Northwestern Intersections

Latest Episodes:

John Macfarlane '00 on Building Relationships through Music Feb 28, 2019

Show notes

In his first role after graduating from Northwestern, John MacFarlane '00, was working three jobs simultaneously – as a performer, concertmaster, and teacher – but he didn't stop there. MacFarlane continued down a long and successful career in music doing a variety of things, most recently of which is at the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra as the Assistant Principal Second Violin. Don't miss this fascinating conversation about how the music industry brings out unique challenges in one's career as well as the overall changing landscape of music today.

You can learn more about John and his work at https://johnfostermacfarlane.com/.

You can learn more about the Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Farley.northwestern.edu.

Lisa Smith '88 on Walking Out of a Bar and Into Advocacy Feb 14, 2019

Show notes

She never received a poor performance evaluation throughout her successful career in the legal industry, even through years of alcohol and drug addiction. Lisa Smith later had a panic attack and checked herself into rehab. She found herself writing to her family about her situation and recently published her book "Girl Walks Out of a Bar: A Memoir," about her descent into and recovery from addiction. Tune in for insights from Smith's experiences in overcoming adversity as well as from her two successful careers as a lawyer and as an author.

Maudlyne Ihejirika '87 MSJ on Faith, Love, and War Feb 07, 2019

Show notes

She always knew that she would tell her mother's story. Maudlyne Ihejirika '87 MSJ moved to the United States with her mother and siblings as refugees from the Nigerian civil war because her father was studying at Northwestern. Ihejirika earned her Master's in Journalism from Medill and has been a reporter for the Chicago Sun Times for 25 years. She recently published her first book, Escape from Nigeria: A Memoir of Faith, Love and War, about her mother's childhood in Nigeria and later her miraculous escape to the United States.

Neil Venketramen '16 MS on Marrying Well Jan 31, 2019

Show notes

Though he found himself to be older than his classmates, he knew he came to Northwestern for a reason, to become a marriage and family therapist after a long career in consulting. Neil Venketramen '16 MS has made many transitions throughout his life from growing up in South Africa under apartheid to moving to the United States consulting for Deloitte to getting a degree from and later working at Northwestern in The Family Institute as a therapist.

Kathy Khang '92 on Saying No to Say Yes Jan 24, 2019

Show notes

Kathy Khang '92 knew when she left print journalism to pursue a career at InterVarsity that she would come back to her Medill roots and continue writing down the road. Khang is the author of "Raise Your Voice," which encourages people to speak up and make decisions based on their own set of values, and she is currently the Director of Campus Access Initiatives at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA.

David Friendly '78 on Producing Little Miss Sunshine and More Jan 17, 2019

Show notes

He stepped out onto the stage and had to tell the student body that the Beach Boys weren't able to play that day…though this might not have been the exact moment, David Friendly learned about his passion for producing while a student at Northwestern. Friendly has been a journalist, a movie executive, the producer of films like Little Miss Sunshine, and now he is the President of Friendly Films.

The Best Of: Our Most Popular Episode of 2018 Dec 13, 2018

Show notes

Tune in to hear some of the best insights from our most listened to episode of the year. You'll hear Kellogg professor, venture capitalist, and author, Carter Cast '92 MBA, talk more about the five archetypes that most often derail careers along with other advice he has to share around finding a career that has meaning to you. You will also learn more about an opportunity to enter in for a chance to win a signed copy of Cast's book, The Right-and-Wrong Stuff: How Brilliant Careers are Made and Unmade.

The following giveaway has now ended. Please provide your feedback for the podcast here. Enter for a chance to win a signed copy of The Right-and Wrong-Stuff: How Brilliant Careers are Made and Unmade by Carter Cast through filling out the form at www.northwestern.edu/intersections/cartercast. This Northwestern Alumni Association (1201 Davis Street, Evanston, IL 60208) promotion ends December 19, 2018, at 11:59 p.m. CDT. Forms filled out after the promotion period will not qualify. Each person will have the same odds of winning as we will draw the 20 winners by chance. Offer is limited to one book ($17.99 retail value) per household and limited to U.S. residents who are at least 18 years of age. Shipping and handling of the book will be covered by the Northwestern Alumni Association. No purchase or donation is necessary to enter and no purchase or donation will improve one's chances of winning.

Sam Kleiner '09 on Law and History Dec 06, 2018

Show notes

Sam Kleiner '09 went to law school after graduating from Northwestern. He has held a number of roles in the legal industry, but his story doesn't end there. He spent countless hours researching and writing a book after discovering a trove of love letters from a WWII pilot. His book, The Flying Tigers: The Untold Story of the American Pilots Who Waged a Secret War Against Japan, was released in May 2018. Kleiner talks to the NAA about the stories behind his book and how this history impacts US-China relations today. He shares insights from both his career in the legal industry as well as from an author's perspective. Tune into hear more about these intersecting worlds.

Linda Gartz '70, '72 MS on Discovering a New Career Through Hidden Family Letters Nov 29, 2018

Show notes

Linda Gartz '70, '72 MS didn't start her career thinking she would become an author. Through the skills she learned through her years teaching and then producing documentaries, she gained the necessary skills to eventually write her book after she discovered hidden letters in her parent's former home. "Redlined: A Memoir of Race, Change and Fractured Community in 1960s Chicago" is a story about both the personal, in terms of Gartz's family history, and the political, in terms of racist lending policies in Chicago. Gartz shares insights gained through her career transitions and she discusses the power of building social skills to network and keep in touch with friends and other alumni. Don't miss this engaging conversation with a new author who has advice to share.

Dino Gane-Palmer '11 MBA on Starting a Company at Northwestern Nov 15, 2018

Show notes

Dino Gane-Palmer '11 MBA is a British entrepreneur based in Chicago. Gane-Palmer moved from the UK to earn his business degree from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern with the goal of leveraging an MBA to launch a company. He tells the story of starting his company PreScouter, a platform that enables innovation professionals to get things done through utilizing a global network of scholars at top universities, all while in school and then growing it to a 100+ person company. Gane-Palmer talks about some of the challenges he faced in moving to Chicago as well as some of the things he is most proud of throughout his career. Don't miss this conversation with a successful entrepreneur who has many insights to share with the Northwestern Network.

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