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
Jan 30, 2023 • 53min
Reporting From The World's Front Lines, With Jane Ferguson
It takes extraordinary courage to be on the world’s front lines, reporting on events that are often hard to look at: war, uprisings, crises, and insurgencies. Day and night, journalists have to fight to get their - and our - questions answered. They have to contend not only with the challenges of their physical environments but also pushing for facts and the truth. In this episode, J.R. Lowry sits with a remarkable guest who has been reporting from the world’s front lines, Jane Ferguson, who is a special correspondent for PBS NewsHour, a contributor to The New Yorker, and a former journalist for CNN and Al Jazeera. Jane takes us along her journey from growing up at a time of instability in Northern Ireland and how that influenced her to pursue a career in journalism. She also talks about some of the stories she's covered that have taken her from Sudan to Somalia to Yemen to Abu Dhabi and more, bootstrapping her way into very difficult places as a young journalist and covering undercover stories far from the competition. Join Jane as she tells us her incredible experiences of navigating the turmoil of the world, all for the drive to deliver the stories that need to be shared.
Jan 23, 2023 • 46min
Building A Sustainable Future, With Jon Guerster
Now, more than ever, people have become more aware about the significance of sustainability. There are more conversations around it and have become an important cause many are getting behind, showing concern about the trajectory of our future. Jon Guerster has been in the sustainability space for years, devoting his life to building a sustainable future for all of us in the energy sector. He is a Partner at Activate Capital, the Chairman and Co-Founder of Therm Solutions, and the former CEO of Groom Energy Solutions. In this episode, he joins J.R. Lowry to discuss his life’s work and the ups and downs of starting in the industry—overcoming crisis, figuring out a leadership style, and growing the company. Jon also shares some tips on selecting a good advisor for a startup and deciding when to invest in companies. 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 [insert URL for the transcript of this episode.]
Jan 16, 2023 • 51min
6 Mindsets to Rise and Thrive at Work, with Aliza Knox
Are you new to your job? Or are you planning to be in C-suite? Then, this episode is for you! J.R. Lowry welcomes our guest, Aliza Knox, the author of Don’t Quit Your Day Job, who shares some tips to thrive in the workplace. J.R. and Aliza take a plunge into the six mindsets to advance and flourish in your workplace. Learn more on how you can excel in today’s world of work and create a balance working life with Aliza! Tune in to this episode now!"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/aliza-knox."
Jan 9, 2023 • 46min
15 Lessons I Learned During My Career, With Jim Coley
One of the great things about success today is how it has become less and less an individual’s task. With so many successful people ready to impart their wisdom, you need only to find the right mentors and coaches to learn from. You don’t have to toil and dig a new path; you just have to follow those who have done them. In this episode, we have one of those remarkable people, eagerly sharing the hard-won lessons he learned from his career. J.R. Lowry sits with the recently retired executive-level leader from S&P Global, Jim Coley. Soon after his retirement, Jim wrote “15 Things I Learned In My Career,” which took off and went viral on LinkedIn. In this conversation, he dives deeper into those lessons with us, sharing career advice from hiring, managing, and succession planning, to maintaining physical health and wellbeing. Don’t miss out on these golden nuggets by tuning in!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/15-lessons-i-learned-during-my-career-with-jim-coley.
Jan 3, 2023 • 43min
Learnings From 20+ Years As A CEO, With Lance Uggla
A business needs more than just effective strategies to hit their set goals or even go beyond them. Beyond good practices, a successful team requires a leader with a strong CEO mindset to implement them. Lance Uggla takes pride in his over two decades of CEO experience and has seen it all. Joining J.R. Lowry, he discusses how he leads BeyondNetZero’s diverse team by accelerating the implementation of an inclusive culture. He explains how he manages his time despite having a hectic schedule, the power of the concept of vitality, and the best approach to improve recruitment processes. Lance also shares how their company helps established corporations allocate resources to address the serious effects of climate change. 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/learnings-from-20-years-as-a-ceo-with-lance-uggla
Dec 19, 2022 • 48min
Work-Life Fulfillment And Happiness At Work, With Dr. Tracy Brower
Are you thriving at work or simply surviving? We spend the majority of our adult lives at work. That is why it’s essential to have a career that’s not only financially secure but also engaging and makes us feel engaged, fulfilled, and purposeful. Today, J.R. Lowry sits down with Dr. Tracy Brower in an insightful conversation about work-life fulfillment and happiness at work. Dr. Brower is an author and the VP of Workplace Insights at Steelcase. Tune in as they tackle workplace design, productivity, work culture, choosing an organization that aligns with our values, and so much more. Tune in and learn how to thrive at work, manage your work-life boundaries, and achieve fulfillment.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/work-life-fulfillment-and-happiness-at-work-with-dr-tracy-brower.
Dec 12, 2022 • 47min
Smarter Collaboration, With Ivan Matviak
Collaboration could be the key to taking your business to the next level. How? Ivan Matviak of Smarter Collaboration Int’l., smartercollaboration.com, co-author of the recently published Smarter Collaboration, A New Approach to Breaking Down Barriers and Transforming Work, is here to enlighten us on the concept. Ivan co-authored the book with his wife and Smart Collaboration co-founder, Heidi Gardner. In this episode, Ivan discusses the transformative power of collaboration in a business. He also talks about his career journey along with important lessons you can implement in your company. Tune in to learn how to foster collaboration that can fuel your growth in business and in life! 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 [insert URL for the transcript of this episode.]
Dec 5, 2022 • 46min
A More Just Future, With Dolly Chugh
America is widely seen as the greatest free country in the world, but that doesn't mean it hasn't suffered from horrible things in the past. What can we learn from the American Revolution, the Slave Trade, the Civil War, Columbus Day, and other pivotal moments in history if we scrutinize them through the lens of social psychology? J.R. Lowry sits down with author and social psychologist Dolly Chugh to look more deeply than America’s Instagrammed version and delve into its highly complicated history. She explains what it takes for people to come to terms with the controversial events of this country’s past with empathy, to shape effective leaders and build a progressive society today. Dolly also discusses her own career journey and its various meanderings over the years that led toward her current work as a business school professor and author. 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/a-more-just-future-with-dolly-chugh.
Nov 28, 2022 • 47min
All Things Real Estate, With Deborah Smith
Real estate continues to be one of the world's biggest and most thriving industries today. But what is real estate? What’s happening now in the market? What’s the best way to buy and sell? In this episode, Deborah Smith shares her real estate experience and gives us insights on how to understand and thrive in the market! Deborah is the Co-founder and CEO of the CenterCap Group, a certified women-owned business and boutique investment bank that provides strategic advisory, capital raising, and consulting-related services to private and public sector companies and fund managers in the real estate industry. Tune in and earn gold nuggets about all things real estate!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/all-things-real-estate-with-centercap-group-co-founder-and-ceo-deborah-smith
Nov 21, 2022 • 55min
The Great Resignation and Conscious Quitting, with Sara McElroy
The great resignation is always bound to happen. The pandemic just accelerated it. People, especially women, are not happy with their careers. With a combination of toxic workspaces, housework, and burnout, it just isn’t easy being a woman in the workforce. Now is the time for women to truly find their purpose and what they want in life. Take a leap of faith and go out and try something different. If you stay stuck on a job you despise, you are never going to live a happy and healthy life. Join J.R. Lowry as he talks to the Founder of Raze to Rise, Sara McElroy, about the great resignation and conscious quitting. Discover Sara’s career journey and know that it wasn’t a linear path. There was a lot of uncertainty and struggles, but it was all worth it in the end. Learn why women are more likely to quit than men. Understand why you should be conscious about your decision to quit and how you can prepare for the next step in your journey. Start making bold career choices today! 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/the-great-resignation-and-conscious-quitting-with-sara-mcelroy
