Shows
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 35: Jennifer Westbrook, To help others thrive in what they’re called to doJennifer Westbrook practiced corporate law for 12 years before devoting her expertise to helping small businesses succeed. Through her writing, web design, and guidance, she gives a voice to other entrepreneurs. She knows everyone she works with defines “thriving” differently and makes it a point to understand their goals from the beginning.A few references you may be interested in reading more about:Jennifer’s website: https://www.jenwestwriting.com/The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate, book by Gary ChapmanSpirit Controlled Temperament, book by Tim LaHaye Follo...2022-02-2157 min
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 34: Bob Mina, Continuously learning and accepting change, Part 2Just a few of the things I’ve learned from Bob Mina:Don’t wait–give that thing a try, because you don’t know what’s coming nextBe present“You are more than your career; you are a person with a career.”The rough patches you persevere through will define youThank you to Bob Mina for taking the time to share your journey with me and When You Grow Up Podcast. Part 2 rounds out the standard episode questions.A few references you may be interested in reading more about:2022-02-1244 min
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 33: Bob Mina, Continuously learning and accepting change, Part 1When I first spoke with Bob Mina to prepare for this interview, he said to me about his unexpected career journey, “You don’t necessarily end up where you’re aiming, so just be present where you are”. Bob earned 2 degrees in Psychology, and he’s now a Senior Information Center Analyst at Christiana Care Health System. In Part 1 of this interview, we talk about his professional journey, including how he reacted to getting laid off at 41. We also address imposter syndrome, and how it may actually help us.Part 2 will include Bob’s responses to...2022-01-0849 min
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 32: Aletta Rochat, RockstarHow important is our ability to speak well? How can past failures be an asset in a job interview? What’s the secret to answering interview questions and landing your dream job? Aletta Rochat is the co-Founder of Interview Survival Guide, an interview coaching duo offering online courses, from the fast-track to Mastery-level training. We talk about Aletta’s journey to becoming a master speaker, and how she came to be an interview and speech coach.A few references you may be interested in reading more about:Interview Survival Guide, https://www.interviewsurvivalguide.com/ Aletta Rochat on Lin...2021-12-2556 min
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 31: Fred Tippet, "Rich, lol!"Fred Tippet is a retired union electrician, and now drives with Uber to keep himself busy. In this episode I learn about the steps to becoming a tradesperson, the benefits to tradespeople of being part of a union, and what a parachute rigger is.Fred Tippet and I were strangers until this summer, when my friends and I loaded up into his Uber during a bachelorette celebration in Delaware. Conversation was easy and I was surprised to hear that Fred plays World of Warcraft, a very popular computer game. I gave Fred my podcast...2021-12-1855 min
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 30: Antonia Landi, striving for fulfillmentDo you want to be able to be 100% yourself at work? Are you happy with a boring job? Why is there stigma around changing jobs frequently?Antonia Landi works at AVIV Group as Senior Product Manager in Product Operations. We met through an event hosted by Product-Led Alliance, an organization I recently became aware of. Antonia spoke at the Product Ops Summit about the topic of building internal tools for your team. I was intrigued by her journey to becoming a Product Manager.A few references you may...2021-12-1158 min
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 29: Mike Tarnapoll, CRO of early stage health technology companyHow did a certified dietician end up in sales? Is cold calling dead? What can we do to prepare ourselves now for potential challenges to our confidence later? Mike Tarnapoll is an account executive at HubSpot, but his journey there was different than you might imagine. He and I discuss what it takes to switch industries early on in your career, the value of an MBA in his context, and some excellent role models.A few references you may be interested in reading more about:Dharmesh Shah, Chief Technology Officer at HubSpot, https...2021-12-011h 01
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 28: Ashlee Braxton, An InnovatorWhat’s the difference between a coach and a mentor? Who would benefit from coaching, and how do you know it’s “working”? How do we manifest change in our lives? In Episode 28, I speak with Ashlee Braxton about the answer to these questions. I’ve never had a coach myself, and wanted to learn what it’s all about! Ashlee is a creative career coach. Ashlee has been a leading executive in the music industry, a corporate professional in Paris and now an entrepreneur in Barcelona. She's never been afraid to always follow the intuition...2021-11-2057 min
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 27: Natalie LePera, Study Responsible Scientist in NeuropsychopharmacologyNatalie LePera graduated from Temple University in the winter of 2019, just a few months before COVID-19 led to the loss of m`any job opportunities. She has since worked in a few different companies, finding the right opportunity for her. Natalie is gaining experience in pharmacy research, working her way to some day earning a graduate degree in neuroscience/neuropharmacology or neuropsychopharmacology, a very neat field! In this episode, Natalie and I catch up about what it was like to find a job in the throes of a pandemic, how to advocate for a raise, and what we get...2021-11-061h 03
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 26: Leena Desai, a better version of herself, Part 2What can you do to create safety while traveling? How might you plan a big trip with a new friend? In the continuation of the previous episode, Leena Desai tells me about her recent trip to Iceland, where she hiked the trail to see the ongoing flow from the Fagradalsfjall volcano; and shares her next travel destinations.For the 25th and 26th episodes of When You Grow Up, I interviewed a dear friend of mine who inspires me to be a strong, independent and kind person. Leena Desai and I met several years ago when she was...2021-10-3043 min
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 25: Leena Desai, a better version of herself, Part 1Have you ever traveled solo? Has discrimination impacted your job prospects? How do you face personal or professional challenges? For the 25th episode of When You Grow Up, I interviewed a dear friend of mine who inspires me to be a strong, independent and kind person. Leena Desai and I met several years ago when she was traveling for work. She is a Clinical Research Associate at Clinipace, where she oversees clinical research for new drugs and treatments in hematology oncology. I have changed so much since we first met, and have come to a...2021-10-2349 min
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 24: Jeremy Cline, Help people find shared experiences/purposeIn this episode of When You Grow Up Podcast, I’m interviewing another podcaster! Jeremy Cline produces the Change Work Life Podcast, which at the time of this writing has 109 published episodes. His podcast is for professionals in their mid-life, with 20-25 years left before retiring, who aren’t happy with their working life. He interviews people who’ve been through pretty radical career changes, or various types of coaches. I also ask Jeremy about the value of networking. A few references you may be interested in reading more about:Change Work Life Podcast, by Jerem...2021-10-161h 04
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 23: Stephanie Leishman, To love perfectly, understand all things, gain all knowledgeHave you ever struggled with imposter syndrome? Is growing up and growing old the same thing? Do we create better things when we do them for someone else? Stephanie Leishman and I talk about pride, love, and purpose. This may be one of my most vulnerable episodes yet and I’m so grateful to share it with you. A few references you may be interested in reading more about:Apiarity, https://www.apiarity.com/ Read Rowing Your Boat by Chieko Okazaki or watch/listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTE-A94xEw0 The pu...2021-10-091h 01
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 22: Alexandria Kachurak, To be happy in the job she hasAlex Kachurak studied public health and epidemiology at Temple University. She worked in the Center for Obesity Research and Education there for over 6 years under an excellent leader and manager, but she knew she needed to try something different in order to grow, so she took a chance on an unexpected industry for someone with her degree--she left the public health research world for a role in pharmaceutical research. Now, she and a colleague speak with other Temple University public health students about the opportunities for them in pharma. A few references you may b...2021-10-0246 min
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 21: Nathaniel A. Turner, JD, MALS, Naeem's Father/Humanity Propulsion EngineerHow can we possibly begin to solve the big problems we face today, like illiteracy, poverty, and underprepared young people?I’m joined by Nathaniel A. Turner, author of Raising Supaman, It’s a Jungle out there, Stop the bus, and co-author of The Amazing World of STEM. Nate shares his perspective on parenting and its impact on the future for not only our children, but the community at large and policies that affect many people. He really got me thinking about the type of parent I want to be someday. We discuss Nate’s book Journey Forwar...2021-09-2557 min
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 20: Alina Ispas Montbriand, Curious & PassionateWhat does it mean for you to take risks in your career? What’s it like to work for Google? How can you best prepare for maternity leave from your job? Alina Ispas Montriand recently left SAP to join Google as a Global Solutions Manager for Google Workspace. She earned an MBA from Wharton. Alina is one of those people who is always looking to grow.A few references you may be interested in reading more about:Google Interview Prep - I would note that 2&3 on this list have been combined since this guide ca...2021-09-1851 min
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 19: Verónica Ayala Flores, A person of integrityGrowth is good, but who typically gets left out when decisions about development are made? What does art have to do with equity? I loved this conversation about my hometown of Philadelphia; it broadened my understanding of issues faced by my and other communities, even beyond Philadelphia. Verónica Ayala Flores studied architecture at Temple University and is now Program Manager for the educational arm of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, called Citizens Planning Institute. A few references you may be interested in reading more about:Citizens Planning Institute: https://citizensplanninginstitute.org/Citizens Planning Ins...2021-09-1147 min
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 18: Mani Vaithiyanathan, Better than yesterday/Life-long learnerWhat’s the secret to finding work-life balance, whatever that means for you? Have you been missing travel? What can we do to become better than yesterday? Mani Vaithiyanathan shares his response to the #1 question he gets from mentees seeking guidance on professional development, and how he plans to meet his goal to visit 135 countries by the age of 50.A few references you may be interested in reading more about:Ikigai, book, “Reason for being” a tool for finding your personal work-life balanceKiss, Bow, or Shake Hands, bookYour Brain at Work, book by David RockWarren Buffet...2021-09-0451 min
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 17: David Sauer, Entrepreneur/Creator of JobsWhat are the benefits of buying a franchise, as opposed to starting a business from scratch? David Sauer has worked for big name companies like GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthcare, IBM, and SAP, but always wanted to run his own business. We discuss what he learned from working in corporate America and serving in the Navy Reserve, and what it's been like to run every piece of his new business.If you’ve dreamed of starting and operating your own business, have you considered buying a franchise? I’ve learned from David that it may offer many resources--like conn...2021-08-2846 min
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 16: Keisha Whatley, An Example/Someone to cause others to go for itWhat does community mean to you, and how do we create community? How can we support one another, and especially independent creators? Keisha Whatley shares her story of creating a community asset through the restoration of the Swain Building in the Philadelphia area, which will become a space for people to gather and interact with art, and for artists to learn and grow. Keisha talks about the importance of doing this work as a African American, Indigenous woman, and the paradox of getting media exposure but still needing support from the community to make it happen.A...2021-08-2150 min
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 15: Deejay Ramundo, Knowledge ManagerIf you’ve ever clicked that little question mark icon in an application, read an instruction manual, or referenced a how-to guide, you’ve probably seen the work of a Technical Writer. In speaking with Deejay Ramundo, I’m reminded of the book The Giver by Lois Lowry because this role enables longevity and simplicity to complicated and complex processes. But, what happens when we’re not willing to ask questions to really understand?I love the advice Deejay shared for those who are unsure what area of study to pursue, I think it applies to careers...2021-08-141h 03
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 14: Tisha Taylor, Professional Artist/PainterWhat can folks who are looking to start their own business do to be more prepared to get started? How important is it to network as an artist? Tisha Taylor wants to share her story to encourage others to start their business. She says of participating in an entrepreneurship class, “There’s nothing like getting more organized..and being around other people that are doing the same thing. That’s number one. And 2, figuring out what you’re doing wrong and what you can fix, it’s helpful.” Prior to becoming a full time artist, Tisha had been balancing another full...2021-08-0738 min
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 13: Sara Hirschler, Making a difference for the worldWhat does it take to transform a forgotten neighborhood park into an asset for the community? How do you figure out what you’re drawn to, and then become a part of that industry? Sara Hirschler is the Marketing & Membership Manager at Fairmount Park Conservancy, a non-profit in Philadelphia. Sara played a significant role in transforming Clemente Park & Playground into a welcoming space where the community wants to gather.The Fairmount Park Conservancy is an organization I have admired for years. Since Sara started working there in 2013, when there were only 7 employees, the team has more than do...2021-07-311h 03
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 12: Sikemi Williams, PMP; Movie ProducerWhy might a brand use videos to capture our attention more so than pictures? How can someone in the spotlight manage to maintain a private life? Have you explored any Korean dramas lately? Sikemi Williams, PMP won a Mid-Atlantic Emmy in 2019 for her work on the CCPTV show Strange College. She’s a talented video producer with over 300 subscribers on YouTube. She is a Senior Project Manager at the non-profit organization Collaborative Solutions for Communities.Sikemi taught me, in this episode, that amber filters in videos draw the viewer in, you can access a large repository of Ko...2021-07-3142 minWhen You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 11: Amanda Bukoski, Making things/BakerSummary: Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work at a startup? Did you know that 1 in 8 women struggle with infertility, and 1 in 4 have a miscarriage? What can you learn working in the service industry that you probably won’t learn in school? Amanda Bukoski, Director of Operations at Dental Nachos, my friend and neighbor, discuss each of these.I admire Amanda for sharing her story about struggling with infertility. Fortunately, when we recorded this episode, Amanda and her husband were well on their way to becoming parents. A couple weeks after this recording, they welc...2021-07-1837 min
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 10: Mark McClure, Growing Personally & Emotionally/LearningSummary: What would you like to do when you retire? Mark McClure retired last year from a career in IT, most recently as a solution consultant. In this episode, Mark shares his intentions for retirement, what it was like to travel solo at 23, and what he’s learned from digitizing thousands of his late mother’s photos.What would you like to do when you retire? Mark McClure retired last year from a career in technology, most recently as a solution consultant. In this episode he shares how he’d now like to spend his time. We also t...2021-07-1041 min
When You Grow Up PodcastEpisode 9: Rob Madden, Comedic WriterRob Madden, Chief Creative Officer at Coinflip Marketing, says he’s still learning. In this episode, Rob reflects on becoming a father at a young age, losing friends and colleagues during the terrorist attacks on 9/11, and his personal growth in pursuit of his many passions.Rob Madden is the Chief Creative Officer at Coinflip Marketing, and pursues all of his passions without bias. He attended the United States Naval Academy and started his career in financial services right out of school. At 6’ 5”, Rob’s physical presence is matched by his personality and love for learning. I admire...2021-07-0343 min