From dreams of being a TV weather girl to becoming a financial analyst for a major hospitality company, Markell Haslem's career path is a powerful reminder that it's okay to pivot. In this episode, Karl and Trekker sit down with Markell to discuss how a communications major with a self-proclaimed aversion to math found her way into the world of finance. Markell shares her journey of navigating college, changing majors, and the unexpected opportunities that came from her early work experiences. This episode is packed with candid advice about the value of networking, the importance of work-life balance, and why your first job—no matter how "crappy" it seems—can set you up for future success.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Meet the Guest: An introduction to Markell Haslem, a financial analyst at Safari Hospitality, a hotel property management company with around 40 hotels across the western United States.
• From Weather Girl to Financial Analyst: Markell shares her childhood dream of being a meteorologist and how her struggles with math led her to pivot her career aspirations.
• The Power of an Early Start: How a job as a nanny for the Burgess family, who own Safari Hospitality, led to a position at the Hampton Inn in Cedar City and opened the door to a long-term career with the company.
• The College Experience: Markell's candid take on her seven-year journey to a bachelor's degree, why she switched from accounting to communications, and her advice for students who may be more focused on the social aspects of college.
• A Non-Linear Career Path: Markell's journey from a front desk and breakfast attendant at a hotel to an internship in revenue management, a brief and challenging stint as a General Manager during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a move to Denver to work for Fidelity Investments.
• The Value of Licensing and Certifications: How studying for and passing the Series 7 exam to become a licensed equities trader opened up new career opportunities and demonstrated her competency in finance, despite not having a finance degree.
• Work-Life Balance vs. a Big Paycheck: Markell discusses her decision to leave a potentially higher-paying job at Fidelity in Denver to return to Cedar City for a role with more flexibility and the ability to be present for her family.
• Your Major Doesn't Define You: The hosts and Markell discuss how your college major doesn't always determine your career path and that the skills you learn are often more important than the specific degree on your diploma.
• Bigfoot Theories: The episode takes a fun and unexpected turn with a discussion about Bigfoot and interdimensional beings.

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SUU Career Center website

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Southern Utah University

Cedar City, Utah