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In this exciting New Year's episode, Jen and Kristen kick off 2025 with a fresh perspective on achieving career and personal goals. The hosts are joined by Valentina Savelyeva, a former investment banker and top life and career coach, to dive deep into practical strategies and mindset shifts essential for long-term success. Valentina shares her journey from Soviet Russia to Investment banking at JPMorgan to becoming a best-selling author and how setting aligned goals can transform your life.
Listeners will gain insights into the importance of identifying core values, setting realistic goals, and overcoming mental barriers. The episode highlights tangible tools like creating an 'ideal scene' and utilizing the power of the reticular activating system (RAS) to manifest desired outcomes. The conversation also touches upon the science behind mindset work, making this episode a blend of inspiration and practical advice.
Whether you’re a student, early in your career, or a seasoned professional, this episode offers valuable tips on aligning your career aspirations with personal fulfillment. Tune in to discover how to harness your unique strengths, tackle procrastination, and design a career path that brings you joy and success. Don't miss out on actionable insights that can help you make 2025 your best year yet!
Valentina Savelyeva knows what it takes to thrive in the competitive world of corporate finance. A graduate of UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, Valentina launched her career as an investment banking analyst at JPMorgan’s prestigious Technology, Media, and Telecom group—an opportunity that sparked her passion for empowering others to unlock their potential and achieve their career goals.
But Valentina's journey didn’t start in corporate boardrooms—she immigrated to the U.S. from post-Soviet Russia with limited resources but boundless ambition. Through sheer determination, a positive mindset, and relentless grit, she overcame financial challenges and embraced personal growth, ultimately building a foundation for success that she now helps others achieve.
After her time at JPMorgan, Valentina spent the next decade training professionals and college students in the technical skills needed to excel in finance. She led high-demand workshops for top Wall Street banks like UBS, Credit Suisse, and Wells Fargo, consulting giants like BCG and Deloitte, and top business schools such as Harvard, Wharton, and Columbia.
Inspired by her work with young professionals, Valentina expanded into career coaching. Over the past decade, she has worked with clients across finance, consulting, tech, healthcare, and biotech fields—along with entrepreneurs and career switchers. She specializes in helping ambitious professionals break through self-doubt, build confidence, and design meaningful careers aligned with their passions.
Whether you’re applying for your first internship, aiming for a top firm, or ready to pivot, Valentina’s story and strategies prove that success is attainable—no matter where you start. Tune in to hear how she turned humble beginnings into a thriving career and how you can too.
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