Pathfinders Podcast: Navigating Your Career Map with a Personal Board of Advisors

Pathways to Success: Workforce Development and Mentorship with Jesse McCree

In this episode of the Pathfinders podcast, Pete sits down with Jesse McCree, a national thought leader in investing in human talent. With 15 years of experience across startups, consulting, education, workforce development, leadership, public policy analysis, and nonprofit management, Jesse currently serves as CEO of South Central PA Works. In this role, he oversees $15 million in annual federal and state resources aimed at connecting talent with opportunity. He is also a board member of the National Association of Workforce Boards.
Jesse shares his career journey, beginning with his first job in a VISTA program and progressing to his current position. Along the way, he earned a master's degree in public administration and completed various certificate programs to enhance his skill set. He credits his personal board of advisors, including his father and several mentors, for providing crucial guidance and accountability throughout his path. Jesse stresses the importance of regularly connecting with these mentors and acting as a connector within his own network.
The conversation highlights Jesse’s commitment to investing in employees’ growth and providing clear pathways for advancement. He discusses how employers and individuals alike benefit from aligning their values around pay, purpose, and opportunity. Throughout, Jesse encourages listeners to never give up on their potential and to continuously invest in their own development. The discussion also touches on the Pathfinders methodology and underscores the powerful role mentorship plays in professional success.

The Rule of Threes: Lessons in Growth, Leadership, and Authenticity with Brittany Martin

Brittany Martin, founder and CEO of BeKindWorks, shares her inspiring career journey on this episode of the Pathfinders podcast. Growing up, Brittany dreamed of becoming a librarian, and her love for research and appreciation for different cultures took root during her time in college, where she studied business and worked at the campus library. These early experiences equipped her with a very unique expertise, including research skills and a strong sense of curiosity.
Brittany first began her professional journey at Target, where she worked with hundreds of people and learned the value of effort, self-challenge, and resilience. It was at this point in her career journey that she discovered her true passion for leadership development, joining the Pathfinders course to hone her skills. She later transitioned to roles at Anheuser-Busch and other corporations, where she gained valuable HR leadership experience. These roles not only prepared her for future challenges but also inspired her to think strategically about career growth.
Driven to make a greater impact, Brittany eventually made the bold move from Connecticut to New York City and shifted from corporate HR to entrepreneurship. Today, as an independent consultant and strategic people leader, she emphasizes the importance of authenticity, kindness, and building a personal "board of advisors" to guide career development. Her philosophy is rooted in the "rule of threes," which has served as a guiding principle throughout her life and career.
On the podcast, Brittany shares the five dimensions of career mapping and highlights how mentorship has played a pivotal role in her success. Through BeKindWorks, she continues to champion leadership development, encouraging individuals to lead with kindness and authenticity to create a meaningful impact in their own lives and the lives of others.

Leading with Impact: The Power of Mentorship and Continuous Learning with David McGlennen

David is a great journalist who is dedicated to helping others succeed in life and business. He believes in the power of mentorship and surrounding yourself with a personal board of advisors to help you navigate blind spots and grow. He has a Monday morning newsletter that provides valuable advice and guidance for anyone looking to improve themselves. Pete encourages everyone to sign up and learn from David's wisdom. David Mcglennen is a speaker, author, and consultant who helps companies build trust and strengthen their leadership. He started his career in the insurance industry and eventually sold his business to a large insurance company. After this, he decided to shift his focus to leadership and create Impact Leadership Consulting. Mcglennen speaks at events and works with executives to help them become better leaders. He also takes an annual 30-day sabbatical to recharge and refocus. This practice has helped him be more David McLennan has always been passionate about flying and spent nearly a decade as a pilot before shifting to a career in music. However, he eventually found his way back to his roots in insurance, where he has been thriving for the last 32 years. Along the way, he has also started Impact Leadership Consulting, which focuses on helping emerging leaders make a positive impact in their careers. He emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, having a growth mindset, and taking time for mentorship. David Mcglennen is a leadership and growth expert who has helped companies all over the world. He has also owned multiple startup businesses and is a successful professional. In his personal life, he has been married for 35 years and is a father of five. Before his successful career, he aspired to be a musician and studied business administration in college. He has found his career niche in the insurance industry, where he has worked for 32 years.

Mastering Mentorship and Making Choices: Brad Kogut’s Journey in Career Mapping

Brad Kogut, a senior executive at Anywhere Real Estate, encourages junior employees to focus on building environments where people can engage in intellectual and curious discussions that lead to the best solutions. He shares his diverse career journey, which spans from roles in hotels and sports to his current position in real estate, including a leadership role in diversity, equity, and inclusion at WWE. A full-stack human resources professional, Brad’s experience includes talent acquisition, talent management, people analytics, diversity and inclusion, employee relations, and learning and development.
Growing up, Brad dreamed of becoming a professional hockey player. He played the sport from a young age, attended a military boarding school where he first learned about servant leadership and went on to play college hockey on a full scholarship. After graduating with a degree in sports management, he began his career in hospitality and worked in various hotel roles before transitioning into HR.
Starting his HR career as a coordinator at a resort in New Hampshire, Brad progressed through positions at Starwood and, eventually, Madison Square Garden. He credits an early career mentor, Lisa S, for teaching him about servant leadership and empowering his team. Brad believes in leading without a title and values emotional intelligence, intellectual curiosity, and agility.
At Anywhere Real Estate, Brad emphasizes "work-life harmony" rather than balance and makes choices based on his priorities. Passionate about mentoring, he enjoys learning from other leaders and hosts a monthly HR roundtable with executive peers. He also values having a career map and a personal board of advisors for guidance. Brad’s career reflects his commitment to servant leadership and his focus on fostering an environment of growth and empowerment.

The Career Compass: Mentorship, Balance, and Public Service with Rob Mercuri

Rob Mercuri, a small business owner and member of the Board of Supervisors for the 28th district, is the guest on the Pathfinders podcast hosted by Pete Schramm. Rob shares his personal career journey and talks about his values and priorities in serving his community. He also discusses his time at West Point, his transition to civilian life, and his current work in finance and risk management. Robert Mercuri has been an influential leader and mentor for young professionals in Pittsburgh for many years. He has held various positions in the business community, including a board seat and mentorship role at a UI partner and working in the local UPS store. He has also been active in the local community, using his position at PNC to drive positive change. He is currently running for US Congress and believes that finding common ground is crucial for the country to move forward.

Finding our meaning with connection, a conversation with Career Club CEO, Bob Goodwin

Bob, a successful businessman, shares his career journey which included working in sales, finance, and creating a platform to help job seekers. He reflects on the importance of teamwork and collaboration, and encourages people to follow their passion and find meaning in their work. In this interview, Bob Goodwin, founder of Career Club and Next Placement, discusses his career journey and the value of community and intentionality in career development. He also shares insights from his book recommendations and advice on taking ownership of one's attitude and actions. Bob Goodwin is a New York Times crossword puzzle addict and a sales executive. He studied finance in college and then worked for Xerox selling copiers. After becoming interested in computers, he left Xerox for a company called Donna Bradstreet, which is a credit bureau for businesses.: The speaker shares that they have a background in finance, sales, and marketing. They got their start in the tech industry at a small computer company before moving on to sales positions at Xerox and Dunn and Bradstreet. They then joined an online marketing agency in New York before realizing they wanted to start a tech company. They became interested in market research and consumer insights and spent the next 20 years in that field, learning a lot about sales, marketing, and networking.