Explore every episode of the podcast Steer Your Career Podcast
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| Ep 130: The Warrior Mindset: Why Fear is Your Career's Best Compass with Jill Schulman | 04 Sep 2025 | 00:38:35 | |
What if the very thing you're avoiding in your job search is exactly what you need to pursue? Jill Schulman reveals why running toward your fears—not away from them—is the secret to accelerating your career. In this episode, Alan and Jill dive deep into the science of bravery and its practical applications for job seekers. You'll discover how to develop a "warrior mindset" by adding one simple word to your self-limiting beliefs, learn why you can actually generate positive emotions on demand to fuel your success, and master the networking question that doubles your chances of getting meaningful connections. Ready to steer your career with courage? Tune in to the full episode now! | |||
| Ep 129: The Kadima Method: How Alon Bochman Landed Roles at Big Tech Companies | 10 Jul 2025 | 00:33:20 | |
🎙️ What if one decision could completely transform your career and your life?
💡 In this episode, you'll learn:
Tune in to hear how strategy, structure, and persistence helped reshape one career, and how it can do the same for yours. | |||
| Ep 120: How Dexter Zhuang Built a Global Career Through Smart Networking | 13 Feb 2025 | 00:36:40 | |
In this episode, Alan sits down with Dexter Zhuang, founder of Money Abroad, to explore the fascinating journey from traditional corporate roles to building a portfolio career. Dexter shares his experience transitioning from tech giants like Dropbox to international ventures in Singapore, and finally to creating his own path. They also dive deep into relationship building, cold outreach strategies that actually work, and how to make successful career transitions across countries. Tune in to learn how to design your own path while maintaining the lifestyle you desire! | |||
| Ep 30: The Secrets to Success at Big Tech: an Interview with Brandon Middleton | 10 Nov 2022 | 00:52:16 | |
A strong work ethic and courage to take opportunities can pay off. Brandon Middleton has worked for multiple big tech companies like Cisco and Microsoft. He currently works for Amazon AWS and also is a co-founder of Trillicon Valley, a media and design collective for the benefit of youth and community inspiration. In today's episode, Brandon discusses how he landed his jobs and why he shifted to different companies. He also shares his experience of being a black man in big tech. Tune in to hear some great advice!
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RESOURCE LINKS Stanford Community College Instagram
BIO: Brandon Middleton is a proud graduate of UC Berkeley (MBA) and the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (ECE) and has a passion for education and creatively engaging students. In the last 17 years, he has been an engineer at Cisco, a Sales guy at Microsoft, a Director of BD at Slalom Consulting, and now a Web3 BDM at AWS.
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| Ep 29 Helping the Under-represented with Advice to Overperform: an interview with Keith Powell | 03 Nov 2022 | 00:48:13 | |
Moving six times in seven years, Keith Powell was willing to do what it took to take advantage of opportunities to advance his career. Kieth has a passion for helping under-represented employees succeed and uses his 20-plus years of corporate experience to coach those individuals to achieve their potential. On today's episode, Keith talks with Alan about being a black executive in the tech world. He shares his career journey, gives advice on steps to take for career advancement, and offers valuable input on promotions and career changes. You don't want to miss this episode!
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RESOURCE LINKS Email: Keith@C-crets.com
BIO: Keith Powell is a Chief Operating Officer in private education with over 20 years of corporate experience in the U.S. and Canada. For most of his career, Keith led global Finance and Operations functions for Fortune 1000 companies in the automotive, chemical, consumer and commercial goods, e-commerce, and smart home industries. After getting a taste of the top of Corporate America, Keith joined a start-up private equity firm, took a shot at an e-commerce start-up, and began advising entrepreneurs on start-ups, including working with the family of Golden State Warriors legend, Al Attles, on various philanthropic and business ventures. Keith also has deep roots in philanthropy - sitting on numerous local, state, and national Boards over the past 20 years. Keith was the "first" or the "only" quite often climbing the corporate ladder. Having mentored and coached hundreds throughout his career, Keith continues to share practical, digestible advice to underrepresented employees as a co-host of C-CRETS, which is a career advice platform offering career coaching services, online courses, and topical content through blogs and a podcast. Keith also holds an MBA from the Kelley School of Business in Indiana.
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| Ep 28- Interviewing in Tech as a Nontraditional Candidate: An Interview with Interviewing.io's Aline Lerner | 27 Oct 2022 | 00:48:46 | |
The two hurdles to finding a job are getting your foot in the door and doing well in the interview to land the job. Today, Alan talks with Aline Lerner who is the founder and CEO of Interviewing.io. She works with software engineers and other professionals, helping them practice interviews (especially technical), giving feedback, and providing mentorship. In this episode, they discuss the main biases of hiring and how to fight those biases. Tune in to learn about more resources for interview preparation.
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RESOURCE LINKS Aline Lerner Email
Aline Lerner is the founder and CEO of interviewing.io, an anonymous mock interview & recruiting platform that has helped tens of thousands of engineers practice technical interviewing and land their dream jobs. Before interviewing.io, Aline worked as an engineer, ran hiring at Udacity, and wrote a lot of angry stuff about hiring on the internet. Her data-driven posts about how typos matter more than pedigree, how resumes are a low-signal filtering tool, and how technical interview performance is non-deterministic have been read by millions of people, and her work has been featured in Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, NPR, and more.
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| Ep 27: SYCK Tricks to Succeed at Google: An Interview with Viktoriya Masand | 20 Oct 2022 | 01:07:32 | |
With more than a decade working at Google, Viktoriya Massand is the perfect person to share her success with others about working at Google. Viktoriya is known for her willingness to roll up her sleeves and get work done with a great attitude. On today's episode, she recalls her time working with Alan. They discuss promotions, their mutual love for Google, and company reorganizations. Tune in to hear interview tips, ideal candidate qualities, and lessons Viktoriya has learned along the way.
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RESOURCE LINKS BIO: Viktoriya Masand grew up in Kiev, Ukraine, and came to the US after high school with her family. Viktoriya's family settled in Indianapolis, IN, where she attended Purdue University and Indiana University Kelley School of Business and worked at Sallie Mae, a financial services company. Viktoriya moved to California in 2011 to work at Google where she works with top ChromeOS partners to optimize their applications for Chromebooks. Before moving to ChromeOS, Viktoriya launched and led a global co-sell program for ~200+ technology companies that build their businesses on Google Cloud Platform. Viktoriya loves spending time with her two sons who are the loves of her life. Together, they love to read, color, play and learn!
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| Ep 26: Self Awareness in Your Career: An Interview with Nirupa Umapathy | 13 Oct 2022 | 01:09:22 | |
Your career doesn't have to follow a traditional path. In today's episode, Alan is joined by Nirupa Umapathy who was very successful in corporate life for 14 years. Now, she subscribes to a different work model but continues to invest. She is her own boss and is working for equitable social change by founding Salons For Life. Nirupa recalls her journey, enforces the value of networking, and explains what recruiters are looking for. Tune in as she shares financial and career advice to increase your career happiness.
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RESOURCE LINKS The 10 Rules of Happiness Amazon The Forty Rules of Love Amazon The Forty Rules of Love Bookshop
BIO: Nirupa Umapathy is a writer, investor, and social entrepreneur, who pivoted from a traditional corporate career in financial services to pursue a life-work framework, motivated by mission and equitable social change. Nirupa is a co-founder of a creative learning community called Salons for Life, which designs creative playdates for adults with competing claims on time and headspace. Nirupa writes non-fiction with a focus on exploring trauma, burnout, and post-traumatic growth, especially corporate burnout. Nirupa deploys her financial services background in her private investments, where she is actively leaning into an ESG-based framework. Nirupa was last a Managing Director at Whitebox Advisors and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where she covered institutional investors for fixed income and structured products. As a first-hand witness to the 2008 financial crisis, Nirupa believes that a life-work framework informed by governance and values-driven decision-making is critical and that outcomes must be designed for multiple stakeholders. A forever free spirit, Nirupa funds her joy through travel, community building, and the creative and healing arts.
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| Ep 25- Taking Career Opportunities That Come Your Way: An Interview with Dennis Schultz | 06 Oct 2022 | 00:43:25 | |
Dennis Shultz has played a role at multiple big tech giants for more than 25 years. From Rackspace, Samsung, and Dell to his current role at Microsoft, he has taken many career opportunities that have come his way. Another significant role that Dennis plays is the Executive Director for Blacks in Technology. Today, Alan and Dennis discuss career changes, lessons learned, and how being black impacted Dennis in these big-tech roles. Tune in as Dennis shares advice from his experiences.
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RESOURCE LINKS When They Win, You Win book mentioned on Amazon BIO: Dennis Schultz is the Executive Director of the Blacks In Technology Foundation, an organization that boasts the largest network for Black technology professionals with over 65 chapters in 17 countries. Dennis has over 25 years of experience in the technology industry serving in a variety of roles including, enterprise sales, business development, customer success, and consulting. Dennis' experience includes time at tech's most respected brands such as Dropbox, Gartner, Samsung, Dell, Lenovo, Rackspace Technology, VERITAS Software, APC, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise to name a few. Currently Dennis works at Microsoft helping major corporations with digital transformation.
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| Ep 24: The Meaning of Mentorship: An Interview with LaToya Jordan | 29 Sep 2022 | 00:56:32 | |
Today, Alan is joined by a corporate champion who has worn many hats, but each hat was focused on bettering people and company culture. LaToya Jordan has used her passion for developing others in roles such as Global Mentoring and Employment Development at Pfizer as well as Director of Talent Management and Diversity at JetBlue Airways. As founder of Lead By Design Lab, she continues to work with huge names. In this episode, she shares the importance of having mentors, how being a black woman impacted her in her role, and insight into corporate performance-rating systems. Listen in as LaToya gives advice on how to accelerate career advancement.
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BIO: Named one of Black Enterprise's 2018 Corporate Diversity Executives, LaToya Jordan has spent over 15 years as a human capital strategist providing business and professional development counsel, executive coaching, training, and workshops to business leaders, employees, students, and community-based organizations. She has worked with leaders and teams in corporate, nonprofit, and university settings including Peloton, Uber, Cigna, TMobile, Mitsubishi, Swiss Re, Michigan State University, Grand Valley State University, NJ LEEP, The Columbus Foundation, United States Postal Service, and the NAACP Brooklyn Branch. Supporting executives in unique, human-centric ways through leadership coaching, team development, and organizational effectiveness is a foundational aspect of LaToya's work. Prior to launching her boutique consulting practice in 2019, Lead By Design Lab, she was the Director of Talent Management and Diversity at JetBlue Airways where she developed strategies to support the employee lifecycle including performance management, succession planning, emerging talent programs, and diversity initiatives. Before joining JetBlue, LaToya led global mentoring and employee development at Pfizer, Inc. LaToya is also an adjunct professor at Columbia University teaching team development and Stanford University teaching design thinking. She received her Ph.D. from Columbia University in Social-Organizational Psychology.
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| Ep 23: Making the Choice to Pivot: From Founder to Startup Executive | 22 Sep 2022 | 00:52:42 | |
On today's episode, Alan moves away from talking Big Tech to hear from Naama Bloom, who also turned down an offer from Big Tech. Naama Bloom has spent over two decades as a marketing executive for numerous companies, including founding her own startup. She methodically makes career decisions with a matrix of criteria. Listen in as Naama shares her career journey, how she makes decisions, and advice for others in their careers. IN THIS EPISODE:
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RESOURCE LINKS BIO: Naama Bloom is a 20-year marketing executive who has worked at corporations large and small. Over her career, she spent time at American Express, Zulily, and as a founder of HelloFlo, a women's health company that she built and later sold to She Media. She is currently the CMO of TrueML, a fintech software company dedicated to improving the lives of people in debt.
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| Ep 22: 17 Years at Google: An Interview with Kara Gabay | 15 Sep 2022 | 00:56:20 | |
Starting with Google 6 weeks before the IPO, Kara Gabay has a wide band of experience and knowledge from the last 17 years at Google. She has recently started her own coaching practice. In this episode, Kara recalls her journey of getting to Google and the moves within the company over the years. Having interviewed many candidates, she shares knowledge on internal vs external interviews, how the process works, and tips for preparing for the meeting. Tune in as Kara shares advice on how to be proactive in your career.
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BIO: Kara Gabay has over 25 years of corporate experience, including over 18 years at Google where she primarily ran strategy & operations for various sales orgs. In her most recent role at Google, she focuses on leadership enablement - helping managers become stronger leaders. In addition to Google, she runs her own coaching practice with a focus on individual coaching, team dynamics, group coaching and 360 assessments. You can learn more about her coaching style at BYOBeacon.com. Kara has a BA from SUNY New Paltz. In 2020, she received her coaching certification from the Hudson Institute of Coaching. She is a Member of ICF (International Coaching Federation) with her ACC (Associate Certified Coach). She lives in the Hudson Valley with her husband, two teenage daughters and their Boston Terrier. | |||
| Ep 21 SYCK Tricks for "Multipotentialites": An Interview with AWS's Harold Pietri | 08 Sep 2022 | 00:55:18 | |
Determined to receive prestigious job offers from his preferred companies, Harold Pietri was very strategic in the steps he took to get there. Harold finished his undergrad work in Venezuela before moving to the United States to get his MBA. He wasn't done traveling yet though as he applied to his dream company in Spain to stand out and worked hard to end up back in the states. Now, Harold is an Enterprise Account Executive at Amazon Web Services. In this episode, Harold shares his journey and some strategies he used to get multiple job offers (in multiple fields), and some advice to others working towards their dreams.
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BIO: Harold Pietri is currently an Enterprise Account Executive at Amazon Web Services. He recently graduated with his MBA from The University of Rochester's Simon Business School, where he specialized in Technology Consulting, Strategy & Pricing. He's owned and operated businesses in e-commerce and retail, and worked as Chief Sales Marketing Officer for a digital marketing agency in LATAM. Harold believes in a breadth of experiences and following your curiosity.
RESOURCE LINKS "Great on the Job" book by Jodi Glickman
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| Ep 119: Breaking the Outplacement Mold: A Holistic Approach to Career (re)Acceleration | 30 Jan 2025 | 00:47:02 | |
Has your job ever been eliminated unexpectedly? In this episode, career coach Anne Baker joins host Alan Stein to tackle the often-stigmatized world of "outplacement" services and share a bold new vision for helping displaced employees relaunch their careers. Drawing from her decades of experience in the corporate world, Anne discusses why mass layoffs are becoming more common in the age of AI, and why being let go is no longer the career "scarlet letter" it once was. They also dive deep into what's broken with traditional outplacement support, from inconsistent coaching quality to outdated approaches, while exploring modern solutions for what they call career "re-acceleration." Tune in to learn why traditional outplacement services need reimagining and how companies can better support their departing employees. | |||
| EP 20: Learning the Unwritten Rules of the Game: An Interview with Sistas in Sales' Chantel George | 01 Sep 2022 | 00:46:14 | |
It is extremely difficult to win the game if you do not know the rules. In this episode of the SYCK podcast, Chantel George highlights the importance of learning the unwritten rules in sales and moving up the ladder as not only a woman but also a black woman. She is the founder of Sistas in Sales, a blossoming 6000+ member organization that enables and advocates for black women and women of color in sales to accelerate their careers. Chantel shares the value of ERGs, networking, and strategies to promote higher success. Tune in to hear her best piece of advice for listeners.
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BIO: Chantel George is the founder of Sistas In Sales (SIS) - the largest global organization for women of color in sales. She founded Sistas In Sales out of a determination to promote, support, and encourage women of color in sales across all industries. Sistas In Sales partners with Fortune 500 companies, tech start-ups, and consulting businesses to help them attract, hire and retain women of color sales professionals. SIS also provides world-class training, networking opportunities, and above all else, sisterhood for this underrepresented community.
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| Ep 19: SYCK Tricks from a Seasoned Recruiter: An Interview with Margaret Buj | 25 Aug 2022 | 00:42:36 | |
Today's guest on the SYCK Podcast is seasoned recruiter and interview coach, Margaret Buj. We cover a lot of ground in this episode, starting with how recruiters use keywords in LinkedIn to find candidates. Margaret talks about the top things that should be on your resume and how to make yourself more attractive to recruiters. We also talk about how to prepare for interviews with a recruiter versus hiring manager. With close to 20 years of international recruiting experience, Margaret has a lot of SYCK advice to share and I'm excited for job seekers to hear this conversation!
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BIO: Margaret Buj is an experienced Talent Acquisition Manager and Interview Coach who helps job seekers to get hired, promoted and paid more. She has 17 years of experience recruiting for global tech companies and tech start-ups across Europe & the US (including Expedia, King, VMware, Microsoft, Avanade, Typeform, Mixmax), and in the last 16 years, she's successfully coached over a thousand people worldwide to get the jobs and promotions they really wanted. She's worked with professionals at all levels in private (across multiple industries, mostly technology and FMCG) and public sector (including NGOs, UN jobs, education). Margaret has spoken at career events & conferences and has done training sessions and workshops in London, Monaco, Athens & Saudi Arabia. Her advice has been featured in FoxBusiness, BuiltIn, GOBanking Rates, Management Today, Financial Times, Management Today and CIO Magazine. | |||
| Ep 18: Creating and Evolving at a Start-Up: An Interview with Brittany Williams | 18 Aug 2022 | 00:44:22 | |
I'm excited to have Brittany Williams on our latest edition of Steer Your Career with Kadima (SYCK) podcast! Brittany is a Georgia native and has worked primarily in marketing and advertising helping brands refine their voice and better connect with their targeted audiences. Recently with the help of Kadima, she landed her first job at a tech company! Alan and Brittany talk about how she used informational interviews to build relationships and get hired on at a tech startup. They also discuss how to deal with rejection, being a black woman in tech, and cultural differences of working at a startup versus an older, more established organization. IN THIS EPISODE:
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RESOURCE LINKS BIO: Brittany Williams is a Georgia native with a background in English literature. She has worked primarily in marketing and advertising for companies like Delta Air Lines, The Home Depot, VR fitness app Supernatural, and is currently a Web Content Editor at Apple. Brittany would describe herself as a creative problem solver with a hybrid skillset of copywriting, content editing, content strategy, and UX writing. She helps various brands across multiple industries build and refine their voice, style, and tone, and help them better connect with their targeted audiences. She also runs her own freelance writing and editing business, Written Works, LLC, where she provides content strategy, writing and editorial support to small businesses. When she's not working, Brittany enjoys hiking, hitting a brewery, and being a kid again with fellow improvers.
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| EP. 17 How to Make Every Manager (measurably) Great! An interview with Russ Laraway | 11 Aug 2022 | 00:58:30 | |
I'm excited and a little star struck to have Russ Laraway on the SYCK Podcast today! Russ has had a diverse 28 year operational management career at several companies including Google and Twitter and is the author of the book, When They Win, You Win: Being a Great Manager Is Simpler Than You Think. Russ and I highlight a few of the key concepts from his book and how the best managers create happy teams that deliver the best results. Russ shares two simple behaviors that managers need to be doing and how employees can coach their bosses to be better. Russ also throws out his number one career tip for listeners.
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BIO: Russ has had a diverse 28 year operational management career. He was a Company Commander in the Marine Corps before starting his first company, Pathfinders. From there, Russ went to the Wharton School, and then onto management roles at Google and Twitter. He then co-founded Candor, Inc., along with best selling author Kim Scott. Over the last several years, Russ served as the Chief People Officer at Qualtrics, and is now the Chief People Officer for the fast-growing venture capital firm, Goodwater Capital, where he is helping Goodwater and its portfolio companies to empower their people to do great work and be totally psyched while doing it. Over his career, Russ has managed 700 person teams and $700M businesses -- facing a vast array of leadership challenges along the way. He's the author of the book When They Win, You Win: Being a Great Manager Is Simpler Than You Think. | |||
| Ep 16: Demystifying University Recruiting and Negotiating Your Offer: SYCK Tricks with Paul Bauer | 04 Aug 2022 | 01:01:13 | |
Paul Bauer is on the SYCK Podcast today for our latest edition of SYCK Tricks! Paul is a seasoned recruiter who has connected and hired hundreds, if not thousands, of people while working for companies like Amazon, Expedia, and Salesforce. Paul shares his insider knowledge about what recruiters are looking for and how to differentiate yourself among other candidates. We talk about his current role at GoPuff, best practices for negotiation, and what NOT to say when you reach out to a recruiter on LinkedIn. IN THIS EPISODE:
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RESOURCE LINKS BIO: Paul is a Seattle-based recruiting manager and founder of RPB Careers LLC. He started career coaching in 2011 and has been recruiting for Fortune 500 companies like Northwestern Mutual, Amazon, Expedia Group and Salesforce since 2014. He earned his Masters in Education from Indiana University, Bloomington and a Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky. Paul enjoys partnering with clients who are in their first 15 years of professional work (out of university or equivalent) and has worked with clients in various sectors. He thoroughly enjoys working with clients who are making a career shift and looking to articulate transferrable skills. Outside of work, Paul enjoys spending time hiking, volunteering and with his friends and family.
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| Ep 15: Pivoting from the Military to Consulting: An Interview with Kimberlynn Hunter | 28 Jul 2022 | 00:49:27 | |
I'm excited to have Kimberlynn Hunter on the SYCK Podcast today! With leadership skills developed and tested during her 20+ years' experience in the U.S. Army, she recently pivoted into the corporate world and is working at Cognizant, one of the top consulting firms in the world. We talk about the challenges she faced in her job search after retiring from the army and she addresses some of the common misconceptions that veterans face when re-entering the civilian workforce. Kim shares helpful advice for fellow veterans on how to use storytelling to leverage their military skills and experience and she addresses the importance of networking and building civilian relationships.
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BIO: Kimberlynn Hunter lives in the Dallas, Texas Metroplex and is a 2021 graduate of the Cox School of Business' Executive MBA program at Southern Methodist University. Currently, she's an Organizational Change Management Senior Consultant, at Cognizant where she specializes in Strategic Communications and Salesforce transformations. Professionally, she considers herself a strategist, an Organizational Development practitioner, one who sees the big picture and translates key details at every level of the organization. With leadership skills developed and tested during her more than 20 years' army experience, she's pivoted into the corporate world to share her insights and gain new perspectives. She's constantly seeking ways to be an organizational multiplier by creating opportunities for everyone around her to expand, grow, and add their unique value. A background in logistics with specialization as a Transportation Strategic Planner, Procurement Program Manager, and Director of more than 500 individuals provided a solid leadership and operations foundation. One of her passions is mentoring and developing those in the early career demographic. She's been able to give back through programs at SMU as well as in the DFW community. She's also a board member of GloComX and Lotus Village United. In her spare time, she loves to travel, meet new people, collect art, and spend time with friends and family.
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| EP 14: The Truth Behind Tech: Alan on the C-CRETS Podcast | 21 Jul 2022 | 00:45:23 | |
Earlier this year, I had a great conversation with Keith Powell and Ricky Robinson on their podcast, C-CRETS, and today I want to reshare it with you. I'm a longtime listener of C-CRETS, a career advice podcast for people of color with C-suite ambitions from hosts who've been there. We talked about diversity in the technology industry and how my own personal experience advocating for BIPOC and female employees in Big Tech led me to start Kadima. Keith and Ricky share some really important statistics on the current representation levels of BIPOC and female employees within this industry. I also walk through six steps you can take to begin a career in technology. IN THIS EPISODE:
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BIO: Keith Powell Keith Powell is a Chief Operating Officer in private education with over 20 years of corporate experience in the U.S. and Canada. Most of his career, Keith led global Finance and Operations functions for Fortune 1000 companies in the automotive, chemical, consumer and commercial goods, e-commerce, and smart home industries. After getting a taste of the top of Corporate America, Keith joined a start-up private equity firm, took a shot at an e-commerce start-up, and began advising entrepreneurs on start-ups, including working with the family of Golden State Warriors legend, Al Attles, on various philanthropic and business ventures. Keith also has deep roots in philanthropy - sitting on numerous local, state, and national Boards over the past 20 years. Keith was the "first" or the "only" quite often climbing the corporate ladder. Having mentored and coached hundreds throughout his career, Keith continues to share practical, digestible advice to underrepresented employees as a co-host of C-CRETS, which is a career advice platform offering career coaching services, online courses and topical content through blogs and a podcast. Keith also holds an MBA from the Kelley School of Business in Indiana.
Ricky Robinson Ricky Robinson is a 25+ year Human Resources Executive. His career has afforded him leadership roles in Human Resources for some best-in-class global organizations spanning industries from commercial goods, retail, smart home industries and med tech. Ricky is extremely familiar with being the "Sole Brother" on the Executive Leadership Team quite often challenging diversity, inclusion and unconscious bias issues within Corporate America, as an advocate and sponsor for underrepresented groups. He also advocates for several philanthropic causes with Board service at Attles Center for Excellence (ACE), Ability Now Bay Area and the Mary Valle Foundation. Having spent his career as a mentor and coach, Ricky continues to share the tips and tricks that help underrepresented employees reach their full potential as a co-host of C-CRETS, which is a career advice platform offering career coaching services, online courses and topical content through blogs and a podcast. Ricky also holds a Master's Degree in Organizational Communications from San Francisco State University.
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| Ep 13: The SYCK Truth: Don't Believe Everything in a Job Description with Jay Cross | 14 Jul 2022 | 00:45:00 | |
Today, I'm talking with the Chief Creative Officer here at Kadima Careers, Jay Cross, about how job descriptions are created at big tech companies and beyond. We are spilling the SYCK truth about the generalized and arbitrary requirements that most job listings have and how women are more likely than men to disqualify themselves based on the description. I'm sharing my best secrets and tips from my time as a hiring manager so you can better understand the process and accelerate your career by applying for jobs even when you might not fit all of the requirements.
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BIO: Jay is an experienced writer, researcher, and marketer who loves asking The Naive Question: "If we weren't already doing it this way, is this the way we would start?" In the past, Jay was Ramit Sethi's Senior Direct Response Copywriter at I Will Teach You To Be Rich, as well as the Director of Copywriting at Kettle & Fire, the world's fastest-growing bone broth company. He also started an information publishing business showing self-motivated college students how to earn a bachelor's degree in 1 year or less. Jay is currently the Chief Creative Officer at Kadima Careers.
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| Ep 11: SYCK Tricks to Break Free from the Grind with Amelia Noel | 30 Jun 2022 | 00:53:23 | |
Amelia Noël is a Certified Life and Career Coach, Columbia MBA and host of the Breaking Free from the Grind podcast where she helps clients create lives they f*cking love! On today's episode of the SYCK podcast, I'm talking with Amelia about her impressive career pivots from marketing to finance to coaching. She shares SYCK advice on intentionally building your network and etiquette for meeting with people. She also talks through how she helps her high achiever clients overcome common mental blocks related to burnout, imposter syndrome, and perfectionism. I learned a lot from this episode and I'm excited to share it with you today! IN THIS EPISODE:
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RESOURCE LINKS BIO: Amelia Noël is a Master Certified Life and Career Coach, Columbia MBA and host of the Breaking Free from the Grind podcast. She helps people working in finance and consulting stop overworking and feel better at work. After spending 10+ years working in investment banking and consulting, Amelia developed her Breaking Free from the Grind 1:1 coaching program and corporate workshop series using a unique mindset and skillset-based approach that allows her clients to permanently break free from the grind of their own careers – and, ultimately, create lives they f*cking love. Connect with Amelia for more coaching tools, tips and strategies that will help you stop overworking and feel better at work. For more information on how to work with Amelia, check out the links below and go to her website to schedule a free 1:1 coaching consult today. Amelia Noël on Instagram | |||
| Ep 10 Solving Big Problems as an Independent Contributor: An Interview with Anthony Hernandez | 23 Jun 2022 | 01:05:36 | |
Today's SYCK Podcast guest, Anthony Hernandez, has 14 years of experience across marketing, sales, and product for companies like Google, Royal Caribbean, and Amazon Prime. Anthony and I talk about how he has navigated changing jobs frequently and honed his skill set to add value to any team. Anthony addresses the age-old question of whether it's detrimental to your career to job hop, the benefits of mentorship programs, and how introverts can overcome their networking fears. Don't miss Anthony's wealth of knowledge about staying motivated in your job search and growing your career.
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RESOURCE LINKS BIO: Anthony has 14 years of experience across marketing, sales, and product. Most recently he helped launch facial recognition at Royal Caribbean across 8 countries, supported movie and tv studios at Amazon Prime Video, and is now working to improve the buying experience at OpenSea. He is currently enjoying Miami and is excited to help support the next generation of young adults getting into tech! | |||
| Ep 118: Expert Communication Tips From Public Speaking and Communication Wizard, Nausheen Chen | 06 Jan 2025 | 00:36:49 | |
Tired of letting nerves sabotage your career opportunities? In this episode, communication coach Nausheen Chen reveals her journey from being a brand manager to becoming an expert public speaking coach, sharing how she went from "faking" confidence to truly embodying it. Alan and Nausheen dive deep into the two biggest blockers to effective communication - nerves and delivery - while offering practical strategies to overcome them. Tune in now!
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| Ep 9: Pivoting from Financial Services to Big Tech: An Interview with Anyel Albury | 16 Jun 2022 | 01:04:45 | |
I'm very excited to have Anyel Albury as our guest on the SYCK podcast! Anyel is here to share about her 8-month long job search and transition from financial services into a strategy role at Meta (formerly Facebook)! We chat about the importance of employee referrals and what the interview and negotiation phases look like at top companies like Facebook, Amazon, and Salesforce. Don't miss this peek into what it takes to make the leap into big tech!
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RESOURCE LINKS BIO: Anyel Albury is a Growth Leader with experience in a variety of areas from Finance/Sales at a Fortune 100 Company, Management Consultant, and now in Tech. While she grew up in the Bahamas, today she resides in Austin, TX where she leads global, cross-functional teams, including sales, marketing, data science, and product to build program strategies and drive business growth at Meta (formerly Facebook). She holds an MBA from Wake Forest University and is skilled in leadership, team building, strategic planning, and building collaboration. Her hobbies include trying new restaurants and traveling! | |||
| EP 8: SYCK JAM Session on Applying for Jobs in Big Tech | 09 Jun 2022 | 00:12:48 | |
I love acronyms and this episode title fits right in. JAM Session stands for Job Acquisition Method. These are straight shooting, no-holds-barred conversations about how to get great jobs at the world's best tech companies. Today's conversation is all about the application process. I answer common questions like how to use referrals, how to follow up after an interview, and how long the average recruitment process takes. Get ready for some great advice on how to land a great job at the world's best tech companies! IN THIS EPISODE:
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
RESOURCE LINKS | |||
| Ep 7: Diversity in Video Game Development: An Interview with Jane Chung Hoffacker | 02 Jun 2022 | 00:55:56 | |
Jane Chung Hoffacker is co-founder and CEO of Incredible Dream, a modern game studio that's taking players on fantasy adventures through tabletop games. For over a decade, Jane has led teams to extend AAA gaming franchises to new genres, markets, and mediums. She has gone from the trenches on the Guitar Hero franchise to launching League of Legends in key international markets and most recently to producing the award-winning animated series Arcane. At Incredible Dream, Jane is chasing her dream of creating the most sought-after gaming experiences that connect communities and foster inclusion.
IN THIS EPISODE:
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
RESOURCE LINKS BIO: Jane Chung Hoffacker is co-founder and CEO of Incredible Dream, a modern game studio that's taking players on fantasy adventures through tabletop games. For over a decade, Jane has led teams to extend AAA gaming franchises to new genres, markets, and mediums. She has gone from the trenches on the Guitar Hero franchise to launching League of Legends in key international markets and most recently to producing the award-winning animated series Arcane. At Incredible Dream, Jane is chasing her dream of creating the most sought-after gaming experiences that connect communities and foster inclusion. Jane Chung Hoffacker on LinkedIn
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| Ep 6: SYCK Tricks to Land a Job at Amazon with Former Bar Raiser Eric Hudson | 26 May 2022 | 00:43:26 | |
In today's episode, I'm joined by Eric Hudson, who used to be an interview bar raiser at Amazon. Amazon is known for being one of the most rigorous interviewers in the tech industry; each interview loop at Amazon includes a calibrated interviewer called a bar raiser, whose role is to ensure that the bar of talent is consistently raised across the company, regardless of team or function. Since he's no longer at Amazon, Eric is going to share the truth about the tactics Amazon uses, how they calibrate, how they assess talent, and how to negotiate to get the best offer. If you can interview successfully with Amazon, you can interview successfully pretty much anywhere. Tune in to learn how to ace an Amazon interview! IN THIS EPISODE:
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
LINKS MENTIONED: BIO: Eric Hudson is an Executive Coach and Recruiting Leader. In his personal life, he enjoys traveling and learning about different cultures. The pandemic ended that hobby but he's about to set course for Cancun this month and the EU this summer. Eric is a big foodie and loves Texas BBQ, steak, and sushi whenever he gets the chance. He's a big football fan and on a fall weekend it's hard to get away from the TV. Eric really enjoys coaching people and helping them achieve their goals. Watching them land their dream job and income is something that never gets old. | |||
| Ep 5: Career, Community, and Family: An Interview with Google's Fabian Elliott | 19 May 2022 | 00:58:54 | |
Today on SYCK, I'm interviewing long-time Googler, Fabian Elliott, who has ten years of tech experience and who has leveraged data to further social justice education and change through his company Black Tech Mecca. He is opening up about his wild ride at Google, his entrepreneurial mindset and learning the balance of work and family. Fabian speaks about his experience with diversity at Google and his role in revitalizing Google's black employee group. He also speaks to the difficulties and rewards in leading social equity conversations at the height of racial tensions in 2020. Fabian and I talk about the actions we can take to increase diversity in our own companies and how to grow your professional network in both quantity and quality.
IN THIS EPISODE:
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
RESOURCE LINKS syckpodcast.com
BIO: Fabian Elliott is the past President and Chief Executive Officer of Black Tech Mecca, Inc. and currently a Customer Experience Lead at Google Cloud Africa. Black Tech Mecca helps cities assess racial equity in the local tech sector and surface fresh insights that accelerate measurable growth. BTM developed a proprietary SMART BTE City Assessment Framework consisting of 39 key indicators and 120 metrics spanning K-12, Higher Education, Corporate, and Entrepreneurship pillars which has been deployed in three major cities funded by Google, NBC-Comcast, and the Knight Foundation. In his role at Google Cloud, Fabian helps bring the best of Google Cloud to their largest African customers on their Digital Transformation journeys. Prior to launching BTM, Fabian led the revamp, revitalization, and rebrand of Google's black employee group in which he completed his term as inaugural appointed Global Co-Chair back in 2015. In this role, Fabian co-chaired the 10-person leadership team responsible for the 700+ membership across the company and the 14 chapters spanning the globe including London, Dublin, and Sao Paulo. Fabian is recognized by Builtin Chicago as one of the Top 50 Tech Influencers to follow, 2016 Porsche Power 30 Under 30 in Technology, Chicago Defender 2017 Newsmaker Award – Technology, 2017 Black Enterprise Modern Man 100, and 2019 Museum of Science and Industry Black Creativity Innovator. His work with Black Tech Mecca has been featured in Ebony, Black Enterprise, The Chicago Tribune, Comcast Newsmakers and other media outlets. https://www.blacktechmecca.org
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| Ep 2: Sports to SaaS: An Interview with Barb Campbell | 21 Apr 2022 | 01:10:34 | |
We are excited to welcome the first guest of the SYCK Podcast, Barbara Campbell! Barb is a result-oriented professional with 15+ years of experience as a trusted advisor and Sr. Manager at Salesforce. Today, she and Alan talk about her first career in sports marketing, how she made the leap into technology and the lessons she learned along the way. Tune in as we talk about the importance of networking when making a career pivot, how to give and get feedback in individually effective ways, and whether or not to include a cover letter in your next job application. IN THIS EPISODE:
RESOURCE LINKS Professional Trouble Maker by Luvvie Ajayi Jones https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanjstein/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/kadimacareers/ https://twitter.com/kadimacareers https://www.facebook.com/kadimacareer https://www.instagram.com/kadimacareers https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN_kDPq7iNPAfjPZMj10STg
BIO: Barbara Campbell is a result-oriented professional with 15+ years of experience as a trusted advisor for large enterprise customers and Fortune 500 brands. She spent the first part of her career in sports marketing, working on promotions for licensed sponsor activations in the professional sports and entertainment industry. Moving from sports to technology was a big shift, but a welcome one. Being hired onto the world's #1 CRM platform, Salesforce, Barb would get to work with customers on developing their SaaS adoption strategies. This eventually led to a desire to resolve complex customer issues in global escalations, where she has now built and manages a team of escalation managers in North America. Barb's other passion lies in coaching and high-impact teaming facilitation, which she leverages at Salesforce and as an Executive in Residence at California State University San Marcos. She truly believes any job can be your #dreamjob if you design it that way. | |||
| Ep 4: SYCK JAM Session | 21 Apr 2022 | 00:09:51 | |
Let's have our first of many JAM Sessions on the SYCK Podcast. Today's JAM Session, short for Job Acquisition Method, is about how to land a great job at the world's best tech companies. I'm talking through your burning questions and frustrations about how to get your foot in the door when you're not technical or don't have the right network connections. Get a better idea of what tech companies are looking for and hear actionable, insightful advice that you can start using immediately to accelerate your career! IN THIS EPISODE:
RESOURCE LINKS https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanjstein/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/kadimacareers/ https://twitter.com/kadimacareers https://www.facebook.com/kadimacareer https://www.instagram.com/kadimacareers https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN_kDPq7iNPAfjPZMj10STg BIO: Alan empowers people to confidently land high-paying jobs at the world's best tech companies. He spent the first chapter of his life building his resume at companies like Google, Facebook (now Meta), Salesforce, and American Express. Alan has achieved his success by employing a growth mindset, persevering through numerous setbacks, and building long-lasting relationships; all sprinkled with a healthy dose of privilege and luck. Alan's next chapter is dedicated to his eulogy. He strives to leverage his successes, wisdom, and experience to level the playing field for all candidates and employees. Inspired by Ibram X. Kendi, David Brooks, Tim Ferriss, Brené Brown, his local synagogue, his amazing wife, and countless friends and family, Alan founded Kadima in July 2020. Kadima, which means "forward" in Hebrew, is on a mission to accelerate 1 million careers. His mission is to grow and develop people. He is a hiring manager professional with extensive recruiting knowledge through reviewing over 10k resumes, interviewing thousands, hiring hundreds, and promoting dozens. In his 34-year career, Alan has worked for 21 different companies, including Google, Facebook, Salesforce, American Express, UBS, the New York Mets and the Toronto Blue Jays. He has had 35 different bosses, 29 different jobs, and has interviewed more than 2,000 candidates. As a candidate himself, Alan has interviewed thousands of times for hundreds of jobs, receiving dozens of offers. Born in Long Island to loving parents, Alan was a first-generation college student. He is thankful that his parents were able to support him going to college and graduating without any student debt. After graduating from Binghamton University with honors, Alan got into a prestigious program for a Ph.D. in clinical psychology with a full ride. After a semester, Alan withdrew to make his first career transition into finance. Alan is now on his sixth distinct career and has become an expert on career pivots. Alan is very appreciative of his upbringing because it has given him a passion for giving back and supporting others as his family, friends, and colleagues did for him. Alan is dedicated to growing and developing people and is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion inside and outside of the workplace. RESOURCE LINKS Professional Trouble Maker by Luvvie Ajayi Jones | |||
| EP 3: SYCK Tricks to Accelerate Your Career with Sr. Talent Advisor Marissa Blake | 21 Apr 2022 | 00:23:40 | |
This episode is jam-packed with SYCK tricks that will help you accelerate your career in an efficient and effective manner. Today on the SYCK Podcast, Alan is asking Sr. Talent Advisor Marissa Blake about her tips and advice for applying and interviewing with your top companies. We go behind the scenes of what the hiring funnel looks like for recruiters and what recruiters are looking for in high quality talent. Marissa also shares her top three tips for how to improve your chances of getting your dream job. Don't miss out on these SYCK tricks! IN THIS EPISODE:
RESOURCE LINKS https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanjstein/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/kadimacareers/ https://twitter.com/kadimacareers https://www.facebook.com/kadimacareer https://www.instagram.com/kadimacareers https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN_kDPq7iNPAfjPZMj10STg
BIO: Marissa Blake has 12 years of professional experience across Retail Management, Healthcare Administration, Sales, and HR/Talent. She's learned firsthand what it takes to pivot careers and loves helping others do the same. She is a Neurodivergent person who proudly accepts that she lives with dyslexia and ADHD. She firmly believes these contribute to her strengths and superpowers. More importantly, it's motivated her to advocate for equitable and inclusive work and learning environments. | |||
| EP 1: Introducing the SYCK Podcast with Alan Stein | 21 Apr 2022 | 00:22:37 | |
Alan Stein is no stranger to the nuances of the job search or switching careers. He is now in his sixth distinct career in recruitment with an emphasis on increasing team diversity, and has had 29 jobs with 21 different companies. On the SYCK (Steer Your Career with Kadima) Podcast, Alan will leverage his experience at companies like Google, American Express, Facebook and Salesforce to help listeners accelerate their careers and land their dream job. The SYCK podcast will feature conversations with guests who have experienced success, rejection, and failure. Listen in as he shares insight and "syck" tricks on how to network, earn more money, and have a better work-life balance. IN THIS EPISODE:
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
RESOURCE LINKS BIO: Alan empowers people to confidently land high-paying jobs at the world's best tech companies. He spent the first chapter of his life building his resume at companies like Google, Facebook (now Meta), Salesforce, and American Express. Alan has achieved his success by employing a growth mindset, persevering through numerous setbacks, and building long-lasting relationships; all sprinkled with a healthy dose of privilege and luck. Alan's next chapter is dedicated to his eulogy. He strives to leverage his successes, wisdom, and experience to level the playing field for all candidates and employees. Inspired by Ibram X. Kendi, David Brooks, Tim Ferriss, Brené Brown, his local synagogue, his amazing wife, and countless friends and family, Alan founded Kadima in July 2020. Kadima, which means "forward" in Hebrew, is on a mission to accelerate 1 million careers. His mission is to grow and develop people. He is a hiring manager professional with extensive recruiting knowledge through reviewing over 10k resumes, interviewing thousands, hiring hundreds, and promoting dozens. In his 34-year career, Alan has worked for 21 different companies, including Google, Facebook, Salesforce, American Express, UBS, the New York Mets and the Toronto Blue Jays. He has had 35 different bosses, 29 different jobs, and has interviewed more than 2,000 candidates. As a candidate himself, Alan has interviewed thousands of times for hundreds of jobs, receiving dozens of offers. Born in Long Island to loving parents, Alan was a first-generation college student. He is thankful that his parents were able to support him going to college and graduating without any student debt. After graduating from Binghamton University with honors, Alan got into a prestigious program for a Ph.D. in clinical psychology with a full ride. After a semester, Alan withdrew to make his first career transition into finance. Alan is now on his sixth distinct career and has become an expert on career pivots. Alan is very appreciative of his upbringing because it has given him a passion for giving back and supporting others as his family, friends, and colleagues did for him. Alan is dedicated to growing and developing people and is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion inside and outside of the workplace. RESOURCES: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanjstein/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/kadimacareers/ https://twitter.com/kadimacareers https://www.facebook.com/kadimacareer https://www.instagram.com/kadimacareers https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN_kDPq7iNPAfjPZMj10STg
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| SYCK Podcast Trailer | 13 Apr 2022 | 00:03:24 | |
"Steer Your Career with Kadima" is a podcast hosted by Alan Stein, Founder and CEO of Kadima Careers. Kadima helps underrepresented, underestimated, and underpaid professionals land high-paying jobs at the world's best tech companies. Join Alan each week as he interviews amazing professionals in the tech industry and beyond. They'll talk about their career journeys and what they've learned, including some SYCK Tricks to help you accelerate your career. Kadima was founded by Alan Stein to address the inefficiencies, biases, and illogical hiring processes that hinder great candidates from achieving great careers. Alan has a unique perspective as a top 1% hiring manager and top 1% candidate with a proven record of scaling global operations. He is now sharing his insights and expertise to effectively and efficiently accelerate people's careers. His methods and advice have empowered people to land amazing jobs at Google, Facebook, Salesforce, Microsoft, Amazon, PayPal, Dropbox, Dell, and more.
Kadima has evolved from 1:1 coaching to group programs, and the team is now developing software and instructional content to deliver broader impact. While the methods will evolve, Kadima will always be a values-based company that treats people RIGHT and gets stuff done.
Bio:
Alan empowers people to confidently land high-paying jobs at the world's best tech companies. He spent the first chapter of his life building his resume at companies like Google, Facebook (now Meta), Salesforce, and American Express. Alan has achieved his success by employing a growth mindset, persevering through numerous setbacks, and building long-lasting relationships; all sprinkled with a healthy dose of privilege and luck.
Alan's next chapter is dedicated to his eulogy. He strives to leverage his successes, wisdom, and experience to level the playing field for all candidates and employees.
Inspired by Ibram X. Kendi, David Brooks, Tim Ferriss, Brené Brown, his local synagogue, his amazing wife, and countless friends and family, Alan founded Kadima in July 2020. Kadima, which means "forward" in Hebrew, is on a mission to accelerate 1 million careers.
His mission is to grow and develop people. He is a hiring manager professional with extensive recruiting knowledge through reviewing over 10k resumes, interviewing thousands, hiring hundreds, and promoting dozens. In his 34-year career, Alan has worked for 21 different companies, including Google, Facebook, Salesforce, American Express, UBS, the New York Mets and the Toronto Blue Jays. He has had 35 different bosses, 29 different jobs, and has interviewed more than 2,000 candidates. As a candidate himself, Alan has interviewed thousands of times for hundreds of jobs, receiving dozens of offers.
Born in Long Island to loving parents, Alan was a first-generation college student. He is thankful that his parents were able to support him going to college and graduating without any student debt. After graduating from Binghamton University with honors, Alan got into a prestigious program for a Ph.D. in clinical psychology with a full ride. After a semester, Alan withdrew to make his first career transition into finance. Alan is now on his sixth distinct career and has become an expert on career pivots.
Alan is very appreciative of his upbringing because it has given him a passion for giving back and supporting others as his family, friends, and colleagues did for him. Alan is dedicated to growing and developing people and is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion inside and outside of the workplace. Websites
https://www.linkedin.com/company/79634371/admin/ (Kadima LinkedIn Page) | |||
| Ep 117: Inside Korean Job Search Culture: An Interview with Grant Sundbye | 05 Dec 2024 | 00:27:05 | |
Can being too humble hurt your job search? In Korean business culture, it might be the norm – but Western recruiters see things differently. In this episode, Alan sits down with Grant Sundbye, and they explore the challenges Korean professionals face in international job searches, from cultural differences in resume writing to LinkedIn optimization. They also discuss the contrasts between Korean and Western job search approaches and insider tips for standing out in interviews. Tune in to discover how cultural understanding and effective communication strategies can bridge the gap between Eastern and Western professional environments, and learn actionable tips you can apply to your own job search. | |||
| Ep 116: Lessons in Mentorship from Amazon Director, Omar Halabieh | 14 Nov 2024 | 00:31:10 | |
Can a single mentor relationship transform your entire career trajectory? In this episode of the Steer Your Career podcast, Omar Halabieh, Director of Software Development at Amazon Middle East and Africa, shares his journey from software manager to director, emphasizing how strategic mentorship played a pivotal role in his advancement. From securing his first mentor through an interview connection to leveraging these relationships for major career decisions, Omar provides practical advice on finding mentors, maintaining productive relationships, and standing out as a candidate in today's competitive job market. Discover why curiosity remains his top career advice and how investing in relationships before you need them can make all the difference. Listen to the full episode to learn how to build your own powerful mentorship network. | |||
| Ep 115: How to Land Jobs Quickly Through Networking with Anemari Fiser | 31 Oct 2024 | 00:36:08 | |
Tired of sending countless job applications into the void? There's a better way to land your next tech role, and it doesn't involve submitting another resume. In this episode, Alan sits down with Anemari Fiser, a former ThoughtWorks leader and tech career coach, to unpack the strategies for effective networking and career growth. Whether you're actively job hunting or building your professional network for future opportunities, this episode provides actionable strategies to take control of your career. Tune in now! | |||
| Ep 114: Bridging the Leadership Gap: Essential Mindset Shifts for Modern Managers | 17 Oct 2024 | 00:37:41 | |
In this episode, Alan sits down with Al Dea, founder of The Edge of Work and a leadership development expert. Al uncovers the critical mindset shifts and skill gaps that many of today's leaders need to address to effectively guide their teams in our rapidly evolving workplace. Al explores the crucial transition from individual contributor to manager, highlighting why technical prowess alone isn't enough for leadership success. He delves into the importance of developing 'human skills' and how leaders can scale their impact across larger teams. Whether you're stepping into your first leadership role or looking to refine your managerial approach, this episode offers invaluable insights to elevate your leadership game. Tune in now to discover how you can bridge the leadership gap and unlock your team's full potential! | |||
| Ep 113: Turning The Tables: Alan Gets Interviewed by Nik Zechner | 02 Oct 2024 | 00:40:06 | |
In this episode, Alan Stein, founder of Kadima Careers sits down with Nik Zechner, and shares his experiences working at tech giants like Google, Facebook, and Salesforce. He reveals valuable tips on landing jobs at these coveted companies and discusses the power of networking, preparation, and perseverance in career advancement. Tune in now to gain priceless career advice from a tech industry veteran and learn how to take control of your professional journey. | |||
| Ep 112: Inside Calibration: Jason Rudman on Leadership and Performance at AmEx | 19 Sep 2024 | 00:39:08 | |
Ever wondered what really happens behind closed doors during performance reviews at top companies? In this episode, Jason Rudman, former American Express leader and current Chief Member and Digital Experience Officer at BECU, join Alan Stein to pull back the curtain on corporate calibration processes. From navigating team dynamics to overcoming imposter syndrome, Jason shares candid insights from his journey through the ranks at Amex. Tune in now to understand corporate performance management and charting your own path to success. | |||
| Ep 111: Mastering Decision-Making for Long-Term Career Success with Casey Dai | 04 Sep 2024 | 00:36:14 | |
Is your education truly preparing you for the complexities of the modern workplace? Join Alan as he explores career development and decision-making with Casey Dai, founder of Expanded Skills. They discuss the limitations of traditional education in equipping professionals for real-world challenges, the importance of developing critical thinking skills, and Casey's innovative approach to decision-making training for volatile industries. | |||
| Ep 128: Behind the Curtain: How Recruiters Really Hire (and What Candidates Get Wrong) with Margaret Buj | 02 Jul 2025 | 00:37:20 | |
What if you knew exactly what recruiters see when they look at your resume? In this episode, Alan sits down with veteran tech recruiter Margaret Buj, who has spent 20 years recruiting for industry giants like Microsoft, Cisco, Expedia, and VMware. Margaret breaks down her exact screening process—from the "several seconds" she spends scanning for relevant headlines and quantifiable achievements, to why she won't contact candidates without metrics, and how to "connect the dots" to make your fit obvious when your background isn't a perfect match. Tune in to discover why treating your career search like a "submit and wait" game is killing your chances, and learn the systematic approach that actually gets you noticed by recruiters and hiring managers. | |||
| Ep 110: How Immigrants and Visa Holders Can Land A Better Job with Varun Negandhi | 15 Aug 2024 | 00:35:55 | |
Are you treating your job search like an entrepreneur would? In this eye-opening episode of Steer Your Career, host Alan Stein sits down with Varun Negandhi, founder of Beyond Grad and partner at an automotive consulting company. Varun shares his journey from international student to successful entrepreneur, offering a fresh perspective on job hunting for immigrants and professionals alike. Tune in to discover how adopting an entrepreneurial mindset can change your approach to job searching! | |||
| Ep 109: Product Management Insights: An Interview with Former Google PM Director | 01 Aug 2024 | 00:33:55 | |
From Google AdWords to YouTube and cutting-edge AI research, Tom Leung's storied career at tech giant Google spans over a decade. In this episode of the Steer Your Career Podcast, host Alan Stein delves into Leung's journey as a top-rated product management director and his unique insights into Google's challenging interview process. Tom shares how the company's hiring practices have evolved, what sets product management interviews apart, and why even exceptional performers aren't immune to layoffs in today's tech landscape. Tune in now to gain a rare insider's perspective on building a successful career! | |||
| Ep 108: Seizing Opportunities: Peter Groverman's Guide to Career Diversity | 17 Jul 2024 | 00:37:58 | |
In this episode, Alan sits down with serial entrepreneur Peter Groverman to discuss the intricacies of managing a portfolio career. From AI consulting to global exports, Peter shares his experiences juggling multiple ventures and offers valuable insights on building relationships, seizing opportunities, and making an impact. Tune in now to learn how to diversify your professional life and maximize your potential! | |||
| Ep 107: Expert Interview & Negotiation Tips From Former Amazon Bar Raiser Eric Hudson | 04 Jul 2024 | 00:42:19 | |
Discover the secrets to landing your next great job and negotiating like a pro with former Amazon bar raiser Eric Hudson. In this episode, Alan Stein and Eric delve into the strategies that set successful job seekers apart in today's competitive market.
Discover effective networking techniques, learn how to craft impactful behavioral stories, and gain insights on navigating the negotiation process with confidence. Eric shares valuable tips on everything from securing interviews to finalizing your compensation package. Whether you're actively job hunting or looking to advance your career, this episode offers practical advice to help you in your professional journey.
Tune in now to elevate your job search skills and steer your career towards success! | |||
| Ep 106: The Inside Secrets From A Seasoned Tech Recruiter: An Interview with Hatu Kanu | 20 Jun 2024 | 00:39:29 | |
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in recruitment? | |||
| Ep 105: Blazing Her Own Path From The Stripper Pole and Prison: An Interview with Dr. V Boykin | 05 Jun 2024 | 00:42:12 | |
In this episode, Founder & CEO of Kadima Careers, Alan Stein, asks podcast interview questions he never thought he would ever ask anyone. His guest, Dr. Vrnda 'V' Boykin, leans into vulnerability for one of the first times and shares how her former life as a single mom, stripper, and a convict taught her to overcome adversity and succeed on her own terms. She says: "Shame is a huge motivator. . .and nightmares are fuel." | |||
| Ep 104: Career Advice From Rutgers Professor and Gen Z Expert: An Interview With Mark Beal | 23 May 2024 | 00:34:36 | |
Ever wondered what really sets you apart in a job interview? In this episode, Alan Stein is joined by career expert Mark Beal to dive into a compelling conversation about the critical role of soft skills. They discuss how these skills not only land you the job but also help you stand out among candidates with similar hard skills. Mark shares his insightful perspective on the importance of consistent curiosity and the power of asking questions to open doors to new opportunities. They also explore practical advice for students and professionals looking to elevate their career game. From resume tips to mastering interviews, Mark's real-world examples are sure to leave you inspired. Tune in now! | |||