You-Them-Marketing-Professionals-Difference/dp/1719493839 Course for College Grads: https://thebestinclass.thinkific.com/courses/program  

In this episode Amy introduces us to Lynn Power, CEO of Masami, a clean, premium haircare line. Lynn's career journey provides an interesting study in how risk-taking and self-awareness can be a winning combination for finding real satisfaction and fulfillment in the workplace. Lynn traveled from a receptionist's desk to CEO of her own company and shares with us today her exhilarating trip. Lynn graduated from Indiana University with an interesting dual major in English and criminal justice. She immediately applied to the FBI, but found herself on a long waiting list to get accepted. Eager to begin her post college career, she scoured the want ads for a job that would combine both her left brain and right brain abilities. An enticingly worded job ad caught her eye, and shortly thereafter, she became the receptionist at an ad agency. Lynn saw this as an opportunity to combine the creativity she knew she possessed with her head for business. She stayed for 3 years, paying some initial dues that would support her in the job she would take on next at Ogilvy and Mather in Chicago. While there she met her husband, and the two decided to broaden their opportunities with a move to the advertising mecca of New York City. New York agencies such as Grey, BBDO, McCann, Arnold and J. Walter Thompson afforded Lynn years of experience and opportunities to launch or reposition such iconic brands as Gillette's Venus, Clinique, L'Oreal, Natural Match, VIVE, Nexxus, Vichy, La Roche-Posay and St. Ives. And should you think that she only involves herself with beauty products, let me list some of the other product lines she's lent her creativity to: American Express, Hershey's, Campari, Kimberly-Clark, Nestle and T. Rowe Price. Lynn has always “traded up”. She discovered that making more money and expanding her career usually means moving to another firm. She keeps an eye on her career compass and realigns when she finds herself straying from her true path. When she departed as CEO of J. Walter Thompson, then a longstanding institution in the advertising world, she found she had not been using her creative abilities as much as she would have liked. The company became embroiled in a lawsuit before her arrival, and it was left to her to deal with the consequences. After two years of less than fulfilling challenges, she departed and began a consulting partnership. She once more found her work gratifying as her new venture attracted many new startups as clientele. It was a definite change of pace, and rewarding work helping new ventures find their footing. But six months into this new endeavor, Lynn was introduced through her husband to her current business partner. James had been employed at Clairol and had been working on his own small batch formulations of hair care products for years. He was ready to take next steps, but needed experienced help to begin a business. Together, Lynn and her new business partner planned their product launch for New York Fashion Week 2020 and ran squarely into the Covid-19 pandemic. Listen to Lynn tell Amy how the brand-new company is weathering the storm and one of the innovative strategies they are using. Lynn offers lots of tips and insights on career building throughout the conversation. What she has to say will urge you to be decisive and fearless about making career changes. She gives some sound advice as well to those wanting to grow their own business. Her frank and honest responses let you know that's she's the genuine article with lots of good experience to share with you. Topics in this episode: Pros and cons of running your own company vs. working for someone else How to not let your age get in the way Starting at the bottom is a great way both to observe and learn. Not only will you learn about the business, but you'll learn if it's the right one for you Understand that moving up in the job may involve moving into an entirely different type company Network with others to refine your concept if you want to build your own business and get as much and as varied feedback as you can Not being afraid to pivot when you've outgrown your current position and refrain from procrastination whether it involves changing companies or starting your own Honest self-assessment is invaluable. Know who you are and what you do best Links: lovemasami.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynn-power-02b8904/ Social platforms @ lovemasamihair

In this episode, Amy speaks to Dr. Marketa Wills. Marketa's impressive array of accomplishments will demonstrate how staying the course can pay big dividends in many ways. Though probably unconsciously at first, Marketa began charting her path at the Miami Valley School in her hometown of Dayton, Ohio.  As an only child with devoted parents, her education was paramount.  She showed strengths in both math and science studies and her parents guided her in the direction of a career in medicine.  As Marketa progressed, she realized she had another interest as well. In eighth grade, she completed a monthlong internathip at a healthcare organization and fell in love with the idea of working at the intersection of medicine and management. She began to create a career back from that vision.   With her stellar grades and work ethic, Marketa headed off to Brown University. Armed at graduation with both pre-med and sociology majors, she continued on to the University of Pennsylvania, which at the time was the only school in the country where she could pursue medical degree and an MBA. Due to the death of her mother though, she had to forego temporarily the pursuit of an MBA, and instead did a residency in psychiatry. At the end of that residency, she revisited her desire to attain an MBA.  She headed back to Philadelphia and completed that goal at the Wharton School/University of Pennsylvania.  Now holding both an MD and an MBA, it was finally time to apply all she had learned.  But where? Doing what? Listen to Dr. Wills describe the next phase of the journey that's led to a career uniquely hers.  Today she is not only the Senior Medical Director at Centene, the largest Medicaid managed care organization in the U.S., but she also attends to psychiatric patients at a local university in Tampa, Florida.  She has co-authored a book with Dr. Carlin Barnes entitled Understanding Mental Illness: A Comprehensive Guide to Mental Health Disorders for Family and Friends. And there's still no stopping her.  She continues to derive joy in giving and making a difference. She'll advise you on where to find that well within yourself for replenishment when you need it.  Enjoy learning how keeping on track, even with momentary pauses and readjustments, can make for career fulfillment and personal happiness. Topics in this episode:                          Pausing on your path and making adjustments may become necessary but doesn't mean you should set your career plan aside indefinitely You are responsible for your own happiness. If a person or position doesn't contribute to your happiness, then you have choices to make Find satisfaction where you are and enjoy the ride. If you're on your planned route, everything will work out. If you are not happy, you need to readjust either your plan or yourself A conscious plan with short-term, midterm and long-range goals is a good way to keep focused. Marketa referred to her “bucket list” which were her goals When you have gained all the necessary tools, you might be able to choose where you want to work rather than have the job dictate to you where you will work; With all of her experience, Marketa was able to choose where she wanted to live because she knew she had all the tools necessary to get a good position Trust yourself and your instincts   Links: Understanding Mental Illness: A Comprehensive Guide to Mental Health Disorders for Family and Friends can be found at https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Mental-Illness-Comprehensive-Disorders/dp/1510745947/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=marketa+wills&qid=1598302439&sr=8-1 https://www.linkedin.com/in/marketa-wills-md-mba-2992b714/