Today we revisit a couple of “near misses” — where a combination of solid preparation and luck led my guests to thrive or pivot quickly in the face of turmoil in their organizations.

Omar Dinar discusses joining Lehman at the onset of the financial crisis, and the impact of the bank's bankruptcy on his career. Being in the real estate division allowed him participation in the acquisition negotiations by Barclays where he excelled for a solid portion of his career.

We then revisit our discussion with Annalyn Cruz, at the point where she had years of advising university students under her belt. At a crossroads, she made the tough call to take a pay cut to go into Learning and Development when she had the option to move to a Director-level role. This choice didn’t save her from impending layoffs, but future-proofed her resume to work in corporate spaces.

00:00 Introduction to the MBA Journey
00:25 Landing the Dream Job at Lehman Brothers
02:04 The Financial Crisis Unfolds
02:57 Experiencing Lehman's Collapse
08:07 Transition to Barclays
08:32 A New Path: Semester at Sea
09:49 Pivot to Learning and Development
12:04 Challenges and Growth in L&D
18:03 Final Reflections and Career Transition

Navigating the Ups and Downs: From Consulting to Startups and Facing Burnout

Today I revist discussions where my guests faced significant adversity in their work lives.

Shalini Chander talks about pivoting to the startup world — and while she gained valuable industry knowledge, the experience was marred by financial instability and unethical practices by the company's founder. This difficult stint was followed by a brief period at another startup focused on diabetes care, where funding issues led to job instability. Ultimately, the she found stability at Abbott, successfully pivoting to Product Management for the rest of her career.

Marshall Robins was a tech Account Executive. In his last couple of companies in this role, he encountered high-pressure environments driven by venture capital expectations and an economic downturn. He understood the importance of taking a step back from his career and getting meaningful rest when he was driven to burnout.

00:00 Shalini Leaving Consulting and Joining a Startup
00:57 Red Flags and Financial Instability
03:29 Lessons Learned and Moving On
05:57 Transition to Diabetes Startup
08:35 Marshall’s Burnout and Career Reflections

In this episode I continue my conversation with Dr. Jess Mendoza, cognitive psychologist and UX researcher. Upon wrapping up Dr. Mendoza's transition from academia to UX research, we explore her efforts building community within her new company, and her advocacy for AI literacy across the org. Jess shares insights on the role of critical thinking and communication in prompting, the importance of a supportive work environment for pursuing side projects, and the unique challenges faced by different groups in the job market. You’ll hear Jess emphasize the value of fostering human connections at work and give solid advice for navigating career switches.

00:00 Introduction and Recap
00:46 Shifting Gears: Current Workplace Dynamics
01:03 AI in the Workplace
02:51 Building Community and Support Networks
27:35 Navigating Career Challenges
31:38 Final Thoughts and Shoutouts
35:36 Conclusion and Reflections