Career Cheat Code

One pebble can create countless ripples—and this episode follows the journey of Jhaelen Hernandez-Eli who’s done exactly that. From Singapore to North Carolina, architecture studios to unexpected sales roles, and a decade inside a rocket-ship design firm, the path winds through public service at NYC EDC and executive leadership at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Now, that journey culminates in a new strategy practice helping nonprofits, museums, and campuses plan, fund, and deliver capital pr...

We trace Antonio Aponte's path from Broadway actor to creative educator—and how finding the right match can mean more than chasing a big name when guiding first-gen families toward college and career success. This episode dives deep into what real opportunity looks like, from choosing the right school to unlocking financial aid, internships, and alternative career paths. In this episode, we cover: • Aligning students with schools that fit their goals and support systems • Demystifying finan...

Tracy Colunga shares her remarkable journey from city government to founding her consulting firm Colunga and Associates LLC, highlighting how intuition guided her career transitions and how she narrowly avoided mass layoffs by trusting her gut. • Founding Colunga and Associates LLC as a consulting firm specializing in strategic planning, innovation, user-centered design, and grants management • Transitioning from Johns Hopkins University to entrepreneurship after sensing political changes • ...

Erika Williams, Managing Partner of The Alberio Group, shares her non-linear career journey from temp worker to philanthropy executive to social impact consultant, revealing how embracing flexibility and recognizing "divine order" creates fulfilling opportunities. • Started career through a temp agency that placed her at Morgan Stanley's investment banking division • Strategically navigated from admin roles to the Morgan Stanley Foundation by networking internally • Used employer tuition ben...

Hernán Carvente Martinez shares his extraordinary journey from juvenile incarceration to becoming Executive Director of Alianza for Opportunity, a national nonprofit dedicated to building thriving communities for Latino, Afro-Latino, and Indigenous groups. His powerful story reveals how one mentor's belief transformed his life trajectory and instilled in him the courage to never give up despite overwhelming challenges. • Spent four years in juvenile prison at age 16 for attempted murder befo...