Shows
Leverage Your PotentialEPISODE 40: Dr. Jodie Austin: Taking a Holistic ApproachDr. Jodie Austin is one of Menlo’s assistant professors in the English Department, where she is one of several colleagues spearheading the use of E-portfolios to encourage holistic writing and storytelling. In this episode, Dr. Austin discusses the power of writing, her interest in video gaming, and draws some comparisons between her research on the impact of the plague on 17th century literature and COVID-19’s impact on creative expression today.
2021-05-1356 min
Leverage Your PotentialEPISODE 39: Dr. Sean Pradhan: Intersections of Psychology, Sports, and Data AnalyticsDr. Sean Pradhan is Menlo’s Assistant Director of Sports Management and Data Analytics where he gets to teach about what he loves: the intersection of sports and data. Dr. Pradhan’s career journey didn’t start off in either of the areas - it started in psychology. Those interested in how psychology plays a role in research around sports and how data offers its support will enjoy listening to this episode.
2021-05-0628 min
Leverage Your PotentialEPISODE 38: Denia Talavera: On Entry-Level Talent AcquisitionDenia joins the Leverage Your Potential Podcast to share her career journey from being an undergrad at Utica College to working in New York City at one of the world’s most well-known companies, Bloomberg, L.P. Along the way, she shares great advice for college students and recent grads seeking to break in at the internship or entry level.
2021-04-2230 min
Leverage Your PotentialEPISODE 37: Jessica Mean: Maths, Graphs and MentorshipProfessor Jessic Mean has been teaching math at Menlo since August, 2019, after obtaining her bachelor and master degrees in Mathematics. Professor Mean shared her journey to majoring in math (It was not straightforward or easy!) with us this episode, and spoke to some of her research passions: topological graphs and peer mentorship.
➺ Modern Comfort Food by Ina Garten
➺ Wikipedia article on K-graphs
2021-04-0844 min
Leverage Your PotentialEPISODE 36: Gender in the Workplace with Tricia TimmAs General Counsel to Looker, Tricia Timm guided them through a business and organizational transformation that resulted in a $2.6B acquisition by Google. At the same time, she was the executive sponsor of the company's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) program. Most recently, Tricia won the Latino Business Leadership Award from the Silicon Valley Business Journal. Join Tricia Timm for an engaging and thoughtful discussion on the role of gender in the workplace.
2021-03-2550 min
Leverage Your PotentialEPISODE 35: Reflections on the Recruiting Process with Sam McLeod ’16 (LinkedIn)Listen in as Sam McLeod ‘16, a Technical Recruiter for LinkedIn, shares tips and tricks for job seekers, including how to catch a recruiter’s attention, the importance of leveraging your alumni network, and how long you should plan to stay at a job before moving on. Along the way, you’ll learn the origin story of the Menlo College Dance Team, which Sam co-founded in 2015-2016 and still coaches to this day!
2021-03-1141 min
Leverage Your PotentialEPISODE 34: Latina. Leader. Lobbyist. - with Cynthia GuerreroIn 2020, Cynthia Guerrero won the SVBJ Latino Business Leadership Award for building a Latina-Leadership pipeline and being an advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion. Cynthia is a partner at California Strategies, a well-known public affairs consulting firm, where she is focused on public policy in the area of technology. Hear from Cynthia about her perspective on being one of the only Latina tech lobbyists in California and why having a mentor is important at all stages of your career.
➺ How To Think Like A Monk by Jay Shetty
2021-03-0441 min
Leverage Your PotentialEPISODE 33: Managing with Imposter Syndrome with Felix Navarro, Product Manager @ Facebook Reality Labs (Oculus)What is “imposter syndrome” and how does it impact people in the workplace, particularly those of marginalized identities? For many, it’s a feeling that they do not “belong” somewhere. Others feel self-doubt or a constant fear of failure. In this episode, Felix Navarro takes us on a personal journey that explores the many definitions of imposter syndrome and how imposter syndrome has impacted his own personal and professional growth. Tune in to hear how Felix learned to manage imposter syndrome in his life and to hear his tips on how to make imposter syndrome work for you, not against yo...
2021-02-2538 min
Leverage Your PotentialEpisode 32: Learning how to be friction free with Alan Fernandez ’04Alan Fernandez recently moved to Brooklyn, New York as part of a self-exploration and artistic journey after a career in the stem cell research industry. In this conversation, you’ll learn about his unique journey to Menlo College, why it’s important to live “friction free”, and the reasons he volunteers on the Menlo Alumni Council.
➺ Evolve Your Brain: The Science of Changing Your Mind by Dr. Joe Dispenza
➺ The Way of Zen by Alan Watts
➺ Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
2021-02-1133 min
Leverage Your PotentialReflections on Menlo as an International Student with Alan Álvarez OrozcoAlan Alvarez transferred to Menlo from De Anza College to complete his degree abroad in the United States. As an international student, he worked on campus in the Admissions Office, where he continues to work today. Now a couple years removed from being a student, Alan reflects on his experiences working on campus, applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT) to continue working after graduation, and the transition from being a student to an employee.
➺ The Life Coach School Podcast
➺ Women and Money Podcast by Suze Orman
2021-01-2831 min
Leverage Your PotentialEpisode 30: Shopping in Seoul with Carey Lee ‘21Carey Lee was ambitious as a Freshman at Menlo: she wanted to study abroad, ASAP. This led her to spend 10 days in Hong Kong with GAV, followed by 6 weeks in Seoul, South Korea the following summer. She notes that homesickness is real, but conquerable. Carey’s main advice for students who want to study abroad? Don’t sweat the little stuff nagging at you - the broader experience is well worth it!
➺ Avatar: The Last Airbender (via Netflix)
2020-11-1900 min
Leverage Your PotentialEpisode 29: Navigating one year after college with Jessica CarlsonJessica Carlson ’19, Menlo Alum and Product Marketing Associate at GuideSpark, takes us through her one-year journey of graduating from Menlo to where she is now. Learn more about Jessica’s entrepreneurial drive and her involvement in the Stanford University Innovation Fellowship. Along the way, Jessica shares her passions, her great-grandfather’s inventions, her view of gender bias in the marketing world, and advice on navigating the job search process for recent graduates.
➺ Talking to Strangers and The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
➺ Start with Why by Simon Cinek
➺ Educated by Tara Westover
2020-11-1200 min
Leverage Your PotentialEpisode 28: Study and Work Abroad Reflections with CEA Rep, LauraHow does spending even the shortest time abroad impact your future? As discussed with Laura Madden, the impact is huge - it can shape your life, and make you incorporate a literal world of possibilities as you continue to make big decisions in your life. Listening to Laura’s story of how she went from studying International Relations, to working on a political campaign, to working for a tv show in Argentina, to working international education, we learn that to be nervous about making these big jumps is actually a good thing: you land on your feet, and realize it...
2020-11-0500 min
Leverage Your PotentialEpisode 27: Always an Oak with Priscila de Souza ’07Menlo’s Dean of Enrollment, Prisicla de Souza, studied at Menlo and has worked at Menlo ever since she graduated. Priscila, like many of our students, was an international student and later pursued an MBA. Though she had not intended to work in higher education, the progression of her work has allowed her to stay close to her home - Menlo - and stay close to the people who make it such a wonderful place to be.
2020-10-2900 min
Leverage Your PotentialEpisode 26: Talkin’ Shop with Communication Expert Matt CrevinMatt Crevin, founder of TalkShop (talkshop.co), a communication strategies firm, sits down to discuss his career which spans everything from being an NFL stadium announcer, hosting radio shows, writing books, guest lecturing and career consulting. Demonstrated by his own resume, Matt is an expert on how to communicate effectively and with confidence. Listen in as Matt shares some of his trade secrets (and a few fun stories from his early days at the 49ers).
➺ If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face? by Alan Alda
2020-10-2200 min
Leverage Your PotentialEpisode 25: Traveling to Grow with Couple on the MapMenlo alums Dominic and Lauriane Jackson ‘15 discovered their passion for travel when they took the gutsy move of asking for a 4 month sabbatical from their respective jobs to travel to over 20 countries. What else did they discover while they were on the world, besides how much they loved it? They realized that by aiming to boost their Instagram account, they were beginning to acquire new skills. Their travels have had an inevitable impact on them as people, and on their professional careers.
Follow them on Instagram @coupleonthemap
2020-10-1500 min
Leverage Your PotentialEpisode 24: Why Leadership Matters with Keith SpataroMenlo’s Vice President of Enrollment and Athletics, Keith Spataro, has been working at Menlo for nearly 20 years - it all started with his growing the prestige of the wrestling team, which in the past couple of years have seen successes at the national level. What is Keith’s secret to success? In this episode, we discuss Keith’s perspectives on leadership and the role of athletics in higher education. Tune in to learn some of his favorite quips, including: “Give me an excuse to win.”
2020-10-0800 min
Leverage Your PotentialEpisode 23: Applying Rigor to Life and Work with Erik BakkeErik Bakke is Menlo’s Senior Director of Academic Support, where he leads the English as a Second Language (ESL) program and the Writing Center, among many other things. In this episode, Erik talks about what “rigor” means and how to apply rigor to your life and work. Erik shares some of his other hobbies - including writing and art - in depth as both examples and to expand upon how we find our voices through different methods.
➺ Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan
➺ The Companions by Katie M. Flynn
➺ A Confederacy of Dunces by Jo...
2020-10-0155 min
Leverage Your PotentialEpisode 22: Study Abroad Series - Running through Rome with Klay Ketelle '20Menlo student Klay Ketelle spent the spring of 2019 studying in Rome, Italy with CEA. Klay shares his experience studying in Rome: the classes he took, the way his runs through the city embellished his experience and knowledge of the city. Listen in to hear his advice on why students should seize the opportunity to study abroad, and what first steps they can take.
➺ Map of Rome from Lonely Planet
➺ Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion
2020-09-2547 min
Leverage Your PotentialEpisode 21: Supporting Students as Senior Class PresidentDevon Nemelka ‘21 is this year’s Senior Class President at Menlo College. She transferred to Menlo a year ago, surprised to find herself so close to where she went to high school in the Bay Area and so easily making a home for herself on Menlo’s campus. Devon’s mission this year is to support and advocate for her fellow students with her new responsibilities, and lead the way in engaging the senior class in events - Virtual though they may be! - that her peers are sure to remember.
Podcasts Devon enjoys listening to:
➺ My F...
2020-09-1732 min
Leverage Your PotentialEpisode 20: Management for the Era of the Internet of ThingsThe Rendanheyi Model is an innovative model of management focusing on taking a holistic approach and empowering employees to take ownership in the workplace. Join Dr. Annika Steiber, Director of the Rendanheyi Center at Menlo College, and the Center’s three summer interns - Xinan Li ‘22, Carey Lee ‘21, and Yuanyuan Shen ‘20 - to learn more about the Rendanheyi Model, the center at Menlo that shares its name, and the research that our guests engage in to explore how this model might be adapted to other parts of the world outside of his home in China.
➺ Haier Company: The first...
2020-09-1141 min
Leverage Your PotentialBONUS: Looking ahead with President Steven WeinerOn May 22nd, we interviewed Menlo's President, Steven Weiner, about his career journey and the semester ahead. In this snapshot of a longer episode - which can be heard in "Journey to the Presidency", episode 19 - our listeners can learn President Weiner's thoughts on the Fall semester. While much has changed in the last few months, his optimism remains.
2020-09-0915 min
Leverage Your PotentialJourney to the Presidency with Steven WeinerEnjoy an engaging discussion with Menlo College’s 11th inaugurated president, Steven Weiner. In this episode, we explore President Weiner’s journey from aspiring botanist to start-up executive to college president. President Weiner shares his vision for the future of college and recounts the story of one of our most famous “alumni”: Phar Lap, a legendary racing horse who met a mysterious end.
2020-09-081h 04
Leverage Your PotentialEPISODE 18: A Growth Mindset and Chance Encounters: Maxwell Barnes’ Journey into Venture CapitalAlumnus Maxwell Barnes ’18 shares his journey from college custodian to VC Associate in this wide ranging discussion. Maxwell discusses the unique challenges he faced growing up, what motivated him to transfer to Menlo College from Chico State, and the internships and chance encounters that put him on a path to success. Plus, you’ll get a sneak peak and the background story behind the book he’s writing on internships.
Books:
➺ APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur–How to Publish a Book by Guy Kawasaki
➺ Secrets of Sand Hill Road by Scott Kupor
➺ Fahrenheit 451...
2020-09-0345 min
Leverage Your PotentialEpisode 17: ICS Coffee Chat with Kyle Lubke ’16Kyle Lubke, Menlo College class of 2016 and member of the Menlo Alumni Council, joins the ICS live from Montana for an engaging discussion on everything from careers in audit and accounting to why he’s passionate about improving young people’s financial literacy. Along the way, you’ll learn a little about his golf game and why he thinks even numbers nerds to be good writers.
2020-08-2731 min
Leverage Your PotentialEpisode 16: Marketing, Fundraising, and Advocacy with Yasmin Gomez ‘19Yasmin Gomez is known on Menlo’s campus for her intense dedication to and success in everything she tackles - being a student, being a mother, participating in Menlo’s first cohort of UIF fellows, and advocating for Latinx and immigrant rights. She took her ability to make calculated, thoughtful decisions and applied this skill early in her time at Menlo to decide on pursuing a degree in Marketing, leading her to find creativity, practicality, and vast applicability to the work she does now to forge forward her goals to help give back to those who need it most...
2020-08-2040 min
Leverage Your PotentialEpisode 15: ICS Coffee Chat with Ali Young, ‘14Ali Young, Menlo College class of 2014, joins the ICS team for an engaging discussion on everything from careers in sales and business development to how COVID-19 is impacting gender equity and social norms at work. You'll hear which professors made the biggest impact on Ali and why she chooses to stay engaged with the college through the Menlo Alumni Council.
Resources that she mentions:
➺ Website: Saleshacker.com
➺ Book: Sales Engagement: How The World's Fastest Growing Companies are Modernizing Sales Through Humanization at Scale by Manny Medina (https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Engagement-Companies-Modernizing-Humanization/dp/1119584345 )
➺...
2020-08-0641 min
Leverage Your PotentialEpisode 14: Ramped Careers and Business Development with Solin Piearcy ‘20, Manoj Jonna, Danny LeonardEnjoy this lively discussion with Ramped Careers founders Manoj Jonna and Danny Leonard and one of their most successful fellows, Menlo College alumna Solin Piearcy ’20. Manoj, Danny and Solin discuss the Ramped Fellowship and how to succeed in business development. Along the way, Solin shares how her classroom, club and athletic experiences helped prepare her for her first job after college at Transifex.
➺ Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
➺ Extreme Ownership: How the U.S. Navy SEALs Lead And Win by Jocko Willink
➺ A Hunter’s Game by Yin Dumela
➺ Modern Senti...
2020-07-2351 min
Leverage Your PotentialEpisode 13: Careers in Accounting with former CFO Frank WasilewskiMenlo College’s former CFO Frank Wasilewski takes us through his journey from first attending a Meet The Firms event during his undergrad years to accepting his current role as Senior Manager of Finance at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, where he is helping to affect change at a national and global level. Along the way, Frank shares wisdom and advice for students majoring in accounting.
2020-07-1648 min
Leverage Your PotentialEpisode 12: Conflict Resolution with Provost Grande LumProvost Lum came to Menlo after years working on conflict resolution projects and serving as an adjunct professor Stanford. After completing his bachelor's in Psychology from UC Berkeley and JD from Harvard Law, Provost Lum went on to serve as Partner for Conflict Management Inc. before working with the Obama Administration in the US Department of Justice as the Director of Community Relations Service.
Books and Audiobooks:
➺ Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell (audiobook is excellent)
Podcasts:
➺ The Rewatchables
➺ 99% Invisible
Documentaries:
➺ A Beautiful Day in t...
2020-07-0944 min
Leverage Your PotentialEpisode 11: ICS Summer Coffee Chat Series: Pursuing an MBA - While working! - with Mikkel Bertelsen ‘18Mikkel Bertelsen is originally from Denmark and graduated Menlo College in 2018 with a degree in International Management. He is currently working as a Project Manager for Vaco on-site Google on a content curation project. At the same time Mikkel is a full-time MBA student at Westcliff University majoring in Organizational Leadership.
➺ Open: An Autobiography, by Andre Agassi
ICS coffee chats are held every two weeks on Friday from 9:30 am - 10:30 am, open to current and prospective Menlo students and alumni. Join us for the next one on July 10th: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIvc-mhqTooEtTJLh0t5...
2020-07-0223 min
Leverage Your PotentialEpisode 10: Sabrina Degon @ Box: Connecting college to career, working at Box, and pursuing a 'thematic why'An excellent conversation between Box’s Sabrina Degon and ICS hosts Bianca and Kelly touching on changes to the work place during shelter in place, translating college activities to skills, mentorship, and Sabrina’s work to advocate for a diverse, equitable, and inclusive world.
Sabrina Degon was born and raised in the Bay Area of Northern California and graduated from the University of California, Merced in Business Management & Sociology. Being heavily involved with mentorship work and professional development efforts, Sabrina was involved in roles that allowed her to work closely with the school's career center and led...
2020-06-251h 00
Leverage Your PotentialEpisode 9: Young Alumni Panel - April, 2020On April 8th, 2020, Ash Hunt '20 and Joshua Salazar '20 interviewed four of Menlo's more recent alums about their first couple of years after completing their Bachelor degrees. The conversation covers four main topics: 1. Experiences transitioning out of college; 2. Career advice; 3. Dealing with student loans and finances; 4. Taking care of mental health and finding work-life balance.
Featuring Menlo alums:
Chelsea Garcia '17
Caitlin Sorensen '19
Maxwell Barnes '18
Richard Runkle-Edens '19
2020-06-1851 min
Leverage Your PotentialEpisode 8: Entrepreneurship with Annika SteiberDr. Annika Steiber is a full-time professor at Menlo College and the Director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program. She is originally from Sweden where she obtained her PhD in Management of Technology from Chalmers University of Technology. In this episode, Dr. Steiber shares how her focus on innovation brought her to Silicon Valley, where she has engaged in research on a number of corporations and startups to investigate models of entrepreneurship. Towards the end, you will hear her plans for the future of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program at Menlo.
“The Silicon Valley Model: Management for En...
2020-06-1145 min
Leverage Your PotentialEpisode 7: Leadership with Dr. Marianne NeuwirthTitle: Episode 7: Leadership with Dr. Marianne Neuwirth
Dr. Marianne Neuwirth is the Director of Menlo College’s Oral Communication Program. She teaches courses on Persuasion and Negotiation, Public Speaking - and Leadership. Listen in on a conversation between Dr. Neuwirth and host Kelly Davis as they discuss theories of leadership, and find out a few tips for developing your own leadership style from Dr. Neuwirth’s wisdom and extensive research on the subject.
Show Notes:
Derek Sivers, Ted Talk: “How to start a movement”
William Deresiewicz, 2010 commencement speech at West Point: “...
2020-05-2739 minLeverage Your PotentialEpisode 6: Staying Positive Amid Uncertainty with Casey PorterMeet Casey Porter, a 20 year veteran at Enterprise Holdings Inc., one of the largest private companies in the world and the single largest employer of college grads in the country. In this episode, Casey shares his journey from Enterprise intern to Talent Acquisition Manager for the South Bay and describes how college students can prepare for the future and stay positive amid the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020-05-2124 minLeverage Your PotentialEpisode 5: Remote Work & Internships with Colton Wirth, Brenda Flores-Reyes, & Sam BakerBianca Barros interviews Colton Wirth (May ‘20), Brenda Flores-Reyes (May ‘20), and Sam Baker (Dec. ‘20) about their experiences working remotely for their jobs and internships. Sam works for Casca Designs, a startup in his hometown, Vancouver, B.C, and Brenda works for a startup named Intrida. Both Sam and Brenda were already working remotely before the COVID-19 pandemic started. Colton had to shift his in-person internship at Oracle to a remote position in the midst of the global pandemic. Learn about their tips and best practices on how to succeed (and even network!) in the remote workplace.
2020-05-2139 min
Leverage Your PotentialEpisode 4: Introducing Bianca BarrosThe Leverage Your Potential Podcast is excited to introduce its third host: Bianca Barros! Bianca is a Finance major at Menlo and is the student worker for ICS. Take a listen to learn about how Bianca found herself at Menlo as a Finance major and some of the many initiatives she actively contributes to in her school community!
2020-05-2130 minLeverage Your PotentialEpisode 3: Working for Disney & Completing a Master's Online with Tess RewickTess Rewick, Menlo’s Associate Director of Enrollment and Marketing (and DSO!), has a lot in common with Menlo students: she attended a small college, Linfield College, and majored in Business. After she graduated, she interned and worked at Walt Disney World before shifting back to the West Coast where she found a job at Menlo. Learn about Tess’s career path, how she ended up pursuing a Master’s online, and what led to her decisions along the way.
2020-05-2144 minLeverage Your PotentialEpisode 2: Resilience with Dr. Angela SchmiedeWith a compelling life story and unique career path, Dr. Angela Schmiede shares stories, reflections, observations and advice on the timely subject of resilience. Dr. Schmiede has worked at Menlo College since 2013 and currently serves as Vice President for Student Success. Since late February 2020, Dr. Schmiede has led the college’s Pandemic Planning Team through the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
Angela's Recommended Reads:
The Neopolitan Novels, book 1: My Brilliant Friend
2020-05-2132 minLeverage Your PotentialEpisode 1: Launching the PodcastJoin your podcast hosts, Dylan Houle and Kelly Davis, in learning about the new podcast "Leverage Your Potential" from Menlo's Office of Internships, Career Services & Study Abroad. In this first episode, you'll learn about the goals of the podcast, as well as get to know the career trajectories of Director Dylan Houle and Assistant Director Kelly Davis and how they ended up working for Menlo College.
Edited by: Menlo's Content Creation Club
2020-05-2032 min