On May 1st, 2020, I started the Passages podcast. What began as a hobby, an adventure, and a risk turned out to be one of the greatest gifts I never could have anticipated. Exactly one year later, our podcast has hit over 10,000 downloads, our community has peaked over 900 strong, our team has made moves in our own lives and careers that we've only ever dreamed of, and you - YOU - are one year braver, brighter, and more brilliant simply because you've showed up every day as your own, true self. 

In this episode, cheesy as it may be, I took the opportunity to sit down and reflect on what this last year has meant, both as a letter of gratitude to those who joined me in this project AND as my own... passage. I also share an exciting, transformative update with you all: with a new career chapter taking shape, I've made the decision to hit pause on this podcast for the time being. For that reason, we are considering this the epilogue, and the finale (for now). Who knows — maybe we'll meet again in this way soon. But until then, I'm excited to embrace this next chapter for everything it holds, watch as the world we once loved re-opens day by day, and look ahead to everything waiting for us on the other side. 

I hope you enjoy this reflective episode and update. If you'd like to stay connected, you can always find me on Instagram @chloebelangia. Thank you for being here, friend. Cheers to young professionalism and everything it's taught and continues to teach us along the way. 

Caroline Cusick is a Senior Strategy Analyst at Accenture—a global consulting and professional services firm—based in Atlanta, Georgia. Caroline received her bachelor’s degree from the Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech, and in addition to Accenture, interned for The Coca Cola Company in marketing agency operations. If you’re studying (or curious about) business, management, strategy, or the ambiguous world of consulting, this episode is one you don’t want to miss. In this conversation, Caroline and I walk through how she decided to pursue consulting and what it’s taken to navigate her career thus far. Caroline spills tips for surviving the infamous “case interview,” what an *actual* day-in-the-life for her looks like, and advice for college students interested in a similar path.

If you find this episode helpful, we’d love to know! Make sure to tag @thepassagesproject on social media so we can reshare and thank you for tuning in.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Case In Point: Complete Case Interview Preparation by Marc Cosentino

@CorporateNatalie on TikTok

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Stay Connected:

Connect with Caroline on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinecusick/ 

Careers at Accenture: https://www.accenture.com/us-en/careers

More about The Passages Project: https://www.thepassagesproject.com/

Follow The Passages Project on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepassagesproject/

Today’s episode is such a special one for me! I invited my boyfriend, Drew Sutton, to share his career story and the major changes he’s made in only a few short years. In 2019, I made the decision to move to California, which presented the opportunity for Drew to consider finding a new role out west, too. Through a series of very intentional strategies, in 2020, Drew was able to transition from a small finance firm in Atlanta, Georgia to a highly competitive sales role for Mulesoft/Salesforce in San Francisco, California. Navigating three pivots all at once took a lot of preparation and confidence but (as Drew found out) wasn’t impossible. In today’s episode, I wanted to bring Drew on to walk through the exact steps he took to make these moves and launch a new career, just in case any of you are looking to switch up your career paths in major ways as well.

Our conversation breaks down his story into three distinct pivots:

1) Pivoting industries from finance to sale— why was sales the right move for him, and how did he bridge gaps in his resume to land the role without prior experience?

2) Pivoting from a small firm to a major corporation— what are the pros and cons of both types of companies, and how did he position his smaller-brand experience as competitive for a company like Salesforce?

3) Pivoting from Georgia to California— real talk: how did he feel about moving across the country, what has he learned since, and what advice would he share with anyone else looking to make unfamiliar moves to follow something they believe in?

If you’re interested in a major career change, but lacking the confidence to own that such a change is *possible*, this episode is for YOU.

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Mentioned in today’s episode:

Passages Ep. 39 with Emily Sermons

Mulesoft Careers

The Local, Atlanta, GA

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Stay connected:

Connect with Drew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drew-sutton/

More about The Passages Project: https://www.thepassagesproject.com/

Follow The Passages Project on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepassagesproject/

Gaining work experience while still in college through short-term internship programs is one of the best ways to set yourself up for early career success. In today’s episode, I sat down with internship coach, Alexandra Foote, to unlock her secrets to landing top internships in and outside of the tech industry. With experience interning at Google, Bank of America, and Microsoft (twice!), Alex was able to land her dream role—and an immediate promotion—in product management at Microsoft right after gradation. Inspired by the impact these internships had on her early career moves, Alex is now passionate about turning around and offering helpful resources and 1:1 coaching to other college students looking to land their dream internships. In addition to a blossoming career in technology and computer science, Alex is also an incoming MBA candidate at Harvard Business School, having been accepted to HBS’ 2+2 program.

Today’s episode covers an array of frequently asked questions on all things internships:

If you love this episode, make sure to register for Alex’s ongoing (FREE!) masterclass: How to Land an Internship at a Top Tech Company at alexandrafoote.com/masterclass

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Mentioned in today’s episode:

The STAR Method

Fat’s Chicken n Waffles in Seattle, WA

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

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Stay connected:

Alexandra’s Website: https://www.alexandrafoote.com/

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/footealexandra/

Follow Alexandra on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancyfootework/

More about The Passages Project: https://www.thepassagesproject.com/

Follow The Passages Project on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepassagesproject/

Delaney Vetter, like countless other young professionals, graduated from college in the spring of 2020—a less-than-ideal job market awaiting her on the other side. She’d done everything right through college, landing internships and building connections in her desired field of work, but as luck and life would have it, the full-time job options just weren’t there. Yet by remaining open, leveraging her network, and offering skills to those who needed her help, Delaney managed to “accidentally” start and scale a fully-booked freelance business as a communications consultant—bypassing what she thought her early career would look like in lieu for a new path she never saw coming.

In this episode, Delaney peels back the curtain on what graduating and pivoting into life as a young freelancer really looked like. She shares a refreshing message of empathy to the 2020 and 2021 graduating classes, the real-talk behind how and why she gave up the job hunt in lieu of freelancing, what running a business at her age has taught her about owning success when you’re young, and advice she’s picked up for other aspiring online business owners. If you’re feeling the weight of the job hunt, looking to feel less alone during a remote graduation season, or curious in any capacity on the life and work of a full-time freelancer, this episode is for you.

Mentioned in today’s episode:

13th (Documentary), Directed by Ava DuVernay

Brave Enough, by Cheryl Strayed

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Stay Connected:

Follow Delaney on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delaneyvettercomm/

Delaney’s Website: https://www.delaneyvetter.com/

Follow The Passages Project on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepassagesproject/

More about The Passages Project: https://www.thepassagesproject.com/

Denise Arco, Margot Salgado, and Nha Truong are first-generation graduate students pursuing psychology degrees in various forms, passionate about dismantling "The Grind" and promoting a holistic balanced lifestyle. In the midst of navigating their own educational journeys, the trio of friends joined forces to launch The Babes Who Study, a community and digital brand aimed at providing mentorship, empowerment, and coffee-inspired inspo to other young professional women walking a similar path. Having followed their community for quite some time now, I highly encourage you to give them a follow over @thebabeswhostudy on Instagram, while we dive into today’s episode.

In this conversation, I pick Denise, Margot, and Nah’s brains on all things holistic wellbeing—through the lens of young professionalism and finding personal forms of self-care as busy students. What is their perception of wellness and how has it evolved as they’ve studied psychology on their own? What are their personal favorite forms of self-care (hint: it’s not what you’d think)? How do they reconnect with themselves and their souls, and what advice do they have for any spring students rounding out the last few weeks of the semester?

These friends were such a joy to bring on the podcast and I know you’ll find their energy so contagious. If you loved listening in, let us know over @thepassagesproject on Instagram.

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Mentioned in today’s episode:

Atomic Habits, by James Clear

Exhalation, by Ted Chiang

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Stay Connected:

Follow The Babes Who Study: https://www.instagram.com/thebabeswhostudy/

Follow The Passages Project: https://www.instagram.com/thepassagesproject/

More about The Passages Project: https://www.thepassagesproject.com/

Welcome back! In part two of our early career Q&A, we pick right back up where we left off: talking all things career advancement for those of you facing early conversations on promotions, change, or leaving your full-time role. As young professionals ourselves, we’re peeling back the curtain behind tough conversations with managers, giving and receiving feedback, and how to assess whether it’s the right time to ask for a promotion.

In this episode, we answer questions submitted by YOU, including:

If you haven't yet listened to part one of our two-part Q&A series, we highly encourage you to listen to last week’s episode, where we discuss early career negotiation, setting work-life boundaries, managing your inbox, and other areas for development when you’re starting in a new role. If you have anything to share with our community about what we discuss in today’s show, send us a DM over on Instagram—we’d love to know what you think!

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About Chloe:

Chloe works full-time in corporate communications and brand strategy, with prior experience spanning digital media and marketing at a venture-backed startup, coworking space, and digital agency. In May of 2020, Chloe founded The Passages Project and Passages podcast, a micro-publication and media project for young professionals. Chloe holds a bachelor's degree in Computational Media with a focus on interaction design, experimental media, and marketing from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

About Ellie:

Ellie Peterson is a Customer Concierge at Delighted, a Qualtrics company, where she has helped thousands of customers become customer experience experts and get the most out of their Delighted programs. Also a graduate from Georgia Tech, having majored in Industrial Engineering and Systems Engineering with a minor in Technical Communications, Ellie joined The Passages Project to manage strategy and operations.

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Stay connected:

Connect with Chloe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloebelangia/

Connect with Ellie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellie-peterson-6a2678b4/

More about The Passages Project: https://www.thepassagesproject.com/

Follow The Passages Project on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepassagesproject/

Knowing many of you may be facing career advancement opportunities around this time of year—accepting a new role, negotiating for a promotion, or getting your footing in an early career transition—we thought it’d be helpful to take some time answering your questions and sharing our candid experiences as early professionals in the full-time working world. In part one of two, Chloe chats with Ellie Peterson, also a member of The Passages Project team, about strategies she’s leveraged to feel confident establishing and growing professionally from day one.

In this episode, we discuss:

Stay tuned for part two next week, when we discuss giving and receiving feedback, partnering with your manager to improve in your role, when it’s time for a promotion, and when it’s time to leave.

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About Chloe:

Chloe works full-time in corporate communications and brand strategy, with prior experience spanning digital media and marketing at a venture-backed startup, co-working space, and digital agency. In May of 2020, Chloe founded The Passages Project and Passages podcast, a micro-publication and media project for young professionals. Chloe holds a bachelor's degree in Computational Media with a focus on interaction design, experimental media, and marketing from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

About Ellie:

Ellie Peterson is a Customer Concierge at Delighted, a Qualtrics company, where she has helped thousands of customers become customer experience experts and get the most out of their Delighted programs. Also a graduate from Georgia Tech, having majored in Industrial Engineering and Systems Engineering with a minor in Technical Communications, Ellie joined The Passages Project to manage strategy and operations.

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Stay connected:

Connect with Chloe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloebelangia/

Connect with Ellie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellie-peterson-6a2678b4/

More about The Passages Project: https://www.thepassagesproject.com/

Follow The Passages Project on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepassagesproject/

Hannah Siddiqui is a 22 year-old writer, educator, certified meditation and breathwork instructor, and spiritual coach based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Utilizing the tools of manifestation, positive affirmations, and astrology, Hannah’s business inspires people to turn inwards to recognize their own power. While her career may have taken several twists and turns to land her here, Hannah’s found success in educating the masses on spirituality, mindfulness, and tools to empower.

In today’s episode, Chloe and Hannah discuss the relationship between spirituality and trust in divine timing through the lens of work and money. What are the spiritual blockers that hold young professionals back? How can you reconnect with your power during an (unwanted) season of working from home? How can you combat feelings of perfectionism at work? And what does a spiritual relationship with money really mean? Light a candle and set the vibes for this one, my friend. Hannah’s advice is going to change your life.

Mentioned in today’s episode:

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

The Universe Has Your Back by Gabrielle Bernstein

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Stay Connected:

Hannah’s Website & Blog: The Road to Hannah

Shop Hannah’s Course: Astrology Basics

Hire Hannah: 1:1 Spiritual Coaching

Follow Hannah on Instagram: @theroadtohannah

Learn more about The Passages Project: The Passages Project

Follow The Passages Project on Instagram: @thepassagesproject

Follow Chloe on Instagram: @chloebelangia

Gabby Whiten is a Ph.D. candidate at the NYU School of Medicine and freelance digital creative. Gabby attended UNC Chapel Hill for undergrad, where she uncovered a passion for scientific research and experimentation. Gabby began her Ph.D. program right out of college, determined to work at the intersection of science, communication, and education. Outside of her research, Gabby has a thriving presence on YouTube and Instagram, flexes her creative muscles servicing clients with graphic design work, and explores everything New York City has to offer.

In today's episode, I pick Gabby’s brain on the 101 of Ph.D. work: why and how she landed on the specific program and set of research she did, what a day-in-the-life of a Ph.D. student really looks like, and how she balances her full-time program with part-time hustles. If you’re curious about a path where science and design collide, this one’s for you!

Mentioned in today’s episode:

Chancellor’s Science Scholarship at UNC Chapel Hill

About Mae Jemison

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Beloved by Toni Morrison

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Stay connected:

Follow Gabby on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbywhiten/

Gabby’s blog: https://gabbyinthecity.com/

Gabby’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp7ppy7Cx4_Kmx7FV_z40HA

More about The Passages Project: https://www.thepassagesproject.com/

Follow The Passages Project on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepassagesproject/

Follow Chloe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chloebelangia/

Nominate a guest for Passages: https://www.thepassagesproject.com/nominate-a-guest