Planned Happenstance: How Chance Influences Our Careers

David Craig, longtime career counselor at Cal Poly Pomona and now recently retired, has helped thousands of students discover their direction and confidence along the way. In this episode, David reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped his career, the mentors who guided him, and the lessons he learned through decades in higher education. He shares thoughtful insights on the power of self-awaren...

From the world of professional ballet and fine art to venture capital, Shannon Shroyer’s career journey is anything but conventional. Now serving as Head of Platform and Operations at Matchstick Ventures, Shannon shares how networking, initiative, and being open to opportunity played pivotal roles in each of her career transitions. She reflects on how the discipline, creativity, and resilience cul...

Former pharmacy technician turned front-end developer at SAS, Maude Simpson, shares the story of their non-linear career journey and the planned happenstance moments that shaped it. Maude opens up about embracing imperfection, confronting self-doubt, and taking action like pursuing a coding bootcamp even when the path ahead felt uncertain. They highlight the power of support systems, the influence...

From his early days in higher education to his transition into Learning and Development within the financial services sector, mike knox reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped his path and the unexpected turns that led him to found the Mattering Lab, an organization dedicated to delivering customized leadership and team development training, primarily within the video game industry. In this co...

As the world of work continues to evolve, Logan Currie is on a mission to explore how AI is transforming career development. As the Co-founder and COO of Careerspan, an AI-powered career guidance and talent matching platform, Logan shares insights on learning, adaptability, and the future of work. She dives into navigating uncertainty in entrepreneurship, the importance of building a strong profes...

From her early love of problem-solving to her current role leading investment operations at Sozo Ventures, Lauren MacDonald reflects on the chance moments that shaped her career. She shares insights on leveraging a math background in the business world, and how a pivotal friendship sparked her path into venture capital. Today, Lauren is focused on strengthening communication and operations within...

Born in Guatemala to a working-class family and raised in South Los Angeles, Elmer G. Roldan’s story is one of resilience, community, and purpose. As a teenager, he was recruited to participate in a unity organization for Black and Brown communities, which sparked a lifelong commitment to social justice, setting him on a path toward educational equity, leadership, and public service. Today, Elmer...

Celebrate with hosts Karissa Sorenson and Priscilla Vallejo as they mark their one-year podcast anniversary! In this special episode, they share personal and professional updates, reflect on lessons learned, and offer practical career advice. From the power of lifelong learning to navigating today’s evolving job market, Karissa and Priscilla explore how networking, reflection, and growth can shape...

From unpaid intern to entrepreneur, Shannon Keefe shares her journey shaped by moments of planned happenstance that ultimately led to founding her practice, Integrate Nutrition. Previously a Wellbeing Manager at Dolby Laboratories, Shannon brings unique insight into the importance of prioritizing health in both personal and professional contexts. She reflects on the discipline required to balance...

On the verge of a career pivot into higher education, Marianne Matarese chose to remain in the corporate world, continuing to grow and evolve her professional journey. Now a Lead, Career Development at Indeed, she shares how chance events have shaped her path from recruitment to onboarding, talent development, and employee experience. Marianne dives into the pivotal role mentorship has played in h...

As a former transfer student from Rio Hondo College to Portland State University, Jennifer Reyna's growth mindset opened the door to unexpected and rewarding opportunities. From starting her career in hospitality and banking to breaking into SaaS (Software as a Service) at Squarespace, Jennifer’s journey has been shaped by intentional curiosity and chance events. Now a Program Manager at Medal...

From guiding whitewater rafting trips to leading initiatives in environmental education, nonprofit fundraising, and corporate social impact at Autodesk and LinkedIn, Seth Chanin’s career path is a powerful example of planned happenstance in action. Now a real estate agent with Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty, Seth candidly shares how he overcame self-judgment during his career transitio...

Seeking a more sustainable career, Rubi Martinez embraced planned happenstance by taking a bold leap into tech. Her journey—from working with children with autism to completing an intensive coding bootcamp—led her to Google, where she now drives impactful change as a Program Manager, leading end-to-end product launches. As a first-generation Mexican American woman in tech, Rubi shares her experien...

From interning at the Happiest Place on Earth to making his mark in the video game industry, Derek Sorenson, Service Reliability Engineer at Sony PlayStation, knows firsthand how planned happenstance can shape a career. He shares the pivotal moments that opened doors, his experience with layoffs, the risks and rewards of working at a startup, and valuable insights on recognizing your own risk tole...

From navigating burnout in higher education to balancing family responsibilities, Kristine Cody shares how unexpected moments of planned happenstance became pivotal in shaping her career in learning and talent development. Now a Staff Development Consultant at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Kristine discusses how fostering meaningful professional relationships has been key to her growth, a...

Discover how a series of planned happenstance moments transformed Tammy Tseng Dulla’s career trajectory—from aspiring occupational therapist to corporate professional at Target, and ultimately, to a flourishing Live Event Artist & Calligrapher. As the founder of Ink & Innuendos, Tammy has carved out a unique niche specializing in live events, brand activations, and experiential marketing,...

Season Finale Alert! 🎉 Hosts Karissa Sorenson and Priscilla Vallejo wrap up the first season of Planned Happenstance with an exciting look back at their favorite moments. From insightful takeaways with industry professionals to behind-the-scenes, they share laughs, lessons learned, and what’s in store for Season 2 in 2025. Tune in for valuable career advice and a fun-filled conclusion to Season 1...

From call center rep to corporate recruiter, Daniel Carlos shares his journey of seizing planned happenstance moments that elevated his career. Now an Early Career Recruiter for NBCUniversal, Daniel blends his passion for human resources and higher education to coach others in navigating professional paths in the entertainment industry. He emphasizes the importance of building a strong network of...

After experiencing profound loss, Dr. Lorena Márquez shares her personal journey through grief and healing and how these experiences led her to embrace planned happenstance in her career. As the founder of I am Esperanza and creatress of Doctorahood — platforms dedicated to empower and amplify women of color, Lorena shares how she uses her story to inspire others to harness their inner strength an...

Known for his work in cultivating inclusive learning environments across diverse industries—visionary coach and workforce development trainer, Derrin Ford shares key moments of planned happenstance that ignited his consulting business and contract work. Derrin opens up about overcoming imposter syndrome, finding confidence in packaging and protecting your own intellectual property, and building a...

Upon taking a series of internships in the museum world—most notably at the Smithsonian Institution—Roshni D. Lal, Ph. D. reflects on the planned happenstance moments that brought her career full circle, combining her love for museums with career education. Roshni shares how the intersectionality of her identities shaped her career choices and emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning through...

Navigating the challenges of job loss to discovering new opportunities, Gareth Roberts shares the pivotal moments of planned happenstance that ultimately led him to land his dream job as a senior manager at Shopify. Gareth’s insights on networking, adapting to change, and thriving in the enterprise technology industry will leave you feeling motivated to pursue your goals. Tune in for practical adv...

From leaving her stable engineering career to launching her entrepreneurial journey, Vivi Ton shares the pivotal moments of planned happenstance that shaped her path as a content creator and co-founder of Nectarine—a platform dedicated to making financial advice affordable and accessible. Along the way, she embraced the freedom and challenges of life as a digital nomad. Whether you're looking for...

Join hosts Karissa Sorenson and Priscilla Vallejo as they revisit the origins of their friendship, share the story behind the creation of the Planned Happenstance podcast, explore the key elements of the career development theory, recount our own planned happenstance moments, and discuss their hopes and insights for listeners. Subscribe now to stay updated on the latest episodes! 👉Connect with Ka...

"Planned Happenstance" explores how chance influences career trajectories and creates opportunities for learning. Join us as we uncover stories of constructing career success from unexpected events and encounters, inspiring you to harness these moments for your own professional growth. Inspired by John Krumboltz's Planned Happenstance Theory and collective professional experience in counseling you...