Career Cheat Code

On today’s episode, we have someone who was able to merge her passions for marketing and cooking into a sponsorships role at a financial services company. Let’s start the week with Scherise Merritt 

Key points from the show:

• Staying true to yourself in the office
• How saying “good morning” landed her a job
• Advocating for yourself for career growth
• Exposing yourself to projects beyond your job description 
• Growing up fast, and how that shaped her 

Books Recommended:

• Tuesdays with Morrie
• More Than Enough

Resources mentioned: Nice Girl Army

Connect with Guest: Scherise Merritt

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Disclaimer:

The views shared on Career Cheat Code are those of the guests and don’t reflect the host or any affiliated organizations. This podcast is for inspiration and information, highlighting unique career journeys to help you define success and take your next step.

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, rate, and subscribe to this podcast on whatever platform you’re using, and share this podcast with your friends and your networks. For more #CareerCheatCode, visit linktr.ee/careercheatcode. 
Host - Radhy Miranda 
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Producer - Gary Batista
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Our guest today began taking pictures in night clubs, and now has grown his own production and creative company that works with artists and large organizations to bring projects to life. Let’s start the week with Fred Focus

Key points from the show:

• Why he waited years before calling himself a director 
• Working with large record labels and organizations 
• As an immigrant, explaining his director role to Dominican parents
• Self-teaching editing skills
• Other directors and professionals who inspire him

Books Recommended:

• Rich Dad Poor Dad
• Before They Pass Away

Connect with Guest: Fred Focus

Please Rate & Review on your listening platform. 

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Disclaimer:

The views shared on Career Cheat Code are those of the guests and don’t reflect the host or any affiliated organizations. This podcast is for inspiration and information, highlighting unique career journeys to help you define success and take your next step.

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, rate, and subscribe to this podcast on whatever platform you’re using, and share this podcast with your friends and your networks. For more #CareerCheatCode, visit linktr.ee/careercheatcode. 
Host - Radhy Miranda 
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Producer - Gary Batista
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Throughout this episode, you’ll hear how Aaron Pagan is on a crusade to educate low income communities about financial service products they can utilize to save, invest, plan, and retire. His career started in real estate, and is now a financial service broker in NYC. 

Key points from the show:

• Growing up middle class gave him a unique perspective on finances
• Finding “mentors from a distance” 
• Your network determines your net worth
• Tips on becoming financially stable

Book Recommended: 

• Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable
• Contagious: Why Things Catch On
• #MaxOut

Connect with Guest: Aaron Pagan

Please Rate & Review on your listening platform. 

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Disclaimer:

The views shared on Career Cheat Code are those of the guests and don’t reflect the host or any affiliated organizations. This podcast is for inspiration and information, highlighting unique career journeys to help you define success and take your next step.

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, rate, and subscribe to this podcast on whatever platform you’re using, and share this podcast with your friends and your networks. For more #CareerCheatCode, visit linktr.ee/careercheatcode. 
Host - Radhy Miranda 
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Producer - Gary Batista
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To watch on YouTube
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Throughout this episode, you’ll hear how Julissa Baez is a career coach whose journey began as an immigrant who studied business and changed to political science, then serendipitously landed in a program that changed the trajectory of her career. Now, she helps others identify career paths and becomes their copilot to get to their destination. 

Key points from the show:

• Journey of coming to America for college
• Working in local politics gave her a sense of impact in the community 
• How side hustles shaped her career
• Even coaches need a coach

Book Recommended: Quarter Life Breakthrough

Other Resources discussed:  Model NY State Senate Program

Connect with Guest: Julissa Baez

Please Rate & Review on your listening platform. 

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Disclaimer:

The views shared on Career Cheat Code are those of the guests and don’t reflect the host or any affiliated organizations. This podcast is for inspiration and information, highlighting unique career journeys to help you define success and take your next step.

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, rate, and subscribe to this podcast on whatever platform you’re using, and share this podcast with your friends and your networks. For more #CareerCheatCode, visit linktr.ee/careercheatcode. 
Host - Radhy Miranda 
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Producer - Gary Batista
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In this episode, you’ll hear how Brandon went from the copy room to working as a management consultant in the at a top consulting firm. 

Key points from the show: 

• How to utilize LinkedIn to connect with fellow alumni
• Why he decided to attend grad school
• Overcoming fear played a pivotal role in his professional life
• Working to expand a charter school network in NYC
• Wanting to become a police officer or civic employee, and how that did not materialize

Books Recommended:

• The Four by Scottt Gallaway
• The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama

Resources Discusses:

• MLT
• The Toigo Foundation

Connect with Guest: Brandon Stanford

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The views expressed on this show do not represent the views of the host's employer. The views expressed on this show do not represent the views of the guests' employees. 

Disclaimer:

The views shared on Career Cheat Code are those of the guests and don’t reflect the host or any affiliated organizations. This podcast is for inspiration and information, highlighting unique career journeys to help you define success and take your next step.

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, rate, and subscribe to this podcast on whatever platform you’re using, and share this podcast with your friends and your networks. For more #CareerCheatCode, visit linktr.ee/careercheatcode. 
Host - Radhy Miranda 
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Producer - Gary Batista
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Instagram 
To watch on YouTube
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Throughout this episode, you’ll hear how Pedro is a modern-day historian, and his journey from being in an immigrant, to working on his Associate’s Degree at a community college, to ultimately obtaining his doctorate degree from an Ivy League School. 

Key points from the show:

• The importance of learning about specific fields
• He became an avid reader while in college
• How moving to multiple cities in his life helped him professionally
• Importance of finding mentors in your field

• Book Recommended: 
  • A Puerto Rican in New York, and Other Sketches by Jesus Colon
• Other Resources discussed: 
  • McNair Scholar

Please Rate & Review on your listening platform. 

Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter & Facebook @CareerCheatcode

Disclaimer:

The views shared on Career Cheat Code are those of the guests and don’t reflect the host or any affiliated organizations. This podcast is for inspiration and information, highlighting unique career journeys to help you define success and take your next step.

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, rate, and subscribe to this podcast on whatever platform you’re using, and share this podcast with your friends and your networks. For more #CareerCheatCode, visit linktr.ee/careercheatcode. 
Host - Radhy Miranda 
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Producer - Gary Batista
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To watch on YouTube
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Throughout this episode, you’ll hear how Irving helps a major bank work with local communities to have a positive impact.

Key points from the show:

• How his Spanish-speaking upbringing in Washington Heights, NYC has played a pivotal role in his career
• Being your own champion at work, and tips to achieve it successfully
• He didn’t know his type of role existed until applying for it
• Not always about who you know, but who knows you

Book Recommended: 

• On Writing Well

Connect with the guest: Irving J. Burbano

Please Rate & Review on your listening platform! 

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Disclaimer:

The views shared on Career Cheat Code are those of the guests and don’t reflect the host or any affiliated organizations. This podcast is for inspiration and information, highlighting unique career journeys to help you define success and take your next step.

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, rate, and subscribe to this podcast on whatever platform you’re using, and share this podcast with your friends and your networks. For more #CareerCheatCode, visit linktr.ee/careercheatcode. 
Host - Radhy Miranda 
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Producer - Gary Batista
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Instagram 
To watch on YouTube
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Throughout this episode, you’ll hear how Anthony helps bridge the digital divide gap in NYC communities that need it the most.

Key points from the show:

• How being fired...TWICE played a huge role in his career
• Attending Columbia University's School of International & Public Affairs helped him re-think his career
• His pivot from accounting was facilitated by finding mentors and leaders in the field

• Books & Documentaries Recommended: 
  • Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem
  • The Black Godfather

Please Rate & Review on your listening platform. 

Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter & Facebook @CareerCheatCode

Disclaimer:

The views shared on Career Cheat Code are those of the guests and don’t reflect the host or any affiliated organizations. This podcast is for inspiration and information, highlighting unique career journeys to help you define success and take your next step.

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, rate, and subscribe to this podcast on whatever platform you’re using, and share this podcast with your friends and your networks. For more #CareerCheatCode, visit linktr.ee/careercheatcode. 
Host - Radhy Miranda 
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Instagram
Producer - Gary Batista
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Instagram 
To watch on YouTube
Follow us on Instagram 
Follow us on TikTok 
Follow us on LinkedIn 

Throughout this episode, you’ll hear how Guru became a lawyer and now counsels innovative, high-growth private clients in corporate and finance matters. 

Key points from the show:

• How being a son of immigrants and raised in Brooklyn has played a role in his life and career
• How the POSSE Scholarship played a pivotal role in his education
• Urban Fellowship program provided the foot in the door to his career
• Importance of maintaining good mental health 
• The need to exercise your creative part of the brain, in his case by writing Sketch-comedy 
• Other Resources discussed: 
  • POSSE Scholarship
  • Urban Fellows
  • SEO Law

Please Rate & Review on your listening platform. 

Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter & Facebook @CareerCheatCode

Disclaimer:

The views shared on Career Cheat Code are those of the guests and don’t reflect the host or any affiliated organizations. This podcast is for inspiration and information, highlighting unique career journeys to help you define success and take your next step.

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, rate, and subscribe to this podcast on whatever platform you’re using, and share this podcast with your friends and your networks. For more #CareerCheatCode, visit linktr.ee/careercheatcode. 
Host - Radhy Miranda 
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Producer - Gary Batista
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Instagram 
To watch on YouTube
Follow us on Instagram 
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Follow us on LinkedIn 

Throughout this episode, you’ll hear how Monique works in the private sector, but with public sector clients. She is a fiscal problem solver for government agencies and authorities. 

Key points from the show:

• How being a lesbian Latina from the Bronx has played a role in her life and career
• Fellowship program provided the foot in the door to her career
• Importance of Branding yourself at work
• How to create a Board of Advisors for your career
• Books Recommended: 
  • Good Is Not Enough: And Other Unwritten Rules for Minority Professionals
  • Outliers
  • Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box

Other Resources discussed: 

• Municipal Finance Fellowship Program

Connect with the Guest: Profile 

Please Rate & Review on your listening platform!

Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter & Facebook @CareerCheatCode

Disclaimer:

The views shared on Career Cheat Code are those of the guests and don’t reflect the host or any affiliated organizations. This podcast is for inspiration and information, highlighting unique career journeys to help you define success and take your next step.

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, rate, and subscribe to this podcast on whatever platform you’re using, and share this podcast with your friends and your networks. For more #CareerCheatCode, visit linktr.ee/careercheatcode. 
Host - Radhy Miranda 
LinkedIn
Instagram
Producer - Gary Batista
LinkedIn
Instagram 
To watch on YouTube
Follow us on Instagram 
Follow us on TikTok 
Follow us on LinkedIn