All Episodes - REAL-ATABLE
Find inspiration from authentic voices who take advantage of life's twists and turns.
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Living Without Fear- REAL-ATABLE with the Experts-LaQuenta Jacobs
We hear from our HR Expert and executive coach LaQuenta Jacobs. “Q” has a unique gift -she can get to the heart of a matter quickly -this episode is no different. She is open, honest, and transparent and provides real-life stories that are REAL-ATABLE! Key insight from Q! #1 Fear comes from a place you can’t see. #3 You have to ask for what you need, people can’t help you unless you tell them. #2 Understanding the root of where fear comes from can set you free, Enjoy this episode!
#156 Living Without Fear- REAL-ATABLE with the Experts- Vivian Dixon, Talent Acquisition
Many people in our audience are going through a career shift or unplanned need to pivot. Vivian provides great advice for executives as well as less experienced professionals. Key insights include Knowing yourself, talking with a mentor or friend to gain perspective, being careful about taking the first offer that comes your way, and not underestimating the power of your network! Enjoy this episode!
Expert Conversation: Know Your Worth Series, LaQuenta Jacobs: HR Executive, VP Equity and Inclusion Kimberly Clark
Q’s insight are terrific- we discuss the importance of humility and self-awareness, the importance of feedback, knowing your blinders, and being open to others’ observations and perceptions. This conversation will leave you thinking about your own personal board of directors! As always, great insight and advice that is real and practical! Enjoy this episode!
Expert Conversation: Know Your Worth Series, Karen Schafer: Former CIA Operative, Current Strategic Advisor/Mentor
Welcome to REAL-ATABLE 2.0 with the experts! This next series will focus on Knowing Your Worth. In this segment, I speak with Karen Schafer, former CIA operative and current Strategic Advisor, Board Member and Mentor.She discusses, the importance of self awareness, knowing your strengths and weaknesses, and how knowing your worth is tied to working in an area where you have passion. Great insight and advice that is real and practical! Enjoy this episode!
Expert Conversation: Vivian Dixon, Talent Acquisition Leader
KNOW YOUR WORTH SERIES: We discuss common pitfalls, how to handle compensation discussions, handling the Interview and best practices to position yourself for success throughout the job hunting process.
# 147 Karen Schaefer-Strategic Advisor, Board Member, Coach, Mentor
Karen joins us again on REAL-ATABLE. We talk about her career transition post CIA, the current climate in homeland security, how to stand out in the candidate pool, and we learn how to crack the code on the security clearance process. Enjoy this episode! Stay Connected, Coach T
Lenice Moynihan, LCPC
Join me as I sit down with Lenice Moynihan, LCPC Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor of Maryland, to demystify therapy and shed light on what it means to be both a good patient and a good therapist. We’ll dive deep into the body-mind connection and explore how it impacts our overall mental health. Whether you’re curious about therapy or looking to strengthen your mental wellness, this conversation is packed with valuable insights! Enjoy this Episode! Stay Connected! Coach T
# 145 -REAL-ATABLE 2.0
WE ARE BACK!!! REAL-ATABLE 2.0 is New and Improved. In this introductory episode, I share what you can expect to happen on the podcast during the 2024-2025 season! We will have a variety of experts to discuss key themes that span common career challenges, and, don’t worry- we will still have the good ‘ole interviews you are used to, where I talk with unique guests that have REAL Challenges, REAL Stories and REAL Successes! Enjoy this episode…and stay connected! Coach T
#144 Lisa Kersey, Executive Director of Freekind
I speak with my friend Lisa from Freekind, an anti human trafficking non profit organization. The mission of Freekind is to prevent human trafficking in southern Virginia, and support survivors on their journey to freedom. You may be surprised at who is impacted by this issue, and how pervasive it is throughout the United States. In addition we learn about Lisa’s path to her role as an Exec. Dir. after a specialized career in healthcare. Vulnerable, honest and heartwarming, you don’t want to miss this episode!
#143 On the Go with Jim MacLeod
Listen to the interview highlights from our conversation with Jim. You can also check out our YouTube Channel TFA Soft Skills for this and other On the Go Episodes!
#142 Emily Vickers, President iConsult
Today I speak with friend and fellow female entrepreneur Emily Vickers. She is the president and founder of iConsult, a cyber, big data, transformation, and cloud architecture business. After being in operation for 10 years, she has a wealth of knowledge and insight to share. Enjoy this episode!
#141 Tara Carcillo, CEO The Clearing
Today I speak with Tara, CEO of The Clearing, a strategy and change management consulting firm. I am so excited for you to hear her career journey, her advice and her insight. I hope you feel as inspired as I did after our interview. Enjoy this episode!
#140 Matt Stevens, CEO The Honor Foundation and former Navy SEAL
Today I speak with Matt Stevens – CEO of The Honor Foundation. The Honor Foundation is an organization who’s mission is to help special forces transition out of their military life and into their next chapter. Matt is a Naval Academy graduate and Navy SEAL for 26 years. He discusses his own transition into becoming the CEO and how we can all break through our own fear barriers. Enjoy this episode!
#139 On the Go Jessica Auville, Creative Director
REAL-ATABLE On the Go episode includes highlights from our interview with Jessica Auville. Want to see it in video form? Check out our TFA Soft Skills YouTube Channel! Don’t forget to subscribe and leave comments. Enjoy this episode!
#138 Rebecca Hayes, Owner Purple Hayes Gallery
Today we dive into the diverse journey of Rebecca Hayes. We met at a paint party and while I’m no artist, she made me feel like one in about two hours! She is a woman of many talents. She has a financial background and owns an art studio, The Purple Hayes Gallery. She has a lot of great insight to share on creativity, loving what you do and the importance of side hustles. Enjoy this episode!
#137 Meg Van Trees, FCPS Teacher and Coach
Coach VT talks about her love of teaching, handling failure, staying true to yourself, and the value of continuing to evolve and move forward. After listening, you will be inspired to harness your strengths, and take on new challenges. We also have a few laughs along the way. Enjoy this episode! In this episode Coach VT talks about the author Jay Shetty, his books include- Think Like a Monk and 8 Rules of Love.
#136 John Daly, Director of Retail & Customer Development, Johnson Brothers Service Distribution of Virginia
John Daly has been in wine distribution business for over 30 years. He discusses how the industry has changed, personal pivots, and critical tips for success. We hear inside scoop on how he negotiated his compensation and benefits package to improve the balance between life and work. Finally, everyone’s question, what are the proper wine pairings with food? He shares it all! Enjoy this episode!
#135 On The Go Episode -Deborah Miscoll and Dr. Adam Naylor of Deloitte
Enjoy the highlights from this amazing interview with the incredibly fascinating high performance psychologists at Deloitte!
#134 Marcus Simon, VA State Delegate & Ekko Title McLean Real Estate Practice
Marcus joins us to discuss his path to becoming a member of the House of Delegates. He has a law degree, has served in the military as a prosecuting attorney, been a criminal defense lawyer, and now runs a successful real estate law firm. You don’t want to miss his fascinating adventure to where he is now. Enjoy this episode!
#133 Dr. Timothy Cannon, Oncologist INOVA Cancer Center
Dr. Cannon is Paul’s oncologist, he was our beacon of light and hope during a very challenging time. In addition to discussing our personal story, we get to hear about Dr Cannon’s college basketball journey, and how a mission trip to Taiwan shaped his life which led him to his career in oncology. Enjoy this episode!
Missy and Teresa Wrap Up 2023
They are back!! Missy and T share highlights and behind the scenes info from the more than 30 interviews in 2023. A HUGE thank you to all of our guests this year, we had a great time hearing your stories and sage advice. Special Notes: Non Profit-Bloom Youth- We equip youth with the mindset, skills, knowledge, mental resources, as well as access to mentors and opportunities to grow individually Jingle Bells by Kevin MacLeod | https://incompetech.com/Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 3.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
#131 Jim Macleod, Chairman at CoastalSouth Bancshares, Chair MUSC Foundation & Immediate Past Chair University of Tampa
Always great to have a family member on the show! I speak with my cousin Jim. He started his career in the mortgage and banking industry and discusses his successful path toward being a bank president. After “retiring” at 56, he shares how he’s spent the last 20 years doing what he WANTS to do, not what he HAS to do. Fascinating journey, and specific insight on core values that made all the difference. Enjoy this episode!
#130 On The Go with Marjorie Churchbourne
Our latest On the Go episode. Listen to highlights from my interview with Marjorie. You can also view this episode on our YouTube Channel. Enjoy!
#129 Ken Harvey, Former NFL Player & Author
Redskins superstar Ken Harvey joins us on REAL-ATABLE! We hear about his football career, being a prolific author, and his new podcast “You’re going to know, Commanders Justice”. Ken shares valuable insight on perseverance, how fear played a significant role in his life, and discusses the power of reinventing yourself- it’s never too late! Enjoy this episode!
#128 Michael Saad, Communication Professor at Okanagan College & Owner of Course Creators & Peak Presenters
In this episode Teresa and Michael discuss their love of soft skills! They talk about a set back that shook Michael’s confidence, and how he bounced back. We hear about why critical thinking and public speaking are critical for success, and how he risked it all to find his true calling. Enjoy this episode!
#127 Christine Turpin, Performance Dietician, Military Support
Chrissy and I discuss her road to being a performance dietician. She’s worked with D1 athletes and now helps military professionals. Her story of pursuing her dreams is inspiring, and we get a lot of great tips on how we should be eating to enhance our day to day performance and enjoyment. Chrissy is one of the kindest and hardest working people I know- take some time to listen- you won’t be disappointed. Enjoy this episode!
#126 On The Go with Azah Awasum
Today’s episode is our On The Go feature with Azah. You may remember her from Big Brother Season 23. Now she is a believer, chef and creative. You can view this episode on our new YouTube Channel, TFA Soft Skills.
#125 Anjanette Haynes, Managing Director Deloitte Services
I speak with Anjanette, a friend and colleague for more than 25 years! As 2 HR geeks who happen to have a lot of employer overlap we dish on when she was my supervisor, how and why we both would stand in front of a bus for the other, and how she found her fulfillment after a challenging and difficult period in her career. It’s all in this discussion, plus career insight and advice that everyone can use. Enjoy this episode!
#124 Julie Parker, President & CEO of Julie Parker Communications
We are diving deep into the world of communication, crisis response, public relations and journalism. Julie is not just any communications expert, she is currently on the front lines managing public relations and crisis response for police and government. Julie leverages her unique career in broadcast journalism to serve her cross industry clients. We hear about resilience in the face of rejection, what it was like to be an on air anchor during 9/11, and what she has found to be critical success factors in serving her clients. Enjoy this episode!
#123 Teresa’s Book Launch
The day finally came. Teresa’s book has officially launched and we want to share a bit of the party with our listeners! Enjoy this episode!
#122 Pat Sargent, Veteran, Booz Allen Hamilton, Artist
Teresa speaks with her neighbor and friend Pat. He is retired military, a Booz Allen space expert, university professor, AND artist. He gives specific examples of how to find and create success, and we hear about the mantra he lives by, “you find success by giving yourself options”. What does that mean? Listen in to find out! Also, check out his website www.sargent-thamm.com to get a look at his art, you will not be disappointed!
#121 REAL-ATABLE On the Go/ Leslie Durham
Enjoy our first episode of REAL-ATABLE On the Go, where you can enjoy highlights and interesting insight from our industry experts and guests in 15 minutes or less. Enjoy!
#120 Marjorie Churchborne, School Engagement Director, American Heart Association, Part 2
Ready for Part 2 with Muggie? In this discussion we focus more on her career and the pivots along the way. Her passion for this position is very personal and you will definitely shed a few tears with her as she shares her experience and how she landed this job 10 years ago. Get ready to be inspired! Enjoy this episode!
#119 Marjorie ChurchBourne, School Engagement Director, American Heart Association
Welcome back to season three! Today MISSY does the interviewing! She talks with Teresa and one of her best friends of 40+ years, Marjorie AKA “Muggie”. How has this unique friendship lasted so long? Have they ever taken a break? What are their secret ingredients to a lifelong friendship? Anyone who has spent time with this duo knows this friendship is special. Grab your bestie, sit down and get ready to laugh. Enjoy this episode!
#118 Sam Slevin, RMC pitcher and rising junior
Today we sit down with Sam for year three! What is he doing this summer?...
#117 Sarah Sutton, MS, MCC, NBC-HWC, Truce Inc.
Teresa speaks with Sarah, the founder of her coaching business Truce. She is an Integrative...
#116 Kelly Cure, Co-Founder & Head of Growth, Skillful.ly
Teresa and Kelly sit down and discuss the creation of Skillful.ly, a unique organization at...
#115 Kevin Flynn, Administrative Appeals Judge, Department of Health and Human Services
Teresa speaks with Kevin Flynn, an AAJ for DHHS. You’ll never guess his path to...
#114 Jon Shields, Football Coach
This is an interview you do not to miss! I sit down with Jon to...
#113 Bill McAdams, Actor, Director, Producer & Writer
Bill is an accomplished independent filmmaker with experience across all disciplines within the entertainment industry....
#112 Dr. Wendy Gottlieb, Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Wendy is a plastic surgeon specializing in breast and body reconstruction and augmentation. What...
#111 Amy Babish, Leadership & Relationship Coach
Amy, a licensed psychotherapist for over 20 years forged a new path. She is now...
#110 Pt 2. Mike Yang, VP Systems Planning & Analysis and Tammy Yang, VP Global Delivery Compass Datacenters
Continue listening to Mike and Tammy as they give their advice regarding careers, parenting and...
#109 Pt 1. Mike Yang, VP Systems Planning and Analysis & Tammy Yang, VP of Global Delivery, Compass Datacenters
Mike & Tammy are both Naval Academy graduates. Mike was recruited to play tennis, Tammy...
#108 Cheryl Yarbrough, Basketball Trainer and Life Coach
Cheryl has worked with many athletes who have gone on to play in college and...
#107 Jimmy Sanabria, Director of Student Activities
Today we talk Jimmy about his 29 year career at Centreville High School. What led...
#106 Elena Agar, Career Coach, Talent Executive, Author, and "The Shift" Podcast Host
We are excited to kick off the second season of REAL-ATABLE 2023 with Elena Agar!...
#105 Tim Paroulek, Executive Chef
Teresa’s nephew Tim joins her on REAL-ATABLE to discuss his path to being an executive...
#104 Dr. Richard Layfield III, The Centers for Advanced Orthopedics
In this episode, we find out what soft skills are necessary for a career in...
#103 Bryan Case, Liberty Middle School Dean of Students,
Today we find out what soft skills are necessary for a career in music and...
#102 Lieutenant Kevin White, Fairfax County Police Department
Today we learn about what soft skills are necessary for a career in law enforcement....
#101 Paul Freeman, Esophageal Cancer Journey, Part 2
Paul joins Teresa again to discuss his surgery and treatments of his cancer journey. If...
#100 Paul Freeman, Esophageal Cancer Journey, Part 1
We are so excited to put out the 100th episode and what a treat! Teresa’s...
#99 Lora Rothe, Managing Director, Deloitte
Lora is the Managing Director at Deloitte and a very dear friend. I’ve been anxious...
Brian Colella, Principal of Financial Centz & Youth Coach
Brian shares the unique way he got his CPA, and how he has navigated his...
#97 Mereweather Lackey, Director of Summer Programs Madeira School
Mereweather talks about how the experiences she had attending summer camps inspired her career path....
#96 Erinn Flynn, MSW, LCSW Blue Skies Counseling
Erinn is a friend from college. She is a licensed clinical social worker. Since she...
#95 Azäh Awasum, Chef and TV Personality on CBS Big Brother Season 23
Azäh was the third runner up on Big Brother Season 23. She dishes on the...
#94 Doug Ewell, FCPS Teacher and Retired Coach
Doug is a beloved coach and teacher at Westfield High School. After being told he...
#93 Teresa & Missy 2022 Wrap Up
In today’s episode, Teresa and her producer, Missy, discuss the past year of interesting, exciting,...
#92 Jeff Kinney, American Author and Cartoonist Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series
Get ready! Today we get to talk to Jeff Kinney the creator of Diary of...
#91 Jason Mills, Superintendent HITT Contracting
Jason grew up in a family with exposure to different kinds of trade jobs and...
#90 Dr. Jen Pratt, Pediatric Physician, Children's Minnesota & Make-A-Wish Consultant
Dr. Pratt is a pediatric physician that is caring for children in the very same...
#89 Deborah Miscoll, Chief Mental Health Officer and Dr. Adam Naylor, High Performance Expert
Deborah and Dr. Naylor of Deloitte join me to talk about their cutting-edge mental health...
#88 Jessica Auville, Creative Director
With $400 and a mattress, Jessica made her way to Chicago in search of opportunities...
#87 Sam Slevin, RMC Student & Athlete
Sam joins us again to talk about his freshman year of college, did it live...
#86 Megan & Luke, The Final Year
We have followed Megan and Luke since their freshman year and this year they graduated....
#85 Don Spears ATF Special Agent continued!
Continue listening to Don’s journey. In this episode, we get to hear about when he...
#84 Don Spears, ATF Special Agent
Don works as a fire instruction coordinator for ATF. We discuss his long career history...
#83 Greg Amori, Director of Civilian Agencies
Greg is the director of Civilian Agencies at CrowdStrike. He has been successful in the...
#82 Ethan Zohn, Survivor-Africa, Grassroots Soccer Founder
Ethan is a retired professional soccer player who competed and won in Survivor-Africa. He went...
#81 Michelle Adams, Senior Executive Sales
In the rigorous world of sales, it can be difficult to maintain an ambitious mindset....
#80 Greg Piper, Owner Exposed Temptations Tattoo and Freelance Photographer for Discovery
Sometimes accidents make for the best business plans! Greg’s career as a tattoo artist and shop...
#79 Bhavna Sharma, VP of People SiriusXM
Making changes requires courage to take a risk. Bhavna has done that in her personal...
#78 Tony Byrd, Executive Director -Teach for America
Inspired by social change, Tony has dedicated his life’s work to give students an experience...
Taryn Murphy, High School Junior
Taryn Murphy is a high school junior with a lot of thoughts and a lot to say. That’s why she’s involved in debate, among other things, and also why she recently gave a Ted Talk about the misconceptions surrounding Gen Z. Listen to this episode to hear an interview with Taryn. She discusses what things have helped her to succeed during the more difficult periods in her life, what got her interested in debate and what kinds of speaking she normally does, and what her feelings are about Gen Z and the misconceptions the older generations have about her generation. Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode: What grade Taryn is in and what’s been happening with her recently The kinds of activities Taryn is involved in Whether or not school comes easily to Taryn What Taryn has found helped her succeed during more difficult periods What preparing for a debate event is like and how that works The different types of speaking that Taryn does The moves that Taryn experienced The misconceptions Taryn feels older people have about Gen Z The pressures of Gen Z The humor of Gen Z The age range of Gen Z Whether increased access to information makes Gen Z more interested in making change The prepping and planning for Ted Talks What Taryn would advise for people who get nervous about speaking in front of others The importance of finding people who share your interests How Taryn thinks about fear What academic and parental pressure feels like for Taryn’s generation Things Taryn’s parents have done that make her feel supported How Taryn deals with social pressure What advice Taryn would give to a younger version of herself Resources: The Stereotypes of Gen Z – Taryn Murphy
#76 LaQuenta Jacobs, Chief Diversity Officer at XPO Logistics, Inc.
People don’t always realize that soft skills are needed in basically every work-related role, but...
LaQuenta Jacobs, Chief Diversity Officer at XPO Logistics, Inc.
People don’t always realize that soft skills are needed in basically every work-related role, but if there’s one department that they usually do know soft skills are needed in, it’s the HR department. The person in an organization who handles diversity and inclusion, a role that has evolved in a myriad of ways and plays an increasingly important role in an organization’s success, will especially need to make use of these important skills. Today’s guest is LaQuenta Jacobs, Chief Diversity Officer at XPO Logistics, Inc. In the episode, you’ll hear her discuss both how she came to hold that role and how she’s both learned in it and helped to shape it. Listen to today’s interview to learn why a role in diversity and inclusion feels so personal, why it’s important to cultivate resilience and how to do so, and why keeping a sense of humor matters so much to this particular role. Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode: LaQuenta Jacobs, Chief Diversity Officer at XPO Logistics, Inc, and what she’s doing in her role today What a day in the life in this role feels like The position that LaQuenta Jacobs, Chief Diversity Officer at XPO Logistics was in prior to this role, and how she evolved into this spot The ways that the DE&I role is personal and the events that are catalysts to change The importance of making the organization uncomfortable, but also supporting them through it Lessons that LaQuenta Jacobs, Chief Diversity Officer at XPO Logistics, Inc, has learned along the way that could be helpful to someone else traveling that path How LaQuenta Jacobs, Chief Diversity Officer at XPO Logistics, remembers her high school and college learning experiences The things that helped LaQuenta Jacobs, Chief Diversity Officer at XPO Logistics cultivate resilience The way that a sense of humor and levity can help a person in a difficult role at work Soft skills that stick out as the ones people should think about if they want to be in DE&I or be leaders The value of recognizing the challenges of other people How mentors and mentoring have factored into the career role that LaQuenta Jacobs, Chief Diversity Officer at XPO Logistics, Inc The difference between being tapped for something and strategically choosing that thing and setting goals to get there The skills someone needs to develop to follow a career in HR What LaQuenta Jacobs, Chief Diversity Officer at XPO Logistics, Inc, would tell her younger self</
Joe Bullis, Principal and Founder Bulldog Insights Group LLC
How does a person get into working with data? Today’s guest describes what he does as “turning data into eye candy”, but what does that mean? In this episode, you’ll hear from Joe Bullis, Principal and Founder at Bulldog Insights Group LLC, and in the interview, you’ll learn about how Joe ended up in his line of work and what it means. Listen to the episode to hear what Joe has to say about what Bulldog Insights does and how Joe created it. You’ll also learn about how he cultivated his network, how the concussions he sustained while playing sports in high school affected his college trajectory, and how to know when it’s time to leave. Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode: What Bulldog Insights is all about and how Joe came to create it What Joe was worried about, and what surprised him when he confronted those worries How Joe has cultivated his network How being opinionated and vocal has worked out for Joe What high school was like for Joe How the concussions Joe got in high school affected him in college What Joe majored in at Marquette University Joe’s first role out of college Why Joe found MicroStrategy attractive Why Joe stayed with MicroStrategy so long and what prompted him to leave How to know when you should quit Soft skills that Joe thinks are the most important What advice Joe would give his younger self Resources: Joe Bullis Bulldog Insights Group LLC
Zach Davis, Martial Arts Professional
It’s common to feel like you can’t do what you love and pay the bills at the same time – that you have to have a “real job”, one that you don’t love and may not even like, and hope that it leaves you enough free time and energy to do some of the things that you’re really passionate about. But what if you can make your passion into your career? Today’s guest did. Zach Davis is a martial artist professional and now owns a martial arts school. In today’s episode, he’ll talk about how he landed on that profession and ended up owning his own school, what it was like for him to give up drinking, and what soft skills he thinks are the most critical. Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode: What Zach is doing now and how he transitioned from manager to owner What age ranges Zach works with What Mixed Martial Arts is all about Whether Cobra Kai has increased enthusiasm Zach’s path to this point Where an athlete’s dedication, discipline, and motivation comes from What works for sustaining momentum and building new habits How Zach came to a way of doing what he was passionate about for a job Navigating trade-offs Zach’s positivity and where that comes from What it was like for Zach to stop drinking What Zach noticed that let him know it was time to stop drinking Whether it’s as hard now not to drink as it was in the past The soft skills that Zach thinks are critical How Zach would advise his younger self Resources: Zach Davis
Kavitha Prabhakar, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer
How do you handle a role that requires you to focus more on influencing people’s thinking than on achieving specific outcomes? Today’s guest is Kavitha Prabhakar, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at Deloitte US. In today’s episode, she’ll talk about her role, what it entails, and what led her there. Listen to the episode to hear what Kavitha has to say about what has surprised her about her role, how she works to create change, and what causes people to make missteps when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode: Kavitha’s role at Deloitte What Kavitha has found surprising about her role Kavitha’s background and nationality How Kavitha creates change within the company The degree of client time involved in Kavitha’s role Cultivating the skill of influence, and what makes it work or not work Influencing thinking instead of specific outcomes What causes people to make missteps Kavitha’s path to Deloitte Impactful milestones in Kavitha’s career as a woman Whether Kavitha has ever felt held back because of being a woman What helps someone to be successful at Deloitte What Kavitha spent the most time developing professionally Resources: Kavitha Prabhakar
Chad Small, Regional Manager, Enterprise
Motivation is a key factor in success. Everyone knows that. But where does motivation come from? What motivates a person? How should someone utilize that in order to achieve success? How do you find the thing that sparks your interest and causes you to be motivated? In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Chad Small, a Regional Manager at Enterprise Rent-A-Car. In this interview, he discusses motivation and where his comes from, the things that have helped him achieve success along the way, and where Chad got his competitive drive. Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode: What Chad is doing right now Chad’s college degree Chad’s dream job when he was leaving college The motivation to make money or be successful Where Chad’s motivation level comes from The things that helped Chad to be successful What Chad is looking for in workers The kind of coaching that Chad likes to give Tried and true ways to reach business goals Dealing with rejection Things that changed the way Chad navigated his path Where Chad’s competitive drive comes from Advice Chad would give about regrets Resources: Chad Small
Teresa & Missy 2021 Wrap Up
The year is almost over, and it’s been an eventful one. Having a pandemic continue to unfold throughout the year has also made it a difficult one. However, the REAL-ATABLE podcast has accomplished a lot this year, and has talked to a lot of people who have accomplished a lot in their lives and careers as well. In today’s episode, Teresa and her producer, Missy, discuss the past year of interesting, exciting, and engaging interviews with a number of inspiring people. Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode: REAL-ATABLE, a year in review Sean McGinly’s story Josh Skule’s interview Kellie and Byron’s experiences Aneesh Chopra’s story Vivian Dixon’s advice and counsel Listening to Monica Sagrario What made the Glenn Anderson episode interesting Captain Rob Evers’s career and training Susannah Anderson’s pathway to athletic success Karen Schaefer’s CIA history Eileen Smith’s episode Joanna Wang’s music industry experience Hayden Temin’s role in business Shanna Gray’s story Sam Slevin’s accomplishments Leslie Durham’s origin Kelly Derrick’s application of faith Paul Ramming’s insight into financial acumen Michelle Clement’s ability to pivot and change The interview with Megan and Luke Doug Schneider’s journey Aspirations for next year Resources: Teresa Freeman Associates
Karen Schaefer, Former CIA
Being in the CIA has to be one of the most challenging career paths out there. What do people need to know about the organizations, qualifications, and job requirements if they think that might be something they’d like to do? In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Karen Schaefer, formerly of the CIA. Listen to the episode to learn more about how Karen ended up in the CIA, what young people need to know about whether or not they would succeed in a CIA career, and how to protect their mental health when working that kind of job. Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode: Karen’s transition to her second career Karen’s path to the CIA Whether Karen knew immediately which roles she was interested in The fear of not being well-informed or knowing the qualifications How to compartmentalize when you can’t really talk about your career How to protect your mental health when working for the CIA The fulfillment in tying your work to serving your country Characteristics that served Karen well in her career Resources: Karen Schaefer
Leslie Durham, Academic Advisor
Do you like the process of learning? Are there a lot of different roles that seem right for you? If so, you might have something in common with today’s guest. Leslie Durham is an academic advisor at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University. She has a varied background and broad educational experience. Listen to the episode to learn more about how Leslie ended up in her current role, what it was like for her working on dig sites, and what the life of a military spouse is like. Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode: Leslie’s current role How Leslie found her way to her current role Leslie’s educational background How Leslie feels about the process of learning Who Leslie’s peers are in her classroom What it’s like to work on a dig site The coolest thing that Leslie has found What it’s like to be a military spouse The difficulty of putting a career on hold because of military moves Taking control of your life How culture and background have impacted Leslie’s life Significant moments of impact that shaped Leslie’s life What Leslie sees that gives her hope for the future What drives a gap in problem-solving and collaboration skills Advice that Leslie would give to her younger self Resources: Leslie Durham
Hayden Temin, Human Resources VP, Booz Allen Hamilton
How common is it to spend years working for the FBI before making a switch to a new phase in your career? That’s the story of today’s guest, Hayden Temin, who spent almost 15 years with the FBI before becoming the Vice President of HR Delivery and Operations at Booz Allen Hamilton. Listen to this conversation to hear about what Hayden thought about what she would be doing when she got her MBA, whether she had difficulty navigating the male-dominated field of the FBI, and how she decided to make a big career leap.
Doug Schneider, Coast Guard, Private Industry & History Teacher
Doug has done it all. Graduate of the Coast Guard Academy and served multiple years following his graduation. He worked in the private sector at the intersection of public policy and the shipping industry, and now in his 3rd act, he is teaching high school history. Listen in as he talks about the twists and turns throughout his journey, and what brought him to this point of taking on a new adventure at age 50. Great advice, insight and fascinating! Enjoy this episode!
Michelle Mills Clement, CEO Chicago Association or Realtors
Michelle discusses her secret gem of a career in the association industry and how she had to start over several times before she became CEO! We talk about the importance of equality, and what it means for those that come after us. AND we hear so many great stories, one includes driving Barack Obama around when he first campaigned for the state senate in Illinois. Enjoy this episode!
Sam Slevin, Freshman, Randolph Macon College
Sam just started his freshman year at R-MC. He shares the process of his college application and recruitment to their baseball team. We talk about how he used the covid shut down as a time to reflect and reset to decide what he really wants in life, which sometimes may include sacrifices. We hope to talk to him every year during his time in college. Enjoy this episode!
Eileen Smith, Public Speaking Coach, Spokesmith
Eileen shares with us her experiences in diplomacy and how she came to become a public speaker. As the founder of Spokesmith, she works with all different levels of talent teaching them how to deliver their message in daily and extraordinary events. She gives our listeners great tips on how to deliver a successful speech and have an executive presence. Enjoy this episode!
Megan and Luke, High School Juniors (year 3)
As always these two are candid and honest and we benefit from listening to them talk about their experiences! In this conversation we discuss the effects of the pandemic, academic pressure, managing hectic schedules, the importance of mental health as well as advice for fellow high school students. Enjoy this episode!
Paul Ramming, Founder and Managing Member of Foundry Capital
Paul shares how he found fulfillment and happiness in his life and career. We talk about pivoting when necessary and the power of insatiable curiosity. He openly discusses all things money! Whether you are in debt or an expert saver, there is GREAT advice for both young and old about saving and investing. We discuss how to do it, when to do it and how to set yourself up for a financially secure future. Enjoy this episode!
Susannah Anderson, Pitcher, Boston College Softball Team
Susannah, a rising senior for the Boston College Softball Team tells us all about her path from club, high school and recruitment to playing in college. She shares some fun stories about how her mentors taught her to use her drive and competitive nature to her advantage and even dishes about some famous athletes she’s met along the way. Enjoy this episode!
Shanna Gray, President GateLogic Security
Shanna shares a story that borders on the impossible. After losing her job abruptly while being a single mom of 5 Shanna hit a low point. Everything changed when she took a phone call that positively impacted her course. This is a story of grit, perseverance and optimism. You will learn about what it takes to lead and develop others, the power of communication AND why it’s both acceptable and important to surround yourself with those that are smarter and more experienced. Enjoy this episode!
Glenn Anderson, Radio Host STAR 102
Glenn hosts the afternoon show on STAR 102 and has been in the radio business for 25 years. Glenn entertains us with fun stories, behind the scenes info and what has helped him with career longevity in a competitive industry. Glenn shares how his education was not traditional yet it helped him land his dream job. We talk about embracing the parts of yourself that previously made you an easy target, the importance of teamwork and how being of service of others is the best antidote to leading with ego. Enjoy this episode!
Joanna Wang, International Pop Star
Joanna gives us an inside look into the music industry. She shares insight on the contracts, writing, recording and business of music production. Join us as she shares her successes and challenges she’s had during her long lasting music career. Enjoy this episode!
Captain Rob Evers, Airline Pilot
Rob gives us a rare and exciting behind the scenes look at a career in aviation. Despite obstacles and a recession, he was bullish about pursuing his passion. Rob’s positivity is infectious, and he gives great advice about hard work, being curious, kind, and asking good questions. Oh! And do your homework!
The Rev. Kelly Bayer Derrick, Assistant to the Bishop of the Virginia Synod ELCA
Kelly gets real about her path to becoming a pastor and working as a senior member in the Lutheran church. She openly discusses her struggles to find her calling, which resulted in a 10 year hiatus post seminary. During that break, Kelly found her love of teaching. After some time and reflection Kelly realized she could teach and be a part of the church in a formal capacity. Kelly shares insight on how to find your own path, challenging the status quo, and how to fight those pesky feelings of not being good enough. Enjoy this episode!
Monica Sagrario, EY Principal
Monica moved to the US at 16 and fast tracked her education receiving her masters degree by the age of 22. She gives great insight into her business, the part she played in the sale of a very successful company and the importance of seizing opportunities even if they don’t go with your original plan. Enjoy this episode!
Kellie Harltess & Byron Phillips, TFA Interns
I speak with Kellie and Byron, two Teresa Freeman Associate interns. Both are recent college grads, and we sit down to talk about the challenges they faced this past year graduating during a pandemic, the lesson of being able to pivot when things don’t go how you planned and the importance of networking. Enjoy this episode! Also, our podcast will soon be available on a new podcasting service called Vurbl found here: https://vurbl.com/station/1V9AyrC0tW0/
Aneesh Chopra, President of CareJourney
Aneesh discusses his amazing career from local and state government to becoming the first Chief Technology Officer for President Obama. He is a published author of the book Innovative State, and is now the President of CareJourney, a healthcare analytics company that is dedicated to improving population health and reducing costs. Aneesh talks about the importance of family, a diversified career, and how the spirit of generosity makes everything work. Enjoy this Episode!
Josh Skule, Senior VP, Allied Universal
Wonder what it is like to have a career focused on getting the bad guys? In this episode, Josh shares interesting stories about leadership, confidence, and and failure. His fascinating journey includes The Naval Academy, Marine Corps, and 21 years as an agent with the FBI. In addition, we talk about his current role serving in the largest security organization in North America. We learn about how to handle all of the threats we are currently facing. You do not want to miss this episode!
Sean McGinly, Writer, Producer, Director
Sean tells us about his experience in Hollywood, among his long list of accomplishments, he wrote and directed the Great Buck Howard and produced a documentary titled Brothers which helped him grieve the loss of his own brother during 9/11. Sean is bold, fearless and talks candidly about finding fulfillment in a tough industry. We hear about what it was like to hit it big, then leaving that security behind to follow his passion and true joy. Enjoy this episode!
Teresa & Missy 2020 Wrap up
Join Missy & Teresa as they share some behind the scenes and favorite moments from each episode of this year and give a sneak peek of what’s to come in 2021!
Heather Freeland, Lyft- VP of Marketing
Heather discusses how her decisions have led her to incredible career opportunities to work at MTV, Facebook and now Lyft. She shares the sacrifices she has made, and how she chose to be the main character in her own life. Enjoy this episode!
Ken Merritt, Partner DayBlink Consulting
Ken packs a lot of great information in 1 hour! No topic is off limits. He discusses his career path from big business to building businesses, the balance between planning and opportunity, and the importance of education in his trajectory. We benefit from his candor and insight about the race conflict of today. Enjoy this episode.
Natalie Foley, CEO Peer Insight
Natalie discusses how she found perspective after a tough loss and how that situation gives her perspective today. She shares great advice on how experimenting and taking chances can help you discover and follow your dream. We hear good insight into what she and other CEOs may look for in potential employees, all great things to think about. Enjoy this episode!
Greg Clough, Owner, Chain Bridge Financial Group
Greg Clough tells us about his start in finance, and how he found success. He provides real pragmatic examples of what it means to be an entrepreneur and financial advisor. He also shares his experience with a cancer diagnosis. We talk about how research and advocating for himself with doctors and treatments has been therapeutic. Enjoy this episode!