Careers Without Connections

You hear time and time again that you need to network because networking is the key to success. But what if you're a first-generation professional, born into a family without any professional network or useful career connections? By the end of this episode you’ll know: How to build a network from scratch starting with 0 How to find people you actually should be networking with How to approach...

I chatted with Jasmin Lopez, a first-generation Latina, former engineer, MBA graduate, content creator, and incoming consultant at Accenture. We talk about her pivot from engineering to business, working multiple jobs to pay for school, winning a life-changing scholarship, getting paid for content creation for the first time, and preparing to leave home and start over in Chicago. You can reach me...

In this episode, Johanna Rincon shares her journey from immigrating to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic at 14 years old without speaking English to becoming a regional learning and development leader for a luxury hotel. We discuss navigating your career as a first-generation professional and the lessons she's learned about finding career clarity, learning your strengths and weaknesses, and...

In this episode, I share the strategies that helped me create job opportunities for myself as a first-generation professional raised by immigrant parents. I break down the practical steps I used to land internships, build meaningful professional relationships, find mentors, and even ask employers to create job opportunities for me that didn't officially exist yet. You'll learn how referral...

Bill Vega, a CEO, entrepreneur, first-generation graduate, and prominent Latino leader in Georgia, details his approach to controlling your thoughts, shifting your mindset, and leveraging inevitable failures to propel you toward achieving your goals and ambitions. He also shared some exciting upcoming events through Association of Ecuadorians in Georgia (ASEG) and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce,...

Matt Cárdenas shares his journey from a 10 year acting career in New York City to public service and politics. We discuss the power of embracing your identity, navigating career transitions, and creating space and belonging for yourself as an underrepresented professional in any workplace. If you’d like to connect with Matteo: @themattcardenasAnd You can also reach me on TikTok/Instagram: @giannal...

In this episode of  Careers Without Connections , I chatted with Julie Volker Morris, Distinguished Teaching Professor and Graduate Career Services Director at the University of Oregon,   to  discuss the unique challenges first-generation students face while navigating college and career development. From financial pressure to networking, confidence, and mentorship, we unpack why first-gen student...

In this episode of  Careers Without Connections ,  I share the story behind why I created this podcast, stemming from my personal journey of being a first-generation student to becoming the first person in my family to earn a graduate degree. I also reflect on navigating financial hardship, mentorship, relocating cross country post grad, and breaking into professional spaces through cold emails, c...