Informational Interview 2.0
By Kevin Anselmo and Heidi Scott Giusto
Informational Interview 2.0May 15, 2020
Mitch Joel on How Content Creation Provides Education
As Cal Ripken is to baseball, Mitch Joel is to podcasting.
Ripken is the hall of fame baseball shortstop who played 2,632 consecutive games over more than 16 years. He never missed a game for injury, personal reasons, etc. Joel, the influential speaker, author and blogger, is the Iron Man of podcasting. He started his Six Pixels of Separation podcast back in 2005 to complement his daily blog. Since then, he has published a new interview with luminaries like Seth Godin and Henry Mintzberg every single Sunday since then. No breaks or holidays!
On episode 15 of the Informational Interview 2.0 podcast, he shared how this creation of consistent content took his career to new heights and has served as a source of learning.
"I was asking questions that I would selfishly ask if I could have coffee with some of these authors,” Joel said. “It was education for me. I wanted to learn. I wanted to understand. If I felt I had a particular perspective, I wanted to have it challenged. In that journey of a content creator I learned a lot. I found it stimulating and it spoke to my core.”
Godin has been on the Six Pixels of Separation podcast eight times. “There would be no Mitch Joel without Seth Godin,” Joel said.
Also noteworthy are his interactions with Nancy Duarte and hearing her thoughts around delivering keynote presentations.
“Any time I speak to her I feel there are 50 things I should be rethinking and doing.”
In the process of creating content, Joel was able to lead his agency to new heights. It led to opportunities to speak in front of thousands of individuals and then additional collaboration possibilities for his agency, which he ultimately sold in 2017.
"I thought there was an easier way to sell which would be to bang a drum by creating content,” he said.
On the episode, Joel also offered advice for students and young professionals on communications and career development.
As a former journalist in the music industry, he warns against creating content for the sake of it and just adding to the noise. Using social media to create a portfolio of work is important. He advises to consider the following four questions:
- Do you understand how to communicate?
- Do you have an area you want to communicate in - written, video - what does that look like?
- Do you understand the platforms?
- Do you understand what communication looks like with what social media is today?
He also thinks emphasis should be put on presentation of ideas.
“We are recording this on Election Day in the United States,” he said. “Regardless of who you are voting for, the candidates have an ability to stand up and express themselves. I do believe the ability to stand up and cogently share a concept with a group is incredibly powerful.”
The Informational Interview 2.0 Podcast is brought to you by the Global Innovators Academy's "Interview an Innovator" course experience and by Career Path Writing Solutions.
How IBM Helps Universities Prepare Students for the Workforce
Naguib Attia, an executive for IBM, was facing a difficult task. In his role as Chief Technology Officer back in January 2014, he was involved in a project in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). There simply was a lack of talent in the region to deliver on a particular project’s goals.
To address this dilemma, he considered the following question: how can I take an individual and after just six months, prepare that person for a career at IBM? Naguib convinced his senior level colleagues that he could leverage his background in academia and experience as a practitioner to create an educational experience that would deliver on this ambitious goal.
As Naguib explained on episode 14 of the Informational Interview 2.0 podcast, the plan worked. He created a practical experience that not only developed the talent for this particular project in the MENA region, but also laid the groundwork for what is now a global educational initiative that has enabled IBM to address the skills gap in the marketplace. After 11 years as CTO of IBM’s Industrial Sector, Naguib was appointed VP of Global University Programs. As part of this initiative, IBM partners with institutions to provide technology, support research and create assets to advance relevant skills for today’s workforce. To date, 68,000 people have been trained worldwide.
“We want to take an individual from point A to point B - be a practitioner - in areas like data and cloud computing. We provide background to understand the topic. We give them the opportunity to understand the tools of the field and we provide hands-on experiences.”
According to Naguib, IBM doesn’t replace faculty content, but rather complements it through a partnership. This could involve coaching faculty, embedding IBM’s content in existing curriculum and providing some 2,900 IBM subject matter experts who are available to be guest lecturers in classrooms around the world.
“It is a matter of survival - companies need expertise,” he said. “What does the future of each country hold if you don’t have talent?”
As an example of impact, Naguib points to a university in Kenya in which the students earned their digital badges - credentials showcasing earned skills - even before their professors. The students shared with Naguib at a ceremony that the course experiences inspired them to take action and start a company around data security.
Regardless of what industry a student wishes to pursue, it is imperative that they have an entrepreneurial and innovative mindset. To develop this, Naguib advises that students “get outside of the box or curriculum. Explore the world behind the course title and collaborate with students across different disciplines. When you have this interaction, it creates the spark for you to innovate. The world doesn’t revolve around you; it revolves around the collaboration with others.”
Learn more about IBM’s Global University Programs at the following link.
The Informational Interview 2.0 Podcast is brought to you by the Global Innovators Academy's "Interview an Innovator" course experience and by Career Path Writing Solutions.
Deirdre Breakenridge on How Professionals Can Communicate with Empathy and Purpose
We need to communicate with empathy and purpose. Easier said than done! Thankfully, episode 13 of the Informational Interview 2.0 podcast will provide you with practical tips and guidance. Deirdre Breakenridge, CEO of Pure Performance Communications, developed a model for communications called FEEL: facing your Fears, engaging with Empathy, using Ethics and good judgment and unleashing the Love of your mission across communication channels for genuine engagement to build unbreakable bonds. Deirdre’s work now focuses on using this proprietary model in her work as a consultant.
The “L” of the FEEL model - love of your mission - can be challenging for many, especially students and younger professionals. Deirdre shared that “things are going to change throughout your career. We all grow. What we think success entails at age 20 might be different by age 30 and in your 40s. But what is one thing that you really love to do and is a problem you are solving that people would pay for, yet you would do this for free.”
To find this mission, Deirdre advised that you:
- Tune in to yourself.
- Don’t be distracted by external forces.
- Be wary of naysayers.
You can take the FEEL First Test at this link.
In addition, Deirdre shared that there are many ways we can innovate in our own careers by networking with other individuals. Conversations alone won’t suffice; you need to truly and actively listen. For example, based on the learning from the conversations during her research project, she is now in the process of authoring a new book entitled Answers for Ethical Marketers.
She encouraged others to also create content as part of their career journeys.
“When you do this, you learn, grow, expand your horizons and meet new people. You also open up yourself to new opportunities.”
To be more effective at content creation and develop clarity around career goals, Deirdre advised that you closely follow the work of other professionals.
“If you find a professional who is inspiring and you like their content, think about what they are doing. Look at their website, blog and social media channels. Engage and share their work.”
By doing this, you then have a foundation in place and can potentially reach out to try setting up an opportunity to connect for a phone call or meeting.
You can learn more about Deirdre’s work at her blog, connect with her on LinkedIn and listen to her podcast Women Worldwide.
The Informational Interview 2.0 Podcast is brought to you by the Global Innovators Academy's "Interview an Innovator" course experience and by Career Path Writing Solutions.
Jonathan Stoll of Oregon State University on Helping Students Define their Story
Everybody has a unique story, regardless of your background. Career development professionals needs to help students be confident, proud and able to articulate what their story is, explained Jonathan Stoll, Director of Career Education at Oregon State University, on episode 12 of the Informational Interview 2.0 podcast.
"It is very spiritual - it is reflection, awareness, having faith in yourself and recognizing your values,” Jonathan said. “Particularly with this generation, there is a desire to have meaning and purpose in one's work. For me, it is a matter of helping students navigate and articulate their story."
Jonathan, who hosts is own podcast called Soul Force Ones, also shared insights on how to overcome the negative stigma of networking by focusing on quality, not quantity, in meeting new people; how to take part in activism in a beneficial way; and the link between growth and spirituality, among other topics.
The podcast was co-hosted by Ashley Gunter, a junior at Rollins College who interned with the Global Innovators Academy this past summer.
The Informational Interview 2.0 Podcast is brought to you by the Global Innovators Academy's "Interview an Innovator" course experience and by Career Path Writing Solutions.
Beka Layton of UNC on How to Gain Clarity around Career Goals
It can be a struggle to have clarity about our career direction and life decisions. This can certainly be the case for graduate school students. Dr. Beka Layton, Director of Professional Development Programs at the University of North Carolina, encourages the individuals she works with to approach career decisions by visualizing a triangle consisting of three related points: career, personal, and professional. Beka delved into this triangle and shared practical examples of how she works with students in an interview with Heidi Scott Giusto on episode 11 of the Informational Interview 2.0 podcast.
Beka also provided insights on:
- broadening student perspectives regarding their career planning
- networking by engaging in authentic conversations of mutual interest
- approaching networking with curiosity, relationship building and authenticity
- creating a structured environment for yourself/your students to explore options
- giving yourself "permission to invest in yourself"
In Beka’s role, she is responsible for career awareness and career development programming for biomedical PhD students. She also meets with trainees for individual career coaching and leads the Career Cohorts and Skills Certificate Series programs.
The Informational Interview 2.0 Podcast is brought to you by the Global Innovators Academy's "Interview an Innovator" course experience and by Career Path Writing Solutions.
How Career Development Professionals Are Innovating: An Interview Caitlin Ting of Penn State University
Dr. Caitlin Ting, Director of Penn State’s newly-branded Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Mentoring, speaks to the challenges and adaptations her office has faced regarding this difficult time when students feel they are losing direct access to campus resources.
“We’ve really had to innovate how we think about our offerings,” Dr. Ting explained on episode 10 of the Informational Interview 2.0 Podcast. “We’ve had to innovate also thinking about what the student needs are right now.”
We also explored with Dr. Ting a range of topics such as:
● Advice for guiding students towards clarity
● Maintaining a consistent network
● Managing expectations when it comes to new experiences and communications
● The value of supporting students early on in their college career
● Balancing the personal and professional with social media and online platforms
● Implementing professional development programs to benefit students
● Redefining what student engagement looks like with campus resources
● Encouraging educators to tailor their support to students
Follow Dr. Ting on Twitter.
Virtual Networking Tips from Tricia Zelaya-Leon of Rollins College
Students need to enhance their ability to network virtually. COVID-19 has made this all the more important. This was among the points shared by Tricia Zelaya-Leon, Director of Career Development at Rollins College on episode 9 of the Informational Interview 2.0 podcast.
She also discussed the importance of the career centers providing students with assistance in marketing, career development and using college as a means to put innovative ideas into practice.This episode is unique as one of the podcasts co-hosts, Kevin Anselmo, was joined by a guest co-host: Haley Panessa, an International Business Major at Rollins College. The episode was produced by Ashley Gunter, Business Management Major at Rollins College. It was a fun way for students to hear from their own Career Development Director. We think the insights shared are useful for other students and career development directors around the world!
About Tricia Zelaya-Leon
Dr. Zelaya-Leon earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from The Ohio State University in 2011. Her teaching and research interests focus on student identity development theory, the development of second-year college students, and engaging students in transition. As the Director of Career Development, Dr. Zelaya-Leon oversees Career Center staff who provide personalized career counseling and outreach experiences for students, maintain relationships with employers, and facilitate alumni career engagement. She works alongside Dr. Queen to oversee all R-Compass initiatives, but specifically manages the Résumé Consultants program in collaboration with the Tutoring & Writing Center (TJ’s), the Major Mentor program in collaboration with TJ’s and academic departments, and the overall analysis of self-assessment tools used for students’ personal and career exploration.
The Informational Interview 2.0 Podcast is brought to you by the Global Innovators Academy's "Interview an Innovator" course experience and by Career Path Writing Solutions.
Ensure Student Activism Doesn't Negatively Impact Career Opportunities: An Interview with Brandon Wright of UAB
There have been several high-profile stories in the last two months of students who suffered difficult career circumstances because of how they communicated their anger about racial injustice issues.
Brandon Wright, Director of the University Alabama at Birmingham Career Center, shared his thoughts on this during the most recent episode of the Informational Interview 2.0 podcast.
“We have to be so cognizant of what we are putting online,” said Brandon. “Impact and intent are two different things. Our students have to consider the impact of their decisions. That is what people see; people won’t see your intent. Students have to control their narrative and not allow mass media to tell the story for you as a young minority student who is irate about social injustices.”
Brandon also offered insights on career paths, innovation and empathy. Among the key points are:
- Take risks to set yourself apart from others
- Find clarity for what you DON’T want, which can shape what you do want
- Understand possibilities
- Map your end goal and track the process with attainable milestones
- Elevate your conversations by inviting thought individuals to the table
- Develop a diverse personal advisory council
- Market yourself as an advocate
He also shared the fun story of a successful student who developed a business around his passion for fishing and recounted leadership lessons from his experiences playing high-level collegiate football.
The Informational Interview 2.0 Podcast is brought to you by the Global Innovators Academy's "Interview an Innovator" course experience and by Career Path Writing Solutions.
Melissa Bostrom of Duke University: Innovation and Career Development Are Intertwined
Graduate school can bring pressures to follow a particular career path. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Melissa Bostrom, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Professional Development at Duke University, discussed this dynamic on episode 7 of the Informational Interview 2.0 podcast. Melissa and co-host Heidi Scott Giusto discussed:
- The role that Clifton Strengths can play in helping students identify their strengths.
- Fascinating examples of students who took on unique career journeys after graduation.
- The role of building a digital footprint to generate opportunities.
- Using your referral network to spark career growth.
Related resources:
Connect with Melissa Bostrom on LinkedIn.
Duke University Graduate School.
Information about Clifton Strengths.
The Informational Interview 2.0 Podcast is brought to you by the Global Innovators Academy's "Interview an Innovator" course experience and by Career Path Writing Solutions.
How to Demystify Networking for Students
Students often perceive networking in a negative way. Mark Colvenbach, Director of Career Services at the University of Tampa, works to demystify the networking process for students. On episode 6 of the Informational Interview 2.0 podcast, Mark spoke about how and he and his colleagues do this. He also shared thoughts on:
- The importance of building a strong digital footprint
- Student success stories
- How UT Career Development office has adjusted to ensure continuous support for their students during the current world circumstances
RELATED INFORMATION:
Learn more about the UT Office of Career Services.
More information about Mark Colvenbach.
The MBTI Assessment.
The Informational Interview 2.0 Podcast is brought to you by the Global Innovators Academy's "Interview an Innovator" course experience and by Career Path Writing Solutions.
Rob Pearson of Emory University on How to Navigate Your Career
How do you align you career to your values, interests and skills?
Rob Pearson is here to help answer this question. As Assistant Dean of Professional Development and Career Planning at Emory University in the Laney Graduate School, Rob specializes in helping students answer the hard questions. He knows that career planning can be daunting, but that it doesn’t have to be!
Episode #5 of the Informational Interview 2.0 Podcast uncovers tips, tricks, and tools to help those who are asking what the next steps are for their future.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Innovation in higher education: how universities can prepare their students for success
- The process of evaluating career options starting with your values, skills, and goals
- Tips for graduate students on how to communicate, network, and market themselves
- The importance of harnessing and showcasing your strengths (We LOVE Clifton Strengths!)
- How and where you can develop a digital footprint
- Why networking is valuable and how to improve your skills
- How educators can inspire, mentor and support their students effectively
- Navigating the future of innovation and career planning.
About Rob Pearson
Rob Pearson currently serves as Assistant Dean of Professional Development and Career Planning in the Laney Graduate School at Emory University. He earned a PhD in musicology from Brandeis University in 2011, after which he worked as a faculty member in music history for four years. A committed champion of graduate education, Rob moved into the graduate and postdoctoral career development field, in which he has worked for the last four years helping graduate students and postdocs imagine the range of diverse career options available to them.
Is the Importance of Networking to Find a Job Exaggerated?
On episode 4 of the Informational Interview 2.0 podcast, Heidi Scott Giusto and Kevin Anselmo discuss three different articles and share reactions and thoughts to three different articles:
Article 1: How To Get A Job Often Comes Down To One Elite Personal Asset, and Many People Still Don’t Realize It by Julia Freeland Fisher
Article 2: 5 Employment Myths Busted by Don Alexander and Ted Benson
Article 3: Making Money During The Pandemic: How COVID-19 Is Leading A New Wave Of Creativity by Adrienne Jordan
Resume Do's and Don'ts
Did you know that some 40% of hiring managers spend less than a minute reviewing a resume? Don’t let this intimidate you. Learn ways to enhance your resume to secure your next job opportunity.
On episode #3 of the Informational Interview 2.0 podcast, Kevin Anselmo and Heidi Scott Giusto discuss some key points to consider in writing effective resumes, as well as some pitfalls to avoid. Some of the key points shared:
- Avoid fluff in your resume.
- Ensure your grammar is correct.
- Communicate in a clear and concise way.
- Edit thoroughly by organizing, correcting and condensing.
- Integrate keywords for machines (Applicant Tracking Systems).
- Stay away from tables and other graphics that might not get picked up in Applicant Tracking Systems.
CO-HOSTS
About Kevin Anselmo
Kevin Anselmo is the founder of Experiential Communications and author of Maximize Your Impact: How Academics Can Communicate Knowledge Through Traditional and Digital Media. He created the Global Innovators Academy, an initiative that helps students be more marketable and innovative in a digitally disruptive world. The first course in the Global Innovators Academy - Informational Interview 2.0 - helps students learn important communications and networking skills, while creating a strong professional digital footprint.
About Heidi Scott Giusto
Heidi Scott Giusto is a consultant, coach, speaker, writer and editor. She specializes in proactive career management and helps individuals and businesses succeed when the stakes are high. Learn more.
Optimize Your Resume for Career Success
Are resumes “dead”? On episode 2 of the Informational Interview 2.0 podcast, Heidi Scott Giusto and Kevin Anselmo discuss why the resume is still important and tips on how to ensure that yours stands out from the crowd.
We cover:
- Viewing the resume as a strategic marketing document.
- Effective resume writing and formatting.
- Creating a resume that is viewed positively by artificial intelligence.
- Address career gaps.
Related reading: Heidi’s article Update Your Resume to Optimize Career Success
About Kevin Anselmo
Kevin Anselmo is the founder of Experiential Communications and author of Maximize Your Impact: How Academics Can Communicate Knowledge Through Traditional and Digital Media. He created the Global Innovators Academy, an initiative that helps students be more marketable and innovative in a digitally disruptive world. The first course in the Global Innovators Academy - Informational Interview 2.0 - helps students learn important communications and networking skills, while creating a strong professional digital footprint.
About Heidi Scott Giusto
Heidi Scott Giusto is a consultant, coach, speaker, writer and editor. She specializes in proactive career management and helps individuals and businesses succeed when the stakes are high. Learn more.
A LinkedIn Coaching Experience
Using LinkedIn strategically can drive career growth and spark innovation. Some 90% of recruiters use LinkedIn regularly. There are a number of ways ones can use LinkedIn to connect with new people, learn new skills and spark creative ideas that drive positive change.
On episode #1 of the Informational Interview 2.0 podcast, co-hosts Kevin Anselmo and Heidi Scott Giusto conduct a LinkedIn coaching session with Bertrand Guillotin, a Professor at Temple University’s Fox School of Business.
The episode begins by reviewing Bertrand’s LinkedIn strategy. We then go through his LinkedIn profile and provide feedback on how he is leveraging the different components. We encourage you to apply the advice we shared with Bertrand to your own LinkedIn strategy and tactics.
About Bertrand Guillotin
At the Fox School of Business (Strategic Management Department), Dr. Guillotin serves as Assistant Professor of Instruction, Academic Director of the International Business Administration BBA undergraduate program, Academic Director of the International Management Concentration for all MBAs, as well as Academic Advisor and ex-officio Executive Board Member of the IB Association (approx.. 125 members). He teaches undergraduate and graduate students (BBA, OBBA, OMBA, MS, and PMBA programs), serves on multiple committees, and received the MVOP: Most Valuable Online Professor award for the 2017-2018 academic year. Learn more and connect with him on LinkedIn.
About Kevin Anselmo
Kevin Anselmo is the founder of Experiential Communications and author of Maximize Your Impact: How Academics Can Communicate Knowledge Through Traditional and Digital Media. He created the Global Innovators Academy, an initiative that helps students be more marketable and innovative in a digitally disruptive world. The first course in the Global Innovators Academy - Informational Interview 2.0 - helps students learn important communications and networking skills, while creating a strong professional digital footprint.
About Heidi Scott Giusto
Heidi Scott Giusto is a consultant, coach, speaker, writer and editor. She specializes in proactive career management and helps individuals and businesses succeed when the stakes are high. Learn more.