Kaneisha Grayson's Blog, page 27
April 26, 2017
Closing the Loop When Your Network Pulls Through
If you haven’t already read Parts One and Two of this series on signs it’s time to look for a new job and how to tap your network to help in the process, you may want to check them out before reading this third, and final, post in the series!
One of the biggest mistakes I see people making when undertaking a networking campaign is not having a strategy for follow-up and follow through. And I get it! If you’re networking well and being introduced to a host of new people with each conversation, it can get overwhelming. Before long you’ve forgotten who you spoke to last week, let alone three months ago. (Here’s a tip: Create a tracker in Excel and enter conversations by date and topic so you can do a quick refresh on a weekly or monthly basis.)
That said, you and I both know that relationships aren’t built on a “one and done.” You wouldn’t propose to someone after a first date (let’s hope), so similarly, you probably won’t have created a ton of street cred with someone you’ve spoken to just once. Rather, it takes a subtle nurturing and feeding of a flame over time that builds a relationship you both can rely on. And this goes for both conversations with new connections and chats to maintain current ones!
When I started my job search at the beginning of this year, I tapped a group of roughly 65 current and former colleagues seeking help in figuring out my next step. As I detailed in my last post, a host of them came through: one simple email not only sparked “catch-up” calls with a bunch of people I hadn’t spoken to in a while, but also put me on a path to meet a bunch of new folks.
In my case I got lucky — less than two months into the new year I landed the full-time job offer I was coveting from a company I’d been contracting with for going on a year (note: the average job search takes about six months). Since I got this job from a different kind of networking (within my current organization and utilizing clear intention setting, and lots of patience and persistence), there wasn’t anyone in particular that I was obliged to “thank” for the foot in the door.
That doesn’t mean I didn’t have some thanking to do. You see, my network still came through when I asked them for help. They didn’t have to, and if I wanted to set the stage for them to feel confident and willing to do it again in the future, I needed to make sure my appreciation was clear.
So I sent the following:
Subject Line: Job Announcement! (And a thank you!)
Hi friends,
A couple of months ago, I reached out to you for help as I was pursuing new job opportunities and trying to determine the next step in my ever-evolving career. Many of you responded with leads for me to get in touch with, words of encouragement to keep my spirits up and thoughts about which path(s) might best suit me. I am so thankful to everyone for their support!
Just two months after that original email, I am happy to come back to you to report that the stars aligned, and I have just accepted a full-time offer with Fintech Startup, one of the companies I’ve been contracting with since June of last year. It’s a blessing in so many ways, not only since it allows me to stay in Philadelphia and work from home, but it also keeps me on the path I set for myself back in the fall of 2015.
My role with Company will be a Career Advisor on the Career Strategy team, but in addition to working with clients 1:1, I’ll also be helping to build out a scalable Career Education program, will be traveling the country to speak at live events and will have the opportunity to play a role in a variety of mobile and digital initiatives. It’s the kind of job I’ve been looking for — something that will allow me to tap into my marketing, general management, operations and program development skills, while also helping people every day and working in an environment that allows me to feel energized, rather than depleted.
I’ll start officially at the end of this month and will be off-loading some of my other commitments over the next few weeks, although I will maintain my private coaching business and University adjunct position for the foreseeable future.
Once again, I’m really excited to share this news with you, and just feel so grateful to be surrounded by a wonderful network of professionals and friends!
Have a great Wednesday!
Gabby
It was short, sweet and to the point, but it closed the loop with my contacts and interestingly, sparked conversations from people that never responded to my initial email! More than that, it let people know more about the work I’d be doing and the skills I’d be using so that, if they should need assistance in the future, I can be of help to them. In fact, if I could send this email again, that might be the one change I’d make — adding a line to make more clear the fact that I’m ready and willing to return the favor if needed.
I hope that you can walk away from this series feeling like you’ve gained a new tool for your networking tool belt. Sometimes it’s the simplest steps that take us the farthest. Good luck, and let me know your questions in the comments!
Interested in working with TAOA on your MBA applications? Click here to see our services and get started!
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April 19, 2017
How to Tap Your Network to Help With Your Job Search
I’m fortunate to have learned a lot about the power of networking very early on in my career. When I graduated from college in 2006, I used the following steps to get my first job at Disney:
Apply for 70-80 entry-level positions and get zero responses
Get fed up, but really want to work for Disney, so turn down 5 other job offers (ahhh)
Randomly get an alumni magazine in the mail featuring a woman who worked at Disney
Email Dean of college to request contact information of said woman
Cold-call said woman to ask for help
Hear her say “Sure!” and about fall on the floor
Have an informational interview via phone
Follow up via email thanking her for her time
Follow up via email again two weeks later saying, “Hey! I’m going to be in town, can I come see the office?” knowing full well you had no plans to be in town, but would sure as heck find a way to get there if she said yes. (She said yes.)
Visit the office and meet her co-workers. Grab business cards and give out resumes.
Email each contact every 2 weeks for 2 months asking about open jobs
Annoy the Director of PR enough that he finally reaches out and says he has a 6-month contractor position that he doesn’t think you’re qualified for, but he’s pacifying you by sharing the information
Respond and assert that you are superwoman, you can do this!
Land an interview.
Land the job. Cry. Laugh. Breathe.
I know I’m exhausted reading that 15-step process, even if it did get me to my ultimate goal, but the truth is that networking is often a better way to land a new position, even if it’s more of the long game approach than a one-step silver bullet. And although activating your network to help you in your job search may ultimately wind up comprising multiple steps, I’ve also learned over the years that there are simpler, more efficient ways to get started.
About three months ago, I decided to launch a job search of my own. I had been working as an entrepreneur and independent contractor with a portfolio career of anywhere from 5-7 part-time jobs for over a year, and it was burning me out. I was constantly scared about my finances, I’d convince myself that any of my contracts could disappear at a moment’s notice, and although I liked the work I was doing, I felt like it was a dead end. My desperation and anxiety was increasing with each passing week, and knowing that the average job search takes six months, I didn’t want to wait before taking action.
That said, I also wasn’t 100% sure what I wanted to do next. I had eight years of corporate marketing experience, but had recently shifted into the coaching world. It seemed like I could easily go back on a marketing path, parlay my experience into an HR role or continue developing as a coach. And although I perused job boards to appease myself, I wasn’t finding anything that inspired me. I knew I needed to widen my net and tap into the expertise of people I trusted that also knew me best.
I scoured my inbox to review contacts I had recently been in touch with – friends, family, former co-workers, former recruiters – and then did a quick scan of my 1,300+ LinkedIn contacts (ok, it wasn’t SO quick) to see if there was anyone else I had an existing relationship with that I’d want to reach out to.
I wound up developing a list of about 70 contacts, and in the span of 30 minutes I crafted the following email:
Subject Line: Happy New Year + A Favor to Ask
Hello friends and colleagues,
Some of you I speak to every day; others, it’s been a while. Either way, I hope that 2017 is off to a great start for you and yours.
As you may or may not know, I’ve spent the last 14 months working in a portfolio career after separating from Old Company — I launched my own career coaching business, have done contract career coaching with three organizations, teach as an Adjunct Professor at Good University and handle marketing for Local Company. It’s all been a fantastic learning experience, both in building a business from scratch and in taking the needed time to really explore what I want and need from a career.
After much contemplation, I’ve decided to launch a full-time job search, and this is where I’m hoping I might have your help and support.
Would you be willing to share my resume within your professional or personal network? I’ve attached the latest version and would be ever so grateful if you’d pass it along to anyone you see fit, whether that be friends who have job openings, know of openings, run a recruiting team or something else entirely.
Do you have any friends or colleagues I might benefit from connecting with for an informational interview about their job, role or company? I know jobs tend to sprout from relationships and networking, so I’m excited to expand my purview and speak to new people, even if there aren’t any immediate openings. You never know what advice, encouragement or resources could come from connecting with someone new.
Are there any openings in your area or company that you think I might be qualified for? Of course, never any pressure here, but if you personally know of a job for which I might be a great fit, I’d love to learn more about it and potentially apply.
At this point I’m sure you’re thinking, “But wait, Gabby, what kinds of opportunities are you looking for?” I’m staying purposely vague because I want to remain open to a number of roles and areas. That said here’s a run-down of my ideals:
I’m looking for a role in which I can use my strengths in writing, public speaking / presenting, strategy and critical thinking.
I prefer to be a generalist (i.e. a high-level marketing strategist that touches many specialty areas) over a specialist (i.e. an email marketing expert).
I thoroughly enjoy (and have received compliments on my skills in) managing people and would like to lead direct reports.
I excel in roles in which there is a balance between individual contributor work and work completed in teams.
I am highly inquisitive, accomplishment-driven and organized.
My preference would be to find a role located in downtown Philadelphia or one in which the company allows for remote/flexible work. That said, I am open to relocation for the right role, but prefer not to live/work in New York City.
Although my background and expertise is in marketing and communications, I am open to jobs that are out of the box — human resources, coaching, talent development, strategy…something else entirely! Sometimes the most interesting opportunities arise when you have an open mind.
If you’re still reading, THANK YOU, and if you’re still willing to help, thank you even more. As I embark on this journey, having the support of such a fantastic network of people is so critical.
Wishing you all the best!
Gabby
My palms were definitely sweating, and it took some courage to hit send. Even though I knew and trusted these people, it was nerve-wracking to be vulnerable and reach out to a large group for help. I worried that people might be annoyed or might see me as asking for help without offering something in return. Of course, I sent it anyway, and I figured that if any of the above fears were true, that person probably wasn’t someone I wanted in my network anyway.
That day alone, 14 of my contacts replied. Although not all could help directly, some offered to forward my resume to recruiters in their company or keep their eyes peeled. Others offered feedback on my resume or threw out names of friends they thought I should contact. Within a few days, 11 additional people responded, and a handful texted or approached me in person. All in all, my email sparked 84 additional email conversations, followed by five networking conversations, three invites for catch-up coffees/lunches, and if I may be so honest, the opportunity to share this blog post with you today.
Not a single person responded with something nasty; no one asked me to remove them from my contacts or gave me side-eye when I saw them next. The worst that happened was as I expected, some people just didn’t respond. But all-in-all, I was applauded for my bravery and directness, so if anything, the effort may have benefitted my reputation, even among people who didn’t have something to offer me immediately.
Naturally, this was just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to launching a successful networking campaign, but it was a quick, easy and painless way to start the process and make folks aware of the fact that I was looking.
How might you adapt this technique to help you in your job search? I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments below!
Interested in working with TAOA on your MBA applications? Click here to see our services and get started!
The post How to Tap Your Network to Help With Your Job Search appeared first on The Art of Applying.
April 12, 2017
4 Signs It’s Time to Look for a New Job
I remember it like it was yesterday. I’d be peacefully asleep, dreaming of some blissful nonsense and then — BEEP BEEEP BEEEEEEP — the shrill sound of my old-school alarm clock would pull me from my reverie at 6:30am. I’d lay there for a while, as the reality of my situation washed over me: rush through coffee, shower, breakfast; commute 45 minutes (if it’s a good day), work 8 dreadful hours, commute an hour and a half home (if it’s a bad day), collapse on the couch, dinner, sleep. Ugh.
“Can I pretend to be sick today?” I’d consider, more days than not. But ultimately, my integrity wouldn’t allow it, and I’d drag my zombie body from bed and get on with the day, hoping it wasn’t one that would end in tears.
Does this sound familiar? For your sake, and mine, I hope it doesn’t, but the reality is that not all jobs are good jobs, not all bosses are good bosses, and sometimes you find yourself in that awkward position of making a shit ton of money, yet hating your life.
But how do you know, especially in today’s world where we’re trained to believe we’re all spoiled millennials who unfairly expect the world to land at our feet, whether or not it’s you that needs to change or the job?
Here’s my take on knowing when it’s time to look for something new:
1) YOU AND YOUR BOSS CAN’T SEE EYE TO EYE.
My boss at my last corporate gig was an absolutely lovely woman IRL. She was funny, interesting and intelligent. We could have been great friends had we met outside the working world, but once we were in the office, it was as if we lived on different planets. She was flexible, avoided making final decisions until she was pushed, was comfortable with last-minute changes and generally went with the flow. I was structured, organized, quick-thinking and efficient; always eager to work diligently to wrap up a project, then move on to the next. We’d sit down in a one-on-one and she’d give me an assignment, to which I thought I understood the task, until we’d meet again and realize we had walked away from the meeting with totally different interpretations of the situation. We drove each other crazy. She always wanted me to be X when I was Y, and it left me feeling consistently down on myself and unable to see the strengths that I brought to the table. I’d never felt so worthless.
There’s a reason they say that a manager can make or break a work experience, and in this case, the chasm between my boss and I was too wide, too deep. I’m all about working through differences, but people can only change so much, and you need a manager/direct report relationship that builds you up, rather than tears you down. You won’t grow unless the person who manages you knows how to foster that growth and bring you up with them. If you don’t have this, it’s your job to seek it out, whether internally or at a new gig. It’s crucial to find someone who will champion you, and once you do, you better work your ass off to show them you deserve it.
2) YOU’RE NOT CHALLENGED BY, OR INTERESTED IN, THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
When I had the pleasure of working for The Walt Disney Company, I literally felt like I was a princess. “How lucky am I that I get to come into work every day and market magic!” I’d say, as I waltzed into the office and sat down among the Disney plushes I’d used to decorate my space. When I left Disney it wasn’t because the magic had worn off, but because I was ready for responsibility that the company couldn’t give me. I thought, “Hey, I’m a marketer, I can market anything,” and thus quickly grabbed a position in the banking division of a financial services company (let’s be clear: they dangled beaucoup bucks and a fancy title in front of me).
The reality of my situation and the stark contrast between marketing theme parks and checking accounts hit me faster and harder than I expected. The Director of our team – whom I still admire greatly – had this deep set, everlasting passion for what we were doing. She connected to the work, to the mission and to the idea of delivering financial freedom to our customers. In comparison, I looked at my work and saw a transactional account and a company that, no matter how much we tried, would always be more of a thorn in people’s sides than a joy to interact with.
I tried to love it. Really, I did. But the truth is, I was bored. Uninspired. And I thought that the company’s mission was crap. I didn’t, couldn’t believe in it, no matter how much I tried to funnel the Kool-Aid down my throat. And because of that I couldn’t connect to my teammates and to the work, as I should have. It was time to go.
3) THE WORK ENVIRONMENT ISN’T SUPPORTIVE OF THE WAY YOU GET SHIT DONE.
I once worked in an “officle,” which was literally the best thing ever. It had tall walls that left about a three foot gap between them and the ceiling, but the interior space was big enough to have a legit desk, chair for a guest, a lamp and lots of filing cabinets. And there was a door! When I’d had enough of the world, I could close it for a minute, lay my head on the desk and just breathe without someone staring at me or wondering if I’m having a heart attack. I later worked in a cubicle – not my favorite – but given that I was up against a window and still had tall enough sides that people weren’t peering at me, I made it work.
Then I was moved to an open floor plan. WHO DECIDED THAT THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE I HATE IT AND THINK IT’S A DISEASE THAT WILL SLOWLY KILL US ALL. No walls. The most annoying ping pong table in the universe. A game station. ZERO privacy. ZERO noise control. For an introvert who needs solace to concentrate, it was basically hell.
The company I was working for was big on collaboration, and I not only get that, but support it. But that doesn’t mean that if you want me to think about something strategic, or write a poignant email or prepare for a big presentation that I can do it with shouts, overheard conversations and an incessant ping-pong-ping-pong noise in the background. I am no less collaborative because you give me a few walls and allow me to create a semi-private space I can call my own.
That summer we had to work from home for two weeks, and surprisingly, I’d never been happier or more productive. I learned quickly that environment matters, and that we all have unique needs for getting our best work out the door. Embrace those characteristics when you discover them in yourself, and find a company that does, too.
5) YOUR GUT JUST SAYS, WE GOTTA GO (IT’S SMARTER THAN YOU THINK…TRUST IT).
I’ve always been a pretty intuitive person. I used to say that I knew within five minutes whether one of my mother’s new boyfriends would be a good fit or not (and I was always right), yet somehow it’s easier to trust your gut in situations that apply to others than when it comes to yourself. Fight this. If you’re waking up every day with a sinking feeling in your stomach; if you actually PRAY TO BE ILL just to avoid going into work; or if you’re overcome by a crushing wave of negative emotion when you embark on a task, it probably means something, somewhere isn’t the right fit. Maybe it is you. Maybe it’s the environment. Maybe it’s the field or the task or your boss or something else. It doesn’t matter. You deserve to do work that inspires you, that taps into your strengths, that makes you say, “Heck yes, I’m doing something that aligns with who I am.”
There’s a difference here between finding a job that matches your preferences and looking for something that’s perfect, because honestly that doesn’t exist. But knowing who you are, knowing what you want and stopping at nothing to make that happen doesn’t make you spoiled, it makes you smart. So stop doing what your parents say, what society says and what you were trained to believe is right, and start doing what’s right for you. You’re a gosh-darnit snowflake, you beautiful individual, you.
You got this.
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April 5, 2017
Consultant Spotlight: Mario from Yale School of Management
Mario holds an MBA from the Yale School of Management, where he focused on asset management and economics. He was a Joseph C. McNay Fellow in Finance, Consortium Fellow, and Robert Toigo Fellow. While at Yale SOM, he co-led the Black Business Alliance and served as a student liaison for the Consortium. He was heavily involved with the Investment Management Club, Finance Club, and Yale Leadership Institute. He received a BBA from Howard University, where he concentrated in finance.
Mario works with Dimensional Fund Advisors, covering broker-dealer distribution. He works with financial advisor clients across several regions of the US, educating them and prospective clients on Dimensional’s investment philosophy and strategies, and helping them with strategic business initiatives. Much of his role involves updating clients on capital markets research, consulting on portfolio construction, and assisting with client communication.
Prior to business school, Mario worked in strategy consulting with Accenture, where he conducted analyses and provided recommendations on post-merger integration to clients in the financial sector.
Mario enjoys cross-training, travel, biking, movies, and horology. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
Our Interview with Mario
What schools did you attend for undergrad and grad school?
University for undergrad, majoring in Finance. I went to the Yale School of Management for business school, concentrating in Investment Management and Economics.
Where did you grow up and where do you live now?
I grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. Currently, I live in Los Angeles, California.
What was your career like before grad school and what is it like now?
Prior to business school, I worked in management consulting. After having interned in investment banking during the Global Financial Crisis, I realized that I wanted a career that covered a broad array of industries and functions. Moreover, I enjoyed helping my client solve unique problems. Due to massive consolidation in the financial services industry, I was able to work on several post-merger projects for large banking institutions. Currently, I am working in FinTech where I drive strategy and business development initiatives. What I find most intriguing about this area is the entrepreneurial nature of the business and the huge push for innovation.
What influenced you to go to grad school?
My motivation to go to grad school was my interest in transitioning my career from consulting to asset management. I had previously worked in sell-side finance and consulted financial institutions on strategic initiatives. I was attracted to buy-side finance where I could help institutions and people reach their investment goals. Also, I wanted to build and develop the necessary skills and frameworks to one day work in business development or venture capital.
What was the most challenging part of the application process for you?
Simply put, the GMAT. I am sure I am not alone here. It was definitely the most laborious part of the journey. After a few attempts, I was able to receive my target score: very happy about that. However, the months of study and seemingly countless hours poured into this endeavor were enough to make me not want to look back.
Tell us one of your favorite memories from graduate school.
There are so many to choose from. If I had to pick, it would be my trip to South Korea. Sure, it is pretty much known that students log thousands of airline miles during business school. But this trip was truly memorable. While in Korea, I had the opportunity to meet with students at Seoul National University, one of the country’s top universities. Also, I met with executives from some of the largest companies, namely Samsung and Hyundai, and learned about their structure, challenges, and growth opportunities. Finally, I immersed myself in the culture, eating raw octopus, Korean BBQ, and kimchi. Overall, it was an incredible experience.
How long have you been with TAOA and what led you to join the team?
I have been with TAOA nearly six months and have loved every bit of it. I enjoy helping people strategize and plan their approaches to their applications. It is great hearing the many stories and passions that people have. Moreover, I am even more excited when the fruits of our hard work pays off: invitations to school interviews and acceptances to dream schools. Overall, it has been a great experience.
Mario in Brazil
Would you say you have any specialties when it comes to client work? If so, what are your specialties?
I would say that I am good at listening to my clients’ ideas and helping turn them into concrete points to include in essay responses. Working with a blank canvas and helping organize a game plan is something I really enjoy doing. Also, I can help those with specific interest in finance or consulting. Because I have experience working in both of these areas, I can offer helpful advice and insight.
What are three things you would want The Art of Applying’s clients and subscribers to know about you?
First, that I am a strategic thinker who is passionate about helping others reach their potential.
Second, I am results-oriented and will work tirelessly to help you put together your best package.
Lastly, that I am very personable and charismatic. Though it will be a lot of work, we will have fun along the way.
Anything else you want to add?
You are embarking on a journey that is challenging yet rewarding. Take time to dive deeply into researching schools and industries that you are interested in. Have many conversations with students, professors, and alumni to help inform your process. Lastly, it can be a stressful process. Remember to have fun.
Interested in working with Mario? Click here to learn more about our services and request to work with him!
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March 30, 2017
Recap of Kaneisha’s 2017 Shark Tank Speaking Engagement at SXSW
TAOA Executive Assistant, Renata
Recently, Kaneisha has the awesome opportunity to speak on a panel organized by the world famous show Shark Tank during the SXSW Interactive festival The panel was titled, “Power Play: What to Expect for the Road Ahead. An Intergenerational Discussion of and for Diverse Entrepreneurs.“
In my last guest post for The Art of Applying blog, I talked about me and Kaneisha’s week we spent in downtown Austin to participate in SXSWedu. In this post, I spent an early afternoon on the first day of SXSW with Kaneisha and four other entrepreneurs as they discussed the ins and outs, and ups and downs of entrepreneurship.
What is SXSW?:
According to sxsw.com, The South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference & Festivals celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries. Fostering creative and professional growth alike, SXSW® is the premier destination for discovery.
Panel Discussion
(from left to right) Kaneisha Grayson, Founder & President of The Art of Applying; Sterling Smith, Founder & CEO of SandBox Apps, Inc.; Jonathan Robb, Founder of Watch The Yard; Shelly Bell, Founder & CEO of Black Girl Vision; Lahoma Dade-Roberts, Founder & Owner of Events Unleashed.
Shark Tank asked Kaneisha and other entrepreneurs to provide advice, guidance, and encouragement to the 30+ entrepreneurs who were waiting for their moment in the spotlight to pitch their business idea to the Shark Tank casting call team. The panel took place in the waiting area for the Shark Tank casting call.
Kaneisha (right) with Shark Tank casting call entrepreneur Jen Du, CEO & Elixir Mixer of Before Elixir
The panel discussion flowed well, and was insightful and eye-opening. Some of the questions they addressed were:
What challenges have you faced as a minority entrepreneur?
How do you calculate the valuation your company?
When did you first fail in your business and what did you learn from that experience?
How did you know when to move from your day job to running your own business?
Of course their responses varied, but I will share paraphrased versions of some of my favorite responses.
What challenges have you faced as a minority entrepreneur?
Kaneisha: In some ways, in the early days, I blocked myself from moving forward in my business, because of my own preconceived notions of other people’s expectations.
Jonathan: Analysis Paralysis: Not just as a minority entrepreneur, but as any entrepreneur, too much time spent planning can be time wasted. Don’t wait until things are perfect, test things out as you go and be okay with failing so you can hurry up and grow.
How do you determine your prices and calculate the valuation of your company?
Lahoma: Determine how much time it takes you to do a certain number of tasks to get to the end result and list out how much each of those tasks are costing you to do.
Sterling: Pay attention to the unit economics of the business and be sure to do your market research. Ask yourself, “How many people are going to use this platform? What would it take/cost to reach a certain number of people in a specific amount of time?”
Kaneisha: Pay attention to whatever your exit strategy is. Are you trying to sell your company? Get it acquired? Run it until you die? Is it scalable? You have to keep these things in mind when determining how much to charge people for your services.
When did you first fail in your business and what did you learn from it?
Jonathan: Once I was trying out something new with my website, and I took a certain action that almost destroyed everything, but advice I give from this experience is to plan so you “fail correctly.” I was able to bounce back from my mistake immediately, because I had a plan of what I was going to test that day and could undo my mistake since I could pinpoint where the plan went wrong.
How did you know when it was time to move from your day job to your own business?
Shelly: I’ve always been the type to try and be the best at whatever I’m doing, but I’m also a serial entrepreneur so I’m always looking for that next project to start up. My employer could tell it was time for me to move onto my own project, so they provided me with one more month’s pay before letting me go. They also let me keep my benefits for two more months, and allowed me to collect unemployment. When that happened, I was ready to go. I invested money I had saved and money from my mom, and started my screenprinting business.
Sterling: I learned about Javascript on my own. After 2.5 years of doing that, I moved to Texas and started looking for a startup to work for in preparation of the startup lifestyle I was heading towards. Three years ago, I started my own app development company and there were plenty of dry spots inbetween that made me question some of the work, but I’m happy I did it.
Kaneisha: I spent the last year of grad school preparing to run my own business. My first client was actually my, then, boyfriend. I got him into grad school and then we parted ways (haha)…but some of your first clients may be friends and family, and that’s okay. I must point out that in a lot of our stories, we bridged into entrepreneurship rather than dropping everything and starting an entirely new life and project. I would say that while you are employed, and even if you don’t love your job, learn as much as possible from that job, so you will be better prepped for your dream of entrepreneurship as it starts to become a reality.
In addition to the above responses, some notable takeaways from the panel were:
Kaneisha: Be careful not to charge less than you are worth, or to charge less than the competition simply because you are the new kid on the block.
Sterling: It can cost too much to have a client that doesn’t fit your vision.
Jonathan: Push yourself into uncomfortable territory because that’s where the most successful people are.
Shelly: There’s never a good time to start a business just like there’s never a perfect time to have a baby (haha), but sometimes you just have to jump off the cliff and make your parachute on the way down.
Lahoma: Failure can come in comparing yourself to others and not evaluating yourself and where you are ceasing to adapt. Failure can also come when you don’t reach out for help knowing you need it. Be careful of the well-meaning input you receive from others, especially if they’ve never done what you are trying to do.
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March 22, 2017
Consultant Spotlight: Catherine from Stanford Law School & Stanford History Department
Catherine has a JD from Stanford Law School and is currently a PhD Candidate in the History Department at Stanford, where she studies human rights movements in the Arab world. Her studies at Stanford are supported by a five-year fellowship, and she has won research awards and scholarships from the American Society of International Law, the law firm Chadbourne and Park, the Stanford Center on International Conflict and Negotiation, and the Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies. She has an MA in Middle East Studies from the American University in Cairo where she was awarded a full fellowship for her degree. After law school, Catherine worked as a judicial clerk on the Constitutional Court of South Africa.
After graduating from college and being accepted to public policy MA programs (including The Fletcher School), Catherine decided instead to move to Cairo where she worked for a research center and founded a non-governmental organization that provided service-learning programs for American college students in Egypt. She speaks three languages and has worked on human rights and development projects in Afghanistan, Yemen, Bahrain, Egypt, and Jordan. She is a member of the State Bar of California.
In her free time, she likes to explore ancient cities and try out new recipes.
Our Interview with Catherine
What schools did you attend for undergrad and grad school?
I completed my BA in Political Science at Stanford and then an MA in Middle East Studies at the American University in Cairo. I then returned to Stanford where I graduated from law school and am currently pursuing a PhD.
Where did you grow up and where do you live now?
I grew up and currently live in the mid-Atlantic, though a piece of my heart will always be in Cairo.
What was your career like before grad school and what is it like now?
Before graduate school I ran a small non-profit that organized service-learning educational programs for American college students in Egypt. It was fast-paced and intense, but I loved introducing students to a new country with a different language and culture. Now, as a PhD student, I still enjoy teaching but most of my work is independent research. Academic research is exciting in its own way, but it is a more solitary project and requires a different set of skills. I spend most of my time reading, writing, and looking at primary sources.
What influenced you to go to grad school?
Wonderful professors! I was fortunate to have truly inspiring professors who had the skill and knowledge to effect the type of social change I wanted to create. I always knew I wanted to go back to school, but they helped me determine that the combination of a JD and a PhD would best suit my aspirations.
What was the most challenging part of the application process for you?
Applying to graduate school from outside the United States posed several challenges. Preparing for the LSAT from abroad was difficult. I had little access to prep material and had to travel several hours to sit for the exam. I also felt cut off from advice about the admissions process. I knew few other people applying at the same time and felt isolated throughout the application process.
Tell us one of your favorite memories from graduate school.
One of my favorite memories is spending evenings in a coffee shop during 1L year debating tort law. My study group and I wanted to go beyond finding the ‘economically efficient’ amount of investment to prevent accidents to really understand the ways tort policy can reflect and shape society’s values. Because of the interest sparked by these conversations, I later took a course focused just on tort policy that ended up being one of my favorite classes in law school.
How long have you been with TAOA and what led you to join the team?
This will be my third year with TAOA. I first joined because I love editing essays and helping friends with their applications. I keep returning because it is so much fun getting to know new clients from all over the world and helping them reach their potential.
Would you say you have any specialties when it comes to client work? If so, what are your specialties?
I particularly enjoy helping clients who are applying to law or policy school, as well as those considering a joint degree. Joint degrees can be incredibly intellectually and professionally rewarding, and I can help clients articulate that in their applications.
What are three things you would want The Art of Applying’s clients and subscribers to know about you?
I loved law school. It’s possible!
I have lived in six countries and four American states.
I lived and worked abroad for four years in between college and law school.
Interested in working with Catherine? Click here to learn more about our services and request to work with him!
The post Consultant Spotlight: Catherine from Stanford Law School & Stanford History Department appeared first on The Art of Applying.
March 15, 2017
Recap of the 2017 SXSWedu Conference & Festival in Austin
TAOA Executive Assistant, Renata
Hi, I’m Renata. I’m Kaneisha’s Executive Assistant, and this is my second guest post for The Art of Applying blog. Today’s post is about me and Kaneisha’s experience at the SXSWedu Conference & Festival in Austin.
Last week, Kaneisha and I spent part of our work week in downtown Austin to take part in SXSWedu. The Art of Applying is always aiming to become a better admissions consulting firm to its clients. There’s no better way to do that than to stay current about the new information, developments, and systems that impact potential and current students everyday.
According to sxswedu.com, “SXSWedu held its inaugural event in March 2011— with the goal of celebrating innovations in learning. In 2016, SXSWedu saw continued growth by welcoming more than 7,500 stakeholders and expanding their Policy Forum and mentor programming. This year has marked the debut of the Industry Hub and Industry Talks, bringing a focus to conversations related to the business of education. They have developed from a regional event into an international platform,” [1] and we certainly wanted to be in attendance this year to continue to support our desire and the community’s desire to connect, collaborate and positively impact the future of education.
What is SXSWedu?:
SXSWedu is stated to be “a conference and festival that fosters innovation in learning by hosting a diverse and energetic community of stakeholders across a variety of backgrounds in education.”
Let’s begin our week!
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Monday
Bridging the Skills Gap from School to Work
Laurie Burruss, Lynda.com – Education Innovation Advisor
The proposition of our first talk of the day was to learn how Lynda.com and LinkedIn were working “to connect people to opportunities that closed the competency skill gap. They are tackling this problem between what our education systems produce and what employers demand through big data analysis and the creation of vetted, curated high quality video content.” [2]
According to speaker, Laurie Burruss, “learning is transitioning from a 20th century approach reliant on rote learning, to a 21st century curriculum focused on collaboration, critical reasoning and creative problem solving.” [2] Her presentation was full of resources that LinkedIn and Lynda.com have put together to provide today’s learners with the skills they need to obtain the jobs that will exist in the future versus the jobs their previous skill sets prepared them for in the past.
Making the Transition: 1st Gen to Graduate School
(from left to right) Desmond Delk, Langston Univ – Assistant Professor; Eric Dieter, Univ of Texas at Austin – Exec Director Pre-College Academic Readiness Programs; Darrell Balderama, Univ of Texas at San Antonio – Dir Retention Programs; Theodorea Berry, Univ of Texas at San Antonio – Assoc Dean of Academic Affairs & Dir
Our second panel discussion featured “a variety of higher education professionals who specialize in the creation of programs that support pipelines guiding undergraduate students to graduate and professional school.” [3] It made sense for us to be a participant in this discussion given The Art of Applying’s aim of helping students get into the world’s top graduate schools.
What made this panel unique is we heard perspectives from a variety of institutions such as: PWI’s (Predominantly White Institutions), HSI’s (Hispanic-Serving Institutions) and HBCU’s (Historically Black Colleges & Universities). They addressed a number of topics, including “how diverse institutions collaborate to increase the matriculation of underrepresented populations to graduate and professional school.” [3] What they also shared that made their outreach exciting is they were starting the conversation about college very early on with kids in elementary school, as well as with the families of the kids they were trying to reach. They aimed to be a resource and conversation starter to entire families so there could be more support and clarity about graduate school, what a graduate degree could mean for their communities, and what it could mean for their families.
Being Open to Creating Writing & Art that Matters
Treva McKissic (standing), McKissic Education Consulting – Writer/Poet/Teacher Trainer & Teacher
This session was the last one of the day and was more of a time to relax and let loose following all the information we had received earlier. Ms. McKissic was a great instructor that used our time together to pull out our “inner creative writers through meaningful experiences she designed to deepen our thinking. Together we created an environment of value for our creativity to emerge and bring our words to life. Us and all of the other participants were exposed to a cacophony of art, music, writing, artists, writers and peer discussions, all designed to promote the flow of creative ‘writer moments.’ We left the session with valuable ideas, individual writings, poetry and materials to help create writing experiences” [4] for ourselves moving forward in our lives and in our careers. At times, I felt a little silly, but it was okay because it called to us to be more open to “crazy” ideas that could change our lives and even our careers in a way we were now able to imagine. Below is some of our work if you were curious about what we came up with!
Kaneisha thinks it’s important that we keep our creative juices flowing, so that we can better draw upon that creativity when helping our clients tell their best stories.
Kaneisha’s Collage: “Cat Lady Contemplates Her Future”
Renata’s Collage: “What will I do with my hair today?”
Kaneisha and her collage, “Cat Lady Contemplates Her Future”
Wednesday
How to Make Awesome Educational Videos
(from left to right) Alex Rosenthal, TED – Editorial Producer; Joe Hanson, PBS Digital Studios – Producer/Writer; Vanessa Hill, BrainCraft/PBS Digital Studios – Producer; Anna Rothschild, NOVA/Gross Science – Digital Producer/Host
Our first stop on Wendesday was to a bright blue standing only room to learn how to reach our audience of prospective graduate students via short educational videos on YouTube and other platforms. The panel, “featuring producers of the popular YouTube series It’s Okay To Be Smart, BrainCraft, Gross Science and TED-Ed, dissected examples of excellent short form educational videos to explain what made them successful. They also explored tips for writing clear, informative and engaging scripts, and discussed how to get our target audience to watch your content.” [5]
We learned that our content should meet prospective graduate students where they may be in their lives and make them more comfortable with the grad school process. We found out it’s better to have an idea, make a story, and put out that story as soon as possible because the failure that comes with the imperfection is what will help you grow the most. Lastly, we were informed it is best to keep a script for a Youtube video as simple and straightforward as possible because you only have a few seconds to grab a viewer’s attention and too much information can make for a confused and uninterested audience member.
We received lots of inspiration from this panel so look for us soon with some Youtube videos!
Scaling the Boot Camp Model for Middle Class Jobs
(from left to right) Bridgette Gray, Per Scholas – Exec VP/Natl Program; Rachel Romer Carlson, Guild Education – CEO & Co-Founder; Byron Auguste, Opportunity at Work – President & Co-Founder; Matt Sigelman, Burning Glass Technologies – CEO
This panel used their “expertise and real-time job data to show what is actually happening in the labor market and how that will impact the training world. We were intrigued to hear the boot camp model of rapid, targeted training has stormed onto the scene as a more effective and efficient alternative to traditional academic programs” [6] and how this could impact the need for a college education. According to sxswedu.com, “to date, most boot camps have taken root as a post-baccalaureate path to tech jobs, but the tech sector isn’t the only one facing skill gaps. The world of middle-skill jobs faces similar talent shortages across a much bigger market so our curiosity was in whether or not the boot camp concept offered a route to close the skills gap, without expecting everyone to go to college.” [6]
We found that a greater discussion needed to be had with employers seeking specific talent to help them better know what it is they’re looking for, considering a general degree is not filling those gaps as well as we would’ve expected. It was a great dialogue and much to think about regarding the ongoing discussion surrounding higher education and its costs.
Why was this conference necessary?
Renata & Kaneisha at SXSWedu 2017
As mentioned above, The Art of Applying is always aiming to become a better admissions consulting firm to its clients. There’s no better way to do that than to stay current about the new information, developments, and systems that impact potential and current college students everyday.
As a result of our great experience there, we want to make a plug for any of you working in or interested in education to make a trip to Austin to attend SXSWedu, (not to mention the SXSW Interactive, Music & Film Festival if you’re looking for more fun). Check out SXSWedu at www.sxswedu.com to learn more about how you can be a greater part of the conversation surrounding all levels of education. Their next conference is March 2018.
As always, we here at The Art of Applying are happy to help any of you apply to your dream school as well. Please share your comments and questions about our services below!
Sources:
1- http://sxswedu.com/about/history
2- http://schedule.sxswedu.com/events/ev...
3- http://schedule.sxswedu.com/events/ev...
4- http://schedule.sxswedu.com/events/ev...
5- http://schedule.sxswedu.com/events/ev...
6- http://schedule.sxswedu.com/events/ev...
Interested in working with TAOA on your grad school applications? Click here to see our services and get started!
The post Recap of the 2017 SXSWedu Conference & Festival in Austin appeared first on The Art of Applying.
March 8, 2017
Consultant Spotlight: Lin from Harvard Kennedy School & UCLA Anderson School of Management
TAOA Consultant, Lin
Lin has both a MPP from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management. He was a Public Policy and International Affairs Fellow at Harvard and a member of the UCLA Anderson Honor Society (top 15%). He received full-tuition scholarships at both institutions. Lin received his BS from Cornell University, majoring in Policy Analysis and Management.
During his academic career, he was intimately involved in admissions. At the Harvard Kennedy School, he served as the organizer of the Public Policy and Leadership Conference (PPLC), where he worked closely with the admissions office to select high-achieving undergraduate students for a four-day crash course on how to become a public policy professional. At UCLA Anderson, he volunteered as an Admissions Ambassador and conducted 30 admissions interviews for the MBA program.
He began his career teaching high school math as part of Teach for America. Sensing a glaring hole in higher education counseling at his school, he started coaching students after hours on how to apply for college. After getting his MPP, he became a consultant for Education Resource Strategies, a non-profit that worked with public school districts to tackle their strategic and organizational challenges.
But a passion for international affairs compelled him to move to Asia and embark on a new career: journalism. What began as a 6-month stint eventually lasted three years, in which he wrote for the New York Times, South China Morning Post, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA), and The Straits Times, covering politics, business, technology, cultural, and travel stories. He also produced TV news packages for China’s CCTV International. He returned to the US afterwards for business school.
Lin is currently a strategist in the technology and creative industries in San Francisco.
Our Interview with Lin
What schools did you attend for undergrad and grad school?
I attended Cornell University and received a bachelor of science in policy analysis and management. I also have a MPP from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management.
Where did you grow up and where do you live now?
I moved around a lot when I was a kid, and grew up predominantly in Syracuse, NY, Singapore, and Seattle, WA. I currently live in the San Francisco Bay Area.
What was your career like before grad school and what is it like now?
Before attending the Kennedy School, I was a high school math teacher in the Mississippi Delta. The Kennedy School gave me a set of analytical tools that allowed me to become a management consultant for the education sector, primarily serving school districts, after I graduated. I decided to change careers and became a journalist, covering Taiwan and China, from 2010 to 2013. I then went back to school and got my MBA at UCLA. I am currently part of the corporate communications team at Adobe, focusing on presentation and speechwriting for our C-suite executives.
What influenced you to go to grad school?
For me, both rounds of grad school were inspired by a desire for a career change. As a teacher, I was looking for a job that would provide greater scale and social impact, and so I decided to get my MPP. When I was a journalist, I covered the tech industry, and wanted to be a part of the industry from the business side, so I left Asia and came back to the United States attend UCLA, which is a tech-focused business school.
What was the most challenging part of the application process for you?
I am a natural storyteller, so the essays and interviews are usually never the issue. For me, it was the standardized tests (GMAT, GRE), and well as the process of deciding which schools to apply to based on how the schools matched my career interests and training needs.
Tell us one of your favorite memories from graduate school.
During both times I went to graduate school, I had the good fortune of doing international client projects as part of thesis requirements for graduation. At the Kennedy School, I wrote a report on post-disaster sustainable development practices, and traveled to Sichuan, China, to advise a local NGO after the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake. At UCLA, I worked with the School of Nursing to scope out Kenya’s public health infrastructure and find a pilot site for a mobile health app that would serve pregnant women.
How long have you been with TAOA and what led you to join the team?
I have been working part-time for TAOA for two years. What initially led me to join was a desire to help others find the right path, and tell the right stories, so that they can shine through their graduate school applications and admissions interviews. I am also a classmate of Kaneisha, so it is great to work with her again for a good cause.
Would you say you have any specialties when it comes to client work? If so, what are your specialties?
My specialties reflect the experiences I’ve had, which includes MPP admissions, MBA admissions, crafting stories for candidates with non-traditional backgrounds, and interview prep. It helps that I’ve worked with the admissions offices at both the Kennedy School and UCLA Anderson to select applicants during my time as a student at these two institutions.
What are three things you would want The Art of Applying’s clients and subscribers to know about you?
I’m great at listening to your reasons for applying to school and figuring out how to frame it for the admissions committee.
I can help transform your essay by editing it so that it flows much better as a story about your background, aspirations, and goals, but I do need you to fill in the content (usually at my request).
I had full scholarships to both the Kennedy School and UCLA Anderson.
Anything else you want to add?
Even if you don’t have a traditional candidate background, do not worry about it too much, because graduate schools are always looking for candidates who will bring diversity to the class. But they want to make sure that you have a solid reason to attend, and that you’ll likely be employed after you graduate.
Interested in working with Lin? Click here to learn more about our services and request to work with him!
The post Consultant Spotlight: Lin from Harvard Kennedy School & UCLA Anderson School of Management appeared first on The Art of Applying.
March 1, 2017
Recap of the 2017 Forte MBALaunch Conference in Houston
Recap of the 2017 Forte MBALaunch Conference in Houston
TAOA Executive Assistant, Renata
Hi, I’m Renata. I’m Kaneisha’s Executive Assistant, and this is my first guest post for The Art of Applying blog. Today’s post is about me and Kaneisha’s day in Houston with the women of the Forte MBALaunch program.
Two weeks ago, Kaneisha, her mom, and I traveled from Austin to Houston to take part in Forte’s MBALaunch conference. The Art of Applying is one of the partner organizations of Forté. Since Kaneisha and I work out of Austin, Kaneisha signed up to lead an Admissions Roundtable session at the Houston conference. With women on average making up 34% of MBA programs and fewer than 4% of Fortune 500 CEOs (), Forté has been a vital resource for moving women into the MBA pipeline. Kaneisha wanted to help advance Forté’s awesome work of empowering women, and so off we went to spend our Friday providing free consulting and advice for over 60 MBA-destined women of varying personal and professional backgrounds.
What is Forté?:
Forté is a nonprofit consortium of and working together to launch women into fulfilling, significant careers through access to business education, opportunities, and a community of successful women.
Let’s begin our trip!
Kaneisha is very happy that we’ve arrived at the hotel.
Thursday Afternoon
We arrived in Houston on Friday afternoon. Upon our arrival, we stopped to grab some yummy food at a new Vietnamese restaurant and then headed over to our hotel, Hotel Indigo. The rest of the evening was spent doing a couple more hours of client work, watching some TV and then catching some shut-eye in anticipation of the busy morning ahead with Forté.
Friday Morning (also my birthday!)
Kaneisha, her mom Mrs. Debra, and myself met in the hotel lobby for breakfast. I was surprised to be gifted a birthday card from Kaneisha once I arrived at the table. (I turned 27!) After we finished, Mrs. Debra dropped us off at the conference venue.
Breakfast at Hotel Indigo. Mrs. Debra on the left; Kaneisha on the right.
Renata (left) & Kaneisha (right). Happy Birthday, Renata!
Friday Morning with Forté
We arrived at the conference venue, headed to the Forte meeting room and were quickly settled at our table. It was already occupied by four other young, diverse women that were just as eager to get to know us as the other 60 or so girls in the room. Angela Guido, founder of Career Protocol and former consultant for the Boston Consulting Group, was the first speaker we heard. She spoke on a number of subtopics within the main topic of Storytelling. I really enjoyed her presentation, and took a ton of notes on how to determine what needs to be told in your story, a four-part framework for storytelling (and how to do it all in just two minutes!), and how to effectively talk about failure and conflict.
After all was said and done, Angela’s final message was, “Life is about conflict and growth and it is a person’s response to failure and conflict that reveals to others what they are truly capable of.”
Friday Afternoon with Forté
Kaneisha (left) sharing strategies for choosing the best schools with Forté MBA Launchers
After lunch, there were three more sessions: an Admissions Insights Panel; an Admissions Roundtable; and Tips for Success from a Forté alumni.
The Admissions Insights Panel was led by six women admissions representatives from various schools. They answered audience questions related to the GMAT, essays, resumes and volunteer/work experience. There was a lot of great advice given out, but the main thing I gained from it, (that I feel Kaneisha says all the time), is that “you are not your GMAT score”; and that the admissions department closely reads your essays, so be sure to share whatever you think they need to know and share it well!
The Admissions Roundtable is where Kaneisha was finally able to step in and shine doing what she does best: giving great advice that can save you precious money, time and energy, and maybe even change your life. The topic for Kaneisha’s table was “School Choice.” How it worked was that she had 15 minutes to talk to around 12 conference attendees about strategies for choosing the best school for them. Some of Kaneisha’s main talking points were:
One should apply to about 6-7 schools; more if their GMAT scores aren’t very high (below 650) to give yourself more options; (maybe) less if your scores are amazing (700+).
Everyone who is eligible (U.S. citizens and permanent residents of any background) should apply to business school via The Consortium . You can apply to up to 6 schools through the Consortium for one combined fee that is lower than if you paid the individual fees at each of your 6 schools.
She stressed that it is okay to be a nontraditional student applying to grad school because she was one herself. She applied to Harvard with no work experience, a 620 GMAT score and no quantitative coursework under her belt. She is now a graduate of both Harvard Business School and the Harvard Kennedy School, and the successful founder and CEO of The Art of Applying.
Tips for Success was the final talk of the day led by Forté alumna, Kendall T., who is now an MBA student at Rice University. She spoke on what her experience was when she was applying for business school. Advice she shared with the MBA Launchers was:
Have a support system. Stay connected with the people you meet at events and conferences related to applying to business school.
Don’t choose your MBA prep season as a season to also tackle other challenges in your life such as quitting smoking or running a marathon, because you need to focus your time and energy on applying to business school.
Don’t be afraid to change your strategy to best tackle the GMAT because your time is precious. If one test prep company isn’t helping you achieve the results you need, switch to another one.
Don’t accept well-meaning but disconnected advice from people that aren’t familiar with your particular MBA application process.
Make sure your vision for your life is your vision and not someone else’s vision for you.
Why was this trip necessary?
Kaneisha chatting with an attendee
It is time to drastically increase women’s representation in top business schools and among corporate leaders. Kaneisha wants to make sure that she and The Art of Applying team is helping encourage women to apply to and gain admission to top business schools.
As a result of our great experience there, we want to emphasize that if you’re a woman planning to apply to an MBA (or a woman wondering if she should), check out Forté at www.fortefoundation.org to learn more about how they can help you achieve your b-school dreams. Their next MBALaunch program for pre-MBA women starts early 2018, but you have to apply and be accepted to the program first. The application deadlines are in mid-October.
As always, we here at The Art of Applying are happy to help any of you ladies (and gents!) apply to your dream school as well. Please share your comments and questions about our services below!
Interested in working with TAOA on your MBA applications? Click here to see our services and get started!
The post Recap of the 2017 Forte MBALaunch Conference in Houston appeared first on The Art of Applying.
February 22, 2017
Consultant Spotlight: Judy from Harvard Kennedy School for 33 years
Judy joined The Art of Applying team after a 33-year career at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government where she served on the admissions committee for 25 years.
At Harvard Kennedy School, Judy directed the Office of Career Services for many years. In 1997 she became Registrar. At retirement, she was Associate Dean of Students, a position she held for several years.
As a member of the MPP, MPA2 and Mid-Career MPA admissions committee, she evaluated thousands of applications.
A graduate of the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Political Science, Judy received a M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology from Boston College.
In 1972, she co-founded the Boston Project for Careers, a nonprofit organization formed to develop opportunities for individuals who were seeking part-time professional positions, often after being at home with young children. The organization was one of the first to promote job-sharing in professional positions.
Judy is the author of numerous personal essays and travel articles in newspapers and magazines. Exploring transitions has been a theme throughout Judy’s career and she has taught workshops on that subject. A determined journal writer, she has been blogging twice-weekly at www.70-something.com.
She has two sons—HKS MPP, Class of 1997 “despite his mother being there” who is now The New York Times Frugal Traveler and Kellogg MBA 2000 who is CFO for a boys school.
Our Interview with Judy
What schools did you attend for undergrad and grad school?
University of Michigan for undergrad and Boston College for grad school.
Where did you grow up and where do you live now?
Grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, but have been in the greater Boston area for years and years.
What influenced you to go to grad school?
I had co-founded a non-profit organization to promote professional part-time jobs for (mostly) women who were re-entering the workforce after taking time out to start a family, and found that although I was a “natural” counselor, I needed the credential of a graduate degree in counseling psychology.
What was the most challenging part of the application process for you?
OK, now I have to admit that I am probably TAOA’s most “senior” consultant. That is, graduate school was different for my generation and is much more competitive now. But having worked with graduate students at Harvard’s Kennedy School and serving on its admissions committee for thirty years, I have a good perspective on what competitive graduate schools are looking for in their applicants.
Tell us one of your favorite memories from graduate school.
Nothing specific, I was just happy to be getting credentialed for what I was already doing.
How long have you been with TAOA and what led you to join the team?
I’ve been on TAOA’s consulting team for three years. I have worked with awesome applicants who are very smart and highly motivated to succeed in their chosen careers. I knew Kaneisha from her time at Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School and was delighted when she invited me to join TAOA.
Would you say you have any specialties when it comes to client work? If so, what are your specialties?
Of course I know the Kennedy School extremely well, so if I have a specialty, that’s it. But I enjoy helping people articulate their strengths and present a persuasive story to the graduate school(s) of their choice.
What are three things you would want The Art of Applying’s clients and subscribers to know about you?
I love to write and have been published numerous articles as a freelancer, mostly about travel. I still read newspapers that are real paper. I am a grandmother.
Interested in working with Judy? Click here to learn more about our services and request to work with her!
