All Careers Considered
By Indiana University Walter Center for Career Achievement
All Careers ConsideredJun 25, 2020
Leaving your Comfort Zone with Leila Alejandra
In this episode, we speak with Leila Alejandra (Contreras Cuervo) about her journey from IU Bloomington to her role as Analytical Biochemist II at Eurofins. She talks about her journey and her studies abroad that ultimately got her where she is today. She also speaks about the importance of making connections and not burning down bridges.
Leila Alejandra is a Master Thesis Student, where she is working in the Virology lab trying to understand the evolution of myxoma virus in Spanish rabbit populations.
Before her thesis, Leila had a numerous number of experiences that each impacted her journey substantially. This included being her time as a research student at IUPUI where she Performed human cancer cell culture experiments to study the relationship between hyperglycemia and cancer cell morphology through phosphoinositol signaling pathways and performed databased research on cancer patient populations to better understand the different effects from mutations on genes controlling enzymes on the phosphoinositol pathway. She also has some experience as a Particulates Biochemist at Eurofins as well. Every opportunity Leila had been faced with, she seized and went above and beyond. Opportunity does not always come right away, and Leila advises to be patient and wait because with time it will come, but in the meanwhile keep actively pursuing until somebody gives you a chance.
Leila currently resides in Spain where she strives and works hard to complete her masters.
Showing Up Curious and Passionate with Shanta Thake
In this week's episode, we speak to Shanta Thake about her educational path and career experiences. We talk about Shanta’s journey from being an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Theater at Indiana University Bloomington to becoming the Director of Artistic Programs at The Public Theater, where she would spend the next 10 years developing a strong passion for the field of non-profit arts.
Currently, Shanta serves as the Ehrenkranz Chief Artistic Officer at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts; the world's largest center for performing arts. Nestled in New York City, the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts showcases diverse artists and their talents. From music, theater, dance, film, and so much more the Lincoln Center explores the expression of culture, emotion, and talent through various art forms. With the help of Shanta, the Lincoln Center aims to create a space where the arts are accessible to all. Listen to hear more about Shanta’s courageous move to the big city with a degree in Theater after freshly graduating from Indiana University Bloomington, how valuing your whole self overcomes feelings of imposter syndrome and more about the field of non-profit arts. Enjoy the episode!
Empowering your Passions with Brad Scheisser
In this episode, we speak with Brad Scheisser about his time at IU Bloomington to his essential role at Bloomington Playwrights Project. Brad talked with us about how from an early age he was surrounded by the theatre and how growing up in that environment shaped the love he has for the theatre. He also talks about how having first-hand experience in the theatre has equipped him with a skill set that he uses each day.
Brad is a Managing Director, where his job is to manage and orchestrate everything in the theatre and also operate a lot of behind the scenes work.
Before his work at Bloomington Playwrights Project, Brad had several other experiences that has benefitted him and his current work. This included being a house manager, development services manager, and associate director of development all at Barring Stage Company, where he spent a little over seven years there. Throughout these experiences Brad has been able to take each opportunity and learn from them. Brad took all that he learned with him and applied it to his current role as managing director at Bloomington Playwrights Project. Brad emphasized how important it is to find your passion and run off with it, because it is your love and passion that is going to draw you to your work and ultimately bring joy into your life.
Brad currently resides in Bloomington, IN where he manages Bloomington Playwrights Project, a place where he is surrounding by inspiring, ambitious people, who has creativity running through their veins.
Unlocking Opportunities with Kyle Benham
In this episode, we speak with Kyle Benham, who graduated from IU Bloomington in 2009 with degrees in telecommunications and TV and Radio. Kyle takes us through his career path, starting with his internships during college and his time at the WIUX radio station. He went on to move to LA, where his connections with IU alumni and his hard work opened doors for him in the world of late-night shows and comedy in LA. Kyle also offers a plethora of advice and insight for students who might want to follow his career path and speaks to what he loved and sometimes struggled with in the TV industry. Kyle now works as a Retirement Plan Specialist at Benham Advisory Group in Greenwood, Indiana. Before his current role, Kyle had over 10 years of experience in production for a variety of TV shows and programs in LA, including The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien and Netflix’s Chelsea. Through his jobs in production, Kyle found opportunities to leave his creative and comedic mark on the programs he worked on, demonstrating the value of taking on unexpected roles.
Pursuing Opportunities with Frank Violi
In this episode, we speak with Frank Violi about his journey from IU Bloomington to his prestige role as CEO of Butterfield Foods. He talks about the doors he worked so hard to open and the opportunities that were behind those doors. He also speaks about not getting stuck in one position, as you may be limiting yourself to your full potential.
Frank Violi is a CEO, where his job is to manage, run, and oversee his business and to ensure all operations are performing at the highest quality possible.
Before his business Frank had a numerous number of experiences that played a role in getting him where he is today. This included being a regional manager at Boise Cascade, VP at the Graphics Art Center, etc. Throughout these experiences Frank mentions that each experience played a huge role in molding him and giving him the necessary traits to run his company today. Frank took a company that had all the right ideas, tools, but not leaders, and turned it around. Frank emphasized how important it is to not feel like you are stuck in any job or opportunity. Satisfaction is the leading cause of people not reaching their full potential. He advises you to never be satisfied with where you are now, always try to achieve more, go above and beyond, work harder, and you will reach your full potential.
Frank currently resides in Zionsville, IN where he is running a successful business, Butterfield Foods, but still seeks ways to better his company and better himself.
Understanding purpose and self with Daniela Cook
In this episode, we speak with Daniela Cook about her educational path and career experiences. Daniela is a local Bloomington graphic designer with more than 10 years of experience in graphic design. Daniela is currently serves as the Creative Director for FAR Center for Contemporary Arts; an influential space for contemporary art and creativity of all kinds. The FAR Center aims to question boundaries, awaken conversations, and shape the local community through empathic engagement. We speak about nurturing the local arts community and providing support for Bloomington through creativity. Additionally, Daniela has cultivated experience as a freelance graphic designer creating logos for various businesses. Daniela began her graphic design journey when she obtained a Bachelors of Fine Arts in graphic design at IU Bloomington. All Careers Considered Podcast hopes you enjoy hearing Daniela’s advice on independence after graduating, the ability to effectively collaborate, and understanding self. Listen to understand more about finding purpose in the face of adversity, how to bounce back better, and advancing through life with a Fine Arts degree.
Finding What Works with AJ O’Reilly
In this episode, we speak with AJ O’Reilly about his journey from IU Bloomington to his most recent role as the Director of Product at Stagetime. AJ is a founder, product leader, and teacher, with more than 10 years of design and art experience from a variety of positions and industries. For several years, AJ worked as a freelance designer in the Midwest, working on projects that range from a beekeeper’s app to the Indiana University branding system. AJ later went on to work as a Visual Brand Specialist at Cook Medical. He also recently opened his own art store in Bloomington, Indiana called Griffy’s Art Supply, which has a storefront and partners with Indiana University to provide supplies for art students. In a show of great time management techniques, AJ is also adjunct faculty at Indiana University and the Rhode Island School of Design. Listen to learn more as AJ tells us about his career path in the arts, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and what’s helped him be the person he is today.
AJ O’Reilly is a founder, product leader, and teacher. He is the founder of Griffy’s Art Supply, a specialized art supply retailer, and Director of Product at Stagetime. AJ is also adjunct faculty at Indiana University and the Rhode Island School of Design.
Currently, AJ coordinates the design and product of Stagetime, a professional network for the performing arts. Besides being an expert in design, AJ has entrepreneurial, teaching, and leadership experience, which in part lead back to his time at IU, where he earned both a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design. In this episode, AJ tells us about honing his passion for art into a career, his process as an artist, and the skills he gained at IU that help him today. We hope you find AJ’s wisdom helpful to your current and professional lives. Enjoy the episode!
Saving the World Through Innovation & Resiliency with Megan Anderson
In this episode, we speak with Megan Anderson about her journey from IU Bloomington to her integral role as the Sustainability Manager at the City of Raleigh, North Carolina. Megan has 15+ years of experience in sustainability and climate change, from coordinating sustainability efforts with students at a university to leading new city-wide climate initiatives and more. She also has extensive knowledge of how to center resilience, equity, and community partnerships in local government policy and in the face of some of Raleigh’s most pressing issues. On our last episode of the season, Megan tells us all about her career path, the decisions that have influenced her life and work, and how her time in the College of Arts and Sciences at IU helps her today. Enjoy the episode!
Cultivating a Steady Mindset with Ann Marie Lewis
In this week's episode, we speak to Ann Marie Lewis about her educational path and career experiences. We talk with Ann Marie about her journey from being an undergraduate student at Indiana University Bloomington to pursuing a Juris Doctor degree at Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. We speak to Ann Marie about how her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree has influenced and enhanced her career at the Senate Counsel at the Minnesota State Senate, how a steady mindset prevails, and what resilience means to her.
Currently, Ann Marie serves on the Senate Counsel for the Minnesota State Senate. The Minnesota Senate is the upper house of the Legislative of the U.S. State of Minnesota and is the largest upper house of any U.S. state legislature. Ann Marie explains her passion is in passing bills and legislation that help all Minnesota residents. We discuss how having a balanced, positive mindset carries through her work and life. Additionally, Ann Marie speaks to how resilience ties into everyday life.
Seeking Joy and Promoting Self-Care with Nathan Mensah
In this episode, we speak with Nathan Mensahabout his journey from IU Bloomington to his valued role at Hartford HealthCare. He talks about all his ups and downs throughout his undergraduate studies and how those challenges opened new doors in his career. He also speaks about pursuing something that attracts you, as that attraction is the determining factor for success.
Nathan Mensah is a Rehab therapist at Hartford Healthcare, where his job is to provide inpatient music therapy and psychoeducational services to adolescents and adults with mental health and dual diagnosis of substance abuse disorders.
Before therapy at Hartford HealthCare Nathan had numerous experiences that played a role to get him where he is today. This included being a research assistant at Indiana University School of Medicine, Choir Director at Seelyville United Methodist, Music Therapist at Cincinnati Children`s Hospital Medical Center, etc. Throughout these experiences, Nathan mentions that music therapy was not always his end goal. Nathan had always wanted to be involved in healthcare and he was determined to do so. Nathan took his love for music and his desire to help people and used it to his advantage, finding a career that would satisfy both passions. Nathan emphasized how important it is to do something that you love and are truly passionate about. He advises that joy be your top priority and to seek it as often as possible because to find joy in your workplace is one of the many secrets of life.
Prior to music therapy, Nathan served as a Music and Theatre Adjunct Instructor at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, where his job was to teach music courses at the college level, including “American Music: from Jamestown to James Brown and Beyond”, with music technology, music history, music composition, and music listening components. Nathan does his best work believe it or no listening to music. Seem obvious? Well, it has to do with the brain's cognition response and its correlation to memory.
Nathan currently resides in Westport, CT, where he is impacting the lives of many, using what he loves best, music.
Leading a Global Career with Amara Igboegwu
In this episode, we speak with Amara Igboegwu about her journey from IU Bloomington to her most recent role at the Norwegian Refugee Council, where she works in the Middle East and Africa. Amara is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion expert with more than 15 years of international work experience in a variety of positions and throughout multiple sectors. Starting as an English language teacher in Japan, Amara went on to work at global organizations, including Google, UNESCO, and more, where she has created, taught, and led training programs for new staff. Amara has even worked in academia at Heidelberg University in Germany, where she taught courses on culturally responsive teaching. Amara takes us on a journey where she tells us about her career path and how resiliency has helped her be the person she is today.
Writing Your Own Story with Claudia Viloria
In this episode, we speak with Claudia Viloria about her journey from IU Bloomington to Mexico City, where she works as a Public Affairs and Advocacy Manager for Sanofi, a pharmaceutical company dedicated to vaccinations. Claudia has extensive knowledge and wisdom from her five years of experience working in public affairs and non-profits in Mexico, where she has helped build relationships between governmental organizations and Civil Society Organizations starting from her time as a Public Policy Analyst at Centro Eure S.C. to her time with Save the Children Mexico. Claudia tells us all about her career path, the decisions that have influenced her life, and how her time in the College of Arts and Sciences at IU helps her today. Claudia also discusses the importance of overcoming obstacles and moving forward in the face of adversity.
Claudia Viloria is a Public Affairs and Advocacy Manager at Sanofi Pasteur in Mexico City. She is a public affairs professional with experiences building relationships across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Currently, she promotes and builds alliances with Sanofi, Civil Society Organizations, and other groups in Mexico to promote access to immunizations and health.
Claudia graduated from IU in 2016 with Bachelor of Arts degrees in International Studies and Psychology before moving to Mexico and completing her graduate degree in Public Policy Evaluation. Claudia discusses the invaluable transferable skills that stem from her College of Arts and Sciences degrees. We hope you find Claudia’s nuggets of wisdom applicable to your current personal and professional lives as she speaks to the importance of remembering that tomorrow is a new day and overcoming obstacles. Enjoy the episode!
Pursuing your curiosity with Jenifer Berry
In this week's episode, we speak to Jenifer Berry about their educational path and career experiences. We talk about Jenifer’s journey from being an undergraduate student at The American University in Washington D.C. to pursuing a Masters of Arts degree at IU Bloomington. We speak about Jenifer's what resilience means to them, how their college of arts and sciences degrees have influenced their perspective, and how we can better serve underrepresented students.
Currently, Jenifer serves as a Lead Academic Advisor for the IU 21st Century Scholars Program. IUB21CS is a program founded in 1995 dedicated to provide financial and academic resources to support, retain, and graduate thousands of 21st Century Scholars recipients at Indiana University Bloomington. Jenifer explains that they are passionate about helping undergraduate students have a successful and enriching educational experience at IU Bloomington that will positively shape their futures as they transition out of higher education. Prior to joining IU 21st Century Scholars Program in 2011, Jenifer was one of the first Projectionists at the IU Cinema and was an Associate Instructor for the IU Department of Sociology for several years. As teaching is an additional passion of Jen's, they are an Adjunct Instructor for Sociology as often as possible.
Before Jenifer began their career path, they obtained their Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from The American University in Washington, D.C., where Jenifer is originally from. They continued to pursue their interest in sociology at Indiana University Bloomington. Ultimately, achieving their Masters of Arts in the subject.
Outside of their career and education, Jenifer enjoys photography and loves to take photos of Bloomington’s campus.
Giving Yourself and Others Grace with Eleanor Flores
In this episode, we speak with Eleanor Flores about her journey from IU Bloomington to her integral role at Amtrak in Washington DC. Eleanor has 10 plus years of experience coordinating large-scale projects from the creation to implementation stages and has diverse program management experience starting from her time as an e-specialist at Indiana University Health to her time managing national and international projects with FTI Consulting. Eleanor takes us on a journey to learn more about her career trajectory and discusses how the resiliency she has cultivated over her career has transformed her into the person she is today. Additionally, Eleanor reminds us about the importance of leading with compassion and optimism.
Eleanor Flores is a Program Manager at Amtrak in Washington DC. She is a solutions-driven project management professional, consistently finding innovative ways to enhance the effectiveness of programs she helps design and run. She specializes in providing project management and senior management communications best practices to her teams.
Currently, Eleanor is working on a 2.5 billion dollar program acquisition of a new train set fleet and specifically working to expand services to reach more clients. She helps with the commercial integration of new equipment. Eleanor is an avid reader, writer, and researcher, which all stem back from her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism degree from IU- Bloomington. Eleanor discusses the invaluable transferable skills such as communication and research skills that stem from her College of Arts and Sciences Journalism degree as well. We hope you find Eleanor’s nuggets of wisdom applicable to your current personal and professional lives as she speaks to giving yourself and others grace. Enjoy the episode!
Expanding your Horizon with Margaret Bishop Schlichter
In this episode, we speak with Margaret Bishop Schlichter about her journey from IU Bloomington to her important role at Walter Johnson High School. She tells us about her many experiences along the way and how those experiences have molded her into the person she is today. She also speaks on how her perspective has changed since being a student at IU.
Margaret Bishop Schlichter is a French teacher at Walter Johnson High School. Her mission is to train students in the vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, reading and writing of French. Additionally, she teaches students how to appreciate the culture and history of the language.
Before teaching at Walter Johnson High School, Margaret had many other experiences that put her on the path to where she is today. This included joining a teaching assistant program in France, studying abroad, and INSERT. In Margaret`s time abroad she mentions that being away in a foreign country really helped her learn something about herself that she hadn`t known before. She also emphasizes how important it is to meet people, especially from a different culture or background, as it really broadens your horizon as well as theirs. It is the people we know least about that will have the biggest impact on us and our lives. She has served in various roles including: Learning and Engagement Facilitator for Credible Behavioral Health Software and as an English Language Assistant in Saverne, France.
Prior to rejoining teaching, Margaret served as a Business Development Specialist for Allovue. "Allovue empowers educators at every level to allocate resources to best support the needs of students. Our user-friendly software applications allow district officials, principals, and other school administrators to visualize, analyze, and optimize the impact of spending on outcomes in education. Our flagship product, Balance, contains applications to analyze school budgets, track and forecast expenditures, identify trends over time, and plan for future capital investments.”
Margaret currently resides in Rockville, MD, where she continues to teach her students about language and its culture.
Pursuing Passion and Growth with Chiara Bangor-Giorgio
In this episode, we speak with Chiara Bangor-Giorgio about her journey from IU Bloomington to her role essential role at the Indianapolis Zoo. She takes us through all the difficulties she's encountered along the way and how she was able to persevere in the end. She also speaks on her future goals and how she plans to get there.
Chiara Bangor-Giorgio is Education Interpreter at the Indianapolis Zoo. Her job is to essentially build a bridge between what people know about the animals at the zoo and what they don't know and provide engaging conversation with people to inspire them to connect with the nature around them and protect wildlife.
In 2019, due to unexpected challenges that arose, Chiara had to leave the Indianapolis Zoo. Although this was hard for Chiara, she had gained many skills and experiences that would enhance her work when she returned in 2021. In her time away she served in various roles, including research assistant with a focus on global pesticide usage worldwide; assistant manager for Torrid; Environmental Justice Intern; and Geographic Information Systems Specialist at geoConvergence, LLC.
Prior to rejoining the Indianapolis Zoo, Chiara served as Geographic Information Systems Specialist at geoConvergence, LLC. "GeoConvergence LLC. specializes in the design and implementation of world-class Geospatial Intelligence, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Space Management solutions by leveraging technical skills in Software Development (SecDevOps), Cloud Engineering, and Data Analytics required to create secure, effective, efficient, and resilient solutions in today’s highly connected network environment.”
Chiara currently resides in Indianapolis where her passion for the environment and wildlife conservation grows each day.
Supporting Communities and Driving Change with Tiffany Benjamin
Tiffany Benjamin graduated from Indiana University Bloomington in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts in both Journalism and Political Science. Tiffany currently serves as the President of the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation and Head of Social Impact. She leads the team managing Corporate Social Responsibility efforts, Environmental, Social and Governance strategy, as well as the global team facilitating Lilly Global Health Programs. Listen to this episode to learn about Tiffany’s career path from IUB to Harvard Law School, to Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, and about how she has cultivated resiliency along her journey.
Season 5 is Coming!
Welcome Back! Stay tuned for another episode of All Careers Considered, which will air Friday, October 1.
To view the transcript of this episode at www.careers.college.indiana.edu.
Working in the Sports Industry and Becoming an Author with Julie DiCaro
This week we spoke with Julie DiCaro. Julie graduated in 1995 with a degree in Journalism. She currently works at Deadspin as a Senior Editor and recently released a book titled Sidelined: Sports, Culture, and Being a Woman in America. In this episode, Julie shares why she chose to attend law school right after graduating from IU, how she transitioned into the sports industry, and what it was like to write and publish her own book.
This is the last episode of this season of the podcast. Thanks for listening and please check back for more podcast content in the fall!
Going from a Creative Advertising Major to Co-founder of a Business with Garrett Greller
This week we spoke with Garrett Greller. Garrett graduated from IU in 2018 with a degree in creative advertising and is the co-founder and Director of Marketing and Product Development at Uncle Buds Hemp and CBD. In this episode, Garett shares how he got the idea for the business when he was a student at IU and how his classes and relationships with faculty members in the media school were essential to the success of his business. Enjoy the episode!
Find the transcript for the episode here.
Breaking Into the Tech Industry with Kieran Farr
This week we spoke with Kieran Farr, a tech entrepreneur in the Bay Area who has a background in creating tech start-ups with a focus on video streaming technology. Kieran from IU in 2005 with degrees in Television Production and Business Marketing. In this episode, Kieran shares how starting IU Student TV as a student at IU gave him the skills needed to start his own business. He also shares some great tips for students who are trying to break into the tech industry (hint: don’t fear entry-level sales roles). You won’t want to miss this episode!
Getting Inspiration From Your First Job Post College & Owning Your Own Business with Noah Herron
This week we spoke with Noah Herron, Biochemistry BS ‘06. Noah is the owner of Urban Farming Seeds and Urban Vines in Westfield, IN. In this episode, Noah shared why his first job as a chemist after graduating from IU wasn’t a perfect fit, but how it inspired him to take his hobbies of gardening and making beer and wine and start his own business. He also shared how his hard work and discipline at IU gave him a competitive edge over his peers in other majors and prepared him for entrepreneurship. Enjoy the episode!
Transcript for the episode: https://careers.college.indiana.edu/?p=126835&preview=true
Embracing Change and Why Helping Others is the Best Philosophy in Business with Dawn Ridley
This week we spoke with Dawn Ridley, African American Studies BA ‘91. Dawn currently serves as the Assistant Vice President of Institutional Giving at Howard University and has years of experience in business primarily in the Washington, DC area. In this episode, Dawn shares how her IU experience propelled her into a dynamic, successful career in communications, public relations, relationship management in multiple different industries. She also shares some great advice for students as they enter in the working world with big goals and dreams. Enjoy!
Find the transcript for the episode here.
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Astrology, Yoga & Wellness, and Maximizing your Liberal Arts Degree with Emily Ridout
This week we spoke with Emily Ridout, Folklore and Ethnomusicology BA ‘09. Emily is an AstroYoga specialist and has a super interesting background. In this episode, we talked about what she loved about her time at IU and how exploring her interests after graduation rather than following one narrow path ultimately led her to her dream job. If you’re interested in astrology, yoga & wellness, or interested in learning about how to maximize your liberal arts degree to start a creative, entrepreneurial endeavor, you’ll love this episode. Enjoy!
Find the transcript for the episode here.
Links Mentioned in this Episode:
Finding Your Photography Style & Owning A Small Business with Stephanie Stewart
This week we speak with Stephanie Stewart, who started her own photography business after graduating from Indiana University in 2002. She shares her experience as a wedding and portrait photographer, which skills have been most helpful to her as an entrepreneur, and what surprised her the most about being her own boss.
Links Mentioned in this Episode:
Why It's Important To Do What You Love With The Mahdi Brothers and Anthony Duncan
This week is our interview with the Mahdi Brothers and Anthony Duncan, co-founders of Mad Optimist, a sustainable customizable body care brand with a community focus based right here in Bloomington, Indiana. All three are alumni of the College of Arts & Sciences here at IU, having graduated with majors in psychology, political science, and linguistics. In this week's episode, they share their story of how they went from friends in college to business owners of a successful company, and why it's so important to do what you love. We even dive into their experience being on the hit TV show Shark Tank, and advice on navigating starting your career after graduation.
Transcript: https://careers.college.indiana.edu/?p=120122
Links Mentioned in this Episode: https://www.themadoptimist.com/
Taking Advantage of Your Opportunities & Your Network with Tom Thakkar
Next up is my conversation with Tom Thakkar, who is comedian who does stand-up comedy and has he’s been on Conan, Comedy Central, and is the co-host of Stand by Your Band podcast. He graduated from the Media School in 2010, and In this episode, he talked about how and why he switched from his original intention of pursuing a career in medicine to pursuing comedy, which classes and experiences at IU most prepared him for his career, and of course shares a few funny stories as well. Tom was super down to earth and shared a lot of interesting insight, so I think you’ll really like this episode. Thanks everyone, enjoy!
Find the transcript for this episode here.
To watch Tom's Comedy Central Stand-Up, please visit https://www.cc.com/episodes/pgkcr0/comedy-central-stand-up-presents-tom-thakkar-season-3-ep-5.
Maximize your Network & Launch your Career with Courtney Seamon
Courtney Seamon graduated from IU in 2015 with a degree in Apparel Merchandising, and since then has become a successful fashion blogger and influencer in New York City. Next up is this week’s interview with Courtney Seamon, who is a blogger & influencer who co-founded Mimosas + Manhattan, a successful fashion & lifestyle brand. Courtney was super fun to talk to and she shared what it was like going from small-town Indiana to the NYC fashion scene, how she really maximized her network at IU to help her launch her career, and how she makes a livelihood as an influencer.
View the episode transcript and show notes at www.careers.college.indiana.edu.
Season 4 is coming!
Welcome back! Stay tuned for a new episode of All Careers Considered which will be airing this Friday, January 22.
The Importance of Diversity in Your Network with Alan Bacon
Alan Bacon graduated in 2003 with his degree in Criminal Justice and African American Studies. He currently serves as the Senior Director for the Social Innovation Fund for the United Way of Central Indiana, which is an initiative dedicated to fighting poverty in central Indiana. In this episode, Alan shares how his experience in performing arts, specifically with the IU Soul Revue, really shaped his identity as a creative, dynamic young leader. He also shares advice on how to build your network and stay vigilant even the unexpected happens. Enjoy the episode and don’t forget to subscribe to All Careers Considered wherever you get your podcasts. This is the last episode of this season of the podcast but stay tuned for Season 4 with Molly which will air in January!
Find the transcript for the episode here.
Using AAADS major to create positive change with Bianca Tirado
Bianca Tirado graduated in 2009 with her degree in African American and African Diaspora Studies. Since then, she’s been making a difference in her community of South Bend in meaningful and inspiring ways. In this episode, she shares with Molly why she decided to major in AAADS and how it has played a meaningful role in shaping her identity as a young leader. She shares what it’s like navigating politics as a woman and how she’s been able to create positive change. Spoiler alert: she’s also worked with Mayor Pete Buttigieg! Enjoy the episode and don’t forget to subscribe to All Careers Considered wherever you get your podcasts.
Find the transcript for the episode here.
Living Overseas After College with Alex Moler
Alex Moler graduated in 2012 and studied History, International Studies, and Near Eastern Languages and Cultures. He has years of experience as a social scientist and has worked on various projects, including those on behalf of the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation. He has lived in multiple countries including England, Somililand, Iraq, and Afganistan. In this episode he shares which student organizations helped him develop as a student, and why he decided to leave IU for a semester. He also shares what it’s been like living overseas, how he stays grounded even when doing research projects on insecure or conflict-affected environment, and what it takes to be good at his job as a research practitioner.
Find the transcript for the episode here.
The Importance of Getting Involved with Sam Gilchrist
Sam Gilchrist graduated in 2006 and studied Anthropology and Political Science. In this episode, he shares his story with Molly, including everything from what it was like changing his major at IU and deciding not to pursue his original plan of becoming a doctor to what it’s been like moving around the country for different jobs in political organizing and campaign management, including working for the Obama campaign. Now he serves as the Western Campaigns Director for the National Resources Defense Council in Denver, CO. You probably won’t be surprised to hear how he landed this cool opportunity and the ones prior: networking!
https://careers.college.indiana.edu/blog/2020/10/02/all-careers-considered-the-importance-of-networking-with-sam-gilchrist/
Navigating Competitive Job Fields with Suzanne Schaefer
You may think you know what a think tank is, but do you know about all the different types of roles you can have at a think tank? Suzanne Schaefer works for the Brookings Institution, a highly regarded think tank in DC, as the Foreign Policy Communications Manager. In this episode, she shares with Molly what it’s like working at Brookings as a young professional, how she’s learned to navigate tricky office politics, and how she’s adjusted to a WFH environment amidst the pandemic. She also shares some tips for students who have their sights set on a competitive job in the DC area, regardless of how introverted or extroverted you might be.
Find the transcript for the episode here.
College Voters Make a Difference with Mark Fraley
We're celebrating National Voter Registration Day with a bonus episode! 🎉
Mark Fraley, Associate Director of the PACE program at IU, talked with Molly about what voting means to him and why college students’ votes matter. He also provides some insight into how to make positive change within your community, regardless of what industry you’d like to work in.
Each year, IU partners with TurboVote to provide a place where students can register to vote. If you haven’t registered to vote for the upcoming election, we highly recommend visiting the link to register. Start right now — it only takes a few minutes!
Find the transcript for the episode here.
Embracing Nontraditional News with Hannah Alani
Hannah Alani graduated from the Media School with a degree in Journalism in 2017. She’s now a reporter for Block Club Chicago, a nonprofit newsroom that focuses on local neighborhood news. While Journalism takes many forms, the freedom of the press is essential to a democracy and is protected by the first amendment. Hannah walks us through her impactful experiences working at the Indiana Daily Student and interning and working in professional newsrooms. She also shares tips for students trying to break into the non-profit journalism business as well.
Andrea Vega Yudigo Embraces Election Season as a Reporter & Young Professional
Andrea graduated with her degree in International Studies & Journalism in 2019 and is currently a DC-based reporter for NHK, Japan's national broadcaster. As she mentions in this episode, sometimes that first job and post-graduation experience is exactly what you'd expected and sometimes it's not, especially when a global pandemic occurs. In Andrea's case, it's a little bit of both AND has provided some great opportunities to challenge herself, grow, and learn.
In this episode, she tells Molly what it was like doing a gap year in China after graduating from high school before starting at IU, why she decided to change her major, what it's been like traveling all over the country to cover the Biden campaign, and more.
Using Technology to Enhance History, Art + Travel for All with Kathleen Burnett
Hoping to study the liberal arts discipline you love, but also seek entrepreneurial opportunities and/or jobs in the tech industry after graduating? Kathleen is an ideal person to speak on these topics. In this episode, she shares how her early experiences traveling overseas with her Girl Scout troop inspired her to pursue a degree in history at IU. She moved to Washington, DC after graduation, where she stumbled upon a common problem to which she created a tech solution (her app, Drover). Kathleen’s story is relatable, inspiring, and definitely worth a listen!
Applying Data to Government + Public Policy with Eric Langowski
Eric became interested in government and public policy when he was involved with student government as an IU student. He also became frustrated with the way the world was unfolding and became conscious of the need for politicians to make better use of data as a tool to solve problems. Upon graduation in 2018, Eric was looking for a career path that would allow him to apply his academic skillet in math and physics in a way that would allow him to positively impact governmental structures, systems, and policies. In this episode, he shares his path thus far and some things he’s learned about the world of work since graduating in 2018 and moving to Chicago, including how important it is to get a wide variety of experiences as a young professional. Enjoy!
Using Her Voice in State Politics with Cherrish Pryor
Cherrish Pryor didn’t know that she wanted to work in politics when she was younger. Now, she’s a Democratic representative to the Indiana House of Representatives. In this episode, Cherrish reflects on how her family members – especially her grandmother – inspired her career goals at a young age. Their dedication to getting people registered to vote in rural Mississippi helped Cherrish to explore what a meaningful career meant to her, even though she didn’t realize that’s what she was doing at the time. Cherrish tells Molly about her time as a student leader and GROUPS Scholar at Indiana University, how she landed her first job in Fort Wayne after graduation, and her experience as an African American woman serving in Indiana state politics.
Season 3 Trailer: Democracy + Your Career
Welcome back to a new season of All Careers Considered! Molly from the Walter Center at IU will interview College of Arts + Sciences alums whose career paths relate to democracy. Alumni guests majored in various academic disciplines within the College and are up to a wide variety of endeavors, with one common theme which is the idea of empowering people and communities in the pursuit of positive change. New episodes will begin next Friday, August 21.
How to Network in Person with Toni Neely
When you pose for a picture, do you ever feel like you suddenly have no idea what to do with your arms, your face, or your entire body? Navigating in-person networking for the first time can feel a lot like that awkward moment. Networking Ninja Toni Neely, Director of Member Relations for the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and a 1990 alumna from Indiana University Bloomington, empathizes with college students as you put yourself out there as young professionals and interact with other professionals for the first time. In her conversation with career coach Maria Cambone, Toni shares ideas for how you can take baby steps to get yourself started networking with professionals in person, and how networking can open amazing doors in your career journey.
Mentoring and Your Career with Megan Caldwell
You may have heard that it’s a good idea to have a mentor. But how do you find a mentor? How do you build a relationship with them? How important is it that you stay in touch? In this episode, Molly talks with Megan Caldwell, IU alum and Head of Customer at Elevate Security about her experience with mentoring relationships as she navigates her career path. She also shares some insight into her experience mentoring others. Enjoy!
Should I Go to Grad School During a COVID Recession? with Katie Beck
The economic recession that COVID-19 is causing is putting a big dent into the plans of rising college seniors and recent May 2020 graduates. People who thought that they’d go to work in competitive industries for a few years before going back to school – and even people who thought they’d never want to do more school – are turning to the idea of going to grad school now to gain further credentials while putting off their job searches for another two years. Is going to grad school during a recession worth it, though? Katie Beck, a 2009 alumna from Indiana University, shares her story of how she changed her plan and went to law school right after she graduated because of the 2008-2010 recession. She offers different factors for students to consider and gives good advice on what to do when you’re rolling with the economic punches right after you finish college.
A Recruiter’s Perspective on the Job Search with Jordan Haas
Jordan Haas, a 2017 graduate from Indiana University's Human Biology and Psychology majors, now works as a Clinical Recruiter at GreenKey Resources in Denver, CO. He shares how and why he decided to enter the world of recruiting, and offers tips and considerations from his professional perspective for graduates seeking employment during COVID-19.
How to Network on Twitter with Galen Clavio
Fun fact: LinkedIn isn't the only place to network on the internet. Galen Clavio, Indiana University associate professor of sports media and IU alumnus from the class of 2001, shares tips on how college students can start using Twitter for professional networking with Maria Cambone. By getting specific with what you want, following leaders in your field, and following the people who they follow, Galen teaches how to build your industry literacy and join the conversation with "real professionals" who have built careers that you admire.
Spotlight on Micro-Internships with Kristin Schrader
Did your internship get cancelled this summer? Looking for a way to strengthen your skills and gain experience during this time? Apply for a micro-internship! Kristin Schrader, Director of University Engagement at Parker Dewey -- a non-profit that works with employers to facilitate short, paid, project-based internships that can be completed remotely -- talks with Molly McCurdy about how micro-internships work and how to stand out during the application process.
Don't Sweat the Small Beginnings with Ellis Dumas
While working toward a big dream or a big goal, it’s helpful to remind yourself to just take things one step at time, knowing that today's hard work and commitment will pay off. IU alumnus Ellis Dumas, Lake County's Regional Manager for the Department of Child Services, talks to host Molly McCurdy about his experience as a 2008 graduate and how he was able to use his people skills and passion for serving his community to build a meaningful career. His advice for this year's graduates: embracing your first small step will pay off big time.
Celebrating Your Graduation During COVID-19 with Nathan Langfitt & Rachel Gerber
How do you celebrate an achievement as memorable and important as your college graduation during COVID-19? How can you cope with feelings of loss, sadness, or being overwhelmed because graduation didn’t look the way you planned? In All Careers Considered’s first crossover episode, Maria talks to Rachel Gerber and Nathan Langfitt, hosts of the Major Choices podcast and career coaches from Indiana University's Career Development Center, to think about how to tackle big feelings around graduation.
New Skills Equal New Opportunities with Rishika Murthy
Entering the job market during times of economic uncertainty can be daunting, but you’re not alone. In this episode, IU alumna Rishika Murthy, a seasoned digital marketing and communications professional based in Los Angeles, talks with All Careers Considered host Molly McCurdy about what it was like to enter the job market with a graduate degree during the 2008 recession. Tune in to hear how she turned lemons into lemonade and how with a little hope, persistence, and willingness to challenge yourself, you can too.