The Back to Me Podcast

Yoli Tamu
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Founder and CEO of The Back to Me Podcast (@thebacktomepodcast), Yoli Tamu (@yolitamuofficial) hosts this college-focused podcast inspired by college students across the nation. The Back to Me Podcast was created to answer many questions posed by college freshmen entering this new environment and college graduates heading out into a new world as young adults. Every week, students will be inspired and encouraged by self-affirming interviews and tips to succeed in college and in a career they love.

  1. 15 hr ago

    226. Engineering Ports and Possibilities with Ian Sequeira

    What if your interest in building things could become a career dedicated to improving lives? As we wrap up our “Built to Move” Trade and Transportation series, we welcome Ian Sequeira, Vice President of Port and Marine for U.S. West at AECOM. Raised in a Christian home in India, Mr. Sequeira developed an early interest in construction and a commitment to serving others. He shares how his journey as an international student in Oklahoma led to a career in civil engineering and project management, that was shaped by his faith, perseverance, and unexpected opportunities. Discover the education, professional credentials, and responsibility involved in designing port infrastructure that protects people’s lives, along with internship opportunities that can help you explore the field. ⁠ Mr. Sequeira completed his MS in Civil Engineering at Oklahoma State University, and he received his Bachelor of Engineering at University of Mumbai in India. He brings 19 years of experience leading complex engineering projects that help shape the infrastructure connecting communities and global economies. A Professional Civil Engineer licensed in multiple states, Mr .Sequeira combines technical expertise with business leadership and a passion for the ports and maritime industry. That passion led to graduating from the MTOP program at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), building a foundation for a rewarding career in engineering, port operations, and leadership. Through a career built on collaboration, problem-solving, and continuous learning, he hopes to inspire young people to pursue higher education, explore their interests, and recognize the many possibilities available to them. To learn more about Mr. Sequeira and his work, connect with him on LinkedIn.

    226. Engineering Ports and Possibilities with Ian Sequeira

  2. 21 Oct

    225. Earn While You Learn in Automotive Careers with Steve Borio

    What if a high school field trip introduced you to your future career and eventually brought you back to teach the next generation? As we continue our “Built to Move” Trade and Transportation series, we welcome Steve Borio, Automotive Technology Instructor and Ford ASSET Instructor at Cerritos College. With 30 years of automotive experience, including 27 years at a Ford dealership, Mr. Borio shares how an early visit to Cerritos sparked his interest in the field. Along the way, he discovered that helping others learn the job was just as rewarding as working on vehicles. He introduces the Ford ASSET program, an earn while you learn pathway that combines classroom theory with mentored, hands-on experience at a Ford dealership as students work toward an associate degree and Ford certifications. From electric vehicles and emerging diagnostic technology to management opportunities, explore a field that requires continuous learning and offers possibilities beyond just turning a wrench. Whether you are a student, parent, or career changer, this conversation offers a practical look at training, dealership partnerships, and building a professional network. In the classroom and shop, Mr. Borio emphasizes more than technical skills. Through real dealership examples, guided practice, and mentorship, he helps students develop critical thinking, diagnostic confidence, and professional habits such as communication and accountability. He is committed to creating a welcoming environment for women, first-generation students, and those entering automotive with little experience, helping them see themselves as capable professionals with a place in the industry. To learn more about Mr. Borio and the Ford ASSET program, visit Cerritos.edu and connect with him via email at sborio@cerritos.edu.

    225. Earn While You Learn in Automotive Careers with Steve Borio

  3. 14 Oct

    224. Finding Your Path in HVAC/R with Stephen Shute

    Ready to explore working with your hands and using your brain in ways you never expected? As we continue our “Built to Move” Trade and Transportation series, we welcome Stephen Shute, HVAC/R Organizer at United Association (UA) Local 250 and Industry and Technology Instructor at El Camino College. With 44 years of experience in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration, Mr. Shute shares the opportunities for career growth in this essential trade. From residential systems to commercial and industrial facilities, aerospace, and medical environments, he reveals a field that reaches far beyond keeping homes comfortable. Discover how to pursue this pathway through the UA Local 250’s Apprenticeship Program and what it takes to succeed. In his role as a UA Local 250 union organizer in Los Angeles, California, Mr. Shute focuses on community engagement and workforce development, helping remove barriers for local community members seeking entry into union apprenticeship programs and careers in the building trades. He has also represented UA Local 250 in advocating for major regional projects and Project Labor Agreements, such as clean energy infrastructure initiatives that support local job creation. To learn more about Mr. Shute and the UA Local 250 Apprenticeship Program, visit their website at SoCalHVACR.info to apply by January 2027 and to learn more about their training, visit HVACR.JJATC.com. You may also connect with Mr. Shute via email at stephen.s@ua250.org.

    224. Finding Your Path in HVAC/R with Stephen Shute

  4. 7 Oct

    223. Mapping the Future of Trade and Transportation with Dr. Tom O’Brien

    What does it mean to prepare students not only to earn a degree, but to thrive in a rapidly changing workforce? This month, we introduce ‘Built to Move,’ our new Trade and Transportation series! In this episode, Dr. Thomas O’Brien, Associate Dean in the College of Professional and Continuing Education at California State University, Long Beach, returns to share how higher education, workforce development, international education, and industry partnerships can work together to create meaningful career pathways for traditional and nontraditional learners. Discover how students can build English-language skills alongside discipline-specific training, earn self-paced AI certificates, and translate work and life experience into college credit and credentials employers recognize. It is time to see yourself as a global citizen with career opportunities that extend beyond one field, one employer, or one location. ⁠ Dr. O’Brien completed both his Doctorate of Philosophy in Urban Planning/Transportation and his Masters in Planning at University of Southern California (USC). He is also the Director of the CA Local Technical Assistance Program (CALTAP) Center and Deputy Director of the METRANS Transportation Consortium, a partnership of CSULB and the University of Southern California. He previously served as Executive Director of the Center for International Trade and Transportation (CITT) also at CSULB. His teaching and research focus on logistics, supply chain management, and goods movement policy, as well as transportation workforce development. To learn more about Dr. O’Brien and his work, connect with him on LinkedIn or email him at Tom.Obrien@csulb.edu.

    223. Mapping the Future of Trade and Transportation with Dr. Tom O’Brien

  5. 30 Sept

    222. Let's Be C.L.E.A.R. with Yoli Tamu

    As September comes to a close, we want to recognize National Suicide Prevention Month. Our founder and host, Yoli Tamu, introduces The C.L.E.A.R. Pathway™ and explores five practices for moving forward: Clarity, Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Action, and Reciprocal Relationships. This episode is a compassionate reminder that clarity is not the absence of background noise, it is the decision to keep listening to your own calling anyway. Whether you are beginning college, reconsidering your career pathway, feeling weighed down by expectations, or preparing for your next opportunity, this episode offers practical reflection and encouragement to help you better understand yourself and your journey. If you or someone you know is in immediate crisis or considering self-harm, call or text 988 or contact your local emergency services.⁠ ⁠ Yoli completed her M.Ed. in Cross-Cultural Teaching at National University, and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre at Howard University in Washington, DC. She has fused her thirst for creativity and entrepreneurship with 25 years as a resolute educator/motivator, podcast host, speaker, author, and recording artist. In August 2020, Yoil created The Back to Me Podcast: College and Beyond-a weekly podcast that she also hosts and serves as Executive Producer. In her weekly thirty-minute shows, Yoli seamlessly shares enlightening, engaging, and entertaining conversations that feature monthly themes and a wide array of special guests from different social classes and professions. Her arsenal of talents also includes developing a professional career as a songwriter/singer, live performer, independently publishing a book as an author, and working as a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) coach. To learn more about Yoli and The C.L.E.A.R. Pathway, visit our website at TheBacktoMePodcast.com.

    222. Let's Be C.L.E.A.R. with Yoli Tamu

  6. 23 Sept

    221. There Is No Replacement for Being You with Christine White

    The good news is that there is no replacement for being human. In the final episode of our “AI With Purpose: Student Pathways to What’s Next” series, we are joined by Christine White, Assistant Professor of Practice and the Director of Partnerships and Growth Initiatives at the University of Tennessee's Haslam College of Business. In addition, she serves as the Managing Director of the MS in Marketing program. Through an annually refreshed curriculum and a reverse career fair where students present their own brands to prospective employers, Haslam’s MS in Marketing program helps students build confidence, career-ready skills, and professional relationships in just 10 months. Discover how to strengthen your creative process, use your imagination, and build curiosity by treating AI as a thoughtful partner, not a replacement.⁠ ⁠ Ms. White is a Doctoral Candidate in Adult and Continuing Education at University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she also completed her MS in Communication. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology at University of Central Florida. Within the Department of Marketing, she leverages an extensive industry background in marketing and sales to bridge the gap between corporate practice and academia. In the classroom, she explores the cutting edge of digital communication and marketing strategy, with a focused interest in experiential learning and the integration of Artificial Intelligence in a classroom environment. By aligning professional insights with technological evolution, she works to prepare the next generation of marketing leaders to navigate an AI-driven workforce. To learn more about Ms. White and her work, contact her via email at cwhit125@utk.edu or connect with her on LinkedIn.⁠ ⁠ ⁠

    221. There Is No Replacement for Being You with Christine White

  7. 16 Sept

    220. Human-Centered AI with Will Croushorn

    As headlines raise serious questions about AI safety and human control, this conversation invites students to move beyond fear and consider how they can help shape technology with responsibility, curiosity, and care. In this week’s episode of our “AI With Purpose: Student Pathways to What’s Next” series, we are joined by Will Croushorn, an AI product leader, educator and the force behind Wendy’s FreshAI, a real-world drive-through AI experience that has handled more than 100 million customer interactions. Mr. Croushorn challenges students to see this moment not simply as a threat, but as a possible human renaissance. Discover what it took to move FreshAI from a “what if?” conversation to a large-scale customer experience, and why understanding human complexity and building technology that truly assists people must remain at the center of innovation. ⁠ Mr. Croushorn’s career has taken him from founding an English school in northern Iraq to leading the development and scaling of Wendy’s FreshAI. During his five years in Iraq, he learned Behdini Kurdish and worked closely with the communities he served. He now teaches AI product management through Caltech’s Center for Technology and Management Education and holds an MBA and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Affairs. Across his work in education and technology, he is guided by a simple belief: great technology and meaningful experiences begin with empathy and imagination. To learn more about Mr. Croushorn and his work, connect with him on LinkedIn. ⁠

    220. Human-Centered AI with Will Croushorn

  8. 9 Sept

    219. AI Careers Beyond Coding with Nicholas Beaudoin

    As we continue our “AI With Purpose: Student Pathways to What’s Next” series, we are joined by Nicholas Beaudoin, Director of AI Programs at Caltech’s Center for Technology and Management Education. He works across industry and education to make artificial intelligence practical and useful for organizations, and he emphasizes that there is no single route into an AI-related career. In this episode, Nicholas explores the expanding range of AI opportunities available to students, including roles in writing, technical documentation, and project management — not only engineering and coding. He encourages students to follow their curiosity, explore passion projects, participate in hackathons, and build community around what excites them most. Whether you pursue an internship, an entry-level role, or another hands-on experience, find out how to stand out as a strong candidate for opportunities with technology companies. ⁠ Nicholas completed his M.I.A. in International Economics at UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy, and he received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. He also serves as AI Program Advisor and Instructor at Caltech's Center for Technology and Management Education, where he designs and leads courses that bring faculty, researchers, and industry practitioners together to teach executives, managers, and engineers how to apply AI strategy and implementation. Alongside this, he has advised Fortune 500 companies and U.S. federal agencies through consulting, with engagements spanning Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia. His background covers hands-on AI/ML engineering, curriculum design, and enterprise strategy, and he has guided organizations from early proof of concept through production deployment. To learn more about Nicholas and his work, connect with him on LinkedIn.

    219. AI Careers Beyond Coding with Nicholas Beaudoin
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About

Founder and CEO of The Back to Me Podcast (@thebacktomepodcast), Yoli Tamu (@yolitamuofficial) hosts this college-focused podcast inspired by college students across the nation. The Back to Me Podcast was created to answer many questions posed by college freshmen entering this new environment and college graduates heading out into a new world as young adults. Every week, students will be inspired and encouraged by self-affirming interviews and tips to succeed in college and in a career they love.

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