Innovating Internships: Recent Episodes
Cameron Vakilian
Cameron Vakilian, has been an internship professional for over 8 years. Currently, he serves as an advisor, instructor, and internship coordinator at the University of Utah Communication Department. With a background in higher education and student development, Cameron has devoted his career to helping students find their passion and reach their full potential. He has worked with hundreds of employers in developing internships that inspire talent. As host of the Innovating Internships podcast, Cameron seeks to spotlight exceptional internship programs and help listeners find and create internships that are indeed... innovating!
To close out the season, we're asking for your help. Unpaid internships are still a reality for many students and new professionals trying to break into the professional world. The Step Up Program at the University of Utah provides funding for students completing unpaid internships. Sean McKelvie, Program Manager for Step Up joins the episode to talk about the impacts of Step Up and Marlie Hansen, a current student studying Communication and Economics, shares how paid internships have positively shaped her career.Donate today via Venmo at @StepUpSupport
Kate Wolsey, Internship Coordinator for the College of Fine Arts, talks about how emerging professionals in creative fields develop a strong sense of identity. She shares honest reflections from her own journey to becoming a freelance artist, offers tips for making the most out of an internship, and emphasizes how staying active and visible can shape your growth.
Recent English graduate, Joseph Izampuye, takes the mic to talk about the power of resilience in your career. He shares his own experiences overcoming hurdles and offers insights on enduring the challenges that come with pursuing your professional path.
Our very own intern, Lilly Martinescu, takes the mic to dive into a hot topic—Gen Z in the workforce. From rethinking the 9-to-5 grind to challenging outdated corporate norms, Gen Z is reshaping professional culture in real time. But with innovation comes friction. How are these fresh perspectives clashing with conventional workplace expectations?
"What if I'm not good enough?" A thought that has derailed so many of us from reaching our full potential, making us question our worth and abilities. This hot topic episode unpacks the different types of imposter syndrome and ways to overcome it.
Sheila Ghaibi, Creator of World Through She, joins me for a conversation on the power of connections. As a friend and fellow University of Utah alum, Sheila shares how maintaining professional relationships has shaped her journey, from career opportunities to creative collaborations. We also dive into her success as a content creator, exploring the evolution of World Through She and the impact of following your passion and building an engaged audience.
Dan Moseson, Career Coach for the Humanities at U Career Success joins me for this live event recording to showcase best strategies on finding jobs and internships, covering everything from Handshake resources to networking tactics that uncover hidden opportunities. We walk through how to find the right job boards for your field, share practical strategies to stand out, and conduct live audience demos to showcase real-world job search techniques across various industries.
Hannah Bowen, Content Marketing Specialist for U Career Success, kicks off the season premiere with a discussion on the challenges facing new professionals today. She explores the shifting standards of professional work attire and shares practical tips for students and recent graduates to effectively market themselves in today’s evolving professional world.
Student leaders, India Bown, Yovanni Valdez, and Zaynab Salih, talk about their college journey and the lessons learned on their path to success. India, Yovanni, and Zaynab embarked on their college journey during the peak of the pandemic and are now part of the graduating class ready to seize opportunities ahead.
Special episode with the Hey U podcast, a career success podcast made by students and for students, to host a live workshop/panel on how to create your own internship. With co-host Rohan Siddamsettiwar, and coaches Dominic Militello and Giovanna Percontino, we talk about designing an internship experience that aligns with your career goals, sharing student stories, outlining key components, and discussing requests for compensation.
Natalya Toryanski, successful TikTok creator and icon, known for her high energy and humorous influencer characterizations, shares her story on becoming a full time content creator. Natalya offers essential advice and practical tips for anyone looking to pursue a career in social media and content development.
Our very own intern, Matt Geerlings hosts this hot topic episode on achieving balance amidst the myriad challenges confronting today's generation. Matt offers valuable strategies gleaned from his own personal journey in balancing the demands of work, school, and personal life.
Tunisha Brown, editor-in-chief and founder of IMPACT Magazine, shares her journey of relocating the magazine from Atlanta to Salt Lake City. Through her story, she imparts valuable lessons from her career journey, emphasizing the importance of community engagement and staying true to oneself.
Hot topic episode that challenges the notion of failure. Join me as I delve into the psychology of failure, share personal stories of hardship, and offer practical strategies for career investment, and reframing failure as a stepping stone to success.
Dan Moseson, Career Success Coach at the University of Utah discusses resources for career seekers in the field of humanities. Discover the multitude of opportunities available with a humanities degree, beyond just graduate school or research.
Dan Moseson, Career Success Coach at the University of Utah shares valuable insights into the world of professional networking. Part 1 of this conversation uncovers useful networking strategies, including finding alumni and making authentic connections.
Dominic Militello, Career Success Coach at the University of Utah shares actionable tips on personal branding. Part 2 of this discussion touches on how to land not just a job, but the job by becoming the CEO of your own brand.
Dominic Militello, Career Success Coach at the University of Utah shares his viewpoints on personal branding, one of the most important components to career success. Part 1 of this discussion focuses on identifying personal, technical, and managerial skills that can be useful in developing your brand.
Pilot episode introducing INSPIRE, a new podcast and model for anyone looking to achieve their definition of career success. Learn how INSPIRE can help you design your career and thrive in this era of modern professionalism.
Katie Abby, Assistant Dean and Special Advisor to the President of the University of Utah, explains the new Career Success Presidential Initiative, the importance of paid internships, and why it's especially beneficial to offer internships to first and second-year students.
Giovanna Percontino, Career Success Coach for the University of Utah explains what you can expect from a career coaching session and how meeting regularly with a coach can boost your confidence and help you achieve your definition of career success.
Special episode where I share my own story/background and present a model for intern development and modern day career success. I outline four main stages: Inquire, Aquire, Aspire, and of course the root of it all, Inspire.
Danny Chi, Senior Director of Communications at ESPN and distinguished alumni of the University of Utah shares his professional story and provides excellent strategies on building relationships, taking on the undesirable work, and embracing the intangibles or natural gifts we all have to stand out.
Hot topic episode on the future of internships and how ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence tools are changing the way we work. Hollis Robbins, Dean of the College of Humanities at the University of Utah shares compelling viewpoints on the exciting potential of AI and how it can serve students. Learn about the rising demand for work flexibility and the tips and tricks for excelling in a remote internship.
Jen Mejia, Talent Acquisition Operations Manager for CHG Healthcare shares the behind-the-scenes details of their unique internship program and capstone, which allows interns from around the country to come together and collaborate on projects and tackle real company issues.
Zach Ames, founder of XYZ Leadership and an accomplished leadership coach, offers valuable insights on the Bloomingdales Internship Program, which he previously managed in New York City. Zach's perspective highlights the benefits of stepping outside of one's comfort zone and exploring unfamiliar territories, which can lead to a wealth of opportunities.
Special season premier episode, live at the University of Utah College of Humanities, featuring four student panel members completing four different campus internship programs.Parker Banta | Ken C. Gardner Policy Institute Internship (Hinckley Institute)Major: Political Science and International Studies. Minor: Applied EthicsJaxson Day | Student Media Geekwave InternshipMajor: Video Game Design. Minor Strategic CommunicationSydney Mendel | Utah Hockey Sports Media InternshipMajor: Strategic CommunicationTrysten Richard | Sorenson Impact Center InternshipMajor: Philosophy of Science. Minor: MathematicsPanelists share insights, experiences, and address common questions, such as how to balance schoolwork, how to articulate skills, and how to get the most out of an internship.
AJ Boldan, President of Utah Hockey explains the process of creating a successful internship program that works with the academic calendar and curriculum.
Driven by passion, the Sports Internship Program connects students to multiple positions in sports media and operations, starting with training and exploration in the first semester. AJ Boldan, President of Utah Hockey, joins me in discussing the details of this program and how it can serve as a launch pad for a career in sports.
Hot topic episode explaining how an internship can be extracted from a regular job. Learn the correct components of this process to qualify for college credit, acquire new skills, and explore a career.
Danielle Rueger-Miroewski, Partner Engagement Specialist for Parker Dewey, explains what micro-internships are and how these project-based experiences can help make the college to career connection more accessible and equitable. Learn more at www.parkerdewey.com
Marissa Armitstead, Career Design Specialist at Utah State University and host of the USU Career Studio Podcast, joins me in a discussion on the breakthrough of design thinking, an innovative and human-centered approach that can help anyone in their career planning.
Hot topic episode for students, highlighting all the things you should expect from both paid and unpaid internships. Which kind might be best for you in your search and how can this impact your career goals.
Hot topic episode for employers who have questions about compensation for an internship. The important things you need to know about offering a paid or unpaid internship, such as laws, taxes, school credit, and more.
From fashion to finance, Paige Boner, Campus Recruiter at Northwestern Mutual, shares her story and discusses the importance of being your true-self in an internship and designing a culture of care, respect, and high-value.
Ned Khatrichettri, Internship Coordinator for the University of Utah College of Humanities, and I break down the basics and discuss seven components that every internship should have to be successful.