Refocus Careers

Angela sits down with Dani Dotterosa, a Benefit Auctioneer and gala fundraising consultant, to explore the unconventional path that led her into the world of fundraising galas and live auctions. Dani shares how a collection of side hustles and a chance coffee meeting with a former Denver Bronco–turned–auctioneer launched her career on stage with a mic in hand. She explains the difference between liquidation auctioneers and benefit auctioneers, the key skills that make a great auctioneer and event coordinator, and why confidence, quick thinking, logistics, and a heart of gold all matter in this field. Dani also offers thoughtful advice to young adults who feel unsure about their career direction, encouraging them to “get the car moving,” bring excellence to every role, and seek mentorship from professionals already doing the work they’re curious about.Learn more at her website AuctionsByDani.com!

Angela sits down with Robyn Anderson, CEO of Jam AI and an AI consultant/educator, to explore how an uncertain start in marketing and public speaking led her to the forefront of the AI revolution. Robyn shares her non-linear career journey from fitness-focused marketing assistant to agency founder, and how recognizing AI’s potential in 2023 transformed her work. She and Angela break down practical entry points into AI—learning it, teaching it, and building with it—along with tactical tips for using tools like YouTube, ChatGPT, and Gemini to find mentors and skill up fast. Robyn also talks about the power of community through groups like Women of AI, managing anxiety and comparison in a fast-moving field, and why she recommends commission-only sales roles to young adults to build the communication and relationship skills that technology can never replace.

Angela sits down with Chelsea Suitos, Head of Partnerships & Business Development at Spree AI, for a candid look at her impressive career journey—from the world of athletics to key roles at Meta, TikTok, TEMU, and now Spree AI. Chelsea opens up about how her family inspired her career pivot, how she landed her role at TEMU, and the lessons she learned from facing failure head-on. With tips on applying to jobs, mastering the perfect handshake, and advice for young adults navigating career uncertainty, Chelsea brings practical wisdom and motivating energy to anyone charting their own path.

Angela welcomes back Terence Murphy, President Emeritus and Administrator of the New England Buying Consortium, for a wide-ranging conversation that goes far beyond the bookstore shelves. Terence shares his unique journey from serving in the army to becoming a key figure in the academic retail world, and why he still finds his job both meaningful and fun. He also reflects on how booksellers can serve as everyday mentors for students navigating mental health challenges, and offers thoughtful advice for young people torn about whether to pursue higher education. Plus, if you’ve ever considered a path in politics, Terence shares practical tips on how to get involved and make an impact.

In this episode, Karen Goldman, Managing Director at the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC), shares how her career path took unexpected turns—from college aspirations to discovering her passion for supporting entrepreneurs. Karen opens up about how she first found the WBDC, what drew her to the organization, and what her day-to-day work looks like as a leader in business development. She also offers a behind-the-scenes look at what she values most when hiring, and how those decisions shape strong, mission-driven teams.

Bestselling author Dr. Michele Borba joins Angela to talk about how she gets ready for her work day, how she decided to become a psychologist, how to get started if you have writing ambitions, and reveals the surprising thing she's never heard from a publisher ("No!"). Learn more about Dr. Borba at MicheleBorba.com!

gela talks with the Founder of the Human Theory Group, Dr. Justin Jacuqes, about how he went from being a passionate athlete to a career in counseling. They also talk about the day to day life of a counselor and how he manages his work/life balance in a challenging field.To learn more about Dr. Justin Jacques, visit HumanTheoryGroup.com.

Angela is joined by VegasWeddingsPlanner.com's Regina Galiyeva to talk about what were her dreams when she was growing up, she offers tips for becoming a wedding planner, and she talks about how she transitioned from being a wedding planner to also taking on event planning.