In this episode of Top of the Pile from Launch Career Strategies, host Karen Elders sits down with Emma Pratt, co-founder of Girl Math Capital, to talk about building a career in finance, taking smart career risks, and making investing more accessible for women.

Emma shares her path from Vanderbilt University to starting her career in leveraged finance at Bank of America, where she built a strong foundation in financial analysis, deal work, and evaluating businesses across industries. She then moved to Uber to work in strategic finance and M&A, helping drive smarter financial decisions and cost efficiencies across the business.

The conversation also dives into the story behind Girl Math Capital - an investing community Emma co-founded with friends to help women learn about alternative investing in a supportive, judgment-free environment. What started as a small group quickly grew into a platform offering education, deal flow, events, and a network for women interested in venture, angel, and real estate investing.

Emma also shares advice for students and young professionals on preparing for competitive finance roles and building the confidence to make bold career moves.

If you’re curious about careers in finance, alternative investing, or building something of your own, this episode is full of practical insights and inspiration.

LAUNCH Career Strategies was founded by Karen Elders and Elyse Spalding. We help young professionals launch a successful career path with expert coaching services.  Reach out today for an initial FREE coaching session.
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Hiring managers don't remember resumes - they remember stories

In this episode of Top of the Pile, Karen sits down with storytelling expert and narrative strategist Aaron Calafato to talk about why storytelling isn’t just a “nice to have” skill - it’s essential to standing out in today’s job market.

Aaron has helped brands like Indeed, Glassdoor, and Palo Alto Networks build trust through story-driven content, and he brings those same principles into the job search and interview process. Aaron is the creator and host of the award-winning 7 Minute Stories podcast, which has reached over 30 million listeners, and the co-creator and co-host of Glassdoor’s The Lonely Office. He also serves as an audio growth strategist for State of Mind, one of Apple’s leading mental health podcasts.

Together, we break down the difference between simply having conversations versus telling intentional stories, and why most job seekers struggle to clearly communicate their value.

We dive into the idea of storycatching — paying attention to your own experiences as they happen — and how self-reflection and self-awareness can help you build short, compelling stories that resonate in interviews and networking conversations. Aaron also explains what a throughline is, why it matters, and how understanding both your own story and a company’s mission can dramatically improve how you show up in interviews.

If you’re a college student, recent grad, or early-career professional trying to articulate your strengths, pivot careers, or feel more confident talking about your experience, this episode will give you practical tools to tell better stories — and get remembered for them.

LAUNCH Career Strategies was founded by Karen Elders and Elyse Spalding. We help young professionals launch a successful career path with expert coaching services.  Reach out today for an initial FREE coaching session.
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In this episode of Top of the Pile, host Karen Elders sits down with Jim Citrin, one of the nation’s foremost experts on leadership and career success. As leader of Spencer Stuart’s CEO practice, Jim has advised boards and CEOs on more than 850 top leadership searches over the past 25 years. He brings a wealth of experience as a former McKinsey consultant, Goldman Sachs associate, and bestselling author of eight books, including The Career Playbook, which offers invaluable guidance for young professionals navigating the early stages of their careers.

Together, Karen and Jim explore the realities of today’s competitive job market, where internship and entry-level acceptance rates at top firms rival Ivy League admissions. Jim shares strategies for standing out among hundreds of applicants, emphasizing the importance of clarity, persistence, and developing what he calls the “career triangle” of job satisfaction, compensation, and lifestyle. The conversation highlights how young professionals can proactively balance these factors throughout their careers.

They also dive into practical advice on relationship-building, networking (or as Jim prefers to call it, “authentic connection”), and mastering the art of interviewing. From creating strong first impressions to asking thoughtful, well-researched questions, Jim breaks down the habits that set top candidates apart. Throughout the discussion, both Karen and Jim stress the value of curiosity, resilience, and self-awareness—qualities that help young professionals build momentum early in their careers.

This episode is filled with timeless advice, practical strategies, and inspiration for anyone looking to launch their career and stay at the "Top of the Pile".

Here are a few links to key items mentioned:

The Career Playbook by Jim Citrin

Interviewing to live, living to interview, article by Jim Citrin

Girl Effect, a non-profit, aims to unlock the power of girls and end poverty globally

LAUNCH Career Strategies was founded by Karen Elders and Elyse Spalding. We help young professionals launch a successful career path with expert coaching services.  Reach out today for an initial FREE coaching session.
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In this episode, I sit down with Gary Strauss, a seasoned digital sales professional whose impressive career has spanned groundbreaking moments in the media industry. Gary was a key player in the pioneering days of digital advertising as part of the initial outside sales team at DoubleClick, a company whose acquisition by Google in 2008 was pivotal to shaping the tech giant’s dominance in the ad tech space. 

Gary’s career highlights include being part of two companies that went public and contributing to successful acquisitions, one of which culminated in a sale to Epic Games—the creators of Fortnite. Most recently, he led Business Development at Kidoodle TV, a free, kid-safe streaming service featuring premium content such as Dude Perfect.

Throughout our conversation, Gary shares invaluable insights on building a fulfilling and impactful career in sales. He underscores the importance of preparation, persistence, and adaptability in the face of challenges, offering practical advice for navigating the professional landscape. Key takeaways include:

 • Sales as a career path: It’s not just about selling a product but solving problems and building trust. Likeability and strong client relationships are the cornerstone of success.

 • Entrepreneurial spirit in sales: Sales professionals often run their own “mini-business” within larger organizations, making it an ideal path for those with a knack for innovation and initiative.

 • Career strategies: Take jobs for the education, not just the paycheck. Understand the company culture, and choose environments that nurture talent and align with your goals.

• Giving back:  Gary shares his involvement with the amazing Tom Deierlein Foundation. To learn more, click here TDFoundation.org

Whether you’re exploring sales as a career or looking for inspiration on how to grow professionally, Gary’s story and advice will leave you motivated and ready to tackle your goals!

LAUNCH Career Strategies was founded by Karen Elders and Elyse Spalding. We help young professionals launch a successful career path with expert coaching services.  Reach out today for an initial FREE coaching session.
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In this episode, I'm thrilled to welcome Brian Lawler, a Senior Sales Manager, Amazon Ads with an impressive career in the advertising industry. Brian has held senior roles at top companies, including LinkedIn, AOL, DoubleClick, and News Corp, and has spent over seven years at Amazon. Known for his exceptional sales skills and leadership qualities, Brian is highly respected by customers and colleagues alike.

A proud graduate of Providence College with a degree in Marketing, Brian is passionate about developing and mentoring emerging talent. In our conversation, he shares his personal work experiences and learnings that listeners can apply to their own careers, including:

• Interview Preparation: Learn how to align with a company's mission and values, and prepare for behavioral interviews using the STARR method to articulate your story and impact (plus, learn what the extra "R" is for!)
• Continuous Learning: Discover the importance of understanding the deeper purpose of your role and how to expand your skill set, while adopting the "raising the bar" mentality and embracing feedback as a gift.
• The Magic Loop: Brian explains this concept developed by Ethan Evans, emphasizing the importance of performing your job well, supporting your manager's success, and aligning your contributions with your career goals.
• Amazon Leadership Principles: Gain insights into key principles established by Jeff Bezos, including the importance of speed, curiosity, grit, and earning trust, and how these can influence your career trajectory.

Whether you’re looking to enhance your interview skills or navigate your career path, this episode with Brian Lawler is packed with practical advice and inspiration. Tune in to learn from one of the best in the business!

Links to amazing books mentioned in this episode:
Radical Candor by Kim Scott (and here Kim breaks it down on YouTube)

LAUNCH Career Strategies was founded by Karen Elders and Elyse Spalding. We help young professionals launch a successful career path with expert coaching services.  Reach out today for an initial FREE coaching session.
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Meet Teddy Fuller, Account Executive with Oracle NetSuite. Teddy is a 2021 graduate of the University of Denver and has spent the past 2.5+ years selling for NetSuite. Teddy shares his experience breaking into a top tech sales team. Hear about the undergrad courses and skills he developed that helped him get his first role as a BDR (Business Development Representative) and make the jump to an AE role.  Learn about the interview process and the day-to-day of a BDR and AE. Plus, other career path options to take the BDR experience.  This episode is chock full of career advice and direction for anyone interested in tech and/or sales. 

LAUNCH Career Strategies was founded by Karen Elders and Elyse Spalding. We help young professionals launch a successful career path with expert coaching services.  Reach out today for an initial FREE coaching session.
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Join me and my talented intern, Christina Klinoff (BC '24), as we co-host this exciting episode that brings together sports entrepreneurship, mentorship, and college athletics.

This episode is perfect for a variety of listeners:

1. Are you an aspiring college athlete or a current college athlete?
2. Are you an aspiring entrepreneur?
3. Are you interested in sports, NIL, and/or AI?
4. Are you interested in being motivated by super bright, hard-working, D1 athletes?

Yes to any of the above Q's? Then this is the episode for you! 

Hear how Sean Woods and Ryan Hetrick met and co-founded CGM Sports or Chasing Greatness Mentorship - a platform that provides advice and mentorship to aspiring college athletes, helping them navigate club teams, prep schools, and the whole college recruiting process. Through entrepreneurship programs at both MIT and Harvard Business School, Ryan and Sean launched CGM and began their entrepreneurial journey.  Learn how Ryan and Sean found their Northstar and how their military backgrounds equipped them with the grit and discipline to stay focused on their shared vision.

Additional links and information from this episode:

• MIT: Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship
• Building an Entrepreneurial Venture (aka "GSD") - MIT Sloane biz school entrepreneurship accelerator, project-based course - getting an idea to market
• Harvard Innovation Labs - Summer Accelerator program
• Sean's HBS professors mentioned:
   Mark Roberge's book: The Sales Acceleration Formula: Using Data, Technology, and Inbound Selling to go from $0 to $100 Million
  Lou Shipley, Senior Lecturer, Harvard Business School

LAUNCH Career Strategies was founded by Karen Elders and Elyse Spalding. We help young professionals launch a successful career path with expert coaching services.  Reach out today for an initial FREE coaching session.
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Communication: The "Swiss Army Knife" major

Check out my conversation with Christine Caswell, Director, Internships & Career Readiness at Boston College.  Christine guides 800+ Comm majors as they navigate getting an internship and their first "real" job.  Hear about Christine's journey as a broadcast journalist - where she started out and the grit and determination that led to her award-winning success!  A few of the many highlights from our conversation:

• Learn about the many career paths Comm majors can pursue
• What skills will you develop as a Comm major and how to use them professionally
• When and Where to find internships? 
• When will positions open up for me to apply?
• The importance of finding an organization that aligns with your goals

LAUNCH Career Strategies was founded by Karen Elders and Elyse Spalding. We help young professionals launch a successful career path with expert coaching services.  Reach out today for an initial FREE coaching session.
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Your credit score is your adult GPA!
In part two of my conversation with Ann Garcia, Certified Financial Planner, we focus on helping young professionals understand some simple ways to set themselves up for financial success.  Ann shares many easy steps to make the most out of the money you're making today while also beginning to build a safety net for the many expenses at different stages of our lives. 

Topics covered include understanding your credit score, managing credit cards, taking advantage of 401K and other investments, setting a budget, and more!

This is a quick hit of info - about 15 minutes of amazing and useful tips and advice!

Show notes:
I Will Teach You To Be Rich (Ramit Sethi) - Book on personal finance for 20-35 year olds
Round up your purchases for easy saving: Acorn's Investing
 XYPN - Fee-only financial planning and advice
Ann Garcia's book How to Pay for College: A complete financial plan for funding your child's education

LAUNCH Career Strategies was founded by Karen Elders and Elyse Spalding. We help young professionals launch a successful career path with expert coaching services.  Reach out today for an initial FREE coaching session.
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Want to balance living your best life today and financial security tomorrow?

Check out my conversation with Ann Garcia, also known as The College Financial Lady to find out how it is possible.  Ann is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and managing partner of Independent Progressive Advisors, a financial advisory firm based in Portland, Oregon.  Ann got her nickname of The College Financial Lady by specializing in college financial planning - she’s helped thousands of families save a ton of money on college. Ann has been featured in the New York Times, US News & World Report, CNN Money, and many other publications and she recently wrote the book How to Pay for College: A complete financial plan for funding your child's education.

This is a double dip episode - learn about Ann's path to becoming a CFP and top tips on saving for your child's education!

Don't miss PART TWO of my conversation with Ann where she'll give a great "financial planning 101" for young professionals - releasing next week!

Show notes and links:

• Ann's book How to Pay for College: A complete financial plan for funding your child's education
• Ann's website Howtopayforcollege.com
• FAFSA (Federal Student Aid application website)
• Student Aid estimator tool - use this to see if you might qualify for aid
• Net Price Calculator - Find this on college websites to get a sense of how much that school will cost
• Collegedata.com  and College Navigator - Check out these websites to see data on the percentage of students that need aid and the percentage that was met
  
  

LAUNCH Career Strategies was founded by Karen Elders and Elyse Spalding. We help young professionals launch a successful career path with expert coaching services.  Reach out today for an initial FREE coaching session.
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