Career Practitioner Conversations with NCDA – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, host Melissa Venable discusses artificial intelligence (AI) and digital presence with guests Dr. Sheetal J. Patel and Michael Joiner-Hill from Stanford University's Integrative Learning Portfolio Lab (ILPL). Their conversation explores the importance of digital presence in career development, the role of personal branding and storytelling, and approaches to help students and clients navigate the digital space. The episode emphasizes the dynamic nature of digital presence and offers a framework for effectively guiding students and professionals that addresses diversity, equity, and inclusion considerations.

Dr. Sheetal J. Patel has 20 years of experience across industries helping organizations and people understand how to have the greatest impact. She is currently the co-founder of the Integrative Learning Portfolio Lab at Stanford University and 95z consulting, founder of A2O, Inc, a researcher and strategist at LinkedIn Learning, a published author, and speaks and consults regularly. She is also a CTI (CoActive) trained and Design Your Life and ICF ACC certified Career Coach working with early career professionals through C-suite executives. Her recent research has focused on Generative AI in storytelling, meaningful work, multigenerational workplaces, learning, DEI online, ePortfolios, digital presence, and brand management. Dr. Patel earned a PhD in Mass Communication with focus areas on media psychology, consumer research, strategic communication and advertising, and nonprofit public health communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; a master’s degree in Advertising; and two bachelor’s degrees in Advertising and Public Relations from the University of Texas at Austin.                

Michael Joiner-Hill possesses a decade of experience as an educator and leader in higher education. He currently serves as an Associate Director for Career Coaching and Education at Stanford Career Education, leading the Center’s efforts in providing high quality career education support for undergraduate and master’s-level students pursuing degrees in the humanities & sciences. Prior to joining Stanford Career Education, Michael was the Director of the Humanities & Arts Student Success Center at San Jose State University and Assistant Director of Student Engagement for 18,000+ liberal arts undergraduate students at the University of Michigan. He has a BA in Psychology and MSW in Interpersonal Practice with a focus area of mental health, both from the University of Michigan.  

Resources

• Integrative Learning Portfolio Lab
  • ILPL Digital Presence Framework
  • Story Strategies
  • Example portfolios 
• Learn more about this topic through Sheetal and Michael's upcoming NCDA webinar.
  
  

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In this episode, Melissa Venable, NCDA Director of Professional Development, hosts Dr. Tina Persson, a global career coach and CEO of Passage2Pro. They discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the job search and career coaching landscape. Dr. Persson shares her experiences of significant shifts in the recruitment industry, including the influence of LinkedIn and AI tools like ChatGPT. The conversation explores the evolving role of career development professionals and the importance of human skills in a technology-driven job market. Key topics include the phasing out of traditional resumes and cover letters, AI-driven job ads and resume evaluations, and the need for a mindset shift towards leveraging AI for career success. Dr. Persson also emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and adaptability in future job markets.

Dr. Tina Persson is a visionary coach with a multifaceted background from the university and the corporate world. She holds an ICF PCC certification as an Executive and Career & Leadership Coach, specializing in emotional and adaptability intelligence. These skills have played a crucial role in shaping her educational and coaching business.

Additionally, Tina is a highly sought-after speaker. She frequently facilitates workshops and seminars for senior leaders, C-level executives, and high-potential individuals to help them achieve their goals. She is also an expert in leadership and team coaching facilitation.

Having spent nearly two decades in academia, Tina transitioned to the recruitment industry, gaining eight years of expertise as a Recruiter, Talent- and Brand Manager. Leveraging her diverse experience, she empowers researchers to transition smoothly from academia to rewarding business-driven careers. Her guidance has helped hundreds of researchers worldwide launch their new careers successfully.

As a successful businesswoman with an unwavering entrepreneurial spirit, Tina is the Founder of Passage2Pro AB, an educational and coaching company, and Aptahem AB, a biotech start-up featured in over 20 scientific publications. Furthermore, Tina is the inventor of 2 scientific patents. This passionate professional works out at the CrossFit Gym when she isn't coaching.

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In this episode, NCDA Professional Development Director Melissa Venable meets with Ken Meeker to discuss Disability Pride Month. Ken is a writer, speaker, podcaster and Certified Professional Coach providing services through his company, Vitality Career Coaching LLC. Ken is also a member of NCDA’s Diversity Initiatives and Cultural Inclusion Committee and a recent graduate of NCDA’s Leadership Academy.

The conversation provides an introduction to Disability Pride Month and recommended resources for career development professionals who may be working with students or clients who have disabilities. Ken emphasizes that you don’t have to be an expert in disability services, but you can build a network that includes this kind of expertise. We can also be proactive in asking questions, finding effective resources, and expanding our awareness and advocacy related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Resources

• Rocky Mountain ADA Center Course Catalog
• ADA National Network
• Job Accommodation Network - Ask Jan
• Vitality Career Coaching

More information about Ken Meeker:

Ken Meeker is the owner of Vitality Career Coaching LLC, a boutique leadership, executive, and career coaching company. In addition to one-on-one client coaching, Ken develops customized workshops and training tailored to the unique needs of business clients. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility consulting are essential aspects of his work. Ken is a Certified Professional Coach, Certified ADA Coordinator, and has extensive DEI training and education, participated in numerous seminars and summits, and is Inclusive Behaviors Inventory Certified. Several national organizations have featured him as a presenter or panelist for discussions on workplace inclusivity, disability inclusion, accessibility, and other topics. He is a graduate of the AFB Blind Leaders Development Program, National Career Development Association’s Leadership Academy 2023-24 Fellow, and received the 2023 AFB Llura Gund National Leadership Award.

Additionally, Ken is the creator and host of the “Dissing My Ability" Podcast and has appeared on several other shows and podcasts. Ken is a regular contributor to the Bold Blind Beauty lifestyle magazine, Beyond Sight and serves on the NCDA private practice advisory board. Prior to launching his business, he was the Career Specialist for a comprehensive vocational rehabilitation program serving blind/low vision adults. Ken held leadership roles in the commercial insurance industry for many years and maintains an active agent license in Arizona, providing him with key knowledge and insight for businesses on topics such as: discrimination, employment practices, and other important risk management related topics.

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In this episode, Melissa Venable hosts Dr. Pankaj Desai from NCDA’s International Student Services Committee (ISSC). This conversation introduces the annual ISSC Mini-Conference taking place on Friday, August 9, 10:00-4:00pm CST.

The virtual conference theme – Charting Your Course: Career Navigation for International Students in a Changing Landscape – includes presentations related to mental health, artificial intelligence, setting up a private practice, non-linear career paths, and more. The discussion also includes information about the International Student Services Committee and how you can get involved. 

Registration is free and open to all NCDA members, and attendance earns up to 5 CEs.

• Registration Form
• Information and Agenda

 Resources

• ISSC and other NCDA Committees
• ISSC YouTube Channel

 More Information About Dr. Desai

Dr. Pankaj Desai currently serves The Career Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as the Senior Assistant Director for Inclusion Initiatives. Dr. Desai has a Ph.D. in Educational Studies from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Multiculturalism in higher education, career development, international student support, globalization in education, college student persistence and engagement, and student development are some of his areas of interest. Dr. Desai currently serves the NCDA International Student Services Committee as the Chair of the annual mini-conference planning committee. Dr. Desai is also associated with ACPA as the Chair of the Commission for Global Dimensions of Student Development. 

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Today’s job seekers face a host of challenges from ageism and ghosting to artificial intelligence tools and one-way interviews. This episode captures a conversation about these challenges with two members of the New Jersey Career Development Association’s Board of Directors. Jeanetta Warren is the founder and CEO of JW Professional Writing Services. Paul Cecala is the author of Take Control of Your Job Search and founder of Cecala Career Consultants, LLC.

The discussion includes consideration of the employer side of the job search and the new technologies increasingly used by both companies and applicants. Jeanetta and Paul share strategies you can use to help your students and clients enhance their approach to preparing for the unique issues of today’s economy, set realistic expectations, and maximize their efforts to connect with hiring managers.

Resources

• Workable - Recruiting Software
• Spark Hire - Interview Software
• Yoodli - Interview Prep
• Turbocharge Your Resume - Jeanetta's Course
• Take Control of Your Job Search - Paul's Book

More information about Jeanetta and Paul:

Jeanetta Warren is the visionary founder and CEO of JW Professional Writing Services, a global premium career branding agency. Jeanetta is a career branding strategist, professional resume writer, LinkedIn profile transformation expert, digital course creator, and educator. She has a master’s degree in administrative science from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a bachelor's degree in behavioral science from Wilmington University.

Jeanetta is an advocate for DEIB in the workplace. She actively seeks opportunities to support students graduating from college and underrepresented professionals on their career journeys. Jeanetta was nominated for the Delaware Valley HR Consultant of the Year in 2024.

Paul Cecala specializes in creating job search project plans and is recognized for his empathetic listening skills. He has assisted people from a variety of backgrounds with expertise in DEI&B (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging), aviation, business leadership, project management, technology, pharma/biotech, and healthcare. Since 1999 Paul has assisted over 4000 job seekers ranging from C-Suite executives to college students. 

Paul currently facilitates job seeker networking groups for four different organizations. He has helmed the adult professional education programs for 2 colleges and a NJ Dept. of Labor One- Stop Career Center. Paul has his BS in Psychology from Florida Institute of Technology. He has published two books and numerous articles on career coaching in a variety of publications.

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This conversation with NCDA President Carolyn Jones provides an overview of the 2024 Global Career Development Conference and reflections on recent accomplishments. Carolyn shares details about the conference theme, The Interconnection of Career Development and Mental Health: Strategies and Techniques to promote Well-Being and Success, and encourages participation in the on-site and virtual events. 

More information about the on-site conference, to be held in person June 26-28 in San Diego, California, can be found on the Conference Home Page.  Registration for the virtual option is also open - the virtual event will be available July 22 through October 31, 2024.

For more about the International Student Services Committee's Annual Mini-Conference on August 9th, watch this page for updates.

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In this episode, Dr. Bret Anderson sheds light on the multifaceted shifts that are altering the fabric of the corporate world. Discover the connections between DEI initiative, artificial intelligence, and legislation as they shape the hiring process for many employers. Bret also shares his expertise in the development and use of employer-fit algorithms, and tools that evaluate job applicants beyond resumes, analyzing everything from speech patterns to facial expressions. The discussion includes recent EEOC guidelines to prevent bias and ensure fairness across all candidate backgrounds. Bret shares his insights on maintaining authenticity in the AI hiring era and offers strategic advice for companies seeking to leverage these technologies without sacrificing the human touch. This conversation reaffirms the necessity of access to career guidance for all.

Dr. Bret Anderson is President of h2 Communication, LLC, providing job readiness training, executive coaching, and frontline leadership development.

Resources

• Are Companies Quiet Quitting DEI? - Forbes
• Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity - Littler Survey Report 2024
• Presentation Slides - Bret Anderson

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Learn more about the work of NCDA’s Government Relations Committee! In this episode Co-Chairs Shelby McIntyre and Elle O’Flaherty share the work of this vital, volunteer committee to help shape NCDA’s nonpartisan policy platform, provide resources to career development professionals, and bring attention to state-level legislation. They emphasize how you can make a difference for your community, students, and clients, through both awareness and collective action. You are also invited to participate in future projects and connect with Shelby and Elle for more information or to get involved.

Shelby McIntyre is a career counselor at Pasadena City College and Elle O’Flaherty is the Founder of Interlace Solutions. 

Resources

• Advocacy in Action: How New Legislation Will Transform Career Development - NCDA Webinar with Shelby McIntyre and Elle O'Flaherty
• NCDA Government Relations Committee
• NCDA Advocacy Alerts, Reports & News

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This episode is the third in a three-part series of conversations about career development and collaborative negotiation with Justin Wright (moderator), Tad Mayer, and Carly Inkpen – authors of Finding a Job that Loves You Back. They are joined by Courtney Warnsman, NCDA Trustee for Private Practice, Business-Industry and Agencies. 

It is not uncommon to reach mid- or later career and not be sure that’s where you want to be. How are the career questions that people face different at this career stage? This conversation addresses mindset, changing fulfillment needs, access to resources, exploring new possibilities, and evaluating potential challenges and risks with compassion and advocacy in mind - shifting from guide to collaborator.

• Episode 1 - Coaching, Advising, and Counseling Skills: When Do you Use Each one?
• Episode 2 - Working with Reluctant Networkers

Learn more about the panel participants:

Carly Inkpen is a social worker, writer, and visual artist. In each of these roles, they explore trauma, gender, migration, and how people inhabit their bodies as they move through the world. Carly holds an MSW from Smith College School for Social Work and a BA from the University of Arizona. They work as a psychotherapist and are currently training to practice as a psychedelic therapist. Carly's writing projects focus on gender identity, third culture kid experience, science fiction as social commentary, and psychoanalytic theory. 

Tad Mayer is a deeply curious one-on-one interaction junkie dedicated to rescuing clients’ inspiration and reaching that “A ha!” moment. He is focused on understanding motivation, enhancing behavior, and improving effectiveness. Tad is a career consultant and partner at Essex Partners, a national outplacement firm dedicated to helping senior executives find the right path forward. Tad’s previous professional roles have spanned Stage Electrician at Ballet West, Media Planner at DDB, Manager of Domestic Pricing at Northwest Airlines (now Delta), Director of Partner Marketing at Sheraton Hotels, and Director of Commercial & Corporate Programs at Mediation Works Incorporated (MWI). 

Courtney Warnsman, Ph.D. has been a career development facilitator for nearly 20 years. She works at Austin Career Connections in Austin delivering career transition and development services to individual clients across functional roles and industries. She is an Executive Development Program Consultant for the Baylor University Executive MBA Program and was recently tapped to serve on the advisory board of The Chiral Project, a startup venture exploring the unique challenges that women have experienced as they have either chosen or been forced to step back professionally during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Courtney received her Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.

Justin Wright is the CEO of Habitus, a certified B Corporation. His work focuses on facilitating complex decision-making processes and coordinating collaboration between multiple stakeholders to empower collective action. Justin has worked with organizations including PolicyLink, the Other and Belonging Institute, MIT Office of Sustainability, and the B Corp Climate Collect to further their commitments to social justice, racial equity, and environmental sustainability. Justin seeks out this kind of work because of his Quaker commitment to peace, equality, and stewardship. 

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This episode is the second in a three-part series of conversations about career development and collaborative negotiation with Justin Wright (moderator), Tad Mayer, and Carly Inkpen – authors of Finding a Job that Loves You Back. They are joined by Courtney Warnsman, NCDA Trustee for Private Practice, Business-Industry and Agencies. 

The discussion describes networking as a fundamental concept of connecting with other people, with an understanding that every conversation is a kind of negotiation or exchange. The challenges faced by those with trauma histories and doubts about the possibility of trusting relationships are also addressed.

• Episode 1 - Coaching, Advising, and Counseling Skills: When Do you Use Each one?
• Episode 3 - Working with Mid- and Late-Career Clients

Learn more about the panel participants:

Carly Inkpen is a social worker, writer, and visual artist. In each of these roles, they explore trauma, gender, migration, and how people inhabit their bodies as they move through the world. Carly holds an MSW from Smith College School for Social Work and a BA from the University of Arizona. They work as a psychotherapist and are currently training to practice as a psychedelic therapist. Carly's writing projects focus on gender identity, third culture kid experience, science fiction as social commentary, and psychoanalytic theory.

Tad Mayer is a deeply curious one-on-one interaction junkie dedicated to rescuing clients’ inspiration and reaching that “A ha!” moment. He is focused on understanding motivation, enhancing behavior, and improving effectiveness. Tad is a career consultant and partner at Essex Partners, a national outplacement firm dedicated to helping senior executives find the right path forward. Tad’s previous roles  span Stage Electrician at Ballet West, Media Planner at DDB, Manager of Domestic Pricing at Northwest Airlines (now Delta), Director of Partner Marketing at Sheraton Hotels, and Director of Commercial & Corporate Programs at Mediation Works Incorporated (MWI).

Courtney Warnsman, Ph.D., a career development facilitator for nearly 20 years, works at Austin Career Connections in Austin delivering career transition and development services to individual clients across functional roles and industries. She is an Executive Development Program Consultant for the Baylor University Executive MBA Program and was recently tapped to serve on the advisory board of The Chiral Project, a startup venture exploring the unique challenges that women have experienced as they have either chosen or been forced to step back professionally during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Courtney received her Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.

Justin Wright is the CEO of Habitus, a certified B Corporation. His work focuses on facilitating complex decision-making processes and coordinating collaboration between multiple stakeholders to empower collective action. Justin has worked with organizations including PolicyLink, the Other and Belonging Institute, MIT Office of Sustainability, and the B Corp Climate Collect to further their commitments to social justice, racial equity, and environmental sustainability. Justin seeks out this kind of work because of his Quaker commitment to peace, equality, and stewardship. 

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