The Beers & Careers Podcast

Operations Leader, Armando Semedo

This former National Guardsman has a problem solver mentality. He shares his story of growing up in West Africa, moving back to the US and how he learned to be his best self by being raised by his grandparents. He talks about how he became successful by making mistakes and how those mistakes helped him grow. He explained how most large cities currently have programs using autonomous vehicles and why he likes this industry so much. And he shares the importance of making his bed every day.

 

Click here to connect with Armando on LinkedIn

Senior Manager, Merchant Partnerships & Strategy, Ryan D'Wolff Munro

Enjoy the conversation as Mark and Ryan, High School classmates catch up. Ryan shares his career journey starting with a story of coming to terms with what he learned after pursuing an entrepreneurial opportunity that didn’t come to fruition. He explains his path from the legal profession, to Wall Street to an MBA to his current role using all of his skills managing a team of strategic partner managers.  This father of 4 with infant twins said he enjoys cold calling as a learning tool and as a way to get comfortable being uncomfortable. Ryan also talks about his commitment to being more mindful, practicing patience and the power of luck and timing in your career

 

Click here to connect with Ryan on LinkedIn

Business Owner, Firefighter, Community Leader, Charles Manning

Grab a beer and listen to this conversation between Mark and his dear friend Charles.  Charles’ family hosted Mark when he traveled to Australia in 2009 and their relationship has grown ever since.  Charles and his wife Janice run a boutique consulting firm, working with large organizations and helping to shape their culture through growing and influencing people.  Charles and Mark discuss how the pandemic is different on opposite sides of the globe and then they explore some very heady topics, including the difference between employment and work, and most notably why leaving a legacy is a big motivator for him.

Author, Journalist & Speaker Linda Wertheimer

Enjoy our conversation with Linda K. Wertheimer, who is not the Other Linda of NPR fame, though she too is a journalist. Learn about Linda’s path from reporter at such newspapers as The Orlando Sentinel and The Dallas Morning News to Education Editor at The Boston Globe and to author. Her first book, Faith Ed, Teaching about Religion in an Age of Intolerance, was published in 2015 by Beacon Press and has won several awards, including second place in the Religion News Association nonfiction book contest.  From working in the Kmart cafeteria to babysitting and now doing public speaking on the intersection of religion and education, hear how she chose journalism after a summer program rather then following her dream to be a classical flautist. Linda shares her tips for getting started writing professionally and the importance of a community to support you during the process. 

Click here to learn more about Linda’s career (link to your website)

Click here to connect with Linda on LinkedIn

Click here to buy Linda’s book, available in hardcover, paperback, e-book or audio, on Amazon or here to order from your favorite Independent bookshop. Faith Ed also can be directly ordered from Beacon Press here.

Retired Executive, Jim Wall

This successful HR executive’s first job was a grave digger, yes, really! He shares the lessons he and his firm learned from the 9/11 tragedy and how to focus on connecting and connectivity and how it’s still important today. He reminds us that most of the “jobs of the future” haven’t been created yet and shares one of his favorite quotes from Colin Powell “Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier”.  Learn how his masters in Higher Ed helped him transition to corporate America and make a difference at one of Big 4.  Enjoy our conversation with Jim Wall.

Connect with Jim on LinkedIn

 

Entrepreneur and Corporate Drop Out, Laura Thompson

Enjoy our conversation with this self proclaimed corporate dropout. After a successful corporate career as an executive in HR, Laura decided to refocus her business experience to build another income stream (in wine!) that allowed her more time with her family and has never looked back with any regret. She’s always been focused on helping others grow and that hasn’t changed. She says that one of the keys to success and gratification is being honest with yourself about what your strengths are and following them!  Also, hear about her success in CrossFit and how she ranked #37 of her age group through focusing on the mindset needed to compete at that level.  

 

Connect with Laura on LinkedIn

 

Check out her business website 

Sr Manager, Business Excellence, Christian Apollon

Enjoy this conversation with Christian, who is full of energy, passion and ambition.  We get to dive into Christian’s story which is fascinating, including global consulting gigs and a train ride to Paris that he never expected to end the way it did.  After his story we dive into some of his perspective on the world, why he’s focused on getting better every day!

 

Connect with Christian on LinkedIn

Pianist, Composer, Arranger, Orchestrator Steven Feifke

Learn how this NYU graduate combined his studies of music and economics to make his passion - music - his career.  He shares his feelings on the "Freelance Philosophy" - that no amount of work is too much work - is wrong, and how he balances writing music, teaching, performing and growing his social media presence and engagement. He shares some mistakes to avoid, his advice for recent and soon to be graduates, and how he has pivoted his business during the COVID pandemic.  Listen to our conversation with Steven here.

 

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Nina Eigerman, SVP Alliances & Business Development

The conversation covered “developing your expertise” to “passion not being enough” and how Investment banking wasn’t a good fit for her.  This highly motivated individual wears a skirt and shoes every day while working from home and then changes her clothes at the end of the day to relax. She shared her career path from consulting to staffing to software and what she learned along the way, from literally making the bagels in Brooklyn to executive roles in several industries to her current role at Bullhorn.  Listen to our conversation and enjoy.

 

Connect with Nina on LinkedIn

 

Check out her profile on Bullhorn’s website

Owner & Entrepreneur, Ravi Kulkarni

Our conversation with Ravi covered his education and early career growth in India from working for a company as a Product Development Engineer and Sales Engineer to starting his own manufacturing business in India and his journey to moving to the US and becoming a formally trained executive business coach.  He talks about compassion and empathy and how important it is to say “thank you” to your employees. He told us about starting a scholarship in upstate New York as a way to give back to the local community.  His personal level of self- awareness  made him realize his passion for helping businesses and individuals succeed and thrive and it underlies in everything he does.  Listen to our conversation with Ravi.

 

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