TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
_{Speaking with guests who have completely pivoted their careers while leveraging their past education, skills, and professional experience into a new and seemingly unrelated field. This is the show that will inspire you with how others have braved big and unconventional career changes, applying their transferable skills.}

EL | AL
_{Talking about the hard-hitting topics of your day.}

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
_{Speaking with guests who have completely pivoted their careers while leveraging their past education, skills, and professional experience into a new and seemingly unrelated field. This is the show that will inspire you with how others have braved big and unconventional career changes, applying their transferable skills.}

EP 51: Jen Martensen - Takeaways
While contemplating her future career path during college, Jen Martensen suddenly found herself deep within the world of music journalism. From production coordination in New York City recording studios to becoming a fractional COO and founder of Backline Business Consulting, Jen reveals how her curiosity...READ MORE

EP 50: David Strulowitz - Takeaways
David Strulowitz opens up about his unconventional career journey from the technical world of tax law and accounting into a practice rooted in trust, transparency, spirituality, and mindful financial advising. What began with numbers and documents has expanded into a career defined by self-awareness, compassion...READ MORE

EP 49: Aaron Brooks - Takeaways
Aaron Brooks’ career journey, from working in his family’s bakery supply business, to becoming a financial consultant at Accenture, to now serving as VP of Human-Centered Growth, isn’t about selling services. Rather, it’s about building trust, nurturing relationships, and redefining what meaningful work looks...READ MORE

EP 48: Matthias Mahr - Takeaways
From Commercial Director to Author: Redefining Career Success with Matthias Mahr, proving that career success doesn’t have to mean climbing to the very peak of the mountain. Matthias brings honesty and clarity to what “moderate success” really looks like and why it might be the healthiest, most sustainable choices...READ MORE

EP 47: Matthew Stern - Takeaways
Matthew Stern, a digital marketing veteran turned telehealth entrepreneur, discusses how a challenging upbringing helped shape his work ethic and drive. From building startups in growth marketing to founding MyStart Health, a company focused on making healthcare more accessible, Matthew talks about how...READ MORE

EP 46: Michael Bresler - Takeaways
Michael Bresler’s remarkable career transition from the hospitality industry to the realm of AI operational excellence is all about leveraging his transferable skills across diverse fields. He shares insightful stories from his early days as a camp counselor and hotel room service to leading innovative AI projects as...READ MORE

EP 45: CJ McLaughlin - Takeaways
Speaking with NASCAR driver CJ McLaughlin about his journey from mechanical engineering to professional racing, whose story blends persistence, risk-taking, and resilience. From navigating the expectations of higher education to collecting hundreds of rejections before finally securing his first sponsorship, CJ...READ MORE

EP 44: Carmichael Caldwell III - Takeaways
Carmichael Caldwell III shares his journey from corporate sales to tech entrepreneurship, global travel, elite running, and biohacking. Along the way, he discusses how discipline, empathy, minimalism, and relentless self-analysis shape both his professional and...READ MORE

EP 43: Eli Lebowicz - Takeaways
In this unique and laughter-filled episode of Transferable Skills, Noah Mishkin sits down with stand-up comedian Eli Lebowicz to explore the unexpected journey from stadium vending to center stage. What starts as a meandering conversation on comedy styles, Jewish identity, and parenting unfolds into a deeply...READ MORE

EP 42: Dani Robison - Takeaways
This conversation with Danielle Robison is an energetic testament to reinvention, resilience, and value-driven ambition. Her story begins as a cruise ship musician and has since traversed financial services, mortgages, real estate investing, and entrepreneurship. We discuss her transformation from...READ MORE

EP 41: Haley Kwait Zollo - Takeaways
Haley Kwait Zollo charted an extraordinary career path from transaction services at KPMG US to becoming a venture capitalist with deep operating experience. Haley shares how her early technical training laid the groundwork for roles that required intuition, leadership, and adaptability...READ MORE

EP 40: Tiffany Pearson-Kilgore and Ashley Rutland - Takeaways
Tiffany Pearson-Kilgore and Ashley Rutland, two former educators transitioned from classroom teaching to co-founding Planned To a T, a financial literacy nonprofit. With backgrounds in elementary and high school education, Tiffany and Ashley bring unmatched clarity...READ MORE

EP 39: Taiwo Oyeniyi - Takeaways
Taiwo Oyeniyi, born in Nigeria, whose career journey spans chemical engineering, software development, and technical leadership walks us through how external pressures shaped his early choices, how a fascination with building things led him to software, and how trial, error, and curiosity built the...READ MORE

EP 38: Karen Ozeri - Takeaways
Karen Ozeri, a top-performing digital ad sales executive pivoted into a deeply fulfilling career as a coach for high-achieving women. Karen shares the truth behind her early professional success, the burnout and identity questions it masked, and how she learned to tap into her natural strengths to help others...READ MORE

EP 37: Lucy Todd - Takeaways
Lucy Todd, whose career path evolved from startup content lead to career discovery coach. With honesty, humor, and humility, Lucy Todd, CPC opens up about her early rise to leadership in a tech startup, the emotional weight of middle management, and her eventual pivot to helping others get “unstuck” through intentional...READ MORE

EP 36: Tara Fisher - Takeaways
Tara Fisher shares her powerful journey from catching babies as a birth doula to shaping adult education as a learning experience designer. In this episode, we dive into what it means to build a career rooted in service, how trauma shapes our responses at work, and how professionals can assess not just their job satisfaction...READ MORE

EP 35: Stephen Kohler - Takeaways
Stephen Kohler, MBA, CPCC’s journey from product and brand marketing in the music industry to founding a leadership development firm exemplifies what happens when curiosity meets conviction. From his early days at Shure Microphones to creating his own executive coaching practice, Kohler has...READ MORE

EP 34: Denise Maple - Takeaways
Denise Maple, MBA, Certified Coach’s career spans over two decades in commercial banking, education, entrepreneurship, and now success and wellness coaching. Her story is a testament to listening to your intuition, evolving with your values, and honoring both analytical and emotional intelligence...READ MORE

EP 33: James Hatfield - Takeaways
James Hatfield’s journey begins with a paintbrush and ends with cutting-edge video communication technology. In this energizing episode, James walks us through his unconventional rise from home services to fintech and product leadership.1. Radical Self-Awareness...READ MORE

EP 32: Stephen Hutchinson - Takeaways
Stephen Hutchinson, or “Hutch” to friends and teammates, shares his powerful journey from professional football fields in the UK and NFL Europe to a leadership role in IT service management. Stephen breaks down how discipline, adaptability, and a passion for consistency shaped both his athletic career...READ MORE

EP 31: Trent Merrell - Takeaways
Trent Merrell, Ed.D., an experienced educator, nonprofit leader, and now certified pickleball pro, joins us for a conversation that blends heartfelt mission with strategic adaptability. Trent’s career path winds through college residence life, workforce development at Goodwill, program leadership in nonprofits...READ MORE

EP 30: Laura Greer - Takeaways
Laura Greer’s career journey spans industries, family transitions, and personal growth, starting from shoe sales to building a successful real estate business. Through each chapter of her story, a common thread emerges: the desire to help people. In this episode, Laura reflects on how intuition, empathy...READ MORE

EP 29: Emily Safier - Takeaways
Emily Safier, whose professional journey carries her from the world of neurorehabilitation as a physical therapist to thriving in the tech industry as a Customer Success Manager. Emily’s story covers core skills like empathy, problem-solving, multitasking, and relationship-building transcend industries...READ MORE

EP 28: Larry Bomback - Takeaways
A classically trained musician with dreams of becoming a professor, Larry Bomback pivoted into finance and now serves as a fractional CFO for both nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Larry details his passion for music and how it influenced his analytical skills in finance and the importance of seizing opportunities. He also...READ MORE

EP 27: Adam Fontana - Takeaways
Adam Fontana is a self-taught change management expert who transformed a life of blue-collar beginnings and creative hustle into a career rich with adaptability, curiosity, and leadership. He shares his nonlinear path, describing how saying “yes” to opportunity, even when unqualified, built a wonderfully...READ MORE

EP 26: Grant Merrell - Takeaways
In this deeply moving episode, Grant Merrell, MDiv shares his powerful journey from ordained Christian pastor to national advocate for suicide prevention. With raw vulnerability and profound insight, Grant unpacks what it means to live authentically, reframe past experiences, and channel lifelong skills into new...READ MORE

EP 25: Tamir Goodman - Takeaways
Division 1 Basketball to Sports Tech Innovator: Tamir Goodman's story includes his early dreams of playing basketball, the unique challenges he faced as an observant Jew, and the lessons he learned from his challenging yet supportive coach. Tamir opens up about the role his dyslexia played in shaping his basketball...READ MORE

EP 24: Matthew Mattner - Takeaways
Colonel Matthew Mattner (U.S. Army, Retired) shares his incredible journey from a 27-year career in the U.S. Army to becoming the Chief Operating Officer in the healthcare sector. Colonel Mattner shares insights from his high school days, the influence of his Navy veteran father, and his decision to join the Army through an...READ MORE

EP 23: Howard Sudberry - Takeaways
We sat down with veteran broadcaster Howard Sudberry to discuss his journey from radio and television journalism to marketing and communications—and eventually, acting. Howard points out the importance of adaptability, communication skills, and the ability to pivot when the industry...READ MORE

EP 22: Tahlia Altgold - Takeaways
Tahlia Altgold walks us through her skills journey from biomedical engineering into engineering education research. Tahlia shares how she integrates technical skills into social science, the importance of aligning one’s career with personal values, and the transformative power of understanding and...READ MORE

EP 21: Mariam Nusrat - Takeaways
Mariam Nusrat is a former World Bank economist who shares how she transitioned to founding a no-code game development platform. Mariam's background will bring up her struggles, resilience, and how she utilized her skills in economics to succeed in the tech startup world.
1. Evaluating Job ...READ MORE

EP 20: Keith Crawford - Takeaways
Keith Crawford, PMP shares his fascinating transition from live audio engineering to becoming a portfolio manager. Keith talks about his early passion for music, the skills he honed at Columbia College Chicago, and the lessons he learned in various roles, including operations in live events and spice manufacturing...READ MORE

EP 19: David Weissmann - Takeaways
David Weissmann, whose career journey spans from telecom sales to public relations and corporate sales, shares his method of evaluating one’s job satisfaction and how he advocated for career pivots that align with his passions. The episode provides listeners with actionable insights into assessing their own...READ MORE

EP 18: Ari Stein - Takeaways
Ari Stein shares insightful lessons learned from his time on Capitol Hill, prioritizing authenticity, curiosity, and relationship-building. Ari and Noah also discuss the relevance of setting and managing expectations, both professionally and personally. Tune in to discover how Ari adapted his skills across different...READ MORE

EP 17: Lindsey Lerner - Takeaways
In this episode of Transferable Skills, Starting as a photographer, Lindsey Lerner shares her path from tour manager to media organizer and generalist, noting the power of adaptability, creativity, and problem-solving as essential skills for professional growth. She emphasizes the importance of...READ MORE

EP 16: David Boneparth - Takeaways
David Boneparth shares his skills journey with early roots in teaching and curriculum development at the University of Florida before transitioning to Ameriprise Financial as an IT and system technologist, where he now leverages skills like communication, relationship-building, and navigating red tape...READ MORE

EP 15: Lauren van Roon - Takeaways
In this special episode, we’ll reflect on the insightful conversations from five amazing guests: Mike Stephen, Amanda DiFeterici, Michael Shuman, Brenda Snyder, and Paul Chanan. Lauren van Roon, an executive and corporate recruiter, joins the discussion to provide insights on how these skills are relevant in job hunting...READ MORE

EP 14: Moshe Isenberg - Takeaways
Moshe Isenberg shares his skills journey from nonprofit work to founding a multimillion-dollar insurance company and back to the nonprofit sector highlighting the importance of empathy, transferable skills, and aligning personal values with professional growth. His experiences offer...READ MORE

EP 13: Teeg Stouffer - Takeaways
Teeg Stouffer–whose diverse career spans radio broadcasting, nonprofit leadership, experiential marketing, and environmental activism–shares insights on communication, storytelling, decision-making, adaptability, and niche expertise, offering valuable lessons for evaluating job satisfaction and skills...READ MORE

EP 12: Becky Altman - Takeaways
Becky Altman’s inspiring career journey from clinical social work, to non-profit executive, to corporate HR and independent executive coaching is a true testament to the power of adaptability, the importance of building relationships, and leveraging transferable skills across varied professional landscapes...READ MORE

EP 11: Paul Chanan - Takeaways
Paul Chanan’s journey, from a fiercely independent child to a multifaceted professional and coach, offers profound lessons on self-awareness, resilience, and fostering growth in oneself and others. His experiences illustrate how competitive spirit and introspection can lead to personal and professional success...READ MORE

EP 09: Brenda Snyder - PRACTICAL ADVICE & INSPIRATIONAL TAKEAWAYS
Brenda Snyder’s compelling and transformative career journey from hospital accounting to becoming a physician is a wonderful example of how life experiences, passion, and resilience in the face of challenges can lead to a deeply fulfilling career change. The valuable...READ MORE

EP 08: Mike Shuman - PRACTICAL ADVICE & INSPIRATIONAL TAKEAWAYS
Michael Shuman transitioned his career from sports radio to becoming an experienced educator who doesn’t always follow the rules of “classically trained” teachers. The conversation explores themes such as overcoming fears, embracing risk, and developing a diverse skill set that can...READ MORE

EP 07: Amanda DiFeterici - PRACTICAL ADVICE & INSPIRATIONAL TAKEAWAYS
Amanda DiFeterici transitioned from being a band teacher to working in tech sales with a stop in academia as a university librarian. Her story exemplifies the power of adapting transferable skills across different industries and roles, such as effective communication and...READ MORE

EP 06: Mike Stephen - PRACTICAL ADVICE & INSPIRATIONAL TAKEAWAYS
Mike Stephen, a radio host and teacher, whose career spans over 18 years of broadcasting on WGN radio with his show Outside the Loop, reveals how curiosity, storytelling, and community engagement can shape a meaningful career. He has honed skills that allow him to connect deeply...READ MORE

EP 05: Josh Anisfeld - PRACTICAL ADVICE & INSPIRATIONAL TAKEAWAYS
Josh Anisfeld’s journey is marked by a continuous drive to learn, adapt, and leverage skills across various fields, ultimately leading him to a leadership role in digital communications and marketing. The conversation delves into the importance of resourcefulness, relationship-building...READ MORE

EP 04: Teresa Ging - PRACTICAL ADVICE & INSPIRATIONAL TAKEAWAYS
Teresa Ging analyzes her career from the world of investment banking to owning a successful bakery, Sugar Bliss, in downtown Chicago, offers invaluable insights into leveraging transferable skills, adapting to change, and finding passion in one’s career. Her story is a testament to...READ MORE

EP 03: Marc Goldmann - PRACTICAL ADVICE & INSPIRATIONAL TAKEAWAYS
Marc Goldmann, whose career journey spans from management consulting to entrepreneurship, offers valuable insights into how employees can evaluate their current job satisfaction and success. Moreover, his experiences provide actionable tips on how to assess and leverage...READ MORE

EP 02: Jordan Dietch - PRACTICAL ADVICE & INSPIRATIONAL TAKEAWAYS
In a recent episode of "Transferable Skills," we had the pleasure of hosting Jordan Dietch, whose journey from a bail bondsman to a head of product offers valuable lessons and insights for anyone looking to evaluate their current job satisfaction, success, and skills. Here are some...READ MORE

EP 01: Leo Loeffler - PRACTICAL ADVICE & INSPIRATIONAL TAKEAWAYS
Leo Loeffler's career journey from digital marketing into tour guiding offers valuable lessons on the importance of transferable skills, evaluating job satisfaction, and taking actionable steps toward career fulfillment. The takeaways from this conversation can...READ MORE

EL | AL
_{Talking about the hard-hitting topics of your day.}

Noah Mishkin | Founder & Host | [email protected]
Former architect turned digital and social entrepreneur specializing in creative marketing, user experience, product ideation, and strategic leadership. Noah is a co-founder of several consumer products and digital marketing brands, is a founding investor and mentor of other start-up companies, ranging from feature film, social media, sporting goods, to wine manufacturing and distribution.