How to Speak Your Career Dreams Into Existence: Julia Lechner on Following Curiosity, Winning the Moth Grand Slam, and Building a Career Across Journalism, Entertainment, and Tech

In this transformative episode of the Career Wanderlust podcast, award-winning storyteller and content marketer Julia Lechner shares her unique journey from journalism to tech, revealing the power of following one's curiosity and embracing change. As the Head of Editorial and Social Media at Nextdoor, Julia's insights on adaptability and authentic leadership are a must-listen for anyone seeking career growth and fulfillment.Guest Bio:Julia Lechner is an accomplished content marketer and storyteller, currently serving as Nextdoor's Head of Editorial and Social Media. With a diverse background spanning journalism, entertainment, and tech, Julia has honed her skills in generating engaging content, building high-performing teams, and elevating brands. A two-time winner of the Moth Story Slam and Moth Grand Slam storytelling competitions, Julia brings her passion for storytelling to both her professional and personal life.Content Sample:- Discover how Julia's unwavering commitment to following her curiosity has led to a rich, cross-industry career journey.- Learn the secret to thriving in an ever-changing technological landscape by focusing on transferable skills and values.- Gain invaluable advice on building a supportive network of mentors, advisors, and advocates to navigate career transitions with confidence.- Julia's captivating storytelling style and relatable anecdotes make this episode an engaging and insightful listen.Key Takeaways:[01:21] Follow your curiosity and be open to learning opportunities in every role and industry.[04:25] Identify and stay true to your core values and skills, even as you adapt to new roles and technologies.[11:21] Share your authentic self and interests at work to open doors to unexpected opportunities.[16:21] Nextdoor's mission-driven culture and values of ownership and experimentation foster a supportive, collaborative work environment.[22:00] Develop the superpower of public speaking by reframing nerves as excitement and embracing vulnerability.Memorable Quotes:"Surrounding yourself with a great network of people– mentors, advisors, advocates– is extremely helpful. [...] It's important to always be learning and to know who you can go to with various questions." [06:31]"I think it's really important to be open to the extent that you're comfortable. Like, don't hide portions of yourself. If it's something you think you can lend to your organization." [09:00]"People join Nextdoor because they're purpose-driven, because they see the potential of how we can bring communities together, to put together local events, to make things happen at a local, grassroots level in their own communities." [16:21]For more inspiring stories and career insights, subscribe to the Career Wanderlust podcast and follow host Jolie Downs on LinkedIn. You can connect with Jolie here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joliedowns/If you're looking to grow your communications, marketing, public relations, or sales and business development team with top talent, visit ParadigmStaffing.com and submit a request today.If you enjoy learning from others, please give us a like, subscribe, and share with a friend. If you are looking to add talent to your public relations, marketing, communications, sales, or business development team with the best talent, and quickly, check us out at paradigmstaffing.com. Ending Note:What aspect of your authentic self can you start bringing more fully to your work? Share your thoughts and experiences with us in the comments, and let us know what topics you'd like to explore in future episodes.