Curating Career Life Stories: How did I get here?

Join me for the career reflections of Jeff Harry, international positive psychology play speaker. A journey inspired by the movie Big with Tom Hanks back when Jeff is in the third grade. Prompting him to start writing to toy companies at that age and through high school, asking about the types of jobs they offer. After following a suggestion from one of these toy companies to get a mechanical engi...

Join me for the career reflections of Donna Riccardo, speaking power specialist. A journey with dreams and desires for what she wants to do and be, but where fear causes her to freeze and feel stuck. Her pursuit to overcome these fears leads her down a personal development and spiritual path that frees her up and gives her the confidence to train others on what she’s accomplished – speaking powerf...

Join me for the career reflections of ClaireYvonne Naisbitt, executive & life coach. As a young person her decisions are based on her heart, gut and what piques her interest & curiosity. Which is how she chooses her college, major and career. A hard worker and determined not to fail, she’s top of her class and receives a premier job opportunity at an oil & gas company resulting in a su...

Join me for the career reflections of Helen Young Hayes, founder & CEO of Activate Workforce Solutions PBC. A journey with roots in China and Mississippi, then onto Yale, Wall Street and Colorado. She discovers her love for economics at Yale then takes a research analyst position at an investment firm which leads to a 20-year career retiring as Chief Investment Officer. Having grown up in the...

Join me for the career reflections of Jamie Dandar McKinney, president of Jamie Empowers. A journey that starts with a knowing about wanting to go into business, but uncertain what that really looks like. After college, Jamie’s recruited into the automotive industry, enticed by a company car, phone and management training. Quickly she discovers she’s the youngest employee, and only the third femal...

Join me for the career reflections of Kelli Hansen, founder of BCC Evolution. A story about turning tragedy into action and making a difference. After a few career starts and stops, Kelli now has profound clarity about her purpose – education and awareness about mental health . Find out how her sister’s suicide compelled her to start a non-profit, BCC Evolution. Initially she’s focused on suicide...

Join me for the career reflections of Kim Lakin Creger, instructor & facilitator for Darkness to Light the Stewards of Children.  After raising her kids, she discovers Darkness to Light the Stewards of Children program and finds it helps her in dealing with the abuse she experienced as a young girl and inspires her to help other kids and now her grandchildren stay safe. Kim’s now a certif...

Join me for the career reflections of Bill Roth, founder of the Basics Team.  As a young man he knew he wanted to be a businessman. Whether working for himself delivering two paper routes, mowing lawns, shoveling snow -- or working for someone else at the local brickyard, turf farm or driving a truck.   Even after earning a BA in business, he knows he needs someone who’s successful in bu...

Join me as I recap and highlight key characteristics, strengths, ah ha moments and words of wisdom from my last ten interviews (Ep. 81-90). You really must check out these amazing stories and insight!

Join me for the career reflections of Porcia Chen Silverberg, chief re-inventor and creativity officer. She starts her story with “I was made in Taiwan”, and goes on to talk about immigrating to the United States as a teenager, a defining and impactful event in her life. Twenty-two jobs later in seventeen different industries, including starting her own business four times and two non-profits -- s...

Join me for the career reflections of Maggie Drucker, chief relationship officer for ProsperBridge & queen of culture for RISE. She’s at her best when managing a half dozen priorities and activities all at once. She discovers this in college and that it’s a theme throughout her life. Maggie finds a career in HR by always being willing to take things on, she never thinks that’s not my job. Beca...

Join me for the career reflections of Leslie Jones, founder & CEO of SpiralMethod, executive coach and master facilitator. A journey that starts in mental health, left turns into selling computers, then the “ah ha” that she likes selling ideas more that things. Tapping into her background in both therapy and business she’s recruited into transformation work. A great fit until the birth of her...

Join me for the career reflections of Mel Austin, founder of Squeaky Clean Comedy. A journey that starts in the Marines as a Bulk Fuel Engineer, he then leverages his talents as a “professional passer of gas” to enter the business world, starting as a delivery driver for a propane company where he moves into sales and sales management. His leadership abilities emerged at an early age; in high scho...

Join me for the career reflections of Valerie Recore, productivity specialist. A journey that starts in mental health working with teens, then earns a master’s degree in adult learning where she’s introduced to books and concepts about productivity & time management. She’s intrigued, makes productivity her area of expertise and now her business. What’s served her best: patience and being open...

Join me for the career reflections of Gail Hamilton, motivational speaker and author. A journey about facing fears and overcoming obstacles – blindness, abuse, discrimination, depression, and suicide. Now on the other side of these obstacles, she’s sharing her story to help others see that they too can get to the other side and create and live the life they desire. An ah-ha moment for Gail, is whe...

Join me for the career reflections of Christine Valenzuela, owner of Pearl & Thistle. A journey with themes steeped in music, ministry, motherhood and manifesting opportunities that fit her life while fulfilling her passion to keep learning and growing. Starting her own business is her latest growth opportunity, one that continues to evolve and provide challenges. Her impulsive and impatient n...

Join me for Part Two of the career reflections of Komal Goyal, managing partner at 6e Technologies. Born and raised in India, a defining moment for her as a young woman, is choosing education and a career over the tradition of marriage. Leading to another pivotal decision, counter to the wishes of her mother and the norms of her culture, accepting a job in a city far from her family. It’s been a t...

Join me for the career reflections of Komal Goyal, managing partner at 6e Technologies. Born and raised in India, her journey is one of perseverance and breaking traditions – cultural, gender and family traditions. Hear how her dad encourages her life choices by asking questions and getting her to think for herself. As she says, if it wasn’t for him, her life would be totally different. Even witho...

Join me for the career reflections of Yolanda Webb, Executive Director of the Office of Adult Aging & Disability Services for the State of Colorado and Principal Advisor at WEBB Advisory Group. A journey guided by a curiosity and passion to understand humanity regardless of whether she’s working in mental health, state services, or her own businesses. Her career progresses until she hits that...

Join me as I recap and highlight key characteristics, strengths, ah ha moments and words of wisdom from the last eleven interviews (Ep. 69-79). Normally I create these recaps after nine interviews, but I had a gap in my interview schedule last fall and created the previous recap at Ep. 68, adding two interviews to this recap.   You really must check out these amazing stories and insight!

Join me for the career reflections of Jess Sato, co-founder of 2 Smart Girls. A move from the Midwest to the Middle East at age 10 significantly impacts her outlook on the world and her career. She learns the language, loves the culture and decides she wants to become an international lawyer. Once in college, she realizes being a lawyer is not for her, she leaves with a double major in Arabic lang...

Join me for the career reflections of Veronica Munoz, executive director of ACG Denver. Faced with the reality, and sacrifices, to become a professional ballerina, she shifts her sights to her next interests, being academically challenged and international business. After earning a master’s degree, she lands a role at the American Bar Association and connects with a boss and mentor who helps prope...

Join me for the career reflections of Michelle Barnes, executive director for the Colorado Department of Human Services and member of the governor’s cabinet. While everything in her career has prepared her for this role, it was not a grand plan that got her here. It was the desire to serve. It’s her first job in public service, and the first job she’s not expected to be the subject matter expert....

Join me for the career reflections of Nicole Powers, philanthropy associate at Street Business School. A story about giving up what feels really comfortable, for more learning and growth, and for more alignment of her career legacy with her values. A scary thought though, leaving that comfort zone for a new role, company and industry. Hear how intentional she is in preparing herself for all this c...

Join me for the career reflections of Stephanie Klein, founder and president of Experience Factor. She begins her journey relying on her strengths, her soft skills: connecting with people, communicating and organizing. Leading her to roles in human resources, staffing, then running her own staffing business. She describes at least three “ass kicking, sole searching” moments where her thriving busi...