AccessCo Leaders Career Conversations

Alkeyvia Haynes, a staff attorney with Orange County Public Schools, shares her unconventional career journey, from her role overview to her high school and undergrad years, and the most rewarding part of working for OCPS. She discusses the transferability of skills from her work experience, her interest in entertainment law, and the utilization of her marketing degree in her legal career. Alkeyvi...

Cameron Brown, founder and CEO of Speed Cube Shop, shares his journey from a young entrepreneur to a successful business owner. He discusses the challenges, support, and motivation that have shaped his path, as well as the strategies he has employed to build and grow his business. The conversation with Cameron Brown, CEO and founder of Speed Cube Shop, covered topics such as customer service, inte...

The conversation covers Alejandra's career journey, pivots, and personal background, highlighting the benefits of previous experiences and the challenges of running a team. It also explores the importance of collaboration, leadership, and building a community at Clemens Food Group. The conversation covers the importance of community, challenging the status quo, mentorship and guidance, structured...

The conversation with Todd Harrison, Manager of Community Education at Jefferson Health Plans, covered various topics related to community leadership, healthcare issues, challenges, and leadership skills. Todd shared insights on balancing leadership and work, challenges faced as a black male leader, misconceptions about careers in healthcare, advocacy in healthcare, and advice for students on lead...

Jonathan Harrar, a major in the US Army JAG Corps, shares his journey from law school to serving as a defense attorney for soldiers. He emphasizes the importance of finding joy in your work and being sincere in your approach. Students express their interest in law and seek advice on pursuing a legal career. The conversation with Jonathan Harrar, a US Army JAG officer, provided valuable insights in...

The conversation with John O'Brien from Scrub Daddy covers his career growth and learning journey, as well as insights into balancing work and personal life. John shares his experiences, lessons learned, and the impact of his personal and professional choices on his career. The discussion provides valuable insights for students and professionals alike. The conversation with John covers a range of...

The conversation covers diverse engineering fields, career path and education, innovation and modernization, and entrepreneurship and business management. Shaneka Odom shares her journey, experiences, and insights, providing valuable advice and encouragement to the students. The conversation with Shaneka Odom, Deputy Division Administrator with the Federal Highway Administration, highlighted the i...

The conversation with Yvonne Martinez covers her role as a senior manufacturing engineer at DSM Ferminich, her journey from Mexico to Pennsylvania, her experience in middle school and high school, and her side business as an entrepreneur. The Q&A session with students explores topics related to engineering, career choices, and work-life balance. The conversation covers diverse career paths and...

Dr. Calvin Parker, a gastroenterology vice president at Wood Home Gastroenterology Associates, shares insights on his role, military experience, and the impact of his school involvement on his career. He discusses the challenges of explaining complex medical issues to patients, the increase in digestive health issues among younger patients, and the integration of AI and telemedicine in gastroenter...

Jane Sobieski, a senior lead of commercial banking relationship manager at Wells Fargo, shares insights on financial independence, career journey, community involvement, and personal branding. She emphasizes the importance of building a personal brand and financial literacy, highlighting the impact of economic swings and the value of real estate as a side hustle. Jane's passion for community servi...

The conversation with Javier Flores, President of DAS Everywhere, covers his background, education, achievements, interests, and the journey of starting and growing his company. It also delves into ethical considerations, challenges, and the impact of AI on the telecommunications industry. Javier's discipline, dedication, and leveraging of success for growth are key takeaways from the conversation...

The conversation with Nakayla Maloy, an ICU nurse at Mercy Hospital, covered various themes, including her career journey, shift scheduling, coping strategies, and the impact of AI in nursing. Nakayla shared insights into her experiences in high school, the lessons learned from playing soccer, and how they apply to her role as a nurse. Additionally, she provided advice for aspiring nurses, discuss...

DeShawn Haynes, Vice President of International Strategy at Raymond James, shares insights into wealth management and his journey from Pittsburgh to Florida. The conversation covers DeShawn's background, day-to-day activities, skills for success, joining a firm like Raymond James, motivation, finance projects, working with clients, career advice, and internship opportunities. The conversation cove...

Andrea Hess discusses her journey as an attorney, entrepreneur, and innovator in the caregiving industry. She shares insights on balancing multiple roles, the evolution of legal services, the impact of athletics on leadership, and the inspiration behind her caregiving business. Andrea also provides encouragement for female career aspirants and reflects on past decisions and regrets. The conversati...

Stephanie Edwards, the manufacturing manager at DSM-Ferminich, shares insights into the diverse product range of DSM-Ferminich, her journey into manufacturing, and the impact of her life experiences on her career. She also discusses the challenges she faced and the valuable life lessons she learned, emphasizing the importance of resilience and a growth mindset. Additionally, she provides advice fo...

Community Academy of Philadelphia + Miguel Ortiz The conversation covers topics related to social impact consulting, career transition, and community engagement. It delves into challenges in the public sector and nonprofit work, personal journey and community engagement, career transition and academic experience, skills and mindset for success, transitioning to college and building community, work...

The conversation covers Dr. Kirk Brown's journey from the Air Force Academy to his current role at ARA, highlighting the influence of his early life and education on his career. It delves into his personal interests, adaptability, and the lessons learned from his time in the Air Force. The discussion also explores the impact of fitness and the keys to his success, emphasizing passion, perseverance...

New Hope - Solebury + Reggie Panaligan The conversation with Reggie Panaligan covers his role at Google, customer diversity, early influences, high school activities, learning beyond school, narrowing down career interests, childhood activities and leadership, cultural integration and passion, and managing pressure and high-stakes situations. The key takeaways include leadership and decision-makin...

The conversation with Shaneka Odom, the Deputy Division Administrator, covered a wide range of topics, including her career journey, educational experiences, community advocacy, and advice for students. Shaneka shared insights on engineering, community involvement, and the importance of career exploration. The conversation highlighted the impact of technological innovations in road infrastructure,...

Academies at Roxborough + Rolondo Talbott Rolondo Talbott, Senior Manager of Opportunities and Inclusion at Disney, shares his journey from the military to Disney, his passion for inclusion, and the impact of his early experiences on his career. He also discusses his work with the city of Anaheim and the principles he carries from his time in the Air Force. The conversation covers topics such as r...

Dr. Paige Davis, a pediatric neurologist at Integris Health, shares her journey into the field of pediatric neurology and discusses the challenges, rewards, and diagnostic processes in her profession. She also provides insights into the use of AI in medicine and the importance of effective communication with patients and their families. The conversation with Dr. Davis covered a wide range of topic...

The conversation covers themes related to team sports and leadership, education and career path, building trust and integrity, and networking and relationship building. Frank Gallagher discusses his role at the FGX Group, his early life and sports involvement, the impact of his education on his career, the importance of trust and integrity in business, the influence of multicultural experiences on...

Nick Wryter, Principal Product Manager at Microsoft, shares his journey from Ghana to the US, his experiences in boarding schools, and his passion for technology and video games. He discusses the influence of his background, faith, and personal interests on his career, emphasizing the ethical considerations in technology and the importance of work-life balance. The conversation with Nick Wryter co...

The conversation with Tamara Gibbs-Franklin covers her role as CEO of 1010 Communications, her career in education, her upbringing in Southern Illinois, early interest in journalism and storytelling, challenges and rewards of journalism, the intersection of communication and psychology, and the career aspirations of students. The key takeaways from the conversation are the importance of perseveran...

The conversation with Benita Cooper covered her background, early life, education, inspiration to become an architect, advice for young people interested in business and architecture, challenging projects, habits for success, time management, surprising aspects of the job of an architect, staying motivated in architecture, choosing the right career path, and the transition from architecture to fin...