Women Just Like You, with Audrey Utchen

Theoni Rapo joins us on the season 1 finale of "Women Just Like You", a podcast full of career advice for women in the middle of their careers directly from women in the middle of theirs.  Theoni’s career as a loan officer starting as a social media internship at a bank freshman year of college and she never went back, combining both interests to build her brand as Not Your Daddy’s Lender and disrupt the mortgage industry, get speaking gigs, and set-up multiple businesses to get to BILLIONAIRE status one day. 

She’s now using TikTok and Instagram to generate leads for her mortgage business and has created an entire backend system to support going viral on her page @TheoniTheLender, which will be super helpful as her second child is due this summer and she’ll need to take some time off as her family grows.  Theoni also gets real with us about being a working mom, including the honest truth about maternity leave in her world and how hard it is to set boundaries while trying to grow her mortgage business. She shares her motivation with us and it’s a super inspiring discussion making me want to do what she’s doing after listening to this!  But more importantly, this interview will leave you thinking “If she can do it, so can I” which is the WHOLE point of this show. 

Our conversation is full of:

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Childhood Dreams

06:47 Career Journey and Starting in Mortgages

09:15 Role as a Mortgage Banker and Loan Officer

12:06 Benefits and Flexibility of the Job

13:19 Tips for Becoming a Loan Officer

23:05 Opportunities from Social Media Presence

28:02 Advice for Women Getting Active on Social Media

31:07 Diversifying Platforms

32:20 Starting with One Platform

33:16 Differentiating Platforms

34:38 Navigating News and Changes

35:57 Transparency in Real Estate Commissions

37:33 Lead Generation on TikTok

38:37 Adapting and Pivoting in Real Estate

39:56 Balancing Work and Motherhood

40:55 Preparing for the Next Phase

45:13 Aspirational Goals

46:30 Asking for Help

49:39 Motivation and Inspiration

55:31 Future Career and Goals

59:32 Favorite Inspirational Quote

The things we chat about!

Audrey’s photoshoot with Christina Gavin Photography (SF Bay Area) @christinagavinphotography 

Theoni’s photoshoot with Lena Nikolaj (New Jersey / New York, but travels!) @lenanikolaj 

We Croak app: https://www.wecroak.com/

You can connect with Theoni at: 

@theonithelender on Instagram and TikTok 

[email protected]

notyourdaddyslender.com/links

linkedin.com/in/theonirapo/

You can find Audrey at:

⁠www.audreyutchen.com⁠

⁠linkedin.com/in/audreyutchen⁠

@audreythecareerwoman on Instagram and YouTube 

Join the distribution list to get behind-the-scenes content about the making each episode, along with monthly career development recommendations:  ⁠https://shorturl.at/begnv⁠

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"Women Just Like You" is a career advice podcast for women in the middle of their careers directly from women in the middle of theirs. Join Audrey on Wednesdays to hear from women just like you: not a new professional but not at the top of the ladder just yet, and learn what they are up to at this exact stage of their career journey. 

Theme music is “Dance of the Violins” by F-777, usable under Creative Commons.

Katherine Bell, a data analyst at Asana, joins us this week on “Women Just Like You”, a podcast full of career advice for women in the middle of their careers directly from women in the middle of theirs. Katherine’s journey from wanting to be an astronaut as a kid to a pivotal player in data analytics shows the impact continuous learning and transformation can have on your career journey. She dives into her switch from urban planning to data analysis, emphasizing the importance of embracing new challenges -- like branching out as a consultant -- and the instrumental role of feedback in career growth.

Katherine and I met through a career development program that pairs women at our company Asana with other women in the middle of their careers to support each other in achieving great things. Katherine shares her immediate goal of upleveling into a data scientist and her broader aspirations that just might include a graduate degree one day!

Our conversation is full of:

Chapters

00:00 Childhood Dream of Becoming an Astronaut

01:42 Transition from Urban Planning to Data Science

02:31 Transition from Urban Planning to Data Analysis

06:23 Career Path and Transition to Data Science

11:42 Challenges and Learning Experiences

12:47 Decision to Attend a Data Science Bootcamp

21:42 The Role of Data Science in Urban Planning

22:10 Navigating a Temporary Lateral Move

25:18 Unofficial Internship as a Data Scientist

31:42 Advice for Women in the Middle of Their Careers

33:15 Leveraging Feedback and Peer Input

38:24 Short-Term and Long-Term Career Goals

41:42 Closing Remarks and Takeaways

You can connect with Katherine at: 

www.linkedin.com/in/kathmbell/

You can find Audrey at:

⁠www.audreyutchen.com⁠

www.⁠linkedin.com/in/audreyutchen⁠

@audreythecareerwoman on Instagram and YouTube 

Join the distribution list to get behind-the-scenes content about the making each episode, along with monthly career development recommendations: 

⁠https://shorturl.at/begnv⁠

----------

"Women Just Like You" is a career advice podcast for women in the middle of their careers directly from women in the middle of theirs. Join Audrey on Wednesdays to hear from women just like you: not a new professional but not at the top of the ladder just yet, and learn what they are up to at this exact stage of their career journey. 

Theme music is “Dance of the Violins” by F-777, usable under Creative Commons.

Deanne Bhamgara, a Revenue Operations and Salesforce CPQ systems expert, is this week’s episode on Women Just Like You, a career advice podcast for women in the middle of their careers directly from women in the middle of theirs.  Deanne grew up in Nigeria, started her career in marketing in India, and later transitioned to revenue operations in California where she became a liaison between users and technology. She emphasizes the importance of community and learning from others, as well as taking leaps of faith and pursuing additional qualifications or testing out different job structures (think leaving a full-time role for a contract job). She encourages women to pursue a career in RevOps and offers tips for getting started, such as joining a bootcamp and finding a supportive community. Deanne also highlights how women are the perfect type of people to work in RevOps because of our natural communication and collaboration skills!  

Listen to our conversation, which shares how Deanne’s childhood dream of becoming a pilot turned into her role in technology today!

Our conversation is full of:

Chapters

00:00 Childhood Dreams and Global Perspectives

09:45 Career Journey and Marketing Experience

11:57 Transition to Revenue Operations

20:04 Bridging the Gap Between Marketing and IT

25:15 Pursuing Additional Qualifications

28:50 The Power of Certification and Community

30:30 Different Job Structures: Full-Time, Contract, and Apprenticeship

32:44 Responsibilities and Career Development in Full-Time Roles

34:04 Building Community and Networking Opportunities

36:19 Women in the Rev Ops World

40:30 Tips for Pursuing a Career in Rev Ops

43:02 Career Paths After the Bootcamp

46:16 Career Outlook and Learning Opportunities

50:01 Advocating for Yourself in the Workplace

53:42 Every Day as a Personal Practice for Self-Betterment

You can connect with Deanne at: 

www.linkedin.com/in/deannebhamgara/

You can find Audrey at:

⁠www.audreyutchen.com⁠

www.⁠linkedin.com/in/audreyutchen⁠

@audreythecareerwoman on Instagram and YouTube 

Join the distribution list to get behind-the-scenes content about the making each episode, along with monthly career development recommendations: 

⁠https://shorturl.at/begnv⁠

----------

"Women Just Like You" is a career advice podcast for women in the middle of their careers directly from women in the middle of theirs. Join Audrey on Wednesdays to hear from women just like you: not a new professional but not at the top of the ladder just yet, and learn what they are up to at this exact stage of their career journey. 

Theme music is “Dance of the Violins” by F-777, usable under Creative Commons.

On the fifth episode of “Women Just Like You”, we are joined by Ashley Madrigal!  Ashley is a first generation latina who was hired as a recruiting coordinator on the spot after college, and has spent every year since trying out different parts of the Human Resources world until she was laid off several months ago during a tech layoff.  

Ashley has faced challenges and had to advocate for herself throughout her career and emphasizes the importance of asking questions, networking, and being resourceful in career development. Her involvement in employee resource groups (ERGs) has had a significant impact on her career progression, allowing her to advocate for fair compensation and secure a title change as well as given her opportunities outside of her day job. 

Audrey and Ashley spend a good amount of the conversation chatting about how Ashley has navigated her layoff, what she’s looking for in her next role, and how she’s practicing mindfulness every day.

Our conversation is full of:

Being a latina in tech

You can find more information about Don Miguel Ruiz’s four agreements that Ashley talked about at www.miguelruiz.com/the-four-agreements

Chapters:

0:00 Childhood Dreams and Career Beginnings

04:37 Navigating High School as a First-Generation Latina

09:58 Career Journey and Learning to Say No

13:50 Looking for the First Job as a First-Generation College Student

15:44 Pivoting Within a Company and Advocating for Yourself

21:30 Navigating Layoffs and Reflecting on Career

24:42 Importance of ERGs and Company Culture

32:04 Approaching Time Between Jobs and Navigating Layoffs

34:51 Taking Time to Re-Energize

35:37 Factors to Consider in a New Job

36:57 Importance of Manager Connection

37:32  Setting Expectations with Managers

38:42 Asking Questions and Evaluating Job Opportunities

40:35 Inclusivity, Growth, and Employee Benefits

41:26 Trusting the Journey and Embracing Rejection

42:44 The Importance of Mindfulness and Nervous System Regulation

43:46 The Experience of Being a Latina in Tech

47:00 Career Aspirations in HR and Personal Branding

48:15 Advice for Women in the Middle of Their Careers

51:03 Inspirational Quotes and Sayings

You can connect with Ashley at: 

@flowithashley on Instagram and TikTok 

@ashleyy_madrigal on Instagram

www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-madrigal-778337113/

You can find Audrey at:

⁠www.audreyutchen.com⁠

⁠linkedin.com/in/audreyutchen⁠

@audreythecareerwoman on Instagram and YouTube 

Join the distribution list to get behind-the-scenes content about the making each episode, along with monthly career development recommendations: 

⁠https://shorturl.at/begnv⁠

----------

"Women Just Like You" is a career advice podcast for women in the middle of their careers directly from women in the middle of theirs. Join Audrey on Wednesdays to hear from women just like you: not a new professional but maybe not a VP just yet, and learn what they are up to at this exact stage of their careers. 

Theme music is “Dance of the Violins” by F-777, usable under Creative Commons.

On the fourth episode of “Women Just Like You”, we are joined by a woman climbing the ranks of hospitality sales, who happens to be one of my best friends! Round of applause for Jennie Kaplan Woodson, a saleswoman thriving in the San Francisco hospitality industry.  She can sell you room blocks, event space, and even sell the wine to pair with your food for your trip to the CIty By The Bay.  

Jennie has spent the last 9 years working her way up the food chain in hospitality sales and taking ownership in her career growth.  She juggled restaurant, catering, and event jobs down in San Diego before moving to Sonoma to sell the Hyatt from initial inquiry to closing the final tab at a hotel that was central to wine country tourism. Then she moved to San Francisco to sell her DREAM property, the Hyatt Regency on Embarcadero, before the pandemic took it all away 4 weeks later.  She didn’t panic and instead used the covid layoff to learn more about wine, and is now combining her love for both industries into a fruitful career marrying Hyatt hotel sales during the week with wine sales in Sausalito on the weekend.  Listen to our fun conversation between two besties chatting about hustling in their jobs and even how a good set of nails can define your day! 

Our conversation is full of:

Chapters:

00:00 Childhood Dreams and Career Beginnings

09:13 Career Path in Hospitality Sales

20:08 Navigating Layoffs and Job Changes

24:29 Exploring the Wine Industry

26:17 Exploring Wine Certifications

27:21 Advice for People Facing Layoffs

28:08 Doing Something Exciting

29:17 Taking a Pause and Reflecting

30:31 Choosing Between Wine and Corporate Sales

33:01 Advocating for Yourself

34:03 Empowerment through Advocacy

36:20 Negotiating for a Promotion

39:59 The Impact of Hospitality Sales

42:44 Career Aspirations in Global Sales

45:22 Continual Growth in the Middle of Your Career

47:12 Being a Boss Lady

You can connect with Jennie at: 

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

You can find Audrey at:

⁠www.audreyutchen.com⁠

⁠linkedin.com/in/audreyutchen⁠

@audreythecareerwoman on Instagram and YouTube 

Join the distribution list to get behind-the-scenes content about the making each episode, along with monthly career development recommendations: 

⁠https://shorturl.at/begnv⁠

----------

"Women Just Like You" is a career advice podcast for women in the middle of their careers from women in the middle of theirs. Join Audrey on Wednesdays to hear from women just like you: not a new professional but maybe not a VP just yet, and learn what they are up to at this exact stage of their careers. 

Theme music is “Dance of the Violins” by F-777, usable under Creative Commons.

On the third episode of “Women Just Like You”, we are joined by an award-winning community organizer and HR program manager: the incredible Tina Cheung! 

Tina is a first generation Chinese American and was the first in her family to go to college.  She started her career in community organizing within San Francisco’s Chinatown and after several years, she connected the dots between community, technology, and diversity, equity, and inclusion work to become a global talent program manager at Visa today.  Alongside Tina’s 15 years of professional work, she is also heavily involved with volunteer groups in and out of the workplace, and sits on the board of several non-profits. What an honor that Tina agreed to be on the show!  

Our conversation is full of:

You can connect with Tina at: 

www.linkedin.com/in/tinaccheung

You can find Audrey at:

⁠www.audreyutchen.com⁠

⁠linkedin.com/in/audreyutchen⁠

@audreythecareerwoman on Instagram and YouTube 

Join the distribution list to get behind-the-scenes content about the making each episode, along with monthly career development recommendations: 

⁠https://shorturl.at/begnv⁠

----------

"Women Just Like You" is a career advice podcast for women in the middle of their careers from women in the middle of theirs. Join Audrey on Wednesdays to hear from women just like you: not a new professional but maybe not a VP just yet, and learn what they are up to at this exact stage of their careers. 

Theme music is “Dance of the Violins” by F-777, usable under Creative Commons.

Join Audrey on this week’s episode of “Women Just Like You”, where she talks with Kimberly Brown! A little bit about Kim:

Kim is a former teacher and principal, whose career started off in a teaching fellowship program in Washington DC.  She spent 12 years teaching students and managing schools across the country before deciding to leave the field during the pandemic.  Kim and Audrey were paired together through a Phi Beta Kappa mentorship program at that time (so you know she’s a smart cookie) and was sure to leave education with a plan.  She was strategic about her decision to transition out of teaching and proactively sought out help by getting involved in mentorship programs and professional groups.   And now, she successfully transitioned into legal operations first at Meta and now Netflix!

Our conversation is full of:

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Childhood Dream

04:00 Desire to Become a Teacher

05:42 Career in Education

11:19 Transitioning Out of Education

12:46 Reflections for Women in Education

20:48 Transition to a Corporate Role

23:16 Experience as a Woman in a Corporate Environment

24:14 Navigating Challenges in a Contract Job

25:11 Approaching the Job Search with a Deadline

28:31 Understanding the Role of a Project/Program Manager

32:50 Memorable Project: Summer Internship Program

35:13 The Value of Professional Groups and Networking

39:19 Taking on Consulting and Part-Time Gigs

42:39 Career Outlook: Growth and Skill Development

46:14 Inspirational Quote To Close Us Out

You can connect with Kim at: 

www.linkedin.com/in/kbbrown17/

You can find Audrey at:

www.audreyutchen.com

linkedin.com/in/audreyutchen

@audreythecareerwoman on Instagram and YouTube 

Join the distribution list to get behind-the-scenes content about the making each episode, along with monthly career development recommendations: 

https://shorturl.at/begnv

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Introducing the first guest of "Women Just Like You", Arissan Nicole! Arissan is a certified and internationally nominated Career and Confidence Coach and Workforce Empowerment Expert, who Audrey met through a career development program at work. She is absolutely incredible — helping women get the confidence to do the exact same big career pivot she has done not once, but TWICE! Arissan empowers her clients to take control of their careers and leads women through the job search process from the inside out.

Arissan's career has taken her from Seattle to Singapore, from international trade to children's healthcare, and now as a founder of two companies: Seattle Self-Defense and her coaching business. Fun fact — she's a certified black belt in Tae Kwan Do!

Our conversation is full of:

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Childhood Dreams

03:04 Career Path to Date

09:16 Being a Young Latina in the Workplace

12:53 Advice to Younger Self

15:39 Negotiating Salary

17:51 Becoming Your Own Boss

21:24 Trusting Yourself in Entrepreneurship

23:25 The Joys of Being a Career Coach

26:17 Syncing Workouts to Your Cycle

30:41 Tasks and Activities in Business

34:20 Themes for Career Check-ins

40:24 Transformational Journey of a Client

47:48 Future Career Plans

50:39 Advice for Women in the Middle of Their Careers

52:17 Closing Remarks

If you want to learn more about cycle syncing, read the book Arissan mentioned in the show: “In The Flo” by Alisa Vitti. 

You can connect with Arissan at: 

https://www.arissannicole.com/

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

@arissannicole on Instagram and YouTube

You can find Audrey at:

www.audreyutchen.com

linkedin.com/in/audreyutchen

@audreythecareerwoman on Instagram and YouTube 

Join the distribution list to get behind-the-scenes content about the making each episode, along with monthly career development recommendations: 

https://shorturl.at/begnv

----------

"Women Just Like You" is a career advice podcast for women in the middle of their careers from women in the middle of theirs. Join Audrey on Wednesdays to hear from women just like you: not a new professional but not a VP (just yet!) and learn what they are up to at this exact stage of their careers.

Theme music is "Dance of the Violins" by F-777, usable under Creative Commons.

Introducing Women Just Like You, a podcast full of career advice for women in the middle of their careers directly from women in the middle of theirs. Host Audrey Utchen provides a behind-the-scenes look at what's to come this first season.