Career Coaching

As a career coach, I build relationships with students as they develop, pursue, and achieve their own career goals. As a first generation college student, I found exploration and career development difficult, so my hope is that every student leaves a conversation with me feeling supported and more confident in their next steps. I love celebrating accomplishments (big and small) with students! 

In my free time I'm probably reading, listening to Taylor Swift, hanging out with my dog, solving a puzzle on the NYT Games app, attempting to teach myself a creative hobby, or catching up with friends. 

As a career professional in higher education, it's a necessity to build solid relationships with students in everything I do from teaching, to 1:1 appointments, to programming. I want to learn what it is students need to be successful in their industries and on their career paths so I can help them gain access to resources and information to help them get there. I meet students wherever they are at in their journey and work alongside them in their career exploration, preparation, transitions, and everything else along the way. I love my job. Witnessing students go through and grow through their career development journey is simply the coolest and most exciting thing.

In my free time I like to be active doing anything outdoors including biking, hiking, and enjoying the lake (both frozen and not). I love almost all sports both as a spectator and competitor. I recently (July 2024) completed my motorcycle course and look forward to putting on some miles! 

As a career coach my goal is to support students with navigating and overcoming barriers in their career development journey. My favorite coaching appointments are on topics that may seem challenging or intimidating, such as offer evaluation and negotiation, interviewing, and networking.

I am the first in my family to attend college and earn both a bachelor's and master's degree. As an undergraduate, I studied Psychology, then completed my grad program in Counseling and Student Personnel with an emphasis in College Student Affairs; which I tell people is a long title for working with college students. During grad school I really enjoyed my Career Development and Counseling courses, and I completed an internship working as a Career Advisor in our Career Center. These experiences led to my career interest in working in Career Services. My specialty area focuses on students who are exploring their own career interests and I look forward to helping students choose a career path and/or major they feel confident about. 

In my free time I enjoy cooking, dancing, game nights, brunching, and traveling with friends!

As a first-generation student, I entered college with very limited ideas about what majors or careers I wanted to pursue - all I knew was that I wanted to help people (and that I didn’t want to take over the family meat business). With this knowledge, I allowed myself to explore courses and experiences that gave me insight and exposure into how humans grow, behave, and communicate. This led to a double major in Psychology and Communication. With this foundation, my career exploration journey extended beyond graduation, where I gained valuable experience working with high school and college students, eventually earning a Master’s Degree in Leadership in Student Affairs. Throughout these experiences, I found deep fulfillment for helping students navigate their own college experience and design lives and careers that align with their values. Thriving in creativity, collaboration, and connection, I am in my element when I get to make deep connections with others, envision future possibilities, and strategize about how we can create more diverse, inclusive, accessible, and equitable spaces. As the Assistant Director for Student Life and Career Design at Carlson, I strive to lead with empathy, authenticity, vulnerability, and with an equity lens.

My love language is laughing and connecting with others over food. You can usually find me with a snack (or looking for one) and I’m always willing to share! Connect with me over the joys of parenthood, my cat, food, exercise, travel, home projects, reality TV, and entrepreneurship.

Figuring out what you want to major in or what path you want to pursue after college can be overwhelming. Our team is here to help you design a college and career experience that is meaningful to you, while bringing clarity and action oriented steps to the process! I enjoy helping students uncover their interests and develop strategies to reach their goals- no matter what career path, organization, or industry you are interested in.

I completed my undergraduate degree from the Carlson School with majors in Marketing, Entrepreneurial Management, and a minor in Human Resources & Industrial Relations! After a short stint in the corporate world, I returned to grad school and have worked in higher education roles ever since, supporting students in areas of career coaching, leadership development, academic advising, and student activities. Outside of work, I spend lots of time with my family. Chai tea and ice cream are my favorite treats, and I like to Stand Up Paddle Board, run, and explore MN State Parks.

As an instructor for BA1021: Designing Your Life, I love helping students use design thinking to build a life and a career that aligns with their aspirations, interests, and values. My goal is to help you get more out of your college experience rather than trying to cram more into it! 

Outside of work, you can find me exploring the Twin Cities restaurant scene, biking around the rivers and lakes, skiing in the wintertime, watching movies at a local theater, and playing clarinet in a community band.

When working with students, my goal is to be a trusted resource and ally in achieving their goals. Whether this means exploring a career path, major, or joining a student organization, I like to help students find that “starting place” in their journey and give them a supportive space to bounce off ideas and try new things. College was a very transformative experience for me, and I’m eager to help students find experiences that shape who they want to be.

In my role at Carlson I work with all of our Carlson Affiliated student orgs and our Women’s Business Network LLC. I was previously an Academic Coach at Iowa State University, where I coached students on study and time management skills. Originally I am from Iowa and have strong roots there, but have loved my time so far as a Minnesota transplant exploring my neighborhood’s many restaurants, parks, and shops. I also spend lots of time with my tortoiseshell cat named Honey, and love to spoil her with new toys and lots of attention. 

I get excited whenever I have the opportunity to problem solve with students, big or small! I became a career coach because meeting with students to discuss their future has always energized me. I enjoy working with students to set goals that help them take action whether they are looking to get a resume checked out, trying to navigate an internship/job search, or are contemplating big questions like “What am I going to do with my life?” My hope is that students leave an appointment feeling like they have some idea of what comes next and know that they have a strong support system here at the Carlson School. 

When I am not at work I love to find ways to enjoy nature through lake days, hammocking, camping, or just sitting and enjoying the outdoors. I try to bring a bit of nature indoors through my growing plant collection! I also enjoy cooking and baking, I frequently try out my new recipes on friends, family, and coworkers! 

As a career coach, I am passionate about empowering students to identify and pursue their career aspirations with clarity and confidence. I bring my experience as a Carlson alumna (Finance and MIS) and UCLA Anderson alumna (MBA with Strategy and Marketing focus), an ex-Deloitte consultant, and a former Target employee in corporate strategy to help guide students through key steps of their career journey. Given my background, I usually work with students interested in consulting and particularly with case interview prep.

Outside of coaching, you can find me reading (or buying books to add to my TBR list), attending sporting events or shows, or traveling and discovering new places to stuff my face. I enjoy the quiet life - spending time with my husband, our two bulldogs, and our families and friends. I also stay active with nonprofit work – serving as the treasurer for two nonprofit boards.

One of the things I love most about working with students is seeing them grow and develop into confident individuals. I approach much of my work with students as a partnership where I am learning from them just as much as they are learning from me.

 Before becoming a career coach, I suppported students who were first generation in navigating the college and career process. I became a career coach because I was a first-generation college graduate who struggled with navigating the career development process, but was fortunate to have counselors and mentors who guided me through the process. My goal is to continue supporting students with overcoming barriers and navigating institutional systems while providing space for students to show up authenticly throughout their career development process.

In my free time, you can find me crocheting, cross-stiching, traveling and decluttering junk throughout my house.  

Hi, my name is Erick Burgess and I'm a senior at the University of Minnesota majoring in finance with a minor in statistics. I was fortunate enough to spend this past semester in Barcelona with a bunch of friends followed by a  summer internship at KPMG as a credit portfolio valuation analyst in New York City. I enjoy spending time playing basketball, traveling, and music production. I'm excited to return as a PCC and impact as many careers as I can. 

My name is Adrian DeLuna and I am a Junior majoring in Management Information Systems and Business Analytics, with a minor in Strategy. My previous experiences include consulting projects with Design-U and Net Impact, as well as competing in case competitions. This summer, I am excited to join HealthScape Advisors as a Consulting Intern. Beyond academics and professional pursuits, I’ve been a THRIVE Peer Mentor, which helped me understand the value of community building and the importance of sharing experiences to support others in their personal and professional growth. In my free time, I enjoy weightlifting, hiking, cooking, and exploring new restaurants (I’m always open to recommendations!). I look forward to helping and encouraging students to reach their professional goals!

My name is Sarah Dysthe (she/her) and I am a senior majoring in HR with a minor in Spanish. I am excited to be pursuing my masters in Human Resources and Industrial Relations this fall. This past summer I interned with Design Ready Controls as an HR generalist intern and worked closely with the human resources department to gain critical hands-on experience. In my free time, I love to travel and spent this past semester studying abroad in Madrid. Additionally, I am an avid runner and love to be outdoors, cook, and spend time with friends and family.  I am excited to return as a PCC this year to help students build their professional portfolios and meet their career goals.

My name is Zach Groh and I am a sophomore majoring in Marketing and Management Information Systems. This past summer I worked as an Orientation Leader working on a team to transition incoming students to the vibrant University of Minnesota climate. I am currently involved with the Student Marketing Association and work as a TA for IDSC 3001. I also work as a marketing project management assistant at the Recreation and Wellness Center. I love to travel, run, go to sporting events, and explore the city and outdoors with friends. I am excited to make new connections and help students along their career journeys. 

My name is Anna Houglum and I am a junior at Carlson! My major is Management Information Systems. This past summer I interned at EY as a Technology Risk Consultant and before that I was at CliftonLarsonAllen as a Systems Analyst Intern. In my free time, I love to coach and judge gymnastics, spend time with friends/family and try new restaurants. I am very excited to get the Fall semester rolling as I have a passion for the Carlson community and I want to help undergraduate students find that community and work towards their career and personal goals!

My name is Whitney (she/her) and I’m a fourth year majoring in MIS at Carlson and Neuroscience and Genetics at CBS with a minor in Business Analytics and Leadership. I am an out of state student and I aspire to work in data analytics. This summer, I worked as a Data Analyst Intern at Amplifon. Some hobbies of mine include attempting to exercise, going out to try new restaurants, attending concerts, listening to music, and watching Kdramas or anime. In the role of a PCC, I am most excited about being able to connect with students and help them feel confident in their professional journey. 

My name is Mira Ratrout, and I am a sophomore double majoring in Accounting and Finance. I previously interned with the City of Rochester, where I focused on community initiatives that deepened my passion for cultivating supportive environments. This experience taught me the importance of creating meaningful connections and fostering growth. I am excited to join Deloitte this summer as a Risk and Financial Advisory intern. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, reading, spending time with family and friends, and visiting new cafes and bookstores. As a Peer Career Coach, I look forward to contributing to a welcoming and encouraging community where students can grow professionally. 

Hi there! My name is Yuchuan (John) Zhang. I am a junior majoring in Management Information Systems and Accounting, minoring Business Analytics. My role as an Orientation Leader at the U and Global Scholar intern at Carlson in the past one year gave me unique insight into collaboration and serving others. I also look forward to the internship opportunity at Deloitte next summer for more experiences and insights. Besides these roles, I also participate in Happy Badminton Club and Business Association of Multicultural Student (BAM), and worked as a TA for Accounting 2051. As a way to seek work-life balance, I love biking, badminton, weight lifting, and cooking different food. My roles in the past and experiences as an international student drive me be part of PCC and make me thrilled to meet new people, offer my best help, and build connections