The Map to Self-Discovery - a podcast by Lakecia Gunter

from 2020-06-09T10:00:47

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“What do you want to be when you grow up?”


This is one of the hardest questions we all have to answer at some point in life because there isn’t a guidebook to life that suits every individual. Making the right decision on what college to go to, what career to pursue, or what business ventures to embark upon depends greatly on giving ourselves the time to reflect and get crystal clear on the things we love doing and the things that get in our way or stop us from accomplishing our goals.


In essence, this means going through the process of self-discovery - something that no one teaches us in schools. Luckily, there are people who have made it their life’s purpose to help others navigate through that journey and explore the opportunities of a career that’s driven by values and passion.


My guest today, Vikki Mueller Espinosa, is one of those people. She is one of my favorite career coaches, and she is known for helping leaders gain clarity on what they want to do in their careers, and guiding them to craft a plan to achieve it. She believes that we all can put ourselves in a position to do what we love, and love what we do – and she has helped countless leaders do just that.


Currently, Vikki is a career strategist in a Fortune 50 company. She designs and executes programs supporting manager and employee career development, and she is a highly sought-after speaker and workshop presenter – so you can tell right from the get-go that this is an interview you don’t want to miss! 


Listen to Episode 08 of Roar to take the first step toward getting in touch with how you feel, with your values, strengths, and passions. Find out who you should surround yourself with and add to your career development team and what qualities are a must-have in your toolkit, to help you stand out from the crowd and be the go-to person for the things you excel at.  


Some questions I ask:

  • Tell us a bit about your background: where are you from and who were some of your biggest influencers growing up? (04:06)
  • What are some things that we can do to hone in on what do we want to be when we grow up and where do we want to be in the next five years? (09:00)
  • What are the things that we should have in our toolkit that can differentiate us in a way that can help us stand out in our careers? (17:08)
  • What was the biggest Goliath that you faced in your career? How did you overcome it and maybe what was your slingshot? (20:30)
  • What are the steps that we should be taking, so we can truly make a change? (26:45)


In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • The reason why Northeastern University is not like any other, in terms of helping students with their future careers. (05:58)
  • The moment Vikki made the shift toward a teaching and mentoring career. (06:29)
  • How to begin the self-discovery process, so that you can clearly define who you are, and what you want. (10:25)
  • How doing the values exercise can help you make better conversations and have a better decision-making process. (14:08)
  • What to focus on when you go asking for advice. (15:52)
  • The most important thing for your success is who knows you – the qualities that make you the go-to person. (24:50)
  • How to land a job when you’re a Multi-potentialite – a person that’s really good at several different things. (27:56)
  • The moment you have to stop and realize that you’re ignoring your strengths. (33:11)
  • One mistake that Vikki has done in her career and what she’s learned from it. (39:40)
  • The importance of adding people to your career development team. (43:39)


Connect with Vikki:


Let’s connect!


Resources mentioned:


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