The Power of Owning Your Career Podcast

This week, host Simone E. Morris shares her journey to help you take control of your career. She explores the transformative power of being in the "driver's seat" and shows how taking ownership—rather than remaining passive—can dramatically change your professional trajectory.

Based on Season 14's experiences, Simone candidly discusses her early struggles, pivotal career moments, and lessons learned. She tackles common challenges like impostor syndrome and career setbacks while sharing the strategic decisions that shaped her entrepreneurial path. Simone also directly addresses listener questions, offering personalized advice to help you navigate your own career hurdles.

Whether you're contemplating a career pivot, battling self-doubt, or seeking inspiration to pursue your dreams, this episode delivers practical insights and motivation. Please tune in to discover what it truly means to own your career and how to unlock your inner power to create the professional path you desire.

Join Simone as she champions your journey toward career success.

Episode Timestamp:

00:00 "Taking Charge of Your Career"

05:19 Embrace Continuous Learning Independently

09:43 "AI Interviews Host for Q&A"

10:57 Leaving Corporate America: A Tough Choice

16:53 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome with Reflection

19:19 Reframing Failure in Leadership

23:18 "Navigating Inclusion and Career Advice"

25:03 Rethinking a Wasted Degree

28:03 "Join the Career Talk"

Connect with the show's host, Simone E. Morris, at https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonemorris/.

To apply to be a guest on the show, visit

bit.ly/pooycshowguest

✴️ Get More Support for Your Career:

🟢 Get Simone's Book, The Power of Owning Your Career (https://bit.ly/3xlYyl6)

🟢 Get Simone's Book, 52 Tips for Owning Your Career (https://bit.ly/43JTV03)

🟢 Get Simone's Book, Achievement Unlocked: Strategies to Set Goals and Manifest Them (https://bit.ly/3TD8rlD)

🟢 Book a complimentary coaching exploration call with Simone at https://www.careerbreakthroughcall.com

Ready to revolutionize your career strategy? This week's "The Power of Owning Your Career" features Hector Pachas, a headshot photographer who's more than just a visual storyteller – he's a career catalyst! Dive into his inspiring pandemic-driven pivot, learning how he leveraged his IT background to redefine personal branding through powerful, personality-driven photos and expert facial expression coaching. But that's not all! We're also unlocking resources and strategies for career advancement, exploring the crucial role of mentorship, and emphasizing lifelong learning in a rapidly evolving world. Hector shares his insights on navigating AI and tech advancements and mastering LinkedIn for professional growth, including how it's evolved as a networking and branding tool. Plus, we tackled overcoming the fear of self-promotion on LinkedIn and compared it to other social media platforms. And, of course, we get a glimpse into Hector's life beyond the lens, from his passion for cooking to winemaking. Get ready to transform your career trajectory and visually command your professional story!

A Time Stamp of The Show:

00:00 From Corporate IT to Camera

04:36 Personal Branding Evolution Work

07:49 Zoom's Enhanced Photo Features

11:05 Evolving Identity and Growth

15:41 "Mentorship: Navigating Online Overload"

19:35 Tailoring Content to Platform Audience

20:59 Balancing Professional and Personal Branding

24:46 "Embracing Authenticity and Public Speaking"

Connect with our guest, Hector Pachas, at:

https://hectorpachas.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hectorpachas/.

Connect with the show's host, Simone E. Morris, at https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonemorris/.

To apply to be a guest on the show, visit

bit.ly/pooycshowguest

✴️ Get More Support for Your Career:

🟢 Get Simone's Book, The Power of Owning Your Career (https://bit.ly/3xlYyl6)

🟢 Get Simone's Book, 52 Tips for Owning Your Career (https://bit.ly/43JTV03)

🟢 Get Simone's Book, Achievement Unlocked: Strategies to Set Goals and Manifest Them (https://bit.ly/3TD8rlD)

🟢 Book a complimentary coaching exploration call with Simone at https://www.careerbreakthroughcall.com

Welcome to this week's inspiring episode of The Power of Owning Your Career podcast. Today, we're thrilled to welcome Matt Stephenson, the CEO and co-founder of Code to College. Based in Austin, Texas, Code to College is making a powerful impact by creating a national network of diverse college-going technical talent. Their mission? To empower high school students, primarily Black, Brown, and girls, by developing vital coding and professional skills through a skills-based, volunteer-driven program. These students gain invaluable exposure to STEM industries through case competitions, workshops, and mentorships.

Matt shares his journey in our conversation, from discovering coding in college to founding Code to College. He discusses the pivotal moments and influences that shaped his career path, emphasizing the importance of education, community, and the power of saying "yes" to opportunities.

Tune in as Matt reveals his insightful perspectives on owning your career, the transformative power of building a supportive network, and his vision for expanding this impactful initiative. Whether you are in an exploratory phase of your career or simply seeking inspiration, this episode is packed with valuable life lessons and encouragement to help you take charge of your professional journey.

A Time Stamp of The Show:

00:00 "How Tech Skills Transformed My Life"

05:16 Immigrant Family's Pursuit of Opportunity

07:36 "Unexpected Journey to Fulfillment"

12:50 Teaching: The Toughest Job of All

15:39 Travel, Plan, and Stay Open

19:56 "Books, Podcasts, and Networking"

20:56 Build and Value Your Network

24:15 "Importance of Following Up"

27:32 Career Empowerment with Matt Stephenson

Resources shared by Matt:

• Books:
  • Thinking Strategically
  • Give and Take

Connect with our guest, Matt Stephenson, at

https://code2college.org

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewcstephenson/

Connect with the show's host, Simone E. Morris, at https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonemorris/.

To apply to be a guest on the show, visit

bit.ly/pooycshowguest

✴️ Get More Support for Your Career:

🟢 Get Simone's Book, The Power of Owning Your Career (https://bit.ly/3xlYyl6)

🟢 Get Simone's Book, 52 Tips for Owning Your Career (https://bit.ly/43JTV03)

🟢 Get Simone's Book, Achievement Unlocked: Strategies to Set Goals and Manifest Them (https://bit.ly/3TD8rlD)

🟢 Book a complimentary coaching exploration call with Simone at https://www.careerbreakthroughcall.com

Welcome to this week's exciting episode of The Power of Owning Your Career Podcast! I'm thrilled to bring you a dynamic and insightful conversation with Kira Deneen, a seasoned genetics counselor and the brilliant mind behind the popular DNA Today podcast. And here's a special treat – this was a live recording! Head over to our YouTube Channel to watch the full episode.

We're diving deep into Kira's fascinating career journey, exploring how her early passion for podcasting, sparked back in 2012, has seamlessly intertwined with her work in genetics. Listen as she shares her experiences on the profound impact of networking, overcoming career jitters, and the crucial role of consistent hard work. Kira also unpacks the unique insights she's gained from bridging her podcasting and scientific worlds, offering invaluable takeaways for anyone eager to accelerate their career.

Whether you're curious about genetics counseling or simply seeking inspiration to own your career journey, this conversation is sure to leave you motivated and ready to take the reins of your professional life. Join us for an exhilarating and informative episode!

Connect with our guest, Kira Dineen, at

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiradineen/

Connect with the show's host, Simone E. Morris, at https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonemorris/.

To apply to be a guest on the show, visit

bit.ly/pooycshowguest.

✴️ Get More Support for Your Career:

🟢 Get Simone's Book, The Power of Owning Your Career (https://bit.ly/3xlYyl6)

🟢 Get Simone's Book, 52 Tips for Owning Your Career (https://bit.ly/43JTV03)

🟢 Get Simone's Book, Achievement Unlocked: Strategies to Set Goals and Manifest Them (https://bit.ly/3TD8rlD)

🟢 Book a complimentary coaching exploration call with Simone at https://www.careerbreakthroughcall.com

Welcome back to the Power of Owning Your Career Podcast! Simone Morris is joined by Dan Castle, a 30-year career veteran with a story you won't want to miss. From astronaut dreams to tech leadership, Dan's journey is a masterclass in embracing change and leveraging your strengths. He'll share his invaluable insights on career strategy, networking, and standing firm on your values. Get ready for a candid conversation on integrity, disruption, and taking control of your professional path.

Dan's Bio:

Dan has formal training in psychology, philosophy, information systems management, design thinking, and organizational dynamics. Dan has facilitated workshops and spoken at several organizations, worked as a TA in the graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania, facilitated workshops at Penn State University, and is currently an adjunct professor at Drexel University. In addition, Dan is enrolled in the Doctoral program at Fielding Graduate University in Organizational Change and Development. Dan is both a published author (2022) and TEDx speaker (2023) and believes wholeheartedly in sharing his life experiences and stories with the world.

Since the recording of this episode, Dan has taken on a new role at Oligo Security.

A Time Stamp Of The Episode:

00:00 Customer Success and Organizational Dynamics

05:18 "Interview Preparation Beyond Algorithms"

09:42 Networking: Key to Opportunity

13:33 Respect: Earned, Not Demanded

14:18 "Respect is Earned, Not Given"

20:34 Commitment and Contribution Over Paycheck

23:52 "Breaking Vicious Cycles"

26:45 Finding Personal Empowerment Through Education

28:27 Podcast Guest Dan Castle

Resources shared by Dan:

• AI References:
  • Ethan Mollick's LinkedIn
  • Jeremy Utley's LinkedIn
• Books:
  • Think Again by Adam Grant
  • Dan Castle's Book

Connect with our guest, Dan Castle, at https://www.linkedin.com/in/castledano/.

Connect with the show's host, Simone E. Morris, at https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonemorris/.

To apply to be a guest on the show, visit bit.ly/pooycshowguest.

✴️ Get More Support for Your Career:

🟢 Get Simone's Book, The Power of Owning Your Career (https://bit.ly/3xlYyl6) 🟢 Get Simone's Book, 52 Tips for Owning Your Career (https://bit.ly/43JTV03) 🟢 Get Simone's Book, Achievement Unlocked: Strategies to Set Goals and Manifest Them (https://bit.ly/3TD8rlD)

🟢 Book a complimentary coaching exploration call with Simone at https://www.careerbreakthroughcall.com

Kick off Season 14 of The Power of Owning Your Career with Simone Morris! This premiere is packed with real-life lessons from Simone's work with the Alzheimer's Association, plus a deep dive into the evolving DEI landscape. Get ready for actionable career tips, including how to use Google Alerts to stay ahead in your industry. We're also tackling AI's impact on professional development and sharing inspiring leadership stories. Your Monday motivation is here!

In this episode, Amanda Butlett, a seasoned professional celebrating over 20 years in cybersecurity, shares her incredible journey with us. From overcoming personal challenges like dyslexia to navigating career transitions, Amanda's story is one of resilience and inspiration. Listen as she discusses her pivotal moments, the importance of networking, and how she found her true calling in the tech space. Amanda also dives deep into the art of owning your career, stepping back to step forward, and the life-changing power of mentorship and sponsorship.

↪️Leave a review https://ratethispodcast.com/driverseat

✨ Become the Most Successful You! https://www.careerbreakthroughcall.com

🎤 Looking for a Speaker, Facilitator, Moderator, and Panelist? Visit http://www.simonemorris.com for more info!

📲 Follow Simone Morris on Social Media:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonemorrisenterprises

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonemorris

Host, Simone Morris, had the pleasure of chatting with Brandice Daniel, the incredible founder of Harlem's Fashion Row. Brandice shared her journey of relentless determination and how decision-making empowered her to transform setbacks into a platform for Black designers. We talked about the importance of a support system, finding purpose beyond oneself, and the vibrant, inspiring culture of Harlem. Her story is a testament to persistence and following your true passion.

↪️Leave a review https://ratethispodcast.com/driverseat

✨ Become the Most Successful You! https://www.careerbreakthroughcall.com

🎤 Looking for a Speaker, Facilitator, Moderator, and Panelist? Visit http://www.simonemorris.com for more info!

📲 Follow Simone Morris on Social Media:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonemorrisenterprises

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonemorris

Join Simone Morris, host of the Power of Owning Your Career podcast, as she discusses redesigning your career on your own terms. She talks about the importance of giving yourself permission, the necessity of having a clear vision, and the steps to transform that vision into an actionable plan. Whether you're contemplating a career shift or enhancing your current path, Simone has actionable strategies and insights to keep you in the driver's seat. Tune into this empowering episode and start owning your career today.

↪️Leave a review https://ratethispodcast.com/driverseat

✨ Become the Most Successful You! https://www.careerbreakthroughcall.com

🎤 Looking for a Speaker, Facilitator, Moderator, and Panelist? Visit http://www.simonemorris.com for more info!

📲 Follow Simone Morris on Social Media:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonemorrisenterprises

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonemorris

This week, Simone is re-releasing her episode from Season 9 with Fran Pastore, CEO & Founder of the Women's Business Development Council as her guest on the podcast. Fran's story is so inspirational and she shares things you can do today to get into the driver's seat with your career - so be sure to have a pencil and paper nearby to take notes!

You can reach Fran by visiting CTWBDC.org.

Inspirational books mentioned in the episode: Know Your Value by Mika Brzezinski, Lead To Win by Carla A. Harris, and The Book of Gutsy Women by Chelsea and Hillary Clinton.

↪️Leave a review https://ratethispodcast.com/driverseat

✨ Become the Most Successful You! https://www.careerbreakthroughcall.com

🎤 Looking for a Speaker, Facilitator, Moderator, and Panelist? Visit http://www.simonemorris.com for more info!

📲 Follow Simone Morris on Social Media:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonemorrisenterprises

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonemorris