A Cup of Coffee Chat

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In this episode, Zoey Harr (M'19), a Documentary Producer at Muck Media, shares her journey from satirical writing and humor theory to building a career in documentary production, and how she went from loving stories to actually telling them.

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She shares:

• Why she believes entry-level jobs are underrated, and what sitting in on executives' meetings at National Geographic taught her
• What producing Minerva's Global Immersion Series taught her about storytelling and ownership
• Why she chose documentary production over comedy and what lifestyle had to do with it
• What students interested in creative production can start doing right now with the resources around them

We hope Zoey's story reminds you that you don't have to feel called to something since birth to build a meaningful career in it.

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Timestamps:

(01:08) Intro & Zoey's Background

(01:47) Joining Minerva's Founding Class

(04:25) Early Interest in Writing and Humor

(06:16) Capstone on Theories of Humor

(11:54) Why She Chose Production Over Comedy

(16:52) Intern Experiences at Minerva

(22:34) GQ Magazine Internship & The Balloon Story

(34:21) Minerva's Global Immersion Series

(41:46) Balancing Academics and Career

(45:56) What a Producer Actually Does

(51:49) Landing First Job at National Geographic

(57:19) Moving to Muck Media as Associate Producer

(01:03:47) Advice for Students Interested in Creative Production

(01:07:23) Final Advice

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acupofcoffee.chat/%E2%81%A0

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-cup-of-coffee-chat/id6797430309

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0340JGRY9hpYJ437IeIyoB?si=d5a3b7667efd4f84

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In this episode, Alex Sanchez(M’20), a Pre-Doctoral Fellow at Yale, shares his journey from exploring education reform and psychology to building a career in public policy research, and the unexpected experiences that shaped his path along the way.

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He shares:

• Why he believes research is one of the most efficient ways to reduce suffering in the world
• How a last-minute capstone pivot against his advisor's advice landed him his first job at Harvard
• What it actually means to leave a PhD program — and why he doesn't regret it
• Why rejection is just a numbers game, and how cold outreach changed his career
• What Minerva students interested in research can do right now to get their foot in the door

We hope Alex's story reminds you that an unconventional path can still lead somewhere meaningful.

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Timestamps:

(01:03) Intro & Alex's Background

(02:01) Minerva Wasn't His First University

(04:14) Early Interest in Education Reform and Psychology

(08:45) What It Feels Like to Go From Reading to Producing Research

(15:40) Summers During Minerva: Teaching, Bike Tours & Research

(22:04) Capstone About Gender Norms and Masculinity

(27:50) Life After Minerva: Harvard and Outsmarting Implicit Bias Project

(30:23) Working 70 Hours a Week and Getting Burnout

(35:28) Leaving the Princeton PhD

(38:48) What a Pre-Doctoral Fellow Actually Does

(42:58) What Excites Alex Most About His Work

(50:08) Final Advice

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Follow ACCC Here:

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/acupofcoffee.chat/⁠

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-cup-of-coffee-chat/id6797430309

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/06886Y1jCsQJ7PPnejMEC9?si=2307d50725974724

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In this episode, Julia Ip (M’22), a Product Manager at Adobe, shares her journey from urban planning to leading product strategy in the creative software space and the lessons she gathered along the way.

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She shares:

• Why figuring out your function first and industry second reshaped her entire job search
• How a volunteer opportunity on Handshake grew into a $1 million pilot program
• What it really takes to earn a return offer at a large tech company
• How coffee chats became an important part of her professional journey
• Why the HCs she learned at Minerva still show up in her work every day

We hope Julia’s story offers a little inspiration and encouragement as you navigate your own path.

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Timestamps:

(00:52) Intro & Julia's Background

(01:25) Julia's Career Mission Statement

(02:23) Leadership as a Recurring Theme

(04:45) Entering Minerva as an Aspiring Urban Planner

(06:55) Function vs. Industry

(10:57) Internship at Miracle Messages

(13:47) Co-founding Humans of Minerva

(19:20) Getting a Return Offer at Adobe

(22:52) Time Management During Minerva

(27:22) Practical Tips on Internship Application

(31:31) What a Product Manager Actually Does

(37:35) A Typical Day as a PM

(44:41) Final Advice

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Follow ACCC Here:

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/acupofcoffee.chat/⁠

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/06886Y1jCsQJ7PPnejMEC9?si=2307d50725974724