Inside This Episode:

This one goes deep into the creator × career crossroads — how personal branding actually impacts job offers, whether “dream jobs” are real or a scam, and what Grace & our guest learned from breaking into tech, navigating identity shifts, and growing online while working full-time.
Plus… the Lucy Guo saga, getting into VC-backed startups, and the real game behind “prestige hiring.”

⏱ Timestamps
00:00 — Imposter syndrome & your online reputation
02:45 — How personal branding actually gets you hired
05:30 — Why top-of-mind beats résumés
07:50 — Inside his new role + onboarding realities in tech
10:45 — Why relationships are the real promotion engine
12:30 — The job market is brutal… here’s how to stand out
15:00 — Biggest mistakes people make when building a personal brand
18:00 — Niche vs broad identity: how Grace pivoted 5+ times
21:00 — Do “dream jobs” even exist? (debate gets spicy)
26:00 — When a job isn’t a step down for creators
29:30 — What you actually learn from a W2 that creators miss
34:00 — Systems, tracking, and how corporate teaches discipline
39:40 — Lucy Guo breakdown: career path, scaleAI, Passes, PR spin
44:00 — The VC “hack”: big-name → startup → equity route
48:30 — Why clout still rules hiring (and how to leverage it)
52:00 — Breaking into VC-backed startups without pedigree
55:00 — The truth about early career, prestige & portfolio plays

🎙️ Hosted by Grace Ling & Justin Nguyen

📍 How Creators Make Money — the podcast where we unpack the real strategies behind today’s smartest creators.