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
Aug 28, 2023 • 58min
Work Lessons 101, with Sabrina Woodworth
There are so many things that are not taught to children growing up or while attending school. Project manager Sabrina Woodworth aims to bridge this gap by writing Work Lessons 101, which gathers all the essential things people should know even at a young age. Joining J.R. Lowry, she talks about the most important lessons everyone must take to heart in their first decade, from building themselves as effective leaders, designing a healthy frame of mind, to putting emotional intelligence to work. Sabrina also shares her insights as a professional engineer about the current state of the mining industry and its direct impact on supply chain and 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/podcast/sabrina-woodworth
Aug 21, 2023 • 51min
Leadership, DEI, And Life As An Entrepreneur, With Dorothy Enriquez
Before an employee can take on a leadership position full-time, they must be equipped with the right knowledge and skills first. If they do not receive the proper leadership development, they might not be as effective as they should be. Dorothy Enriquez of The Ellevate Collective sits down with J.R. Lowry to discuss how they guide corporate and nonprofit leaders in optimizing their talents and unlocking their greatest potential. She discusses the difference between a manager and a leader, as well as the best approach to building a business that could operate even without your full supervision. Dorothy also shares her advocacy to bring more gender equity in C-suite leadership and the importance of increasing the number of women leaders.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/dorothy-enriquez/
Aug 14, 2023 • 44min
Giving Back Through Public Service, With Yvonne Hao
It’s one thing to attract customers to stay with your company; it’s another to go out into a more public-facing role and attract the very companies into the state. Yvonne Hao is the Secretary for Economic Development of the State of Massachusetts, where she takes the responsibility to create career opportunities and nurture thriving businesses within the state. In this episode, Yvonne joins J.R. Lowry to share her inspiring journey towards public service and leaving a great mark across various sectors. From co-founding venture capital and private equity firms to serving on boards and holding leadership positions, Yvonne's path has been marked by purpose and innovation. She dives into the nuances of government versus private sector dynamics, sharing insights on decision-making, governance, and metrics. Yvonne also talks about her role in shaping Massachusetts' economic development plan and ensuring the public can live great lives in the state. Drawing from her rich background, she offers invaluable wisdom on leadership, building high-performance teams, and the importance of embracing opportunities. Don’t miss out on this great conversation for a comprehensive view of Yvonne's transformative journey, highlighting her pivotal role in propelling economic growth while sharing her profound insights into leadership and personal development. 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.]
Aug 7, 2023 • 41min
Resilience And Optimism Following A Life-Changing Accident, With Sarah de Lagarde
Life's challenges may knock us down, but with resilience and optimism, we can rise to conquer any mountain that stands in our way. In this episode, we sit down with Sarah de Lagarde, the Global Head of Communications at Janus Henderson Investors, to hear her remarkable journey of resilience and optimism after a life-changing accident. At the peak of her career and juggling motherhood, Sarah's life took an unexpected turn when she was involved in a horrific train accident. The accident left her with severe injuries, including two crushed limbs, a broken nose, and broken teeth. Despite the odds stacked against her, she shares how she managed to find strength within herself and the support of her community, leading to an astonishing recovery. As we delve deeper, Sarah touches upon the importance of storytelling and how sharing her journey has been a source of healing and empowerment for herself and others. She reveals how she found solace in the great outdoors, scaling heights like Kilimanjaro, defying expectations, and proving to herself that she is capable of achieving the extraordinary. Join us and learn how to conquer your own mountains and seize every moment! 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/sarah-de-lagarde
Jul 24, 2023 • 44min
Entrepreneurship, Purpose, And The Early Days Of The Internet, With Matt Kursh
Not everything is taught in schools, especially when it comes to certain skills needed at work. People often find themselves acquiring them when thrust into the real world. Recognizing this, Matt Kursh co-founded Oji Life Lab, a leadership learning company that helps people in business learn the essential skills that drive performance and life satisfaction that the schools just don't cover more generally. In this episode, Matt joins J.R. Lowry to tell us all about Oji Life Lab, its origins, and how it is transforming the workplace. He dives deep into the importance of emotional intelligence and decision-making—the skills that determine the outcomes of our lives. Matt also takes us into his entrepreneurship journey, both in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, and shares the big changes between generations of entrepreneurs. Reflecting on his time at Microsoft, Matt then tells us about the early days of the Internet and how much has transformed the business. Whether you are early in your career or deep into it, this conversation offers great insights that will guide you to reconnect with the things that matter most. 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.]
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
