Aleutian Trail Talks

No five-year plan? You're in good company. In this episode of Switchbacks, we sit down with Tarik Jensen to explore a career path that moved from the U.S. Army to public accounting and now into internal audit. Along the way, he shares how setbacks, unexpected opportunities, and transferable skills shaped every step of his journey. Whether you're starting your first professional job, considering a career change, or wondering if your previous experience still matters, this conversation is a reminder that the best careers aren't always carefully mapped—they're built by staying curious, embracing change, and continuing to learn. You'll hear practical lessons about adapting to new environments, building confidence, learning from mistakes, and why you don't need a perfect five-year plan to build a meaningful career.

You don't have to feel confident before taking the next step. One of the biggest career myths is that successful people are fearless. The truth? Most simply choose to act before they feel ready. In this episode, Michelle and Elise explore why courage—not confidence—is what fuels career growth. Through personal stories of career changes, self-doubt, leadership, and reinvention, they share practical ways to overcome fear, embrace uncertainty, and build the confidence that only comes through experience. If you've ever hesitated to speak up, apply for a new role, ask a question, or pursue an opportunity because you didn't feel "ready," this episode is for you. Confidence isn't where growth begins—it's what grows after you take the first step.

When your children are little, everyone talks about childcare. But what happens when they're teenagers? For many working parents, the logistics don't disappear—they simply evolve. School schedules, sports, transportation, emotional support, and preparing teenagers for adulthood can make balancing a demanding career feel just as challenging as the daycare years. In this episode of Between Peaks, Elise and Michelle share an honest conversation about managing professional careers while raising teenagers. They discuss practical systems that help their families thrive, why developing independence is one of the greatest gifts parents can give, and how investing in your career while kids are young can create flexibility when your family needs it most. If you've ever wondered whether you're the only professional trying to juggle spreadsheets, school pickups, late-night conversations, and the emotional ups and downs of parenting teens—you aren't.

What if the thing you love most isn't a distraction from your career—but the foundation of it? In this episode of Switchbacks, Michelle sits down with Kyle Richardson, President of Royal Talens North America, to explore a career path that was anything but conventional. From dropping out of college and moving across the country with no clear plan, to leading a successful international business in the art materials industry, Kyle shares how curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty shaped his journey. Together they discuss why failure isn't something to fear, how empathy can become a leadership advantage, and why chasing fulfillment often leads to greater success than chasing a title or paycheck. If you're early in your career and wondering whether you have everything figured out yet, this conversation is a reminder that some of the best opportunities come from staying open to the unexpected. You'll learn: Why career paths rarely follow a straight line How to build confidence by embracing failure The leadership power of empathy and vulnerability Why curiosity may be more valuable than expertise How to recognize opportunities hiding in your "side interests"

In this episode of the Aleutian Trail Talks Podcast, we discuss “Purposeful Opportunities” — developing the mindset and skill to recognize opportunities, create value, and turn ideas into meaningful outcomes. Using real-world examples from companies like Airbnb, Netflix, and TOMS, we explore how initiative, creativity, and collaboration can lead to growth, innovation, and impact. Whether you are early in your career, leading a team, or looking to grow professionally, this episode offers practical insight into becoming someone who not only notices opportunities — but purposefully acts on them. Listen now and consider: what opportunities might already exist around you waiting to be developed? Join us as we talk about identifying overlooked opportunities, building strategic partnerships, and taking purposeful action in your career and community. Links to other resources discussed in this episode: How I Built This : NPR Podcast — The Tim Ferriss Show - The Blog of Author Tim Ferriss

Welcome to the first episode in Aleutian Trail Talk’s New Terrain series—where we explore how AI is reshaping work, skills, and career growth for early- to mid-career professionals. Right now, everyone’s talking about AI—but what does it actually mean for your career? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Noah Myers, an expert in AI and data analytics, to move beyond the hype and tackle the real questions: Are you building the right skills for the future?  What happens as AI takes supplements entry-level work?  How do you learn if you’re no longer “doing” the work the same way?  Together, we unpack how AI is compressing traditional career paths, shifting value from execution to oversight, and redefining what it means to grow professionally.

Not every career path is linear—and not every valuable skill comes from a traditional background. The skills you think don’t count might be the ones that set you apart In this episode, we talk with Aria Taylor, who transitioned from a career in vocal performance to accounting (recently going back to school and completing her master’s degree) and initially questioned whether she belonged in a field where she didn’t have the “typical” background. What she discovered is something many professionals overlook: the skills you gain outside your career path may be the ones that set you apart. We explore how to identify transferable skills, build confidence in nontraditional paths, and reframe your experience as a strength rather than a limitation. If you’ve ever felt behind, different, or unsure how your past fits into your future—this conversation is for you.

Most early-career professionals think they need to have the right answers to stand out. But the truth is—your impact isn’t defined by what you know. It’s shaped by the questions you ask. In this episode of Aleutian Trail Talks, we break down the skill of Active Questioning—how asking thoughtful, open questions can deepen understanding, spark better conversations, and elevate the ideas around you. If you’re in your first 10 years of your career, this is a game-changer. You may not have authority yet—but the right questions can help you build influence, accelerate your learning, and establish credibility faster than you think. Because the professionals who grow fastest aren’t the ones with all the answers—they’re the ones asking the questions others aren’t.

If hard work were the only factor in career growth, upward mobility would look very different. In this episode, we move from awareness to action, exploring the practical steps young professionals can take to shape access to opportunity. Because advancement isn’t just about effort—it’s about access to information, relationships, and the moments that influence who gets seen and supported. Through real examples, we discuss how small actions—like speaking up, asking for feedback, or recommending others—can compound over time to create meaningful career momentum. You’ll learn how to: Make your work more visible Advocate for your growth Create opportunities for others Because influence doesn’t start later in your career—it starts with the choices you make today.

Who gets access to opportunity at work—and what shapes that path? In this first episode of our three-part series on upward mobility, we explore how workplace cultures influence who is heard, who is developed, and who advances. Because upward mobility doesn’t happen by accident—it’s shaped by everyday interactions, systems, and decisions that determine how talent is recognized and rewarded. Grounded in the idea that everyone deserves a fair shot at economic success, autonomy, and a sense of dignity and belonging, this conversation unpacks what “fair access to opportunity” really looks like in early careers—and why it matters.