Career Sessions, Career Lessons
JR Lowry, PathWise.io
Each of us has a unique career story to tell. For the lucky few, their career trajectories are like rockets heading for the stars, with no turning back. More typically, our career paths are more like a game of Chutes and Ladders, with advances and setbacks along the way. On this podcast, guests from a range of industries and backgrounds share their career journeys and the lessons they've learned. Hear from C-level executives, leading academics, entrepreneurs, mid-level leaders, ex-military members, leadership coaches and other career experts, non-profit workers, and gig economy participants. Each guest shares their unique story and career insights to inform and inspire your own path. Career Sessions is part of PathWise.io. Whether you’re just a few years out of school or well into your professional life, PathWise helps you live the career you deserve. PathWise provides comprehensive career and professional development coaching, content, courses, and community, backed by a group of leading coaches and career management experts. Career Sessions’ host, James (J.R.) Lowry, has had multiple careers of his own and learned countless lessons along the way. A Duke engineer by background, he spent the early part of his career as an officer in the US Air Force . From there, J.R. earned an MBA from Harvard Business School to accelerate his transition into the private sector. Following grad school, he spent over a decade with the consulting firm, McKinsey and Company, working with clients across a range of industries and business situations. He then made a second career shift into financial services, spending time at Fidelity Investments and State Street Bank. Most recently, he joined Janus Henderson Investments as their Chief Operating Officer. Multiple leadership development programs honed his skills, advanced his career, and fueled his desire to help others with their professions. He hosts this podcast in a personal capacity, and any views expressed are his own and not those of his current or any former employer.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 17, 2023 • 51min
The Interconnection Of Leadership And Communication, With Ulrike Seminati
Leadership is all about transformation, bringing that change that would make your people feel more fulfilled and happier at work. What sits in between that is communication. It is only when a leader can communicate change that they can lead their people toward the goals. Diving deeper into the interconnection of leadership and communication is Ulrike Seminati. She is a leadership and communication coach and consultant who is passionate about changing the leadership paradigm. Ulrike sits down with J.R. Lowry to tell us how she is bringing leaders to the best they can be by helping them communicate better. She breaks down the barriers that keep them from doing that, the myths about communication, and what the best leaders do well when it comes to communication. Plus, Ulrike shares her thoughts on the tools leaders use to communicate with their organizations and what leadership is really all about. Tune in to this conversation and discover how you can connect with your people and watch them and your organization flourish. Check out the full series of "Career Sessions, Career Lessons" podcasts here or visit pathwise.io/podcast/. A full written transcript of this episode is also available at https://pathwise.io/podcasts/ulrike-seminati/
Jul 12, 2023 • 43min
Lessons In Leadership, With Titi Cole
In a world that has become incredibly complex, the need for simplicity is more important than ever. Titi Cole, the CEO of Legacy Franchises at Citi, is at the front lines of delivering that simplification. In this episode, she joins J.R. Lowry to share with us how she is leading her team through that simplification process with pride, excellence, and empathy. Aside from taking on a very important leadership position, Titi is also breaking down many barriers in her career. She is the first black woman to serve on Citi’s Executive Management Team and was recognized among the Most Powerful Women in Banking by American Banker. Titi tells us the journey she took to be where she is now while imparting key lessons she learned in leadership. Staying on top of what’s happening in the world, she then talks about digital transformation and innovations happening in the banking industry. She shares what she loves about consumer banking and how Citi is lowering the barriers to access for low-income consumers. Follow along to this conversation and hear more from Titi about simplifying banking and leading an organization against all barriers. Check out the full series of "Career Sessions, Career Lessons" podcasts here or visit pathwise.io/podcast/. A full written transcript of this episode is also available at https://pathwise.io/podcasts/titi-cole.
Jul 3, 2023 • 37min
Beyond 'Thank You For Your Service', With Kathy Gallowitz
Beyond 'Thank You For Your Service', we have the power to bridge the gap between the military and civilian worlds. We can create a workforce that embraces diversity, supports our veterans, and builds thriving communities. In this episode, we have the incredible Kathy Gallowitz, founder and CEO of Vanguard Veteran, joining us. Kathy is on a mission to cultivate and support civilians who champion veterans, providing strategic guidance to employers seeking to hire and retain veteran talent. As a retired lieutenant colonel with 30 years of service in the military, Kathy understands the challenges veterans face when transitioning into the private sector. She emphasizes how companies should consider veteran hiring as a vital aspect of their corporate citizenship and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Kathy discusses the essence of a true veteran champion – one that underlines the importance of camaraderie and resources that uplift the living standards of veterans. She showcases some of these inspiring stories from her book, Beyond Thank You for Your Service, which highlights people who have helped veterans in their communities. Tune in now and join us in going beyond “Thank you for your service”. Check out the full series of "Career Sessions, Career Lessons" podcasts here or visit pathwise.io/podcast/. A full written transcript of this episode is also available at https://pathwise.io/podcasts/kathy-gallowitz/
Jun 26, 2023 • 54min
Both-And Thinking, And Much More, With Wendy Smith
We live in a world of paradoxes. When we especially face competing demands, we easily slip into either-or choices. But why do we have to choose one over the other? Isn’t there a way to overcome these challenges without having to give up something? This episode’s guest says there is—through both/and thinking. J.R. Lowry is with Wendy Smith, the Dana J. Johnson Professor of Management and the faculty director of the Women’s Leadership Initiative at the Lerner College of Business and Economics, at the University of Delaware. Wendy has co-authored a book called Both/And Thinking, where they explore the nature of the tensions we experience and how we can use them to be productive rather than stumble over them. In this conversation, she shares the idea that led her to write the book and the insights they have gathered to help organizations struggling to take the step towards innovation, diversity, and inclusion. Why do we suffer from either/or thinking? What does both/and thinking look like? How do we navigate the paradoxes in life? Tune in to find out Wendy’s answers and more! Check out the full series of "Career Sessions, Career Lessons" podcasts here or visit pathwise.io/podcast/. A full written transcript of this episode is also available at https://pathwise.io/podcast/wendy-smith/
Jun 12, 2023 • 50min
Breaking All The Rules In Coaching, With Tammy Alvarez
Unleash your potential and defy conventional boundaries - discover the transformative power of breaking all the rules in coaching. In this episode, we have a remarkable guest, Tammy Alvarez, the visionary CEO and founder of Career Winners Circle. Tammy's Career Winners Circle is a haven for professionals seeking to supercharge their growth and transform their careers rapidly and sustainably. Tammy's coaching style combines her extensive experience in the C-Suite on Wall Street with a results-driven approach that challenges the norm and inspires her clients to make a profound impact. As a result, her clients wake up energized and motivated every Monday morning. Today, Tammy discusses her rule-breaking philosophy, unveiling the secrets behind her coaching success. Discover how Tammy's unconventional strategies can help you break free from the shackles of traditional thinking and unlock your full potential. With her spirited approach and practical insights, Tammy challenges conventional wisdom, guiding listeners toward career breakthroughs they never thought possible. Check out the full series of "Career Sessions, Career Lessons" podcasts here or visit pathwise.io/podcast/. A full written transcript of this episode is also available at https://pathwise.io/podcasts/tammy-alvarez
Jun 5, 2023 • 47min
A Portfolio Career in Organizational Psychology With Hayley Lewis
As a chartered coaching psychologist and a registered occupational psychologist, it has been Dr. Hayley Lewis’ passion to build relationships and share her talents to help others succeed. Her expertise in the psychology of organizations is the main anchor of HALO Psychology, where she leads a team to guide public sector managers through the most difficult challenges in the workplace. She joins J.R. Lowry to talk about the hardest problems she has helped teams solve, how she guides women into their transition to entrepreneurial activities, and why she offers free access to most of her books and other relevant works. Dr. Hayley also shares her own career transition from corporate and into entrepreneurship, as well as the management lessons she has learned working in the local government. Check out the full series of "Career Sessions, Career Lessons" podcasts here or visit pathwise.io/podcast/. A full written transcript of this episode is also available at https://pathwise.io/podcasts/hayley-lewis
May 29, 2023 • 51min
Using AI To Improve Cancer Outcomes, With Jeff Elton
We are seeing more and more solutions to problems as technology continues to evolve and advance. With the growth of artificial intelligence, we are adding tools to gather more data and insights into even the most complex problems. This episode’s guest is proof of that, using AI to improve cancer outcomes. Jeff Elton is the CEO of ConcertAI, whose mission is to accelerate insights and improve outcomes for patients through leading real-world data, AI technologies, and scientific research. He talks more about this to J.R. Lowry along with the other uses of AI in the business. Jeff also shares his leadership style, leading a thousand people and creating a great place to work in. Having been a CEO prior to ConcertAI, he then shares how his current role differs from when he was at QUE Group. For more insights about AI, the biotech space, leadership, and culture, tune in to this conversation with Jeff to not miss out! Check out the full series of "Career Sessions, Career Lessons" podcasts here or visit pathwise.io/podcast/. A full written transcript of this episode is also available at https://pathwise.io/podcast/jeff-elton
May 22, 2023 • 39min
From Sports Cameraman To Production Company CEO, With Howie Zales
“If you let everyone in the universe know what you want, somehow, someway, it will come to be.” Howie Zales is proof of this, landing his goal of shooting television sports and eventually starting his own production company. He is an Emmy Award-winning Camera Operator who turned his passion for television broadcasting into several entrepreneurial endeavors. In this episode, he sits down with J.R. Lowry to take us across his journey from sports cameraman to the Founder of HJZ Productions and Viridity Entertainment Services. Howie recounts that serendipitous moment that pushed him towards sports, why it appealed to him, and the memorable sports events he has covered. He also shares his work with bigger nonunion markets and how he pivoted his company into a full-fledged livestream and event company. Tune in now to get a behind-the-scenes look at sports events, right through the eyes of a camera operator. Let Howie’s insights and experiences guide you!
May 15, 2023 • 39min
Disruptive Innovation And The Secret Lives Of Customers, With David Duncan
Companies, as they become large and successful, often find themselves stuck in doing things a certain way. They subscribe to certain success formulas and cultures that keep them from evolving. This is what Clayton Christensen calls the Innovation Dilemma, which inspired the creation of the consulting firm, Innosight. In this episode, J.R. Lowry sits down with its Senior Partner, David Duncan, who shares how Innosight is helping businesses through Disruptive Innovation, developing customer-centric teams, strategies, and organizations. How do businesses create the next version of themselves, where they are not only evolving but also expanding at the same time? What does it mean to be customer-centric and why is it important to innovation? David answers these questions and more. So tune in to find out how you can escape the innovation dilemma and learn the secret lives of customers in this conversation. Check out the full series of "Career Sessions, Career Lessons" podcasts here or visit pathwise.io/podcast/. A full written transcript of this episode is also available at https://pathwise.io/podcasts/david-duncan.
May 8, 2023 • 42min
Marketing And Mission, With Peter Kaye
Perhaps nothing could be more fulfilling than helping mission-driven companies thrive and achieve growth. This much is true for Peter Kaye, the Founder and Principal at PK Growth Partners. In this episode, he sits down with J.R. Lowry to share his career journey and how, at the heart of it, he is drawn to helping mission-driven firms to develop and implement profitable growth strategies. Peter has worked with big names like Coca-Cola, Nestlé, Diageo, and Danone. He tells us some of the lessons he learned from that period in his life and how he transitioned toward becoming a Senior Leadership “Player Coach” in his current company. Peter also talks about his role as Chief Revenue Officer, the key measures of success, and the difference between non-profit and for-profit businesses. What is more, Peter shares some great insights on what leadership is about and how leaders can help their organization, both big and small, create a greater impact. Check out the full series of "Career Sessions, Career Lessons" podcasts here or visit pathwise.io/podcast/. A full written transcript of this episode is also available at https://pathwise.io/podcasts/peter-kaye
