Yanira Amadeo, Executive Director of Development at the University of Connecticut Foundation, shares her journey from administrative assistant to philanthropic leader raising millions for student opportunities and university initiatives.

• Transitioned from psychology and social work to higher education development after realizing her passion for fundraising
• Leveraged her position at Columbia University to earn a nonprofit management degree while working her way up from administrative coordinator
• Describes development work as "bridging generosity and justice" by connecting donors with university priorities
• Currently pursuing a PhD focusing on alumni philanthropists of color at Hispanic-serving institutions
• Advocates for strength-based research approaches versus deficit perspectives when studying communities of color
• Higher education development offers competitive salaries with assistant directors earning $70K-90K and vice presidents potentially earning up to $500K
• Emphasizes the importance of building relationships and reputation rather than just credentials
• Shares that less than 2% of PhD holders are people of color, encouraging more diversity in advanced education

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The thoughts, views, and opinions expressed on Career Cheat Code are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, affiliated organizations & employers. This podcast is intended for informational and inspirational purposes, highlighting the guests and their unique career journeys. We hope these stories inspire you to chase your purpose, define success on your own terms & take the next step in your career.

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Host - Radhy Miranda
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Producer - Gary Batista
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