Pivoting Out of Edu

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In our podcast, we share the stories of other folks who have left campus-based positions in higher education and K-12. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average person holds 12 jobs between the ages of 18 and 50. Educators (like us!)

Drs. Tom Studdert and Jaimie Hoffman


    • Dec 22, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 31m AVG DURATION
    • 65 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Pivoting Out of Edu

    #65 “Campus Rec to... FINANCIAL ADVISOR?" ~ Featuring Jon Broska

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2022 24:24


    We end our fourth season with almost 40k downloads and with this interesting pivot featuring Jon Broska. Both Tom and Jaimie were quite surprised to find that Jon's story is one of our favorites of the season. Jon pivoted from campus recreation to being a financial advisor and we never would have thought that there were so many similarities to student affairs work. We highly encourage you to listen to this episode! And... get ready for season five because we're switching it up and we think you'll love it! 

    #64 "Career services to implementation/ project management" featuring Beth Touhsaent

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2022 22:04


    Beth Tousant shares how she took her 12 years of experience from career services to implementation at EAB. Listen to how she leveraged her transferrable skills to support universities across the nation.

    #63 "Life after Academia - a UK perspective" featuring Luna Muñoz

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2022 21:27


    Wondering if the great resignation is impacting academics beyond the US? Hear Luna Muñoz's perspective as someone who has left academia and is helping others in the UK think through pivoting. 

    #62 "Recruitment and admissions on and off campus" featuring Germyce Williams

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2022 24:27


    This week we talk to Germyce Williams, a joyful and brilliant woman who talks about her experience working in recruitment and admissions in on campus positions and in ed tech. 

    #61 "Higher Ed to Ed Tech and Global Onboarding" Featuring Samantha Goldstein

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2022 26:41


    Join us as we discover Samantha Goldstein's career journey. She started in higher education and was able to weave in and out eventually landing in a role with LinkedIn where she conducts onboarding. Her story is fascinating and gives hope to folx looking to be able to try new things. 

    #60 "Student life to blood banks" Liz Collver

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2022 18:23


    Join us as we learn about Liz Collver's journey through new student programs, philanthropy, and student life to her current role at Versiti Blood Center.  Everyone's pivot can look different. Be open to opportunities! 

    #59 Strategy Short: Interviewing

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2022 6:14


    Join us for our second "strategy short" of this season, a short (10-15 min) episode in which Jaimie and Tom share strategies to help bolster your pivot. In this short, we share general advice and information about interviewing outside education.

    #58 "Student Affairs to L&D at Deloitte" Featuring Dan Wehr

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2022 20:24


    Dan Wehr's story will resonate with many of our listeners because worked in housing, student activities, AND orientation! Now he is working in learning and development at Deloitte. Check out his story!

    #57 "Math teacher to SDR in Ed Tech" Featuring Harold Hall

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2022 20:43


    Calling all classroom teachers! Tune in this week to listen to Harold Hall's story about shifting from being a math teacher to a sales development representative. Such a cool guy! You'll love his story.

    #56 "Campus Rec to Real Estate" Featuring Cindy Tse

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2022 24:07


    Tom and Jaimie loved chatting with Cindy Tse about her pivot to real estate. It was so interesting hearing how she sees parallels in her work now to her work in campus recreation. Also, many of you can get started working on a real estate license even before you pivot. Enjoy!

    #55 Strategy Short: The Decision Pyramid

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2022 9:48


    Trying something a little new this season with "strategy shorts" which are essentially short (10-15 min) episodes in which Jaimie and Tom share strategies to help bolster your pivot. In this short, we share the decision pyramid which contains variables to consider when deciding the direction of your future career path.

    #54 "Student Engagement to Customer Success to Product Management" Featuring Patrick Dostal

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2022 33:39


    Join us as we learn about Patrick Dostal's pivots from student engagement to customer success to product management. His story is a great example of how your first pivot out of higher ed does not have to be your last and you can grow within your company. 

    #53 "Conduct to County Housing Support" Featuring Chelsee Bente Russell

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2022 34:08


    Chelsee Bente Russell's story will resonate with our listeners who want to stay working in a values-aligned space. She is passionate about ensuring folx have their basic needs met and has moved into a position with her local county where she focuses on housing for citizens. Another great example of how you can work to affect change outside of higher education!

    #52 "Student Affairs to Equity Strategy" Featuring Darrell Ray

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2022 25:00


    This week we talk with Darrel Ray about his journey from various student affairs roles, including VPSA, into a position as a Chief Equity Strategist. Darrel's story is great motivation for seasoned leaders to think about what is next.

    #51 "Campus Rec to SEO Optimization" Featuring Heather Hamilton

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2022 23:02


    We love this pivoter's unique story in this episode! Heather Hamilton decided she wanted to learn about SEO and marketing so while working in campus recreation in higher education, she took courses and learned. She's a go-getter and her story is one that will likely give you ideas for your own pivot! 

    #50 "Ph.D. to DEI" Featuring Dr. Sarah Toutant

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2022 31:30


    Our first guest of Season Four is an amazing one AND this happens to be EPISODE FIFTY! Join us as we talk to Dr. Sarah Toutant who speaks bravely and proudly about the pivot she took out of education when she finished her Ph.D. program.  

    #49 Introducing Season 4

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2022 17:14


    Ya'll we're kicking off Season 4 and we're so excited to share that we have reached over 30,000 downloads! We said we would keep doing this as long as you keep listening... so here we are! Looking forward to sharing another season with you full of amazing pivoter's and sprinkled in some short episodes jam packed with our advice. Listen in as we share what's coming this season and Jaimie's most recent pivot news!

    #48 Black Professionals Pivoting Out of Edu with Guest Host Dr. Alexandria White

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2022 27:21


    She's baaacccckk!  We are excited to share this season 3 bonus episode focused on the unique challenges Black professionals experience when pivoting out of campus-based positions. Our guest host, Dr. Alexandria White, shares what she's experienced and learned from helping others. Join us as we dig into this very important topic. 

    #47 "K-12, to Higher Ed, to Ed Tech" with Nori Barajas-Murphy

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2022 26:48


    Learn from Nori Barajas-Murphy how she pivoted through different contexts (e.g. K-12, higher education, and educational technology) while staying digitally focused. Nori's story is fascinating as grant writing also helped her to pivot... plus she's always fun to chat with!

    #46 "Campus Communication to Demand Generation" Featuring Loren Branch

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2022 23:02


    Boolean searches, digital strategy, CRM, demand generation, oh my!  Listen to Loren Branch's journey from campus-based communications position to demand generation at Campus Sonar. 

    #45 "From Housing to Habitat for Humanity" Featuring Leah Schueler

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2022 30:28


    Many of our listeners who have a housing background wonder what they can do outside of campus-based positions. We've showcased a variety of pathways and we think the one featured this week will resonate with many of you. Leah Schueler went from housing to Habitat for Humanity. 

    #44 "Pivoting Between Campus to Ed Tech and Back" Featuring Dan Bursch

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2022 32:06


    This week we talk to Dan Bursch and learn about his fascinating journey back and forth between campus-based roles and adjacent roles. He is a passionate and impressive leader and we're sure you'll enjoy hearing what he has to share.

    #43 "Res Life to Nursing/Mental Health" with Bradley Kuo

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2022 28:23


    Bradley Kuo's path is a fascinating one!  He moved from being a resident director to nursing and now running his own online tele mental health clinic/company.  Check it out! 

    #42 "From Admission to Ed Tech Sales" Featuring Erin Stine

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2022 33:01


    Join us as we talk "sales" with Erin Stine who pivoted from a campus-based position in admissions to Ed Tech. We are certain Erin will help you think differently about sales and it just may become a pathway you will consider!

    #41 "From DEI on campus to Corporate" Featuring Johnathon Johnson

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2022 24:23


    Meet Jonathon Johnson and learn about his journey from doing DEI work on college campuses to corporate; Jonathon is the VP for DEI at Planned Parenthood of Texas. Learn and listen to this amazing human!

    #40 "Orientation to Recruitment" with Albert Perera

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2022 27:31


    Lots of folx who pivot out of campus-based positions think about recruitment as a next step in their journey. Join us as we talk with Albert Perera, a Recruitment Coordinator at Slack. Of course, we also geek out about our love for Slack. :) 

    #39 "From Teaching & Learning to Digital Credentials" Featuring Dr. Sheryl Grant

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2022 28:41


    This episode will resonate with the folx in higher ed who work with faculty in teaching and learning. Discover how you can use your talents in Ed Tech like Sheryl Grant has! 

    #38 "Res Life to Marketing" Featuring Liz Gross

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2022 31:48


    Join us to hear Liz Gross's fascinating story about her transition from Res Life to marketing and ultimately to creating her own role at Campus Sonar, a social listening company. So inspiring!

    #37 "From Higher Ed to Real Estate" Featuring Stephen Campbell

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2022 29:23


    Kicking off season three by featuring a path campus-based pros can start before they officially make the pivot! Stephen Campbell shares his road from higher ed positions to real estate. 

    #36 Season 3 Introduction

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2022 22:34


    Welcome back to Season THREE!  In this episode, we reflect on the work we've done so far with the podcast, foreshadow what's ahead this season, share some accomplishments from 2021 and plans for 2022.  

    #35 "The Great Disillusionment" Featuring Lindsay Ellis Of The Chronicle Of Higher Education

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2021 29:19


    "College workers are burning out just when they'll be needed most" is the subtitle of the widely discussed article by Lindsay Ellis published August 25, 2021 in the Chronicle of Higher Education. This week we have Lindsay herself on the show telling us all about what she learned through the process of researching and writing this article. We are sure much of what you hear Lindsay share will resonate with your story. Have a listen to our final episode of season 2!

    #34 "Res Life To HR" Featuring Gwen Auckloo

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2021 29:35


    Many of our listeners are curious about what might be next after working in Res Life. Join us as we chat with Gwen Auckloo, Human Resources Manager to learn about her path from Res Life to Human Resources. 

    #33 "Getting Practical with Your Pivot: A Deep Dive into Customer Success" featuring Jenny Campbell

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2021 35:45


    Join us this week as we learn about all things customer success from Jenny Campbell, VP of Customer Experience for ZoomInfo. We are confident this episode will resonate with many of you who support student success and are thinking about how your experience translates out of campus-based positions. 

    #32 "Getting Practical with Your Pivot: A Deep Dive into L&D" featuring Chad Helminger

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2021 33:20


    Chad Helminger chats with us about his work in learning and development and his pivot to a product role. He gives advice about getting on Twitter and LinkedIn. Check it out!

    #31 "Build a Product You Believe In" featuring Dr. Chris Hess

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2021 34:39


    This week we learn about Dr. Chris Hess' pivot from a faculty role to work in Product in an EdTech company.  He shares interesting thoughts about sales and product. 

    #30 "Follow Your Heart" Featuring Amy Yamamoto Callahan

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2021 37:55


    Join with us as we learn about Amy Yamamoto Callahan's journey through various educational contexts including K-12 teaching, government, and corporate work. Amy shares great advice about leveraging your network and following your heart.

    #29 "All Things Negotiation: Getting Practical with your Pivot" with Jaimie & Tom

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2021 53:17


    Negotiating a benefit package is not necessarily an area of comfort for many folx period, nevermind the different elements of benefits, like equity and bonuses, offered in corporate roles. Check out this practical episode with Jaimie & Tom that helps you think through the process of negotiating!

    #28 "Leave the fire extinguishers, brooms and dust pans behind" featuring Dr. Vijay Pendakur

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2021 45:31


    This week we learn from Dr. Vijay Pendakur about the variables that drove him to leave a role as a Dean of Students and his approach to pivoting. He discusses his ruthless self-analysis and codified his work and how he pivoted to a VP role in Ed Tech. 

    #27 "It's Like Leaving a Religion" featuring Dr. Eric Stephens

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2021 34:14


    This week we dive into the story of a former professor's pivot to EdTech. Dr. Eric Stephens shares his challenging journey in the professorship and how he turned that experience around by securing a job in EdTech while helping countless others with his #hirehighered movement. Shownotes: https://www.translateacademia.com 

    #26 "See the Light Inside You" featuring Darren Jones

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2021 43:19


    Join us this week to hear the story of a seasoned student affairs officer who transitioned to a role in Ed Tech. Darren Jones shares how he found his full-time role and how he complements this with leadership consulting. He gives great advice about finding a job that gives you butterfly feelings and a unique way to negotiate compensation packages. 

    #25 "Getting Practical with Your Pivot: Pathway to Project Management" featuring Claire Murphy

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2021 37:35


    Join us for our first "Getting Practical with Your Pivot" episode where we give listeners the inside and in-depth scoop on how to make the pivot. In this episode, we talk with Claire Murphy about the world of project management - an area many student affairs folx are very well prepared to pursue. Claire is a wealth of knowledge and all-around great person to chat with. Tune in! Show notes: Project Management Institute  Certified Associate in Project Management

    #24 "Out of the Darkness and Into the Light" featuring Alexandria White, Ed.D.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2021 35:56


    This week, Tom talks with Dr. Alexandria White about her experiences during the pandemic that led to her finding "the light" in her career. Dr. White shares her passion for impacting the lives of moms working in student affairs through her S.A.M.s (Student Affairs Moms) initiative - which includes a facebook group and website among other strategies. In Student Affairs Mom-fashion, Jaimie was not able to be present for the recording because she was doing a She.Is.Beautiful 5K with her eldest daughter Jojo.  We are confident you will love this episode!  Dr. White's story is very powerful! Show notes: Student Affairs Moms Facebook Group Student Affairs Mom Website 

    #23 "Innovation over Perfection" featuring Jeff Patterson

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2021 28:23


    This week we talk to Jeff Patterson, CEO of Gaggle and Ed Tech leader who has helped countless individuals find positions in EdTech. Learn about his journey as an entrepreneur and his thoughts for folx looking to pivot out of campus-based positions.

    #22 "NASPA Voices from the Field Cross Over!"

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2021 45:15


    Kicking off season two with a special podcast crossover! Join our hosts, Drs. Jaimie Hoffman and Tom Studdert, as they chat with Dr. Jill Creighton host of NASPA's Voices from the Field podcast. In this episode we have frank conversations about working in higher education and factors that may impact people staying in the profession or pivoting out of the profession.  Show notes: Where are the Jobs?, blog 

    #21 "Introducing Season 2!"

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2021 31:56


    Join Drs. Jaimie Hoffman and Tom Studdert for the introduction of their second season. They talk about what's ahead for this season and, by special request, they share some random facts about each other.  The random facts are sure to make you giggle and hopefully, you get excited about the season ahead with some of the fun stuff they foreshadow.

    #20 "Questions from Listeners" with Jaimie & Tom

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2021 57:33


    In our final episode of the first season, Jaimie & Tom answer questions from our listeners. Join us! 

    #19 "Dream big, work hard & leave a little sparkle wherever you go!" featuring Jennifer Duston

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2021 30:05


    In our penultimate episode of season one, we foreshadow a little of what is to come in season two where we include voices from K-12 education perspectives. In this episode, we talk with Jen Duston, Client Partner at Franklin Covey and former campus-based administrator and teacher. Jen shares her story and gives great advice about following your heart. Listen in!  

    #18 "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do.. But You Can Come Back!" featuring Dr. Amy Johnson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2021 38:10


    Many of the folx we speak to express a sense of fear that if they leave a campus-based position they will not come back. Both of us worried about that too! After all, we build pieces of our identity around being student affairs professionals! We are excited to share this episode with you featuring Dr. Amy Johnson, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at UNC-Chappel Hill, sharing her perspectives on hiring folx who bring outside experience. And yes, you can come back!

    #17 "Color? Yes! Cover letter? No! Advice from a CHRO" featuring Alyssa Lahar

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2021 28:08


    This week we take a bit of a different approach with our episode by sharing practical advice from Alyssa Lahar, Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at ZoomInfo. Alyssa shares tips for effectively transitioning your experience into corporate and her thoughts on how campus-based professionals can fit into corporate positions. 

    #16 "Working For Myself" By Amma Marfo

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2021 33:15


    This episode we welcome Amma Marfo who discusses her journey where she left campus-based positions to work for herself. Amma is doing exactly that as a writer, speaker, consultant, and coach. In fact, check out her Defector Academy where she works with individuals who want to pivot from higher education and student affairs work, into new professional realms.

    #15 "Engineer Your Passion" with Dr. Laura Pasquini

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2021 39:29


    Dr. Laura Pasquini joins us and shares SOOOO many nuggets of advice and questions to consider for folx thinking about pivoting. Laura herself has had a few pivots in her career and is now working in talent development at Amazon. This episode is sure to help you get to the next step of thinking about your journey. Show notes: Engineer Your Career Passion  Career Changers (InVinoFab PodCast) The Fool Leaps (I Quit My Job)  Experimenting with Identities @ Work  Leading with Why   Laura's Coaching Podcast

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