Do you want to enhance your career growth and discover new opportunities? Are you looking for a unique perspective that can help you achieve increased understanding and success? Join us as we welcome our guest, Jennifer Toole, who will share her solution to help you reach these desired outcomes. Get ready to uncover the value of networking and diverse experiences in your career development, as Jennifer shares her unique perspective and career journey. Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable insights and take your career to new heights.

In this episode, you will be able to:

Unlock the power of networking and relationship-building in propelling your career forward. Discover the benefit of periodically reassessing your career goals and adjusting your strategies accordingly. Uncover the crucial role of talent acquisition in ensuring the perfect fit for any organization. Get inspired by Jennifer Toole's unique and varied career journey. Learn about the key qualities and skills that the Padilla family of brands look for in potential hires.

Jennifer Toole, a highly seasoned and dynamic professional, navigates complex career landscapes with poise and a unique perspective. Her multifaceted career journey, shifting gears from public relations to talent acquisition, aids in the amplification of a truly unique viewpoint. Building relationships and strategic networking are the highlights of her mantra, lauding their importance in professional growth. Her insightful strategies and experiences are bound to inspire individuals aiming for professional growth and diverse experiences in their career development.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:01 - Introduction,

00:00:34 - Importance of Relationships,

00:01:56 - Effective Networking,

00:04:13 - Taking a Step Back,

00:06:55 - Overview of Padilla Family of Brands,

Visit padillaco.com to explore career opportunities with Padilla, Shift Communications, Food Minds, and Joe Smith.https://www.linkedin.com/in/hirschjennifer/

Discover the secrets to effectively providing feedback for personal and professional growth. Through the conversation with Human Resources Leader Jenni McDonough, we learn about the importance of attitude and how a simple journey of self-discovery can lead to an unexpected revelation and wide spread cultural changes.

In this episode, you will be able to:

· Delve into the importance of productive criticism in bolstering growth trajectories.

· Realize the importance of stage-setting and seeking consent as prerequisites to giving feedback.

· Master the skill of providing concrete and meaningful recommendations that drive progress.

· Absorb the idea of accepting feedback as an opportunity for skill enhancement and forward movement.

· Understand the merits of a feedback-centric culture as groundwork for constant improvement and success.

My special guest is Jenni McDonough

Meet Jenni McDonough, a standout leader with a 20-year record of growth in the Human Resources sector. Through her exceptional understanding of employee management, she assists businesses in burgeoning their teams and procuring exceptional talents. Jenni, in her current role as Chief People Officer at Alloy, profoundly emphasizes a solid culture of positivity and optimism. Her understanding of diversity and her commitment to making employees feel seen, heard, and cared for have painted her a reputation for both leadership and compassion.

A profound storyteller and a seasoned industry pro, Andrew Freeman has mastered the art of building memorable brands in the hospitality sector. With an eclectic background that includes acting and culinary arts, his diverse array of experiences has contributed to his unique perspective and hands-on approach in the business world. His dual firms, AF&CO, and Carbonate have made significant imprints in the restaurant and hospitality space, successfully positioning brands in the market through effective PR and marketing strategies. Andrew's conviction in thinking out of the box, combined with his exceptional knack for narrative-driven marketing makes him an influencer par excellence in the hospitality circuit.

In this episode, you will be able to:

Uncover the vital role that branding and storytelling play in driving the success of the hospitality industry.

Trace the compelling journey of AF&CO from a simple logo design division to a holistic agency equipped to tackle diverse marketing challenges.

Grasp the significance of fostering employee growth and ownership for maintaining the health and vitality of a company like AF&CO.

Draw inspiration from unlikely sources such as reality TV shows and fitness regimes and learn how they can fuel your creative ideas.

Understand why nurturing and rewarding dedicated employees is crucial for building a thriving and sustainable business ecosystem.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:01:47 - From Acting to Restaurant Marketing

00:04:04 - Embracing Gray Areas

00:07:23 - Career Moments and Mentors

00:10:09 - Starting Your Own Consultancy

00:12:58 - Rewards and Challenges of Entrepreneurship

00:15:42 - Introduction and Brand Development

00:16:25 - Formation of AF&Co,

00:17:25 - Growth and Future Plans

00:18:58 - Barry's Boot Camp

00:19:51 - Closing Remarks

For more information about AF&Co: https://www.afandco.com/

Welcome to the Career Wanderlust Podcast, your guide to navigating new career horizons. In this episode, we sit down with Katie Huang Shin, President of Big Valley Marketing, a seasoned leader with over 25 years of experience in top-tier PR agencies. Katie's journey has led her through prestigious firms like Porter Novelli, Fleishman Hillard, We Communications, and Axicom, where she consistently exceeded expectations and cultivated award-winning teams. Join us as we delve into the wisdom Katie has gathered throughout her career. From the importance of the "look in the mirror test" for leadership integrity to the power of making it about others rather than yourself, Katie shares invaluable lessons that have shaped her career and leadership philosophy.

In this episode, you'll discover:

The significance of leadership integrity and doing the right thing. The transformative impact of putting others first in your career. The unique agency model of Big Valley Marketing, where specialized experts excel. Katie's recommended books for personal and professional growth. Don't miss this insightful conversation with a true PR and communications industry luminary. Whether you're an aspiring PR professional or a seasoned executive, Katie's experience and advice will help you chart your own successful career path.

Guest Bio: Katie Huang Shin is the President of Big Valley Marketing, a renowned marketing and communication firm. With over two decades in the industry, Katie has led multimillion-dollar businesses and global clients, earning a reputation for exceeding expectations. She's passionate about developing high-performing teams and guiding the next generation of PR professionals.

Key Moments in the Episode:

Introduction to Katie Huang Shin and her impressive career journey.The "look in the mirror test" and its significance in leadership.

Navigating challenging situations and putting others first.

The unique agency model of Big Valley Marketing.

Recommended books for personal and professional growth.

Closing remarks and gratitude for joining the Career Wanderlust Podcast.

Tune in to gain valuable insights and inspiration to elevate your own career journey with Katie Huang Shin.

Connect with Katie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kkhshin/

For more about Big Valley Marketing: https://bigvalley.co/

Welcome to Career Wanderlust, your compass for new career horizons. In this episode, we sit down with David Barkoe, the CEO and co-founder of Carve Communications, a Miami-based public relations agency with over two decades of experience in the field. David has masterfully orchestrated strategic campaigns for influential brands and startups alike, and today, he shares his wealth of wisdom on advancing your career.

Join us as David reveals unconventional career advice that's truly transformational. Learn why he defied the norm in PR and the secret to his career success. Discover how he seized opportunities, even when others couldn't see them, and the incredible stories that led to the birth of Carve Communications.

🌟 Key Takeaways:

· Don't be Afraid to Jump: David challenges the conventional wisdom of staying put in your career. He shares why he ignored the advice to avoid job-hopping and why it was the best decision he made.

· Seize Opportunities: Learn how David recognized opportunities that others overlooked, leading to the creation of a pioneering role at a global PR firm and the founding of his own agency.

· Speak Up and Offer Solutions: Discover the importance of speaking up and proposing solutions in the workplace. David emphasizes that this practice not only leads to personal growth but also helps shape the culture of your organization.

· Interns are Valuable: David values interns highly and has even adopted an intern-to-hire approach. He explains how interns have played a crucial role in Carve Communications' growth and success.

Join us for an inspiring conversation with David Barco that will reshape your approach to career development and inspire you to seize opportunities, create your path, and speak up for what you believe in.

Guest Bio: David Barkoe is the CEO and co-founder of Carve Communications, a leading public relations agency with a focus on technology and influencer marketing. With over two decades of experience, David has shaped the narratives of influential brands and startups. He's known for challenging conventional career advice and for his ability to recognize and seize opportunities. David is a strong advocate for a dynamic and inclusive work culture, where everyone has a voice.

Key Moments in the Episode:

· David's career journey from administrative assistant to CEO.

· Why David didn't follow the traditional advice of staying at one job for an extended period.

· How David created the Account Coordinator role at a global PR firm.

· The story of seizing an opportunity in the Miami startup community that led to founding Carve Communications.

· The "No Toes" philosophy and why open communication is vital in the workplace.

· The value of interns and the "intern to hire" approach.

· David's sources of inspiration and the importance of watching and learning from others.

Join us for this episode and embark on a journey to transform your career with insights from a PR trailblazer.

For more about David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-barkoe-01774b3/

For more about Carve: https://carvecomms.com/

Welcome to Career Wanderlust, in this episode we talk with the remarkable Alisa Granz, a communications and marketing expert. Join us as we uncover the secrets to finding your professional "sweet spot," and learn how embracing curiosity and resilience can lead to transformative growth in your career.

Key Takeaways:

1. Cultivating Cultural Fit: Alisa emphasizes the importance of finding a workplace culture that aligns with your professional aspirations and work style. Discover how the right cultural match can make or break your career experience.

2. The Power of Open-Mindedness: Be open to exploring different aspects of your field, even if they aren't where you initially envisioned your career. Alisa's journey from public affairs to brand marketing showcases how being open to diverse experiences can lead to your "sweet spot."

3. Embracing Failure: Understand that failure is not the end but a stepping stone to success. Learn how Alisa's experiences in the fast-paced world of public relations taught her resilience and problem-solving skills that have been invaluable in her career.

4. Building Confidence: Alisa shares the impact of having a mentor who believed in her potential and how this support allowed her to step into roles she might have otherwise doubted her ability to handle.

5. RNC PMK and Cultural Marketing: Discover the exciting world of RNC PMK, a company with over 50 years of experience in representing both talent and brands. Alisa explains how they drive cultural conversation and harness data and insights to make meaningful impacts.

Guest Bio:

Alisa Granz is the President of Brand Communications at R&CPMK, where she leverages over 20 years of experience in communications and marketing to create transformative brand experiences. She has worked with some of the world's most innovative companies, contributing to their success by building brands and driving cultural conversations. With a passion for motivating teams, Alisa is a seasoned leader dedicated to achieving exceptional results.

Key Moments in the Episode:

Alisa's advice on finding a workplace culture that matches your professional aspirations and work style.Her journey from public affairs to brand marketing and the importance of staying open-minded.Insights into embracing failure as a stepping stone to success.The impact of having a supportive mentor on her career.A glimpse into R&CPMK and their role in cultural marketing and brand success.Join us on this voyage of career exploration with Alisa Granz as we navigate the waters of success, resilience, and cultural marketing. Don't miss out on this enriching conversation that will help you find your professional "sweet spot."

For more about Alisa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisa-feinstein-granz-ba68715/

For more about R&CPMK: https://www.rcpmk.com/

Welcome to the Career Wanderlust Podcast! In this episode, we talk with Travis Murdock, a seasoned expert in public relations, marketing, and brand storytelling. With over two decades of experience, Travis has shaped the narratives of tech giants like J&J, Juniper Networks, Polycom, and Hootsuite. He currently serves as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the United States at Sonus PR.

Key Takeaways:

Discover Travis's invaluable career advice on maintaining meaningful connections and offering free PR and marketing guidance. Uncover the pivotal moment when honesty and transparency saved a startup from disaster. Gain insights into Sonus PR's niche expertise in B2B tech storytelling and its unique approach to understanding market dynamics. Travis shares a game-changing book recommendation that transformed his approach to productivity and time management. Guest Bio: Travis Murdock is a distinguished veteran in the field of PR, marketing, and brand communications. He has worked with an impressive roster of tech innovators and currently leads the United States operations at Sonus PR, a renowned agency specializing in cutting-edge B2B tech storytelling. Travis's career spans more than 20 years, during which he has mastered the art of crafting compelling narratives for complex technologies.

Key Moments in the Episode:

- Travis shares a favorite career advice about the power of maintaining authentic connections. Learn how wishing people happy birthdays strategically can deepen relationships.

Travis's secret weapon: Offering free PR and marketing advice for life. The universal truth of helping others and its impact on personal growth.

Travis recounts a pivotal career moment involving a product cancellation and the transformative power of honesty.

The essence of Sonus PR: Navigating the complexities of tech storytelling.

Travis discusses the importance of translating technical jargon into compelling narratives.

How Sonus PR's proprietary research software helps guide client storytelling.

Travis reveals the impact of the book "Getting Things Done" on his career and time management.

A final word of wisdom from Travis: Read the book to transform your approach to planning.

Join us for a captivating conversation that delves into the art of PR and marketing, building trust through transparency, and unlocking your productivity potential. If you're looking to master the craft of storytelling in the tech world, this episode is a must-listen!

Stay tuned for more insightful episodes on the Career Wanderlust Podcast, where we explore the journeys, strategies, and lessons of career experts and thought leaders.

For more about Travis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travismurdock/

For more about Sonus PR: https://sonuspr.com/

Embark on a career journey through the fascinating world of supply chain management with Mike Bush, Chief Growth Officer at CDL 1000. Mike shares his incredible experiences, including a crisis management story that will leave you inspired. Tune in to explore the dynamic and ever-evolving field of supply chain, and gain insights into career growth and resilience.

Key Takeaways:

• Discover the importance of adaptability and resilience in your career.
• Learn valuable crisis communication strategies.
• Gain a deeper understanding of the supply chain industry and its challenges.
• Discover the art of building and maintaining valuable professional relationships.

Guest Bio: Mike Bush is the Chief Growth Officer at CDL 1000, a company revolutionizing supply chain management. With a career spanning
over 20 years, Mike has a diverse background in marketing, communications, and
public relations, working his way up through the agency world and becoming Managing Director of Fusion Public Relations to Heading up Communications for NEXT Trucking . He has successfully navigated his clients and companies through challenging
situations while generating millions in revenue and positive publicity.

Key Moments in the Episode:

• Mike's experience handling a communications crisis in the supply chain industry.
• Tips for building and managing relationships in the PR industry.
• The transformative impact of technology on supply chain management.

To connect with Mike Bush: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mbush/

For more on CDL 1000: https://www.cdl1000.com/

Discover the secrets to making career decisions that align with your authentic self and prioritize your own happiness and fulfillment. But what happens when Jacqueline Boas finds herself in a miserable work environment? Will she choose financial stability or personal well-being? What could be an uncanny connection between financial health and career aspirations? Find out in this gripping episode of Career Wanderlust.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Discover the power of financial planning for creating a fulfilling and stable career.
• Unlock your true potential by stepping outside your comfort zone and embracing new career opportunities.
• Learn how to recognize the signs of an unhappy job and gain the confidence to make a positive change.
• Embrace authenticity and prioritize self-worth in your career decisions to find true fulfillment and success.
• Explore the interconnectedness of financial and emotional well-being for a more balanced and rewarding career journey.

My special guest is Jacqueline Boas

Jacqueline Boas is a seasoned communications professional with an impressive background in leading companies such as Legrand, OzRAM, Northeast Bank and Boston Scientific Corporation . She has also successfully managed her own consultancy, Birdsong Communications. With a passion for mission-driven business, Jacqueline recently made a career change to become the global philanthropic Communications Manager with the New Balance Foundation. Her diverse experience and expertise in navigating career transitions make her a valuable guest on the Career Wanderlust Podcast. Jacqueline's practical advice, along with her personal anecdotes and insights, will inspire professionals seeking fulfillment and growth in their careers. Tune in to gain valuable insights from Jacqueline's journey and learn how to make authentic and fulfilling career decisions.

The key moments in this episode are:
00:01:01 - The Importance of Financial Planning

00:03:00 - Overcoming Fear in Career Development

00:05:38 - The Empowerment of Facing Fear

00:08:21 - Leaving Unhappiness Behind

00:15:27 - Company Culture and Values

00:15:48 - Following Through on Gut Feelings

00:16:36 - The Gifts of Imperfection

00:17:45 - Prioritizing Personal Well-being

00:18:11 - Closing Thoughts

For more about Jacqeuline Boas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqueline-boas/

Are you ready to take your career to the next level? Join us as we delve into the insightful advice and experiences of Sandra Fathi, a strategic executive with over 20 years of experience. In the face of adversity and uncertainty, Sandra Fathi defied the odds and embarked on a daring journey that would forever change her career trajectory. With a one-year-old baby and the aftermath of 9/11 looming over her, she fearlessly launched her own agency, determined to make her mark despite the challenging economic climate. Little did she know, this bold move would lead her down a path filled with unexpected twists and turns. Join us as Sandra shares her remarkable story of resilience, leadership, and the transformative power of crisis.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Enhance your career success and growth opportunities by gaining valuable career advice and insights.
• Unlock the power of nurturing relationships and networking to expand your professional connections and opportunities.
• Develop resilience and adaptability skills to thrive in challenging times and overcome obstacles in your PR and marketing career.
• Learn crisis management and decision-making techniques to effectively handle and navigate difficult situations for your clients or organization.
• Learn how to build and maintain a positive reputation, foster a strong corporate culture, and develop top talent in the PR and marketing industry.

Sandra Fathi is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in the PR and marketing industry. As a C-suite executive, she has successfully led public relations campaigns for more than 300 clients across various sectors, including B2B and B2C. In 2002, Sandra founded her own agency, Effect, which later caught the attention of Gregory FCA, leading to its acquisition in 2021. Building on her expertise, Sandra recently launched Gray Matter Advisory, a company focused on helping PR, marketing, and digital agencies scale their businesses to meet their specific goals. Her extensive experience and strategic approach have made her a sought-after figure in the industry. We are honored to have Sandra Fathi as a guest on the Career Wanderlust podcast, where she shares her valuable career advice and insights.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:01:26 - Going out on your own

00:03:51 - Learning and growing in your current role

00:06:12 - Nurturing relationships and reputation

00:07:49 - Thriving in times of crisis

00:16:58 - The Importance of Culture and Talent Development in a Remote Environment

00:17:58 - The Need for Teaching New Business Development

00:18:35 - The Importance of Continuous Learning

00:19:34 - The Evolution of the Industry

00:21:11 - Embracing Continuous Learning for Mastery

Even when times are tough, that's when you see the true colors of a great PR person or business leader. It's the moments of crisis that test your mettle and require you to make decisions quickly and utilize all your skills to come out on top. - Sandra Fathi

Grey Advisory: https://greymatteradvisory.co/

Sandra Fathi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandrafathi/

Career Wanderlust: https://www.youtube.com/@careerwanderlust

If you enjoy learning from others, please give us a like, subscribe, and share with a friend. If you are looking to add talent to your public relations, marketing, communications, sales, or business development team with the best talent, and quickly, check us out at paradigmstaffing.com.

Are you bringing your authentic self to work? In this episode of Career Wanderlust, guest Kevin Petschow reveals the power of authenticity and alignment in your career journey. But what happens when your personal beliefs clash with your organization's mission? Stay tuned to find out how Kevin navigates this challenging situation.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Discover the power of authenticity in the workplace and unlock your true potential.
• Explore the importance of personal beliefs and how they can shape your career journey.
• Learn how aligning your values with your company's mission can create a sense of purpose and fulfillment in your work.
• Build trust and strong relationships with coworkers, leading to a more positive and productive work environment.
• Find fulfillment in your career journey by understanding and pursuing what truly motivates and inspires you.

My special guest is Kevin Petschow

Kevin Petschow is a seasoned professional who has found fulfillment in his career journey through authenticity and alignment. With years of experience under his belt, Kevin understands the importance of bringing your authentic self to work and being true to your colleagues. He has learned firsthand that trying to fake it to make it simply doesn't work, especially when it comes to believing in the products, services, and mission of the company you work for and the clients you serve. Kevin's career has taught him the value of doing your homework and ensuring that the values and morals of a company align with your own. Through his own experiences, Kevin provides valuable insights on finding fulfillment in your career by staying true to yourself and aligning with your core values.

The key moments in this episode are:
00:00:00 - Bringing Your Authentic Self to Work

00:00:32 - Believing in the Mission

00:00:00 - The Importance of Research

00:00:00 - Making Adjustments

00:00:00 - Key Takeaways

• Bring your authentic self to work: Take the time to reflect on who you truly are and how you can infuse that into your work. This could mean expressing your unique ideas, sharing your personal experiences, or being true to your values and beliefs. Let your authentic self shine through in your interactions with colleagues and in the work you produce.
• Believe in the products and services: Before committing to a company, thoroughly research their products and services to ensure they align with your values and beliefs. Don't just fake it to make it. Find a company whose mission you genuinely believe in and whose products or services you can confidently stand behind.
• Do your homework: When considering a job opportunity, take the time to thoroughly investigate the company's offerings and values. Look at their website, read reviews, and talk to current or former employees if possible. Make sure you have a clear understanding of what the company stands for and what it offers before making a decision.
• Adjust quickly if needed: If you find yourself in a job where the products or services don't align with your morals and values, don't hesitate to make a change. It's important to prioritize your own principles and find a role that allows you to work

For more about Kevin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinpetschow/

If you enjoy learning from others, please give us a like, subscribe, and share with a friend. If you are looking to add talent to your public relations, marketing, communications, sales, or business development team with the best talent, and quickly, check us out at paradigmstaffing.com.

In a world where success is often measured by comparing ourselves to others, Rachel Esterlne Perkins, a seasoned communications professional, reveals an unexpected twist to finding personal growth and fulfillment in one's career. As she shares her valuable insights on the podcast, Career Wanderlust, Rachel emphasizes the power of embracing one's own unique journey, no matter how unconventional it may seem. But little did she know, her seemingly unusual career choices would become her biggest strengths. As her story unfolds, Rachel's shares strategies and insights that can help you find the career growth and fulfillment you desire.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Unlock your career potential with valuable advice and insights
• Discover the power of self-awareness to propel your career forward.
• Learn how to assess and enhance your critical thinking skills for success.
• Gain an understanding of the qualities that make a candidate stand out in the job market.
• Explore the impact of mindset and attitude in the hiring process.
• Find out what it takes to achieve personal growth and fulfillment in your career.
• Elevate your career prospects with expert guidance and strategies.

My special guest is Rachel Esterlne Perkins

Rachel Esterlne Perkins is our guest on today's episode of Career Wanderlust. Rachel is a strategic communicator with a passion for helping brands tell their stories to build awareness and drive revenue. With experience in a variety of industries, including education, ed tech, and advocacy, Rachel brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. She has worked with prestigious organizations like Central Michigan University, K12 Insight, and Davenport University, and currently serves as the VP of Content with the National MS Society. Rachel's career journey has taught her the importance of focusing on your own skills, experience, and relationships, rather than comparing yourself to others. She believes in the power of being authentically yourself in your career and making choices that align with your values. Tune in to hear Rachel's insightful advice and impactful lessons for young professionals seeking personal growth and fulfillment in their careers.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:01:08 - The Importance of Focusing on Yourself

00:04:29 - Being Authentically Yourself

00:06:18 - Self-Awareness and Knowing What You Want

00:09:25 - The Power of Self-Awareness

00:15:04 - Interviewing Candidates for a Writing Job

00:17:58 - Measuring Critical Thinking in Interviews

00:19:54 - Assessing Emotional Intelligence and Conflict Management

00:20:54 - The Value of Grit and Resilience

00:22:31 - Personal Superpower: Tenacity

If you enjoy learning from others, please give us a like, subscribe, and share with a friend. If you are looking to add talent to your public relations, marketing, communications, sales, or business development team with the best talent, and quickly, check us out at paradigmstaffing.com.

For more about Rachel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelesterline/

Do you desire a better work-life balance and improved communication skills? Our guest, Suzanne Block, shares the solutions she found when faced with a work life that regularly impacted her personal life. She provides insights towards attaining a more harmonious work-life balance and honing your abilities to communicate effectively, resulting in a more fulfilling professional journey.

In this episode, you will be able to:

Master the art of effective communication techniques to advance your career. Achieve a healthier work-life balance while still excelling in your communications and marketing role. Elevate your consultancy services with expert guidance on shaping and scaling your business. Discover secrets to success as a public relations and communications specialist.

My special guest is Suzanne Block

Suzanne Block is a highly experienced public relations and communications specialist, boasting an impressive career trajectory. With a background working at esteemed PR agencies such as Burson Marstellar, and Bateman Group. Suzanne has honed her skills in developing impactful campaigns and aligning them with business objectives. Her expertise extends to serving as the VP and Head of West Coast Operations for the Merritt Group, where she successfully led strategic communications efforts.

Suzanne's passion for the industry led her to establish her own marketing and communications agency, Shape and Scale, which focuses on elevating growth for B2B SaaS and technology companies. With her deep knowledge of the industry and commitment to delivering exceptional results,

Suzanne is a sought-after resource for businesses seeking to enhance their brand visibility and communication strategies. Tune in to our podcast episode featuring Suzanne to learn from her extensive experience and gain valuable insights into the world of public relations and communications.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:01:22 - Be a Sponge

00:03:49 - Work-Life Balance

00:07:44 - Shape and Scale

00:09:35 - Book Recommendations

Connect with Suzanne Block on LinkedIn: Reach out to Suzanne Block on LinkedIn to connect and stay updated on her work in public relations and communications. https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzanne-block/

Explore Shape and Scale: Visit the Shape and Scale website to learn more about Suzanne's marketing and communications agency and the services they offer to B2B SaaS and technology companies. https://shapeandscale.co/

Read Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman: Dive into this book recommended by Suzanne to gain insights on organizing and planning your business for success. https://amzn.to/3t2dt1U

Check out Never Split the Difference by Michael Kramer: Discover the negotiation tactics and communication strategies shared by former FBI hostage negotiator, Michael Kramer, in this book. https://amzn.to/3T7Ef3C

Listen to the Armchair Expert podcast: Tune in to the Armchair Expert podcast hosted by Dax Shepard and Monica Padman for engaging conversations and entertaining discussions.

Consider working with Shape and Scale: If you're a B2B SaaS or technology company in need of help with shaping your message and scaling your business, reach out to Suzanne and her team at Shape and Scale for their expertise.

Follow the Career Wanderlust podcast: Stay updated on the latest episodes of the Career Wanderlust podcast by subscribing on your favorite streaming service

If you enjoy learning from others, please give us a like, subscribe, and share with a friend.

Choosing an unconventional path, Jessi Adler shares how she combined her career with her nomadic journey, defying office norms to pursue her dreams, as she overcomes rejection and fear to create a fulfilling remote work lifestyle. Her unwavering determination to pursue her passions propelled her to seek new opportunities and ultimately find a supportive company. Stay tuned to discover how Jessie's resilience and commitment to change led her to live a fulfilling life on her own terms.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Explore the freedom of a remote work and travel lifestyle.
• Gain insights from podcast and book suggestions.
• Learn the art of networking and opening doors to new opportunities.
• Embrace taking risks and pursuing your passions.
  
  In this episode of Career Wanderlust, you'll dive into the inspiring journey of Jessi Adler, who transitioned from a conventional office job to a nomadic lifestyle as a remote worker. The main theme revolves around taking risks and pursuing a fulfilling life based on personal passions. Throughout the conversation, Jessi emphasizes the importance of being brave, not fearing rejection, and prioritizing happiness and fulfillment over others' expectations. Her story serves as a reminder to embrace change and live a life that brings true satisfaction and joy. If you're seeking to pursue your passions and create a fulfilling career and lifestyle, this episode is a must-listen, offering valuable insights and inspiration for taking risks and making necessary changes to achieve personal fulfillment.,
  
  
  My special guest is Jessi Adler, with over 20 years of communications and storytelling experience, is a trailblazer who has navigated various roles from government communications to collaborating with organizations such as Emergent Biosolutions, Michigan Community Service Commission, and Michigan State University. Currently serving as the director of Media and Influencer Relations at Plat4orm, a cutting-edge communications agency, Jessi's unconventional approach to life sees her exploring the country in her airstream, blending work with an adventurous spirit. With a passion for living life to the fullest and embracing change, Jessi's journey and career advice are sure to inspire individuals seeking to pursue their passions and carve out their own unique path.
  
  
  The key moments in this episode are:
  
  00:00:00 - Introduction and Background
  
  00:00:57 - Career Advice - Don't Settle
  
  00:05:08 - Impactful Career Moment - Taking Risks
  
  00:10:07 - Platform PR and Remote Work
  
  00:13:42 - Continuous Learning and Trivia
  
  00:13:57 - RV Entrepreneurs Podcast and Remote Work Lifestyle
  
  00:15:37 - Marty Sklar's Disney Books and Leadership Lessons
  
  00:18:03 - Personal Superpower: Opening Doors and Networking
  
  00:21:32 - Embracing Change and Taking Risks
  
  
  To connect with Jessi Adler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessiwortley/
  
  
  If you enjoy learning from others, please give us a like, subscribe, and share with a friend.
  
  If you are looking to add talent to your public relations, marketing, communications, sales, or business development team with the best talent, and quickly, check us out at paradigmstaffing.com.

In this episode of Career Wanderlust we sit down with Kristina King, an award-winning strategic communications professional known for inspiring brand affinity through her creative campaigns. Join us as Kristina shares her invaluable insights into the world of public relations, including the secret to pitching ideas that truly resonate, harnessing weaponized anxiety for success, and the power of empathy in PR. Discover how Kristina's journey through PR has been shaped by her relentless positivity, and why connecting the dots in unexpected ways is the ultimate superpower for PR professionals.

Content:

•Uncover Kristina's personal experiences and career advice that will resonate with PR enthusiasts and professionals.

•Gain valuable tips on pitching ideas that you're passionate about and learn the importance of aligning with your clients.

•Explore the intersection of empathy and PR, and how it can lead to impactful campaigns.

•Hear the secrets behind Kristina's ability to stay positive and maintain composure in high-pressure situations.


Memorable Takeaways:

•Learn the art of harnessing weaponized anxiety to drive success in PR.

•Understand the significance of building collaborative teams and using empathy as a tool.

•Discover the power of connecting the dots creatively and adapting to changing situations in PR.

•Explore ways to find curiosity and excitement in challenging projects.

Guest Bio: Kristina King is an award-winning strategic communications professional with a passion for inspiring brand affinity through creative campaigns. With experience at top global agencies like Huge, Ogilvy, and Fleischman Hillard in New York City, Kristina currently serves as a partner on the financial services team at Finn Partners.


Key Moments in the Episode:

•Kristina's journey into the world of PR and her favorite career advice.

•The importance of pitching work you're passionate about.

•Insights into handling accounts that may not align with personal interests.

•How to harness weaponized anxiety for success in PR.

•The role of empathy and positivity in PR campaigns.


To connect with Kristina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinamarieking/


If you enjoy learning from others, please give us a like, subscribe, and share with a friend. If you are looking to add talent to your public relations, marketing, communications, sales, or business development team with the best talent, and quickly, check us out at paradigmstaffing.com.

In this enlightening episode, we sit down with Allen Shapard, a true industry luminary who transitioned from a corporate lawyer to an international authority on marketing, communications, and branding. Join us as Allen shares his invaluable advice on cultivating genuine relationships, the art of asking crucial questions, and the pivotal moments that defined his career. Discover how his remarkable journey from writing a simple letter led to a seven-year partnership with one of the world's wealthiest philanthropists. Tune in for actionable advice and captivating stories that will supercharge your career.

Welcome to “Career Wanderlust”, the podcast that empowers you to achieve your professional dreams. In this enlightening episode, we sit down with Allen Shapard, a true industry luminary who transitioned from a corporate lawyer to an international authority on marketing, communications, and branding. Join us as Allen shares his invaluable advice on cultivating genuine relationships, the art of asking crucial questions, and the pivotal moments that defined his career. Discover how his remarkable journey from writing a simple letter led to a seven-year partnership with one of the world's wealthiest philanthropists. Tune in for actionable advice and captivating stories that will supercharge your career. Guest Bio: Allen is a former corporate lawyer turned internationally recognized expert on marketing, communications, and branding. He has spent the past twenty years working with companies and institutions such as the Nobel (Prize) Foundation, PepsiCo, Cisco Systems, Samsung, Honeywell, KPMG, the Mayo Clinic, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the UN, to increase awareness, influence, and revenue. He also has helped senior executives and royalty to strengthen their profile and thought leadership. Allen has worked as an SVP with APCO, and IMG and is currently Managing Director for Noodle Allen also serves on several non-profit boards including the Mark Foundation and the Genesis Prize Foundation. He is a Senior Fellow at the US Council on Competitiveness. His work has been the subject of coverage in The New York Times, Financial Times, and The Economist. Allen has also spoken frequently on branding, marketing, and communications. Key Takeaways: The transformative impact of building strong relationships with clients and colleagues.The significance of asking direct and important questions in both professional and personal life.How a simple letter led to a seven-year partnership with one of the world's wealthiest philanthropists.The power of authentic communication and active listening. Key Moments in the Episode: Allen's inspiring journey from corporate law to becoming an internationally recognized expert.How a simple act of kindness, like sending a Christmas card, can create lasting impressions.The role of direct questioning in achieving career goals and fostering meaningful connections. Noodle's mission is to shape the future of online education and its impact on society. For more about Allen Shapard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/washapard/ If you enjoy learning from others, please give us a like, subscribe, and share with a friend. If you are looking to add talent to your public relations, marketing, communications, sales, or business development team with the best talent, and quickly, check us out at paradigmstaffing.com.

Discover how Kara's journey through creative thinking and unexpected ideas has reshaped brands and her career path. Learn the power of kindness in leadership and how building strong relationships can open doors to unimaginable opportunities. Explore Kara's insights on storytelling in your career, and why being open to different directions is the key to success

Join us in this episode of the Career Wanderlust Podcast as we sit down with the remarkable Kara Silverman. Discover how Kara's journey through creative thinking and unexpected ideas has reshaped brands and her career path. Learn the power of kindness in leadership and how building strong relationships can open doors to unimaginable opportunities. Explore Kara's insights on storytelling in your career, and why being open to different directions is the key to success

Bio:

Kara Silverman is the Executive Vice President at 5WPR, where she leads the corporate and technology division. She has a proven track record of developing communications, public relations, and marketing strategies that drive growth for her client companies. Kara's career spans across leading agencies like Small Girls PR, Clarity, and in-house roles, including Global Head of Communications at ACAST

Key Takeaways:

• he importance of embracing a non-linear career path.
• The power of storytelling in your career.
• How kindness and strong relationships can shape success.

Key Moments in the Episode:

• Kara shares valuable career advice for those just starting out (00:01:01).
• The impact of relationships on career opportunities (00:03:11).
• The story of Kara's brother and the importance of connections (00:04:16).
• Insights into 5WPR's fast-paced and creative work culture (00:06:15).
• The role of kindness as a superpower in leadership (00:10:22).

For more about Kara Silverman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karasilverman/

If you enjoy learning from others, please give us a like, subscribe, and share with a friend. If you are looking to add talent to your public relations, marketing, communications, sales, or business development team with the best talent, and quickly, check us out at paradigmstaffing.com

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Transcript

Jolie Downs: Welcome to the Career Wanderlust Podcast, your compass for new career horizons. Today, we are talking with Kara Silverman. Kara focuses on developing communications, public relations, and marketing strategies to generate new growth for her client companies.

Most of her career successes have come from using creative thinking and unexpected ideas to reposition a brand or product in the market and connect with those new audiences. Cara has held leading roles within agencies such as Small Girls PR and Clarity, as well as in house roles such as Global Head of Communications with ACAST.

She is now the Executive Vice President with 5WPR, and I'm excited to learn more. Kara, thank you for joining us on the Career Wanderlust Podcast.

Kara Silverman: Thank you so much for having me excited to be here.

Jolie Downs: I'm really glad you're here with us. Thank you. Please could you tell us a little bit about what you feel has been some of your favorite career advice and why?

Kara Silverman: Yeah, that's such a good question I remember talking to a college student a couple months ago who was just at the beginning of her career and thinking your career isn't going to go in a straight line and I think that was really helpful advice for me and something I definitely wish I'd known when I was getting started is that as much as we want to follow the pattern and take the next step and know what's coming, especially nowadays, most careers don't follow a straight path.

They don't go in a straight line and being open to all the different directions is something very

Jolie Downs: useful. Definitely. It's okay knowing that's okay. That the supposed to in your head actually, it doesn't really exist. You know what I mean? We all, and I love this advice because we all have different paths , and as a recruiter, I talk to thousands of people and all of these paths are different, and they're all unique, and they're all your own, so thank you for letting people know that is okay, and to be expected.

Kara Silverman: Yeah, most definitely. I think the trick is being able to storytell whatever it is that you're experiencing and understanding the through lines yourself. So even if it feels like one job isn't connected to another job or maybe you have a gap or you're trying something being experimental, as long as you can connect the dots and help an employer or someone you're trying to work with understand what your career path looked like and how you got from A to Z, I think that's what matters and being open to wherever that path goes.

Jolie Downs: Completely. And that's great advice as well. Understanding your own story, why you made the decisions, being able to be very clear in your communications with your next potential employers is incredibly important. And that makes all the difference.

Kara Silverman: Absolutely.

Jolie Downs: Yeah. Now, what about a story? I'd love to hear a story from people.

Is there, something that happened in your career that ended up being an impactful lesson to you? And what did you learn from it?

Kara Silverman: I think something that has been reinforced for me many times over is that relationships matter probably more than anything else. And that knowing someone will open a door for you in a way that just being good at something isn't going to do.

I think the last time that I interviewed in a real way for a job was 2011. Okay. And pretty much since then, every role that I've had, every job, every position has been the result of getting to know someone, working on a project with someone collaborating in some way. That's not necessarily a story, but I think it's a lesson that's become really true over time.

I think it's also true in the execution of my work and the execution of PR. Relationships really matter, right? If you know someone, you can ask questions, you can get through the door, it maybe won't guarantee. A result or something like that, but the, I think the relationships are really powerful and that who matters more.

The story I always tell to demonstrate this is actually about my brother. When we were teenagers, my brother got a job at the great steak and potato, a restaurant, like a fast, casual, , chili. Philly cheesesteak restaurant in Ohio. He had never worked in a kitchen, did not know how to cook, was not the family member that was helping out around Thanksgiving or anything like that.

When he got that job, I remember being just shocked and saying to my dad, I cannot believe someone hired Jason to work in a kitchen. He doesn't know anything. That's crazy. And my dad said, you have to remember his friend also works there. And so his friend probably said to his boss, my friend, Jason is dependable.

You should hire him. And that's how he got the job. That story from, I think I was 10, that story has, completely colored the entire way that I've approached my career and I've really invested in building relationships and getting to know people inspired by that and really looking at that and thinking.

That's how I want to move through this world.

Jolie Downs: Oh, yeah. you said that you haven't interviewed in a real way in quite a while. And I know that you've had different positions since then. in your current role with 5WPR, is that through relationships? I take it that was a similar

Kara Silverman: situation?

Yes. I'm, lucky to have rejoined 5W for now the third time. This is, I'm a boomerang employee. So I've come back a couple of times. They're definitely doing something right. But yeah, this was a, more than two year conversation that didn't start as a direct, Hey, we have an open role. It just started as a get to know the new CEO who was a peer of mine many years ago, get to know him, have a conversation.

I referred some business to 5W. They had an opening come up. Was it the right time in my life? Was it the right time for them? And then when the right fit was there, it made sense to join the team. And so it was a really long conversation. There wasn't a formal, like what. Do you, where do you see yourself in five years?

Show me, tell me about a time that you handled a stressful campaign. Of course, I have proven those things over many years. Yes. Yes. That was a, even for them, I'm sure. Yeah, that was definitely a relationship.

Jolie Downs: Yeah. And now with five, could you tell us more about 5WPR? What do they do? What do you look for in talent? What, , has attracted you to them over and over

Kara Silverman: again? Great question. What I really love about working here is that it's an incredibly fast paced, incredibly dynamic company that moves at the speed of our clients. So we don't get stuck in lots of long term planning and lots of, two, five, seven year thinking.

We certainly love a strategy, but we're really nimble and we pride ourselves on that. We're also very kind of bold thinkers, creative thinkers, very willing to take a chance, willing to make interesting statements, willing to come out with an opinion on an issue. And then we're a true generalist agency, which I don't think you see quite as much anymore.

5W has a true kind of consumer part of the business and then a corporate and technology side of the business, which is where I sit. And you also asked what we look for in employees. I think we look for people with great critical thinking skills, people with really strong media relations experience, people who are ready to ready and willing to put themselves out there.

People who move really quickly and are able to see something in the news and draw a connection to a client, even if it doesn't seem obvious, and people who are willing to try. I think we get really excited about ideas that can come from anywhere. It's not a particularly hierarchical business, which is always something that's really spoken to me and why part of the reason I came back.

I agree.

Jolie Downs: I know. I love places like that. I'm curious, have you read anything or watched something or listened to something that had a positive impact on your life that you think others could benefit from as

Kara Silverman: well? I love podcasts. That's part of the reason that I worked at ACAS was to be closer to podcasts and I think podcasts are probably the thing that I would recommend the most.

Some of them are silly. I think Normal Gossip is probably a podcast I would recommend that maybe doesn't feel connected to your career, but is actually a really good example of how careers don't take kind of normal paths. Normal Gossip is a show that takes silly little gossip from niche communities and talk, the host shares the story with the guest and they go back and forth.

It's really great. But the thing that it also does is looks at the way gossip fits in our society and the role that gossip plays, especially with women. And I think that's such an interesting thing to think about with our careers and sharing information about what it's like to work at a place and how to think about what, how you should present yourself and what people are caring about these days.

Gossip, information sharing, such a fine line -and so I think that's probably a podcast that I would recommend. I think other ones that have been really useful are How I Built This is another great example that I'm sure you've probably heard before.

Oh, it's, with Guy Raz. It's wonderful. It's the story of entrepreneurship. They talked to founders from all around the world who have started companies like 1 800 flowers, Edible Arrangements, all the way through to Airbnb. And you get to hear all the different stories about how businesses came to be.

And they're not always applicable because sometimes those companies are huge and far away. But it's helpful to hear how sometimes people fail when they're getting started with something, or how maybe they were really successful and then they took a wrong turn, or it was built really slowly over time, and I think that's really helpful for

Jolie Downs: your career as well.

I completely agree. Hearing other people's stories, it's relatable, it helps you, you're able to learn some lessons through listening to them, and you're able to relate your own self to other people. I don't know, you just feel less alone and even just listening to people, you can feel.

I love that and I haven't listened to either one of those podcasts, so I'm excited. I love the question. I highly recommend you just get exposed to new things that you haven't either read or watched or listened to, so thank you for sharing. So now before you go, I'm curious if you could share with me, what do you feel is your personal superpower

and, how has it benefited you in life?

Kara Silverman: I think something that I've really developed over time is my kindness muscle, and I think that's something that you don't hear a lot in successful business people. Most people assume that as you climb your career, you have to be like more ruthless, more tough, and I'm still ruthless and tough, but I'm also kind and polite and understanding.

I think that's really important in being successful is treating people with kindness. And I want to work with people who are kind and respectful. I want to work with people who are successful and doing great things and making the world a better place and building businesses but I don't think that you need to be difficult or rude to do that.

And I think it's taken me a long time to learn how to be kind while also being direct and clear and effective and not being underestimated. I think that's a superpower.

Jolie Downs: Yes, absolutely. Kind does not mean you're a pushover. That's right. Yes. And I thank you for this because I think it's incredibly important.

Kindness is a superpower that anyone can learn and develop, and it absolutely is a superpower. And I completely agree with you that, people see the professional, moving up the ranks, like you have to be this tougher kind of person, but that's just society.

That's history that has told us that's actually not truth. That's just what we've come to believe, right? As a group think almost in a way. What I love is that so many people are breaking that mold and breaking out that realm to show that leaders. Kind, compassionate leaders are the most successful and that's what the studies are showing.

It's amazing because not when you are a kind leader, you create a kind environment and people thrive in a kind environment. They do. And that's where that creativity comes in. That's really where that's that beauty. So thank you for sharing this. I think it

Kara Silverman: was incredibly important. Thank you.

Yeah. So well,

Jolie Downs: thank you for coming on the podcast. I really appreciate your time and sharing your insights with us. It's been

Kara Silverman: wonderful. Thank you so much. It was great to be here.

Jolie Downs: Thank you for joining us on the Career Wanderlust Podcast. If you find value in learning from others, give us a like and subscribe. If you're looking to grow your communications, marketing, public relations, or sales and biz dev team with the best talent and quickly, check us out at Paradigmstaffing. com and submit a request.

We are wishing you a most successful and fulfilling career. Until next time.

Discover the key to building powerful networks by being authentic and learning from every interaction.

In this episode of the Career Wanderlust podcast, join us for an insightful conversation with Wunmi Bamiduro, a seasoned Communications professional with a wealth of experience in technology, finance, and advisory services. Discover the key to building powerful networks by being authentic and learning from every interaction. Tune in to unlock the secrets of forming meaningful connections and advancing your career.

Guest Bio:

Wunmi Bamiduro is a respected figure in the world of corporate communications, currently serving as the VP of Corporate Communications for Corporate Finance at Wells Fargo. With a background that includes roles at Gartner, Fannie Mae, and more, Wunmi has honed his skills in media relations and executive communications. His superpower? Reading a room and understanding people's motivations.

Key Takeaways :

• Authenticity is the foundation of building powerful professional networks.
• Embracing failure and course-correcting are crucial for personal and career growth.
• Understanding the motivations of others can help in forming meaningful connections.
• Personal development, including therapy, can enhance emotional intelligence and connection.

For more from Wunmi, you can find him here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wunmibamiduro/

If you enjoy learning from others, please give us a like, subscribe, and share with a friend. If you are looking to add talent to your public relations, marketing, communications, sales, or business development team with the best talent, and quickly, check us out at paradigmstaffing.com.

The Art of Compassionate Leadership

Join us on the Career Wanderlust podcast as we delve into the transformative power of saying "yes" with award-winning PR expert Janel Steinberg. Discover how embracing opportunities, even when unprepared, can lead to unexpected growth and success. Learn how curiosity, humor, and empathy play vital roles in effective communication strategies. We also explore the transformative power of leading with kindness. From fostering a supportive work environment to practicing empathy and curiosity, discover the qualities of compassionate leadership that inspire and empower teams. Tune in for practical advice and real-world examples that will empower you to navigate career challenges with confidence. The Power of Saying "Yes": Explore how embracing opportunities outside your comfort zone can open doors to new experiences and connections. The Impact of Compassionate Leadership: Explore how leading with kindness can enhance team morale, productivity, and overall well-being. Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Learn how saying "yes" despite self-doubt can lead to valuable personal and professional growth. Building Empathy in Communication: Learn the importance of understanding diverse perspectives and practicing active listening in professional interactions. Janel Steinberg is an accomplished public relations professional with a diverse background spanning industries such as tech, consumer goods, and hospitality. With a track record working with top-tier companies like Nestle, PayPal, and Oracle, Janel currently serves as the Vice President and Head of the U.S. Office for Liberty Communications. Her expertise in media relations and strategic communications has earned her industry recognition and respect. Key Takeaways: Embracing the "power of yes" can lead to unexpected opportunities and personal growth. Overcoming self-doubt and imposter syndrome is essential for seizing new challenges. Compassionate leadership involves fostering empathy, understanding, and collaboration among team members. Authenticity and transparency are essential for building trust and credibility as a leader. Prioritizing kindness and empathy in leadership can lead to greater team morale, productivity, and overall success. For more about Janel Steinberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janelsteinberg/ If you enjoy learning from others, please give us a like, subscribe, and share with a friend. If you are looking to add top talent to your public relations, marketing, communications, sales, or business development team quickly, check us out at paradigmstaffing.com.

Join us in a profound conversation with Anna Taylor on "Career Wanderlust," where she unfolds her 15-year journey in fostering inclusive environments. Anna shares the art of building time for play and curiosity into hectic schedules, both individually and for teams, to spark innovation. We explore the creation of her viral graphic advocating for trauma-informed language in the workplace, and discuss the intense backlash and subsequent opportunities it generated. Tune in to gain insights on nurturing inclusivity in every word we speak and every action we take.

Guest Bio: Anna Taylor is a luminary in the field of strategic communications with over 15 years of experience in creating inclusive environments through dynamic communication strategies. As an award-winning chief strategist and Director of Global

Communications, Anna specializes in catalyzing change and fostering diversity,

equity, and inclusivity in corporate cultures. Her innovative approaches to

team engagement and her pioneering work in trauma-informed language have made

her a sought-after speaker and thought leader in the communications industry.

Key Takeaways:

"Discover the secret to staying at the cutting edge of your field with Anna's 'curiosity-first' framework."

"Hear the story of how one viral graphic can ignite a national conversation on the words we choose in our professional lives."

"Learn how to infuse play into your work routine to unlock creativity and foster a culture of engagement and learning."

"Uncover the unexpected synergy between communications and change management from a certified change management practitioner."

"Be inspired by Anna's personal stories of navigating career challenges and her actionable advice on leveraging every experience for growth."

For more about Anna Taylor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annadtaylor/

Transcript

AnnaTaylor2024-02-13--22-59-12-v960wflw3ch--final-mix

Anna Taylor: Welcome

Jolie Downs: to the Career Wanderlust podcast, your compass for new career horizons. Today we are talking with Anna Taylor. Anna is an award winning chief strategist and creative communications expert who builds inclusive environments through communications. With over 15 years of experience, Anna has managed a variety of complex projects for diverse audiences.

Through it all, she's developed an unwavering commitment to inclusivity, bringing her enthusiasm for diversity, equity, and inclusivity to each of her roles, as well as her speaking engagements. Anna is currently the director of global communications and change lead with a technology leader, and I'm really excited to learn more.

Anna, thank you for joining us on the Career Wanderlust

Anna Taylor: podcast. Thank you so much for having me. I'm really excited to

Jolie Downs: be here. I'm excited to have you here. You know, could you tell us, or share with us, what you feel has been some of your most important or favorite career advice

and

Anna Taylor: why? Oh, my first, first up I would say, someone gave me some advice a while ago and it was to stay curious.

I absolutely, absolutely love learning and trying new things. And what I found out through our career is that my curiosity is really what's propelling me forward. I like to ask the questions of why, why are we doing something in this way? What can we do differently? How can we stretch ourselves? Is there something innovative that we can bring?

And that curiosity has led me to try different things. I try storm a lot, I pilot a lot. I like to fail fast and fail forward. And so that curiosity has really, really helped me in my career. So I would share that advice with others. Stay curious.

Jolie Downs: Stay curious and the fast failure being okay to fail moving forward and checking out new things.

These are all vital, vital, not only career advice, but life advice in general, to be honest with you. , and you know, I love that you gave us some questions too, because a lot of people might need to find their curiosity, right? So, I felt like that was very helpful. Is there any other ways that you found help you find your curiosity?

Anna Taylor: Absolutely. I actually built time to be curious and play throughout my day. So, and I do this with my teams. I give my teams the ability to get a little bit of freedom to actually block their day to either discover a new article that they can bring back to us and share as a group. Something fun. So we actually schedule play time.

I pull up things like finding where's Waldo. We do a virtual puzzle together because what I found is building it into your day, actually carving out the time for it. We get very busy with work and it's. Easy to just let it fall to the back burner, but when you're intentional about it, you're like, I'm going to carve out this hour on Friday to read new things, find something I can share, learn something different.

It really, really helps. And so I give that piece of advice to others as well. Don't try to just think it's going to happen naturally because it'll be something that you push to the back burner, really carve out time in your day and do it with your teams and encourage them to do it because then it becomes a group learning activity.

And I learned so much from others curiosity. That helps me grow.

Jolie Downs: Oh, that is a fantastic, functional advice, uh, applicable that anyone can take and roll with right now, not only with themselves, but with their teams. And I applaud this. It's actually reflective of some of my favorite advice that I got, because I used to feel like creativity was just something that, that.

Um, that came right that curiosity that creativity. It's just you have it or you don't or it just comes but it actually is something that can be curated. And when I was told that and that was the advice I was given to to set aside time to actually put it on your calendar that it actually creates curiosity.

It creates creativity by doing that. And I found it to be absolutely true.

Anna Taylor: So if you think about children, one of the wonderful things about kids, they're very curious. They question things. It's not like the status norm. Sometimes you think these are lots of questions, but oftentimes they're good questions.

And one of the things I admire about children, and I don't know when it stopped as adults, we stopped playing. And what I found is that, and there's research that supports this, playing whatever that looks like and feels like, and sometimes it's really as simple as you think, triggers something in the brain.

It works different neurons that what we use every day to do our traditional jobs. And so turning on that curiosity that's buried deep within us is the child in us, the inner child in us, it really, really will help. Absolutely.

Jolie Downs: It brings the magic forth, right, in life, which absolutely sparks new ideas and new ways of thinking and just new ways of dealing.

And you're right, that's something that so many of us have lost

Anna Taylor: in life. We become grown ups and then totally forget! So,

Jolie Downs: so let's all bring the play back, okay? Anna is giving everyone permission to bring play back into their lives.

Anna Taylor: Absolutely.

Jolie Downs: I love it. I think that's fantastic. And now have you found that to benefit your own work?

Anna Taylor: , so in my role, because I get to lead all things communications, I get to try. Out of the fun things, like people say, your group is the fun group. I've been able to build it into our culture. So what does that look like? We have a game show that I launched when I started. It is a game show that we use different platforms.

Right now we're using Kahoot!, we do it. And it is Bringing together adult learning principles, so we are around a subject that we want people to get deeper about or learn about or sometimes it's just to bring some of our cultural activities to the forefront if we're celebrating a diversity month or heritage month or something like that, but it has been.

One of the top rated activities, the engagement activities that we've had. And when I first pitched it, everyone was like, no, one's going to want to play. No, one's going to want to do this. And I was like, let's just try, let's just try. And my team and I came up with the format. We all pitch and take turns, actually planning it, producing it in need.

Impact and the enthusiasm, the number of slots that get taken up really, really quickly. If you want to be on the stage versus in the audience, it's been amazing to just see it organically grow. And it all started from our team in our team meeting. I put together a little play, a little family feud. Moment that I was doing my team to help us understand what we were measuring like our KPIs and it was so fun and it was like, this is great.

We should try this with the larger group. And now it's, it's very much one of our top rated engage active. That

Jolie Downs: is fantastic. I love it so much. This is great. I'm inspired by it. I mean, I feel like I could take this on a smaller scale for my team, you know. Oh, I'm really into it.

Anna Taylor: You won't be surprised. , the competitiveness that comes, that comes out as

Jolie Downs: well.

Well, it's, it's a bonding and, and when it's a great way to learn, you know, fun is the best way to learn always. So I love it so much. And now what about a personal story for you? Is there a story that has happened in your own career that was really impactful and you learned something from it that could benefit other people from hearing your story and what you learned?

Anna Taylor: Oh, there's so much over the last 15 years that I could share, but what I will share is, um, last year I had an opportunity to really. Understand and really ground myself and what's really important to me as a professional, as a person, and you talked about it a lot, which is this idea of being as inclusive as possible in our communication efforts, but beyond that.

And so last year I had an opportunity, whether I wanted to accept it or not, I went viral for a Graphic that was really trying to help us replace words that may have a trauma response or violent undertones in our workplace and just swap them out. So yeah, just like instead of, um, we'll take a stab at it.

We'll launch this project, like different, just different terms. And it went viral and it was beautiful to see for a couple of reasons. One. There are people that were reaching out to say, how do I say this differently? I, I never really liked this phrase, kill two birds with one stone. Why are we, why are we killing birds?

And why are we hitting them? And so I came up with, you know, I've heard it in the past, like feed two birds with one scone. And you're like, wow, never heard of that. And I will use that. Or why are we putting a trigger on this project? Why aren't we just launching this project? And so it was beautiful to see.

All of the other ways organically people wanted to kind of do better, um, and just changing something very, very small. As with anything, there's two sides to every coin. I also went viral in, in the worst ways, which brought a lot of attention that wasn't so great of people thinking that I was like trying to tell people what to do.

We're too woke, woke culture. What I found. In that moment, going through that was that people just don't know sometimes and they feel like they're something's being taken away from them versus helping them understand. And I had a lot of conversations, people in my DMs really trying to understand, am I bad for saying this?

Am I a bad person? And once you kind of remove from people, no, you're not bad. We all. Have room to grow. We all have ways that we can improve. It is not a indictment on you as a person that if you do this or say this thing, you're inherently bad. That's not what this was about. It was more about just understanding how we can make it a little bit easier for everyone in the room by just changing some of the everyday speak that we have.

And that was really impactful in my career because it was the opportunity for me to really lean in and say, I'm committed to doing this. Even with all the attention that it may bring at times. Yeah, so

Jolie Downs: the negative tension, you mentioned the woke. So when you get into that woke, I know that there can be a lot of negative tension.

How did you deal with the negative tension? That came your way. Friends,

Anna Taylor: friends, uh, strangers on the internet. So throughout this process, this was my first time ever going viral. I write things. I say things that talk about a lot of things. My five little friends always are there to high five. When this happened, the important in my inbox.

From others who were recognizing what was happening, who saw the other comments as it went viral on Twitter, coming to my LinkedIn, people started to reach out to say, Hey, are you okay? Hey, I don't like, and I had a lot of people that I've got a chance to meet to say this happened to me too. Is this your first time?

Let me tell you how I've dealt, I dealt with this and I handled it. And so I got a chance to meet so many incredible people that I probably would not have crossed paths with without this incident and without this moment. And they really helped me get through it to understand like, no, this is a, this is a good message.

Don't block out all the noise. Let's help you kind of push through and understand what's happening and what's not happening and with anything in the news I've worked in the media for quite some time give it 24 48 hours and Everyone's on to something different. And so that's how I got through it. And I'm really grateful for those connections that I've made and still keep in touch with since that incident.

That's

Jolie Downs: wonderful. And you know, you had shared with me earlier when we when we had spoke that, um, this actually led to Additional speaking engagements around this topic.

Anna Taylor: I did. And until this day, it's been about a year. It's coming up on a year. I, a few companies reached out to say, Hey, we actually have policies in place where we're trying to promote inclusive communications, something that's small as, instead of putting, Hey guys, and all of the emails, they say they have accountability partners to say, there may be women on this team that don't identify in that way, or people who were trying to help others, feel comfortable listing their pronouns.

And so because I have worked in the DNI space, I actually did DNI communications for a few years before this happened. I had an opportunity to really educate and go to these organizations and companies and really have small group conversations. What I really liked about the small group conversations were people got a chance to ask questions.

And when you ask. The right questions and there's no such thing as a wrong question But sometimes it caused me to think and pause and reflect and as I understood For example in a global environment. I got a chance to hear from others who are in europe and in asia They were like the things that I'm hearing from my American colleagues, they do not sit well with me.

I don't know how to respond. And it was just small things that we see every day in our day to day work life. And no one is thinking about how, from a global perspective, is this resonating or not resonating with. Uh, with our colleagues. And so I truly do appreciate and I'm working on something now that I had a large organization reach out last week to say we want to take this a little bit further.

We know that you experienced some backlash with it, but we have some really, really. High level people who are willing to stand behind this work, this body of work, and we want to do better and we want to support you in that way. So I'm excited for what's to come from it, uh, still. Yeah,

Jolie Downs: I'm excited for you.

I'm

Anna Taylor: excited. You know, it's interesting. In the moment, you start thinking like, was this worth it? Was it? And once all of the dust settles and you get a chance to really read through the hundreds of comments and emails and DMs for people, Inside my workplace that sent me an email, a really, really high level.

One of our presidents sent me an email and said, I started to write, I'll take the first stab at it and I erased it. And I put, I'll take the first pass at it. And I thought about you and I smiled and I was like, Oh, it's like, you know, it's like I'm getting better. And I was like, it's just one small. You know, action that can be really impactful over time.

Jolie Downs: Absolutely. And I just, you know, I love that, that even though you went through this negative experience of the backlash that you experienced, that it ended up elevating your voice on something that is just so important. And I just find that this story is Uh, a good example of life and really, you know, when we have things that come into our life that feel very negative and very difficult, they're very difficult and they're very challenging, but when we get through them and we take the time, not only to learn from our own experiences with them, them, but to talk to other people, right?

And to have those conversations and to really learn as much as we can. And whatever that looks like within that process, it just elevates us to the next level. And, and that's, and you're just taking all of that information that you got from all of those people, learning how to talk to them and, and the, the, the ways that they're going to hear and taking it to that higher level stage, which I think is absolutely wonderful.

Anna Taylor: I like to call them courageous conversations. You know, um, when people feel very differently from you, it can be difficult to, to come to the source and say, Hey, I feel differently about this and here's why, or can you help me understand? And so in the last year, I probably had more courageous conversations in the last year than I've had my entire career, just because it was something so.

I thought innocuous. I thought I truly thought that this was just something that would pass. I will put it out there. But the more I told people where it came from, what, what the impetus of it was, which was, I think I shared with you, uh, Luna new year in 2023, 11 Asian Americans were killed, um, right down from my job headquarters and all that Sunday.

I worked on our crisis communication plan. I worked on statements for our leaders because it was so close to home. And that first meeting I had on that Monday, someone said, we're going to pull a trigger on this project next week. And that was the first time I think I've had a physical and visceral reaction to the words that we were using.

And I just thought, why would we say that? Why do we say that? And that whole week, I just listened to the language that we were using. And so once People understand that it didn't come from a place of trying to dictate anyone's language. Um, Being or trying to make a two word culture. It really came from sitting in that room thinking If I am my colleague who experienced this in their neighborhood, because I'm remote and everyone else was on site, how would I feel right now?

Like, what is the impact of just that small sentence that maybe had been said dozens of times? On me at this moment, given what has happened in the last 24 hours. And so once people understand, then they understand, I see, I can totally see, you know, how this would be helpful to someone else.

Jolie Downs: Absolutely.

Well, our words have power. They have extreme power and how we express ourselves and the words we use, not only have power on ourselves, but on the, the. Our situations around us and the people around us. Um, just the way when someone says, you know, Oh, that's really challenging. That's going to feel different than, Oh, that's, that's an opportunity.

And just like when you said, you know, we're going to kill two birds with one stone, that feels different than we're going to feed two birds with one stone. It has a different feel. I mean, go ahead and just say it. It feels better. Why don't we want to choose words that feel empowering and feel better?

This is a beautiful thing across the board.

Anna Taylor: Absolutely. Absolutely. And to echo something that you just said, words do have so much power in the, in the beauty of our language is that it's ever evolving. A lot of the conversations that I've had about this particular topic is around inclusive communications.

People were like, sticks and stones may break my bones, but words would never hurt me. And I was like, tell that to someone has ever been called the N word or the F word or something really, really hurtful. That's not true. We want to believe that, but that's not true. And when our language has evolved, I, um, I sit back.

I love, I love nineties TV. I re I watch. Old episodes of a lot of shows, but there are some shows today. I'm like this episode definitely would not fly. I cringe when I watch because I'm like, we openly spoke like this. Yes. You did it even in just, uh, you know, Not even in a professional setting, around your friends, someone may look at you and say, Hey, hey, hey, we don't, we don't use that word anymore.

We don't say that. And that's the beauty of our language. In five years, ten years from now, something that we're using today may cause discomfort and may be something we should re look at and examine to say, Are there better ways to say this? And, and that's okay because you're involved. Language evolves all the time.

All the

Jolie Downs: time. Yes. Yes. It's important. It's important that everything evolved, right? Yes. That's what we're doing here. I love it. This is a great conversation. You know, I'm curious, Anna, though, because you have also held a lot of great roles with great companies, and there's a lot of people out there that are looking for something new in their career.

What have you found has been one of some of the bigger impacts for you that have helped you land your roles?

Anna Taylor: Beyond staying curious, one of the things I would say is being flexible and nimble. Some of the best projects that I've got a chance to work on, whether I was voluntold or volunteered, really changed part of my career and allowed me to lean in areas that I didn't know.

And I'll give you an example, uh, about Four or five years ago, I was a project manager. In addition to all of the things I know how to manage a project really, really well, but there was this need to understand change management. And I thought to myself, Oh, what do you know what this is not. My function, this is not my role, you know, and, but someone needed to do it with all of these large scale changes that were happening around the organization.

So it landed on my plate as, Hey, you do the communications. You can also do the change management at the time people were saying they're wanting the same. I have come to learn as a certified change management practitioner. That you cannot manage change through email at the time. That's what everyone was thinking.

You send out the emails, you can manage to change. But I accepted that. I accepted that challenge in that role, knowing nothing about it. Doing all of the trainings at the time that I could find talking to different people and really have come to love it and went on to become a certified practitioner.

Now I lead actively lead because I want to not being told to. Large scale change projects and it's really, people say this is a very interesting trajectory from your communications career. And I say they complement each other, right? At the end of the day with communications, knowing your audience, who your audience is, what matters to them and how to communicate with them.

It's very similar in change management, understanding you're an employee in the center and what matters to them and what's in it for them helps you help them manage the change and move through the change. And so it's been one of those things that had I not been flexible and nimble, had I not leaned in, even when I thought I don't know what I'm doing and I'll figure it out.

I would have missed the opportunity to find something that's an equal passion to the work that I do around communication. So I would tell those who are trying to understand and searching. It's okay to, to try something new. It's okay to find the, the opportunity in the challenge. Like you said before, it's something that you don't want to necessarily do, but you're being given it.

What can you learn from it and take from it that will help you further what you do want to do. And that's some really good advice that I would share.

Jolie Downs: Oh, it's fantastic advice. Dead on. Yes. Oh, excuse me. See, that's not good wording.

Anna Taylor: Come on!

Jolie Downs: Spot on!

Anna Taylor: Yeah. Quickly you recognize, it's like a muscle, right? It's a muscle.

I still find myself at times I say things, but it's a muscle that you will now that you're cognizant of it, it'll click on and you'll say, oh, and. Okay, I'll figure out how to say something differently. Yeah, exactly. What's that all

Jolie Downs: about? Good example, people, right? In action. Anna, I love to ask people because I just think that we are all consuming so much.

We're consuming books, we're consuming media, TV, movies, listening to podcasts, and there's a lot of things that are causing positive ripples out there, so I love to find out from people. If there's something that you've read, watched, or listened to that had a positive impact on your life that you think could help other people as well.

Anna Taylor: Absolutely. So I will, I will start with something that I listen to weekly, if not daily. It is my favorite podcast. It is the communicators podcast. I tell people if you're a communicator and you're wondering how you can grow and be fed. This podcast is called think fast talk smart and it's out of step.

It's a professor at stanford So it's think fast talk smart. It has a beautiful red vibrant background if you find it on wherever you listen to But I learned something Every single time i've been doing comms for 15 years That I think to myself, what, what else could you possibly, possibly learn in terms of communication, the essence of storytelling, putting words together to move people.

And this podcast feeds me. In ways that I could not imagine, and I take a little nugget from each episode. I have a little cheat sheet that I'm like, okay, I'm going to try this one differently. I'm going to do something differently. I'm going to look this up, expand on this a little bit, but it really has made me a better communicator.

It's made me a better leader that in ways you didn't even imagine. The episode that I listened to today was about better meetings. And that's when I first saw it, I was like, I was going to skip it. I'm like, I've been hosting meetings all my life. I think I do a really good job of hosting meetings in the insight around the science of meetings, which I never cared to really dive into.

And to hear this communication professional talk about. The way you intentionally design your meeting from the agenda to the engagement activity to the questions you ask to even the pauses that you actively take you say we're gonna it's a virtual meeting, we're going to sit back and we're going to think about the question I just asked for about 90 seconds.

And then I would like you to lend your voice or type in the chat, how you're feeling. I thought to myself, that is incredibly powerful. I lead a lot of large meetings. I've never done this. I'm going to do this. And it all started from someone talking about meetings. So I say that to say, it is a great podcast that I, um, recommend to any and everyone.

If there's time to be a better communicator. Oh, it sounds fantastic. Well, and

Jolie Downs: anything that you say that, especially if it's your specialty, you know, and like you said, and you can learn something from each episode that's expertly done, great suggestion all around. And really, the people who are listening to this are communicators.

So that should be helpful.

Anna Taylor: It's what you will want us to. I, I it will not disappoint.

Jolie Downs: Well, I'm not gonna lie, I'm gonna check out that meetings one, because I run meetings as well, but I, I'm sure I can be better at it exactly when you started talking about that. But I haven't really thought about how I run my meetings in a proactive way in quite a while.

It's probably time to do that.

Anna Taylor: So it was. And I brought it to my team earlier today, , VP team, I support our C suite and we have a very large meeting that's coming up where the agenda is just really packed. And I began to ask the questions that the, that came up in the podcast, like, what is the outcome that we want?

What are our intentions? And are we designing this meeting in a space to get that? If we have a two hour meeting and we have 18 agenda items. Probably not. Probably not. Or how do we think about getting the answers to some of these things like do we have questions that we're trying to answer with our agenda and we're going to go back later this week to look at the full agenda and then really ask ourselves, are we designing this meeting in the best way versus Uh, updates.

Everyone was like, Oh, we just, we'll get a lot of updates. Well, there are many other ways to get updates then. And then a meeting and how well are we digesting those updates? If this person has four minutes, that's very specific. Four

Jolie Downs: minutes to go through their

Anna Taylor: slides. It's not serving anyone. No,

Jolie Downs: no, it's not.

No, this is all fantastic advice. Thank you. This has been such a fun conversation. Anna, before you go, I'd love to find out, what do you feel is your personal superpower and how has it served you?

Anna Taylor: Great question. My personal superpower would be the power of persuasion through motivating with the right words. I like to believe that I can reach and resonate with almost any audience because I'm choosing to speak to them in a way that they are going to receive the message. I am choosing to speak as plainly as possible and let that come through.

What I found, especially being in the science and technology space, we use a lot of jargon. And I go back and forth with our leaders a lot on distilling down what exactly are we trying to say? What do we want someone to do once they hear this information? What impact do we want to have? What action do we want to move them to?

And if they can't get past the Four or five little letters, syllable words that really do show we have a lot of smart people in our organization. It's not going to matter. And so I really have the ability to take very complex information, distill it down. And package it in a way that reaching resonates with the audience and at the end of the day motivates them to do something that they may not have done had we not taken that time to do that.

Jolie Downs: That is a superpower that is serving you well in your chosen profession. That's for sure. So I think

Anna Taylor: what is the point of it all? If no one understands,

Jolie Downs: exactly. Well, and your superpower is actually something, okay. Because it's, it boils down to that, um, clear, not clever. Right. Which, which. We struggle with as a population and a majority, I would say. I know I do. Like, I mean, I, you know, we're always trying to be clever. Look how, this is really cool. I don't know.

But you just need to be very clear. And like you, and like you said, Give the message in a way that people are going to hear it and respond to want to respond to it and actually engage with your message. And that is a very special talent. Um, so that is a very special superpower to have because, uh, a small percentage of you have

Anna Taylor: it.

Very, very quick story about that. That's when I knew this was truly my superpower. I, at the beginning of Twitter, I was, I helped the federal government launch their first Twitter channel. So I was at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and I knew Twitter was the place to be. And I pulled together so many presentations to try to convince our leadership that Twitter was where we needed to be to get to our audience.

Like we do a lot of publishing of papers and working with the media, but this is a direct channel to our audience. And finally, our director at the time was like, well, I'll, I'll give it a try. And I'll give it a try. And we were releasing a report about the importance of physical activity. And I worked with the scientists and they were like, we want to put out the tweet that says you need 30 minutes of metabolic cardiovascular activity.

It will, I was like, wait, what are we trying to say? And they were like, they need 30 minutes of high metabolic cardiovascular activity. It's good for the heart. And I was like, do we want them to exercise? Are we asking them to exercise? And I said, okay, how about this? If we're going to put both tweets out two separate times of the day, totally different.

And if my tweet gets more attention and engagement, likes and reshares, Then we can launch the channel and I know how to speak to the people and that's what we did. We launched them and all of the scientists were engaging with that 30 minutes of metabolic cardiovascular, I can't even remember it, and then the exercise is what started trending.

And I was like, as plainly as possible, here we go. Well,

Jolie Downs: that's the message everyone can take with them. Your messaging should always be, or it should always be as clear as possible. Would you not agree? I agree.

Anna Taylor: I agree. If it, if it's not clear, I'll have my little puppy decided to join us. One second.

If it's not clear, and if it doesn't land, and if no one understands it, then, then it's like, what's that, what's that saying? Like, if a tree falls in a forest, does anyone hear? If, if it's just words out there, and no one's picking up on what you want them to do, and the message, and the essence of it, it's just It's just no, it becomes noise.

We are adding to the noise and not breaking through the noise, which is what you want to do with your communication.

Jolie Downs: Exactly. A beautiful message. Thank you. And I have had so much fun with our conversation. Thank you for joining me on career.

Anna Taylor: so much for having me. This has been, this has been so much fun and I appreciate the opportunity.

Thank you so much for extending it. This is a great conversation and yeah, I I'm excited to see. Oh, that's next for you in this podcast. I, you have a new fan, a new number one fan at that.

Jolie Downs: Thanks Anna. Thank you.

Talking hiring genius, overcoming burnout and creating a thriving company culture

Climbing the Ladder with Kendall Sadler: Talking hiring genius, overcoming burnout and creating a thriving company culture Embark on an exciting conversation with Kendall Sadler, a financial communications maestro who carved her own path from an executive assistant to a Director of Communications at Remitly. This episode of Career Wanderlust unveils the power of embracing your unique skills and hiring talent that shines. Guest Bio: Kendall Sadler didn’t allow her deep finance background to dictate her future, she followed her strengths into a communications triumph. At Remitly, she leads her team with a vision that cultural understanding is just as crucial as business acumen. Follow Kendall's insightful journey on LinkedIn and explore Remitly's mission to bridge financial gaps across borders. Content: Kendall shares her goldmine of advice on growth, including hiring team members with the potential to be future leaders, and the importance of self-care and boundaries during corporate burnout. Her story is a beacon for those navigating career transitions and seeking to cultivate a nurturing work environment. Key Takeaways: [00:01:29] Hire for future leadership, embracing the brilliance of others to foster collective learning. [00:07:51] Self-care post-IPO: Kendall's quadrant strategy for balancing work and personal life. [00:22:07] Cultivating a company culture that's not just words but actions that reflect a commitment to people and customers. Memorable Quotes: "Surround yourself with people who can teach you something." – The ethos of Kendall's hiring philosophy. "You need to identify what fills you up... build that into your day." – On recovering from burnout. "Everyone has a superpower that is differentiated from everyone else." – Embracing your unique value. Related Content: Dive deeper into creating work-life balance with "The Chimp Paradox" by Professor Steve Peters, and master focus with "Indistractable" by Nir Eyal. Learn more about Remitly's inclusive financial services and how they're changing lives globally. Join the Career Wanderlust community for more stories like Kendall's that inspire and inform. Subscribe and follow us for the latest episodes, and connect with Kendall to watch her journey unfold. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendall-sadler-33956824/ Hosted by Jolie Downs, Career Wanderlust is the go-to podcast for insider career stories and advice. Visit ParadigmStaffing.com for PR, Marketing, Communications or Sales/Business Development talent services that align with your company's culture and goals. As we reflect on Kendall's story, consider your own unique superpower in your career. How will you leverage it to shape your professional narrative? Share your thoughts and stay tuned for more empowering career conversations on Career Wanderlust.

Dive into the world of corporate storytelling with Tim Donovan, a seasoned communications expert and author. In this episode of Career Wanderlust, we unravel Tim's journey from passionate reader to a powerhouse in B2B technology communications. What secrets to success can he share from his 30-year love affair with storytelling?

Guest Bio: Meet Tim Donovan, a maven of integrated corporate communications with over a quarter-century of experience in steering B2B technology firms towards success. He's not only mastered the art of public relations but has also authored 'Narrative Generation,' a tome on harnessing narrative power for business transformation. At the helm as President of Actual Agency, Tim's work is transforming brands and inspiring industry peers.

• Tim's commitment to his lifelong passion for storytelling and its pivotal role in his career.
• The critical distinction between passion and mission in professional settings.
• The synergy of working with like-minded individuals and the magic it brings to any team.
• Learning from past mistakes such as a press release incident.
• Creating a Blue Ocean strategy mindset when working with clients.

Key Takeaways:

•[00:01:08] The importance of aligning with your passion for a fulfilling career.

•[00:02:21] How a clear mission can be a powerful motivator in your professional life.

•[00:03:43] The value of like-minded collaboration for achieving corporate goals.

•[00:05:18] Staying curious as a key driver for professional and personal growth.

•[00:09:49] Learning from Tim's press release incident, highlighting the importance of attention to detail and the resilience required to bounce back from public errors.

•[00:14:14] Embracing the roots of storytelling as a critical skill for effective communication, regardless of market changes or technological advancements.

•[00:19:50] The concept of 'Blue Ocean Strategy' as discussed by Tim, showcasing innovative thinking in market positioning and narrative creation to stand out in a crowded marketplace.

•[00:26:21] The pivotal role of mentorship in Tim's career, underscoring the lasting impact that guidance and wisdom from seasoned professionals can have on one's professional growth.

Transcript

Tim Donovan on Crafting a Career That Resonates, the Art of Storytelling, and How Mission Matters

Jolie Downs: Welcome to the Career Wanderlust podcast, your compass for new career horizons. Today, we are talking with Tim Donovan. Tim has over 25 years of integrated corporate communications and public relations storytelling experience. He has been a driving force in leading B2B technology companies. Not only is he a comms professional, but Tim is also the author of Narrative Generation, a book on leveraging the power of the narrative for business transformation.

He uses the principles found in the book to positively influence his companies and clients. Tim is currently the president of Actual Agency, where he helps transform brands in the B2B tech space. And I'm really excited to learn more. Thank you for joining us on the Career Wanderlust podcast, Tim.

Tim Donovan: I am so glad to be here, Jolie, and thank you for that kind introduction.

I appreciate it.

Jolie Downs: You've done a lot in your career. It's impressive. So I'd love to know, because I'm sure throughout your career, you've been given all kinds of different career advice. What, Has been the advice that's resonated the most with you and why?

Tim Donovan: That's a good question and I have a lot of thoughts on that And it may sound cliche. The first piece of advice is something that I think many people probably hear but don't really take in which is you got to follow your passion You have to really follow what you're in love doing.

And it may take time. Sometimes, it takes years to figure it out. Some people are really lucky that they know that right out of the gate. But you want a career where you wake up every day and you're excited. And for storytelling, I've been in this business now for almost 30 years.

And I love storytelling. I've loved storytelling ever since I was a child, we grew up without television. And so we read lots of books and sat around with our elders and grandparents. And so storytelling was really key to driving my own passion and so yeah, so I think first aligning with your passion figuring out what that is and you may have some fits and starts, but the closer you can get to that, the more successful you'll be in your career.

Second thing is find your mission, which is different than passion and the best jobs that I've ever had have been mission based where I've really believed in what the company was doing, who they were serving, what they were trying to solve two examples of that. I was very lucky to lead global communications for a company called Funbox that helped small businesses get access to credit

That's great. Yeah. we have lots of small business owners in my family, and so it was near and dear to my heart and I just loved the mission and just felt so, connected to it. And the other company I can list was a company called Comply Advantage that I ran global comms for as well. And they're in the business of fighting financial crime by tracking down money laundering.

Thank you. Yeah, I know. And so two examples of companies that had missions that really rolled up to social good. So I think, another piece of advice beyond passion is find a mission that you can really believe in because that motivates you to get up every day and do your best. Two more pieces.

Yeah, if that's okay, two more pieces

Jolie Downs: of advice. Please, we have advice. Okay,

Tim Donovan: cool. The third thing that I found is you want to surround yourself with good people that are like minded. Oh yeah. And you don't always get that choice in a work environment, but chemistry But what does

Jolie Downs: like minded mean to you?

Because it means different things to different people. So I'd like to know what that means

Tim Donovan: to you. Yeah, that's a good question. I think like minded means that you're first committed to helping the company you're working at achieve its goals. And you believe in what the company is doing and its mission and its values.

Like mindedness is also about how you work together and collaborate. Do you have good chemistry with the people that you're working with? Do you trust them? Are you feeling like you're part of a team and not isolated. And I found that to be really inspiring when I've worked with teams where everybody was in the same boat rowing together.

Feels so good, huh? I know, it feels great. And you know what? You do your best work when you have that. All

Jolie Downs: of these things that you've mentioned really is what helps you do your best work. It's what helps you excel when you're passionate, when you're mission driven, when you're working with like minded people that are all uplifting and working together.

This is like the magic formula, right?

Tim Donovan: I think so. And I think sometimes people either don't look for the, that combination or they settle for less and then they become dissatisfied with their job. And I just having had a multitude of jobs, and learning from those experiences.

These are the things that I keep coming back to. And the last one, I promise, is stay curious. Curiosity is really like a driving factor. And for me in how it manifests and work is problem solving, thinking about different angles, different conversations. Different ways creating new things.

I'm a naturally curious person, which is also why I'm a storyteller. Cause I'm a ravenous consumer of information and news and stuff like that. So I think those four things of follow your passion, have a mission, try to align with like minded people, and stay curious are really good things to use as tools to find that right place for

Jolie Downs: you.

Absolutely. And the combo is absolutely magical and taking your career to the next level when you're using all of them together. Totally. What I'm curious about, because here's what I would imagine some people might be listening to this and thinking, whoa, follow your passion, so easy.

Now, have you ever worked in a position that it did not feel like you were following your passion. And if so, what did you do about it?

Tim Donovan: Yeah, no, I've, had plenty of jobs where the job sounded great, took the role, got in there and either I was not inspired by the team or the technology. Or the sort of opportunity in itself.

And, I'm one of these people that really likes to dig in and give it my all. But at some point in time, you have to ask yourself the question, is this sort of an experience of diminishing returns? So I think with all things, with all jobs, everything, when it starts out being new, there's a lot of unknowns, it's worth hanging in and just learning about the business, learning how you're going to collaborate with folks, learning about projects, so on and so forth.

But after time if it's really not hitting those notes, the best thing you could probably do is think about finding something that's closer to what you're looking for. But I think weall have had that experience and to your point, finding your passion, chasing your passion isn't necessarily easy because

you might have a lot of different interests. Some are great, but some will never make you money. Some will make you money, but maybe in ways that you don't like or frustrating. So I go back to, it takes time to find. The right places that connect to your passion, but they're out there.

That's the only thing you just have to, finding the right job is it's like sales. It's a numbers game, right? You have to just think about how many opportunities are out there that you can test or learn more about. And that hopefully gets you closer to where you want to be.

Jolie Downs: Absolutely. And there's lots of ways to work around your passions too. If maybe your passion is sports and or football specifically, and maybe, you don't get the job working for the 49ers or what have you, but maybe you have a job that's involved with sports or involved in this sport in some way

and so it has those elements. So that's and you brought up something that I want to just make note of because you brought up the fact that look, whenever we try something new, it's unfamiliar and it's uncomfortable. And so it is an important distinction to give it time, right? Because any new job is going to feel uncomfortable.

It's going to just naturally because it's unfamiliar. And again, anything unfamiliar feels uncomfortable until it becomes familiar. So give it time to become familiar. So you know, is this just because I'm uncomfortable or is it because this isn't the right spot for me? So I thought that was a really nice distinction to point out.

Tim Donovan: Yeah, I agree. I think we all, everything that's new gives us some level of discomfort because it's new, but that makes it worth Staying put, learning more, giving yourself the time to become educated and experienced and then make a decision afterwards.

Jolie Downs: Absolutely. so what about an impactful story?

I'm sure you've had many things happen to you over the course of your career. Is there one or two stories that come to mind of something that happened to you that it actually gave you an important lesson and by sharing this other people could have some value?

Tim Donovan: Yes, I have one that's actually in the news cycle right now, which is connected to it, but I'm sure people may have been watching that Lyft had issued a press release

with an extra zero. It was a earnings press release and it caused great market consternation because the trading bots caught onto this, error and the valuation of the company increased by 3. 5 billion, something within a very short period of time. And then of course, when the error was corrected, the valuation went back down and the CEO had taken the sort of responsibility for this mistake.

I, in a younger version of myself had a similar situation where I issued a press release that shouldn't have been put out into the public domain. And it was an investor of a company that I co founded, and it created a huge amount of problems for not only my investor, but also for our management team.

And you think about those things, and you think, my career is done. It's over with but the good news is I survived and I'm sure the folks at Lyft and their communications and IR investor relations team will survive as well. But the point being is mistakes happen, but you really want to slow things down, make sure that you have your.

Eyes dotted and your T's crossed. We all, I think all of us in, all of our capacities have had moments in our careers where we're like, man, I really wish that wouldn't happen, but those are the things that teach you lessons and they make you stronger. And it gives you the opportunity when somebody is having that experience to say, you know what, I've been there before, you'll pick yourself up, dust yourself off and move on.

But I think when I was a younger PR person, I was convinced that was a career ending move. And I was really, upset about it. But I found that was, I don't know, 20 years ago. So I'm still here to say that. It's okay to make mistakes, it's not definitely something that I haven't repeated since.

You

Jolie Downs: learned from the experience, correct?

Tim Donovan: Totally. Totally. Yeah. Yeah. I think, in our world, communications, everybody's got some sort of scar, where they

Jolie Downs: everybody, but I love this message. It's an important message because look, we do, we make mistakes and if you haven't had a lot of experience, that is going to be the first, that is going to be the first reaction.

It is going to be like, Oh, it's all, even if you had a lot of experience, sometimes it might be the reaction.

But the key thing is, regardless of what happens after, as long as you take the time to sit with what happened and learn from it, What can I do bet? How can I not make this happen? And what can I learn from this to make myself better, to make my company better, to make any situation better?

As long as you take the time to do that, it is going to end up benefiting you in the long run. It's going to make you a better person, a better communicator, a better professional all around. And this is how we grow and learn. We all make mistakes.

Tim Donovan: That's true. And I've always thought of myself as a student of life.

So that's part of learning. That's part of learning and growing for your listeners. Or readers. I'm sure all of them have had their own moments of distress and have grown from it. And I think, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, truly. There's

Jolie Downs: a reason that's a very prevalent popular saying.

Because it's true. Thank goodness. We're going to have to deal with it. At least it's going to make me stronger.

Tim Donovan: Exactly. Now did you say you had two stories? That one was the biggest one that I can recall in terms of things that I'm not thrilled about. , I would say though that, , just over the course of my career, just watching the evolution of communications in general and how the market has changed and, really

I think, fundamentally, with all the things that we see changing, at the end of the day, we're all storytellers. And we gotta go back to, and this was, this has been a lesson that I've carried with me my entire career. Which is, the story matters. And that's the thing that people really care about.

It's the oldest form of information. Transformation, or transference, is storytelling. And so I think oftentimes we get, some people get distracted. We get enamored with things like ChatGPT, where we think it's going to be a replacement for our skill sets. And it's just not, like we know what good storytelling is and

the message here or the lesson that I've learned is going back to story basics and really understanding how to tell a story, how to tap into somebody's belief systems, how to get them excited about the story and how to create an outcome as a result of that. And I've carried that lesson with me. There are times in my career where we've deviated from like traditional storytelling to being more experimental and things that were like mediocre results, but I think, in our world, keeping a sense of what story means and what story can do and just meditating on that, including that in your practice.

That's why I read a lot. I read a lot of books. I read a lot of magazines. I'm really into different types of storytelling, but it's an important lesson, for our community that we have to keep the idea and the flame of storytelling lit bright and not get distracted from that.

Beautiful.

Jolie Downs: Like you said, it's the oldest form of communication and it is the form that connects us all. That's what binds us, the stories. So I think that's just beautiful. And it's a wonderful reminder all around. You say that you read a lot. What are some of the things, cause I'm a big proponent of proactively feeding the mind.

What are some things that you have read or listened or watched that have had positive impacts on you that could benefit other people? Oh,

Tim Donovan: I've got a great book that I'd love to recommend. It's a book called Blue Ocean Strategy, and it's a pretty, I'd say easy to read, meaning it's not like an encyclopedia.

But the concept of Blue Ocean Strategy is really how to help companies find uncontested marketspace and then how to build story around that. So I will give you an example. The opposite of blue ocean is red ocean, and that usually means lots of companies competing for the same brass ring. So let's say you're Coke, I'm Pepsi, you're 100 calories, I'm 50 calories, you're cherry, I'm berry. That creates a blue ocean scenario where people, where businesses are trying to compete incrementally against each other.

It's very hard. It's very competitive. And any of your folks that are listening or that will read will understand that when you're in a competitive market space, everybody's saying the same thing. It's hard to differentiate, really hard to differentiate on the media side because everybody is doing the same thing.

So the book offers a strategy. That focuses on what they call blue ocean, which is finding this sort of uncontested market space. Is there a market space that you can help your company or your client define that takes what maybe already exists, but makes it better and more interesting? And I'll give you an example.

Cirque du Soleil is a blue ocean company and the reason for that is if we think about circus has been around for over 2000 years. And and probably some folks remember Barnum and Bailey's Ringling Brothers Circus when they were growing up. That's one that I went to where it had animals and a central ring and all of those things.

But what Cirque du Soleil did really well, and by the way, they're a multi billion dollar business as a result of this strategy, was they had reinvented the concept of circus. So circus could be on a vertical wall. It could be underwater instead of having live animals. It would have actors that would assume roles of giant insects or magical creatures.

And so it's not like the concept of circus hadn't existed and it hadn't been played out in different ways, but they were able to reinvent it in such a way that it became a new experience. And I think as storytellers, we have that opportunity to find the blue ocean of conversation, where the stories that we may be telling for our companies or our clients seem derivative, seem like everybody else is saying the same thing, and this is really an opportunity to find that blue ocean conversation. And it may be new language that you use, pattern language, get away from the same shared lexicon that everybody's using phraseology, you may take a term from one industry and apply it to another and give it a whole new meaning. And so that book, Blue Ocean Strategy, really had a profound impact on the way that I think about

helping the either my clients or the companies that I've worked at try to carve out a new space, and some folks can even say, isn't this sort of category creation to some degree, it could be category, it could be narrative, but the philosophy is, don't try to compete in bloody water, just go swim to fresh blue water and define it

in a way that's relevant to your ecosystem and everybody else will start to swim over, over time. I love it.

Jolie Downs: I think that can be applied to other things as well. I'm like, I think this whole, it helps, my mind work in a different way, right? When I'm thinking about something. So I

Tim Donovan: love this.

Yeah, I think I'll give you another example too. I think Mark Benioff at Salesforce, right? Came up with the idea of software as a service. And which was counterintuitive back in the days. Everybody had heavyweight software on prem and he's like you can alleviate cost and complexity by just getting it, downloading it or having it as a way of distribution.

And so the software industry had been solidified. There are large players. He came in with this new vision and basically reinvented the idea of how to get access and manage software. He created a blue ocean. Now it's an industry nomenclature, it's an industry term. So that's a, that's a great example.

Jolie Downs: Fascinating. So I, I was just thinking because. You have worked your way up through all kinds of different ladders. You've been on the agency side, you've been on the corporate side, you've held the most senior level roles in these positions. I'm curious if there's something that you would share with people who are looking to either get the job or move up through the promotion.

Is there anything that has helped you land your positions? Is there anything that's helped you get these promotions that you could share with other people?

Tim Donovan: A couple things. One, it's hard work. Regardless of being on agency or in corporate, it's a practice that you have to commit to.

understanding your technology set, understanding the marketplace, understanding the ecosystem, understanding your buyers, understanding all of those things. And it takes time to do that. And so you have to think about communications. In the same way that somebody that's a master woodworker would think about their work.

It's a craft. Yeah. And it takes time and it takes dedication and not everything we do is exciting. That's the hard part too. My mind wants to run a thousand miles a minute. When I was going through my career, there were times where the work was not interesting to me, not exciting, but I knew it was necessary.

I knew that what I was doing was building skill sets that would. Be the foundation for next, right? So I think, really understanding the mechanics of our business, really thinking about it as a craft is one thing. Second thing is, it's incumbent upon you to expand your knowledge. I'm again a voracious reader.

I'm a tech nerd, so that's a passion of mine. So it was easy to dive into. The tech side of PR because I got to see new products and new things. And I got really excited by that. And that kept me motivated even when sometimes the work felt like a grind to be perfectly honest. Yeah.

Ctemistry is really important, both in terms of the team you're working with, but also the folks that you're serving and your clients can be clients from an agency perspective, or they can be internal clients from a corporate perspective. And so how do you build bonds with the people that you have around that you work with?

Or that you report into because I think you know the best relationships are the ones that have good connections and good chemistry and then get it. Go ahead. Sorry.

Jolie Downs: How do you build those bonds with people? How what helps you create stronger bonds would you say?

Tim Donovan: In the workforce specifically. In the workforce.

I think one thing is do what you say what you do. You know what I mean? You want to be reliable. You want to be trustworthy. You want to be collaborative. You don't want to be crazy, but I think good relationships require an investment by both sides, and you want to be relatable.

You want to share who you are. I always think more than just who you are professionally. So people can connect with you in real ways. I spent a lot of time as an agency president now talking to my clients, getting to know them. I've got a trip coming up where I'm going to go to Boston and have dinner with the client just to break bread.

So I think those relationships really matter. Relationships in general matter. It's doing the work. It's making yourself educated. It's investing in relationships. And then the last part is the proof is in the pudding, right? Do all of those things lead to results, right?

And, you and I know we live in a world of results, right? , you know, and I've been, yeah. when you're passionate about what you do and you, feel like you're on a mission, you'll get those results because you'll work that much harder results are really hard when you're not into whatever you're working on, but that's like how I, I didn't have any grand design when I got into this business.

I just knew that I love storytelling and I was going to use that as a way , to carve out a career. And then I just, over time learned different types of skill sets and learned about the things that I just mentioned. And it's been an awesome career. It's been awesome to be able to do what I'm doing.

So I feel very thankful.

Jolie Downs: That feels so good. Doesn't it? To look back, I just feel like you were on the right path. You did, you've been on the right path. You're continuing on. You love your future. I just, it's what I hope, it's what I want for everybody. That's just what I want for everybody.

So

Tim Donovan: one more thing I'm going to throw in here too is. Find a mentor, too. Oh, isn't that a big deal. Yeah, let me just speak volumes to minutes. I'm a mentor. I've been a mentor for, I don't know, 15, 20 years. But I was very fortunate my first job was with this little boutique PR agency called Rourke and Company back in Boston in the eighties.

And it was run by Cathy O'Rourke Smith. God bless her. She's deceased now, but she was my mentor and she took me under her wing and she was no nonsense as a boss. She really just did not have, she did not entertain fools gladly and she would let you know. But she really took a shine to me and she invested.

Time, attention, and effort. And to this day, I carry lessons forward that Kathy, her, her nickname was Cause, that Cause had taught me, and really helped me formulate how I would work in this world and how I work with people and strategy stone and so forth. And I think we have a tendency these days in particular, where people feel like they're islands, like they have to do it all themselves.

They can't ask for advice, so on and so forth. But mentors are worth their weight in gold. And especially in an agency or in a corporate environment, there's probably somebody there that would connect with you and give you advice and be a great sounding board. And so I've been very fortunate. I've had more than one mentor my entire career, and it's been incredibly beneficial.

So find a mentor. If you need a mentor, you can call me up too. Anybody

Jolie Downs: out there. That's awesome. That's very cool. What a beautiful offer because you're absolutely right. Having a mentor changes so much. Look at the fact that all these years later, you still have this advice. You're still talking about her, impact on you is.

Still causing positive ripples in this world and moving it forward. And that is so beautiful. And every mentor out there, that's what you're doing and every person who goes out there and finds a mentor, the things that you learn, you're going to eventually do that and pass it on in these positive ripples.

So it's a really

Tim Donovan: beautiful thing. I chuckle because I say that I have a graduate degree from the School of Hard Knocks. And so if I could, if I can dissuade somebody from going into the same program that I graduated from by giving them good advice, right on. Yeah, exactly.

Jolie Downs: Exactly. Please let us help you. Thank you so much. Before you go though, I'd love to ask you one final question, Tim. What do you feel is your personal superpower and how has it benefited

Tim Donovan: you? I actually feel like I have a true superpower. And so I am an empath and for those that may not be familiar with the term, I have extrasensory perception of people's energy and their moods, whether they're happy, whether they're sad,

and I've had this ever since I was a child, I thought I was a crazy kid. Cause I'd, be hanging out with a group of people and like that person's weird, stay away from them. That person needs a hug. But having, being an empath, means that you can really tap into the human condition. Like empathy is really important, I think, as a leader and being an empath means that you can be more empathetic.

walk in somebody else's shoes. You can feel their happiness or their pain. And for a long time, I thought it was a detriment, but as I got older, I realized being able to have these sort of. Perceptions of people and 99 percent of the time I'm right to has been a real gift because that I can help people uncork their frustrations or amplify their successes.

So it's been cool. Maybe we'll go out and get a cape someday It's, been a great kind of superpower to have for many different reasons. Oh, completely

Jolie Downs: agree. That's it. It's that it helps you connect with others on a deeper level just because of that skill, because you're able to feel them.

Tim Donovan: Yes. Totally. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think that's right. And, it's been just, it's been bananas to have that kind of superpower. So yeah, I feel lucky. I

Jolie Downs: agree. I think it's one of the major ones out there personally. I'm also an empath and I like that you said that you didn't think it was that way when you were younger, cause I felt the same.

And it's something that you learn how to use and realize how much it brings superpowers to your life. It absolutely does. And you know what? People can develop empathy, so you can go out and develop that superpower, even if you're not born with it. That's

Tim Donovan: right. I think it's a major thing.

I think we all should be sharpening our empathy for each other. Agreed. Deeper sense of that.

Jolie Downs: Definitely what the world needs right now. Tim, thank you so much for joining us. This has been wonderful.

Tim Donovan: I've loved every moment of it and let me know if I can ever come back. I'd sign up immediately.

Oh,

Jolie Downs: fantastic. Thank you.

Thank you for joining us on the Career Wanderlust Podcast. If you find value in learning from others, give us a like and subscribe. If you're looking to grow your communications, marketing, public relations, or sales and biz dev team with the best talent and quickly, check us out at ParadigmStaffing. com and submit a request.

We are wishing you a most successful and fulfilling career. Until next time.

Alex talks about his career journey, the impact of AI, and how to make tech sexy

Unlock the stories that power success with Alex Plant on today's Career Wanderlust podcast. Can a blend of curiosity and experience redefine our professional journey?

Guest Bio: "Meet Alex Plant, a maven in the field of marketing and communications with over two decades of shaping narratives. Starting as a journalist and evolving to spearhead marketing at Standard AI, Alex's odyssey from nurturing startups to fortifying industry giants like NetApp and Sun Microsystems reflects a dedication to impact."

Dive into the insights of a seasoned expert as Alex dissects the transformation of communications over the years. Discover the allure of making complex, tech-based narratives compelling, and the modern AI tools reshaping marketing today. Alex’s narrative style is vivid and energetic, infusing life into every strategy discussed.

•[00:01:57] Embracing technology changes in communication over two decades.

•[00:09:22] Crafting irresistible stories in high-tech B2B marketing.

•[00:21:42] Navigating the noisy yet promising landscape of AI in business.

•[00:35:32] Fostering trust and creating a receptive space for growth within teams.

Memorable Quotes:

•"Modernizing isn't just about new tools; it's about storytelling for today's audience." - Alex Plant

•"The true metric of marketing success? Impact, narrated well." - Alex Plant

•"AI in marketing is like adding a sixth sense to your strategy." - Alex Plant

Empathy as a Business Edge with Fred Bateman

Embark on a transformative journey with Fred Bateman, a visionary serial entrepreneur who has mastered the art of technology-focused strategic communications over three decades. In this captivating episode, Fred shares his profound insights and unparalleled experiences, leaving you inspired and empowered to navigate your own path to success. Guest Bio: Fred Bateman is the CEO and founder of the fast-growing PR and content marketing company, Bateman Agency. He is renowned for his role as the sole founder and CEO of Bateman Group from 2003 to 2020, one of the most award-winning and fastest-growing tech PR agencies of the past decade. Under his leadership, Bateman Group became an industry innovator and the go-to agency for disruptive startups and market leaders alike. Content Sample: 1.Discover Fred's unique philosophy on empathy, kindness, and radical transparency, which has become the cornerstone of his company culture and a driving force behind employee satisfaction and retention. 2.Gain invaluable insights into Fred's resilient mindset, as he shares powerful lessons on bouncing back from setbacks, embracing an abundance mentality, and fostering supportive relationships with competitors. 3.Unravel Fred's transformative journey, from a Boston street kid to a trailblazing entrepreneur, showcasing his unwavering determination and his ability to turn challenges into opportunities. Key Takeaways: 1.[00:01:59] Fred's upbringing and journey from a single-parent household to academic excellence laid the foundation for his empathetic and generous nature, which has served him well in the business world. 2.[00:11:03] Embrace radical transparency, including salary transparency and open communication about profits, to foster trust and engagement within your team. 3.[00:15:41] Recognize when someone is not a long-term fit and make difficult decisions swiftly, while still treating people with kindness and empathy during terminations. 4.[00:22:06] In challenging economic times, focus on retaining and delighting existing clients, as their loyalty and positive word-of-mouth can be invaluable. 5.[00:30:19] Build resilience by recognizing that downturns are temporary, and maintain your team to benefit from the eventual rebound. Memorable Quotes: 1."I've always tried to make a community, within the Tech PR, whether I was in Boston or San Francisco, or L.A., which I did for a couple of years when I was with Fitzgerald." 2."I feel like this new model of salary transparency, and equal pay for equal work... I'd never go back. I would never go back to hiding the ranges again or negotiating with candidates behind closed doors." Host and Platform Information: This insightful session was hosted by Jolie Downs with Paradigm, a voice in career evolution and growth. You can connect with Jolie here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joliedowns/ If you enjoy learning from others, please give us a like, subscribe, and share with a friend. If you are looking to add talent to your public relations, marketing, communications, sales, or business development team with the best talent, and quickly, check us out at paradigmstaffing.com. Ending Note: As Fred Bateman's journey reminds us, embracing an abundance mindset, leading with empathy, and cultivating a culture of transparency can pave the way for extraordinary success. What resonated most with you from Fred's inspiring story, and how might you apply his insights to your own path? Share your thoughts and suggestions for future discussions with the Career Wanderlust community.

Julia Lechner shares her unique journey from journalism to tech, revealing the power of following one's curiosity and embracing change. As the Head of Editorial and Social Media at Nextdoor, Julia's insights on adaptability and authentic leadership are a must-listen for anyone seeking career growth and fulfillment.

Julia Lechner is an accomplished content marketer and storyteller, currently serving as Nextdoor's Head of Editorial and Social Media. With a diverse background spanning journalism, entertainment, and tech, Julia has honed her skills in generating engaging content, building high-performing teams, and elevating brands. A two-time winner of the Moth Story Slam and Moth Grand Slam storytelling competitions, Julia brings her passion for storytelling to both her professional and personal life.

Content Sample:

- Discover how Julia's unwavering commitment to following her curiosity has led to a rich, cross-industry career journey.

- Learn the secret to thriving in an ever-changing technological landscape by focusing on transferable skills and values.

- Gain invaluable advice on building a supportive network of mentors, advisors, and advocates to navigate career transitions with confidence.

- Julia's captivating storytelling style and relatable anecdotes make this episode an engaging and insightful listen.

Key Takeaways:

[01:21] Follow your curiosity and be open to learning opportunities in every role and industry.

[04:25] Identify and stay true to your core values and skills, even as you adapt to new roles and technologies.

[11:21] Share your authentic self and interests at work to open doors to unexpected opportunities.

[16:21] Nextdoor's mission-driven culture and values of ownership and experimentation foster a supportive, collaborative work environment.

[22:00] Develop the superpower of public speaking by reframing nerves as excitement and embracing vulnerability.

Memorable Quotes:

"Surrounding yourself with a great network of people– mentors, advisors, advocates– is extremely helpful. [...] It's important to always be learning and to know who you can go to with various questions." [06:31]

"I think it's really important to be open to the extent that you're comfortable. Like, don't hide portions of yourself. If it's something you think you can lend to your organization." [09:00]

"People join Nextdoor because they're purpose-driven, because they see the potential of how we can bring communities together, to put together local events, to make things happen at a local, grassroots level in their own communities." [16:21]

We sit down with Nicole Messier, a communications powerhouse with over 20 years of experience shaping the narratives of world-changing science and technology brands. Discover how Nicole's unique blend of strategic thinking, storytelling prowess, and entrepreneurial spirit has propelled her to the top of her field.

Guest Bio:

Nicole Messier is the President of Mission North, a leading communications agency focused on amplifying the stories of impactful tech and science companies. With an impressive track record spanning global corporations and fast-growing startups, Nicole brings a wealth of expertise in building ground-floor teams and accelerating marketing efforts. Connect with Nicole on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolemessier/

- Uncover Nicole's secrets to building a powerful mentor network and leveraging constructive feedback for career growth

- Learn how to cultivate meaningful relationships in the workplace and lead with empathy

- Gain practical tips for running efficient, impactful meetings that align with business goals

- Discover the simple yet powerful communication tool that transformed Nicole's leadership style

- Explore Mission North's innovative approach to employee feedback and growth

Key Takeaways:

2:30 - The power of seeking diverse mentorship outside your direct field

6:09 - Key qualities of an effective mentor: curiosity, openness, and a tailored approach

12:30 - Strategies for leading productive meetings: clear agendas, pre-reads, and cross-functional perspectives

17:21 - Mission North's unique storytelling approach and values-driven hiring process

18:13 - The importance of understanding individual communication preferences through "How to Work with Me" documents

23:14 - Nicole's personal superpower: efficiency through prioritization and leveraging technology for streamlined communication

24:45 - The power of being responsive versus reactive in decision-making and goal-setting

For more insights on career growth and the future of tech communications, subscribe to the Career Wanderlust podcast and follow Mission North's groundbreaking work at missionnorth.com.

Join us on the Career Wanderlust Podcast as we explore the delicate balance between career and life with Lisa Picasso, a seasoned brand strategy expert. Lisa shares her wisdom on the importance of understanding and prioritizing your true desires, both in your professional journey and personal life. Discover how staying true to your passions and values can shape your career for the better. Join us as Lisa unveils valuable insights into making career choices that align with your authentic self. Guest Bio: Lisa Picasso's career trajectory is a testament to her dedication to brand strategy and storytelling. With over 15 years of experience, she has left an indelible mark on the industry, working with clients like Allbirds and Bonobos. Currently a Sr. Vice President with Launch Squad, Lisa showcases her knack for driving brands to success. Lisa's profound wisdom in staying true to your passions is bound to inspire career enthusiasts and professionals alike. Key Moments in the Episode: Discovering the power of authenticity and understanding your true desires. The role of open communication in personal and career growth. The art of recognizing the right career fit and having the courage to pivot. Letting go of societal expectations and forging your unique path. Navigating the intricate dance between career and life with purpose and fulfillment. For more about Lisa Picasso: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisapicasso020482/ For more about LaunchSquad: https://launchsquad.com/ If you enjoy learning from others, please give us a like, subscribe, and share with a friend. If you are looking to add talent to your public relations, marketing, communications, sales, or business development team with the best talent, and quickly, check us out at paradigmstaffing.com.

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Mastering the Art of Career and Life Balance with Lisa Picasso

Jolie Downs: [00:00:00] Welcome to the Career Wanderlust Podcast, your compass for new career horizons.

Today we are talking with Lisa Picasso. Lisa is a brand strategy expert and master of storytelling. Having started her career at Oxford University, Lisa went on to work with YACPAC before joining the PR agency Launch Squad. Lisa has excelled while at Launch Squad, helping them grow into a leading agency and becoming a Senior Vice resident while working with clients such as Allbirds and Bonobos.

I'm excited to learn more. Lisa, thank you for joining us on the Career Wanderlust Podcast.

Lisa Picasso: Thank you so much for having me. Honored to be here. I appreciate

it.

Jolie Downs: Could you tell us what you feel has been some of your favorite career advice and

why?

Yeah, I think, just committing to being who you are early on, I think we fall into the trap of feeling like we need to [00:01:00] always accelerate our career, move to the next step, ask for the bigger job, the raise, make a pivot. I think those things are really interesting catalysts that can guide you and serve this sort of ambition that we all have, but I think staying true to what drives you and what turns you on and what, gets you out of bed in the morning is actually really useful.

And unfortunately, doesn't really come into clarity until later on in your career, when you have a stronger sense of Oh, this is what I'm good at. And this is what I get excited about.

Very true. What's interesting is what you were saying that sometimes you do these things because you feel like you should. I completely get that as a recruiter when I'm working with more junior people, a lot of times I feel like in the back of my head, I'm like, Are you doing this because you read an article or is this really what it is that you want?

Or is this, you're doing this because you [00:02:00] feel like you're supposed to, and so it's really good, advice to be like, okay, what, is it that your, true goal is here? What is it that you want? And what are the best ways to get there?

Lisa Picasso: Yeah. And I think it's, I think it's advice that's easier said than done.

And I think it's also not that's something to try to hold onto and think about not just in your career, but in your life, your whole life, right? What is in my heart? What is in my gut and what do I really want to do? And that's like why we're all seeing a therapist, right?

Like trying to figure it out, again, it's probably advice easier said than done.

Jolie Downs: Speaking of which, is there anything that has helped you embody that?

Lisa Picasso: Oh, yeah. I think, yeah, therapy. No, just kidding. Processing with people talking to other people I [00:03:00] admire throughout my career that have maybe, made difficult career choices.

I think processing with yours and my friend group and for me, Breaking down my day to day and looking at what am I doing each day that actually brings me joy? And is my current career and my current job what is it providing me? And what is it, how is it making me feel?

What am I getting to do? And if that still feels an alignment, then you can let go of other people, outside expectations of I need more money or I need more I need a bigger role or I need a fancy whatever so it's, I don't know that my cliche answer like it's the inner work. But it is the

Jolie Downs: inner work.

I love what you get right there. It just came home. It's that what do I think I need, and then a lot of that comes from outside influences a lot of times, like society or other people or what you think you're supposed to be doing versus what is it that you really want?[00:04:00]

so that's really good. I like that.

Lisa Picasso: Yeah. It's good advice. Again, easier, all of it is easier said than done. And there's no easy answers ever.

Jolie Downs: But if you can learn from someone else, it always helps ease some of the pain, of going through things yourself. But again, that's easier said than done too.

So I love a story. Can you share a story about something that happened in your work environment that was like an impactful lesson and you learned something from it? What happened? What did you learn?

Lisa Picasso: Yeah. I've I have many. There's a couple kind of stories intertwined in one.

My current role, I've been at Launch Squad for 15 years, almost 15 years, which is extraordinary. And we can maybe unpack that later, but I left. And took a job not for any of the reasons previously discussed, but I took a job and I immediately knew the job was [00:05:00] wrong. I wasn't connecting with the people.

I didn't really enjoy the work. I felt like it was almost like bordering on an unhealthy environment and it created like a new perspective on what Launch Squad was like for me when I first started working there. So I ended up leaving that job and going back to Launch Squad, which was like very.

weird at the time. I think this is like 2009 and I ended up working remotely for Launch Squad at that time. And I had to have the courage and get over the shame of being like, I left and this new job was not a good fit. It was a disaster. there was some unhealthy things going on. And so in terms of just relationships, not anything.

Scary, but I just realized this was not a good place to be. And so launchpad welcomed me back with open arms. And so I think the learning there was, failing is okay. I, took, I left the company, took a new job and it didn't work out. And so accepting [00:06:00] failure and not. , and not even it wasn't a failure, right?

It was this didn't work out. And then acknowledging, , it's okay for it to not work out. And I know what is actually a good fit. And I went back to Launch Squad. And when I came back, I had a whole new perspective, not only on, , what makes an incredible workplace versus one that's not. Good fit for me, but, just probably having more freedom and openness and the way I was able to make decisions in the workplace.

I was initially embarrassed to leave a job that I had left Launch Squad for, and I just, there was a lot of shame wrapped up in it, but I just, I let it go. And then it cracked open this whole. Second chapter for me at Launch Squad, and ended up, obviously being a really good thing. I guess the core learnings, letting go of ego, , not feeling shame, having courage to do things, even though it feels Oh God, am I screwing up my career?

I had no idea what I was doing, 20 something. I have no idea what I was [00:07:00] doing. And I don't think my parents were necessarily guiding me. They were like, yeah, do that. And so I did it and it all worked out and, it was very formative and how I looked at my career and the rest of My journey.

Oh, there are

Jolie Downs: so many great lessons in there, not only in your career, but in life in general. just the acceptance of failure, right? to me, like there is no such thing as failure. It's either you're winning or you're learning, right? It's one or the other. And you had amazing learning in that.

experience. And it actually taught you some really impactful things that a lot of people don't learn until later on in life. So kudos on that. and then really acceptance of story, right? cause that shame, that's something that I think a lot of people can resonate with. Like when you make a decision or something happens and you have the shame, you think, Oh, you have this regret or what have you.

But It's just really about, okay, this is a part of my story. this is one of my stepping stones that I went through. I, this is the learning process I had to go through to get to here. And [00:08:00] it is, it's a, it's, this is now a part of my story is accepting it and owning it and appreciating it because you wouldn't be where you are.

Lisa Picasso: Yeah. Yeah. And like that, it, it was a, it wasn't a bad, workplace. It just wasn't like at all a good fit for me, and I had to make a really tough decision and, take the leap,

Jolie Downs: And that's what it's like. as a recruiter, I can say, definitely there are some toxic environments.

You just do not want to be in for the most part, most environments. It's a matter of finding the right person. we all have different personalities and we are going to fit in different types of environments and it's finding the right one. That's fine. Yeah.

Lisa Picasso: Absolutely. I'm sure you're hearing feed.

Yeah. You're hearing feedback all day long about, what's a good fit or what people are looking for and how to like match make and make sure that your people are going to get in a situation and they're going to thrive. And I'm sure you've got all kinds of interesting stories on that front.

Jolie Downs: and it's [00:09:00] very, the fact that you went back to Launch Squad too, and that you're able to get clarity on what it is that's important to you and Launch Squad filled those things. It says a lot about the company. Can you tell us a little bit about Launch Squad? what do you guys do? What do you look for in your talent?

What do you want to share with us about the company?

Lisa Picasso: Yeah, it's an interesting company. I always say it's not a company. It's a it's like I sound. I sound so old, but it's like bigger than a company. It because we have such a huge network, and it's spans so many different categories and generations of people.

You know, 20 plus year old, PR and storytelling agency. And our roots are in sort of Silicon Valley and the rise of, technology and startup culture. And, today we work with companies, almost in every category of business. The common thread: is this company innovating?

Are they doing something to change the world or their respective industry? And so we [00:10:00] plug into their business and help them outline, what is your story? How do we help you grow and share and evangelize your story? It's PR and content. So it's also this kind of, how do we help make you relevant with the now?

So you might be doing something really incredible and innovative over here, but how do we make that feel pop culturally, economically, financially, whatever, the lane is relevant. And it's super cool. And we have the warmest most creative, nicest, talented people we get to work with. Similarly, all of our clients are that way .

it's just been like a... it's an agency. So I've probably worked with maybe a hundred companies at this point and you're constantly exposed to new brands and new CEOs and new technologies and things that I'm just like, oh my God, I'm not smart enough to be talking to this company, but we're here and let's go. [00:11:00]

Jolie Downs: Is

there something that you've read, watched, or listened to that has impacted you in a positive way that you think could benefit other people?

Lisa Picasso: Yeah. I thought about this a lot. I think for me it's a series of things that I've read.

I have one TV show that I'm going to plug, but it's a series of things that I have read that has come out like in the last three to five years out. I became a parent in the last five years. So I don't know. Thank you. I don't know if the content increased or if I've just become more attuned to it.

But really any kind of content that is talking about being a working parent and what that means. And so obviously there's a lot of we need better child care leave and things like that, which is 1000 percent true. But the more macro points are how to [00:12:00] be an impactful worker and be a parent and be a human being, and how does this all blend together?

And so this content looks like anything from I even think like Glennon Doyle's book and what's her latest book? I think that

Jolie Downs: Untamed

Lisa Picasso: was that her latest one? I think Untamed, obviously she's exploded into like pop culture and is everywhere, but I do think her work is pretty groundbreaking.

I loved it. Yeah, I loved it. I will go back to it in terms of how we take agency over our life and our work. And so I think like Glennon Doyle was one, and I continue to enjoy her point of view, and then I think other lesser known people, like Anne Helen Peterson, who used to write a lot about pop culture, and now she has more of a sociological lens on everything from [00:13:00] community and working parents and women and working and anything she's writing.

I just, it continues to be punch you in the stomach, this is exactly what we need to be talking about. All of these things are how do we get equity in the workplace and find meaning in and out of work and have it all work together. And the downside is that we're not doing that great of a job on the flip side.

We're like advancing the conversation so quickly and good things are happening. Those are writers that I have really come to follow and listen to and review

Jolie Downs: suggestions. Thank you. Really great suggestions. And you said there was a

Lisa Picasso: movie you wanted to plug. Oh, there was just a TV show.

I love TV. People ask what my hobbies are and I'm like, TV? Yeah. There's just a [00:14:00] show on HBO that I can't stop talking about. It's, and it's not because the setting is Kansas, but it's a show called Somebody Somewhere. Oh,

Jolie Downs: it's really good. You watch this? Yeah.

Lisa Picasso: I think the show and the writing is like perfect.

It's just about building community and you're building a family, and your chosen family. But I also think Bridget Everett has a really interesting career. I think she found success like really big success later in life. And all the people on that show are friends and people she has relationships with, and she's plucking them into that show.

I just think it's an example of quiet, really high quality work. It's like just an iconic, an instantly iconic show. And so plugging that.

Jolie Downs: Loved it. Oh, yeah. I'm glad you are. Fantastic. Okay. before you go, I'd love to know, final question. What is your personal superpower [00:15:00] and how has it helped you in life?

Lisa Picasso: Oh, yeah. This is for me. Probably being... I feel again I'm like whipping out all the cliches, but I think I'm a very good read of people and reading the room and kind of feeling people's energy. Empathic. And I always joke that I'm like, maybe not the smartest person, but I can feel where people are and understand them.

Maybe the more work centric way to present this is I have a genuine interest and love for understanding people's stories and where they come from where they're at in their life. And so I think that helps me to understand from a client perspective, where they're at with their business, what their needs are.

How can we help? How can we work together and collaborate and be creative and do all kinds of cool stuff?

Jolie Downs: Oh, absolutely. I would imagine that helps you a lot. Being empathetic is a major superpower [00:16:00] because not only are you able to read all of that and do a good job of understanding, I would imagine you probably do a good job of helping them feel understood and feel heard, which makes a big

Lisa Picasso: difference.

Oh, yeah. I always say that half the battle in our career, which is working with clients and trying to help them succeed is, yes, we want to get results and make a bunch of good things happen, but it's also like creating a relationship and just communicate, being really good communicators and helping them understand what's happened, what's happening. That's all anybody really wants is to be heard and to feel like you get their experience. So right, again,

Jolie Downs: that's going to lead to good client retention in the communications field. So yeah, really great relationship retention in your personal life.

Yeah. I know it's such a buzzword, but I think the big picture that's all we want for with anyone is to understand what other people's experiences are.[00:17:00]

yeah, that's wonderful. Oh, thank you so much, Lisa. This has been great. I really appreciate you joining us on the Career Wanderlust podcast.

Lisa Picasso: Thank you so much.

Jolie Downs: Thank you for joining us on the Career Wanderlust Podcast. If you find value in learning from others, give us a like and subscribe. If you're looking to grow your communications, marketing, public relations, or sales and biz dev team with the best talent and quickly, check us out at ParadigmStaffing. com and submit a request.

We are wishing you a most successful and fulfilling career. Until next time.

Lessons from a Communications Trailblazer

Dorothy Chang, a trailblazer in the world of communications, shares her transformative insights on navigating a dynamic career path. In this captivating episode, Dorothy reveals how her insatiable curiosity and passion for the startup world have propelled her through diverse roles, from PR agency to VC fund co-founder and beyond. Get ready to be inspired as Dorothy shares her wisdom on embracing learning, speaking up, and manifesting your dreams.

Guest Bio:

Dorothy Chang is a seasoned communications professional who has excelled in various roles across the industry. From her early days in tech PR to co-founding a VC fund focused on Bitcoin startups, Dorothy's journey is a testament to her adaptability and drive. She has held leadership positions at companies such as Foursquare and Paxos, and most recently served as the President of Kode With Klossy. Currently, Dorothy is the co-founder of Lynx Collective, a membership community designed to support and empower tech startup founders.

Content Sample:

1. Discover Dorothy's unique approach to career growth, which involves learning as much as possible, doing your best, and positioning yourself for future opportunities.

2. Learn how Dorothy's curiosity about the startup world led her to unexpected roles, such as co-founding a VC fund investing in Bitcoin startups.

3. Uncover the power of speaking up and asking for what you want, as Dorothy shares her inspiring story of manifesting her dream connection with Brooke Hammerling.

Key Takeaways:

1. [00:01:14] Embrace a mindset of learning as much as possible, doing your best, and positioning yourself for future opportunities.

2. [00:04:47] Don't be afraid to ask questions and express your interests to others, as it can lead to valuable connections and opportunities.

3. [00:11:16] Recognize that the skills developed in communications roles are highly transferable and applicable to many other areas of business.

4. [00:18:03] When facing imposter syndrome, focus on identifying and developing the skills needed to succeed in your current role, rather than questioning your overall fit.

5. [00:25:45] Actively engage with the content you consume, considering how you can learn from and apply the communication strategies observed.

Memorable Quotes:

1. "Having that mindset of trying to learn as much as I could and do as well as I could, wherever I was, really helped me to get a sense of the world and the part I wanted to play in it." [00:02:07]

2. "Speak up and say it out loud and go for it. Manifest what you want to do." [00:10:37]

Related Content:

1. "The Power of Asking: How to Get What You Want in Life" by Amanda Palmer – This book explores the transformative effects of asking for help and expressing your desires, echoing Dorothy's advice on speaking up and manifesting your dreams.

2. "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries – For those curious about the startup world that captivated Dorothy, this book offers insights on entrepreneurship and innovation.

3. "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" by Susan Cain – Dorothy's emphasis on the importance of developing communication skills, even for those who may not be naturally inclined, aligns with the themes in this book.

Subscribe to the Career Wanderlust podcast for more inspiring conversations with trailblazers like Dorothy Chang. To connect with like-minded professionals and access exclusive resources, consider joining Lynx Collective, Dorothy's membership community for tech startup founders. Visit their website, http://www.lynxcollective.com/

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Transcript

Dorothy Chang on Speaking Up and Standing Out: Lessons from a Communications Trailblazer

Jolie Downs: Welcome to the Career Wanderlust podcast, your compass for new career horizons. Today, we are talking with Dorothy Chang.

Dorothy has excelled in all avenues of communications. She started her career excelling in the PR agency world before starting her own public relations agency. Then she went on to become the first woman to start up a VC fund investing in the crypto blockchain space. From there, she went into the corporate world, holding head of communications and marketing roles for companies such as Foursquare and Paxos, and eventually becoming president of CodeWithKlossy.

Today, Dorothy is now the co founder of Lynx Collective, a membership community built for tech startup founders and inspiring founders where they can learn and grow together. I think it's amazing and I'm excited to learn more. Dorothy, thank you for joining us on the Career Wanderlist podcast. Thank you so much for having me.

It's great to be here. Oh, I'm really appreciate you coming and I'm super excited to learn a little bit about what you feel has helped propel you in your own career because you have excelled in all the avenues within comms. Is there any advice or belief you've found has helped you the most throughout your career?

Dorothy Chang: Yeah, I'll tell you, when I first landed in PR, I didn't really know for sure if that was what I wanted to do and how long I would want to do it for, but I took an approach of saying, Hey, let me learn as much as I possibly can. And maybe I'll learn more about other roles that I can play and other industries and companies and different things.

I felt like I knew so little about the world and how it worked, so I just took that approach of let me just learn as much as I can. Let me do as much as I can advance as much as I can. And I will better position myself for whatever is next, if there's something else. And I realized throughout my career, I've taken a lot of different kinds of turns,

none of it was predictable, but having that mindset of, trying to learn as much as I could and do as well as I could, wherever I was really helped me to get a sense of the world and the part I wanted to play in it.

Jolie Downs: Absolutely. And I love this advice because look when, especially when you're starting off and you're new in a new position or coming into new career, you don't always know exactly what it is that you want or what's going to resonate with you the best.

And that is the best way to figure it out is to throw yourself in, to learn as much as you possibly can to keep that mind open, take in everything and then figure out what it is that you love, what it is you don't love and what's the right next step from there. And it seems like you've been doing this

each step of your career. Just looking at how you expanded. Would you say that's true?

Dorothy Chang: Yeah, absolutely. I started off In tech PR, working at different agencies. And I worked first with really big brands. but I had a lot of curiosity about startups and I learned a lot about them. And I realized that I was spending a lot of time on my own, just exploring the startup world and talking to founders and going to start at meetup events.

And that was what was drawing me in. So then it made sense for me to focus on doing PR for startups, because that's that seemed to be where my passion was leading me. But if I'd only stayed focused on doing the job I was doing, it wouldn't have discovered that. And so I think that's a big part of it is having a curiosity about what is out there in the world.

And going after how you can best satiate that curiosity is going to help you, right? You want to find where you have some natural affinities and interests and bring that closer to the work that you're doing because that's how you're going to bring the most passion, the most motivation, the most ambition if you're really excited about the work

Jolie Downs: you're doing.

Absolutely. As a caveat, I, mentioned that this is great advice for people earlier in their career, but it's actually just great advice for every step of your career, every step of your career. Yeah, you should consistently be asking yourself these questions and looking at how you can expand, how you can grow, where do you want to go next?

What's, the right thing? So thank you. This is really good advice all around because a lot of times we get a little stuck, huh? I just feel like a lot of times we're not really. Looking around, you just get used to what it is that you're doing. So

Dorothy Chang: yeah, I would say the other part of that too is, not being quiet about it either, about what you're interested in, right?

Like you can do a lot of research on your own, but you also learn so much from other people. So if you want to learn more about what somebody's work is, ask them, right? Don't be afraid. Don't be shy. People love to talk about themselves and what they do. And if you have a curiosity about them, ask them.

THen even more they'll be even more willing to share what they know and share their life with you. And exercise that curiosity and ask for what you want to learn. Ask for what you want to get. You're not going to get what you don't ask for, and so it's a really, it seems like an obvious thing, but I think especially early in, in someone's career, you can just get stuck in that mindset of I'm just going to do what my boss tells me to do what I'm supposed to do.

And, and the reality is you can have a lot more say in your career and what you do if you show what you're interested in and ask for what you're interested in and move in that direction and move yourself proactively in that direction.

Jolie Downs: Absolutely. Speaking up is... it's a must, isn't it? really.

and I don't think, I know you mentioned that it, seems obvious, but even though it may seem obvious, I believe the biggest percentage is not asking. And so it's really important to be reminded that we do need to ask, that you need to ask what it is and share what your interests are, what it is that you want to be doing next or what you're interested in learning.

I love this advice. I think it's applicable a every stage and for anyone who's listening. So now what about.. Look, I'm curious if this is how you went from having your own PR agency to then investing into this crypto blockchain, starting a VC fund. that's a really interesting jump, so what helped you do that?

Dorothy Chang: Yeah. So again, like I, I mentioned before, I, I found myself really drawn to the startup world and I was spending a lot of time in it. actually I want to tell two stories, the first one is about, when I first met you and Paradigm, right? So I was working at Edelman and we were mostly working with very big brands.

But I was very curious about startups. We worked with one startup. I loved it. Worked with another startup within a large corporation. Loved that experience too. And just started to feel more of that draw towards the startup world. Read an article about Brooke Hammerling at Brew PR. Was fascinated by her and sat down one day and said I am going to write an email to her because I want to get to know her.

And I want to see if maybe she could be a mentor or something. I want to grow up to be her. And when I sat down to write that email, and I was now in this mindset of, I want to make this connection. That's when I got a call from Paradigm. Working for Brooke Hammerling at Brew PR. And it was just such kismet and such an amazing moment.

I was like, of course I want to take that phone call. That's exactly what I just sat down to try to open up that connection. I think that's, it's a little bit of asking for you want, but it's also manifesting your dream and, it just came together beautifully and it was an amazing experience.

So that was when I took a first look into the startup world. And then from there, me and my, I think maybe he was my boyfriend at the time, now he's my husband, but he and I were both working in the startup world. And we had two friends who were running a hedge fund and they wanted to invest more in startups in New York city.

And so when we had friends who were raising money, we would send them over to our friends with the money and then our friends with the money came across interesting startups that they wanted to consider investing in, they would ask us to help them evaluate them because we knew a lot about that world. And at some point we said, Hey, we are talking more and more about this.

Why don't we actually do this together? And so that's how the fund came together. Now it wasn't a full time thing for us, for any of us, but it, we found it was a good idea actually to create a little bit of structure. They had the money and the experience with allocating capital. And we had more of a knowledge of the landscape and, and connections.

And so we came together and we formed Liberty City Ventures. And then we ended up raising a fund specifically to invest in Bitcoin startups. Now, that was all them. I will give them all the credit for kind of coming into this space. Super early back in 2010, they started buying Bitcoin when it was only worth four or 5 cents.

So they were very early in the Bitcoin world. And when they said they wanted to invest in Bitcoin startups, we were like that's crazy. But okay, sure. You guys seem to know what you're doing. You've been very successful and we don't know anything about investing. So we're going to follow your lead.

Let's do this together. And Liberty City Ventures raised 15 million to invest in Bitcoin startups. Now the fund has over a billion dollars in assets under management. It's crazy. I'm not involved anymore. I've taking a lot of other turns. but, yeah, that was the genesis of it.

And, and again, it comes back to manifest what you want to do and speak up and say it, out loud and go for it. Oh, I love that. Gave me chills.

Jolie Downs: I love that so much. What a great story. What a great experience all around. And I love that you just went for it. You just kept following, like you said, you kept following that curiosity, that interest, and you just kept following it down the line and it just kept leading you to new places.

So I think that's wonderful. And I think that there's a lot to be learned from stories. Are there any other stories in your career that have had a big impact on you? Something that, or something that you've learned about your career that you think is beneficial for others to know as well?

Dorothy Chang: Yeah. I think that especially for communications and PR pros, one of the things that I learned then, and then I, kept learning over and over with every step of the rest of my career is that actually, the skills that you develop in communications are really applicable to many other types of roles.

And so when I first started that seed fund, Oh, I had imposter syndrome up the wazoo. Of course. I was like, what do I have doing here? What do I know? But quickly I started to realize actually, yeah, like the things that I have learned being, working on the PR agency side of things, when we are working with so many different clients at a time, and we're cycling on and off of them constantly, is that Yeah, I've learned how to evaluate a business and a product very quickly and learn my way around it.

And I've learned a lot of different subspecialties. I've always worked in tech, but tech is everything, right? I did mobile tech, internet tech, health tech, all the different kinds, advertising tech, all the different kinds of technologies. And so I've learned a lot of different industries quickly.

I've learned how to navigate the landscape. I've learned how to figure out what all the news sources are. So I can learn more about this industry. I know how to get there. I know how to talk about it. I know how to, analyze it. I know how to, what messaging points I would give somebody because I've learned how to position something in the landscape and I can see, there's so many, I know how to develop relationships with people, right?

That's a huge one. You, when you ar becoming an investor with a founder, that's a very special relationship. You have to develop a lot of trust. If you're in PR, you know how to do that. So all you do, you realize that a lot of the skills that you learn in communications and you exercise in communications are really applicable elsewhere.

And then a lot of the things you learn as you advance in your career are also the same things that other people are learning as they advance in their careers in other fields. You've learned how to manage people and hire them, and how to report up and how to report down, and how to evaluate a vendor for a software tool that you want to use.

All of the things that everybody's doing in every department, those things are universal. And then, if you're doing corporate communications or you are handling executive communications, then you know that you don't need to do that much to write the messaging for an executive. And the reality is the work that you do all the time, you are writing their messaging, you actually

know how to sit inside their mind and think about things the way that they are. And it's not just that you're mimicking the role that they're playing. You're actually doing it too. And so that becomes a really powerful thing because then you realize, okay, actually if I'm at the executive team level at a company that I've done communications for, I actually have just as much value to bring to those discussions at that higher level, because that's what I've been doing.

I've been feeding that to somebody else and they've been the mouthpiece for it. But I can play that role too. So you develop a lot of confidence as you advance in your career. the more that you have exposure to that kind of work, the more you realize that you can play that role too.

Jolie Downs: Absolutely. No, I'm inside.

I was cheering like, yes, it is. It's so true. Communications is so powerful and all of those things that communications professionals are doing are absolutely applicableto all kinds of different facets of business and within our world. And I love that you bring this up because it's, I can't speak for everybody, but imagine there's a lot of people who maybe have a little bit more of a narrow focus of where they think that they can be or where, where they should be.

And so I love this conversation that it opens it up because what you're doing and as a comms professional is so applicable to so many different things. So if you have these passions or interests in other areas, you absolutely can take your skill set and move forward in a very healthy, proactive way where you're actually head and shoulders above where you might think you are because you have all of these skills.

Dorothy Chang: Absolutely. I definitely saw, I have run marketing at different companies and run different facets of marketing. And it was very clear to me that actually, if you come up from a from the PR line of things versus say getting your start in growth marketing or email marketing or paid advertising, you've actuall been privy to the more strategic conversations and decision making, than any of the other disciplines in marketing.

So it's actually a really, I think it's more of a fast track, honestly, to those more strategic, executive levels. Very interesting.

Jolie Downs: Very interesting. I'd like to talk to you about the imposter syndrome because I really appreciate that you brought that up because that's something that we all experience, but I don't feel like it's talked about enough.

I really like I love the topic because for my own self, I struggled with imposter syndrome in many ways, and it absolutely kept me back because I didn't, I wasn't aware that's what it was. I thought that I thought maybe this voice knew something, or that this voice was right. And so what I've loved learning about imposter syndrome is that it's prevalent, that everyone has it.

We all go through it. It's just basically, if you're stretching yourself, you're going to be faced with some imposter syndrome, which it's a good thing. It means you're expanding. So what I'd love to know is, was there anything that helped you overcome your imposter syndrome? Because I'm sure many people listening are.

Potentially dealing it with themselves.

Dorothy Chang: Yeah. I think that it's something that also doesn't necessarily go away. I still deal with it all the time. But I think it's about developing the right kind of frameworks to think through things in a more rational way and some of the things that, that I'll go through if I'm in one of those moments where I'm like, Oh,

am I in over my head? It's reminding myself that it's not a matter of whether I am the perfect person for this specific role and if there's somebody else out there that's better suited for it than me. It's I'm in this role right now. This is the this is what I am situated to do so Can I do this?

If not, then what skills do I need to develop so that I can do it, right? It's not I can or I can't or I never will be able to. It's what, where's the gap and how can I fill that gap? And if you try to really analyze what the actual gap is, then that turns it from being an emotional, h my gosh, I'm never going to be able to do this to when can I do this?

When am I going to feel confident? And you start planning towards what's going to get you there. And what are the steps that you need to take? What do you need to do versus how am I feeling about it? How you're feeling about it, of course matters, but if you want to put those feelings away and shift your mindset into more of an action oriente how am I going to solve this problem? And how am I going to acquire the skills? I need to feel confident here then I think that helps a lot the other the last thing I would say that helps too Is this is silly, but this is the silly one that I think actually maybe helps the most and that's reminding myself that actually nobody knows what they're doing serious, right?

What we're doing is making it up as we go and rying to make good decisions based on the information that you have, and nobody has been in the exact position you've been in before, ever. Everything's different all the time. So nobody knows what they're doing. We're all just pretending and making it up as we go along.

And I am in the position right now to make up whatever this thing is, and I'm going to make the best decision I can. That's it. I love

Jolie Downs: it. It's it's absolute truth. True story. We are all just making up as good, we're all flying by the seat of our pants, doing the best we can at any given moment. 100%. And this is I can say this with, certainty because I've learned this through all the conversations, through recruiting, through podcasting,

and this is, something that is very true. So thank you for sharing that. I love it. So now tell us a little bit about Lynx Collective because I'm fascinated with what you've built here. Could you tell us a little bit about it and who are the type of people or companies that would be interested in your membership?

Dorothy Chang: Yeah. So Lynx Collective is an organization, a community, a program that actually my husband and I developed together. So we're partners in this, co founders, and it's for early stage tech founders. again, I've been obsessed with startups for most of my career. It's what I live and breathe.

And, what we're doing is just trying to make it, the whole startup ecosystem more accessible to more founders. If you're a founder, if you're an aspiring founder, you can join us for events, for talks, speaker series, workshops. and we have a little bit of a membership. model as well. Our community members can jump into our Slack channel with all of our community, and get discounts and, priority for the different events that we do.

So for example, we have a series called Inside BC. We kicked it off a couple of weeks ago with Union Square Ventures, which is a big firm in New York. We went there, I interviewed their newest partner, 400 founders registered to attend. We can only take 75, but we do events like that regularly to try to create more access for founders who are new to the game to get connected with the right people and with each other.

It's really important to have community, and to be a successful founder sometimes can seem so daunting, but it's a lot easier if you're If you see other people that look like you who are doing it too, and it makes it more concrete and feel moretangible. So that's the idea. It's encouraging more people of all types to go after that tech startup dream and, and find a

Jolie Downs: supportive community for it.

That's fantastic. How beneficial for anyone in that stage of life right now, that sounds perfect for the next steps. So now what about, okay.

Dorothy Chang: I just feel

Jolie Downs: like

Dorothy Chang: there's another thing we just announced it today. What is it? I joined a preseed fund called Next Wave NYC. it's funded by Flybridge Capital and we invest in early stage startups

and so it's a fund of 14 founders and operators who are again, this is another theme of my career on the side. We're investing in startups are focused mostly on AI startups in New York City.

Jolie Downs: Fascinating. AI is, I'm fascinated in all aspects of AI. I'm trying to learn as much as possible right now.

Yeah. Are there any new tools that you've noticed in AI that's been something that people should be noticing if they haven't taken a look at it yet?

Dorothy Chang: Question. I don't know that I have one in particular to recommend. I think a lot of the tools that I've been looking at are really specific to different niches.

So for example, one that is a tool for elderly people who are experiencing the first signs of dementia. Oh, here's a really cool one called Latimer, which is an LLM that has proprietary access to an archive of several different African American newspapers in the U. S. and so their language model really takes into account I guess the right way to talk about issues as they relate to the Black population and it's really equity focused LLM really fascinating.

so that's an interesting one for maybe communications professionals to Oh, yeah, I hadn't heard

Jolie Downs: about that. So that's fascinating. Thank you. We're feeding our mind constantly. In fact, we're not always feeding our mind. We're just being fed constantly and so i'm really passionate about proactively feeding the mind.

How do you proactively feed your mind? Is there anything that you consume whether it's read watch or listen that you would suggest to other people?

Dorothy Chang: Yeah, I don't think that I have one specific recommendation on a book or a movie, because I think everybody's in, different stages and, things means something different to depending on when it hits on you.

But I think that the most valuable thing I would have to share in that regard is the mindset towards what you consume. Okay. I think that it's important even when you're not working and you're just enjoying, watching, binge watching some stupid TV show, I think there's still a lot that you can learn, and I think that's the thing that is important to consider, especially if you're a communications person, right?

Anything you read, watch, listen to, there's going to be an aspect of communications related to that, right? So there's always something that you can learn. There's always some, if you are actively engaged, you can think about how would I have put that? Oh, that was, why was that turn of phrase so awkward?

What would I have said instead? Or how would I have positioned that? How would I have introduced that differently? That interpersonal relationship is really interesting. What did they get wrong? Like, how would I do that differently? and I think that, everyone has a lot to learn from anything that we consume and, but the key is being really actively engaged with it, and thinking about how you, what you would apply to that and how you would learn from that to your life.

Yes. Yes.

Jolie Downs: Yeah. I, I can see that now that you, say that, I can even think of just. fiction novels and how much you can learn about, just how much you can learn about relationships and how maybe the other sex is thinking, or someone in a different stage of life, or different situations, circumstances, get in their mind how they're thinking, which will help with their communications.

I think that's really interesting.

Dorothy Chang: Yeah. A hundred percent. Yeah. And so it's a funny thing, actually, because I have I had this conversation with my eight year old son where I'll ask him like, Oh, what did you learn about today? And he thinks about the world in terms of facts, like what I learned in science class and what did I learn here?

and, but what I've been encouraging him to think about is, I think more deeply about is what about that story that was read to you? What did you learn from that and what did you observe and how did people, how did those characters feel? What did you learn from that?

It's not facts, but that kind of interpersonal relationships and social emotional learning is really important too.

Jolie Downs: Oh, I kudos that's very powerful. When you use, when you teach people how to learn from, just being a part of conversations, from learning, within a book of the conversations, paying attention to how people are interacting with each other, paying attention to what you can learn from stories.

When you start doing that, and if you start doing that at a young age, my goodness, the amount that you can learn is so incredible. So incredible. I know adults who aren't doing that right now. So I love that. That's a great piece of advice to be taking forward for anyone who's not doing that. This has been fantastic.

Dorothy, before you go, I would love to ask you about your personal superpower, because I feel that we're all born with certain superpowers, but that we also developed certain superpowers over time. Is there a superpower that you've developed over time that you feel really benefits your life?

Dorothy Chang: Yeah, I think I've told people this a lot, but I think things are changing now My early career in PR was so helpful for me to get comfortable with talking to strangers and pitching them.

But I think it's different now because back then I had my Bacon's book and I would call reporters on the phone, cold, right? Yeah. And I had to actually talk to them. I don't think young PR people are pitching over the phone anymore. I don't know.

I know they're pitching. Yeah, I think it's mostly email these days. I don't know, Twitter. I did a lot of it's different. I think I benefited from happening to be at that point in time where the first couple of years of my career, I was just cold calling reporters. And I had no idea what I was talking about.

It was like some really gorpy technical thing about a server. And I just had, you just had to go with it and you had to do your best and try to make friends and I learned a lot from that. And so now I'm super comfortable talking to anybody about anything. And I think a big part of that is learning how to ask good questions and show curiosity and connect with people and, learn to talk about anything and learn things quickly.

It's all skills that I learned from, PR. So

Jolie Downs: such invaluable skills to that carries you through everything, okay? I'm gonna let you go but really fast because a lot of people struggle with this yeah, but it's something that you learn. This is why I ask because we can all develop this skill: Do you have a go to question that you ask strangers that helps open them up?

Dorothy Chang: I do The one I've been asking people lately is Hey, tell me your story. I do. I do. I do. And it gets a really different response from what do you do? Or where are you from? It's tell me your story. That gives them a chance to tell you what they want to tell you about in a narrative form. It's going to be emotional.

There's going to be twists and turns and it's a much it's warmer way to connect with somebody and get to know them.

Jolie Downs: Absolutely. Thank you so much for this, Dorothy. I have fully enjoyed this conversation. Thank you so much.

Jolie Downs: Thank you for joining us on the Career Wanderlust Podcast. If you find value in learning from others, give us a like and subscribe. If you're looking to grow your communications, marketing, public relations, or sales and biz dev team with the best talent and quickly, check us out at Paradigmstaffing. com and submit a request.

We are wishing you a most successful and fulfilling career. Until next time.

Embark on a transformative journey with Matt Warzel, a seasoned career coach and resume writing maestro, as he unveils the art of crafting your career story. Can his insights be the catalyst for your career evolution?

Meet Matt Warzel, a CPRW-certified luminary in the realm of career advancement with over two decades of expertise in human resources. At the helm of MJW Careers, Matt guides both organizations and individuals through pivotal transitions, from downsizing to career leaps, ensuring their professional narratives are as compelling as they are credible.

Content:

Warzel's unique approach to resume content, distilling it into relatable, operational, and unique "buckets," empowers job seekers to craft resumes that truly resonate with recruiters.

His technique of reverse engineering job descriptions into success stories transforms a standard resume into a dynamic career tool.

Advocating for the integration of cause and effect in every bullet point, Matt's method transforms the resume from a mere document into a narrative of achievement.

Demystifying the job search process post-layoff, offering sage advice to tackle the emotional rollercoaster with strategic self-care and practical job-hunting techniques. His personal narrative of overcoming adversity underscores the power of resilience in the face of career uncertainty.

Key Takeaways:

"Resume architecture": How to construct a resume that captivates within seconds [00:01:17].

Interview acumen: Best practices for webcam interviews and how to exude confidence [00:06:19].

The three-bucket strategy: Relatability, operational metrics, and uniqueness in resume writing [00:01:33].

LinkedIn leverage: Insider tips for using LinkedIn effectively in your job search [00:18:10].

Navigating job loss: Strategies for managing post-layoff anxiety and regaining control [00:24:55].

Secrets to Rapid Career Growth, Mastering the Art of Difficult Conversations, and Unlocking Your Team’s Potential

🎙️ Unlock the secrets to career success with Angela Griffo, a seasoned PR and communications executive who has mastered the art of difficult conversations, empathetic leadership, and authentic relationship-building. In this transformative episode of the Career Wanderlust podcast, Angela shares her journey from agency to corporate roles and the powerful lessons she's learned along the way. Are you ready to level up your career and lead with empathy?

Guest Bio:

Angela Griffo is an accomplished public relations and communications professional with extensive experience in both agency and corporate executive-level roles. As the current Vice President of Corporate Communications at Socure, a leader in identity fraud prevention, Angela brings her expertise in guiding high-profile technology companies through their communications needs. Prior to her move to the corporate world, Angela had a successful agency career, serving as a Senior Vice President with Tenfold.

1. Discover the power of the "act as if" mindset and how it propelled Angela to rapid promotions throughout her career. 🌟

2. Learn Angela's secret to navigating difficult conversations with grace and empathy, honed through years of role-playing with an empathy coach. 🗣️

3. Uncover the key to building genuine, long-lasting relationships with colleagues, clients, and journalists alike. 🤝

Key Takeaways:

1. [00:01:04] Look at the job description above yours and act as if you are in that role to fast-track your career growth.

2. [00:08:06] Approach difficult conversations by understanding the other person's story, your own story, and finding a shared narrative.

3. [00:12:03] Show genuine interest in your team members' lives outside of work to build strong, motivating relationships.

4. [00:14:51] Provide feedback and celebrate wins as close to real-time as possible for maximum impact.

5. [00:16:20] Regularly reflect on whether you're living the life you love and make changes accordingly.

April shares her powerful strategies for making tough career decisions, including her highly effective pros and cons list method and the importance of having a supportive sounding board.

April Conyers, a seasoned strategic storyteller with over 15 years of experience in the communications industry, shares her transformative insights on navigating career changes and nurturing professional relationships. As the current Vice President of Global Communications at Sword Health and a former VP at Brew PR, April's unique background and wealth of knowledge will leave you feeling inspired and equipped to tackle your own career challenges. Guest Bio: April Conyers has been a leading force in the communications industry for more than 15 years, specializing in technology and business. Currently serving as the Vice President of Global Communications at Sword Health, April has also held pivotal roles at Omaze and Postmates, where she skillfully led external communications through the company's acquisition by Uber. Prior to her tenure at Postmates, April topped Business Insider's list of the 50 best public relations people in the tech industry in 2014 as a Vice President at Brew PR.

In this episode, April shares her powerful strategies for making tough career decisions, including her highly effective pros and cons list method and the importance of having a supportive sounding board. With her captivating storytelling style, she reveals how activating her network during a challenging time led to an exciting new role in the health tech industry. April also emphasizes the significance of being an advocate for yourself and consistently tracking your achievements to fuel your professional growth.

Key Takeaways:

[05:24] The power of making pros and cons lists when facing career changes

[07:56] How nurturing genuine relationships can lead to unexpected opportunities

[13:16] The importance of being your own advocate and negotiating for your career goals

[15:14] Keeping a "kudos folder" or "humblebrag folder" to track your accomplishments

[21:15] Developing the superpower of being easygoing and able to talk to anyone

Follow April Conyers on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilconyers/ to stay updated on her latest insights and accomplishments.

In this transformative episode, Eric Nehrlich, a certified coach and former Google Chief of Staff, shares his unique journey from engineering to executive coaching. With a passion for helping leaders become more conscious and purposeful, Eric offers invaluable insights on navigating career inflection points and redefining success on your own terms. Get ready to be inspired and equipped with practical strategies to embrace change and step into your power.

Eric Nehrlich began his career as an Engineer and Product Manager in the tech industry before joining Google, where he excelled as Chief of Staff, helping Google leaders drive greater performance. Driven by his passion for empowering leaders to become more conscious and purposeful, Eric became a certified coach and founded his own executive coaching business, Too Many Trees. He now works with clients worldwide, guiding leaders to step into their power.

Eric is also the author of "You Have a Choice: Beyond Hard Work to Meaningful Impact," where he shares the strategies that have proven most effective for himself and his executive clients. In this episode, Eric shares his profound "relax" approach to career growth, emphasizing that it's okay to take a different path and lean into your unique superpowers. With his engaging storytelling style, he recounts a pivotal moment in his early career that led him to focus on leadership and business, ultimately shaping his journey as an executive coach. Eric also delves into the transformative power of creating collective ownership of a vision, a key attribute of great leaders.

Key Takeaways:

[02:49] Embrace a "relax" approach to career growth and lean into your unique superpowers

[06:11] Experiment and try new strategies when old ones no longer work [12:04] The golden thread of great leadership: creating collective ownership of a vision

[20:42] Recognize that you always have a choice, even if it means accepting the consequences

[25:58] Develop the superpower of translating experiences to effectively communicate with diverse teams

Subscribe to the Career Wanderlust podcast for more inspiring stories and practical advice from industry leaders.

Follow Eric Nehrlich on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/nehrlich/ and check out his coaching services at Too Many Trees http://toomanytrees.com.

If you enjoy learning from others, please give us a like, subscribe, and share with a friend. If you are looking to add talent to your public relations, marketing, communications, sales, or business development team with the best talent, and quickly, check us out at paradigmstaffing.com.