The Career Jungle Gym with Kate Crane episode artwork

EPISODE · May 11, 2026 · 1H

The Career Jungle Gym with Kate Crane

from The Way to College Podcast · host Jose L. Saldivar

What if your career is not supposed to be a straight line? If you're a regular listener of The Way to College Podcast, then you know that one's career is rarely a straight line. This is never more true than on the latest episode.In this episode, Dr. Jose Saldivar talks with Kate Crane, founder of Direction Over Perfection, about why careers are more like jungle gyms than ladders.Kate shares her journey from studying art history and business at UT Austin to working in the New York art world, navigating a layoff during the 2008 recession, exploring restaurant work, earning an MBA, moving into management consulting, and eventually building a career across DoorDash, Flock Safety, OpenTable, and career coaching.Her story is a powerful reminder for students and young professionals: you do not need to make a perfect decision. You need to keep moving, stay curious, ask good questions, and learn from every experience.This conversation is especially valuable for students thinking about majors, careers, internships, networking, and life after college.Kate’s message is clear: you are the best advocate for your life and your career.Listen now for an honest, practical, and encouraging conversation about building a career with direction, confidence, and flexibility.

What if your career is not supposed to be a straight line? If you're a regular listener of The Way to College Podcast, then you know that one's career is rarely a straight line. This is never more true than on the latest episode.In this episode, Dr. Jose Saldivar talks with Kate Crane, founder of Direction Over Perfection, about why careers are more like jungle gyms than ladders.Kate shares her journey from studying art history and business at UT Austin to working in the New York art world, navigating a layoff during the 2008 recession, exploring restaurant work, earning an MBA, moving into management consulting, and eventually building a career across DoorDash, Flock Safety, OpenTable, and career coaching.Her story is a powerful reminder for students and young professionals: you do not need to make a perfect decision. You need to keep moving, stay curious, ask good questions, and learn from every experience.This conversation is especially valuable for students thinking about majors, careers, internships, networking, and life after college.Kate’s message is clear: you are the best advocate for your life and your career.Listen now for an honest, practical, and encouraging conversation about building a career with direction, confidence, and flexibility.

NOW PLAYING

The Career Jungle Gym with Kate Crane

0:00 1:00:02

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Way to College Podcast?

This episode is 1 hour and 0 minutes long.

When was this The Way to College Podcast episode published?

This episode was published on May 11, 2026.

What is this episode about?

What if your career is not supposed to be a straight line? If you're a regular listener of The Way to College Podcast, then you know that one's career is rarely a straight line. This is never more true than on the latest episode.In this episode, Dr....

Can I download this The Way to College Podcast episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!