The Underswell with Derek Sabori

đŸ‘©â€đŸŽš Creating Your Own Path: Rachel Heussenstamm built a career on Curiosity, Resilience & Exploration

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What do you do when your career doesn’t follow a straight line? For my guest, Rachel Heussenstamm, the answer has always been: stay curious, say yes to opportunities, and treat every challenge like a problem worth solving.

In this episode, Rachel shares her dynamic, “sideways” career journey—from overcoming dyslexia as a kid, to studying music and architecture, dropping out of USC to join a band in Nashville (Shh... don't tell anyone😁), freelancing as a designer, producing commercials for ESPN, leading creative teams at ZipRecruiter, and now consulting with purpose-driven brands. Along the way, she’s built a career on curiosity, creativity, and the courage to keep reinventing herself.

Rachel’s stories remind us that the best jobs aren’t always the ones you apply for—they’re often the ones you create yourself.

What We Talk About:

  • How early obstacles can become strengths—dyslexia helped Rachel build resilience, pattern recognition, and creativity.
  • Why curiosity is a superpower (and a skill to develop)—being deeply curious is what makes you a better listener, problem solver, and leader.
  • The importance of saying yes to serendipity—a single freelance project led her to producing ESPN commercials.
  • Why every job is a climate job—and how sustainability shows up in every industry. 
  • Creating cultural capital—How growing up in an entrepreneurial, arts-driven community normalized risk-taking and built her confidence to pursue her own path.
  • Why playing the long game, being open, and having fun are essential ingredients in any career.

    • Key Takeaways

    💡 “Curiosity is problem-solving. It’s not just about wonder—it’s about asking better questions, building context, and finding the real issues to solve.”

    💡 “Sometimes the best jobs are the ones you make for yourself.”

    💡 “Every career has pivots. The trick is to keep stacking experiences, stay open, and trust that it all adds up.”

    💡 “Every job is a climate job. No matter your sector, sustainability belongs in the conversation.” Listen to

    This Episode If You’re:

    • An early-career professional figuring out your next move.
    • A creative who wants to grow into leadership.
    • Someone navigating pivots, setbacks, or unexpected opportunities.
    • A believer that curiosity, creativity, and courage shape great careers.

      • 🔗 Connect with Rachel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-heussenstamm/

      📚 Rachel’s Book Recommendations:

      • The Power of Giving Away Power, Matthew Barzun  
      • This is Your Brain on Sports by Jon Wertheim and Sam Sommers.
      • Abundance, Era Klein & Derek Thompson

        • Rachel's Non-profit pick: https://drawdown.org/ because "Every job is a climate job."

        Music by Lidérc.

        Inquire about being a guest on the show here.

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        The Underswell with Derek SaboriBy Derek Sabori