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Career Downloads

Career Downloads

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Manuel Martinez hosts the Career Downloads podcast where he interviews a different guest each episode to learn about their individual and diverse backgrounds, job history, and techniques they use to manage their career. So plug in and download the knowledge.Copyright © 2024 by Career Downloads All Rights Reserved. Economía Exito Profesional
Episodios
  • From Small Town North Carolina to Leading Tech for 2.3 Million People with Bob Leek | Ep049

    From Small Town North Carolina to Leading Tech for 2.3 Million People with Bob Leek | Ep049
    Dec 2 2025
    Episode Information Show NotesWhat happens when you combine curiosity, willingness to take chances, and genuine interest in people? You get Bob Leek’s career story – a journey from a small town in North Carolina to becoming CIO of Clark County, Nevada.Bob didn’t start with a master plan. He got an accounting degree, landed in retail finance, and complained about IT systems so much they moved him to technology. His path through retail (Egghead), pet healthcare (Banfield), Kaiser Permanente, and public sector roles taught him that relationships matter more than transactions, and that saying yes to opportunities often matters more than having all the credentials.Now leading technology for one of America’s largest counties – serving 2.3 million residents and 40 million annual visitors – Bob brings an approachable leadership style that breaks down the intimidation factor many feel around executive titles. He’s proof that you don’t need to have it all figured out from day one. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:Bob shares how growing up in Mount Airy, North Carolina (Andy Griffith’s hometown) shaped his values around community and connection. His entry into technology came from an accounting degree and working in finance at Egghead, where he complained about IT systems so much they moved him to the technology department.The conversation covers his progression through retail technology, pet healthcare (Banfield), Kaiser Permanente, and Multnomah County before making the jump to Clark County. Bob explains what it means to manage technology infrastructure for millions of people while maintaining his commitment to accessibility and relationship-building.You’ll hear about his philosophy on networking (hint: it’s not about collecting business cards), why he asks questions without worrying about looking uninformed, and how curiosity has been his career accelerator. Bob also opens up about being a “professional extrovert and social introvert” and what that means for how he shows up in his role. KEY TAKEAWAYS:Complaining about problems can lead to opportunities if you’re willing to help fix themAsking questions, even ones you think might sound basic, accelerates your learningReal networking is about genuine curiosity, not transactional exchangesSaying yes to opportunities matters more than waiting until you feel fully preparedBuilding relationships with people across industries creates career momentumLeadership roles don’t have to be intimidating – accessibility builds stronger teams ABOUT THE GUEST:Bob Leek is the Chief Information Officer for Clark County, Nevada. His career began with an accounting degree and moved through retail technology (Egghead), pet healthcare (Banfield), Kaiser Permanente, and public sector leadership at Multnomah County. Bob’s approachable style and commitment to community-building have made him a respected figure in technology leadership. CONNECT WITH BOB:Find Bob on LinkedIn or reach out through Clark County official channels. He genuinely means it when he says to come say hi at events. SUBSCRIBE & CONNECT:Career Downloads brings you conversations with technology leaders and professionals to help you manage your career with more success. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform or watch full episodes on YouTube.Join our community on the social platforms:Website: https://careerdownloads.comLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/career-downloadsYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@careerdownloadsTikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@careerdownloadsInstagram https://www.instagram.com/careerdownloadsFaceBook https://www.facebook.com/people/Career-Downloads/61561144531249 TranscriptionManuel: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads. For each episode, I basically hit the refresh button and bring on a different guest to learn more about their background and their experiences, to really uncover any actionable advice that we can provide to you as yo...
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    1 h y 14 m
  • From Ukraine to Tech Sales Consultant with Vika Nevmyvakova | Ep048

    From Ukraine to Tech Sales Consultant with Vika Nevmyvakova | Ep048
    Nov 25 2025
    Episode Information Show NotesEpisode Summary:Vika Nevmyvakova’s career path looks nothing like she planned.She arrived in the US from Ukraine at 20 with law school dreams. No resources to make it happen. No network. No connections.She took whatever jobs paid bills. Call centers. Customer service. The work most people see as stepping stones, she turned into skill-building.That’s where she discovered she loved talking to people and solving problems. More importantly, she was good at it.Today she consults with pre-funding stage startups on sales operations. She helps technical founders who built genius products but struggle to sell them.Her career philosophy is simple: take shots you’re not ready for. Apply when you meet 60% of requirements. Ask questions that might sound stupid. Build expertise through curiosity.This conversation unpacks her immigration journey, multiple career pivots, working through language barriers, and why she tells everyone to stop waiting until they feel prepared.What You’ll Discover:Her path from Ukraine to US tech sales consultingWhy call center work taught skills law school wouldn’tSales consulting for early-stage startups and what founders actually needHow curiosity became her biggest competitive advantageThe confidence gap: men apply at 60%, women wait for 100%Real talk about working with an accent and language barriersHer interview preparation tactics using YouTubeHow to articulate value versus just listing product featuresWhy following through on commitments builds credibility faster than anything elseThe “what’s the worst that can happen” mindset that changed her career Key Takeaways:Your career doesn’t need to follow the plan you made at 20. Vika’s path from law school aspirations to tech sales happened through a series of sideways moves. Customer service work taught communication skills and problem-solving under pressure that translated directly to sales.Curiosity beats credentials. She built her expertise by sitting through engineering demos, joining product calls, and asking endless questions. When she talks to customers, she can articulate value in ways others can’t because she did the work to deeply understand the business.The confidence gap is real and costly. Men typically apply when they meet 60% of job requirements. Women wait for 100%. The difference? Men who apply get hired. If you don’t take the shot, you already have a no.Following through separates average from excellent. Tell someone you’ll look something up and actually do it. Your credibility lives or dies on this one habit.Guest Bio:Vika Nevmyvakova is a Sales Consultant working with pre-funding stage startups. She helps technical founders develop sales strategies, implement CRM systems, and translate complex features into clear customer value. Born in Ukraine, she moved to the US at 20, pivoted from law aspirations to technology, and built her career by staying relentlessly curious and taking shots before feeling ready.Resources Mentioned:YouTube for interview preparation and skill developmentMock interview practiceCRM systems for startupsProspecting platforms for early-stage companiesListen to the full episode to hear Vika’s complete story and get her unfiltered advice on making career moves before you feel prepared.Subscribe to Career Downloads: New episodes every week featuring technology leaders sharing real career lessons.#CareerDownloads #SalesConsulting #CareerChange #TechCareers #StartupLife #ImmigrantStory TranscriptionManuel Martinez: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez, and again, this is another episode of Career Downloads. Where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their background and their experiences, to help you uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So I’m excited for today’s guests. So today I have with me Vika Nevmevakova, and we met at a networking event.
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    1 h y 24 m
  • Breaking Into Tech Without a Degree: From Middle School Admin to Chief of Staff with Jazmin Diaz | Ep047

    Breaking Into Tech Without a Degree: From Middle School Admin to Chief of Staff with Jazmin Diaz | Ep047
    Sep 9 2025
    Episode Information Show NotesJazmin Diaz’s career story dismantles the myth that you need perfect credentials to succeed in technology. Her path from middle school administrative assistant to Chief of Staff at a cybersecurity company demonstrates how curiosity, authenticity, and strategic relationship-building can accelerate professional growth.Episode Highlights:Jazmin shares her unique background growing up between two cultures – born in California, raised in Mexico until age nine, then returning to relearn English and navigate American educational systems. This experience shaped her ability to connect with others facing similar challenges, particularly at-risk students during her time working in education.The conversation reveals practical strategies for career transitions, including how she researched transferable skills, leveraged informational interviews, and ultimately secured her first tech role through networking rather than traditional applications. Her willingness to start as a receptionist – despite years of experience – proved essential for getting her foot in the door.Key Takeaways:Networking authentically means building relationships without immediate agendaBeing uncomfortable signals growth opportunities worth pursuingSelf-advocacy requires data and strategic timing, not just confidenceStarting at entry level in a new industry can fast-track learning and advancementSalary negotiation extends beyond base pay to stock options, bonuses, and benefitsVulnerability and authenticity create stronger professional connections than perfectionResources Mentioned:Book: “Ignite Your Growth” by Jazmin Diaz (English)Book: “Enciende Tu Crecimiento” by Jazmin Diaz (Spanish)Flourish Learning and DevelopmentConnect with Our Guest: Jazmin Diaz is available for speaking engagements, workshops, and coaching through Flourish Learning and Development. Her book is available in both English and Spanish editions.About Career Downloads: Each episode features professionals sharing real experiences, setbacks, and breakthroughs to help you manage your own career with greater success. Host Manuel Martinez brings conversations that go beyond surface-level advice to uncover actionable insights you can apply immediately. TranscriptionManuel Martinez: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their background and their experiences, to really uncover how they’ve managed their career over time with the ultimate goal to help you uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So I’m really excited for today’s episode. This has really been eight, almost nine months in the making. So for those of you who are aware, back in December, I had Cynthia Hara on and a mutual contact of my current guest and Cynthia’s kind of got in contact with me, put me in contact with Jazmin Diaz is who I have on. We’ve had a number of conversations since that time trying to work out, so she’s not local to Las Vegas, just trying to find out logistically how this would work out. And I’m really excited because apart from the alignment of what she’s currently doing, what she’s done, kind of what the podcast is, in between that time, she has also become an author and she’s written a book, both in English and in Spanish, again, around career and professional development and personal development. So I’m really excited and this is gonna be a great one. So with that, I will go ahead and introduce Jazmin Diaz. Jazmin Diaz: Thank you so much for having me, Manny. Really glad to be here with you finally. Manuel Martinez: Finally, right. I mean, it’s interesting that when Sal kind of put us in contact, it took us a little while. We’d look back and it’s almost nine months that this has gone on and I think it happened at this moment for a reason, right?
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