Career Conversations

University of Washington Alumni Association

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EDUCATION

Frank conversations to help you take control of your career. Going beyond resumes, interviews, and cover letters, each conversation brings a unique perspective on relevant topics for you and your professional development. Presented by Pepsi, Career Conversations is produced by the University of Washington Alumni Association. Learn more: https://www.washington.edu/alumni/career-conversations/

01/10/2025

S4Ep1: How AI is revolutionizing professional development and job search strategies

In this episode, Vina Pilolomari hosts a discussion with Sharan Jamiani, '21 head of product at Yoodly, about the transformative role of AI in career navigation. They explore how AI tools can streamline job searches, enhance interview preparation, and improve productivity while emphasizing the importance of personal connections and networking. Sha.ran highlights the need for users to understand specific problems to effectively leverage AI in their career development. The conversation encourages continuous exploration of AI's capabilities and its potential to empower individuals in their professional journeys. Sharan Jhangiani is the Head of Product at Yoodli, an AI powered communication coach. Yoodli helps you ace your next presentation or interview by providing private and judgment-free analytics on your filler words, eye contact, body language and more. Yoodli (www.yoodli.ai) is being rolled out to 300k+ Toastmasters members globally, has raised $7M+ in funding, and been featured across media outlets such as WSJ and Inc. Previously, he was the first Machine Learning hire at Productiv, building out infrastructure and then features powered by Machine Learning. Before that, he was at the University of Washington, where he studied data science and started DubHacks Next, a community / incubator for people who build. VeenaSravani Pillalamarri, ’18, ’21, is a double Husky who earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master’s in Healthcare Administration at the UW’s Seattle campus. As an undergraduate student, she served as a Peer Advisor at the UAA and President of a health program organization on campus. She also enjoyed volunteering and was a student educator at multiple schools through the UW Pipeline Project. During her Master’s degree, Veena served as a Student Ambassador representing the MHA program and as Vice President of the MHA Student Association. Currently, Veena is a strategist at Premera Blue Cross, exploring the healthcare industry and working towards her passion for improving access to healthcare resources. Outside of work, Veena enjoys reading, baking new desserts and traveling as much as possible.

35 min
01/09/2025

S4Ep2: Job compensation and terms: Negotiation strategies to help you be your own best advocate

In this episode of Career Conversations, host Nidhi Kumar, '21 and guest Nayoung Miller Vaughn discuss the importance of effective negotiation and self-advocacy in the professional world. They explore the unique challenges faced by underrepresented groups during salary negotiations and emphasize the need for practice and building supportive relationships. Key strategies include understanding market rates, preparing for negotiations, and recognizing shared struggles among professionals. The conversation highlights the significance of transparency in promotion processes and the role of mentors in empowering individuals. Overall, the episode encourages ongoing learning and connection within the professional community. Nayoung Miller Won is a strategic life & career coach living in Seattle, Washington in the United States. While she currently works in tech as a program manager, her past includes working as a career advisor and admissions committee member at higher education institutions (University of Washington, National University of Singapore, UPenn Wharton School). She started her career at Deloitte’s Detroit office and most recently worked as a Customer Success Manager at Amazon and Karat. She has pivoted careers multiple times since graduating from college, and is a marketer and educator by training (B.B.A University of Michigan, M.S.Ed. University of Pennsylvania). A globetrotter at heart, she has lived and worked in many parts of the world including Seattle, Singapore, Korea, Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. A few years ago, Nayoung founded thekokki.com to formalize her passion project driven by her faith. In her spare time you’ll find her golfing at a local course, exploring cities on a bike or supporting small businesses on Yelp. Nidhi Kumar, '21 is a proud University of Washington School of Law alum, holding a Master in Jurisprudence earned in 2021. She also holds a B.A. in Political Science—Pre-Law and Criminal Justice from Michigan State University. Currently, Nidhi is a J.D. Candidate at Seattle University School of Law, balancing her studies in the evening program with full-time work as a Law Clerk at Simmons Sweeney Freimund Smith Tardif PLLC. Dedicated to giving back, she actively contributes to the UW community as a member of the UWAA GOLD Council, a mentor through the Huskies@Work Program, a nominating committee member of the UWAA Board of Trustees, and as a District Dawg in the 43rd Legislative District.

1h 16m
01/09/2025

S4Ep3: Your financial wellbeing: Tips on owning your financial future

In a world where financial stress is common, the podcast emphasizes the importance of financial literacy and control. Hosted by Anders and featuring financial coach Karen Zukaitis, the discussion offers practical strategies to alleviate financial anxiety and improve well-being. Listeners are encouraged to understand their finances, budget effectively, and seek support from trusted individuals. The podcast highlights that everyone's financial journey is unique and that open conversations about money can reduce feelings of isolation. Ultimately, the goal is to empower individuals to take charge of their financial futures. Karen Zukaitis is a Financial Coach and Financial Education Expert with 18 years of experience here at WSECU and Credit Union Development Educator since 2010. She speaks to members, schools and public groups about financial challenges, financial wellness and other money issues. Backed by a significant amount of industry experience, she is skilled at helping members work through difficult situations and avoid financial crisis. Karen was awarded a gubernatorial appointment to the Financial Education Public Private Partnership (FEPPP) and has served that board for over 13 years. Karen’s passion for financial education and creating financial curriculum for young adults is inspiring. Combining fun and engagement with empowering information is a talent that she and her team bring to every workshop and event. You won’t want to miss an opportunity to experience that. Anders Dowell, '23 is a versatile professional dedicated to bridging the gap between strategic leadership and practical execution. Drawing from an MBA in Leadership from the University of Washington Bothell and a BA in Geography and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from Western Washington University, Anders excels in program management, data analysis, and customer service. His career highlights include orchestrating engaging experiences and driving innovative solutions in both academic and corporate environments. Known for his resourcefulness and collaborative spirit, Anders brings a unique blend of analytical expertise and creative problem-solving to his work. His approach is shaped by a blend of analytical rigor and creative insight, reflecting his commitment to continuous improvement and making a positive difference in the world. Beyond his professional achievements, Anders finds inspiration in biking, community and exploring creative pursuits, which enrich his perspective and fuel his drive to innovate.

43 min
12/19/2023

S3 Ep3: Resilience and Well-Being: An Overview of Skills and Practices for Building Resilience in the Workplace

with Megan Kennedy and Gina Topp UW Resilience Lab director Megan Kennedy talks us through skills and practices for promoting resilience and well-being from the individual to the organizational level. Megan Kennedy is the director of the UW Resilience Lab. As a leader and facilitator, Kennedy aims to build healthy and compassionate learning communities. From engaging stakeholders in vision-setting to partnering with students, staff and instructors, her approach to leadership centers on collaborative relationships. She believes that building high-quality wellness and educational programs requires teamwork at every level. Currently, Kennedy is developing and evaluating systems-based approaches to well-being that combines applied research, education and collaborative programming across three University of Washington campuses. This includes partnering with academic departments, student wellness groups and community-based organizations seeking to deepen their capacity for mindfulness and resilience. Kennedy earned her master’s degree in applied behavioral science from Bastyr University and is a licensed therapist with over a decade of experience in public and private practice. Gina Topp (she/her) is a proud alumna of the University of Washington, graduating in 2017, 2021 and 2023. She earned a B.S. in biology, a J.D. and an LLM Masters in tax law. During her time at the University of Washington, Gina particularly enjoyed participating in an externship with the Washington State Legislature, where she fell in love with public policy. Gina served the people of King County as the legal counsel and policy advisor to the King County Executive. She recently started her own law firm. Aside from work, Gina enjoys all sports, particularly tennis and cherishes her role as a new mom. As a member of the UW alumni community, Gina is passionate about the idea that together, across campuses and across the globe, the University of Washington community can make this world a better place.

42 min
12/12/2023

S3 Ep2: Honoring Your Heritage While Pursuing Entrepreneurship

with Salomé Valencia-Bohné and Karla Ciccia Traditional corporate culture can foster spaces where BIPOC professionals don’t feel as if they can authentically be themselves. Social justice advocate and business owner Salomé Valencia-Bohné, MA, MSW, LSWAIC (she/her/ella) partners with you to explore how social entrepreneurship is a career move that can support you in honoring your cultural heritage and values while also increasing your wallet size. Salomé Valencia-Bohné, MA, MSW, LSWAIC (she/her/ella) was born and raised in Yakima, WA. In 2019. She graduated from the University of Washington’s MSW program with a concentration in health and mental health. Dedicated to investing in the clinical social work field, Salomé is a member of many clinical social work and Latino societies, provides psychotherapy through an anti-oppression lens and is a strong activist within her community. She is the owner of The Rivers Wellness & Advocacy Foundation, host of the Clinically Growing Together podcast and owner of the Financial Peace & Prosperity program. Originally from Peru, Karla Ciccia moved to the states as a kid but since then has lived in two other continents before returning to WA and setting down roots. Karla is a passionate traveler and community advocate. She was previously working at a local philanthropy where she led local and international teams to rapidly deliver functional prototypes across a wide spectrum of tech and conservation products. Currently, Karla is working as a product manager delivering quality donor tissue to those in need. Karla is a graduate from the UW and in her spare time loves to explore the PNW with her family, friends, and soon, first child.

51 min
12/08/2023

S3 Ep1: "You Can't Make a Living With That" --Negotiating Family Expectations While Following Your Passion

Sometimes, the field we are passionate about can seem too risky to pursue, especially when we have people in our lives cautioning us to be pragmatic and cautious. But what about happiness and personal fulfillment? Aren’t these also measures of success? Artist, designer and small-business owner Stacy Nguyen discusses what it was like for her to make a bunch of ‘bad’ career decisions. Stacy Nguyen is a Seattle area-based Vietnamese American illustrator, visual designer and writer whose work explores the ways race, Vietnameseness and gender intersect within the lens of popular culture. Her work strongly features themes revolving around women and femininity. Stacy owns and runs Stacy Nguyen Creative, a branding and communications consulting business with a client roster that is primarily BIPOC-led community-based organizations and nonprofits whose work centers around equity, racial justice and economic justice. Nidhi Kumar (she/her) is a proud alum of the University of Washington, graduating in 2021 from the UW School of Law with her master’s in jurisprudence. She earned her B.A. in political science (prelaw and criminal justice) at Michigan State University and is a current J.D. Candidate in Seattle University School of Law’s evening program, while serving full-time on the seconded Amazon legal team at Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker, LLP, continuously building and exploring her passion for the law. Nidhi serves as a member of the UWAA GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) Council, a mentor through the Huskies@Work program and a District Dawg in the 43rd Legislative District, empowered by the mission of giving back to the UW community – providing opportunity, comradery and a voice to current students.

44 min
01/20/2023

S2 EP6: Managing your Work/Life Environment (part 2)

Managing Your Work/Life Environmentwith Rosemary Simmons Feeling overwhelmed and dissatisfied with your work may be a symptom of an imbalance between your work and your self. Psychologist Rosemary E. Simmons shares helpful tips of taking care of your priorities, being true to your values, and juggling competing demands. Rosemary E. Simmons, Ph.D. (she/her) is a first-generation, Pell recipient college student who had the privilege of being employed as a licensed psychologist in higher education for over 30 years. She specializes in providing mentoring, training and psychotherapy for young adults and early career professionals. She is honored that she was hired as the inaugural counseling center director for UW Bothell. During her tenure at UW Bothell, she worked closely with the students to assist in the development and opening of the Student Diversity Center, Violence Prevention & Advocacy Program, Health and Wellness Resource Center, and United Way Benefits Hub focused on one-stop services for low-income college students. She worked at UW Bothell for more than seven years before transitioning to semi-retirement at the end of 2021. Rosemary is currently a resident of Kitsap County and provides psychotherapy at Front Street Clinic in Silverdale and consultation and training to university staff, faculty and administrators across the country. She spends her time hiking Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas, kayaking, reading, cooking, baking and laughing with friends and family, a laugh that startles babies. After all, toddlers should not be the only ones who have belly laughs! Music by Lesfm from Pixabay

24 min
01/20/2023

S2 EP5: Managing your Work/Life Environment (part 1)

Managing Your Work/Life Environmentwith Rosemary Simmons Feeling overwhelmed and dissatisfied with your work may be a symptom of an imbalance between your work and your self. Psychologist Rosemary E. Simmons shares helpful tips of taking care of your priorities, being true to your values, and juggling competing demands. Rosemary E. Simmons, Ph.D. (she/her) is a first-generation, Pell recipient college student who had the privilege of being employed as a licensed psychologist in higher education for over 30 years. She specializes in providing mentoring, training and psychotherapy for young adults and early career professionals. She is honored that she was hired as the inaugural counseling center director for UW Bothell. During her tenure at UW Bothell, she worked closely with the students to assist in the development and opening of the Student Diversity Center, Violence Prevention & Advocacy Program, Health and Wellness Resource Center, and United Way Benefits Hub focused on one-stop services for low-income college students. She worked at UW Bothell for more than seven years before transitioning to semi-retirement at the end of 2021. Rosemary is currently a resident of Kitsap County and provides psychotherapy at Front Street Clinic in Silverdale and consultation and training to university staff, faculty and administrators across the country. She spends her time hiking Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas, kayaking, reading, cooking, baking and laughing with friends and family, a laugh that startles babies. After all, toddlers should not be the only ones who have belly laughs! Music by Lesfm from Pixabay

21 min

Frank conversations to help you take control of your career. Going beyond resumes, interviews, and cover letters, each conversation brings a unique perspective on relevant topics for you and your professional development. Presented by Pepsi, Career Conversations is produced by the University of Washington Alumni Association. Learn more: https://www.washington.edu/alumni/career-conversations/

Creator

University of Washington Alumni Association
Years Active

2023 - 2025
Episodes

15
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2024 UW Alumni Association
Show Website

Career Conversations