SLĀ Foundation Presents The Power of Storytelling with Shane Adams
89 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 months ago - ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsIt's hard to dream big when you don't know what's out there. That's why we bring young professionals from a broad range of fields to inspire high-school students through the power of storytelling. This is your chance to learn what all those people in the downtown office buildings actually do, how they got there and what it's like to be one of them.
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Episodes
Micky Wolf
July 24, 2020 21:16 - 22 minutes - 20.7 MBMicky Wolf is a Venture for America Fellow and the Director of Programs at Dent Education. In this interview, Micky shares his journey with social entrepreneurship and demonstrates that the path to success is not a straight line. He currently works in Baltimore with Dent Education, empowering student entrepreneurs to discover and develop their creative potential. Our interview also features Di'Ja Thompson, a high school junior working with Micky at Dent building PPE to keep the Baltimore com...
Alexa Heras
July 24, 2020 21:16 - 20 minutes - 17.4 MBAlexa is a bilingual nutrition educator at the Central Texas Food Bank. Growing up commuting from a border town in Mexico to the US everyday for school, Alexa had to deal with feeling caught in the middle of two different cultures. Alexa and Aniket talk about finding comfort in change, her love for food and nutrition, and the impactful work she does today helping out people across Central Texas who suffer from food insecurity. According to payscale.com, the average salary of a nutritionist ...
Usama Siddiquee
July 24, 2020 21:16 - 23 minutes - 20.6 MBUsama Siddiquee is an actor and standup comedian in New York City. Usama and Aniket discuss embracing one's own culture, the importance of passion, the difficulties of dealing with external pressures, and his tough path in the entertainment industry. Usama made the courageous decision to forego medical school and pursue his dream, and today has found widespread success as a comic with his own podcast, Mango Bae. You can reach out to Usama through his LinkedIn profile. Instagram - @usamasta...
Michael Staffeldt
July 24, 2020 21:16 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MBA child of divorced parents and an alcoholic father, Michael faced a lot of hardships at home. However, he found solace in education and an escape through playing viola. By viewing the difficult times in his life as learning opportunities, he has worked hard to become a Technical Recruiter at Google, while also continuing his love for music as a DJ and producer. Michael's story inspires us all to be resilient in the face of adversity and follow our passions. According to payscale.com, the a...
Katherine Allen
July 24, 2020 21:15 - 25 minutes - 19.9 MBKatherine Allen is the Co-Founder and CEO of Flo Recruit. Katherine shares with Melissa how she discovered her love for entrepreneurship and venture capital, the trials and tribulations of starting her own business during college, and her experiences in the Bay Area with Y Combinator. This past year, Flo Recruit raised $1M in funding. Katherine lives in Austin and works full-time with Flo Recruit. According to payscale.com, the average salary of a CEO is $156,574. However, this number can r...
Danna Tao
July 24, 2020 17:06 - 15 minutes - 11.9 MBDanna Tao is the co-founder of Pocket Punch and recent graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. Danna and Katherine discuss her decision to pursue a business major, her experience creating a company while juggling her other coursework and student organizations, and her future plans as she goes on to work for Cheniere Energy as an associate treasury analyst. According to payscale.com, the average salary of a Treasury Analyst is $58,127. However, this number can range greatly depending ...
Dwamian Mcleish - Extended
November 20, 2019 15:40 - 2 hours - 125 MBDwamian Mcleish is the founder at Journely and former chief technology officer at Camp Gladiator. Dwamian and Shane recall his childhood days in Jamaica, where he fell in love with the computer lab—except it wasn’t much of a lab considering there were only two computers. Despite this, he realized his passion for technology as a young child. Dwamian also talks about how he used his skills in track and field to make his way to college in Kentucky. He talks about assimilating to the US and reco...
Dwamian Mcleish
November 20, 2019 15:40 - 37 minutes - 34 MBDwamian Mcleish is the founder at Journely and former chief technology officer at Camp Gladiator. Dwamian and Shane recall his childhood days in Jamaica, where he fell in love with the computer lab—except it wasn’t much of a lab considering there were only two computers. Despite this, he realized his passion for technology as a young child. Dwamian also talks about how he used his skills in track and field to make his way to college in Kentucky. He talks about assimilating to the US and reco...
Kelsey Creveling
November 13, 2019 15:05 - 38 minutes - 34.9 MBKelsey Creveling is the Founder and CEO of her own ventures, including KelsC. Consulting and The Consultants Closet to name a few. Shane and Kelsey have known each other for years, as they crossed paths in Texas as Shane was seeking someone skilled and ambitious to join his company Sagacious Consultants. Kelsey opens up to Shane about her life before that as she talks about struggling with trying to fit in and losing herself in the process. Kelsey also talks about her journey as an entrepren...
Kelsey Creveling - Extended
November 13, 2019 15:00 - 1 hour - 102 MBKelsey Creveling is the Founder and CEO of her own ventures, including KelsC. Consulting and The Consultants Closet to name a few. Shane and Kelsey have known each other for years, as they crossed paths in Texas as Shane was seeking someone skilled and ambitious to join his company Sagacious Consultants. Kelsey opens up to Shane about her life before that as she talks about struggling with trying to fit in and losing herself in the process. Kelsey also talks about her journey as an entrepren...
Lori Mankin
October 30, 2019 14:00 - 40 minutes - 37.1 MBLori Mankin is an Integrated Marketing Manager at Lifesize, a video conferencing software company with clients like Netflix, LinkedIn, and many more. Lori sits with Shane to talk about her college experience at California State University, Chico and how she found her passion in journalism. She tells about her rocky road to where she is now as she had to deal with childhood bullies, financial instability, and mean bosses. Lori also talks about going to therapy to cope with the challenges she ...
Lori Mankin - Extended
October 30, 2019 13:55 - 1 hour - 97 MBLori Mankin is an Integrated Marketing Manager at Lifesize, a video conferencing software company with clients like Netflix, LinkedIn, and many more. Lori sits with Shane to talk about her college experience at California State University, Chico and how she found her passion in journalism. She tells about her rocky road to where she is now as she had to deal with childhood bullies, financial instability, and mean bosses. Lori also talks about going to therapy to cope with the challenges she ...
Mrignayni Chhotwani
October 10, 2019 14:00 - 56 minutes - 51.5 MBMrignayni Chhotwani, or Maggie, is a senior software engineer at Visa. Shane and Maggie talk about her love for stand-up comedy, her recent relationship status, and her thoughts on the importance of persistence. She also discusses some of the challenges she faces being a woman in a male-dominated industry, how she found her love for computer science, and how she was able to acclimate after a big move from India to the US for her master’s degree. According to Glassdoor, the salary of a Seni...
Mrignayni Chhotwani - Extended
October 10, 2019 14:00 - 1 hour - 81 MBMrignayni Chhotwani, or Maggie, is a senior software engineer at Visa. Shane and Maggie talk about her love for stand-up comedy, her recent relationship status, and her thoughts on the importance of persistence. She also discusses some of the challenges she faces being a woman in a male-dominated industry, how she found her love for computer science, and how she was able to acclimate after a big move from India to the US for her master’s degree. According to Glassdoor, the salary of a Seni...
Dana Rygwelski
September 25, 2019 14:05 - 51 minutes - 46.8 MBDana Rygwelski is Founding Director for MassChallenge, a startup accelerator. Originally from Pennsylvania, Dana sits down with Shane to talk about her many many feats, including being one of 5 women to squat over 700 pounds, working in some awesome positions in companies like Hulu, and even defeating cancer. Dana is an open book as she sits down to tell Shane about obtaining an abortion in college and even getting caught as a rebellious teen for stealing. Despite all these struggles, Dana w...
Dana Rygwelski - Extended
September 25, 2019 14:00 - 1 hour - 88.5 MBDana Rygwelski is Founding Director for MassChallenge, a startup accelerator. Originally from Pennsylvania, Dana sits down with Shane to talk about her many many feats, including being one of 5 women to squat over 700 pounds, working in some awesome positions in companies like Hulu, and even defeating cancer. Dana is an open book as she sits down to tell Shane about obtaining an abortion in college and even getting caught as a rebellious teen for stealing. Despite all these struggles, Dana w...
Aanandh Chandrasekar
September 18, 2019 14:35 - 45 minutes - 41.2 MBAanandh Chandrasekar is a chemical engineer major who became an Investor Evangelist at Capital Factory. Aanandh talks with Shane about growing up in Sugar Land, Texas as a child of Indian immigrants. He talks about being bullied for being smart and going to Nationals for Quiz Bowl. Aanandh offers the challenges he faced in college, advice on finding jobs, and details on his work in venture capital. He talks about how he didn’t let his college major determine his career and that an unconventi...
Aanandh Chandrasekar - Extended
September 18, 2019 14:30 - 1 hour - 68.8 MBAanandh Chandrasekar is a chemical engineer major who became an Investor Evangelist at Capital Factory. Aanandh talks with Shane about growing up in Sugar Land, Texas as a child of Indian immigrants. He talks about being bullied for being smart and going to Nationals for Quiz Bowl. Aanandh offers the challenges he faced in college, advice on finding jobs, and details on his work in venture capital. He talks about how he didn’t let his college major determine his career and that an unconventi...
Stephanie Cantú
September 12, 2019 14:25 - 1 hour - 59 MBStephanie Cantú, PhD is the Senior Student Program Coordinator at The McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. Stephanie and Shane sit down to talk about growing up as a child of divorce, being bullied for being less affluent than her peers, becoming a yoga instructor, and studying the social psychology of mating. She recalls the major factor that led her to where she is today— seeing a female president of Texas A&M University and being inspired to become a female pre...
Stephanie Cantú - Extended
September 12, 2019 14:20 - 1 hour - 106 MBStephanie Cantú, PhD is the Senior Student Program Coordinator at The McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. Stephanie and Shane sit down to talk about growing up as a child of divorce, being bullied for being less affluent than her peers, becoming a yoga instructor, and studying the social psychology of mating. She recalls the major factor that led her to where she is today— seeing a female president of Texas A&M University and being inspired to become a female pre...
Danny De Los Santos
September 04, 2019 14:25 - 52 minutes - 47.7 MBDanny De Los Santos is a Global Sales Enablement Manager at the technology company Cloudera. Danny came from the small town of Mercedes in the south of Texas. In this episode, Danny discusses his sexuality with Shane and struggles he’s faced because of it. Danny also talks about breaking out of the status quo when it comes to extracurriculars. He mentions how one of the best way to escape a bad situation is through obtaining an education, which is why he was the first in his family to go to ...
Danny De Los Santos - Extended
September 04, 2019 14:20 - 1 hour - 91.3 MBDanny De Los Santos is a Global Sales Enablement Manager at the technology company Cloudera. Danny came from the small town of Mercedes in the south of Texas. In this episode, Danny discusses his sexuality with Shane and struggles he’s faced because of it. Danny also talks about breaking out of the status quo when it comes to extracurriculars. He mentions how one of the best way to escape a bad situation is through obtaining an education, which is why he was the first in his family to go to ...
Shayna Dunitz
August 28, 2019 14:05 - 47 minutes - 43.4 MBShayna Dunitz is the Chief Operating Officer at the startup Central Athlete. Shayna talks about working in startups ever since she graduated from Ithaca College in New York and how she enjoys running marathons. Shayna and Shane discuss getting out of her comfort zone, taking initiative in business, navigating friendships, and becoming more involved in college. The two discuss how many people don’t consider themselves artists, athletes, or coders, but it’s never too late to try something new....
Shayna Dunitz - Extended
August 28, 2019 14:00 - 1 hour - 106 MBShayna Dunitz is the Chief Operating Officer at the startup Central Athlete. Shayna talks about working in startups ever since she graduated from Ithaca College in New York and how she enjoys running marathons. Shayna and Shane discuss getting out of her comfort zone, taking initiative in business, navigating friendships, and becoming more involved in college. The two discuss how many people don’t consider themselves artists, athletes, or coders, but it’s never too late to try something new....
Vida Biggins
August 21, 2019 14:07 - 49 minutes - 45.5 MBVida Biggins is a Management Consulting Senior Analyst at Accenture, the world’s largest consulting firm. Vida talks with Shane about dropping out of high school, attending community college, and then graduating from the Ivy League college Columbia. She discusses how having determination and taking initiative opened up new possibilities for herself. Vida talks about how she turned her adversity into strengths and initiated conversations that helped her further her career. She discloses how s...
Vida Biggins - Extended
August 21, 2019 14:06 - 1 hour - 101 MBVida Biggins is a Management Consulting Senior Analyst at Accenture, the world’s largest consulting firm. Vida talks with Shane about dropping out of high school, attending community college, and then graduating from the Ivy League college Columbia. She discusses how having determination and taking initiative opened up new possibilities for herself. Vida talks about how she turned her adversity into strengths and initiated conversations that helped her further her career. She discloses how s...
Jose Tamez
August 14, 2019 14:05 - 48 minutes - 44.8 MBJose Tamez is a Software Application Tech Support Associate Manager at Accenture, the world’s largest consulting firm. Jose talks with Shane about how he achieved his dream by overcoming the challenges of moving and cultural barriers, a serious health ailment, and a long-distance relationship. He discusses how change can open up new, unknown pathways, and can often times be for the better. Jose states many examples of setting an end goal and finding the little steps to take to achieve it. A...
Jose Tamez - Extended
August 14, 2019 14:00 - 1 hour - 71.2 MBJose Tamez is a Software Application Tech Support Associate Manager at Accenture, the world’s largest consulting firm. Jose talks with Shane about how he achieved his dream by overcoming the challenges of moving and cultural barriers, a serious health ailment, and a long-distance relationship. He discusses how change can open up new, unknown pathways, and can often times be for the better. Jose states many examples of setting an end goal and finding the little steps to take to achieve it. A...
Lyric Wardlow
August 07, 2019 14:06 - 51 minutes - 47 MBLyric Wardlow is the Executive Director of her own non-profit, Yociety, and a Youth Specialist at Texas Network of Youth Services. Lyric sits down with Shane to talk about spending time in homeless shelters, being bullied, facing abuse from her father, and even dancing to pay the bills. She talks about how she was able to overcome these struggles with perseverance and determination. She tells Shane how her adversity made her a stronger person. According to Glassdoor, youth services jobs can...
Lyric Wardlow - Extended
August 07, 2019 14:06 - 1 hour - 102 MBLyric Wardlow is the Executive Director of her own non-profit, Yociety, and a Youth Specialist at Texas Network of Youth Services. Lyric sits down with Shane to talk about spending time in homeless shelters, being bullied, facing abuse from her father, and even dancing to pay the bills. She talks about how she was able to overcome these struggles with perseverance and determination. She tells Shane how her adversity made her a stronger person. According to Glassdoor, youth services jobs can...
Nathan Ryan
July 31, 2019 18:57 - 47 minutes - 43.1 MBNathan Ryan is the CEO and Founder of Blue Sky Partners and a Commissioner for the city of Austin. Nathan talks about his wide variety of careers, from going on tour as a professional drummer, to working at Disney as a graphic designer— all without a 4-year college degree. Nathan and Shane discuss the power of making network connections and how they lead from one job to another. He talks about starting his own consulting business from the ground up with the help of experienced friends. You ...
Nathan Ryan - Extended
July 31, 2019 18:03 - 1 hour - 89.9 MBNathan Ryan is the CEO and Founder of Blue Sky Partners and a Commissioner for the city of Austin. Nathan talks about his wide variety of careers, from going on tour as a professional drummer, to working at Disney as a graphic designer— all without a 4-year college degree. Nathan and Shane discuss the power of making network connections and how they lead from one job to another. He talks about starting his own consulting business from the ground up with the help of experienced friends. You ...
Federico Galarraga
July 26, 2019 16:44 - 50 minutes - 45.9 MBFederico “Fede” Galarraga is an entrepreneur who founded three different companies: Tastegraphy, Full Fridge, and Sigma Lion. Fede talks about originally being from Venezuela and then getting his degree at the University of Houston in Texas in Electrical Engineering. Fede discloses that he really just got that degree to make an audio amplifier for the rock band of his dreams. Shane and Fede talk about how that degree actually landed him a job as a software developer at IBM, only for him to l...
Federico Galarraga - Extended
July 26, 2019 16:37 - 2 hours - 123 MBFederico “Fede” Galarraga is an entrepreneur who founded three different companies: Tastegraphy, Full Fridge, and Sigma Lion. Fede talks about originally being from Venezuela and then getting his degree at the University of Houston in Texas in Electrical Engineering. Fede discloses that he really just got that degree to make an audio amplifier for the rock band of his dreams. Shane and Fede talk about how that degree actually landed him a job as a software developer at IBM, only for him to l...
Paula Nguyen
July 04, 2019 04:06 - 44 minutes - 40.9 MBPaula Nguyen is a Product Manager of Walmart Technology. Paula sits down with Shane to talk about growing up as a child of Vietnamese immigrants in Sugarland, Texas. She talks about working at a variety of companies before Walmart, like Facebook and Capital Factory. She shares how she wanted a job that incorporated both entrepreneurship and the corporate world, which at first might seem like opposite things. Paula then discusses how she found the perfect job for her and how careers can incor...
Paula Nguyen - Extended
July 04, 2019 03:26 - 1 hour - 73.8 MBPaula Nguyen is a Product Manager of Walmart Technology. Paula sits down with Shane to talk about growing up as a child of Vietnamese immigrants in Sugarland, Texas. She talks about working at a variety of companies before Walmart, like Facebook and Capital Factory. She shares how she wanted a job that incorporated both entrepreneurship and the corporate world, which at first might seem like opposite things. Paula then discusses how she found the perfect job for her and how careers can incor...
Corinne Vela-Speare
June 25, 2019 20:44 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MBCorinne Vela-Speare is the interim Director of HR Information Systems at Visa, the multi-billion-dollar credit card company. Corinne sits down with Shane to talk about her struggles dealing with a teenage pregnancy and the pressure to retain a traditional Mexican household. She talks about dropping out of high school and working at The Scooter Store to make ends meet. The two discuss how she defeated those challenges and climbed up the corporate ladder to work at the largest credit card com...
Corinne Vela-Speare - Extended
June 25, 2019 19:54 - 1 hour - 91.6 MBCorinne Vela-Speare is the interim Director of HR Information Systems at Visa, the multi-billion-dollar credit card company. Corinne sits down with Shane to talk about her struggles dealing with a teenage pregnancy and the pressure to retain a traditional Mexican household. She talks about dropping out of high school and working at The Scooter Store to make ends meet. The two discuss how she defeated those challenges and climbed up the corporate ladder to work at the largest credit card com...
The Power of Storytelling Introduction
June 06, 2019 02:39 - 5 minutes - 4.83 MBWhat's the point of this podcast? Why should you listen? You want to learn how to make a million dollars? You want to know how to become successful? It only takes three things. Listen here for the answers to all those questions. Episode Webpage