Ctrl + Alt + Career

Jennifer consistently hosts on her podcast a diverse number of successful entrepreneurs and individuals who have pivoted from various backgrounds into new industries. As having pivoted herself, she is uniquely qualified to interview her guests and digs deep into what it takes to change careers. Separately she provides 1 on 1 coaching for those who are looking to make the jump or even just take the first few steps towards their goals. I can’t wait for each episode when it comes out and hope to fully pivot myself!

In this day and age where one has more tools at their disposal to move away from traditional careers and pursue their passions, one can’t help but feel that certain communities are under-represented due to societal/parental expectations and the lack of role models. Jennifer does a great job conversing with people who have taken the leap - really giving guests the opportunity to share their story while also asking questions that elicit valuable perspectives. The podcasts are also very digestible and I enjoy how she summarizes key takeaways at the end. Hopefully, Ctrl + Alt + Career will inspire more people to shed conventional wisdom and follow their heart in a well thought out manner. As the podcast continues to grow, it would be great to see guests in a wide array of professions (e.g. comedians like Nigel Ng and Ronnie Chieng and others in the performing arts).

Thinking about switching careers? Twice a month Jennifer Ong talks to people who’ve done and learns what worked and didn’t when making the change. Jennifer’s interviews focus on professionals in Asia leaving traditional corporate jobs, but the lessons her guests share are valuable whatever your occupation.

Disclaimer: The stories on this pod were a big motivator for me to take a chance and try an alternative career in the nonprofit space in Southeast Asia (so far so good!). This podcast hits the sweet spot that few other career/interview-focused podcasts do. It's a fresh take on a tested format (interview/career) hosted by a career transition vet who knows exactly what questions to ask. The guests represent a good variety of industires and backgrounds too. The nice thing is that it's edited to a snappy length for the attention-challenged listener (read: me and perhaps you) so worth a listen to see if it's your style. If you're ready or even thinking of jumping into the deep end of career options, this should give a taste at the very least!