Promoted

Kelsy Rodriguez started her career on the manufacturing floor at a major electric vehicle company, but she knew she wanted to build something more. In this episode of Promoted, Kelsy talks with her former Merit America coach, Sabrina Louissaint, about how she used upskilling, persistence, and a strategic approach to move into a more technical role within the same company. From balancing full-time work with her Merit America program to navigating a lengthy internal hiring process, Kelsy shares how staying committed to herself and her goals helped her turn an opportunity into a new career path. She also talks about why she’s continuing to learn, pursue her degree, and look ahead to what’s next.

Learn more about Merit America here

CREDITS:
Host: Sabrina Louissaint
Guest: Kelsy Rodriguez
Creative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne Keenan
Executive Producer: Deshani Semaan
Created by Merit America

This is a Maed in India production
Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas
Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome
Producer: Rachna Sukuru
Junior Producer: Aditi Sutar
Director and Video Producer: Jishnu Guha
Sound Editor & Mix Engineer: Nihar Temkar, Kartik Kulkarni

Support Merit America here

In this episode of Promoted, Merit America coach Rob Kairuz shares an easier way to prepare for interviews: the BAR method. He breaks down the BAR method (Background, Action, Result) and shares some examples  so that you can tell your real stories clearly instead of reciting a memorized script (because interviewers don't remember perfect answers - they remember honest ones).

Learn more about Merit America here

CREDITS:
Host: Rob Kairuz
Creative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne Keenan
Executive Producer: Deshani Semaan
Created by Merit America

This is a Maed in India production
Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas
Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome
Producer: Rachna Sukuru
Junior Producer: Aditi Sutar
Director and Video Producer: Jishnu Guha
Sound Editor & Mix Engineer: Nihar Temkar, Kartik Kulkarni

Support Merit America here

In this episode of Promoted, Welen Wang shares his journey from 10 years in Supply Chain Logistics to starting a new career. Welen opens up about the challenges of navigating hundreds of job applications, facing rejection, and rebuilding his confidence after years away from interviews. He discusses how using AI, hands-on projects, and company-specific research helped him stand out and prepare for the opportunity that finally came his way. Welen also reflects on the impact of his career change on his family, his vision of the American Dream, and what he hopes to achieve next.

Learn more about Merit America here

CREDITS:
Host: Rob Kairuz
Guest: Welen Wang
Creative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne Keenan
Executive Producer: Deshani Semaan
Created by Merit America

This is a Maed in India production
Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas
Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome
Producer: Rachna Sukuru
Junior Producer: Aditi Sutar
Director and Video Producer: Jishnu Guha
Sound Editor & Mix Engineer: Nihar Temkar, Kartik Kulkarni

Support Merit America here

In this episode of Promoted, Merit America career coach Maria Villalobos explains why having a clear career plan matters in today’s fast-changing job market. She breaks down what a career plan is, how to define what you want, research your path, and map out the steps toward a job and future you feel good about.

Learn more about Merit America here.

CREDITS:

Host: Maria Villalobos

Creative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne Keenan

Executive Producer: Deshani Semaan

Created by Merit America

This is a Maed in India production

Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar

Director and Video Producer: Jishnu Guha

Junior Producer: Devanshi Chandak  

Sound Editor & Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni, Lakshman Parsuram

Visual Design: Alika Gupta

Support Merit America here: https://meritamerica.org/our-supporters/. 

On this episode of Promoted, Merit America career coach Anne-Marcelle Kouame breaks down how to master the interview question that sets the tone for everything: “Tell me about yourself.” She explains why the first few minutes matter, how to craft a compelling present-past-future answer, and how to use an “I am” statement to showcase your personality and transferable skills — especially if you're changing careers.

Learn more about Merit America here.

CREDITS:

Host: Anne-Marcelle Kouame

Creative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne Keenan

Executive Producer: Deshani Semaan

Created by Merit America

This is a Maed in India production

Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar

Director and Video Producer: Jishnu Guha

Junior Producer: Devanshi Chandak  

Sound Editor & Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni, Lakshman Parsuram

Visual Design: Alika Gupta

Support Merit America here: https://meritamerica.org/our-supporters/. 

On this episode of Promoted, Merit America alum Sadie Cassidy talks to her former Merit America career coach, Anne-Marcelle Kouame, about how she was able to recognize and communicate her transferable skills in her job search. Sadie opens up about how she discovered strengths she hadn’t recognized before and explains how everyday experiences can translate directly into in-demand job skills. Sadie also shares about how applying her practical skills to her hobbies (like anime – a hobby she and Anne-Marcelle share) and personal projects helped her hone her skills even more. 

Learn more about Merit America here.

CREDITS:

Host: Anne-Marcelle Kouame

Guest: Sadie Cassidy

Creative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne Keenan

Executive Producer: Deshani Semaan

Created by Merit America

This is a Maed in India production

Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar

Director and Video Producer: Jishnu Guha

Junior Producer: Devanshi Chandak  

Sound Editor & Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni, Lakshman Parsuram

Visual Design: Alika Gupta

Support Merit America here: https://meritamerica.org/our-supporters/. 

Joey Ratcliff, a Merit America career coach, takes you through how building confidence is key to breaking out of low-wage work and creating the career you want in this episode of Promoted. Learn why confidence isn’t always “faking it till you make it,” but about connecting with your story, practicing your skills, and visualizing your future. From recognizing transferable strengths to celebrating small wins, Joey shares practical strategies to help you navigate your career with confidence . 

Learn more about Merit America here.

CREDITS:

Host: Joey Ratcliff

Creative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne Keenan

Executive Producer: Deshani Semaan

Created by Merit America

This is a Maed in India production

Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar

Director and Video Producer: Jishnu Guha

Junior Producer: Devanshi Chandak  

Sound Editor & Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni, Lakshman Parsuram

Visual Design: Alika Gupta

Support Merit America here: https://meritamerica.org/our-supporters/. 

On this episode of Promoted, Toneise talks about building a career different from the traditional 9 to 5 job – transitioning from being a senior Store Manager to a User Tester, working as a Program Advisor for kids, and launching her boutique. She reflects on navigating big moves, translating her hands-on skills from “physical to digital,” and the importance of keeping personal projects and creative pursuits alive, even while working temporary jobs. She shares how embracing being different and focusing on mindset helped her build a career – and life – that aligns with her vision and ambitions. 

Learn more about Merit America here.

CREDITS:

Host: Joey Ratcliff

Guest: Toneise Holmes

Creative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne Keenan

Executive Producer: Deshani Semaan

Created by Merit America

This is a Maed in India production

Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar

Director and Video Producer: Jishnu Guha

Junior Producer: Devanshi Chandak  

Sound Editor & Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni, Lakshman Parsuram

Visual Design: Alika Gupta

Support Merit America here: https://meritamerica.org/our-supporters/. 

In this episode of Promoted, Bekah Thompson, a Merit America career coach, talks about how to advocate for yourself in your job search. Bekah shares how to recognize your worth, communicate it with confidence in interviews, networking, and salary discussions, and frame areas of growth as strengths. With practical strategies and actionable tips, she shows how advocating for yourself can help you take ownership of your career and build professional and personal confidence.

Learn more about Merit America here.

CREDITS:

Host: Bekah Thompson

Creative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne Keenan

Executive Producer: Deshani Semaan

Created by Merit America

This is a Maed in India production

Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar

Director and Video Producer: Jishnu Guha

Junior Producer: Devanshi Chandak  

Sound Editor & Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni, Lakshman Parsuram

Visual Design: Alika Gupta

Support Merit America here: https://meritamerica.org/our-supporters/. 

On this episode of Promoted, Pamellah shares her journey of navigating a new country, learning a new language and culture, and finding her way into the job market. She talks to her former Merit America Career Coach, Bekah Thompson, about the challenges of starting over, her process of building confidence, and how she advocated for herself in her job search. She also shares how leveraging her network, staying persistent despite setbacks, and keeping her family and long-term goals in mind helped her land a role where she can help and advise others.

Learn more about Merit America here.

CREDITS:

Host: Bekah Thompson

Guest: Pamellah Mirembe

Creative Directors: Brittany Davis-Green, Anne Keenan

Executive Producer: Deshani Semaan

Created by Merit America

This is a Maed in India production

Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar

Director and Video Producer: Jishnu Guha

Junior Producer: Devanshi Chandak  

Sound Editor & Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni, Lakshman Parsuram

Visual Design: Alika Gupta

Support Merit America here: https://meritamerica.org/our-supporters/.