Top of the Pile – Details, episodes & analysis

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Top of the Pile

Karen Elders

Business

Education

Business

Frequency: 1 episode/48d. Total Eps: 38

This podcast is all about young professionals and their careers. College students or those first years into your career. Sit in on conversations with hiring managers and professionals of all levels who’ve found success across a variety of industries. Hear from professionals at Fortune 500 companies to start-ups. What has helped them stand out and be successful in their careers? How have they networked? How did their undergrad studies and internships shape the path they chose? Did they stay on their original path or take a few detours? We’ll also cover topics around personal finances and budgeting, company culture, diversity, and really anything that seems relevant to twenty-somethings and their career. Hosted by Karen Elders of Launch Career Strategies.

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Apple Podcasts

🇩🇪 Germany - careers
11/02/2026
#87

Spotify

No recent rankings available

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https://www.sxsw.com/
164 shares
https://studentaid.gov/
103 shares
https://www.launchcareerstrategies.com
80 shares

https://www.linkedin.com/company/65804705/admin/
38 shares
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethanevansvp/
29 shares
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-garcia-cfp/
6 shares

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RSS feed quality

Good

Score global : 73%

Publication history

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Guest: Jim Citrin, Best Selling Author & Senior Leader, Spencer Stuart | Standing Out in a Competitive Job Market

Season 2 · Episode 13

mardi 9 septembre 2025 • Duration 36:51

In this episode of Top of the Pile, host Karen Elders sits down with Jim Citrin, one of the nation’s foremost experts on leadership and career success. As leader of Spencer Stuart’s CEO practice, Jim has advised boards and CEOs on more than 850 top leadership searches over the past 25 years. He brings a wealth of experience as a former McKinsey consultant, Goldman Sachs associate, and bestselling author of eight books, including The Career Playbook, which offers invaluable guidance for young professionals navigating the early stages of their careers.

Together, Karen and Jim explore the realities of today’s competitive job market, where internship and entry-level acceptance rates at top firms rival Ivy League admissions. Jim shares strategies for standing out among hundreds of applicants, emphasizing the importance of clarity, persistence, and developing what he calls the “career triangle” of job satisfaction, compensation, and lifestyle. The conversation highlights how young professionals can proactively balance these factors throughout their careers.

They also dive into practical advice on relationship-building, networking (or as Jim prefers to call it, “authentic connection”), and mastering the art of interviewing. From creating strong first impressions to asking thoughtful, well-researched questions, Jim breaks down the habits that set top candidates apart. Throughout the discussion, both Karen and Jim stress the value of curiosity, resilience, and self-awareness—qualities that help young professionals build momentum early in their careers.

This episode is filled with timeless advice, practical strategies, and inspiration for anyone looking to launch their career and stay at the "Top of the Pile".

Here are a few links to key items mentioned:

The Career Playbook by Jim Citrin

Interviewing to live, living to interview, article by Jim Citrin

Girl Effect, a non-profit, aims to unlock the power of girls and end poverty globally

LAUNCH Career Strategies was founded by Karen Elders and Elyse Spalding. We help young professionals launch a successful career path with expert coaching services. Reach out today for an initial FREE coaching session.
LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Career Path: Advertising/Digital Media Sales | Guest: Gary Strauss

Season 2 · Episode 12

lundi 6 janvier 2025 • Duration 22:59

In this episode, I sit down with Gary Strauss, a seasoned digital sales professional whose impressive career has spanned groundbreaking moments in the media industry. Gary was a key player in the pioneering days of digital advertising as part of the initial outside sales team at DoubleClick, a company whose acquisition by Google in 2008 was pivotal to shaping the tech giant’s dominance in the ad tech space.

Gary’s career highlights include being part of two companies that went public and contributing to successful acquisitions, one of which culminated in a sale to Epic Games—the creators of Fortnite. Most recently, he led Business Development at Kidoodle TV, a free, kid-safe streaming service featuring premium content such as Dude Perfect.

Throughout our conversation, Gary shares invaluable insights on building a fulfilling and impactful career in sales. He underscores the importance of preparation, persistence, and adaptability in the face of challenges, offering practical advice for navigating the professional landscape. Key takeaways include:

• Sales as a career path: It’s not just about selling a product but solving problems and building trust. Likeability and strong client relationships are the cornerstone of success.

• Entrepreneurial spirit in sales: Sales professionals often run their own “mini-business” within larger organizations, making it an ideal path for those with a knack for innovation and initiative.

• Career strategies: Take jobs for the education, not just the paycheck. Understand the company culture, and choose environments that nurture talent and align with your goals.

• Giving back: Gary shares his involvement with the amazing Tom Deierlein Foundation. To learn more, click here TDFoundation.org

Whether you’re exploring sales as a career or looking for inspiration on how to grow professionally, Gary’s story and advice will leave you motivated and ready to tackle your goals!

Career Path: Commercial Real Estate | Guest: David Genovese, CEO of Baywater Properties

Season 2 · Episode 3

mardi 25 avril 2023 • Duration 49:04

Interested in commercial real estate, investment banking - or both? Check out my conversation with David Genovese, CEO of Baywater Properties. David's stellar career includes senior leadership roles with Credit Suisse First Boston and Bankers Trust Company. Learn about David's career path and the early pivot he had to make. Plus, David shares an overview of the commercial real estate landscape, what the main entry points are, what skills are needed, and how to set yourself up for success. Enjoy the listen!

Hosted by Karen Elders of Launch Career Strategies

Career Paths: Insurance and HR; Guest Colin Haupt, SVP Employee Engagement, Pure Insurance

Season 2 · Episode 2

mercredi 19 octobre 2022 • Duration 27:00

Attention! Double-dip - two career paths in one episode!

Learn about a career path in the insurance industry AND as a Human Resources professional (or People Team, Talent Management, Human Capital - so many names today!) This episode's guest is Colin Haupt, SVP, Employee Engagement & Experience for Pure Insurance. Understand the many aspects of an HR career and what the Engagement & Experience team does. Plus, you'll hear why a career path in insurance is the perfect place to utilize analytical and communication skills, the main entry points, and skills needed to succeed in both areas. Enjoy the listen!

Check out the Pure Insurance careers page

Career Path: Investor Relations, Guest: Kallie Hapgood, Gridiron Capital

Season 2 · Episode 1

jeudi 19 mai 2022 • Duration 29:50

Check out my conversation with Kallie Hapgood, Managing Director, Investor Relations with Gridiron Capital. Gridiron is a private equity firm that partners with founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams across consumer, B2B and B2C companies.

Hear how Kallie started her career in finance and made the shift to investor relations. Kallie shares incredible advice about being a liberal arts undergrad, the importance of networking, and how she navigated her career in finance and ultimately landed her dream job role at Gridiron.

Career Path: Investment Banking, Guest: James Marciano, Tuck Advisors

Season 1 · Episode 25

vendredi 25 mars 2022 • Duration 34:13

In this episode, we hear from James Marciano, Founder of Tuck Advisors, an investment bank that focuses on mergers and acquisition advisory for smaller companies and startups with a focus on the education and health and wellness space.

James earned his undergrad degree from Harvard College and went on to complete an MBA from Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business. Surprisingly, James found himself lacking career direction during his undergrad and upon graduation considered joining the Army. James' career path has included management consulting, founding and selling digital/tech start-ups, and opening his own investment bank and advisory firm. Listen in for advice on the many paths in and around investment banking - not just through one of the big, more well-known banks. James also shares his insider tips on how to learn about investment banking before applying for an internship or full-time role.

Additional Notes and Links:
IB101.com - Tuck Advisors developed an online platform and course to teach students about investment banking, specifically the M&A sell-side process. Learn the basics of how an investment bank works and what is expected of an analyst.

Industry Recruiting Cycles by Industry (Washington University)

Career Path: Marketing/Social Media Guest: Haley Georgen, Founder That Cheese Princess and Marketing Major at Providence College

Season 1 · Episode 24

lundi 18 octobre 2021 • Duration 39:57

It was the Spring of 2020 and Haley Georgen was stuck home like the rest of us. Haley decided to combine her love of photography and cheese to create That Cheese Princess, a company that makes unique charcuterie boards for small to large gatherings in the Providence/New England area. Learn how Haley put the marketing knowledge she learned in the classroom to work in real life. Haley shares her path of experiences including the classes, clubs, and internships that have helped her grow a marketing mindset. Launch Career Strategies intern Megan Stenberg joins the conversation!

A few links from our conversation to help you learn more!

Companies where Haley interned:

Idea Village is the owner of many amazing brands including Flawless and Copper Fit.
Vaya Life swimwear and clothing
Nantucket Island Marketing

Online resources for learning:

Hubspot Certification
Google Digital Garage - learn digital skills in digital marketing, career development, data and tech

A great book that inspired Haley: That Cheese Plate Will Change Your Life, Marissa Mullen

Career Path: Computer Science and the Spirit of Entrepreneurism, Guest: Roland Afzelius

Season 1 · Episode 23

lundi 27 septembre 2021 • Duration 26:53

Listen in to hear how undergrad Roland Afzelius turned his love of the water into a business (Oyster Bay Water Sports) and an amazing learning experience. This episode has tons of great advice on entrepreneurism, being a computer science major, and how to learn by doing! Hear what it's like to run a small business and learn about entrepreneurism from the many sides - inventor, finance, funding, marketing, customer service and more. Roland’s experience launching OBWS and understanding how a small business is run will help him in any career path he chooses.

You may not be the inventor but if you love the excitement and energy around a start up - listen in for ideas, maybe look at marketing or finance or operations or the customer service side of a start up! Hear about the many ways Roland has educated himself on possible career paths including Tech Track.