Career Curves
39 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 36 ratingsReal people telling real stories of real careers. A common perception is that careers move in straight lines, from first job to last, yet this is rarely true. Real careers have highs and lows, planned changes and unexpected ones. On each episode of Career Curves, we talk to someone who has had an interesting, curvy career to find out how they navigated the twists and turns. We focus on the opportunities and challenges that came their way, digging into key decisions they faced and how they made them. Listen in and walk away with inspiration and ideas to help you maneuver through the curves in your own career.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
The Power of And with Neda Cvijetic
October 07, 2021 15:00 - 52 minutes - 36.3 MBDo you ever feel boxed in or typecasted based on your current role or what you've studied? Dr. Neda Cvijetic has made it her mission to break down false barriers throughout her life and career. She's a senior engineering leader AND she has her own fashion business on the side called Hautefit. She has a strong intellect AND strong emotional intelligence. She has a thriving career AND a very fulfilling personal and family life. She has worked for some of the hottest technology and innovation...
Beyond Financial Success with Brenden Mulligan
September 02, 2021 11:00 - 45 minutes - 31.5 MB“I’ve never had a job. And as soon as I stop liking what I'm doing, I generally try to change course.” Throughout his career, Brenden Mulligan, founder of Podpage and head of product at Commonstock, has been driven by more than just financial success. From the music industry to startups, his passion has focused on solving problems and building products that customers love. He’s been fortunate to have a number of companies he created get acquired. Contrary to popular belief, this didn’t mean...
Doing What You Love with Tamara Lewis
August 05, 2021 11:00 - 34 minutes - 23.5 MBWhen Tamara Lewis was growing up in Jamaica, there were only two versions of what future "career success" might look like. She could become a doctor, or she could become a lawyer. She started college as a pre-med student ....and proceeded to change her major 14 times. She later was accepted into law school ....and ended up dropping out early in her first semester. The moral of this story? She was driven by what she "should" be doing versus following her passions, and she didn't find career f...
Breaking News with Laura Meckler
July 08, 2021 11:00 - 51 minutes - 35.2 MB"Being consistently good doesn't get you very far. You need to be occasionally amazing." That's advice from Laura Meckler, national education writer at the Washington Post. Her career is living proof, and by being good and occasionally amazing she rose up the journalism ladder to some of the most prestigious newspapers in the U.S., including a coveted stint as White House correspondent for The Wall Street Journal. In this episode, Laura describes her journey, beginning with a pivotal role ...
The Door to Opportunity with Matthew Confer
June 03, 2021 11:00 - 49 minutes - 33.9 MB“The door to opportunity is a door marked PUSH.” Throughout his career, Matt Confer has taken to heart this advice from his parents. He’s actively looked for doors and then strategized how to get them open. In this episode, Matt spells out the steps he took to create internship opportunities during college and then continually move forward in his career. (Spoiler alert: extreme networking is one of the keys to his success.) He’s currently VP of strategy and business development at Abilitie...
Powering Forward with Malia Cohen
May 06, 2021 11:00 - 38 minutes - 26.5 MBMalia Cohen discovered when she was a child that she wanted to serve in government. She visualized herself in her dream job and then made it happen. Today, she has moved on from that role and sits on the California State Board of Equalization and serves as President of the San Francisco Police Commission, the first African-American woman in both of these roles. So how has she powered forward to make her goals a reality in spite of many obstacles along the way? On this episode, she shares her...
Keep Pushing Ahead with Saiman Shetty
April 01, 2021 11:00 - 39 minutes - 27.3 MBMaking moves into new roles and new companies can be challenging, especially if people are telling you what you want to do isn’t available to you or you’re an immigrant needing to get over visa hurdles. Our guest on this episode, Saiman Shetty, technical program manager of robots at Nuro, has faced and overcome these challenges, not by luck or chance but by design. With perseverance, determination, and a lot of hard work, he’s crafted a career journey that includes working for companies like...
Writing Your Own Career Story with Jamie Pachino
March 04, 2021 12:00 - 46 minutes - 31.7 MBJamie Pachino is currently the Co-Executive Producer on The Right Stuff for Disney+. She always thought that she’d be an actor for her career, but she fell in love with writing plays and scripts along the way. Her work has been produced in four countries, honored with numerous awards, and she’s written for major studios like DreamWorks, Disney, Lionsgate and more. Jamie shares how she did it and the lessons she learned along the way. It’s an inspiring story of someone who followed her passio...
Building on What You've Learned with Marcus Chung
February 04, 2021 12:00 - 47 minutes - 32.9 MBWhat role does learning play as you are building your career? Marcus Chung, VP of Manufacturing and Supply Chain at ThirdLove, has learned from each and every one of his experiences, and he has continuously applied that information to move toward roles that better tap into his passions and strengths. Part of his career journey has included roles and companies that weren’t always a perfect fit, but he needed the learning from those experiences to truly discover his ideal path. By closing som...
Stalking Success with Gabrielle Bosché
January 07, 2021 12:00 - 57 minutes - 39.5 MBGabrielle Bosché became addicted to achievement at an early age. Her incredible drive helped her achieve early success (including publishing her first book at 17!), but it came at a cost to her health and relationships. The unlock in her career journey was connecting her work to her life purpose. She intentionally crafted a career centered around her passions and founded two companies in the process – The Millennial Solution and The Purpose Company. She continues to share her learning with...
Embracing Differences with Adriane Armstrong
December 03, 2020 12:00 - 56 minutes - 38.5 MB“I have had an identity of being different from such an early age that it's never even occurred to me to try to fit in with those around me.” That’s how Adriane Armstrong, CEO of the nonprofit social enterprise Juma Ventures, explains why she chose a career in the nonprofit sector while her classmates were pursuing for-profit, high tech startups. For many, going against the grain isn’t easy. In this interview, Adriane tells her story including the early experiences that motivated her to wa...
Opening the Door with Tiffany Newhouse
November 05, 2020 12:00 - 43 minutes - 29.6 MBHow do you gain the experience and skills you need to go out on your own as a consultant? In this episode, Tiffany Newhouse, CEO of Newhouse Project Consulting, takes us through her path to consulting which had plenty of curves, including a key decision to leave law school to pursue a career more aligned with her interests and passions. Throughout her journey, Tiffany gained experience and skills across a variety of industries and sectors, which prepared her to start and lead her highly succ...
My Inadvertent Career with Greg Stern
October 01, 2020 11:00 - 53 minutes - 37.1 MBWhen Greg Stern graduated from college with a degree in Political Science, he certainly did not expect to eventually co-found and co-chair the award-winning creative advertising agency BSSP. He also didn't anticipate that he would eventually be named CEO of the renowned performing arts organization SFJAZZ. He calls his career inadvertent, but the steps he took along the way prepared him for the extraordinarily fulfilling career he has enjoyed. He also continually nourished his love of music ...
Living a Creative Life with Denise Young Smith
September 03, 2020 11:00 - 50 minutes - 34.8 MBSince she was a young girl, Denise Young Smith has had a love for music and singing. Her career, though, took her into the world of Human Resources including executive roles at Apple. Did this mean she left the arts behind? Certainly not! Music and performing have always been in her life and are taking center stage now as she becomes Chair of the Board at SFJAZZ. In this episode, Denise shares her journey including how she developed her love for the arts, why it was important to her to atte...
Bringing It All Together with Brandon Hernandez
August 06, 2020 11:00 - 40 minutes - 28.1 MBSometimes reaching your destination means making moves that seem to be on different paths. That's what Brandon Hernandez has been consciously doing as he's built his career in Public Affairs while also volunteering his time and leadership within important nonprofit organizations. The journey hasn't always been easy or stress-free, but it has been rewarding. In this episode, Brandon shares how and why he made moves throughout his career including how he managed through high-profile incidents...
The Power of a Personal Mission with Darryl Knudsen
July 03, 2020 00:00 - 58 minutes - 40.1 MB“I channel the power of civil society movements to create enduring, positive change toward social and environmental justice for the underrepresented.” That’s how Darryl Knudsen, Executive Director of International Rivers, describes his personal mission. While the actual mission statement was only crafted recently, the content of the mission has guided Darryl throughout his career, which spans many roles within the private and public sectors. Everything Darryl has done in his career has pr...
Facing Your Fears with Rodney Fong
June 04, 2020 11:00 - 32 minutes - 22.2 MB“All of the other things that I have done before just bubble up into this one particular moment in time.” That’s how Rodney Fong, President & CEO of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, describes getting ready for the challenge he faces today – leading his 170-year-old organization during COVID-19, which has caused unemployment rates to soar and many businesses struggling to survive. Rodney shares his career and personal journey, including his lifelong challenges with dyslexia. Through...
Being Resilient with Leah Swan
May 07, 2020 11:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MBAnyone who has faced job loss will tell you it can be scary, demoralizing, and confusing, raising questions like, “What do I do now?”... “How do I bounce back?”... and even, “Will I bounce back?” Unfortunately, this is what many people are experiencing now as a result of COVID-19. On this episode, we bring you a story of resilience... and success. Leah Swan has had her job eliminated as her employer shut down. She’s had new jobs that weren’t what she expected. She’s had roles that she loved...
Engaging and Thriving with Dr. Arpana Vidyarthi
April 09, 2020 11:00 - 57 minutes - 39.3 MBA few weeks before COVID-19 swept across the world, we had a chance to sit down with Dr. Arpana Vidyarthi, to capture her career story. She specializes in hospital medicine and now is on the frontline of the pandemic, making this episode especially timely. The focus of the interview was on how she built a career that pulls together her passions and interests in internal medicine, quality and safety, teaching, and leadership. Because the interview was done just before the pandemic began, sh...
Making Things Happen with Rick Welts
March 12, 2020 11:00 - 50 minutes - 34.5 MBCan you have a career in professional sports without being a pro athlete? Rick Welts, president and COO of the Golden State Warriors did just that. His career began when, as a teenager, he landed the job of ball boy for the Seattle Supersonics. His drive, commitment, and love for the game got him noticed and led to his being offered a job with the National Basketball Association when it was just getting off the ground. His career grew as the NBA grew as a league. In fact, he was instrumental...
Approaching Your Career Like a Scientist with Carol Regalbuto
February 27, 2020 12:00 - 56 minutes - 39.1 MBCarol Regalbuto has done what many women are being encouraged to do – pursue a career in engineering. She started down this path in high school and today has a successful career working on the latest battery technology. The journey though hasn't been easy. She's faced internal challenges like self-doubt and external challenges as the only woman on teams of men. On this episode, Carol candidly shares what she's had to do to thrive both personally and professionally. She also shares how she ...
Seeing What's in Front of You with Jason Elliott
February 13, 2020 12:00 - 39 minutes - 27.1 MBWhat if you’re on one path – it’s a path you always thought you should be on – when an experience excites you about something totally different. Do you make the leap? Our guest, Jason Elliott, did just that. Since graduating college in 2008, Jason has worked in government and politics, currently serving as Senior Counselor to California Governor Gavin Newsom for Housing & Homelessness. This isn’t what he thought he’d be doing when he was getting started in his career. He grew up thinking he...
Designing Your Career with Burak Cakmak
January 30, 2020 12:00 - 38 minutes - 26.7 MBMany people assume that to work in a particular field, you have to have a degree in that field. Well, sometimes this is true but not always. On this episode, we’re joined by Burak Cakmak who became Dean of Fashion at Parsons School of Design even though he didn't study fashion or have experience as a fashion designer. What he did have was a rich background in other aspects of the fashion business, especially supply chain and sustainability. Burak shares the deliberate actions he took to ...
Taking on the Big Issues with Susan Leal
January 16, 2020 12:00 - 37 minutes - 25.7 MBIs it possible to make your voice heard around important issues of our day, like healthcare, water resource management and climate resiliency? Our guest, Susan Leal, has done just that in both the public and private sectors. She's worked as a lawyer for the US House Energy and Commerce Committee, been an elected official, and been a founding leader in a successful health care startup. She then became an expert in water management and now consults on water and waste water issues related to ...
Being True to Yourself with Beth Davies
January 02, 2020 12:00 - 52 minutes - 36.3 MBWhat if a voice inside you is telling you to take a different path than the one you're on? Beth Davies has heard this voice many times and she always took action. On this episode, Beth is taking her turn as the guest and sharing her career journey. She openly shares why she left law for human resources and how she eventually became the host of this podcast. She tells her story hoping to inspire you. As you'll hear, inspiring others is how she defines success. Meet the Guest Beth Davies is ...
Connecting for Good with Daniel Lurie
December 19, 2019 12:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBIt’s the holidays, a time when many of us think of giving, both to our loved ones and to those in need, making this the perfect time to share our interview with Daniel Lurie, who has spent his career in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector focused specifically on supporting low-income individuals and breaking the cycle of poverty. In 2005, Daniel along with three other co-founders created Tipping Point, the San Francisco Bay Area’s leading poverty-fighting organization. Since its inceptio...
Leveraging Relationships for Impact with Wade Crowfoot
December 05, 2019 12:00 - 43 minutes - 29.7 MBHow do you take opportunities and experiences early in your life and use them to shape your career so you can make an impact? And how important are the relationships you form along the way? On this episode, Wade Crowfoot, California's Secretary for Natural Resources, takes us through his curvy journey from early roles as an intern to where he is today, leading 19,000 people responsible for natural resources across California. His fascinating story is full of insights and lessons that exten...
Speaking Truth to Power with Hydra Mendoza
November 21, 2019 12:00 - 42 minutes - 29.2 MBSuppose you step away from work for awhile for personal reasons. Does this have to set you back? The answer is NO! It actually can propel you forward. On this episode, Hydra Mendoza shares how she used time away from work to develop skills, cultivate a new passion, and find her voice. All of these, especially her ability to speak truth to power, led to big opportunities she never dreamed of for herself. Meet the Guest Hydra Mendoza has served Mayors Gavin Newsom and Edwin Lee in San Fran...
Finding Balance with Dr. Markus Watson
November 07, 2019 12:00 - 48 minutes - 33.1 MBWhat does work-life balance mean to you? Could you achieve it if your career was threatened by something completely beyond your control? Our interview with Dr. Markus Watson explores how he has found balance throughout his life, even during especially challenging times like going to dental school while working full-time, and when receiving a life-changing diagnosis. Markus candidly shares how he uncovered his interest in dentistry, what he discovered about himself through various jobs, and ...
Just Get In There with Jonathan Moscone
October 24, 2019 11:00 - 36 minutes - 25.3 MBSome people have a passion from an early age that they want to turn into a career. In this episode, we hear from someone who successfully did this. Jon Moscone discovered as a teenager that the theater was a place where he belonged and chose to pursue this as his career. He consciously made decisions to "just get in there" and prove what he could do, decisions that ultimately allowed him to be a theater director and producer, as well as an engaged civic leader. In our conversation, Jon sha...
Becoming Fearless with Anu Shultes
October 10, 2019 11:00 - 46 minutes - 32.2 MBCareers don't happen in a vacuum, but rather unfold in the context of our lives. Anu Shultes' career journey has included setbacks, hard landings and serious illness. In spite of it all she persisted, found her voice, and earlier this year was named CEO of LendUp, a socially responsible FinTech company redefining financial services for the emerging middle class. Anu candidly shares how she faced adversity head-on and became fearless along the way. Her career decisions not only led her to ...
Riding the Tech Wave with Corey Lambert
September 26, 2019 11:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MBConventional wisdom tells us that if we want to be successful in our careers, we need a clear goal and a plan. What if the plan is broad and general like, "Go after interesting opportunities?" As Corey Lambert's story shows, this can be enough. He has already had a successful career at some of the hottest startups even though he's still in his thirties and has never had a more formal career plan. Corey shares how he found his roles, what he learned about himself, and how this led him to ma...
Dreaming Out Loud with Anna Beuselinck
September 12, 2019 11:00 - 42 minutes - 29.4 MBHave you ever dreamed of taking what you know and venturing out as a consultant? Anna Beuselinck did that and then decided she wanted even more, so she created an organic farm, garden and vineyard retreat. Anna openly shares her story, including how and why she made the moves she made to lead a life she purposefully designed. Meet the Guest Anna Beuselinck, Life Gardener, is called a Life Gardener because she believes in planting seeds of humanity. She is both co-founder and CEO of Camp...
Driven by a Passion with Manny Hernandez
August 29, 2019 11:00 - 39 minutes - 27.2 MBCan you take something you're passionate about and make it the focal point of your career? Manny Hernandez did, but it was a tough journey filled with long days and personal sacrifices. Manny candidly shares why he made the choices he did and the challenges he faced including the one that forced him to leave the organization he built and loved. Meet the Guest Manny Hernandez is an internationally recognized health advocate who has lived with diabetes since 2002. He co-founded the Diabete...
Reacting to a Curve Ball with Mike Robbins
August 15, 2019 11:00 - 42 minutes - 28.9 MBHow do you bounce back from an early setback? Our guest today knows. He was on the path to do what many people dream of doing, making it into the big leagues as a professional athlete, and then an injury cut his pro career short. Mike Robbins, who has reinvented himself a number of times, shares his personal experiences and what he's learned about the importance of being true to yourself. Meet the Guest Mike Robbins is the author of four books, Focus on the Good Stuff, Be Yourself Everyone...
Allowing Your Passion to Emerge, with Kellie McElhaney
August 01, 2019 14:00 - 36 minutes - 24.8 MBWhen you hear that someone makes a list of top most influential leaders, it's easy to assume they were driven by a clear vision for their career since they were young. The truth is that success like this can be had even by people who start out not knowing what they want to do. In the premier episode of Career Curves, guest Kellie McElhaney shares how she went from not knowing what she wanted to do to becoming passionate about corporate social responsibility and equity fluent leadership, an...
Hidden Episode 2: Curving from the Inside with Dan Henkle
July 05, 2019 21:00 - 36 minutes - 24.9 MBStaying with one company doesn't mean you're stagnating or failing to grow. In this episode of Career Curves, guest Dan Henkle shares how the moves he made within one company to build a rich, challenging, fulfilling career. Our first official episode of the Career Curves podcast and website, careercurves.com, is now available. Subscribe today! Meet the Guest Dan Henkle is a Human Resources and Sustainability Executive with 30 years of experience at Oracle and Gap Inc. Key roles have inclu...
Hidden Episode 1: Bucking Expectations with Bill Auerbach
July 05, 2019 20:00 - 27 minutes - 18.8 MBWhat can you do when the paths you're supposed to take aren't the ones you want to take? In this episode of Career Curves, guest Bill Auerbach shares his career journey and how a stint in comedy helped him discover the path that was right for him. Our first official episode of the Career Curves podcast and website, careercurves.com, are now available. Subscribe today! Meet the Guest Bill Auerbach, CEO Coaching Right Now, brings over 20 years of experience in organizational development, co...
Trailer: Introducing the Career Curves Podcast
July 05, 2019 18:00 - 2 minutes - 1.56 MBIntroducing the Career Curves podcast: real people telling true stories about real careers Many people find themselves stuck in their careers and don't know how to get unstuck. We're here to help. On each episode of Career Curves, we'll talk to someone having an interesting, curvy career to find out how they have navigated the twists and turns. We’ll focus on the opportunities and challenges that came their way, digging into key decisions they've faced and how they've made them. Listen in ...