Find Your Passion Career Podcast

What do you do when you face rejection at work? Do you mentally check out or complain to your inner circle, or do you take it in stride? Imagine if rejection didn't ruin our workplace experience or harm our motivation. Dr. Kristin Scott is a management professor and the director of the Executive Leadership PhD Program at Clemson University. Her research focuses on workplace dynamics, including emp...

When you hear the word "no," what do you do? Do you stop? Spiral? Start questioning everything? Or … do you pivot?  Here's the truth: rejection isn't the end—it's often the plot twist that changes everything. The real question isn't if you'll face rejection, it's how you respond when it happens.  Jessica Bacal, MFA, EdD, is the Director of Reflective Practices at Smith College, where she co-develo...

We often psych ourselves out of opportunities and relationships because we're afraid of being told "no." But what if we saw those potential "no"s as steppingstones to achieving our wildest dreams? Gabriella Carr is on a mission to get rejected 1,000 times and has documented her journey on social media since last year. As a result, Gabriella has amassed thousands of followers, been featured in The...

In my conversation with Bill Gurley, we explore what it really means to pursue your dream career—without a zero-sum mindset. Bill shares why your peers can become your greatest mentors, how rejection is often a sign of growth, and why continuous learning embracing AI is the key to future-proofing your career.  As a general partner at Benchmark, Bill has influenced transformative companies like Ube...

Lori Bumgarner loves helping others find their passions. As a career coach for over 20 years, she has worked with college students, Nashville up-and-coming recording artists, and now helps those who are mid-career in various industries and locations. She's written several books including her most recent work on personal branding. Lori inspires others to discover what sets them apart, helping them...

Dr. Eli Tsukayama is passionate about helping his students achieve a growth mindset. Working as a professor at the University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu, he has conducted extensive research on grit and perseverence. His research also focuses on understanding individual differences that can be used to segment and understand target markets. Dr. Eli challenges people to abandon their fixed mindsets and...

Scott Stratten encourages people to put relationships before competition in the workplace. As the founder of UnMarketing, he believes that people should engage with their customers instead of marketing to them. Scott also co-authored six best-selling business books, and is an award-winning keynote speaker. Scott is an advocate for online integrity. Experiencing breakout success on Twitter, he real...

Laura Putnam inspires people to get moving during their workday. As a former gymnast, she was motivated to create Motion Infusion, a leading provider of wellbeing and human performance services. Laura also wrote an award winning book, Workplace Wellness that Works: 10 Steps to Infuse Well-Being and Vitality Into Any Organization, and teaches at Stanford University. She was the recipient of The Ame...

Dr. Nicole Tschierske helps overlooked women in STEM feel confident in their career journeys. As an action coach and career expert, she has found that employers seek passionate workers. Thus, she encourages women in STEM to pursue their passions within their current position. Dr. Nicole understands the frustration of feeling "bored-out" in your career, and recommends that instead of quitting that...

Jason Lauritsen works to transform management. As a keynote speaker, trainer, and author, he liberates managers from outdated and inhumane practices to cultivate human potential at work and improve people's lives. His experience ranges from startup CEO to Fortune 1000 executive. He also spent several years leading the best places to work program for an HR technology company where he gained deep in...

Colleen Lubin is a higher education professional with over 15 years of experience in Orientation, student engagement, and leadership development. From working as the Associate Director of Student Involvement at Southern New Hampshire University to advocating for infertility awareness on her website notquiteknockedup.com to storytelling, Colleen wear many hats. All of which best suit her interests...

Dr. Aviva Legatt is the Elite Admissions expert, founder of  Ivy Insight , and host of College Admission's Real Talk podcast. She helps consult undergraduate elite college applications. Her motto is: Get In and Get Real! Dr. Aviva's fresh perspective helps students get real and get what they want! When we hide our authentic selves from the world, the right opportunities may hide from us. Dr. Aviva...

Sam DeMase is the founder of Power Mood , a Career Confidence Coach, and Self-Advocacy Expert. She helps her clients and TikTok audience of 200,000 followers land the job they want and confidently ask for what they're worth. Sam's also on a mission to destroy the patriarchy. Her motto is: You get what you're worth! "Don't they see me shining? Where's my promotion, where's my pay-raise?" We assume...

Veronica Gerosimo currently serves as the Assistant Dean of Student Life & Leadership at Hudson County Community College in New Jersey. An involved student leader turned Student Affairs professional, Veronica is passionate about cultivating student leaders, providing an engaging and supportive student life, and leading by example to ensure her diverse student population feels a sense of belonging...

Bryan Dik, Ph. D., is a vocational psychologist, professor of psychology at  Colorado State University , and co-founder and Chief Science Officer of  jobZology . Bryan studies meaning and purpose in the workplace, calling and vocation in career development, and the intersection of faith and work. He has delivered keynote lectures on four continents, has published four books (including  Redeeming W...

Alexandra Levit is the author of the international bestseller They Don't Teach Corporate in College: A Twenty-Something's Guide to the Business World . Her latest book Humanity Works reveals what the 'robot takeover' will really look like, helping you prepare for the possibilities of the future. She is an influential thought leader on career and workforce trends who has been instrumental in develo...

Drew Sullivan is a Senior Agent at APB Speakers, one of the world's top speakers bureaus. Prior to APB, Drew dabbled in the marketing and public relations side of the entertainment industry with a strong focus in reality television and commercial dance. An alumnus of University of Connecticut, Drew lives in Boston with his partner, Brad, and their Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Belle. Drew's story...

Laurie Ruettimann is the author of the book Betting On You: How to Put Yourself First and (Finally) Take Control of Your Career. She's a former human resources leader turned writer, entrepreneur, speaker and host of Punk Rock HR podcast. CNN recognized her as one of the top five career advisers in the United States, and her work has been featured on NPR, The New Yorker, USA Today, The Wall Street...

Jules Montgomery is the creator of Matches Media. She's scaled multiple businesses through social media strategy and grew her TikTok channel to over 200,000 followers in two months. This entrepreneur and social media expert is a recent grad from the University of Michigan. Jules' path to TikTok star and social media entrepreneur was in no way direct. She started out studying nursing and eventually...

Simon T. Bailey's purpose is to Spark listeners to lead countries, companies, and communities differently. His content is based on more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry including serving as sales director for Disney Institute based at Walt Disney World Resort. He has worked with almost 2,000 organizations in 50 countries. Recently, the editors of Direct Selling News listed h...

Lindsey Pollak is a New York Times bestselling author and one of the world's leading career and workplace experts. She helps individuals and organizations navigate and thrive in the ever-changing world of work. Her most recent work, Recalculating, strives to help people recover and reorient in their vocations following the pandemic. We discuss the post-Covid career-scape, the secret side of job-hu...

Lauren McGoodwin is Career Contessa's CEO and #1 power move advocate with a life mission to help women build successful and fulfilling careers on their terms. Lauren launched Career Contessa in 2013 born from her master's thesis project aiming to close the gap in career development resources for women. Career Contessa now helps millions of women each year with their careers through content, online...

Sarah Steinberg is the former Executive VP of Johns Hopkins and now the founder and CEO of Frogstone Strategies. She realized her calling for helping others in higher education and pursued her passion ever since. Through Frogstone Strategies, Sarah advises colleges and universities on the creation and development of revenue sustainable programs both online and on-site for adult and non-traditional...

As the Director for student opportunities at Claremont McKenna College, Ursula Diamond leads the Career Services team and helps students and alumni develop their career journeys. Ursula holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of London, a Master of Arts degree in Psychology and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Higher Education, both from New York University. Find out how she turned tho...

John Ruhlin is THE gifting guy. He's the author of Giftology , speaker and founder of Ruhlin Group where he consults companies on how to level up their gifting. John understands the value of relationships, and he emphasizes how a personalized gift can create meaningful connections with people in your network. Not all of us can afford to buy a personalized gift for every person that has helped alon...