The Back to Me Podcast

What if a high school field trip introduced you to your future career and eventually brought you back to teach the next generation? As we continue our “Built to Move” Trade and Transportation series, we welcome Steve Borio, Automotive Technology Instructor and Ford ASSET Instructor at Cerritos College. With 30 years of automotive experience, including 27 years at a Ford dealership, Mr. Borio shares how an early visit to Cerritos sparked his interest in the field. Along the way, he discovered that helping others learn the job was just as rewarding as working on vehicles. He introduces the Ford ASSET program, an earn while you learn pathway that combines classroom theory with mentored, hands-on experience at a Ford dealership as students work toward an associate degree and Ford certifications. From electric vehicles and emerging diagnostic technology to management opportunities, explore a field that requires continuous learning and offers possibilities beyond just turning a wrench. Whether you are a student, parent, or career changer, this conversation offers a practical look at training, dealership partnerships, and building a professional network.

In the classroom and shop, Mr. Borio emphasizes more than technical skills. Through real dealership examples, guided practice, and mentorship, he helps students develop critical thinking, diagnostic confidence, and professional habits such as communication and accountability. He is committed to creating a welcoming environment for women, first-generation students, and those entering automotive with little experience, helping them see themselves as capable professionals with a place in the industry. To learn more about Mr. Borio and the Ford ASSET program, visit Cerritos.edu and connect with him via email at [email protected].

Ready to explore working with your hands and using your brain in ways you never expected? As we continue our “Built to Move” Trade and Transportation series, we welcome Stephen Shute, HVAC/R Organizer at United Association (UA) Local 250 and Industry and Technology Instructor at El Camino College. With 44 years of experience in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration, Mr. Shute shares the opportunities for career growth in this essential trade. From residential systems to commercial and industrial facilities, aerospace, and medical environments, he reveals a field that reaches far beyond keeping homes comfortable. Discover how to pursue this pathway through the UA Local 250’s Apprenticeship Program and what it takes to succeed.

In his role as a UA Local 250 union organizer in Los Angeles, California, Mr. Shute focuses on community engagement and workforce development, helping remove barriers for local community members seeking entry into union apprenticeship programs and careers in the building trades. He has also represented UA Local 250 in advocating for major regional projects and Project Labor Agreements, such as clean energy infrastructure initiatives that support local job creation. To learn more about Mr. Shute and the UA Local 250 Apprenticeship Program, visit their website at SoCalHVACR.info to apply by January 2027 and to learn more about their training, visit HVACR.JJATC.com. You may also connect with Mr. Shute via email at [email protected].

What does it mean to prepare students not only to earn a degree, but to thrive in a rapidly changing workforce? This month, we introduce ‘Built to Move,’ our new Trade and Transportation series! In this episode, Dr. Thomas O’Brien, Associate Dean in the College of Professional and Continuing Education at California State University, Long Beach, returns to share how higher education, workforce development, international education, and industry partnerships can work together to create meaningful career pathways for traditional and nontraditional learners. Discover how students can build English-language skills alongside discipline-specific training, earn self-paced AI certificates, and translate work and life experience into college credit and credentials employers recognize. It is time to see yourself as a global citizen with career opportunities that extend beyond one field, one employer, or one location.

⁠

Dr. O’Brien completed both his Doctorate of Philosophy in Urban Planning/Transportation and his Masters in Planning at University of Southern California (USC). He is also the Director of the CA Local Technical Assistance Program (CALTAP) Center and Deputy Director of the METRANS Transportation Consortium, a partnership of CSULB and the University of Southern California. He previously served as Executive Director of the Center for International Trade and Transportation (CITT) also at CSULB. His teaching and research focus on logistics, supply chain management, and goods movement policy, as well as transportation workforce development. To learn more about Dr. O’Brien and his work, connect with him on LinkedIn or email him at [email protected].

As September comes to a close, we want to recognize National Suicide Prevention Month. Our founder and host, Yoli Tamu, introduces The C.L.E.A.R. Pathway™ and explores five practices for moving forward: Clarity, Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Action, and Reciprocal Relationships. This episode is a compassionate reminder that clarity is not the absence of background noise, it is the decision to keep listening to your own calling anyway. Whether you are beginning college, reconsidering your career pathway, feeling weighed down by expectations, or preparing for your next opportunity, this episode offers practical reflection and encouragement to help you better understand yourself and your journey. If you or someone you know is in immediate crisis or considering self-harm, call or text 988 or contact your local emergency services.⁠

⁠

Yoli completed her M.Ed. in Cross-Cultural Teaching at National University, and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre at Howard University in Washington, DC. She has fused her thirst for creativity and entrepreneurship with 25 years as a resolute educator/motivator, podcast host, speaker, author, and recording artist. In August 2020, Yoil created The Back to Me Podcast: College and Beyond-a weekly podcast that she also hosts and serves as Executive Producer. In her weekly thirty-minute shows, Yoli seamlessly shares enlightening, engaging, and entertaining conversations that feature monthly themes and a wide array of special guests from different social classes and professions. Her arsenal of talents also includes developing a professional career as a songwriter/singer, live performer, independently publishing a book as an author, and working as a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) coach. To learn more about Yoli and The C.L.E.A.R. Pathway, visit our website at TheBacktoMePodcast.com.

The good news is that there is no replacement for being human. In the final episode of our “AI With Purpose: Student Pathways to What’s Next” series, we are joined by Christine White, Assistant Professor of Practice and the Director of Partnerships and Growth Initiatives at the University of Tennessee's Haslam College of Business. In addition, she serves as the Managing Director of the MS in Marketing program. Through an annually refreshed curriculum and a reverse career fair where students present their own brands to prospective employers, Haslam’s MS in Marketing program helps students build confidence, career-ready skills, and professional relationships in just 10 months. Discover how to strengthen your creative process, use your imagination, and build curiosity by treating AI as a thoughtful partner, not a replacement.⁠

⁠

Ms. White is a Doctoral Candidate in Adult and Continuing Education at University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she also completed her MS in Communication. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology at University of Central Florida. Within the Department of Marketing, she leverages an extensive industry background in marketing and sales to bridge the gap between corporate practice and academia. In the classroom, she explores the cutting edge of digital communication and marketing strategy, with a focused interest in experiential learning and the integration of Artificial Intelligence in a classroom environment. By aligning professional insights with technological evolution, she works to prepare the next generation of marketing leaders to navigate an AI-driven workforce. To learn more about Ms. White and her work, contact her via email at [email protected] or connect with her on LinkedIn.⁠ ⁠

⁠

As headlines raise serious questions about AI safety and human control, this conversation invites students to move beyond fear and consider how they can help shape technology with responsibility, curiosity, and care. In this week’s episode of our “AI With Purpose: Student Pathways to What’s Next” series, we are joined by Will Croushorn, an AI product leader, educator and the force behind Wendy’s FreshAI, a real-world drive-through AI experience that has handled more than 100 million customer interactions. Mr. Croushorn challenges students to see this moment not simply as a threat, but as a possible human renaissance. Discover what it took to move FreshAI from a “what if?” conversation to a large-scale customer experience, and why understanding human complexity and building technology that truly assists people must remain at the center of innovation.

⁠

Mr. Croushorn’s career has taken him from founding an English school in northern Iraq to leading the development and scaling of Wendy’s FreshAI. During his five years in Iraq, he learned Behdini Kurdish and worked closely with the communities he served. He now teaches AI product management through Caltech’s Center for Technology and Management Education and holds an MBA and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Affairs. Across his work in education and technology, he is guided by a simple belief: great technology and meaningful experiences begin with empathy and imagination. To learn more about Mr. Croushorn and his work, connect with him on LinkedIn.

⁠

As we continue our “AI With Purpose: Student Pathways to What’s Next” series, we are joined by Nicholas Beaudoin, Director of AI Programs at Caltech’s Center for Technology and Management Education. He works across industry and education to make artificial intelligence practical and useful for organizations, and he emphasizes that there is no single route into an AI-related career. In this episode, Nicholas explores the expanding range of AI opportunities available to students, including roles in writing, technical documentation, and project management — not only engineering and coding. He encourages students to follow their curiosity, explore passion projects, participate in hackathons, and build community around what excites them most. Whether you pursue an internship, an entry-level role, or another hands-on experience, find out how to stand out as a strong candidate for opportunities with technology companies.

⁠

Nicholas completed his M.I.A. in International Economics at UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy, and he received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. He also serves as AI Program Advisor and Instructor at Caltech's Center for Technology and Management Education, where he designs and leads courses that bring faculty, researchers, and industry practitioners together to teach executives, managers, and engineers how to apply AI strategy and implementation. Alongside this, he has advised Fortune 500 companies and U.S. federal agencies through consulting, with engagements spanning Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia. His background covers hands-on AI/ML engineering, curriculum design, and enterprise strategy, and he has guided organizations from early proof of concept through production deployment. To learn more about Nicholas and his work, connect with him on LinkedIn.

In this opening episode of our “AI With Purpose: Student Pathways to What’s Next” series, we welcome Dr. Stephen Sutton, Vice Chancellor Emeritus for Student Affairs at UC Berkeley. Recorded shortly before his retirement, this timely conversation explores what students need to thrive in an AI-influenced world. With four decades of leadership in student affairs, Dr. Sutton explores students’ understandable concerns about AI, including job uncertainty, unclear academic expectations, and access gaps. Discover why critical thinking, responsible AI use, cultural understanding, and equity matter as technology expands opportunity while also creating new barriers. Don’t miss his encouragement for students to take meaningful steps toward their future.

Dr. Sutton completed his Doctorate of Education in Administration and Supervision from the University of Houston, where his research examined the persistence of students in web-enhanced courses. He also earned both his M.A. in College Student Personnel and a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from The Ohio State University. With extensive expertise in student development, operational management, and institutional transformation, Dr. Sutton previously held various administrative roles in student activities, student-union management, and enrollment services at universities in Florida and Texas prior to stepping in as the Chief Student Affairs Officer at Berkeley. Throughout his career, Dr. Sutton has led student-affairs and enrollment initiatives that strengthen student development, expand access, and advance institutional success through strategic planning, process improvement, and a deep commitment to student well-being. To learn more about Dr. Sutton and his work, connect with him on LinkedIn.

Whether it’s your first year or your last, finding your community on campus is an important part of helping you stay engaged and motivated while you pursue both your academic and professional goals. In this week’s episode, we are joined by Dr. T Gage, Counseling Coordinator for Umoja-UBAKA at Laney College in Oakland, California. Dr. Gage shares how intentional guidance and a “my brother’s keeper” mindset can help students not only enroll in college, but truly thrive there. Find out how she models time management and accountability while helping create a space for students ages 16 to 83—where every student’s lived experience is valued and everyone is treated with dignity.

Dr. Gage completed her Doctorate of Education Leadership and Success at Aspen University, her MA in Education Counseling at San Jose State University, and she received her Bachelor of Arts in Education/Child Development with at Mills College in Oakland, California. As a Bay Area native, her career has been dedicated to education, with more than a decade of experience in counseling. Throughout her professional journey, she has found the greatest fulfillment in helping students recognize their strengths, overcome challenges, and reach their fullest potential. She believes every student has the ability to succeed when they are supported, encouraged, and empowered. To learn more about Dr. Gage and her work, connect with her via email at [email protected]. ⁠

School is back in session and we hope you had a restful summer! Have you mapped out your game plan for the semester yet? If not, get ready to be inspired by two student athletes who are learning the benefits of preparation, discipline and leadership both on and off the court! In this week’s episode, we are joined by Chris Plantey and Laolu Kalejaiye, two Business majors and Basketball Point Guards at Lincoln University in Oakland, California. Find out how friendships, mentorship, and genuine care from their coaches have made their student-athlete experience more meaningful. In addition to keeping up with their studies, these athletes share the value they discovered in mentoring elementary and early middle school students.

Chris Plantey is a Junior Business Administration major at Lincoln University, where he maintains a 4.0 GPA and continues to build a strong academic foundation. His professional experiences as a resident advisor, youth basketball coach, tutor, and consultant have equipped him with valuable skills in leadership, communication, and problem-solving. Each of these roles has allowed him to mentor others, manage responsibilities, and thrive in diverse environments. Having lived and studied in Guadeloupe, France, Spain, and the United States, he brings a global perspective, adaptability, and resilience to every opportunity.

Laolu Kalejaiye is also a Junior Business Administration major at Lincoln University. This Nigerian athlete relates well to his peers and young kids. Known for high productivity and efficient task completion, Laolu is skilled in program development, behavior management, and emergency response, ensuring engaging and safe environments for camp participants. He excels in communication and leadership, while being committed to creating memorable experiences through innovative approaches and team collaboration.

To learn more about Chris and Laolu's mentorship work, connect with them on IG @chris.plty and @1aolu or visit them on LinkedIn.