Top of the Pile

By: Karen Elders
  • Summary

  • This podcast is all about young professionals and their careers. College students or those first years into your career. Sit in on conversations with hiring managers and professionals of all levels who’ve found success across a variety of industries. Hear from professionals at Fortune 500 companies to start-ups. What has helped them stand out and be successful in their careers? How have they networked? How did their undergrad studies and internships shape the path they chose? Did they stay on their original path or take a few detours? We’ll also cover topics around personal finances and budgeting, company culture, diversity, and really anything that seems relevant to twenty-somethings and their career. Hosted by Karen Elders of Launch Career Strategies.

    © 2024 Top of the Pile
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Episodes
  • Career Advice from Brian Lawler, Senior Sales Manager, Amazon Ads
    Sep 4 2024

    In this episode, I'm thrilled to welcome Brian Lawler, a Senior Sales Manager, Amazon Ads with an impressive career in the advertising industry. Brian has held senior roles at top companies, including LinkedIn, AOL, DoubleClick, and News Corp, and has spent over seven years at Amazon. Known for his exceptional sales skills and leadership qualities, Brian is highly respected by customers and colleagues alike.

    A proud graduate of Providence College with a degree in Marketing, Brian is passionate about developing and mentoring emerging talent. In our conversation, he shares his personal work experiences and learnings that listeners can apply to their own careers, including:

    • Interview Preparation: Learn how to align with a company's mission and values, and prepare for behavioral interviews using the STARR method to articulate your story and impact (plus, learn what the extra "R" is for!)
    • Continuous Learning: Discover the importance of understanding the deeper purpose of your role and how to expand your skill set, while adopting the "raising the bar" mentality and embracing feedback as a gift.
    • The Magic Loop: Brian explains this concept developed by Ethan Evans, emphasizing the importance of performing your job well, supporting your manager's success, and aligning your contributions with your career goals.
    • Amazon Leadership Principles: Gain insights into key principles established by Jeff Bezos, including the importance of speed, curiosity, grit, and earning trust, and how these can influence your career trajectory.

    Whether you’re looking to enhance your interview skills or navigate your career path, this episode with Brian Lawler is packed with practical advice and inspiration. Tune in to learn from one of the best in the business!

    Links to amazing books mentioned in this episode:
    Radical Candor by Kim Scott (and here Kim breaks it down on YouTube)

    LAUNCH Career Strategies was founded by Karen Elders and Elyse Spalding. We help young professionals launch a successful career path with expert coaching services. Reach out today for an initial FREE coaching session.
    LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook


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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Career Path: Tech Sales | Meet Teddy Fuller, Account Executive, Oracle NetSuite
    Jul 9 2024

    Meet Teddy Fuller, Account Executive with Oracle NetSuite. Teddy is a 2021 graduate of the University of Denver and has spent the past 2.5+ years selling for NetSuite. Teddy shares his experience breaking into a top tech sales team. Hear about the undergrad courses and skills he developed that helped him get his first role as a BDR (Business Development Representative) and make the jump to an AE role. Learn about the interview process and the day-to-day of a BDR and AE. Plus, other career path options to take the BDR experience. This episode is chock full of career advice and direction for anyone interested in tech and/or sales.

    LAUNCH Career Strategies was founded by Karen Elders and Elyse Spalding. We help young professionals launch a successful career path with expert coaching services. Reach out today for an initial FREE coaching session.
    LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook


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    33 mins
  • Sports Entrepreneurship, Mentorship and College Athletics - Meet the Founders of CGM Sports
    Jan 1 2024

    Join me and my talented intern, Christina Klinoff (BC '24), as we co-host this exciting episode that brings together sports entrepreneurship, mentorship, and college athletics.

    This episode is perfect for a variety of listeners:

    1. Are you an aspiring college athlete or a current college athlete?
    2. Are you an aspiring entrepreneur?
    3. Are you interested in sports, NIL, and/or AI?
    4. Are you interested in being motivated by super bright, hard-working, D1 athletes?

    Yes to any of the above Q's? Then this is the episode for you!

    Hear how Sean Woods and Ryan Hetrick met and co-founded CGM Sports or Chasing Greatness Mentorship - a platform that provides advice and mentorship to aspiring college athletes, helping them navigate club teams, prep schools, and the whole college recruiting process. Through entrepreneurship programs at both MIT and Harvard Business School, Ryan and Sean launched CGM and began their entrepreneurial journey. Learn how Ryan and Sean found their Northstar and how their military backgrounds equipped them with the grit and discipline to stay focused on their shared vision.

    Additional links and information from this episode:

    • MIT: Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship
    • Building an Entrepreneurial Venture (aka "GSD") - MIT Sloane biz school entrepreneurship accelerator, project-based course - getting an idea to market
    • Harvard Innovation Labs - Summer Accelerator program
    • Sean's HBS professors mentioned:
      Mark Roberge's book: The Sales Acceleration Formula: Using Data, Technology, and Inbound Selling to go from $0 to $100 Million
      Lou Shipley, Senior Lecturer, Harvard Business School


    LAUNCH Career Strategies was founded by Karen Elders and Elyse Spalding. We help young professionals launch a successful career path with expert coaching services. Reach out today for an initial FREE coaching session.
    LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook


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    41 mins

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