Careers Without Connections

Gianna Linares
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The podcast for underrepresented professionals building their careers from scratch and navigating unfamiliar spaces.

Episodes

  1. 2d ago

    24-Year-Old First-Gen Founder: Personal Branding, Working with 8-Figure Brands, & Content Marketing

    In this episode, Vanessa Valencia, founder of Avrios Media, shares what it really takes to build a successful marketing agency and personal brand from the ground up as a young first-generation entrepreneur. Topics we cover: Building a marketing agency while still in collegeThe biggest misconceptions about content creation and social media marketingVanessa's approach to neuromarketing and using buyer psychology to create content that converts What you'll learn in this episode: How to create a personal brand without feeling like you have to share your entire lifeWhy consistency matters more than perfection when growing onlinePractical strategies for content marketing and building an engaged communityHow networking and genuine relationships can create career and business opportunitiesActionable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, marketers, content creators, and anyone looking to grow their online presenceYou can find me here: TikTok/Instagram: @giannalinaresLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianna-linares%E2%98%86-963097226/ Connect with Vanessa: Personal: @soothingstarzAgency: @avriosmediaMarketing Education: @brainsells.hq

  2. Jul 7

    How to Build Your Professional Network and Create Career Opportunities as a First-Gen Professional

    You hear time and time again that you need to network because networking is the key to success. But what if you're a first-generation professional, born into a family without any professional network or useful career connections? By the end of this episode you’ll know: How to build a network from scratch starting with 0How to find people you actually should be networking with How to approach someone and create and foster a professional connection with someone you’ve never met before You can reach me on TikTok/Instagram: @giannalinares Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianna-linares%E2%98%86-963097226/

  3. Jun 29

    First-Gen Latina MBA: From Engineer to Consultant, Moving to Chicago, and Monetizing Her Content

    I chatted with Jasmin Lopez, a first-generation Latina, former engineer, MBA graduate, content creator, and incoming consultant at Accenture. We talk about her pivot from engineering to business, working multiple jobs to pay for school, winning a life-changing scholarship, getting paid for content creation for the first time, and preparing to leave home and start over in Chicago. You can reach me on TikTok/Instagram: @giannalinares Connect with me on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianna-linares%E2%98%86-963097226/ Connect with Jasmin: @biztina

  4. Jun 21

    Watch This If You're a First-Gen Professional Needing Clarity or Mentorship in Your Career

    In this episode, Johanna Rincon shares her journey from immigrating to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic at 14 years old without speaking English to becoming a regional learning and development leader for a luxury hotel. We discuss navigating your career as a first-generation professional and the lessons she's learned about finding career clarity, learning your strengths and weaknesses, and finding mentorship. You'll learn:• How to find career direction when you don't have all the answers• Why mentorship often develops through genuine relationships• How to surround yourself with people who challenge and support your growth• The importance of seeking environments where you can thrive• Why continuous learning is critical for long-term career success You can reach me on TikTok/Instagram: @giannalinares Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianna-linares%E2%98%86-963097226/

  5. Jun 14

    How to Create Job Opportunities for Yourself as a First-gen Professional

    In this episode, I share the strategies that helped me create job opportunities for myself as a first-generation professional raised by immigrant parents. I break down the practical steps I used to land internships, build meaningful professional relationships, find mentors, and even ask employers to create job opportunities for me that didn't officially exist yet. You'll learn how referrals can dramatically improve your chances of getting interviews, how to approach networking when you don't know anyone in the room, why confidence and preparation matter, and how a "no" can turn into a life-changing opportunity in the long run. Whether you're a college student, recent graduate, or early-career professional navigating the job search without connections, this episode will give you actionable career development strategies to help you build your network, build professional opportunities for yourself, and create space for yourself in unfamiliar professional environments to leave meaningful and lasting impressions. You can reach me on TikTok/Instagram: @giannalinares Connect with me on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianna-linares%E2%98%86-963097226/

  6. Jun 7

    COO Explains How to Leverage Your Failures and Shift Your Mindset to Achieve Any Goal

    Bill Vega, a CEO, entrepreneur, first-generation graduate, and prominent Latino leader in Georgia, details his approach to controlling your thoughts, shifting your mindset, and leveraging inevitable failures to propel you toward achieving your goals and ambitions. He also shared some exciting upcoming events through Association of Ecuadorians in Georgia (ASEG) and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, including World Cup watch parties as Atlanta prepares to host FIFA World Cup games starting July 15th, celebrations for 4th of July, and celebrations for Diez de Agosto and Nueve de Octubre. Follow Bill at @vegabillusa on Instagram and ASEG at @aseg.georgia for updates on all upcoming events! And you can reach me on TikTok/Instagram: @giannalinares Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianna-linares☆-963097226/

  7. May 31

    From Acting to Politics: Creating Space and Belonging in Any Workplace

    Matt Cárdenas shares his journey from a 10 year acting career in New York City to public service and politics. We discuss the power of embracing your identity, navigating career transitions, and creating space and belonging for yourself as an underrepresented professional in any workplace. If you’d like to connect with Matteo: @themattcardenasAnd You can also reach me on TikTok/Instagram: @giannalinares LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianna-linares%E2%98%86-963097226/

  8. May 24

    How First-Gen Students Navigate College Differently Than "Traditional" Students

    In this episode of Careers Without Connections, I chatted with Julie Volker Morris, Distinguished Teaching Professor and Graduate Career Services Director at the University of Oregon, to discuss the unique challenges first-generation students face while navigating college and career development. From financial pressure to networking, confidence, and mentorship, we unpack why first-gen students often have very different needs than traditional students—and what resources, practical tools, and mindset shifts can make a meaningful difference. We also discuss: The emotional and financial burden of balancing school, work, and family How networking can feel inaccessible when you weren’t raised around professional spaces Translating your lived experiences into career-ready skills Why belief, mentorship, and community matter so much How students can advocate for themselves and build careers from scratch If you’d like to connect with Julie, you can reach her at: jvoelker@uoregon.edu And you can find me here: TikTok: @giannalinares Instagram: @giannalinares LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianna-linares%E2%98%86-963097226/

  9. May 24

    Intro: How to Build a Career Without Connections

    In this episode of Careers Without Connections, I share the story behind why I created this podcast, stemming from my personal journey of being a first-generation student to becoming the first person in my family to earn a graduate degree. I also reflect on navigating financial hardship, mentorship, relocating cross country post grad, and breaking into professional spaces through cold emails, calls, and outreach (and delusion). This episode is about what happens when resilience, drive, and initiative enter the chat—and what it really takes to build a career from scratch without familial connections and minimal resources.You can find me here:TikTok: @giannalinares Instagram: @giannalinares LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianna-linares%E2%98%86-963097226/

  • 9 Episodes

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The podcast for underrepresented professionals building their careers from scratch and navigating unfamiliar spaces.

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