Your Career, Unscripted

“The most transformative moments were the moments of transition.” Andra London is a Managing Director at BCG BrightHouse, where she harnesses the power of purpose and strategic storytelling to help organizations grow their people, profits, and impact.

I am honored to have interviewed her on this week’s episode of Your Career, Unscripted! Her career advice has personally given me the perspective to zoom out and see the bigger picture - and I’m excited to share her advice and story in the hopes that the conversation helps you on your own career journey.

Since 2016, Andra has led a country to define its national values, a major Canadian bank to set unprecedented sustainable finance goals, and iconic global organizations to articulate and activate their purpose. She also shares her expertise as a guest lecturer at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School.

Before BCG, Andra’s marketing and brand experience spanned corporate, agency, start-up, and nonprofit – including years at The Coca-Cola Company, where she developed campaigns for The Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup. Andra’s work is driven by her belief that an organization’s success is rooted in its people.

Listen as Andra shares…

• Her experiences as a leader at BCG BrightHouse
• What it was like to be Global Creative Director of The Coca-Cola Company
• How moments of uncertainty can also be moments of possibility
• Her experiences doing advertising campaigns for billion dollar brands
• How she looked to make her mark and shape something herself
• How you reconcile purpose and authenticity with company goals to drive revenue

Favorite quote “You’re in the role. Put on the jacket”

Thank you Andra for your wisdom, generosity, and kindness!

Follow me on LinkedIn and Instagram and subscribe to my Substack to support my work in sharing these stories
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-bernhard-mba/
https://www.instagram.com/janebernhard/
https://substack.com/@JANEBERNHARD

“If I don’t try then I’ll never know. ” Originally from Italy, Michele Catano is currently a Senior Product Manager at Electronic Arts, where he's working on a new game based on the famous The Sims IP. Michele came to the US in 2021, when he started his MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Previously, he has had a diverse set of experiences. Among many, he got his Engineering degree in Tokyo in 2016, worked in consulting between Asia and Europe for around 5 years and co-founded a MedTech startup in early 2020.

I am very excited to share episode 12 of Your Career, Unscripted. What stood out to me in this conversation is Michele’s deep level of self-reflection — I’m grateful to share how that has shaped his journey.

Listen to learn about…

• How his experiences living, working, and studying in Europe, Japan, and the U.S. shaped his perspective on his career and the way he approaches problems
• His experience navigating networking experiences and work as an introvert - and advice to those who are figuring out how to do the same
• What it means to work on a game thats not released yet
• How he didn’t know if being a PM would be the right fit, but also how he had to try to find out
• Advice on breaking into gaming and product management
• Finding balance between an interesting job and meaningful life

Follow me on LinkedIn and Instagram and subscribe to my Substack to support my work in sharing these stories
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-bernhard-mba/
https://www.instagram.com/janebernhard/
https://substack.com/@JANEBERNHARD

Be Opportunistic and Be Open. Vicki Dobbs Beck is a veteran entertainment executive with more than 30 years of experience driving innovation and digital transformation in support of storytelling. In 2015, she co-founded Lucasfilm’s award-winning Immersive Storytelling Studio, ILMxLAB (now ILM Immersive), and has since been at the helm.

Under Vicki’s leadership, ILM Immersive has produced a robust portfolio of groundbreaking experiences including CARNE y ARENA, directed by Alejandro Iñárritu and awarded a special Oscar by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series, winner of the PGA Innovation Award in 2020; and most recently, the Emmy award-winning “What If…? An Immersive Story” with Marvel Studios, the first-ever interactive Disney+ Original story for Apple Vision Pro.

I am honored to have had Vicki on this week’s episode of Your Career, Unscripted (and to be able to interview Vicki for a second time). Thank you Vicki for your generous support and time throughout the years.

If you are someone pursuing a career in media and technology and want to learn from an incredibly talented, kind, humble, and creative leader - this episode is for you.

Learn about…

• Vicki’s journey cofounding Lucasfilm's immersive storytelling studio ILMxLAB (now ILM Immersive) and stories of hurdles along the way
• The benefit of “intrapreneuring” (setting up a new business inside of a large established company)
• Failing quickly and moving on
• The process of creating worlds and characters that “felt authentically Star Wars”

“Vader is probably the most iconic character in the Star Wars universe. So it was I think we were all humbled by the fact that Lucasfilm entrusted Vader with us in a unproven brand new space. And I think we were always very aware of that pressure”

Listen to Your Career, Unscripted in all major podcast platforms and support Jane Bernhard! https://www.instagram.com/janebernhard/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-bernhard-mba/
https://substack.com/@JANEBERNHARD

This content is made possible thanks to the Texas Immersive Supporters! Consider making a small donation so we can provide more thought leadership content to our community! 
https://give.utexas.edu/?menu=OGPTII 

Follow Texas Immersive!
https://www.instagram.com/texasimmersive/ 
https://www.linkedin.com/company/texas-immersive 
https://immersive.moody.utexas.edu/ 

The only thing that actually matters is time. Alvin Wang Graylin (汪丛青) is a renowned executive, author, and tech pioneer with over 30 years of experience in AI, XR, and semiconductors. He is currently Global VP at HTC, having served as China President from 2016 to 2023. His book, Our Next Reality, explores the societal impact of AI and XR.

A serial entrepreneur, Graylin founded four venture-backed startups and has invested in over 100. His career spans senior roles at Intel, IBM, and Trend Micro, alongside his leadership in HTC’s ViveX accelerator.

I am very excited to share Alvin’s episode of Your Career, Unscripted - blending his insights on technology, history, psychology, and philosophy. If you want to learn about the future of AI and XR from someone who has not only led technological advances but deeply considers their ethical and societal implications, this is for you.

Alvin shares:

• His unique career journey, shaped by the influence of his artist parents.
• The entrepreneurial drive to create world-changing solutions instead of simply moving money.
• A thought-provoking perspective on Universal Basic Income (UBI) systems.
• Why deep knowledge of psychology, philosophy, history, and ethics is essential in a tech-driven world.
• Practical advice on building stability and staying relevant in an AI-powered future.

For all of his business and tech achievements, what stood out most was his emphasis on critical thinking, meaningful societal impact, and, above all, prioritizing the people and moments that matter.

It’s rare to hear a tech leader focus so deeply on the human side of success—and Alvin’s reflections on time, relationships, and values are refreshing and vital. After reading Our Next Reality, I knew I wanted to learn about his story. I’m honored to share his wisdom and insights with you.

🎧 Listen now and explore the balance of innovation, ethics, and humanity

Check out Alvin’s book - Our Next Reality https://ournextreality.com/

This show is in collab with Texas Immersive Institute at The University of Texas at Austin

If you'd like to support, please share this with your network!

Listen to Your Career, Unscripted in all major podcast platforms and support Jane Bernhard! https://www.instagram.com/janebernhard/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-bernhard-mba/
https://substack.com/@JANEBERNHARD

This content is made possible thanks to the Texas Immersive Supporters! Consider making a small donation so we can provide more thought leadership content to our community! 
https://give.utexas.edu/?menu=OGPTII 

Follow Texas Immersive!
@texasimmersive
https://www.instagram.com/texasimmersive/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/texas-immersive
https://immersive.moody.utexas.edu/

When I asked Pearlé Nwaezeigwe about her career journey, she told me:

“One day I woke up and I was like, ‘I want to be the Beyonce of my industry.’ So I ran with it, and I really wanted my goals and my values to just be around that: what it means to stand out, what it means to run the world. And I think I've kind of run the world having lived in four countries now. So it's been very much trying to take up space in every country that I've lived in and staying true to who I am, most importantly as a Black woman.

It's not easy being in a lot of spaces that don't look like you… So just having that personality and that alter ego called Beyonce has made it easier to navigate the spaces. And, most importantly, just stand out.”

Pearlé isn’t just bold; she embodies what it means to own your story, stand out, and thrive in your authenticity. As the founder of Wae Collective, she is empowering female professionals to make their mark by building strong personal brands and expansive networks. Her career in Law and Trust & Safety has taken her across TikTok, Twitter, and Meta's Oversight Board. Her work has been highlighted by renowned institutions, including UC Berkeley, Oxford University, and the World Economic Forum.

✅ Want to break into a competitive field? She once landed an interview at Twitter by tweeting a VP. (Fear? Yes. But she hit send anyway.)
✅ Building a personal brand feels “cringe”? She’s been there. Her advice? Check out the episode
✅ Introverts feeling intimidated by networking? Pearlé’s outgoing energy isn’t about pretending to be someone else—it’s about finding a style that feels true to you.

Her message is clear: you don’t have to look, act, or sound like everyone else to take up space. You just need to own who you are and take that first step—even if it’s scary. Pearlé’s journey reminds me of this: Confidence doesn’t mean you’re fearless. It means you do it anyway.

If you’re wondering where to start with personal branding, networking, or even just finding your voice in your career, check out this week’s episode of Your Career, Unscripted, in collab with Texas Immersive Institute at the University of Texas at Austin💡

Listen to Your Career, Unscripted in all major podcast platforms and support Jane Bernhard! https://www.instagram.com/janebernhard/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-bernhard-mba/
https://substack.com/@JANEBERNHARD

This content is made possible thanks to the Texas Immersive Supporters!
Consider making a small donation so we can provide more thought leadership content to our community! https://give.utexas.edu/?menu=OGPTII

Follow Texas Immersive! @texasimmersive
https://www.instagram.com/texasimmersive/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/texas-immersive
https://immersive.moody.utexas.edu/

Here is one thing I am 100% confident in. You’ve never met someone like Nanea Reeves. Learning from Nanea, getting her advice, and hearing her incredibly bold, unique, and resilient story has genuinely changed my life and reshaped the way I think about my career.

Nanea is the Founder and CEO of TRIPP, an award-winning XR wellness company and the creators of the leading meditation app delivering "Mood on Demand" to users worldwide. Nanea is a gaming executive and serial entrepreneur with $1.6B in exits and a lifelong meditator who began the practice in her teens as a way to cope with trauma. She founded TRIPP in 2017 following a period of tremendous loss, to use technology in order to expand access to mindfulness around the world.

We discuss…

• How and why to play your career as a game, and to play to win
• How Nanea broke the game rules by going over her direct manager’s head to pitch her idea to the CEO saying “If I fail, you can fire me. If I don't, I want to be promoted to Vice President” - Spoiler alert: She got promoted and earned a seat on the management team.
• The inspiration behind TRIPP, her mission to meet people where they are with the question, “How do you feel right now?” and her drive to use technology to help them feel better
• How her childhood and being “raised by wolves” made her into a “tough little fierce warrior girl” and how she looks back at herself as a young teen and goes “look what we did”
• The gift of a meditation practice and supportive inner voice

Nanea, thank you for being so generous with your time. Your willingness to share your story and your mission to help others continues to inspire me. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to learn from you and share this with others.

Listen to Your Career, Unscripted in all major podcast platforms and support Jane Bernhard! https://www.instagram.com/janebernhard/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-bernhard-mba/
https://substack.com/@JANEBERNHARD

This content is made possible thanks to the Texas Immersive Supporters!
Consider making a small donation so we can provide more thought leadership content to our community! https://give.utexas.edu/?menu=OGPTII

Follow Texas Immersive! @texasimmersive
https://www.instagram.com/texasimmersive/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/texas-immersive
https://immersive.moody.utexas.edu/

Kasia Borowiec is a Director at MediaLink - and a great friend. We have always bonded over career pivoting out of performing, since our time at Columbia Business School. In this week’s episode of Your Career, Unscripted - we talk about her journey navigating a career shift from being an opera singer, to getting her MBA, to working as a Director at MediaLink, a boutique media and marketing consultancy.

If you’re someone trying to make a change in your career - I recommend checking out this episode for some inspiration and actionable advice.

We discuss…

• The challenges of pivoting out of a career that you have invested your entire self into
• The life changing benefit of daring to try something completely new
• How a background in performing can be a secret sauce and superpower
• Bouncing back from rejection (#artists)
• Her experiences in opera, business school, Audible, Paramount, and why she landed at MediaLink
• Where she hopes to take this chapter of her career

Her story is a testament to drive, resiliency, and a willingness to take risks. Thanks Kasia for your support and kindness, and for trusting me to share your story.

This content is made possible thanks to the Texas Immersive Supporters! Consider making a small donation so we can provide more thought leadership content to our community! https://give.utexas.edu/?menu=OGPTII 

Subscribe to my Substack to get these interviews to your inbox https://substack.com/@JANEBERNHARD

If you'd like to support, I would appreciate it if you share this with your network and rate our show!

Shelley Zalis is the Founder & CEO of The Female Quotient - and I genuinely cannot believe I got to do this interview. I went to their SXSW event earlier this year, with the intention of even briefly chatting with Shelley so that someday, probably years and years down the line when I was hopefully more established, I could interview her. I was definitely too afraid to ask her to be on the show when I first started it - because that felt massively out of reach.

I kept watching Shelley’s interviews and was inspired by her boldness. It was that tenacity and drive that pushed me to stop rejecting myself and reach out much earlier than I originally planned. I realized I had nothing to lose by asking - and thanks to the generosity of Shelley and her team - and their mission to lift others up and support different generations - now here we are.

Listen to Episode 6 of Your Career, Unscripted to hear about…

• How Shelley got into trouble because she never fit into a box…but “fitting into a box” was never part of her plan
• How passionately disagreeing with her negative first review got her demoted
• How she decided that if the people she worked with wouldn’t value her, she would value herself
• How despite having “zero confidence” when she started to build her company OTX (Online Testing Exchange), she pushed forward anyways because of her “no regret” policy, and ultimately sold OTX to Ipsos for $80 Million

I recommend checking out this episode to hear one of the most interesting, successful, generous, open, and unique leaders discuss what it feels like to build a career by coloring outside of the lines - and then to help others do the same.

And if you’re reading this and happen to be in a moment of self doubt or receiving negative feedback from someone - take a lesson from Shelley, listen to your heart, and go after what you want - regardless of what others tell you you’re capable of.

This show is in collaboration with Texas Immersive Institute at The University of Texas at Austin. Consider making a small donation today to help us bring more thought leadership content to the community.

Follow Texas Immersive! @texasimmersive
https://www.instagram.com/texasimmersive/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/texas-immersive
https://immersive.moody.utexas.edu/

 and subscribe to my Substack https://substack.com/@JANEBERNHARD

Honored to have interviewed Victor Pineiro, Director of Digital Innovation at HBO | Max for this week’s episode of Your Career, Unscripted.

Victor an award-winning digital marketer, author, documentary filmmaker and game designer. Victor’s team has launched emerging tech activations like the House of the Dragon Raise Your Banners AI poster generator experience and DracARys app, alongside brand and series-focused influencer campaigns. Before Max, Victor spent a decade leading YouTube, Skittles and various other brands' social presences.

He also wrote, produced and marketed the award-winning metaverse documentary Second Skin, SXSW '08's opening night movie. He followed it up with the documentary that launched Motherboard, Vice’s tech channel. He’s also designed games and toys for Hasbro and is a kidlit and YA author. He wrote Time Villains, a Kirkus & Amazon best book of the year and winner of the International Latino Book Award.

Thank you Victor for all of your support and inspiration!

In this episode, we dive into:

• Victor’s unexpected journey from writing & filmmaking to social media marketing
• How his early days as an elementary school teacher prepared him for the rest of his career
• How forcing himself to write every day on the train led to his first book
• Imposter syndrome and why "no one really knows what they’re doing.”
• And of course, so much incredibly specific and creative career advice

Listen to Your Career, Unscripted!

Spotify | Apple | YouTube

Please subscribe to my Substack to stay posted on episodes https://substack.com/@JANEBERNHARD
and share this post and episode with anyone who you think may find it helpful!

I am creating this show as an Industry Explorer in collab with https://www.instagram.com/texasimmersive at the https://www.utexas.edu/  thanks for your support and collaboration!

If you like the content, check out TXI’s Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/texasimmersive for more thought leadership on the immersive field!

Stacey Strickland is truly one of the most kind, empathetic, authentic, and generous people I have ever met in business. It was an honor to get to interview her for this week’s episode of Your Career, Unscripted.

Stacey is a Director, Customer Success Modern Work/Converged Communications | Americas Enterprise at Microsoft. If you want to learn about leading with authenticity and care, viewing bumps in the road as opportunities for growth, the ability to read people as a superpower, the importance of listening to your gut, from someone who is genuinely passionate about mentorship, and understanding the value in asking your team - ‘What can I do to make you happier?’ I recommend listening to this episode!

My favorite quote from the episode “You're never going to grow if you don't do things that scare you or challenge you or make you uncomfortable. I encourage being uncomfortable.. If my kids have heard me once, they've heard me a million times say, the worst somebody can tell you is no. If you want something, if ask. If you have a question, ask. Even if you don't know what the question is you wanna ask, say that. Articulate it. I'm really struggling here, and I don't know why, but help me here. And then probably one of the most things is I don't believe, as humans, we were meant to go at things alone at all”

Please subscribe to my Substack to stay posted on episodes https://substack.com/@JANEBERNHARD

and share this post and episode with anyone who you think may find it helpful!

I am creating this show as an Industry Explorer in collab with @texasimmersive at the @utaustintx thanks for your support and collaboration!

If you like the content, check out TXI’s Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/texasimmersive for more thought leadership on the immersive field!