Welcome to the last episode of Season 3, my fellow Social Workers 🎉 In this season finale, I dive into my recent vacation, the unexpected battle with COVID, and what it's taught me about myself and my work. I also share my thoughts on why we need to acknowledge our achievements and not be hard on ourselves. Lastly, I offer insights into YourEvolvedMind and a major announcement regarding career support. Topics I cover in this episode include: The need to disconnect from work after a busy schedul...
Aug 16, 2023•11 min•Season 3Ep. 10
In this episode of Social Work Insider, I am excited to drop hints about my spectacular season finale. I'm embracing a season of change, stepping beyond my usual focus on social workers to create a bigger impact. You'll get a peek into the introspective journey that's led me to expand my horizons, and I can't wait to share what this might mean for my community. Topics I cover in this episode include: My upcoming transition, expanding my influence beyond social workers The thought process behind ...
Jul 26, 2023•7 min•Season 3Ep. 9
In this episode, I get into a juicy conversation with Sojourner White who works as a remote social worker. Sojourner has spent her career helping out people who aren't often heard from and handling the difficulties of remote work. This episode will give you a good idea about how social work looks today, thanks to what Sojourner’s been through, her experiences with remote work, and her strong push for rights. Topics we touch on include: Sojourner’s unique method of remote social work and her effo...
Jul 05, 2023•25 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Applying for your Master of Social Work (MSW) just got way easier. Today's guest, Michelle Bruxer, takes you through the most important steps of writing your personal statement like a pro. This episode is all about: The do’s and don’ts of personal statement writing How to focus on your Why How to market yourself More about Michelle: Michelle is the Founder of MSW Helper, where she helps Master of Social Work Applicants write top notch personal statements for grad school. Michelle understands how...
Jun 21, 2023•21 min•Season 3Ep. 7
In this episode, I delve into a deeply personal topic - burnout, a reality familiar to many in our field. We host the inspirational Jelan Agnew, a veteran social worker and advocate for mindful work-life balance, who candidly shares her harrowing experience of ICU admission due to burnout. Through her reflections, we underscore the urgency of prioritizing mental health and self-care, often overlooked aspects in our profession. Topics we touch on include: The profound impact of burnout on our hea...
Jun 07, 2023•27 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Today, I get the privilege of chatting with Shara Ruffin. Shara's story is one of strength and determination as she juggles the demands of motherhood, fights depression, and ultimately triumphs in her journey to licensure. From the hard-learned lessons of her journey, she now helps fellow social workers navigate their own. In this episode, we delve into the practical and psychological aspects of preparing for the licensure exam, with Shara emphasizing the power of understanding your learning sty...
May 24, 2023•23 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Today on Social Work Insider, I open up about my personal and professional experiences after failing my licensure exam by just 7 points. I'll share how this event motivated me to step into a supervisory role and eventually start my own coaching business. You'll hear about my journey from providing free coaching to my colleagues to realizing my true strengths and launching YourEVOLVEDmind LLC. Other topics I touch on in this episode include: Why creating a vision for your career is so important T...
May 10, 2023•16 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Christina Broderick-Royes is a former school social worker turned entrepreneur. She’s also an author and adjunct professor who teaches up-and-coming social workers. She leads the Social Work Entrepreneur Incubator, a program where social workers turn their community driven ideas into thriving businesses. In today’s episode, you’ll learn: How to increase your impact through entrepreneurship How and when to invest in yourself Why it’s important to get support Learn more about Christina on her webs...
Apr 26, 2023•25 min
Join me, Harleny Vasquez, your social work career coach, as I dive into the importance of personal branding for social workers at all stages of their careers. Discover how to navigate the diverse fields of social work, identify your core values, and tell your unique story. Whether you're an introvert or an extrovert, I'll share essential tips to market yourself effectively, stand out in the job market, and become the CEO of your life. --- If you enjoyed this episode feel free to follow me on the...
Apr 12, 2023•9 min•Season 3Ep. 2
This year is all about breaking barriers.= Join me for a special episode recapping 2022 and the last two months! From my personal healing journey to becoming a first-time homeowner, it's been a whirlwind of growth and transformation. In this episode, I'll reflect on what I've learned and how it's impacted my work as a social work career coach and growth strategist. Get ready to be inspired and motivated for the upcoming season! --- If you enjoyed this episode, feel free to follow me on the web f...
Mar 29, 2023•14 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Today, I close another successful chapter of my life. Season 2 of the Social Work Insider officially comes to a close as I take a moment to reset and reflect on how great this past year has been for me. Since the start of this podcast, my dream has always been to uplift the social work profession and to remind each of us that, hey, we as social workers can truly do it all! And in this episode, I wanted to take a minute to reflect on where that journey has taken me. Topics I cover today: The jour...
Aug 21, 2022•15 min
Hey, y'all, it's been a while since my last episode, but today I bring you Erica Sandoval. If you're a long-time podcast listener, you'll probably recognize her from an episode we did together back in March, where we learned about her journey into the social work profession. This time, we're bringing her back to hear in on what she's been up to recently. On top of that, we have some really exciting announcements to share with you as well. Make sure you have a listen! Topics we cover in today's e...
Aug 08, 2022•18 min•Season 2Ep. 16
It's time for some life updates! I wanted to take a break from the usual interview-style programming for this episode and instead have a real vulnerable but exciting unscripted conversation with you. There's honestly been a lot happening in my life lately, and I can't wait to tell you, my wonderful listeners, all about it! Topics I touch on in today's episode: What it's like becoming a first-generation 29-year-old Latina homeowner How I dealt with the limiting beliefs that came with being a home...
Jul 25, 2022•23 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Get ready for a juicy episode my fellow social workers. Today, my guest Nii Ato and I break down to you the most important key strategies you should implement in your job search today so you can land your dream role fast. Some of the topics we cover include: How to write a solid resume that gets noticed by recruiters LinkedIn optimization tips Networking and building an online personal brand to land your dream job More about Nii: Nii Ato is a holistic career coach who helps ambitious professiona...
Jul 11, 2022•55 min•Season 2Ep. 14
As a social worker, the typical route to making money is to pursue a degree and then eventually get into a job that pays you a consistent salary. But did you know there’s a world out there where you can make 10x more than a job will ever give you while working from whenever, wherever, and with no income limits? Introducing the world of coaching. Join me as my business coach shares her insights into this new emerging industry and how she went from working a full-time 9-5 social work job to now ru...
Jun 25, 2022•28 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Are you looking to attract more money in your life as a social worker? If so, then this is the episode for you. As a "for the people" profession, it's easy for us as social workers to think of money second, right after impact. Because of that, we can fall victim to many limiting mindset beliefs that hinder us from reaching our full financial potential. Today, my guest Eva Forde will break down some of these limiting money beliefs and how we can disassociate from them to attract more financial ab...
Jun 12, 2022•37 min•Season 2Ep. 12
The Social Work industry is expected to grow 2x faster than the growth of an average industry within the next year. That’s just one of the many gems my guest today Sarah Johnston dropped in today’s episode. Join us as we discuss the future of the Social work industry as a whole and what you can expect as a job seeker yourself. Some of the topics we cover in today’s episode include: Why Social Workers, might want to consider making a jump into tech The rapid growth of the Social Work industry Sta...
May 29, 2022•25 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Does building a career and displaying empathy work well together? Well, according to my guest in today’s episode, Eric Stephens, the founder of HireHigherEd - they do! Listen in as Eric shares with me his personal and very inspiring story of how he’s used empathy to supercharge his career. In today’s episode, Eric Stephens, the Founder of HireHigherEd, discussed a step by step process on how to build an empathy driven career. Listen in as Eric shares with me his personal and very inspiring story...
May 15, 2022•34 min•Season 2Ep. 10
"Financially Ungraduated" is a term that my guests today, the co-founders of Arbol, created to address a big issue in today's world... financial illiteracy for students. The truth is, many high achieving students have the drive to finish college but unfortunately, due to a lack of financial education and resources, they're unable to finish in time. And that can cause a huge negative impact on their lives moving forward. So in this episode, I've invited my guests to talk about what they're doing ...
May 01, 2022•20 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Most people don’t know it but your mindset is a key component in dictating your level of success as a social work professional. Yup, not your resume, LinkedIn, or previous certifications - but instead, it’s your mindset. Today, my guest Jasmine Escalera shares her insights on how to develop a strong mindset that will not only help you find career success but also get you paid what you are worth as a woman of color. Here are some of the takeaways you’ll learn from today’s episode: How we should b...
Apr 17, 2022•31 min•Season 2Ep. 8
If you thought you already knew everything there was when it came to job interviews, boy are you in for a treat. Today, I have the one and only Madeline Mann with me on this episode of the Social Work Insider Podcast where she shares her key insights into what a hiring manager really looks for when they ask you basic interview questions. This episode is sure to give you a whole new perspective, some of the topics we cover include: Why you shouldn’t answer interview questions too literally How to...
Apr 04, 2022•26 min•Season 2Ep. 7
From getting her DSW to becoming a CEO and now starting her own coaching business, my guest today, Lakeya Cherry, it’s a woman of many talents.. Join me as we talk about the many obstacles Lakeya had to overcome from being a first generation raised by a single mom to now being the CEO of The Network for Social Work Management. During this wide ranging conversation we discuss everything including: How to overcome imposter syndrome as a Social Worker The value in finding the right mentors to help ...
Mar 25, 2022•29 min•Season 2Ep. 6
As a first-generation Latina college grad, I’ve personally experienced how expensive the world of academia can be for students looking to pursue a degree. With expenses such as textbooks, transportation, and college tuition all adding up, it’s no wonder many first-generation low-income students have to drop out of school. Well, my guests for today’s episode are fighting that problem head-on with their own start-up, Arbol. In short, Arbol helps under-resourced college students raise funds to cove...
Mar 12, 2022•24 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Happy Social Work Month! This episode is a special one because my guest today isn’t just any other guest, they’re my mentor - Erica Sandoval. During this episode we discussed Erica’s personal journey on becoming a Latina Social Worker and her experience migrating from Ecuador to the United States and having to tackle oppression as a Latina Woman. We touched on topics including: Her personal journey on becoming a Social Worker and finding her purpose Advice she would share for any aspiring Social...
Mar 05, 2022•42 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Do you know how to sell yourself as a Social Worker? During interviews, are you able to answer the question “tell me about yourself” confidently? If you said no to any of the above, then this is the episode for you. Today, I’ve brought on my friend and colleague Jennifer Luna to talk about how to create a Personal Brand as a Social Worker. During this episode we touched on various topics including: What to do if you feel stuck in your role as a Social Worker How to use “career moments” to highli...
Feb 19, 2022•36 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Is social anxiety a big problem in your life? If so, you’ll want to listen in on today’s episode. My guest today is a Bestselling Author, TEDx Speaker, and a Top 100 Podcaster as recognized by Forbes who has helped thousands of people overcome social anxiety. As someone who has previously suffered from it himself, Mark shares the steps he’s personally taken to overcome it and the process he now takes his clients through to help them overcome their social anxiety. Mark shares a lot of golden nugg...
Feb 05, 2022•30 min•Season 2Ep. 2
As a child to immigrant parents, I know what it’s like to be a first generation college graduate and job seeker - it’s not easy. So that’s why I’m excited to bring on the Founder of Wonsulting, Jonathan Javier, to the Social Work Insider Podcast. You’ve probably seen him before on LinkedIn or Tiktok but what I love about Jonathan is that he’s a first generation job seeker who was able to overcome many hurdles of his own in order to land his dream jobs at Google, Snapchat, and Cisco. During this ...
Jan 22, 2022•29 min•Season 2Ep. 1
It's a wrap for Season 1 on The Social Work Insider podcast! Whew, what a journey it has been. And I’m excited to let you know we’ve saved the best for last - please welcome Dr. Edith Chaparro to the show! In today’s episode my fellow colleague and friend Dr. Edith Chaparro shared her insights into how to study and prepare for the exam. By the end of this episode, you’ll learn the exact steps that Dr. Edith Chaparro teaches her students on the following: Managing exam anxiety How to “think like ...
Sep 26, 2021•30 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Feeling burnt out from your job hunting process? Or maybe you’re a Social Worker right now and you’re stuck in a toxic work environment. Join me in today’s episode as I speak with fellow Social Worker and Burnout Career Coach Jay as we tackle the following subjects: How to navigate a toxic work environment Why you should treat job searching like a dating game Jay’s 6 step process for setting boundaries in the workplace And more! Here’s a little bit about Jay: Jay (Justin Gillespie, LMSW-C, QIDP)...
Sep 11, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Becoming a Director of Office at Arizona State University is no easy task, let alone pursuing a DSW at the same time. My guest for today's episode is Christopher Sharp did just that. Listen in, as Christopher and I have a wide-ranging conversation on the topics of: Advice for Social Workers pursuing their DSW How to choose the right program The unique angle Social Work has over helping professions More about Christopher: Christopher Sharp, M.S.W, M.P.A, is a Clinical Assistant Professor and the ...
Aug 29, 2021•17 min•Season 1Ep. 8
