Yale SOM Podcast ‘Career Conversations’ Brings Together Students and Alumni

A new Yale SOM-produced podcast, launching on March 26, features students in conversation with alumni about their industries and careers. 

Each episode of the podcast, titled Career Conversations, gives a student a chance to quiz a graduate of the school who has built a career in the student’s chosen industry.  

The first episode of Career Conversations features Emily Silver ’07, an MBA graduate who leads The Hive, PepsiCo’s internal incubator for new brands. Silver talks with Max Dworin ’20, a first-year MBA student and former political staffer with an interest in marketing.

The two talk about Silver’s own path from politics to consumer goods, the challenges of her role at PepsiCo, the value of her MBA education, and the lessons of her post-MBA experience. 

Silver explains that she was drawn to the consumer packaged goods industry during her first year at Yale SOM, and got an internship at PepsiCo, which turned into a full-time job—and eventually, a 13-year career. 

Getting a job offer after a summer internship, she tells Dworin, is about working hard, not trying to be turn yourself into the person you think your employer is looking for.  

“I think it’s really important to do a great job of course on the work you’re given, and network, and get to know people,” she says. “But be yourself, and let the companies, and the managers, and the people around you get to know who you are, because ultimately that’s what they should make the decision on, that total package.”

New episodes of Career Conversations will be released every two weeks over the next three months. Upcoming episodes feature alumni in the venture capital, innovation and organizational design, healthcare, marketing, and technology industries. 

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Subscribe to Career Conversations on  Apple Podcasts , SoundCloud  or your favorite podcast platform.