ExecuTalks Ash Faraj

In this episode, we sit down with Barbara Humpton.  Barbara grew up to parents who were both math professors so initially set her eyes on being a math professor “when she grew up.”  After taking a job at IBM and working on a globally impactful project, she was hooked into the world of working on impactful technology to make our world a better place. 

I won’t give too much away before you listen, but if you decide to listen to the entire episode you will get to hear:


Some of Barbara’s formative experiences that empowered her career journeyBarbara’s advice for you if you’re thinking about changing jobs or making a career pivotHer take on the federal government’s latest initiative to increase manufacturing in the United StatesWhat she would tell her younger self

Lynne grew up in the bay area and accidentally learned what she loved to do when she was helping a friend become more physically independent by helping her up stairs, and taking her to the gym.  So after getting her undergraduate degree, she dove right back into school and used her savings along with student loans to pay for training to become a Physical Therapist.  After getting her certification, she worked for a terrible boss that made her want to start her own business.  If you stick around until the end you'll get to hear all about how she negotiated her salary, started her own business, and why she got into politics, eventually becoming the Mayor of Bellevue, Washington - Home to some of America's most influential companies like T-Mobile, Microsoft, Paccar, Expedia, Concur Technologies, and many more.

Bracken began his career in accounting after college.  After working in accounting roles for an accounting firm and then PepsiCo he transitioned into brand management early in his career.  He first worked at Procter & Gamble, then moved into a General Manager position at General Electric.  There are other career moves we talk about in this episode, so make sure you tune in!

Stick around until the end to hear about:
- The key positions that Bracken targeted early in his career that empowered his career journey
- Why Bracken decided to go back to business school after gaining experience
- What advice he has for you while you think about how you want to navigate your career journey

Kara grew up in the suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona and naturally developed the skill of persistence growing up.  In her early years she worked many different jobs including working at a toy store, interning for a local senator, and waiting tables at a local Mexican restaurant.  After college she used unique approaches to reach people and get hired at a media company in New York.
Listen to the full episode to get the full scoop on
- How Kara used unique communication approaches to reach senior executives early in her career
- Why storytelling is so important in marketing and brand-building
- Important skills she emphasizes, and tailored advice that she has for you while you’re on your career journey

Wes was born in Canada, grew up in Columbia, and lived in Southern California .  He admits his dyslexia and ADHD growing up caused him to hate school and didn’t attend college after high school. After high school, Wes took the first job he was offered, which was a job making high-end cabinets in Los Angeles; a business that his neighbor owned.  Listen in to this episode to learn about how a kid that grew up with a learning disorder and didn’t even go to college, started a highly successful coffee-chain in the Pacific Northwest: Woods Coffee.  Stick around until the end to hear about what advice Wes has for his younger self, and what he wished he would have known as an young entrepreneur.

In this episode, we sit down with Jeff Roe, CEO of Premera Blue Cross.  Employing over 3,200 people, Premera Blue Cross is the largest health plan insurance provider in the Pacific Northwest, serving more than 2 million people.  
Jeff grew up in Bellevue, WA and had an early interest in politics growing up.  His curiosity and enjoyment of politics led him down a route of working in politics after graduating from the University of Washington.  He worked for a U.S. Senator based in Washington named Slade Gorton; his first job being his driver.  After working his way up and gaining more responsibility in Washington DC, he pivoted to the private sector when he got an offer to return to the Pacific Northwest and help run a public affairs consulting company.  One of their clients was Blue Cross and he eventually jumped into the insurance industry. For the past 24 years of his career, Jeff has been a key leader in the insurance industry.
Listen in to hear about how and why Jeff made career shifts from politics to public affairs to insurance.  Also gain insight to why role models can be so critical to your career development, and what advice Jeff has for those who aspire to climb the corporate ladder.