Careers Without Connections

In this episode, I sat down with Commissioner Mo Ivory, Democratic nominee for Fulton County Commission Chair, to talk about building a career with purpose and fulfillment and her plans to enact innovative change in Georgia's largest county. From law to radio, television, teaching, and public service, Commissioner Ivory shares how she has applied her skills and relationships to create unlimited career opportunities. Topics we cover:• How Mo went from practicing law to radio, teaching, and politics• Why you can use the skills you already have to enter a completely different field• How to ask for what you need instead of accepting what doesn’t work for you• Why creating opportunities from scratch can be more fulfilling than following a traditional path• How to build confidence by doing what you say you’re going to doWhat you'll learn in this episode:• How to recognize and transfer the skills you already have into new opportunities• How to build confidence by taking action and following through• Why setbacks don’t have to mean failure• How being willing to start from scratch can create opportunities you wouldn’t have otherwise had• Why your reputation, relationships, and willingness to learn can give you more career options---HOW TO FUND GRAD SCHOOL WITHOUT LOANS WEBINAR sign up here: https://luma.com/e4bl9u2wLearn more about Career Strategy Consulting here: https://itsgiannalinares.wixsite.com/gianna-linaresConnect with me social media: https://linktr.ee/gianna.linares---Connect with Commissioner Mo Ivory Website: https://moivory.com/Instagram: @themoivoryTikTok: @moivory

In this episode, I'm joined by Jemille Duncan, who started working in government and politics at just 14 years old and is now heading to the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School on a full-tuition scholarship. We talk about how he created opportunities for himself from a young age, navigated professional spaces where people underestimated him because of his age, and why your unique qualities and lived experiences can become your greatest strengths.Topics we cover:• How Jemille went from a 14-year-old legislative intern to working for the mayor of Philadelphia• How he navigated the law school application and scholarship process• Why you don't have to share every detail of your academic or career decisions with other people• How to build a professional reputation when you're young and people underestimate you• Why you should lean into the things that make you unique instead of trying to fit yourself into a boxWhat you'll learn in this episode:• Why applying early can help you get ahead of the rush of graduate school applications• How mentors can highlight strengths and opportunities you may not see in yourself• Why "luck is when preparation meets opportunity"• How to let your work speak for itself when people underestimate you• Why education and age don't always determine how much someone knows• How to stand in your niche, own what makes you different, and utilize it---Apply to work with me through Career Strategy Consulting here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScEfbzGpcDePXiBQXsv0C8OLNs5q-B2HGEpl9V7iwQzkN81xw/viewformTikTok/Instagram: @giannalinaresConnect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianna-linares%E2%98%86-963097226/---Connect with Jemille: https://www.jemilleduncan.com/Socials: @jq_duncan

In this episode, we trace Cimaya McCreary's journey from growing up in a single-parent household and experiencing food insecurity to earning a master’s degree and working on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Cimaya shares how she turned the challenges of her upbringing into strengths, navigated spaces where she didn’t always feel like she belonged, and built a career in public service without ever originally planning to work on the Hill.Topics we cover:• Turning obstacles and an unconventional upbringing into strengths• Finding your path when your career doesn’t follow a straight line• Navigating Capitol Hill and political spaces as a woman of color• Building relationships, finding mentors, and creating opportunities through networking• Staying authentic and using your values as a compass in unfamiliar spaces• Breaking into politics and finding ways to make an impact before you ever reach Washington, DC• Finding your own lane for civic engagement and serving your communityWhat you'll learn in this episode:• How Cimaya’s upbringing shaped her mindset, work ethic, and determination to keep going• Why your background and lived experiences can become a source of strength rather than a limitation• How to build relationships and find mentors who can help you navigate unfamiliar professional spaces• Why reputation, character, and relationships matter when building a career in politics• Practical ways to start creating opportunities and making an impact in your own community• How to stay grounded in your values while navigating environments that may pressure you to assimilate• Ways to identify your strengths and use them to become more civically engaged---You can learn more about Career Strategy Consulting here: https://giannalinares.carrd.co/TikTok/Instagram: @giannalinaresConnect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianna-linares%E2%98%86-963097226/----Connect with Cimaya on socials and Substack: @cimayaslife https://cimayaslife.substack.com

In this episode, I share my story of moving 2,933 miles from Oregon to Philadelphia with no job, no connections, and no clear plan—and how that experience completely changed the trajectory of her life. We discuss how stepping into a new environment can help you reinvent yourself, build a new life from scratch, discover what you actually want, and grow. You can learn more about Career Strategy Consulting here: https://giannalinares.carrd.co/TikTok/Instagram: @giannalinaresConnect with me on LinkedIn: LinkedIn

In this episode, Liz Nguyen, a first-generation entrepreneur and CEO of SMP Factor, shares how empathy, vulnerability, and curiosity have shaped the way she approaches business, networking, and entrepreneurship. We talk about building genuine connections, claiming what you want, and learning to recognize your own potential even when the system wasn't built for you.Topics we cover:• Why people tend to silo themselves within their industries, age groups, and existing networks—and the value of connecting with people from different walks of life• How Liz approaches networking by asking, “How can I help them?” instead of treating every interaction as transactional• Why empathy, vulnerability, and curiosity are central to Liz's approach to business and building relationships• How “exercising your want muscle” and claiming what you want can change the way you approach opportunities• Rethinking imposter syndrome and recognizing that many professional systems were not built for women, immigrants, and underrepresented communitiesWhat you'll learn in this episode:• How to approach networking as a way to genuinely help people rather than as a transactional exchange• Why you should stay curious and ask clarifying questions instead of making assumptions• How to start claiming what you want instead of focusing on what you don't want• Why visibility and putting yourself out there can help you create more opportunities• How to rethink imposter syndrome and the role that confidence and systemic double standards can play in how we see ourselvesTikTok/Instagram: @giannalinaresConnect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianna-linares%E2%98%86-963097226/---Liz's Instagram: @smpfactorWebsite: https://smpfactor.com/home-166664