When You Grow Up Podcast

If you’ve ever clicked that little question mark icon in an application, read an instruction manual, or referenced a how-to guide, you’ve probably seen the work of a Technical Writer. In speaking with Deejay Ramundo, I’m reminded of the book The Giver by Lois Lowry because this role enables longevity and simplicity to complicated and complex processes. But, what happens when we’re not willing to ask questions to really understand?

I love the advice Deejay shared for those who are unsure what area of study to pursue, I think it applies to careers as well:

1. Identify all the majors/jobs that interest you
2. Print the list of required classes/job responsibilities for each, respectively
3. Take a black marker and cross out all the classes/responsibilities that sound terrible
4. Ask yourself, “Which list has the fewest black lines?”

The results may surprise you!

A few references you may be interested in reading more about:

• Amy Novinski, ballet instructor: https://www.amynovinski.com/, https://www.instagram.com/amynovinski/ 
• Lara Cantu-Hertzler, ballet artist: https://www.instagram.com/cantuhertzler/, https://laracantuh.com/home.html
• Knowledge Management: https://www.kmworld.com/About/What_is_Knowledge_Management
• Technical Writing: https://www.instructionalsolutions.com/blog/what-is-technical-writing

Follow along:
whenyougrowup.org
www.instagram.com/whenyougrowup_podcast/

What can folks who are looking to start their own business do to be more prepared to get started? How important is it to network as an artist? Tisha Taylor wants to share her story to encourage others to start their business. She says of participating in an entrepreneurship class, “There’s nothing like getting more organized..and being around other people that are doing the same thing. That’s number one. And 2, figuring out what you’re doing wrong and what you can fix, it’s helpful.” Prior to becoming a full time artist, Tisha had been balancing another full time job and painting “in secret” until she decided it was time to lean into her business. 

I hear so often that recent graduates have a hard time earning the job they want because of limited experience. That didn’t slow down Tisha. She saw the opportunity to earn money as a face painter, and spent time face painting for free until she had the experience to earn a job with an established artist. Applying that to other industries, if you need experience for your ideal job after graduation, pursuing internships and apprenticeships, and volunteering are a great place to start.

 This episode was a lot of fun to record, and I’m so grateful Tisha was willing to join me and share her story. This experience has taught me that opportunity to be inspired is everywhere--it’s in the people you meet on the street and it’s in artwork everywhere. Please thank your small business artists for sharing their talents!

A few references you may be interested in reading more about:

• Taylored Faces & Balloons, https://www.tayloredfacesphilly.com/
• The Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts, https://capa.philasd.org/
• Moore College of Art & Design, https://moore.edu/
• Power Up Your Business, program through Community College of Philadelphia, https://www.ccp.edu/business-and-industry/power-your-business
• Germantown ArtHause, https://gtownarthaus.com/
• Eric Weinstein, Live Balloons Party Entertainment, https://www.liveballoons.com/

Follow along:
whenyougrowup.org
www.instagram.com/whenyougrowup_podcast/

What does it take to transform a forgotten neighborhood park into an asset for the community? How do you figure out what you’re drawn to, and then become a part of that industry? Sara Hirschler is the Marketing & Membership Manager at Fairmount Park Conservancy, a non-profit in Philadelphia. Sara played a significant role in transforming Clemente Park & Playground into a welcoming space where the community wants to gather.

The Fairmount Park Conservancy is an organization I have admired for years. Since Sara started working there in 2013, when there were only 7 employees, the team has more than doubled. They even have a couple new opportunities open. Check them out at https://myphillypark.org/who-we-are/opportunities/!

Something I learned from my conversation with Sara is that commitment to your purpose, or something that draws you in, can lead to incredible experiences. Sara’s story about Clemente Park & Playground, the bootstrapping improvements she led, remind me that what you’re passionate about doesn’t have to be your job. However, if you do it with commitment and you do it well it certainly can be! 

A few references you may be interested in reading more about:

• Fairmount Park Conservancy: https://myphillypark.org/
• 10-mile Broad Street Run training route mapped by Fairmount Park Conservancy in 2020, and the reason I contacted Sara: https://myphillypark.org/we-mapped-a-10-mile-route-through-fairmount-park-for-the-2020-broad-street-run/
• Local parks, Clemente Park & Playground and Liberty Lands
• Landmark self expression and leadership program: https://www.landmarkworldwide.com/
• Isa Does It, by Isa Chandra Moskowitz; that and more at https://www.theppk.com/
• The Oh She Glows Cookbook, by Angela Liddon: https://ohsheglows.com/the-book/

Follow along:
whenyougrowup.org
www.instagram.com/whenyougrowup_podcast/

Why might a brand use videos to capture our attention more so than pictures? How can someone in the spotlight manage to maintain a private life? Have you explored any Korean dramas lately? Sikemi Williams, PMP won a Mid-Atlantic Emmy in 2019 for her work on the CCPTV show Strange College. She’s a talented video producer with over 300 subscribers on YouTube. She is a Senior Project Manager at the non-profit organization Collaborative Solutions for Communities.

Sikemi taught me, in this episode, that amber filters in videos draw the viewer in, you can access a large repository of Korean films at viki.com, and the popular Korean actor Gong Yoo (have you seen the movie Train to Busan?) has a very active fan base but stays off social media himself.

Thank you to Sikemi Williams for joining me for this episode of When You Grow Up Podcast. We faced a couple technical issues along the way and this was by far the hardest episode to edit on my podcasting journey because of a number of recording drops. I have really appreciated Sikemi’s guidance during my experience on the PMI-DVC Marketing & Communications Committee, led by Frank Anbari. 

A few references you may be interested in reading more about:

• Shechemee YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/OluwasikemiWilliams
• Strange College, CCPTV series: https://www.strangecollege.net/
• Collaborative Solutions for Communities: https://www.wearecsc.org/
• Issa Rae; producer, writer, director: https://www.issarae.com/
• Viki.com, free resource for watching Korean films
• Gong Yoo, popular Korean actor, fan Twitter account: https://twitter.com/Gong_Yoo_JP

Follow along:
whenyougrowup.org
www.instagram.com/whenyougrowup_podcast/

#wygupodcast #podcast #career #family #personalgrowth #professionalgrowth #mentor #rolemodel #Koreanfilm #movies

Summary: Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work at a startup? Did you know that 1 in 8 women struggle with infertility, and 1 in 4 have a miscarriage? What can you learn working in the service industry that you probably won’t learn in school? Amanda Bukoski, Director of Operations at Dental Nachos, my friend and neighbor, discuss each of these.

I admire Amanda for sharing her story about struggling with infertility. Fortunately, when we recorded this episode, Amanda and her husband were well on their way to becoming parents. A couple weeks after this recording, they welcomed their beautiful, healthy baby to the world! Many congratulations to them!

Prior to being offered her full time gig at the startup Dental Nachos, Amanda worked as a nanny and was taking on more and more responsibility at the company. She has a natural aptitude for “making”, whether that be making sourdough or making systems work efficiently. I appreciate this transition story, and hope it inspires others to make the industry jump they’re looking to make, in whatever direction that is. 

Something in particular that stood out to me in this episode was our conversation about education, and the life skills young people with access to higher education can gain outside the classroom.

A few references you may be interested in reading more about:

• Fertility resources and advocacy, resolve.org
• Tartine Bread, by Chad Robertson & Eric Wolfinger, sourdough bread baking book
• Dental Nachos, Dentists Helping Dentists, ​​https://dentalnachos.com/

Follow along:
whenyougrowup.org
www.instagram.com/whenyougrowup_podcast/

#wygupodcast #podcast #career #family #infertility #personalgrowth #startup #education #mentors #professionalgrowth

Summary: What would you like to do when you retire? Mark McClure retired last year from a career in IT, most recently as a solution consultant. In this episode, Mark shares his intentions for retirement, what it was like to travel solo at 23, and what he’s learned from digitizing thousands of his late mother’s photos.

What would you like to do when you retire? Mark McClure retired last year from a career in technology, most recently as a solution consultant. In this episode he shares how he’d now like to spend his time. We also talk about how Mark balances his data privacy concerns with his digital presence on Flickr, where he’s shared hundreds of his photos from his life, through the decades. 

I admire Mark for his patient storytelling, and for what he’s looking to learn more about during retirement--you’ll have to listen to the episode to know more! Something that stood out to me personally was Mark’s commitment to using active transportation the last few years. I, too, am a public infrastructure geek, and try to walk, cycle, or run where I’m headed as often as I can. 

A few references you may be interested in reading more about:

• Mark McClure’s bio: https://pnwphotowalks.com/about-mark-mcclure
• Mark McClure’s photos on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/memcclure 
• Walkable City by Jeff Speck, book
• Active Transportation, https://www.transportation.gov/mission/health/active-transportation
• Flickr, online photo community, https://www.flickr.com/

Follow along:
whenyougrowup.org
www.instagram.com/whenyougrowup_podcast/

#wygupodcast #podcast #career #family #retirement #personalgrowth #photography #activetransportation #professionalgrowth #mentor #rolemodel

Rob Madden, Chief Creative Officer at Coinflip Marketing, says he’s still learning. In this episode, Rob reflects on becoming a father at a young age, losing friends and colleagues during the terrorist attacks on 9/11, and his personal growth in pursuit of his many passions.

Rob Madden is the Chief Creative Officer at Coinflip Marketing, and pursues all of his passions without bias. He attended the United States Naval Academy and started his career in financial services right out of school. At 6’ 5”, Rob’s physical presence is matched by his personality and love for learning.  

I admire Rob for his willingness to tell his story with gratitude and endurance for the challenges he’s faced. Something that stood out to me personally are the words he shared from the book The Four Agreements, which are “Be impeccable with your word, never take anything personally, never make assumptions, and always do your best”. These are simple to remember and hopefully simple to live by. 

A few references you may be interested in reading more about:

• Coinflip Marketing, https://www.coinflipmarketing.com/
• The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday, book
• The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) by Don Miguel Ruiz, book
• The Travis Manion Foundation, https://www.travismanion.org/
• Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor, https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/marcus-aurelius

Follow along:
whenyougrowup.org
www.instagram.com/whenyougrowup_podcast/

#wygupodcast #podcast #stoicism #financialservices #career #family #reinventyourself #personalgrowth #professionalgrowth #mentor #rolemodel

What’s your plan? Niki Weiss serves up a dose of guidance about how to plan 2-5 years ahead, a story about reinventing yourself, and why you should always be learning.

Niki Weiss, PMP, SSM is Director and VP of Education on the Board of PMI-DVC, and a Senior Project Manager at Cigna Global. Among other roles prior to becoming a project manager, Niki was a massage therapist, in what she calls the healing arts. The breadth and depth of her experiences continues to expand as she pursues a Master of Legal Studies at Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law. 

I admire Niki for her perspective on continuously learning. She says that if your company is willing to reimburse for continuing education credits, “if you’re not taking advantage of that...it’s money being wasted.” 

A few references you may be interested in reading more about:

• Dr. Ruth Westheimer
• Decision Trees, standard decision-support tool
• Westminster Kennel Club dog show, https://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/
• PMI-DVC, https://pmi-dvc.org/
• Khan Academy, free online courses, https://www.khanacademy.org/
• Udemy, online courses, https://www.udemy.com/
• LinkedIn Learning, https://learning.linkedin.com/
• Iditarod, dog sled race, https://iditarod.com/

Follow along:
whenyougrowup.org
www.instagram.com/whenyougrowup_podcast/

#wygupodcast #podcast #continuingeducation #goalsetting #reinventyourself #professionalgrowth #personalgrowth #rolemodel #mentor #career

Summary: For Kevin Bloom, family is of the utmost importance. Kevin and I discussed the values his parents taught him and his siblings, ones he’ll teach his soon-to-arrive daughter. We talked about the opportunities he’s had in financial services and how his skillset is growing in that industry today.

Kevin is a Senior Internal Advisory Business Consultant & Team Lead at Cetera Financial Group. He graduated from University of Arizona with a BA in History & Political Science. When he was young, he wanted to be a basketball player or coach. That evolved into aspirations to work with baseball teams as he grew older. When that dream did come to fruition, Kevin realized it wasn’t ultimately a great fit for the lifestyle he hoped to have. Instead, he pivoted to pursue a career in financial services, and has found success at Cetera. 

I admire Kevin for having pursued his ambitious goal of working for a baseball team, and being willing to make a significant career change when he realized it did not match well with his values. What Kevin said about supporting family, and sharing in one another’s success without being jealous really resonated with me. 

A few references you may be interested in reading more about:

• Tae Bo and Billy Blanks, https://www.taebonation.com/
• Cetera Financial Group, https://www.cetera.com/

Follow along:
whenyougrowup.org
www.instagram.com/whenyougrowup_podcast/

#wygupodcast #podcast #career #personalgrowth #professionalgrowth #mentor #rolemodel #financialservices

Summary: Morgan Martin, CEO of CoApt Projects and Director of Operational Excellence at SCORE Mentors, and I discuss what it’s been like for her to build a business. She provides guidance on what to do if you’re looking to switch industries in your career, and how to prepare to start your own business, or spend time freelancing. 

I continue to hear about the importance of patience on my professional journey. Morgan really put it into perspective when she mentioned building a “portfolio” of experiences we can draw from. Some folks choose to specialize early, and others will try jobs and industries that appear to be very different. Both can be equally fulfilling journeys on the road to growing up. 

I admire Morgan for her drive to be a connecter of people. Morgan reached out to me on LinkedIn after a PMI-DVC event and I’m so grateful she did. She creates opportunities for others via her business (which matches businesses in need to skilled project managers), through her work at SCORE Mentors (which matches small business owners to one of over 10,000 mentors with business expertise) and by participating in groups like Ellevate.

A few references you may be interested in reading more about:

• CoApt Projects, Morgan Martin’s company, https://coaptprojects.com/
• SCORE Mentors, non-profit organization, https://www.score.org/
• Freelancing Females, https://www.freelancingfemales.com/
• Project Management Institute - Delaware Valley Chapter, professional organization chapter, https://pmi-dvc.org/
• Upwork, freelancing site, https://www.upwork.com/
• Ellevate, women’s networking group, https://www.ellevatenetwork.com/
• Nik & the Nice Guys, band, https://www.nikentertainment.com/bands/Nik-and-the-Nice-Guys/
• Reinventing Work, community, https://www.reinventing.work/

Follow along:
whenyougrowup.org
www.instagram.com/whenyougrowup_podcast/ 

#wygupodcast #podcast #career #personalgrowth #professionalgrowth #mentor #rolemodel #professionaldevelopment #pmp #education #settinggoals #volunteering #bootstrapping #networking #freelancing #freelance #entrepreneur #solopreneur #womeninbusiness #reinventyourself #projectmanagement #recruiting #jobsearch