Planned Happenstance: How Chance Influences Our Careers

Karissa Sorenson and Priscilla Vallejo
  • 5.0 (2)
  • CAREERS

"Planned Happenstance" explores how chance influences career trajectories and creates opportunities for learning. Uncover stories of constructing career success from unexpected events and encounters, inspiring you to harness these moments for your own professional growth. Inspired by John Krumboltz's Planned Happenstance Theory and collective professional experience in counseling young adults through their career journeys, hosts Karissa and Priscilla are on a mission to explore the theory's 5 key themes through insightful interviews.

  1. Finding Your Zone: Career Lessons From a Counselor, Teacher, and Mentor with David Craig

    12/18/2025

    Finding Your Zone: Career Lessons From a Counselor, Teacher, and Mentor with David Craig

    David Craig, longtime career counselor at Cal Poly Pomona and now recently retired, has helped thousands of students discover their direction and confidence along the way. In this episode, David reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped his career, the mentors who guided him, and the lessons he learned through decades in higher education. He shares thoughtful insights on the power of self-awareness in finding the right career fit, why taking risks often leads to deeper satisfaction and growth, and how happenstance opportunities can shape meaningful paths. David also discusses how retirement has become a launching point for new beginnings in life and career coaching, reminding listeners that personal and professional growth doesn’t stop at any stage of life. 👉Connect with David Craig: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwcraig3/  📧Contact Us: chancecareerstories@gmail.com  Music by penguinmusic - Uplifting Summer Electronica from Pixabay

    28 min
  2. From the Stage to Startups with Shannon Shroyer

    12/16/2025

    From the Stage to Startups with Shannon Shroyer

    From the world of professional ballet and fine art to venture capital, Shannon Shroyer’s career journey is anything but conventional. Now serving as Head of Platform and Operations at Matchstick Ventures, Shannon shares how networking, initiative, and being open to opportunity played pivotal roles in each of her career transitions. She reflects on how the discipline, creativity, and resilience cultivated through ballet became powerful transferable skills that continue to shape her leadership style today. Shannon also explores her growing interests within the AI ecosystem  and her passion for building meaningful and supportive founder communities. Her story is a compelling reminder that a “third career” isn’t a departure from the past, but a continuation that draws from every chapter before it. 👉Connect with Shannon Shroyer:https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-stobbe-shroyer  📧Contact Us: chancecareerstories@gmail.com  Music by penguinmusic - Uplifting Summer Electronica from Pixabay

    22 min
  3. Coding Through the Doubt: From Pharmacy Tech to Front-End Dev with Maude Simpson

    11/20/2025

    Coding Through the Doubt: From Pharmacy Tech to Front-End Dev with Maude Simpson

    Former pharmacy technician turned front-end developer at SAS, Maude Simpson, shares the story of their non-linear career journey and the planned happenstance moments that shaped it. Maude opens up about embracing imperfection, confronting self-doubt, and taking action like pursuing a coding bootcamp even when the path ahead felt uncertain. They highlight the power of support systems, the influence of unexpected allies, and the importance of challenging negative self-talk throughout the process. Whether you are navigating a career shift, battling imposter syndrome, or simply trying to move forward in uncertain times, this episode is for you! 📧Contact Us: chancecareerstories@gmail.com  Music by penguinmusic - Uplifting Summer Electronica from Pixabay

    8 min
  4. Building a Career that Matters with mike knox

    11/05/2025

    Building a Career that Matters with mike knox

    From his early days in higher education to his transition into Learning and Development within the financial services sector, mike knox reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped his path and the unexpected turns that led him to found the Mattering Lab, an organization dedicated to delivering customized leadership and team development training, primarily within the video game industry. In this conversation, we explore themes of lifelong learning, transparency in career goals, and the power of failure as a catalyst for growth. mike also shares his passion for creating inclusive spaces where others can thrive, his philanthropic work with Gamers for CHOC and WIGI, and his ongoing mission to cultivate a more connected and compassionate gaming community. Whether you are navigating your own career crossroads or seeking inspiration from a story grounded in purpose and possibility, this conversation is a reminder that chance can be one of our greatest teachers. 👉Connect with mike knox: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-knox https://matteringlab.com  📧Contact Us: chancecareerstories@gmail.com  Music by penguinmusic - Uplifting Summer Electronica from Pixabay

    28 min
  5. AI, Adaptability, and the Future of Work with Logan Currie

    10/22/2025

    AI, Adaptability, and the Future of Work with Logan Currie

    As the world of work continues to evolve, Logan Currie is on a mission to explore how AI is transforming career development. As the Co-founder and COO of Careerspan, an AI-powered career guidance and talent matching platform, Logan shares insights on learning, adaptability, and the future of work. She dives into navigating uncertainty in entrepreneurship, the importance of building a strong professional presence, and how embracing planned happenstance can open unexpected opportunities. Logan’s journey highlights how technology, reflection, and human connection shape modern career paths.  👉Connect with Logan Currie: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/logan-currie⁠ ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@loganlearning⁠  💻Learn More About Careerspan: https://mycareerspan.com⁠  Careerspan is completely free! It helps you turn your experience into a compelling story, matches you with fitting roles, gives you a personalized “fit score,” and uses AI coaching to showcase your real skills and achievements—so you stand out beyond your résumé. 📧Contact Us: chancecareerstories@gmail.com  Music by penguinmusic - Uplifting Summer Electronica from Pixabay

    16 min
  6. From Math Problems to Market Solutions: An Unexpected Path to Venture Capital with Lauren MacDonald

    10/08/2025

    From Math Problems to Market Solutions: An Unexpected Path to Venture Capital with Lauren MacDonald

    From her early love of problem-solving to her current role leading investment operations at Sozo Ventures, Lauren MacDonald reflects on the chance moments that shaped her career. She shares insights on leveraging a math background in the business world, and how a pivotal friendship sparked her path into venture capital. Today, Lauren is focused on strengthening communication and operations within global teams, all while emphasizing the importance of finding your zone of genius. Join us as we explore how curiosity and connection influenced Lauren's career path and leadership growth. 👉Connect with Lauren MacDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/macdonaldlaurenv  📧Contact Us: chancecareerstories@gmail.com  Music by penguinmusic - Uplifting Summer Electronica from Pixabay

    17 min
  7. Finding Your Calling: From Community Roots to Public Service with Elmer G. Roldan

    09/24/2025

    Finding Your Calling: From Community Roots to Public Service with Elmer G. Roldan

    Born in Guatemala to a working-class family and raised in South Los Angeles, Elmer G. Roldan’s story is one of resilience, community, and purpose. As a teenager, he was recruited to participate in a unity organization for Black and Brown communities, which sparked a lifelong commitment to social justice, setting him on a path toward educational equity, leadership, and public service. Today, Elmer serves as Executive Director of Communities In Schools of Los Angeles (CISLA). He reflects on the personal and systemic barriers he has overcome, the profound influence of family and community, and the motivations driving his candidacy for Los Angeles City Council District 9. Join us as we explore the pivotal planned happenstance moments that have defined Elmer’s path and the insights he offers to anyone seeking their own calling. 👉Connect with Elmer G. Roldan: https://www.elmerroldan.com  https://www.instagram.com/elmerforcd9 https://www.cislosangeles.orghttps://www.instagram.com/cislosangeles   📧Contact Us: chancecareerstories@gmail.com  Music by penguinmusic - Uplifting Summer Electronica from Pixabay

    22 min
  8. Bridging Corporate and Holistic Wellness with Shannon Keefe

    09/10/2025

    Bridging Corporate and Holistic Wellness with Shannon Keefe

    From unpaid intern to entrepreneur, Shannon Keefe shares her journey shaped by moments of planned happenstance that ultimately led to founding her practice, Integrate Nutrition. Previously a Wellbeing Manager at Dolby Laboratories, Shannon brings unique insight into the importance of prioritizing health in both personal and professional contexts. She reflects on the discipline required to balance personal responsibilities with career growth. From modeling hard work for her children to building community connections, Shannon’s story is a powerful reminder that career paths are rarely linear, and that adaptability, persistence, and a commitment to lifelong learning can open doors to unexpected opportunities. Tune in to discover how Shannon is shaping the future of nutrition and wellness, and why wellbeing should be at the center of both individual lives and organizational strategy. 👉Connect with Shannon Keefe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonkeefe/https://www.integratenutrition.org https://l.bttr.to/EfTIq https://medium.com/@integratenuthttps://www.instagram.com/integrate__nutrition 📧Contact Us: chancecareerstories@gmail.com  Music by penguinmusic - Uplifting Summer Electronica from Pixabay

    21 min
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About

"Planned Happenstance" explores how chance influences career trajectories and creates opportunities for learning. Uncover stories of constructing career success from unexpected events and encounters, inspiring you to harness these moments for your own professional growth. Inspired by John Krumboltz's Planned Happenstance Theory and collective professional experience in counseling young adults through their career journeys, hosts Karissa and Priscilla are on a mission to explore the theory's 5 key themes through insightful interviews.

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