Beginner Women

Problem-Solving and Purpose: Changing the Career Conversation with Jean Philippe Michel

Episode Summary

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s a question students are asked from kindergarten right through high school and post-secondary. It’s also a question that can spark anxiety among young people who feel pressured to know what job title they will assume upon graduation and their career beyond.

Episode Notes

In this episode of Beginner Women, host Katharine Cornfield is joined by Jean-Philippe (JP) Michel, founder of SparkPath, a company helping young people to create extraordinary careers by exploring the real-world challenges that inspire them. Through SparkPath, Jean-Phillipe is working to pivot the career conversation away from job title ambitions toward problem-solving and purpose.

In this episode, Katharine and Jean-Philippe explore: 

• Purpose-driven, rather than title-driven, career development models. 
• Encouraging Beginner Women to adopt a problem-solving mindset that reframes challenges as opportunities.
• Equipping Beginner Women with the skills they need to solve the problems they are passionate about. 
• Strategies to help Beginner Women learn about their interests and motivations, and the influence this can have on career and education choices.
• Advice for parents and teachers as they guide Beginner Women through education and career choices and advancement. 

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RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

• Spark Path
• Order your own Challenge Cards set
• Jamie Casap and the skills students need (YouTube, 2019)
• Christine Corbett Moran