Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Fearless Careerist with Catherine Robert

It’s the Season 1 Finale with this special Q&A episode. Kristen Hermanson, strategic communications and project management leader, returns to discuss the top questions submitted by listeners. Listen in as Catherine and Kristen review the juicy bits that were left out, look for the biggest pivots made by guests, and reveal Catherine’s favorite Fearless Careerist she’d like to have on the show.

For more information, see Kristen’s profile at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenhermanson/

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What did we learn from the 20 career professionals that joined us in Season 1? Paul Osterhout, former Disney Imagineer and current public speaker, mentor, and pitch coach, returns to recap the end of Season 1. Listen in as Catherine and Paul review the advice that guests have provided for new career professionals, share their thoughts on networking, and how to know when you’ve “made it” in your career.

For more information, see Paul’s profile at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulosterhout/

Paul’s videos can also be found on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@paulosterhout1507

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https://youtu.be/4Da_Ijkq6PI

Catherine Robert, host of Fearless Careerist, presents the Career Skills Bingo Card, and chats with returning guest, Dr. Eilene Edejer about the new way to think about our career progression rather than thinking of the career in stages. The card groups skill progression with the first things you need to know in a new job, skills needed for improving your performance in a job, skills for taking your career to the next level, and optimizing skills for building your ideal work environment and helping others. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive your own copy of the Career Skills Bingo Card!

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Audrey Omenson, MA, LPC-S, licensed counselor and thought leader in the mental health field, is this week’s Fearless Careerist. While directing clinical operations in a high growth mental health center, Audrey developed her expertise in clinical operations, policy compliance, and building functional workflows for clinicians for productive and supportive practices. Her dedication to improving clinical practices and mental health outcomes for all clients led to her successful consulting practice where she trains clinicians, conducts policy review, and guides clinics in creating and revising policy. Listen to hear how she uses a collaborative process that builds clinicians’ ownership in their practice and how regular policy review can enhance rather than hinder operations.

Audrey Omenson’s profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audreyomenson/

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Dr. Helia Taheri, Research and Insights Lead at Arcadis, is this week’s Fearless Careerist. While practicing sustainable architecture in her early career, Helia noticed that human behavior disrupted energy use projections. Her curiosity about humans and their interactions with their built environment led to her doctoral degree and a shift to human centric architecture research. Listen to hear how she is increasing awareness regarding the critical impact buildings have in our lives.

Dr. Helia Taheri’s profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heliataheri/

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Andrew Baines, Technology Transfer Associate at Rice University, is this week’s Fearless Careerist. While building experience in mechanical engineering research, Andrew realized that STEM students in minority groups needed examples of STEM careers. With partner Eliseo Iglesias, Andrew created the cuSTEM Journeys podcast showing examples of successful minority STEM professionals and actionable steps for building a STEM career. Andrew continues to provide guidance and resources to young professionals, most recently through the Next Gen Leaders podcast with cohost Sherhara Burrell. Listen to hear how he is helping bring new technologies to the market and about his service and guidance for young professionals.

View the cuSTEM Journeys podcast at: https://www.youtube.com/@cuSTEMJourneys

Learn more about Andrew Baines: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-baines-85763848/

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Brian Kopf, Director of Cloud Client Operations for AHEAD, is this week’s Fearless Careerist. Brian realized he had a passion for solving complex challenges in technology operations after a few years in sales. His skills and leadership in the industry grew along with the development of new technologies. After 26 years at the same company, Brian left the comfort of the familiar and faced a job search for the first time in decades. Listen in to hear how he made the transition.

Brian Kopf’s profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-kopf-6553432/

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David Loy of Leverage Brands, is this week’s Fearless Careerist. David first pursued a career in radio, but quickly realized that he did not enjoy radio ad sales. Inspired by the book, The Traveler’s Gift, by Andy Andrews, David left radio to pursue work that was meaningful and which he could build a career on. After several years placing speakers for The Premiere Speakers Bureau, David went on to lead Andy Andrews’ growing business. David later co-founded Leverage Brands which provides a host of services for authors and their platforms.

For more information, see Leverage Brands’ website at: 

https://leveragebrands.co/

David Loy’s profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-loy-3900846/

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Kurt Mosley and Neill Marshall of HealthSearch Partners, are this week’s Fearless Careerists. Neill started as an executive trainee selling plumbing supplies before moving into placing healthcare professionals into jobs. Neill went on to place health care executives and co-founded HealthSearch Partners. Kurt played baseball out of college before working in leadership roles for the GAP as a district manager, regional sales manager, then director of stores. Seeing the inevitable decline in malls, Kurt leveraged his contacts and respect for medical professionals to enter the healthcare placement world. Kurt specialized in client education, speaking to the healthcare industry about changes and concerns. Kurt and Neill collaborated to build the Playbook for the First 90 Days in Healthcare Leadership.

For more information, see HealthSearch Partners’ website at: 

https://healthsearchpartners.com/first-ninety-days/

Neill Marshall’s profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neillmarshall/

Kurt Mosley’s profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-mosley-01893212

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Arlene Matthews, stylist and host of Yeah Older, Yeah Cooler, is this week’s Fearless Careerist. Arlene chose a career in fashion, starting as a buyer for Nordstrom moved into wholesale, retail, e-commerce, to commercial styling and influencing. She shares fashion styling tips, travel, and Chicago lifestyle content on her YouTube channel and website.

For more information, see Arlene’s website at: 

https://www.arlenematthews.me/

Arlene’sYouTube site: https://www.youtube.com/@yeaholderyeahcooler

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Paul Osterhout, former Disney Imagineer and current public speaker, mentor, and pitch coach, is this week’s Fearless Careerist. Paul began his creative career with a passion for magic and a skill for sculpting. He moved from model making into production design and eventually held Vice President roles responsible for parks with Disney, Universal Parks, Contour Entertainment, and Century Media. He now speaks to audiences around the world on creative leadership, leadership for introverts, and how to craft the perfect pitch.

For more information, see Paul’s profile at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulosterhout/

Paul’s videos can also be found on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@paulosterhout1507

To see Paul’s early set building work on the 1985 Wrangler commercials, see: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAwQt2qp_Tk

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Dr. Jeanne Gerlach, founding Dean of the College of Education at the University of Texas at Arlington, is this week’s Fearless Careerist. Jeanne spent her career researching and promoting both English education and Women’s Studies with the goal of both shining a light on the past contributions of early women leaders and to open pathways for future women leaders. She continues to serve women’s leadership causes through her board service for both Leadership Women and Texas Women in Higher Education (TWHE).

For more information, see Dr. Gerlach’s profile at: https://leadership-women.org/page/JGerlach

To learn more about Leadership Women, see: https://leadership-women.org/

To learn more about Texas Women in Higher Education, see: 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/texas-women-in-higher-education-twhe/

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Catherine Robert, host of Fearless Careerist, discusses research that explains the multiple models of career paths and why these models don’t fit our understanding of the modern career. See the resources below for more information about the research highlighted in the episode:

Feiler, B. (2021). Life is in the transitions: Mastering change at any age. Penguin.

Selingo, J. J. (2016). There is life after college: What parents and students should know about navigating school to prepare for the jobs of tomorrow. HarperCollins.

Vilela, NGS, & Casado, T. (2023). Career stages in management studies: a systematic review of scientific production from 2011 to 2020. Revista de gestão , 30 (1), 62-77. https://www.emerald.com/rege/article/30/1/62/369145

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Megan Livatino, co-founder of the Girls Play Sports and real estate agent in Chicago is this week’s Fearless Careerist. Megan worked in human resources and recruiting before finding a long-term match with a part-time role in Human Resource Information Systems that fit her family’s schedule. After years of working odd hours, raising a family, and co-founding an award-winning non-profit, Megan pursued a long-held interest in work as a real estate agent. She is a successful agent with @properties for Chicago and North Chicago area properties.

For more information, see Megan’s website at: https://www.atproperties.com/site/meganlivatino. For information about Girls Play Sports, the nonprofit providing sporting opportunities for girls grades 3-8 in the Evanston area, see their website at  https://www.teamgps.org/.

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Susan Gold, founder of the Global Game Jam and host of the GGJ Podcast, is this week’s Fearless Careerist. A passionate advocate for democratizing gaming software for student use, Susan pioneered one of the first gaming technology education programs. In this episode, learn how she worked as a travel agent and in a museum before finding her true passion as an educator and curriculum developer who builds worldwide communities for human connection.

For more information, see Susan’s Substack at: https://ggjpodcast.substack.com/

The GGJ Podcast is available through Susan’s Substack and at: https://globalgamejam.org/podcast

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Show Notes:

Dr. Charity Gibson, author of The Working Homemaker, is this week’s Fearless Careerist. An English professor balancing family and work demands, Charity is fighting back against the definition of a homemaker as someone who does not work outside the home. In this episode, learn how she defines the term homemaker and her vision for working Christian mothers on not how they can have it all, but for how they can find balance in their lives.

For more information, see Charity’s website at: https://charitygibson.com/

To order Charity’s book online, see: https://tinyurl.com/4w7764hk

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Show Notes:

Joel Schwartzberg, author of Get to the Point and The Language of Leadership, is this week’s Fearless Careerist. A champion collegiate public speaker and public relations executive, Joel provides workplace communications coaching. In this episode, learn how he worked in PR and speechwriting roles that built a deep experience in workplace communications and eventually successfully combined both his skills and his passion for fulfilling work.

For more information, see Joel’s website at: https://www.joelschwartzberg.net/

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In the first in our Foundations series, Catherine Robert discusses research that explains how and why we make our early career decisions. See the resources below for more information about the following topics:

Career Identity - See Sharon Belden Castonguay’s TedX talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e6KSaCxcHs

Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) and Self-Efficacy - See Amanda DeDiego’s summary at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg34IDe93Nw and Robert Lent and Steven Brown’s (2019) 25-year review of SCCT at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0001879119300806?via%3Dihub

Career Exploration - See Haenggli and colleagues’ (2025) study at:  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001879125000442?via%3Dihub

Career Competency - See Blokker and colleagues’ (2025) study of career competency profiles at:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001879125000776?via%3Dihub

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Dario Hernandez, retired Marine and Purple Heart recipient, is this week’s Fearless Careerist. Dario retired from the U.S. Marine Corps and used his leadership training and communication skills to build success as a mortgage loan officer. This fall, Dario founded his own mortgage brokerage company that specializes in VA loans.

For more information, email Dario from his website at veteransmortgagelending.com.

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Dr. Elizabeth A. Dale, President and Founder of Chilmark Nexus Advisers, is this week’s Fearless Careerist. Elizabeth advises leaders in turning innovations into reality through her executive coaching, building advancement teams within startups, and providing strategic guidance for allocating funding. For example, she has worked with CraniUS Therapeutics, a company bypassing the blood-brain barrier with their device to treat diseases such as Alzheimer's. In this episode, learn how her she worked her way up and throughout key positions in universities, building foundations, creating departments, and earning millions of dollars for universities along the way.

For more information, see Elizabeth’s LinkedIn profile at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-a-dale/

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Dr. Kelly Cagle, host of the Parenting IQ Podcast, is this week’s Fearless Careerist. Kelly helps parents create workable strategies for raising children with ADHD. Her inspirational and practical advice stems from her research in schools, her career as an educator, and from her own experiences raising three children with her husband, Josh. In this episode, learn how her experience as a student new to the United States shaped her views on school; plus listen to  how she has carefully balanced family needs and work when making decisions about her own children’s schooling.

Kelly’s podcast, courses for families, and coaching can be found at: https://www.drkellycagle.com/

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In this episode, Catherine provides an end-of-year recap on the podcast, talks about her progress on her forthcoming book, and discusses exciting developments for 2026.

Visit Catherine’s website to sign up for our newsletter and receive podcast updates.

Do you know a Fearless Careerist that we should interview? Complete the nomination form here.

Contact us at: fearlesscareerist@gmail.com

Today’s Fearless Careerist is Kristen Hermanson. Kristen has built an impressive LinkedIn platform by reaching out to 50 new people each week and provides thoughtful posts and commentary on our work lives. She is an experienced communications administrator with over 20 years of experience at Paramount Home Entertainment. In this episode, Kristen describes  her time since leaving Paramount. She has become a fearless cheerleader for other job seekers, has acquired new skills for the changing workforce, and shares valuable advice for others confronting a job search. 

To learn more about Kristen’s experience, check out her profile here.

Visit Catherine’s website to sign up for our newsletter and receive podcast updates.

Do you know a Fearless Careerist that we should interview? Complete the nomination form here.

Contact us at: fearlesscareerist@gmail.com

Today’s Fearless Careerist is Dr. Cindy Woody. Cindy has served at all levels of education as a teacher and leader throughout her distinguished career. When applying for hard to get jobs, she has successfully used hugs, apple pie, and eye contact and handshakes to introduce herself. She is currently an Assistant Professor in Educational Leadership at the University of Texas at Tyler where she trains new principals, advises doctoral students, and studies topics such as the role of hope in leadership and support for novice leaders.

To learn more about Cindy’s work, check out her profile here. Cindy’s YouTube channel provides useful reviews, tips, and walkthroughs of Texas principal certification standards.

Visit Catherine’s website to sign up for our newsletter and receive podcast updates.

Do you know a Fearless Careerist that we should interview? Complete the nomination form here.

Contact us at: fearlesscareerist@gmail.com

Today’s Fearless Careerist (and first guest!) is Dr. Eilene Edejer. Eilene has developed learning experiences for all levels of students, all the way from pre-K through graduate students. She is a clinical associate professor in the School of Education at Loyola University Chicago. Through her scholarship and assessment and evaluation, leadership and teaching, she has maintained her passion for mentoring students and providing voices for underserved populations within educational spaces.

In 2024, she won both the Outstanding Registered Student Organization Advisor of the Year and the Pedro Arrupe S.J. Faculty Award for Diversity Leadership.

To learn more about Eilene’s work, check out her profile here.

Visit Catherine’s website to sign up for our newsletter and receive podcast updates.

Do you know a Fearless Careerist that we should interview? Complete the nomination form here.

Contact us at: fearlesscareerist@gmail.com

Here's a sneak peek of the Fearless Careerist podcast. I am so excited you are here. Remember, you are not alone on your career journey!