The past few weeks I soft-launched a hiatus, and today I'm making it official. Keep your eyes peeled for Season 2 of the Push Pull Podcast!

Today we revisit a couple of “near misses” — where a combination of solid preparation and luck led my guests to thrive or pivot quickly in the face of turmoil in their organizations.

Omar Dinar discusses joining Lehman at the onset of the financial crisis, and the impact of the bank's bankruptcy on his career. Being in the real estate division allowed him participation in the acquisition negotiations by Barclays where he excelled for a solid portion of his career.

We then revisit our discussion with Annalyn Cruz, at the point where she had years of advising university students under her belt. At a crossroads, she made the tough call to take a pay cut to go into Learning and Development when she had the option to move to a Director-level role. This choice didn’t save her from impending layoffs, but future-proofed her resume to work in corporate spaces.

00:00 Introduction to the MBA Journey
00:25 Landing the Dream Job at Lehman Brothers
02:04 The Financial Crisis Unfolds
02:57 Experiencing Lehman's Collapse
08:07 Transition to Barclays
08:32 A New Path: Semester at Sea
09:49 Pivot to Learning and Development
12:04 Challenges and Growth in L&D
18:03 Final Reflections and Career Transition

Navigating the Ups and Downs: From Consulting to Startups and Facing Burnout

Today I revist discussions where my guests faced significant adversity in their work lives. 

Shalini Chander talks about pivoting to the startup world — and while she gained valuable industry knowledge, the experience was marred by financial instability and unethical practices by the company's founder. This difficult stint was followed by a brief period at another startup focused on diabetes care, where funding issues led to job instability. Ultimately, the she found stability at Abbott, successfully pivoting to Product Management for the rest of her career. 

Marshall Robins was a tech Account Executive. In his last couple of companies in this role, he encountered high-pressure environments driven by venture capital expectations and an economic downturn. He understood the importance of taking a step back from his career and getting meaningful rest when he was driven to burnout.

00:00 Shalini Leaving Consulting and Joining a Startup
00:57 Red Flags and Financial Instability
03:29 Lessons Learned and Moving On
05:57 Transition to Diabetes Startup
08:35 Marshall’s Burnout and Career Reflections

In this episode I continue my conversation with Dr. Jess Mendoza, cognitive psychologist and UX researcher. Upon wrapping up Dr. Mendoza's transition from academia to UX research, we explore her efforts building community within her new company, and her advocacy for AI literacy across the org. Jess shares insights on the role of critical thinking and communication in prompting, the importance of a supportive work environment for pursuing side projects, and the unique challenges faced by different groups in the job market. You’ll hear Jess emphasize the value of fostering human connections at work and give solid advice for navigating career switches.

00:00 Introduction and Recap
00:46 Shifting Gears: Current Workplace Dynamics
01:03 AI in the Workplace
02:51 Building Community and Support Networks
27:35 Navigating Career Challenges
31:38 Final Thoughts and Shoutouts
35:36 Conclusion and Reflections

Today I interview Dr. Jess Mendoza, a cognitive psychologist turned UX researcher. Dr. Mendoza shares her inspiring story of being a first-generation college student, pursuing a doctorate, and eventually transitioning into the tech industry. We explore her academic journey, including conducting social experiments and presenting research globally, to making the leap to user experience. Key topics include the emotional challenges of moving away from family, the impact of community and networking, and the importance of persistence and curiosity in navigating career transitions. Jess also highlights the value of feedback and networking in successfully pivoting careers. 

00:00 Introduction to the Push Pull Podcast
01:30 Meet Dr. Jess Mendoza: From Academia to UX
02:09 Jess's Early Life and Education
03:20 Discovering a Passion for Research
07:59 The Journey to Graduate School
11:49 Life and Challenges in Graduate School
19:54 Exploring Opportunities Beyond Academia
25:31 Navigating Online Security for Kids
26:31 Developing Educational Curriculums
27:39 From Grad School to Career Decisions
29:13 Discovering UX Research
30:03 The Grad School Dissertation
33:49 Networking and Career Pivot
38:48 Landing the First UX Job
44:49 Adapting to the Corporate World
49:02 Conclusion and Next Steps

Today I revisit some of my early converations on the podcast and the incredible insights of my guests. Samir Jain discusses the importance of combining technical skills with the ability to sell and influence. Theresa Freet shares her personal experience of turning a passion into a career and advises caution against it. Finally, Rajan Trivedi talks about his bold career decision to move to Nairobi for a startup, highlighting the support and guidance he received from his network in making this move.

00:00 The Power of Sales Skills
00:39 Reflecting on Career Success
02:52 Balancing Passion and Profession
07:34 Strategic Approach to Career Transitions
09:54 Embracing Risk and Adventure as a Priority

Today I speak to Julia Levina about her multifaceted career journey. Julia shares her experiences as a counseling psychologist in Ukraine, a CFO of a family-owned pharmacy chain, a business consultant, and now a behavioral scientist and business intelligence analyst at Headversity in Canada. She delves into the challenges she faced during the war in Ukraine and how she transitioned her career multiple times, ultimately finding her place in Canada. Julia discusses her approach to workplace mental health, blending business acumen with psychological insights to help organizations and individuals thrive. Her story is a compelling narrative of resilience, adaptability, and the importance of understanding internal motivations in professional and personal life.

00:00 Introduction to Julia Levina's Multifaceted Career
01:01 Julia's Early Exposure to Psychotherapy
01:15 Challenges of Running a Family Business During War
01:46 Transitioning to a New Life in Canada
02:03 Insights on Workplace Psychology and Longevity
02:54 Julia's Journey from Ukraine to Canada
03:32 Balancing Business and Psychology
04:58 Early Career and Family Business Involvement
11:39 Impact of War on Business Operations
22:22 Navigating Economic Challenges and Business Closure
31:51 From Business Consulting to Psychology
36:07 Developing Training Programs for Companies
39:28 One-on-One Counseling and Client Stories
44:52 Struggles with New Responsibilities
45:51 Identifying the Core Issue
47:53 Impact of the War in Ukraine
49:00 Volunteering and Helping Refugees
51:39 Relocating to Canada
53:33 Starting a New Life in Canada
01:01:47 Joining Headversity
01:05:23 Role and Impact at Headversity
01:13:16 Cultural Differences in Mental Health
01:20:02 Communication and Feedback in Organizations
01:25:37 Final Thoughts on Resilience and Leadership
00:00 From War Zones to Work Culture: Julia Levina’s Journey of Resilience and Renewal

Today I discuss my thoughts on the concept of “fit” between employer and employee. Gallup found in 2023 that disengaged employees cost the world $8.8 trillion in lost productivity annually. I introduce Andre Martin's book 'Wrong Fit, Right Fit,' which emphasizes the importance of finding the right fit at the point of hire rather than adjusting organizational culture post-hire. I elaborate on reciprocity in the workplace and the significance of going beyond a transactional relationship between employer and employee. I also talk through Martin’s focus on trends in workplace branding and the potential pitfalls of focusing too much on employer brand rather than actual job fit. Finally, I reflect on my own values: fun, evangelism, discretion, value/impact, and relationships, and how they have influenced my career. 

00:00 Introduction to the Push Pull Podcast
00:32 Exploring 'Wrong Fit, Right Fit' by Andre Martin
02:14 The Concept of Reciprocity in the Workplace
03:48 The Rise of Workplace Branding
06:50 Understanding Cognitive Dissonance at Work
07:23 Reflecting on Personal Workplace Values
13:47 Conclusion and Future Insights

In this episode, I reconnect with Ashwin Aravind, Head of Operations at Lightyear. Ashwin has been a high-octane performer all his life, spanning school and career. Starting with his undergrad years at UC Berkeley, where Ashwin majored in Molecular and Cell Biology as well as Business Administration, we follow his forays into consulting and law school before ultimately transitioning to the tech sector. Ashwin reflects on the proactive and strategic nature of his career decisions, consulting mentors, and evaluating trade-offs, only to recognize in retrospect how some choices didn't align with his true motivations.

We wrap this conversation with him finishing law school, foregoing the bar, and returning to consulting. Stay tuned after this discussion for Part 2, where we discuss his transition to tech and operations.

00:00 Introduction to the Push-Pull Podcast
02:27 Meet Ashwin Aravind: A Journey Through Education and Career
14:11 Early Career Decisions and Consulting
15:31 The Law School Decision
29:35 Experiences at Stanford Law School
35:38 Questioning the Law School Grind
38:07 Exploring Other Interests at Stanford
41:01 Internships and Realizations
46:05 The Consulting Pivot
51:13 Navigating Post-Law School Decisions
01:00:16 Final Decision: Consulting Over Law

Today I discuss my personal journey of leaving prior jobs in search of greater fulfillment. I compare my experience to what I learned in 'Job Moves' by Bob Moesta, Ethan Bernstein, and Michael B. Horn, highlighting how people's motivations for staying in or leaving jobs often go beyond compensation and job features. This book deftly expands to the role of employers in fostering employee growth and satisfaction, the potential for flexible role designs in the workplace, and the benefits of understanding what truly excites and motivates employees.

00:09 Personal Career Reflections
02:53 Features vs. Experiences in Job Descriptions
03:58 Common Beneath-the-Surface Push and Pull Factors
05:38 The Importance of People Development
07:30 Crafting a Role That Fits
09:45 Building a Team Your Employees Want to Rehire
13:40 Flexible Role Designs and the Future of Work
16:38 Final Thoughts and Call to Action