Career Can Do: Recent Episodes
Mary Ann Faremouth
Welcome to Career Can Do, a new podcast from award-winning author, professional career coach and training consultant Mary Ann Faremouth. Mary Ann will be talking to experts, employers and job seekers about what the new world of work looks like and how you can thrive in ever-changing circumstances. Tune in every other week for straight talk about remote work, office politics, first impressions, the changing jobscape and more.
Is there a right way to guide young professionals in today's competitive world? In this episode of Career Can Do, guest Robert Khoury shares insights into Agile Rainmakers' unique internship program, which offers students a rich blend of autonomy, hands-on experience, and valuable interactions with clients. Robert is the founder and CEO of Agile Rainmakers and author of a groundbreaking series on internships, How to Intern Successfully. A visionary with a keen focus on crafting transformative internship experiences, his approach is rooted in principles like harmony, empathy, intentionality, and empowerment. His commitment to bridging the gap between academia and the corporate world has made him a sought-after figure in discussions around career development and the future of work. Robert joins Mary Ann Faremouth to share invaluable insights on how to empower students, address talent shortages, and ensure internships offer tangible value for both interns and companies.
Addressing the talent shortage companies face today, Agile Rainmakers embodies principles like harmony and empowerment, ensuring mutual satisfaction for both interns and clients. The program empowers students to set their own goals and engage directly with clients, equipping them with both hard and soft skills needed in the modern workplace. It aims to foster a community of support and mentorship by connecting students with alumni, parents, and employers, emphasizing principles such as empathy and intentional communication.
Robert underscores the importance of the wrap-up process in achieving closure and ensuring satisfaction for all stakeholders. This thorough wrap-up not only facilitates smooth transitions but also encourages students to articulate their gratitude, teaching them the art of professional communication. Through activities like writing thank-you notes and participating in feedback surveys, interns reflect upon their journey, helping them grow and align their career aspirations.
How to Intern Successfully is dedicated to bringing dignity to the internship discourse. With titles covering topics from designing exceptional internships to mentoring and parental involvement, Robert aims to elevate the perception of internships. His holistic view integrates feedback from multiple perspectives, reaffirming the idea that internships can shape the professional future of students while addressing the pressing workforce shortages.
Resources Robert Khoury on the Web | LinkedIn Faremouth.com
On today's episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth hosts a multi-faceted professional who redefines success. Daniel Hall is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, investor and speaker. This episode delves into Daniel's latest book, The Money Mindset Makeover: Transforming Your Finances From the Inside Out, which promises to change your perception of wealth and personal growth. Daniel shares insights into transforming your relationship with money and why your beliefs play a crucial role in your financial future.
Daniel says that our relationship with money is often mired in notions of scarcity and the belief that money is hard to come by. This mindset is a fallacy, he says; we need a paradigm shift to overcome these negative beliefs and adopt a new set of beliefs that allows us to see the abundant opportunities that life offers. Mary Ann notes that candidates with a can-do mindset are often more successful, despite not ticking every box in terms of required skills.
Daniel describes the transformative power of changing core beliefs about wealth. "It's like fertilizing a garden,” he says. “You start to really see things start to grow and blossom in this new garden because you've made the soil fertile." He shares success stories of individuals who triumphed over their past to create financial success, including his own.
Mary-Ann comments on Daniel's book, stating how it doesn't just tell you where you need to be, but helps you understand how to get there from where you are now. Daniel offers listeners the opportunity to pick up his book, pay what they wish, and take the first steps toward a mindset overhaul.
Maintaining a positive mindset and discipline even during challenging times is crucial. To sustain a money mindset, Daniel suggests being mindful and present in your thoughts, affirming that positive changes in reality can happen if you stay consistent in your efforts. Challenging situations should be seen as opportunities for growth and learning rather than obstacles. We all have the power to decide our perception towards events in our lives, including financial ones. He encourages listeners to frame challenges as opportunities to grow and reach the next step. There’s an abundance of opportunities around us, Daniel says, comparing them to things we couldn't see before getting a new pair of glasses. He believes that seizing and implementing these opportunities, and drawing from these positive experiences for future successes, leads to a cycle of prosperity. He coins this a "delicious cycle," where good things continue to happen, expanding in their magnitude.
Resources: Daniel Hall | Money Mindset Makeover Faremouth.com
In this episode of Career Can Do, host Mary Ann Faremouth sits down with Lata Hamilton, the founder and CEO of Passion Pioneers and the creator of leading successful change programs. Lata has worked with some of Australia's biggest companies and developed her own style of inspiring change leadership. This episode delves into the importance of managing change, the role of technology, and how to become a changemaker.
Lata discusses the increasing role of technology in automating tasks and the subsequent shift towards people-focused roles and work. She believes that as more menial tasks are handled by technology, we will be able to improve the experiences of people and spend more time focusing on that. She explains that change management is about moving people from doing things in one way in an organization to doing things in a new way. This is achieved through communications, training, and business readiness. "Change management is all about the people," Lata explains. “...people need to be taken on the journey and that the people can actually be the ones that make or break the change.”
Change management used to be a very methodical, sequential process that could be planned out well in advance. However, the fast pace of change in recent years, especially due to COVID, has made it necessary for change management to be more flexible and adaptive. Lata emphasizes the need for change management to add value quickly and inspire teams and leaders from the inside out to accept, engage with, and move forward into the future.
Lata and Mary Ann discuss the value of building connections and relationships across teams and organizations. They believe that these cross-functional relationships and conversations are essential for understanding the impacts of change across the organization. Lata remarks that change managers are like matchmakers, connecting people from different projects or teams that might not be directly related to the change process but are crucial for the overall success of the organization. She encourages listeners to build their own confidence and sense of self-worth to future-proof their careers. She wants you to embrace change, lead it, and be at the forefront of it. Anyone can be a leader in their own right and people will follow those who are willing to accept and lead change.
Resources: Lata Hamilton on Website | LinkedIn | Instagram Passion Pioneers Faremouth.com
Are you feeling stuck in your career? Are you searching for a sense of purpose and fulfillment in your work? In this episode of Career Can Do, guest Josselyne Herman-Saccio explores what it takes to empower dreams and defeat obstacles. Josselyne is a master coach and highly experienced course leader who has dedicated her career to empowering individuals to realize and pursue their dreams. Over the course of her career, she has worked with more than 200,000 people, helping them to create opportunities, overcome obstacles, and strive for success in both personal and professional contexts. Josselyne joins Mary Ann Faremouth to share her transformative approach to achieving personal and professional success. She stresses the importance of self-awareness, particularly about recognizing and challenging limiting beliefs, and maintaining a clear understanding of personal passion and purpose.
Burnout and work-life balance are pressing issues in today’s work environment. With the rise of digital communication tools like Zoom, employees can connect from across the globe, but this also brings new challenges. To effectively manage your life and responsibilities, Josselyne advocates using a calendar as a powerful organizing tool. By recording every task and commitment, you can create tangible context for your actions, helping to distinguish between imposed or "default" dreams and your own created dreams.
Josselyne introduces the concept of being “unmessable with,” which she describes as a state of being that allows you to create in any circumstance without being hindered. This powerful mindset is an antidote to the effects of limiting beliefs, notions of truth, and scarcity, which can interfere with your ability to achieve your dreams.
She presents an alternative view of failure, encouraging individuals to perceive it not as an endpoint but as a part of the journey toward fulfillment and success. In Josselyne’s philosophy, failure is not something to be avoided or feared. Instead, it serves as a crucial learning opportunity, providing insights and lessons that can be invaluable for personal growth and progress. Recognizing that setbacks are a natural part of life's journey can empower you to navigate your path with resilience, tenacity, and focus on your ultimate goals.
Resources Josselyne Herman-Saccio on LinkedIn United Global Shift JHA Management
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Are you feeling stuck in your career? Are you searching for a sense of purpose and fulfillment in your work? In this week's episode of Career Can Do, we dive into the world of reinvention and self-discovery with guest, Alison Hall. Alison is the founder of Change Agent Coaching for Women. With a background as a CPA and corporate strategist, Alison now helps others navigate transitions, build businesses, and create their dream lives. Alison joins Mary Ann Faremouth to explore the power of reinvention and the importance of finding passion and purpose in your work. They discuss strategies for identifying your values, strengths, and interests, and explore the concept of job crafting to make your current role more meaningful.
Reinvention is born out of a sense of dissatisfaction. It's important to listen to your inner voice and recognize when it's time for a change, Alison says. However, entrepreneurship is not the only path to fulfillment. While many individuals dream of being their own boss, there are risks and challenges that come with starting a business. It's essential to assess your financial and operational readiness before taking the leap. Sometimes, the answer lies in retooling your current career or finding ways to add meaning within your existing role.
Alison introduces the concept of job crafting, which involves customizing and reshaping your role to make it more fulfilling. This can include altering tasks, building relationships, and changing your perspective on the value you bring to your work. Taking responsibility for your own happiness and finding ways to add meaning can transform your experience. Reinvention and change don't always have to be radical. Small tweaks and adjustments in your career and life can have a significant impact. Setting two to three solid goals at a time and working towards them can lead to increased life satisfaction and success.
Both Mary Ann and Alison emphasize that no one else is responsible for your happiness and fulfillment in life. It's essential to take ownership of your own journey and make the necessary changes to improve your situation. If you're unhappy, it's up to you to take action and find solutions.
Resources Alison Hall on Website | LinkedIn | Email Faremouth.com
A proficient project manager plays a vital role in guiding a project to its successful completion, impacting both organizational objectives and individual lives. In this episode of Career Can Do, project management expert Eddie Merla joins Mary Ann Faremouth to share insights for anyone contemplating or currently in the field of project management. Eddie Merla is a seasoned project management professional whose expertise extends to training and consulting. He is also the co-author of Communicate, Lead and Transform, a book which teaches effective leadership and transformation strategies. He serves as an adjunct professor at Rice University's Susan M. Glascock School of Continuing Studies. He and Mary Ann explore the journey into project management, including the skills required, the importance of certification, and the tangible benefits this profession can bring to organizations and individuals alike.
Project management is not just about understanding the tasks at hand; it's a more holistic approach that requires a blend of numerous skills. Eddie underscores the importance of leadership, communication, time management, creative problem-solving, and team-building skills. Moreover, he emphasizes that "project management is about managing value, not just tasks." This implies that a good project manager should look beyond mere task completion, focusing on creating and maintaining value throughout the project's lifecycle.
Eddie believes that certification, particularly the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, can be a valuable stepping stone in the journey to becoming a proficient project manager. "Obtaining the certification requires experience and passing a credential exam," he tells listeners. This certification can help individuals understand the language and processes of project management, enabling them to integrate into the role seamlessly.
Project management brings tangible benefits that extend beyond mere task execution, Eddie shares. It formalizes the process, impacts lives and organizations, and enhances the success rate of projects. Reflecting on his experiences, he suggests that project management is essentially about "weathering the storm and helping organizations achieve their goals."
Resources Eddie Merla on the Web | LinkedIn | Communicate, Lead and Transform Faremouth.com
In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Chuck Gallagher, an entrepreneur, speaker, and author who specializes in digital marketing. He is the author of Second Chances and has been featured in media outlets, including Business Week, CBS, CNN, and. Chuck discusses the importance of video and shares tips on how to distinguish yourself in a competitive marketplace.What problem are you going to solve? In a competitive marketplace, you have to be able to articulate what that problem is in a manner that catches people’s attention. A very effective way to do that is through video, but even that has its challenges. The average watch rate for any video is 31 seconds. This means that in 31 seconds, you must share something powerful or captivating enough that encourages people to continue watching. You should investigate what people are searching for in order to create content they want to see in the first place.ResourcesFaremouth.com
In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Akili Atkinson, a neurodiversity trainer helping individuals and businesses understand workplace communication strategies. Akili discusses how to overcome the problem of finding employees in today’s economy, emphasizing the importance of communication in interviews. She also shares advice on alternative methods for hiring.
Neurodivergent people have unique ways of approaching situations, creating solutions that wouldn’t otherwise be found by traditional methods. Organizations should consider this in the hiring process, Akili believes, as these individuals bring new skills to the talent pool that haven’t been tapped into yet.
When hiring people, interviewers should ask candidates what they can contribute to the company. Oftentimes the best employees aren’t necessarily the most qualified, but the ones who have the dedication and desire to do the job. They bring their passion with them, and employers can easily put them in alignment with what needs to be done.
Resources Faremouth.com
In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Lee Chaix McDonough. Lee is the founder of Coach With Clarity, a training and educational company for life and business coaches. As an ICF-certified business coach, she is a firm believer in the importance of education and certification in coaching. Lee shares how to choose the right coaching program and tips for budgeting time.
Lee’s #1 best-selling book, ACT on Your Business, provides a deep dive into the three M’s: meaning, mindset, and mindfulness. They involve getting clear on your values, understanding how you relate to your thoughts and emotions, and grounding yourself in the present moment so you can fully experience what's going on in your life. She selected these elements from a therapeutic approach called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and created a framework to use in coaching.
Lee recommends that coaches budget around six months of their time to work on certification. The financial investment to get a certification depends on the program you choose.
Resources Faremouth.com
In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Dr. Donald McNeeley, who is president and CEO of Chicago Tube and Iron Co., as well as a Professor of Engineering at Northwestern University. As a leader responsible for making a significant contribution in the new work world, Dr. McNeeley discusses the importance of networking and education, and, in the spirit of irony, how having a prestigious degree does not guarantee success in an industry.
According to social scientists, everyone experiences an average of 3 SEEs, or significant emotional events, over the course of their life. A common SEE is the unexpected death of a spouse or when a child precedes their parent in death. From the time of experiencing such events, life changes irrevocably. The organizational equivalent of a SEE is called a point of inflection, Dr. McNeeley shares.
As a company progresses through time, it will periodically encounter these points of inflection where the leaders will need to rethink their historical business model, irrespective of how successful it's been. Leaders must be prepared to deliver on those points, he adds. Later, he advises students to go to school with the intention to learn, not get good grades. If you go to school to learn, the grades will come automatically.
Resources Faremouth.com
In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Molly Rose Speed, owner and Director of Operations at CoPilot Consulting. Molly Rose is a talented strategic thinker with cultivated skills in online tech solutions, systems, and processes that improve company efficiencies. She went from a “corporate cubicle dweller” to becoming an entrepreneur and creator of the Virtual Assistant Academy. Molly Rose shares her story and gives insight into the virtual assistance industry.
Ten years ago, Molly Rose quit her corporate job cold-turkey when she realized that it was not how she wanted to live her life. She delved into virtual assistance, despite not quite knowing everything it entailed - but she quickly learned. Virtual assistants provide the professional support online business owners need to stay in their zone of genius.
The Virtual Assistant Academy founded by Molly Rose trains and certifies people to start virtual businesses. It’s a very flexible career path, especially for mothers. On the flip side, the Academy also provides virtual services for business owners or even stay-at-home mothers looking to outsource certain tasks.
Resources Faremouth.com
In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Ron Carucci, owner and Managing Partner of Navalent. A 2-time TEDx speaker, Ron works with CEOs and executives pursuing transformational change for their organizations. He is the bestselling author of nine books, the most recent one being selected by Bloomberg Businessweek as one of 2021's Best Books. Ron explores how leaders can build purpose-driven companies of honesty and justice, and shares the importance of belonging.
To Be Honest: Lead with the Power of Truth, Justice and Purpose is the result of 15 years of research, Ron shares. The initial idea wasn’t a book, but a study on honesty and investigating the conditions under which people would act fairly, decently, and serve a greater purpose. The statistical models that came out of the research were so compelling, he wanted to share it.
The problem with generational differences is that we don’t see the conflict for what it is. Older and younger generations are fighting to be relevant and leave a legacy behind, and in that clash they misunderstand each other. They see each other as threats, when at the end of the day, we all want the same thing - to belong and to be respected.
Resources Faremouth.com
In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Susan Meier, who has been helping Fortune 500 companies create distinctive messaging for over 20 years. Susan is a brand expert and career coach, and she’s on a mission to empower professional women and companies to maximize their contribution to the new work world. Susan discusses how to craft your story, and shares tips for women in a transitional position.
Rather than a straight line, many of us have had more of a zigzag path in the careers we’ve had - especially those of us who are very curious and accomplished. This makes our stories harder to tell when we’re trying to put together a resume, LinkedIn page, or even trying to introduce ourselves at a networking event. Susan helps people and companies untangle their stories and find the clear shiny thread.
In the process of crafting your story and making sense of where you’ve been, it also helps you make sense of where you want to go. Some people have an idea of the paths they want to take, but others are still unsure, toying with so many options but no framework to figure out which ones work for them. Susan provides that framework to help them figure it out.
Resources Susan on the web | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn
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In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Christopher Saye. Chris is Managing Director of MarcWhittaker, a CPA firm dedicated to providing highly personalized, strategic guidance and support to entrepreneurs in their business, personal and family lives. Chris shares insights for living your best life he has gleaned from his recent journey.
Chris spent the last year visiting the blue zones - geographic regions that are home to some of the world’s oldest people. He picked up three life lessons common in each area that contributed to the longevity of its inhabitants: God, beans, and finding your ‘why’.
Religion, spirituality, and community were part of their cultural identity - it seemed less about specific beliefs and more about the religious institutions providing a regular place for gathering and building relationships. In addition, each culture had plant-based diets, of which beans were an integral part. Finally, they lived life very purposefully. In Costa Rica, there’s a phrase called plan de vida, which translates to ‘plan of the day.’ Everyone wakes up in the morning with an idea of their purpose for the day.
Resources Chris Saye on LinkedIn MarcWhittaker
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In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Jubee Vilceus. Jubee is Managing Partner at Yellowtail.tech, an organization that helps interested career seekers without an IT background get jobs in the industry. Jubee shares how Yellowtail.tech prepares its students with training and real-world experience.
In recent times, many companies have been reorganizing, cutting back, and even closing down, which have left many people without jobs. People are now trying to decide how they’re going to transfer their skills or get into something else entirely. The demand for skills in the IT industry is very real and very high in this digital age, and Yellowtail.tech is helping close the gap by training interested persons with no IT background or education to speak of.
Certification at Yellowtail.tech can take 6 to 9 months depending on which program you choose. However, Jubee advises, it’s a year long commitment. Not only do you need certification and skills, but you also need hands-on experience to apply the knowledge you’ve gained. For this reason, Yellowtail.tech also supplies its students with access to internships.
Resources Jubee on the web | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
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In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Liz Kislik, management consultant, executive coach, and President of Liz Kislik Associates. A frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review, TEDx and Forbes, Liz has helped family-run businesses, national nonprofits, and Fortune 500 companies solve their most challenging problems for 30 years. Liz discusses growth, resilience, and how changing your mindset affects the workplace.
You can learn a lot by observing what’s happening around you, says Liz, even if you are not taking action. It’s important that you understand your surrounding landscape before you try to change it. The way people behave has a lot to do with their environment, so to make a significant, lasting impact, you need to identify situational factors in addition to individual behaviors.
Resilience is a necessary variable for growth. Rather than products of our circumstances, we are products of our decisions - things can happen to us, but what matters is what we do about it. There are two types of resilience: one is when we decide to take action over external things we can still control, and the other is when we accept the things not within our control and keep moving forward anyway.
Resources Liz Kislik on the web | LinkedIn | Twitter
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In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Michael Wenderoth, an executive coach who has helped thousands of aspiring leaders to leverage their power and ascend. He is a coach at Stanford Exec Ed, associate professor at IE Business School, and a sought after keynote speaker. Michael has worked with Harvard Business Review and Forbes. He talks about bringing value to your organization, and how to get promoted.
Michael’s book, Get Promoted: What You're Really Missing at Work That's Holding You Back, shows readers how to build their power. There are things you can do to move the needle - whether that’s within your company or as you’re transitioning into new spaces. The new work world has shifted a lot, but some of the principles remain the same. You have to be in tune with how you can help others be in tune with the leaders’ agendas.
We essentially have two goals in life, Mary Ann adds, and they are to be loved and to have purpose. At the end of the day, it’s about work-life balance. If you’re in the right job, you’re going to go home and be a better parent; if you’re a good parent and have a good home life, you're going back to work to be a good worker.
Resources Michael on the web | LinkedIn | Twitter
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In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Dr. Khawar Aizaz, Campus Director of the College of Health Care Professionals (CHCP). The CHCP has been doing some great things to facilitate the demand for health care professionals since the pandemic. Dr. Aizaz talks about the different curriculums the CHCP offers, and their duration.
Even before the pandemic, the Bureau of Labor Statistics was projecting a 16-20% increase in the demands for allied health professionals. “Our mission is to prepare future professionals in the healthcare industry,” Dr. Aizaz shares. One of the short programs offered by the CHCP is a medical assistant program - the day program is 32 weeks, and the evening program is 48 weeks. Their nursing program is a short four-week program that prepares students for working in nursing homes, taking care of patients, and is a stepping stone to becoming a vocational nurse in the future.
Dr. Aizaz has successfully transitioned his career from cardiothoracic surgeon to educator. After working for over 20 years, he decided to retire early and make an impact via education. Due to his background, he has been able to relate to his students’ goals and share his experiences with them.
Resources Faremouth.com Texas Health School
In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Freya Krishnan, who is Leadership Development Manager at Women of the World Network. Freya is a visibility and confidence coach, speaker, and best-selling international author with a background in software development and a broad understanding of computer environments. As the founder of Chasing Happy Mondays, she is passionate about living a balanced life, empowering women, and advocating for small businesses. Freya talks about her personal and professional journey and shares insights about how she helps women entrepreneurs.
As a business coach, Freya focuses on giving women the confidence and the tools to become more visible in their business. Both success and failure build confidence, she claims - not the failure itself, but how we overcome it and develop the skills to help us be better in future attempts. “It’s about progress and not perfection,” she says. She talks about her experience as President of the Society of Women Engineers, and how she coaches women to overcome their fears.
There are so many entrepreneurs who have the most amazing ideas, the best services, and the greatest products, but there’s something stopping them, Freya says. They either don’t have the confidence or don’t know the right strategies to get themselves seen. Freya helps them identify which visibility channels work best for them.
Resources Freya Krishnan on the web | LinkedIn | Facebook
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In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Jill Peplinski, who is Adjunct Professor of Business Communications, and Success Center Specialist at Walsh College. Walsh College is a private and prestigious institution recognized for one of the top 15 MBA programs. Jill talks about Walsh’s unique educational approach to the professional development of their students.
At Walsh, it’s all about networking. Many of their adjunct professors work in the fields they teach, so students are easily able to make connections through them. Walsh’s phenomenal career services department hosts internships and career fairs for their students, as well as a mentor program that matches any interested student with a mentor that helps them develop professionally. Allowing their students to work with polished professionals helps them build the confidence they need to help them in various ways along their career journey.
When she first started at Walsh, Jill had intended to only stay for about five years and then move on. Twenty years later, she’s still there helping students grow day by day. “I like teaching best,” she shares, “building up our students is tremendously rewarding… I love being able to bring prior experiences that I’ve had to [my] students.”
Resources Jill Peplinski | LinkedIn
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In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Elizabeth Ruiz, a prolific leadership and communication consultant with four decades of experience in coaching, training and development. Elizabeth is a board member of several organizations, including the Columbia University Alumni Association. She is also an author and speaker at EAR Enterprises, and a member of the leadership team at District56 Toastmasters - which catapulted her into the lifelong journey of mastering the art of listening. Elizabeth discusses how Toastmasters has impacted her life, and how it continues to impact the lives of others in positive and powerful ways.
Toastmasters’ conferences are wonderful opportunities to build connections while learning and having fun, even presenting attendees with the chance to win prizes. They not only help you hone and polish your public speaking skills, but also enhance your listening skills, and your ability to conduct meetings and present yourself both virtually and in-person. The networking is the icing on the cake - whoever you meet there will undoubtedly enrich your personal and professional lives. The conferences also provide a neutral ground for employers and job-seekers to mingle with each other.
The organization’s Pathways program is a gold mine for personal and professional development, equipped with up to 11 interesting paths - from coaching, to leadership, to digital public speaking - with five levels in each. You can spend anywhere from 6 months to 2 years on completing a Pathway, and you go at your own pace.
Resources Faremouth.com ToastmastersHouston.com
In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with William Bernhardt, a best-selling author of over fifty books which have sold millions of copies worldwide. He is the founder of the Red Sneakers Writers Center, an organization dedicated to mentoring aspiring writers and providing them with resources to help build their careers. He discusses a myriad of topics, including striking a work-life balance, determination, and writing.
William knew from a young age that he wanted to be a writer. Despite the obstacles in his way, he persevered, and eventually his determination paid off. He ended up going to law school, which was originally just a way to pay the bills, but his industry knowledge enhanced his courtroom thrillers. After writing over 20 books, William decided to use his platform to make the path to success a little easier for the next generation of writers. He founded the Red Sneakers Writers Center for that purpose, which bloomed so much that he now hosts a writer’s conference annually.
Writing is a critical skill now more than ever, Mary Ann comments, especially when it comes to sending out resumes. Things like proper spelling, sentence structure and formatting are incredibly important for communicating your skills and raising your prospects of being hired and staying hired. Many firms are realizing that the best and brightest college graduates they employ can’t write because they weren’t taught to, William shares.
Resources William Bernhardt | Website | LinkedIn
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In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Breeda Miller. Breeda is an author, trainer, and playwright, and CEO of Breeda Miller Speaking, where she uses the power of story to reach, teach, and provide a memorable framework for lasting change. She has used her professional experience serving clients in many industries, including healthcare, academic institutions, and nonprofit communities. She shares how we can take life’s numerous changes and transform them into meaningful experiences that help others.
Breeda came to understand the value of self-care when she cared for her mother for nearly six years. Through that experience, she learned profound life lessons that she was able to translate into impactful and humorous stories. She dedicated herself to becoming a professional storyteller, but just when she was in the thick of it, the pandemic hit. Despite the setback of no speaking events and things not being quite the same in Zoom, Breeda rose to the challenge and wrote a one-woman show under the advice of a storytelling coach.
“We can find ways to connect our humanity; to share these experiences and then turn them into really powerful opportunities,” Breeda remarks. “We've felt so isolated for so long and [Mrs. Kelly’s Journey Home] is a way to feel connection.” She talks about her method for maintaining focus. “I thought to myself: if I knew I couldn’t fail, what would I do?”
Resources Breeda Miller | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn Breeda Miller Speaking
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In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Andrea Sanchez. Andrea is Director of Communications at ENGIE North America, where she oversees internal and external communications efforts for over 1600 employees. She is also Community Ambassador at HumansFirst, and Executive Director at SparkStory. Andrea works with a humanitarian effort to create a more harmonious work environment and bring a ‘we’ mentality to corporate culture. She talks about human connection in the workplace, and how she is creating spaces for authenticity.
All workplaces start with people, but we tend to lose sight of that because we focus so much on business, Andrea shares. The people are what make workplaces successful, and when it comes to people, emotions are key. The more we can have respect, understanding, and compassion for others, the better we are going to be and the bigger contribution we're going to be able to make, Mary Ann adds.
Andrea started her online rally, initially called A Rally for Equality, as a way to spread good amidst the social unrest of June 2020. Since then, it has exploded into a vehicle for authenticity, kindness, and connecting with other people. “It grew to be more like A Hope and Kindness Rally, and I call it that because I want to remind people that there is hope regardless of what you've been through, and we show up because we want to be kind to each other,” Andrea says.
Resources Faremouth.com
In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Diana Galindo, a nutritional therapist with a background in corporate marketing in the oil and gas industry. Diana served 12 years as the Honorary Consul General of Bolivia. Diana is highly motivated to help people improve their mental fitness and protect their brain from neurodegenerative diseases. She talks about healthy eating, and shares insights on what that entails.
Diana started doing research about health and wellness when her father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. She wanted to find ways to slow down the progress of the disease. She gained new insights about food and the brain: that food is connected to mood, our gut health is linked to our brain health, and there are essential nutrients for our brains, are a few such insights.
The impact of COVID-19 on the US has been devastating, and further proves how important it is to eat for your health. Because of the number of chronic diseases that significant percentages of the population suffer from, the country’s general health was already weakened. Diana recommends that listeners take note of how many plant foods they eat in a day, including spices, and that they should have at least three or four colors of food on their plates.
Resources Faremouth.com
In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Melanie Bragg, who is an author, speaker, and coach. She is an attorney and mediator at Bragg Law PC, and the President of Legal Insight, Inc. She writes for the American Bar Association flagship division’s Defining Moments: Insights into the Lawyer's Soul.
Melanie shares legal advice for listeners. As a business owner, having a good lawyer on your side from the beginning will save you money in the long run, especially if you encounter legal problems. The best thing to do is understand your provisions, duties, and responsibilities, and do them correctly from the get-go. Additionally, in certain states, it is against the law for recruiters to ask candidates how much money they usually make.
If you invest in yourself every morning, you end up walking through the day as a successful person, Melanie adds. Many of the obstacles we perceive to be in our way are all in our heads. If you tell yourself you can’t do it, then you’re not going to do it, but if you tell yourself you can, you’re going to achieve it. Your mindset plays a crucial role in your performance.
Resources Faremouth.com
Melanie Bragg on LinkedIn | Twitter MelanieBragg.com BraggLawPC.com
In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Merritt Chastain, who is Director of the National Association of Pipe Coating Applicators, the organization responsible for promoting a higher standard of pipeline coating quality. He is also a shareholder at Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
NAPCA was founded out of concern for the integrity of pipelines, because an insecure pipeline could result in large explosions and potentially billions of dollars in losses. They focused on standardizing the industry: they educated pipeline companies and contractors about the benefits of having a plan applied coating and how much better it could protect their investment. Due to NAPCA’s dedication to ensuring premium quality and their approach to training, their employees are always in alignment with all the policies and procedures that prevent safety and quality issues.
Being a member of NAPCA gives you an advantage, whether you are a company or candidate. Relationships have always been important in every industry, but the current pandemic has revealed to organizations the importance of prioritizing them, both internally and externally. NAPCA has been ahead of the game in this regard for decades.
Resources Faremouth.com
Merritt Chastain on LinkedIn NAPCA.com
In this solo episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth shares valuable insights and life lessons we can all take from the Tree of Life. The Tree is a symbol of togetherness and the interconnectedness of everything in the universe. It serves as a reminder that you are never alone or isolated. Trees also often represent strength, as they can weather the toughest storms.
Mary Ann advises listeners to learn from the Tree of Life by doing the following: nourish your unique abilities to become a better you; stay grounded; connect with your roots; turn over a new leaf; bend before you break; and keep growing.
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In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Mario Rodriguez and Rich Marsh of Between Jobs Ministry, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people navigate the new work world. Mario is the administrator of the Senior Manager’s Group, established to help those seeking senior manager positions. Rich is the leader of the Orange Job Search Work Team, as well as an author, editor, proofreader.
Between Jobs Ministry has over 50 volunteers and provides their services - which include job search and salary negotiation training - free of charge. They hold meetings every Wednesday morning, where they facilitate job search work teams, networking sessions, and resume workshops, and they invite recruiters to conduct short interviews and collect resumes. Job search work teams are located all over Spring, Texas for the convenience of those who live further away.
A major theme that the job search work teams teach is self-care: if their members are going to do 40 hours a week of job searching, at least 10 of those hours are allocated for doing things that make them feel better about themselves because job searches are tumultuous.
Resources Faremouth.com
Mario Rodriguez on LinkedIn
Rich Marsh on LinkedIn | Twitter
In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Alan Bourgeois, founder and CEO of Authors Marketing International LLC. Alan is also founder and Director of DEAR Texas, Inc. and Texas Authors Institute of History Museum. He is an award-winning indie author and speaker.
Authors Marketing International is dedicated to helping authors - whether they are beginners or veterans - market and sell their books. In addition to this service, Alan also runs an online bookstore for readers and indie authors, which Mary Ann is a member of. Many authors run to Amazon to sell their books, but they have to set their prices so low that they don’t make their fair share. This is why Alan created B4R.store: so indie authors could get more than the bare minimum.
It’s not the journey or the destination, but the people you meet along the way, Mary Ann comments. She talks about being granted the opportunity to network with other authors, marketers, screenwriters, and even people in Hollywood, through Alan’s organization.
Resources Faremouth.com
Alan Bourgeois on LinkedIn | Twitter B4R.store
In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Natalia Johnson, HR Compliance Specialist and HR Assistant at G&A Partners. Natalia is a former employee of Faremouth & Company, where she was Administrative Assistant.
Natalia strongly encourages high-schoolers and college students to get involved in as many extracurriculars, clubs, and organizations as they can. Her experience as part of the organization for her major not only helped her in her job, but also provided a support system and networking skills, which are both incredibly useful. She talks about how she changed her career course and advises listeners on how to do the same.
Sometimes people are so afraid of looking like they don’t know something that they just go ahead and do things without asking questions, and the repercussions of their mistakes are often worse than the temporary shame they might have felt if they had just asked for help, Mary Ann comments. She asks Natalia about the growth of her company, and if it can be attributed to people seeing the benefits of using an outsourcing firm.
Resources Faremouth.com
Natalia Johnson on LinkedIn
In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Elle Ballard, founder of Women of the World Network. She is also a leadership trainer and speaker at John Maxwell Team. Elle has been featured on notable media outlets such as ABC, NBC, Ask, and CBS News.
Women of the World Network is a community that welcomes women from all over the world to become their best selves. Their goal is to help multicultural, multinational, and immigrant women strengthen their unique identities and voices, network, grow together, and offer support, resources, mentorship, and education. Elle talks about their most recent program called Empower: a custom 24-week program of holistic coaching that includes leadership, health, business and individuality.
According to Elle, Women of the World Network holds a recipe for success: it includes personal and professional growth, learning how to work with others, and expanding who you are and what you want to be. She discusses how the community helps each member, and how everyone benefits when one woman shares her story.
Resources Faremouth.com
Elle Ballard on LinkedIn
In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Deepak Sharma, a professional life coach, and certified world class speaking coach. He is also the author of the Amazon bestseller, Move Mountains: One Story at a Time.
Deepak talks about how he overcame his aversion to storytelling and transformed it into something he now teaches to others. Everyone has a story, he says. It doesn’t have to be sensational, all it has to be is sincere. He now helps entrepreneurs use storytelling to empower their vendors, teams, and individuals in their organizations.
Deepak shares advice he was given when he was struggling with effective communication. Not long ago, mastering English was a challenge for him, and he even struggled with communicating in his native language, Hindi. He grew frustrated, but his mentor shared a gem of wisdom that motivated him to persevere. “Every master was a disaster before he became a master,” he was told. This encouraged him to not dwell on his failures but instead learn from them.
Resources Deepak Sharma | YouTube | Email Your Story Your Glory Podcast
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In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with DeDe DeMayo, CEO and Executive Producer of Beyond the Edge Productions. DeDe is also a volunteer at Special Angels of the Woodlands.
Mindfulness, yoga, tai chi, meditation, and similar practices have recently become front and center due to all the fear and uncertainty percolating the globe, Mary Ann comments. These practices help relieve stress, which has been steadily increasing. Many people have woken up to the fact that they need to do some internal inventory, DeDe adds.
DeDe talks about her relationship with her co-host. Though they have amazing chemistry, they don’t always agree on everything. However, as they are both focused on their shared goal of helping others, the things they disagree on are inconsequential in comparison. “We don’t annihilate each other over [our disagreements] because we respect the fact that we’re at different places and we’ve experienced different things,” she says.
Resources DeDe DeMayo | LinkedIn Beyond the Edge
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In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Mel Arenas and Harry Stafford, co-founders of BreatheFit Training. Mel is a respiratory therapist and senior healthcare consultant, and Harry is an ACE-certified personal trainer.
Exercise is medicine, according to Harry. Nobody wants to be slaves to OTC drugs for the rest of their lives. It’s amazing what 50 to 75 minutes of moderately vigorous activity per week can do for the human body. Even just 15 minutes [a day] can do so much good on so many different levels.
Mary Ann praises Mel for the way she was treated at BreatheFit. At BreatheFit, one-on-one consultation with each client is a priority to find out what kind of person they are and what their goals are. Doing this helps them determine the right exercise plan for each client, and what would work best.
Resources BreatheFit Mel Arenas | LinkedIn Harry Chau Stafford | LinkedIn
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In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Trica Benn, Chief Community Officer and Executive Vice President of The C-Suite Network. Tricia supports c-level executives and other entrepreneurs to achieve professional success.
The C-Suite Network is a platform for executives, business owners, investors, and influencers. They are committed to creating access across all their networks, and they offer professional services such as media, TV, radio, digital content, and their very own marketplace to accelerate the success of the audience they serve. Tricia’s role in all of this is to lead that success. She shares the four principles that C-Suite is run by, which are: relevancy, reach, reciprocity, and respect.
Rather than the journey or the destination, what’s most important in life is the people you meet along the way, Mary Ann comments. She praises Tricia for her dedication to celebrating people and helping them grow and expand. Tricia credits this to her “understanding that we’re all people striving to do something great.”
Resources
Tricia Benn | LinkedIn
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In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Donna Wallingsford, a published writer, editor, and educator with over 20 years of experience. Donna helps job seekers refine their resumes.
Donna’s background in journalism contributed to her success and expertise in writing. Though she is versed in many forms of writing, she found her calling in doing resumes, which she turned into a lucrative business. Mary Ann comments that Donna’s is the creme de la creme of resume writers. The secret, Donna says, is her approach: she researches the industry to understand what employers are looking for, and interviews her clients to get to know them. She is passionate about presenting them in the best light.
Your GPA should not be put on your resume unless it’s 3.0 or above, Donna advises. “If you’ve been out of college for more than five years, the GPA isn’t really necessary ... if they don’t request a transcript, your GPA is not going to be a deciding factor in the workforce. If you’re a recent graduate without much work experience, including your internships in your resume is a good idea,” she adds.
Resources Donna Wallingsford | LinkedIn
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Welcome back to Career Can Do! Today Mary Ann Faremouth is talking to Vijay Pattisapu an employment attorney with his hand on the pulse of the world of work. They discuss how to navigate working from home, the return to work, and maintaining good working relationships with your colleagues and management. Accountability, transparency, and communication are more important than ever now that people are working from home and things are more fluid. Vijay notes that by the time he sees people things have generally gone pretty far south, and so this chance to talk about preventative measures is welcome – and the best one is open communication about the reality of your own situation, especially when you’re working at home. Vijay says that getting things in writing is even better than having a discussion, and Mary Ann reminds us that if it’s not in writing it doesn’t exist! Authenticity is a scarce and precious resource – Vijay and Mary Ann talk about the importance of being honest in your dealings with your company and with your employees – from how you’re spending your time when working at home, to how honest to be in interviews and on your resume. Honesty is always the best policy. They wrap up their conversation with a discussion about the changes covid is making in workplaces – mandatory vaccinations, new legislation that may be providing new rights people should be aware of, and whether or not you really need to go back to the office. It’s a challenging area to navigate for both employees and the companies they work for! Resources Gomez Law Firm: 713-980-9012 Gomez Law Faremouth.com
In this episode of Career Can Do, Mary Ann Faremouth chats with Svetlana Karakova, a candidate she placed. Svetlana’s story, Mary Ann says, “is a true example of how networking, the right mindset, with dedication, perseverance and a service orientation can overcome even the toughest of challenges.”
Svetlana moved to the US due to her marriage and was trying to find a job. Mary Ann comments that her advanced education, her work experience, and her pleasant personality made her an excellent candidate. However, it was still difficult for her to find a suitable job. She accepted Mary Ann’s advice to take a temporary job to increase her chances of getting a permanent position, which she was able to secure afterwards. Unfortunately, she was laid off because of the pandemic. She kept in touch with her former employers, however, and when things got better at the company, they asked her to return in another position.
A positive attitude, flexibility, and good work ethic are the traits employers look for right now, Mary Ann says. Employees who try to make a contribution to the greater good of the company are the ones who will be rewarded. “Stay positive, work hard, network,” Svetlana advises listeners. “If you have to take a temp job, do it. Always go the extra mile and have gratitude.”
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Welcome to the Career Can Do podcast, a show dedicated to helping you navigate the new work world. Host Mary Ann Faremouth, bestselling author of Revolutionary Recruiting and Revolutionary Reinvention, chats with experts in the business and recruiting industries and shares tips to help you realize your career goals.
This week’s guest is Jessica Levine, General Manager of Jonathan’s The Rub restaurant at Memorial Green. Jonathan’s is a family-run, award-winning restaurant. Jessica says that one key to their success is that they create a “Cheers effect, where everybody knows your name”. She tells Mary Ann that restaurants face three hurdles post-COVID: attracting guests back, getting employees to return to work, and better access to inventory. She shares how Jonathan’s has been able to overcome these challenges successfully.
Mary Ann asks Jessica how they have been able to maintain such low employee turnover. Jessica responds that it boils down to treating their employees like family. Their healthcare plan is also a big incentive for employees to stay, she adds. If more restaurants offered healthcare benefits, fewer workers would leave.
Resources Jonathan’s The Rub restaurant For catering inquiries: jonathanscatering@att.net | 713-467-9000 Faremouth.com
Are you feeling paralyzed by the ever changing jobscape? Maybe you're in between jobs, or looking to make a big change? You might be feeling a little overwhelmed - this show can help. So welcome to Career Can Do, a new podcast from award-winning author, professional career coach and training consultant Mary Ann Faremouth. Mary Ann will be talking to experts, employers and job seekers about what the new world of work looks like and how you can thrive in ever-changing circumstances. Tune in every other week for straight talk about remote work, office politics, first impressions, the changing jobscape and more.