Kira D.
5.0
Studied at University of Southern California
Works at North Carolina State University
Available Monday at 2:00 PM UTC
Usually responds within 2 hours
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About Kira
Hi, I'm Kira, an ex-Disney recruiter with 10+ years experience coaching and collaborating with undergrad, specialized masters, MBA and working professional students from top tier business schools (USC Marshall, Pepperdine, NC State) as a Career Strategist. I've worked as a Coach professionally for the past 10 years, but mentoring and serving as a thought partner have always been valuable practices for me. Not a business student? That's ok, I wasn't either. Everything I know about business, I have learned while working in a business school and from hearing stories play out via mock interviews with experienced students. Prior to Higher-ed, I worked for 10 years in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles in corporate media and feature animation production (DreamWorks Animation), as a C Level Executive Assistant, Casting Assistant, and in HR/Recruiting (Disney, Lucasfilm/ILM). I've navigated several significant career pivots in my life and have a unique ability to draw out a person's story and help them wrap words around what matters to them in a compelling and authentic way. I have a lot of empathy and compassion for people navigating this space - as I have personal experience with how challenging it can be! I've worked with private clients from entry level executive assistants to commercial real estate executives and K-12 teachers. My clients and students describe me as: a "sanity check," a (kind) straight-shooter, a networking wizard, exceptionally empathetic and encouraging, insightful, the best resume note-giver they have ever encountered, and a killer interview coach! My main goal in any conversation is to help YOU get clear about your next step - and to identify what you need to do in order to reach your short and long term career (and life!) goals. I look forward to hearing more about you!
Why do I coach?
I came from a liberal arts school out of undergrad. I had no idea what a professional school (or business school) was or the different resources available to those students. I would have loved a job like consulting, but again, I had no idea what that job was, or that it existed, being in a less structured environment. Though I am grateful for all of the learnings I have accumulated from my academic and professional pursuits, I would have benefited a lot from a mentor or coach to give me the tactical short cuts around recruiting and aligning life goals with career targets, earlier. Now, I like to help my clients cut out "noise" and get down to what really matters to them so they can get to the good stuff. Secondary reason: I was diagnosed with ADHD at age 42. Forty-two! I spent a lot of my life feeling like I spoke a different language. I worked hard to learn how to adapt my communication style to the people around me in work, and in life, to make meaningful connections and clearly communicate my ideas. I've tried a ton of different project management, learning, and personal regulation techniques to find what works for me. Everyone (whether neuro spicy or neuro typical) has different strengths and weaknesses, and differences in learning preferences. I'm here to help you find your "sweet spot" so you can operate at your absolute best, every day.
Work Experience
Associate Director and MBA Career Coach
North Carolina State University
June 2022 - Present
Provided personalized 1:1 coaching, small group sessions, and workshops, achieving 98%+ satisfaction in NPS surveys from full-time and working professional MBA students. Co-Designed a two-semester professional development series with Program Director and Faculty Members, integrating career coaching with business communications coursework and recruiting strategy. Transformed dense career development lectures into interactive sessions with hands-on exercises, driving engagement and early “quick wins” in recruiting. Redesigned workshop lineup based on fall recruiting outcomes. Increased MBA student participation in national conferences by 20%, leading to interviews and hires at Amazon, Johnson & Johnson, Cigna, Wells Fargo, and Ford. Managed mentorship programs, including a Biogen partnership, delivering onboarding, skill-targeted mentor matching, and DEI group support. Analyzed and presented MBA employment data to Admissions, developing student personas to improve full time employment outcomes and admissions strategy. Led all MBA communications, refining messaging with ChatGPT and YAMM to optimize engagement. Achieved 65%+ open rates. Supervised adjunct coaches and graduate assistants, ensuring timely, budget-conscious project execution. Optimized stipend disbursement using SmartSheets, reducing staff hours by 10% and eliminating 100% of Docusign costs. Automated document collection within three months.
Independent Consultant
Typeset Consulting
January 2014 - December 2023
Independent Consultant specializing in: Interview Coaching Networking skills and personal branding On-site Administrative Mentoring and Training Project Management Bio Writing (for web sites and philanthropic work) and Copy Writing Proof Reading & Editing College and Graduate School Essays and Applications Cover Letters Coaching, Career Counseling and +10 skills
Associate Director and MS Career Strategist
University of Southern California
July 2019 - June 2022
Invited to join the inaugural team of MS Career advisors based on prior experience. Built support programming and structures from the ground up with team of 2 other coaches. Provided insights, guidance, and coaching to students in the Specialized Masters Programs at USC Marshall in Global Supply Chain Management, Marketing, Finance, and Business Analytics, as it relates to understanding personal values, business industries, job opportunities, and preparing for meaningful recruiting experiences. Started as ~300 students (70-90% international per program). Grew to 900+ students in under 4 years. Serve as liaison between graduate career services team and academic departments and faculty to facilitate annual orientations and onboarding for each new cohort of students. Coaching, Career Counseling and +12 skills
Associate Director of Career Services
University of Southern California
September 2016 - July 2019
Responsible for managing a team of 2 Career Services Advisers and supporting extensive yearly programming schedule produced for a population of 4,000 undergraduate business students. Partnered with Head of Global Production Finance at Netflix to bring a boot camp on Production Accounting and Finance to students. This was the first program of its kind Netflix has ever held in collaboration with an undergraduate program. Facilitated recruitment and selection of 40 students from 200 applications. Worked with Project Manager from Central Career Office to implement new 12Twenty (first destination survey) and Salesforce data tracking systems. Partnered with Assistant Dean of Institutional research to share Tableau dashboards with senior level administrators to facilitate a better understanding of high level salary, title, and industry summaries around student outcomes. Responsible for speaker recruitment (50+) for professional development conference (250+ students) . Supervised coordinator in managing event logistics and $20k event budget. Planned all content and flow for conference. Oversaw Global Leadership summer internship program, assigning high performing first year students for 8 week internships with partnering companies in China and Taiwan. Served as point of contact for businesses representatives from foreign employers. Managed payment process for student stipends, coordinating communication across multiple departments at USC includng payroll, HR, accounting, and student services. Instructional Design: Constructed and delivered workshops on career topics including professional networking, behavioral interviews, industry norms and career opportunities in entertainment, and recruiting as an international student in the US. Recruited, trained, and on boarded all new hires including admin support and FT Career Advisers. Responsible for monthly reporting of career advising appointments and aggregating data by quarter for department's annual report. Coaching, Career Counseling and +14 skills
Campus Recruiter, Studios & Lucasfilm
The Walt Disney Company
July 2015 - August 2016
Owned full cycle recruitment of 12 to 30 interns per season (undergraduate, JD, and MBA roles). Client groups included VPs, Directors, and Managers at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank) and Lucasfilm/ILM/Skywalker Ranch (San Francisco). Built and maintained relationships with career services advisors at top tier universities and directors of specialized diversity programs (THoward, Management Leadership for Tomorrow, Leveraging Up!) to ensure a high level of quality candidate flow for each of our internship roles. Delivered presentations and attended career fairs at universities across the country (Howard University, Cal Poly Pomona, UCLA, Cal State LA, USC) detailing requirements and application tips for the professional internships program. Coaching, Career Counseling and +11 skills
Entertainment Industry Specialist
Pepperdine University
September 2014 - June 2015
Joined the career counseling team during the first semester of its transition from a traditional career center model, to an industry specialist model, to provide expert advice to staff, students, and alumni concerning resumes and cover letters, interviews, and internship and job searching strategies, based on previous production and recruiting experience. (Part-Time). Helped students through the career exploration process through interpreting StrengthsFinder, and MBTI assessments. Established and maintained a system of shared online files via Google docs, regarding industry specific resume samples, job sites, online resources, training programs, grants and networking strategies. Coaching, Career Counseling and +8 skills
Project Manager
Blu Fable
March 2012 - December 2014
Managed logistical elements, wardrobe, kraft services, talent, and equipment for project shoots and global conferences for Fortune clients across Southern California, San Francisco, and Las Vegas for independent corporate media company. Implimented new organizational structures and managed administrative duties including: invoicing clients, scheduling payments for all contractors and talent, filing contractor tax documents, corresponding with talent agencies and equipment rental facilities and tracking project elements through to completion. Posted breakdowns for talent casting, served as assistant casting director during casting sessions, and serve as company recruiter to hire additional contractors, including negotiating day rates. Supervised tax document preparation, expenses, and correspondence with Tax Accountant, to correct filings of 5 previous business years.
C Level Executive Floater
DreamWorks Animation
May 2009 - February 2012
Scored candidate resumes, conducted preliminary phone screenings and made recommendations for internship hires. Trained incoming executive assistants on key studio players, protocols, phone etiquette and technology systems. Managed the desks of 35+ top studio executives, producers and directors on a rotating basis. Including Jeffrey Katzenberg. Organized large group presentations/screenings with outside vendors, ad agencies and executives from Paramount Pictures to ensure content security and on time events.
Casting Assistant
Foley Marra Studios
December 2007 - December 2008
Posted breakdowns and read talent for numerous TV commercials, TV series and independent films.
Production Office Coordinator & Assistant to Directors
DreamWorks Animation
February 2005 - September 2006
Flushed Away (feature film) Coordinated VIP pitches for Directors w/outside clients (including McDonald's) through Marketing and Consumer Products departments. Assisted Production staff and talent during recording session (Hugh Jackman). Constructed daily production schedule based on requests from the Production Manager, 2 Producers and 11 departments. Conducted initial interviews of new Production Assistant (PA) candidates and trained incoming Production Office PAs. Created and distributed confidential screening notes for all Executives.
Development Intern
ImageMovers Digital
April 2004 - November 2004
Read incoming script submissions and provided notes and coverage to Director of Development as part of administrative staff for Robert Zemeckis's film company.
Education
University of Southern California
Master's degree, Executive Master of Leadership
2018 - 2022
Activities and societies: Graduate Student Consulting Project: Strategic Plan for Los Angeles Police Department's Career Development Unit EML provides students the opportunity to learn and develop within themselves highly effective leadership knowledge, skills, and practices, such as: Models of 21st-century leadership Strategic communication Emotional and social intelligence Team dynamics, collaboration and managing across boundaries Character and ethics Change management in complex cultures Diversity and inclusion Power and influence
International Ombuds Association
Foundations of Organizational Ombuds Practice, Dispute Resolution, Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution
2022 - 2022
The course covers the fundamentals of the organizational ombuds role based on the principles of confidentiality, neutrality, independence, and informality. It teaches how to work with visitors to an office as well as how to act as a change agent within your organization. The course offers the opportunity to practice the skills of listening, asking questions, clarifying, generating options, and moving to actions throughout the ombuds process. Taught by experienced and highly committed faculty of ombuds who share best practices around setting up an office and evaluating and communicating the effectiveness of the office.
Pepperdine University
BA, Theatre and Tv Production
2000 - 2004
I was one of the first students to complete the new collaborative program between the theatre and tv/telecom departments. Learned a ton and made lifelong friends.
33 Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
Kira has helped Leland clients get into North Carolina State University
Kira has helped clients get into these companies: