Talk It Out

We catch up with Emilia Ruzicka '21, currently a data reporter at Stacker, who shares the ins and outs of forging a path in an emerging field of work. They also share how networking has played a key role for them and what's on their horizon in the world of data visualization.

We're excited to share our conversation with John Goncalves, class of 2013 and 2015 graduate of the MAT program. An educator and Councilman of Ward 1 in Providence, John talks about the best ways to prepare for the role of “teacher.” And his best advice for students looking for a career in public service? Get involved and take that first step towards your goal by doing something—big or small. That first step can often set you on a path of impactful work.

Sarah catches up with Azeez Adeyemi '21, who currently works for Tradeweb in New York. Azeez reflects on making the shift from full-time student to full-time employee, and what success and progress look like outside of the Brown bubble.

We chat with Jonathan Groff '83, a TV writer and producer. As a longtime supporter of BrownConnect, Jonathan has advised countless students over the years, and for that we thank him. His story shows that there is no “one way” to get to our respective destinations, and listening to yourself and doing what feels organic to you is a valuable practice as you make your way there.

Hear from alumna Bianca Duah '16 about her path from Brown to medical school at The University of Rochester School of Medicine. She tells us all about the importance of living in your season and taking your time to reach your goals in a way that is authentic to you.

We catch up with Emily Adams '18, a transfer student who squeezed the most out of her time at Brown, and launched her career as a screenwriter amidst the pandemic. We talk about the benefits of self-discipline, taking calculated risks, and staying true to yourself (even if that means making some tough choices along the way).

We chat with 2013 grad Aimee Lucido, a Computer Science and Literary Arts concentrator turned author. She explains how her career path zigzagged from software engineering to becoming an author, and how you can make a career out of many intersecting talents and interests.

Join us as we chat with Andrew Gonzales, a 2016 alum and recent Harvard Law School graduate. What paths took him to his current role as a first-year associate and how has networking made the difference?

Producer Wen Zhuang speaks to two Brown alumni, Soyoon and Julio, who have both found their career paths unexpectedly leading them back to Brown.

Producer Wen Zhuang speaks to Julia Kirschenbaum about how she dealt with the often daunting and sometimes frustrating summer post-grad, and the expectations and realities of her first job.

Producer Eve Grassfield speaks with two alumni, Ari and Andrew, who, in their senior years, were seeking first jobs after graduation in the non-profit and government sectors. Both felt existential uncertainties and social pressures surrounding the often stressful career search.

CareerLAB the Podcast | JobPod Episode 6First Steps / Second Steps: Finance with Alumni Claire Su '17 and Hannah Velasquez '19 Listen as two recent alums discuss their career path after graduating from Brown. Find out where they ended up and how they got there.

CareerLAB the Podcast | JobPod Episode 5Investing After Brown with Yanely Espinal '11 Investing can be fun. Join Yanely Espinal '11, founder of Miss Be Helpful, as she explains investing simply. Learn what you should look for in your 401K and what types of investments you can make today.

CareerLAB the Podcast | JobPod Episode 4Debt Management-It's Doable with Hannah Velasquez '19Hannah graduated with almost 80,000 dollars in student loan debts. Listen as she tells us how she did it and how you can too.

CareerLAB the Podcast | JobPod Episode 3Taking that Pain out of Networking with Kyriana Reddy '20Networking doesn't have to be stressful. Listen as Kyriana discusses how networking has benefited her career search.

CareerLAB the Podcast | JobPod Episode 1 Consulting: Insights and CaseCoach Prep with Founder Enguerran Loos Do you wonder what a career in consulting is actually like? Do you want to know how to prepare for an interview? Listen as Emily Nolan and Enguerran Loos discuss consulting and the development of CaseCoach.  

CareerLAB the Podcast | JobPod Episode 2 The Who and Whys behind MoneyGirls with CEO and Founder Judy Zhu  Connecting the rising generation of smart, motivated women with the knowledge to confidently and capably run their own money)    

We visit with three Brown Students to discuss how COVID-19 is affecting their summer plans and how they learned to pivot.

Welcome to Talk It Out, a CareerLAB podcast in which we investigate the big dysfunctional myths of the job and career search. In this episode, you’ll hear from seven different alums about their experience of hunting for jobs and talk about the fears and pressures they felt.    If you have any questions or topics you’d like to hear in future episodes, share your thoughts with us here.  You can schedule an appointment with a CareerLAB counselor through Handshake here. 

The idea of finding the “perfect” first job after graduation can feel pretty intimidating, especially if you aren’t sure of exactly what you want to do. In this episode, Kimberley Charles ‘16 explains how she tried out different types of work before landing on her first job, and how she continues exploring.   If you have any questions or topics you’d like to hear in future episodes, share your thoughts with us here.  You can schedule an appointment with a CareerLAB counselor through Handshake here. 

“Networking” can sometimes seem like a dirty word, but it doesn’t have to feel transactional or schemey. In this episode, we talk to Flo Schalliol ‘13.5 about getting started by using connections you already have and then reaching out to the Brown alumni.    If you have any questions or topics you’d like to hear in future episodes, share your thoughts with us here.  You can schedule an appointment with a CareerLAB counselor through Handshake here. 

The timeline of the job and internship search can feel incredibly stressful. If you don’t have a job by the end of first semester, you can feel miles behind your classmates. On this episode of Talk It Out, we discuss the myths surrounding that timeline with Rachel Black ‘16, and how most Brown students will find their jobs later in the year, closer to graduation.   If you have any questions or topics you’d like to hear in future episodes, share your thoughts with us here.  You can schedule an appointment with a CareerLAB counselor through Handshake here.