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#14 - Life After Layoff with Creative Career Coach Juliet Barrett

Career Therapy Podcast e.14 - Life After Layoff with Creative Career Coach Juliet Barrett

On this week's Career Therapy Podcast (e.14), we welcome creative career coach Juliet Barrett back for the second time. Juliet is a career coach based in Chicago, and in this conversation she joins us to talk about how her layoff informed her coaching, pushed her to try new things, and challenged her emotionally. 

It’s an inspiring story, and a unique one as well. After all, a career coach coping with uncertainty after a layoff isn’t something we might ordinarily expect. Nevertheless, Juliet’s story, as it’s currently playing out, has a happy ending. These days, she leads the career team at San Francisco-based company Springboard, helping clients get hired for the tech industry’s most in-demand jobs.

During this Episode, We Discuss: 

0:00 introducing Juliet Barrett

1:42 learning as a lifestyle philosophy

7:10 being a ‘Jill of all trades’ in Chicago

12:20 “hey I’m available” conversations

15:05 what she loved about her old job

18:52 “a change occurred”

22:02 the day of the lay-off

34:13 vulnerability in freelancing

37:00 the journey back / the journey forward

38:49 a 2 month hiatus from job searching

41:04 8 months of unemployment

43:20 “code-switching”

44:39 looking for the opportunity

49:00 self-care during the day

52:50 her advice for job seekers

Resources & books mentioned in this episode: 

Now Over To You!

If you know anyone who has been hustling, or started a business, during the pandemic, and has an amazing story to share, let us know who they are! Alternately, if you, or someone you know has recently gone through a layoff, or has a layoff, or any other career transition-oriented story to share, reach out. Contact Martin through his personal LinkedIn page to get in touch. We're always on the lookout for amazing guests for the cast.

As always, thanks for listening!

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#13 - Life After Layoff with Production Assistant Veronica Garcia

Career Therapy Podcast e.13 - Life After Layoff with Production Assistant Veronica Garcia

On this week's Career Therapy Podcast (e.13), we welcome production assistant Veronica Garcia. Veronica, a Chicago-based PA, found that getting laid off has given her the ability to pause, reflect, and reimagine her career. These days, she’s interested in social work and non-profit, so if you (or anyone you know) know of any opportunities in those spaces, contact her via her LinkedIn profile.

During this Episode, We Discuss: 

0:00 introducing Veronica Garcia

2:50 lay-off came at a fortunate time

3:19 how she got into film

6:57 “results being in my head”

7:31 comparing ourselves

12:59 filing for unemployment

17:03 the journey forward

18:15 saving money moving home

22:35 an interest in social work

24:35 getting a mentor

26:35 getting inspiration for the job search

29:38 why you should hire yourself

33:25 chunking or batching

Resources & books mentioned in this episode: 

Now Over To You!

If you know anyone who has been hustling, or started a business, during the pandemic, and has an amazing story to share, let us know who they are! Alternately, if you, or someone you know has recently gone through a layoff, or has a layoff, or any other career transition-oriented story to share, reach out. Contact Martin through his personal LinkedIn page to get in touch. We're always on the lookout for amazing guests for the cast.

As always, thanks for listening!

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Podcast Martin McGovern Podcast Martin McGovern

#12 - Life After Layoff with Content Marketer John Thomas Lang

Career Therapy Podcast e.12 - Life After Layoff with Content Marketer John Thomas Lang

On this week's Career Therapy Podcast (e.12), we welcome content marketer John Thomas Lang. This episode is the first dedicated episode in our new Life After Layoff series, where we explore the emotional side of job layoffs.

In our conversation, John shares his experiences going through layoffs while working as a content marketer. John combines a business mind with a creative soul as Head of Marketing at Amount. His passion for brand, content, and funnel optimization has been integral in scaling multiple award-winning tech startups in Chicago. A proud Colorado native, you can find him digging through the crates for vinyl records in his spare time. 

During this Episode, We Discuss: 

0:00 introducing John Thomas Lang

0:53 “tell me about yourself”

1:55 a path from music to marketing

4:00 the lay-off story

6:38 a lay-off done “well?”

10:20 360° feedback

12:35 the day of the lay-off

16:34 experiencing shame after a lay-off

21:45 the best way to network

25:00 the “bounce back” strategy

28:28 how to fortify your identity

33:00 the “practice” mentality

35:50 the touch points that led him to his current job

Resources & books mentioned in this episode: 

Now Over To You!

If you know anyone who has been hustling, or started a business, during the pandemic, and has an amazing story to share, let us know who they are! Alternately, if you, or someone you know has recently gone through a layoff, or has a layoff, or any other career transition-oriented story to share, reach out. Contact Martin through his personal LinkedIn page to get in touch. We're always on the lookout for amazing guests for the cast.

As always, thanks for listening!

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Podcast Martin McGovern Podcast Martin McGovern

#11 - VP Chats, featuring Global Program Manager Carlos Rebellon

Career Therapy Podcast e.11 - Our First Episode of VP Chats, featuring Global Program Manager Carlos Rebellon

On this week's Career Therapy Podcast (e.11), we chat with Carlos Rebellon, who is the Program Manager for Product Change Management at Northern Trust Corporation.

For a little background, Northern Trust Corporation is a financial services company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois that caters to corporations, institutional investors, and ultra high net worth individuals. It is one of the largest banking institutions in the United States and one of the oldest banks in continuous operation.

Martin worked with Carlos at the credit card brand Discover back in the day, and in this conversation they discuss the best practices for networking, interviewing, and career advancement within a company. Martin looks back on his best day at work (ever) and the formation of Carlos’ Hot Sauce Aficionado club. Later, the two talk about their greatest career achievements. 

This episode is the first in the ‘VP Chats’ series within the Career Therapy Podcast. We hope you enjoy!

During this Episode, We Discuss: 

0:00 introducing Carlos Rebellon

4:20 an intro to project management

10:24 connecting the dots forward and backward

15:14 monthly dinners at PMI

17:59 hot sauce aficionado club and martin’s best day of work

24:46 fostering connections, and being on the hiring side

26:40 word clouds

27:41 a great interview vs. a terrible one

31:00 how to ace interviews

36:33 how to build these networking skills

40:24 why you need to think about your career path

46:09 why you should keep a log of accomplishments

50:53 how to get a project and/or promotion

53:06 why this paycheck?

57:18 Carlos’ proudest career achievement

Resources & books mentioned in this episode: 

Now Over To You!

If you know anyone who has been hustling, or started a business, during the pandemic, and has an amazing story to share, let us know who they are! Alternately, if you, or someone you know has recently gone through a layoff, or has a layoff, or any other career transition-oriented story to share, reach out. Contact Martin through his personal LinkedIn page to get in touch. We're always on the lookout for amazing guests for the cast.

As always, thanks for listening!

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Podcast Martin McGovern Podcast Martin McGovern

#10 - A Conversation with LPC and Career Fulfillment Strategist Emily Drake

Career Therapy Podcast e.10 - A Conversation with LPC and Career Fulfillment Strategist Emily Drake

On this week's Career Therapy Podcast (e.10), we welcome CEO of The Collective Academy, Emily Drake. Emily leads a team that delivers aspirational leadership and career fulfillment programs, and she believes that individual transformation leads to organizational transformation. At the core of her mission is the idea that in order to transform, leaders at all levels need space to be honest, open, and able to connect with others.

Our conversation touches on the COVID-19 pandemic, how to thrive when experiencing a sense of disconnect, and what it’s like to be a facilitator, therapist, and coach, all at once.

During this Episode, We Discuss: 

0:00 introducing Emily Drake

3:33 loneliness and isolation

8:17 nourishment vs. just surviving

10:18 guilt and the “should be” phrase

26:40 why it’s okay to be ego focused

29:36 how we can help companies

31:12 hiding the self view on Zoom

33:14 ceding responsibility

34:45 how do people find the right help?

37:50 asking for specific advice from coaches and therapists

41:25 tension brings out our core selves

52:03 why you should be kind to yourself

Resources & books mentioned in this episode: 

Now Over To You!

If you know anyone who has been hustling, or started a business, during the pandemic, and has an amazing story to share, let us know who they are! Alternately, if you, or someone you know has recently gone through a layoff, or has a layoff, or any other career transition-oriented story to share, reach out. Contact Martin through his personal LinkedIn page to get in touch. We're always on the lookout for amazing guests for the cast.

As always, thanks for listening!

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#9 - Insights Into An Authentic Job Search, with Lia James

Career Therapy Podcast e.9 - Insights Into An Authentic Job Search, with Workforce Developer, Curriculum Designer, and Storyteller Lia James

On this week's Career Therapy Podcast (e.9), we welcome Lia James. Lia has built her career across workforce development, curriculum design, inclusive hiring, writing, and storytelling, and joins us today to cover a myriad of topics centered around getting the job that’s right for you.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Lia is a “connector with an innate ability for bringing people together.” Her “mind is in a constant daydream of solution-chasing and people-matching as if a large Rolodex of puzzle pieces were magically flipping through [her] head.” 

Our conversation touches on vulnerability, networking tips & tricks, and what actually works in the modern day job search.

If you’d like to connect with Lia, hit her up on LinkedIn and ask her about the art installation she was hired to design for a private client event. She’d be happy to start a conversation. 

During this Episode, We Discuss: 

0:00 introducing Lia James

2:03 what it’s like on the hiring side

2:40 what do job seekers need to hear?

4:23 not taking things personally

6:04 learning to accept rejection

8:10 think about yourself as a contractor

10:14 knowing what value you provide

11:35 interests outside of work

16:19 stop job searching; make friends

18:20 “why do you want to work here?”

22:23 the fear of limiting ourselves

23:15 “great job culture”

27:35 transferable skills

28:20 how to do big things if you’re a dock worker, waiter, warehouse associate, etc.

39:30 walking the un-opinionated middle line

44:38 being laser focused on the things you want in a job

46:57 the spectrum of confidence

51:40 improv [theatre] nerd out / making decisions

53:15 7 key takeaways

Resources & books mentioned in this episode: 

Now Over To You!

If you know anyone who has been hustling, or started a business, during the pandemic, and has an amazing story to share, let us know who they are! Alternately, if you, or someone you know has recently gone through a layoff, or has a layoff, or any other career transition-oriented story to share, reach out. Contact Martin through his personal LinkedIn page to get in touch. We're always on the lookout for amazing guests for the cast.

As always, thanks for listening!

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Podcast Martin McGovern Podcast Martin McGovern

#8 - Why Your Side Hustle Gives You Street Cred, with Tech Biz Gurl Founder Jessica Williams

Career Therapy Podcast e.8 - Why Your Side Hustle Gives You Street Cred, with Tech Biz Gurl Founder Jessica Williams

For Career Therapy Podcast #8, we welcome Jessica Williams to the podcast! She recently monetized her newsletter (#JessPicks) and talks to us about the importance of starting a side hustle no matter where you may be in your career.

Our conversation touches on side hustles, personal branding, and what to do when you get stuck. It includes practical examples on how to take the first steps in creating a side hustle, how to navigate networking during a job search, and how to play up your soft skills via extracurricular work. 

During this Episode, We Discuss: 

0:00 How Newsletters Help Your Job Search

1:22 “tell us about yourself”

4:00 what side hustles bring to our careers

6:55 side hustle emerging from a burnout, like a phoenix rising from ashes

9:10 15 minutes of work

10:48 taking the first steps of a side hustle

14:27 evolution of a business

18:07 imposter syndrome and how to deal with it

21:40 early success in the side hustle

25:46 side business vs. side hustle vs. side project vs. hobbies

27:05 defining our own success

33:32 making self-care a priority

37:45 new ways to network (with an amazing example)

44:10 showcasing soft skills via a side project

47:00 job hopping — good or bad?

51:07 the story of how Career Therapy was born

52:40 practical tips on how to start a side hustle

56:48 Martin’s 6 key takeaways

Resources & pages mentioned in this episode: 

Now Over To You!

If you know anyone who has been hustling, or started a business, during the pandemic, and has an amazing story to share, let us know who they are! Alternately, if you, or someone you know has recently gone through a layoff, or has a layoff, or any other career transition-oriented story to share, reach out. Contact Martin through his personal LinkedIn page to get in touch. We're always on the lookout for amazing guests for the cast.

As always, thanks for listening!

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Podcast Martin McGovern Podcast Martin McGovern

#7 - When the World Works Remotely, with Marketing Leader and Entrepreneur Carlo Navarro

Career Therapy Podcast e.7 - When the World Works Remotely, with Marketing Leader and Entrepreneur Carlo Navarro

For Career Therapy Podcast #7, we welcome marketer Carlo Navarro to the podcast! Carlo is the founder of Remote Careers, and he joins us to discuss how the world is shifting to remote work in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In our conversation, we talk about what you can do to be productive, set boundaries, and stay sane through these tough times. This episode includes a lot of real, practical advice about how to work from home and also find time to enjoy the company of family and friends. It’s oftentimes tougher than it may at first seem, so we hope you’ll find the insights in this podcast useful. 

During this Episode, We Discuss: 

0:00 Introducing Carlo Navarro

4:45 figuring out the cadence of remote work

9:05 tactics for building your own schedule

18:00 small talk

21:50 how to build trust in a remote environment

26:11 managers setting an example

30:31 go all-in at work and all-in at home

31:29 why it’s important to have empathy

35:49 resolving conflict via video-chat

37:18 the biggest benefits of remote work

41:32 Martin’s main takeaways from the episode

42:55 advice Carlo would give to his younger self

Resources & pages mentioned in this episode: 

Now Over To You!

If you know anyone who has been hustling, or started a business, during the pandemic, and has an amazing story to share, let us know who they are! Alternately, if you, or someone you know has recently gone through a layoff, or has a layoff, or any other career transition-oriented story to share, reach out. Contact Martin through his personal LinkedIn page to get in touch. We're always on the lookout for amazing guests for the cast.

As always, thanks for listening!

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Podcast Martin McGovern Podcast Martin McGovern

#6 - How to Use Your Time Wisely, with PartnerPortal.io Founder Eddie Patzsch

Career Therapy Podcast e.6 - How to Use Your Time Wisely, with PartnerPortal.io Founder Eddie Patzsch

For Career Therapy Podcast #6, we welcome strategic growth specialist Eddie Patzsch to the podcast. Eddie is an expert salesman and the founder of ParterPortal.io, which allows customers to create a custom portal to track, manage, pay, educate and build relationships with new and existing partners. He’s also an avid traveler and a family man.

In our conversation, we touch on a ton of topics, with “finding time” to get it all done being the core focus. Eddie shares his perspective on taking risks, how to test, and how to grow, and he explains how he ended up in his current role coming from both the entertainment and hospitality industries (literally working as a bell-boy at a hotel). It’s a great episode with a lot of honest discussion. Dive in.

During this Episode, We Discuss: 

0:00 Introducing Eddie Patzsch

2:10 Martin from the future – on Eddie’s promotion

4:03 Eddie’s early side projects

6:15 coming from an entertainment background

10:45 2008 at MTV

12:19 quarter life crises and road trips

15:50 improving listening skills to get better at sales

18:45 surprising things about sales & entertainment

24:38 how side projects can lead to the main pieces of a career

28:42 working for free

32:51 entrepreneurship

34:20 finding mentorship in a new job or city

36:20 the bigger picture and the value of time

42:09 deadlines and setting morning goals

45:30 be a man of your word

47:11 Martin’s key takeaways

47:51 Eddie’s advice to his younger self

Resources & pages mentioned in this episode: 

Now Over To You!

If you know anyone who has been hustling, or started a business, during the pandemic, and has an amazing story to share, let us know who they are! Alternately, if you, or someone you know has recently gone through a layoff, or has a layoff, or any other career transition-oriented story to share, reach out. Contact Martin through his personal LinkedIn page to get in touch. We're always on the lookout for amazing guests for the cast.

As always, thanks for listening!

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#5 - Infusing Creativity Into Your Career, with Creative Career Coach Juliet Barrett

Career Therapy Podcast e.5 - Infusing Creativity Into Your Career, with Creative Career Coach Juliet Barrett

For Career Therapy Podcast episode 5, we welcome creative career coach Juliet Barrett to the show.

Juliet is a self-proclaimed “incubatress of ideas,” and in this conversation, she and Martin discuss their shared interest in overcoming mental blocks. Juliet also talks about how she became a creative career coach after stints in television, broadcasting (at PBS), and professional mural painting. 

Later on in the conversation we learn about Martin’s past as the singer of a ska band, and how he used that exact story in interviews. The two also touch on such taboo topics as tattoos, death metal songs (“The Slam Dance”), and how to put items such as “professional poker player” on your resumé. It’s a fascinating discussion for anyone looking to start their own business or rebrand themselves.

During this Episode, We Discuss: 

0:00 Introducing Juliet Barrett

0:57 “tell us about yourself”

7:00 becoming a life coach

8:35 what is career coaching?

10:20 misconceptions about coaching

13:34 what can you give?

15:05 imposter syndrome and Beyoncé

16:55 LA Instagram influencers

19:18 the difference between a reactive and a proactive job search

27:07 2 sides to a career: skill set and the temperament

29:10 Martin was the singer in a ska band. Let that sink in.

33:44 Martin’s old band’s death metal song: ‘The Slam Dance’

38:01 how to network successfully

43:05 what can 9-5ers learn from the creative space?

52:33 if [you] could go back to any age...

Resources & pages mentioned in this episode: 

Now Over To You!

If you know anyone who has been hustling, or started a business, during the pandemic, and has an amazing story to share, let us know who they are! Alternately, if you, or someone you know has recently gone through a layoff, or has a layoff, or any other career transition-oriented story to share, reach out. Contact Martin through his personal LinkedIn page to get in touch. We're always on the lookout for amazing guests for the cast.

As always, thanks for listening!

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Podcast Martin McGovern Podcast Martin McGovern

#4 - Building A Successful UX Career, with gruntmonkey LLC Founder and General Assembly Mentor Jason Early

Career Therapy Podcast e.4 - Building A Successful UX Career, with gruntmonkey LLC Founder and General Assembly Mentor Jason Early

For Career Therapy Podcast episode 4, we welcome UX expert Jason Early. 

Jason is the founder, front-end developer, and UX designer at gruntmonkey, a small design practice specializing in process and development. He’s also the maker of limited edition show posters (through The Poster Works), a UX and web development instructor with General Assembly, a mentor, a coffee roaster, and a devout fan of baseball. His clients include NASA, M&M/MARS, and Boeing, and he prides himself on providing designs that maintain a balance of beauty and functionality.

Martin and Jason met when they were doing workshops on personal branding, and in this conversation, they talk about how to handle the ebbs and flows of productivity, working for yourself, and entrepreneurship in general. It’s a fascinating discussion and one that’s sure to make you rethink client meetings, how to improve your personal brand, and the best way to run your own business. 

During this Episode, We Discuss: 

0:00 Introducing Jason Early

0:55 the reading of the LinkedIn profile

5:14 the Yahoo and MySpace era

11:20 life between full-time, entrepreneur, contractor, etc.

12:40 freelancing and moonlighting

16:27 lessons from the trifecta of work experience

18:39 companies aren’t sitting around with piles of money

21:07 what to ask businesses in interviews and/or meetings

27:50 telling people: “I don’t know.”

38:45 being a Swiss Army knife when you own your own business

41:30 when roles disappear out from under you

43:25 “they didn’t go internal — they went under!”

51:09 looking for all the variations in the work

52:23 how to figure out what job descriptions actually mean

56:09 why you need to utilize calls to action

58:11 advice to your former self

Resources, pages, and videos mentioned in this episode: 

Now Over To You!

If you know anyone who has been hustling, or started a business, during the pandemic, and has an amazing story to share, let us know who they are! Alternately, if you, or someone you know has recently gone through a layoff, or has a layoff, or any other career transition-oriented story to share, reach out. Contact Martin through his personal LinkedIn page to get in touch. We're always on the lookout for amazing guests for the cast.

As always, thanks for listening!

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Podcast Martin McGovern Podcast Martin McGovern

#3 - Parallels Between Sales and the Job Search, with Partnership Development Director Cory Davis

Career Therapy Podcast e.3 - Parallels Between Sales and the Job Search, with Partnership Development Director Cory Davis

For Career Therapy Podcast episode 3, we welcome partnership development director Cory Davis to the show.

As the leader of the MarTech/AdTech Category at Infutor Data Solutions, Cory leads new business development and partners with the Infutor marketing & product teams. With a passion for radical candor and impacting businesses, he's a leader in developing go-to market strategies, encouraging a customer-first culture, and helping to efficiently scale the business.

During this conversation, our focus trends towards the parallels between sales and the job search. Cory and Martin both share some insight on the reason the job interview is the purest form of a business transaction, the best tactics for salary negotiation, and why we need to kill the “job seeker mindset” once and for all.

During this Episode, We Discuss: 

0:00 Introducing Cory Davis

1:20 initial impressions: marketing > sales

6:15 “controlling the share of mind”

8:23 two types of salespeople

10:08 how to answer certain interview questions

18:22 ditch all entitlement immediately.

19:50 “be where the buyer is”

24:40 starting from scratch with every new sale

27:42 long term thinking and compound interest

31:45 being yourself (cliché but true)

32:52 use your skills for good and not for evil

36:22 “the kind NO” / using honesty with tact

39:48 extreme empathy

42:06 why no one owes you anything

43:39 positive mindsets around money

51:20 advice to Cory’s earlier 20 year old self

Resources & pages mentioned in this episode: 

Now Over To You!

If you know anyone who has been hustling, or started a business, during the pandemic, and has an amazing story to share, let us know who they are! Alternately, if you, or someone you know has recently gone through a layoff, or has a layoff, or any other career transition-oriented story to share, reach out. Contact Martin through his personal LinkedIn page to get in touch. We're always on the lookout for amazing guests for the cast.

As always, thanks for listening!

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#2 - The Importance of Networking, with Product Growth Manager Brent Williams

Career Therapy Podcast e.2 - The Importance of Networking, with Product Growth Manager Brent Williams

For Career Therapy Podcast episode 2, we welcome product growth manager Brent Williams to the show. Martin and Brent met at the Startup Institute, and in this conversation they lead with a focus on the best approach to defining a career. 

As for some background on Brent, he led the Colorado market at Clique Studios, an award-winning digital agency. Before Clique, Brent was the product owner for online and part-time programs at Startup Institute. He also completed the Technical Marketing track at Startup Institute Boston, and led a technical services company.

Martin and Brent tackle a lot of topics during this discussion, but perhaps the most important center around the importance of networking during the job search. In a practical sense, they share tips and strategies for taking the low-points and grievances of the job search (and dealing with recruiters) in stride. It’s a useful episode for anyone at any level of the job search.

During this Episode, We Discuss: 

0:00 Introducing Brent Williams

4:53 writing things down to set intention

7:32 potential “wrong moves”

9:10 companies with “flat hierarchies”

10:57 experimentation, clarity, and having different roles

13:00 hiring managers: hammer and a nail

14:15 is self-reflection the answer?

22:00 keeping job and identity separate

27:40 why you need to realize what recruiters actually do

29:24 LinkedIn and networking strategy

33:45 more effort is required when you’re making a career change

39:48 extreme empathy

43:10 specific LinkedIn strategies

46:40 scheduling yourself as an entrepreneur

49:15 closure, follow-ups, and closing the loop

51:46 what can we learn from the hiring side?

56:05 thrive within your level of skill in a job search

Resources & books mentioned in this episode: 

Now Over To You!

If you know anyone who has been hustling, or started a business, during the pandemic, and has an amazing story to share, let us know who they are! Alternately, if you, or someone you know has recently gone through a layoff, or has a layoff, or any other career transition-oriented story to share, reach out. Contact Martin through his personal LinkedIn page to get in touch. We're always on the lookout for amazing guests for the cast.

As always, thanks for listening!

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