Cup of Career: Grab a drink and listen to Sun Devil success stories
What’s your go-to coffee order and what does it say about you? Have you ever wondered what successful industry leaders drink on a regular day on the job? Regardless, you’ve probably wondered what makes people successful and what challenges they overcome along the way.
That curiosity and penchant for professional development insight is what led ASU’s Career and Professional Development Services to team up with Sun Devil alumni to produce Cup of Career, a podcast about how former Sun Devils got to where they are today.
Host John Leach, 21, a senior majoring in business communications, gets the scoop on the guests’ careers and asks them to share advice on what to do as a student at ASU.
“We really wanted to give back to the community of over 500,000 alumni. We have this huge pool of really accomplished people who have info and advice to give to people,” Leach said.
Veronica Aguilar, associate director of career services, said that a podcast is a new way to share their resources and reach more people.
“We want to reach alumni all over the world at any time of day; we are trying to scale our efforts,” Aguilar said.
Members of the ASU Mentor Network and Alumni Career Volunteers have asked to be guests on the podcast that would be available to not only the alumni community but to undergraduate and graduate students as well.
No two Sun Devils have had the same educational experience at ASU, and Cup of Career was intended to highlight that uniqueness.
“All of these people are from different walks of life; [it’s about] being able to pick everyone’s brain and realize that at ASU you got the option to make your path and journey your own,” Leach said.
As for how the podcast got its name? At the beginning of every episode, Leach asks his guests “What’s in your cup?”
“We realized that the common ground between all these successful people is their coffee or their tea, but it also creates that initial connection between our guests and an organic conversation.
Each episode is different; listening to the conversations that Leach has with his guests is personalized to fit each topic or industry. Listeners will get advice, updates on industry trends, class do’s and don’ts and personal anecdotes that give insight on the highs and lows of navigating life post-graduation.
“We are looking for alumni from all around the world with unique stories and various backgrounds. Any idea is a great idea, and we welcome them all,” Aguilar said.
Cup of Career is available to listen on Spotify. To learn more about the ASU Mentor Network, visit the website.