Thanks for checking out my profile! After 10 years as a consultant with companies like KPMG and BCG, I made a successful career pivot into executive search. With almost 20 years of experience in strategic talent acquisition and career development, I have successfully guided individuals in navigating their career paths and achieving their professional goals. My background includes global talent leadership roles at top consulting firms like Bain & Company, where I created the first global talent research & insights capability, and McKinsey & Company, where I scaled their first fully-dedicated tech recruiting team. Now, as a strategic talent partner, I specialize in career advising for university students, professionals re-entering the workforce, and those looking to change careers. I also specialize in supporting highly skilled, recent immigrants to the US to find work that aligns with the skills and experience they developed in their native country. Let's collaborate to unlock your potential and strategically position you for success in your desired field. Reach out to start your journey with me today!

As a former Bain on-campus interviewer, the majority of my coaching is for candidates preparing for consulting case interviews, However, those skills translate perfectly to helping candidates outside of consulting – including people preparing for interviews of all sorts that include any behavioral or case elements. I also with with candidates on networking strategy and on turning mediocre resumes and cover letters into ones that stand out. Finally, I provide general career guidance and help people think through major career decisions. See my credentials below: • Former member of Bain's on campus interview team — interviewed 60+ candidates and read 400+ applications • Specialize in helping my clients master the case interview — the most critical and difficult part of the process • Additional specialties — behavioral interview prep, resume/cover letter editing, networking guidance • Clients have broken into all the major consulting firms — Bain, BCG, McKinsey, ZS Associates, LEK, etc. • Education — MIT Sloan MBA (Class of 2021), Washington University in St. Louis (Class of 2016)

For 20+ years, I’ve led teams through the tough stuff—growth, change, and transformation—always keeping people at the center. I’ve managed talent pipelines, coached leaders to rise to the challenge, and developed teams of hundreds to thrive under pressure. Now, as the founder of Athena’s Ally, I’ve coached hundreds of clients to navigate their careers, own their strengths, and confidently define their story. Success starts with knowing who you are, what you do well, and how to own it. I help leaders lean into their personal narrative, master self-promotion without feeling like a jerk, and lead unapologetically. Leadership isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up, owning your strengths, and leading your way. I’m here to make sure you do it with confidence and clarity.

Hello and welcome to my profile! With over 15 years of experience in strategic partnerships and business development at top companies like Okta and Microsoft, I bring a wealth of knowledge to help you advance your career. My diverse background equips me with unique insights into navigating complex career landscapes. Whether you're looking to transition into a new role or climb the corporate ladder, I'm here to guide you every step of the way. Let's connect and chart a path to your career success!

Work with me for effective job search tips and tricks that will increase efficiency and optimize results in your process. Make strides towards finding your life's work versus merely your next role with me. As a boomerang Googler and former Blackstone Associate with degrees from Harvard and NYU, I've already helped many others achieve their academic and career goals, and I'm here to support your success next. Drop me a note to get started today - look forward to learning about you through our conversation!

Looking to break into Big Tech? There’s tons of roles across program, product, and project management at FAANG+ companies ready for the taking! Or maybe you already have your foot in the door at a Mag7 company and want to excel by upleveling your title, pay, and respect in the Big Tech industry? Join me in a coaching journey to build a plan that combines the best of personal and professional development for you to get IN and standing OUT at your dream company. Based on where you're at and what you want next, we'll focus on the right areas for you to succeed in your career: ⭐ Breaking into Big Tech | Applications: Implementing a solid framework that enables you to mass apply to the right companies, develops a profile that gets recognized in under the average time of 7 seconds that a recruiter spends looking at each resume, secures you referrals to move your application to the top of the stack, sets you up to nail your interview loops, and lands you the best compensation package ⭐ Excelling in Big Tech | Promotions: Highlighting your accomplishments clearly and concisely to advocate strongly for yourself during bonus and promotion season to level up your title, pay, and respect The goal of our work together is for you to establish and accomplish the right milestones to get you at least one rung higher on your career journey in Big Tech and leave with the mindset that you can keep climbing it with confidence on your own!

If you are an undergrad trying to get a research assistant position, fellowship, or summer internship, I can help you identify opportunities, network, craft your cover letter and resume, ace your interview, and get the position. During undergrad, I had two paid and one unpaid research assistant positions, and two paid fellowships at UC Berkeley and a paid government internship at the San Francisco Planning Department. I also have helped other students take advantage of these types of career-building opportunities.

Looking back at my career and the careers of those that I admire, one throughput has been clear - it's not just WHAT you know, but WHO you know that can move you and your career forward in life. Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, there are many ways one can build the skill of networking today to set up their careers for tomorrow. By working with me as your coach, we can talk through your career goals, how networking can help advance them, and build a strategy and plan for which to execute.

Jake Cortez is a Vice President and Strategy Manager at JPMorgan Chase & Co., where he leads the strategic organization of operations teams for Employee Compute, one of the firm's most significant technology organizations. With over 17 combined years of experience in military and financial services, he is a transformational-focused leader who drives strategic and metrics alignment across global software development, engineering, operations, and technology incubation teams. He is also an alum of Harvard Business School and a combat veteran. He is a continual servant to the Veteran community as a leader, accelerating toward the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals at scale. Specialties: Strategy Execution, Training, Administration, Operations Management, Development Planning, Process Development, Critical Thinking, Analytical Skills, Leadership, Communication Skills, Detail Oriented, Management Skills.

As a career development coach, I aid college students and early-career individuals in discovering their unique brilliance and leveraging this novel self-understanding to create careers uniquely suited to them. Throughout my career advising and mentorship experiences at the WashU Career Center, BlackRock’s Analyst Buddy Program, and Jewish Queer Youth (a nonprofit supporting LGBTQ+ Orthodox Jewish young adults), I have helped people: • Gain clarity on what makes them special: how their particular experiences, strengths, and traits shape them into one-of-a-kind individuals • Identify career goals that align with their passions, values, and desired lifestyles • Achieve their career goals by developing a unique personal brand and conveying this brand via application materials, professional communications, and interviews Getting accepted to BlackRock’s Analyst Program and then evaluating candidates for this program has given me firsthand insight into what’s required to stand out in competitive application processes and land amazing first roles. Moreover, my pivot from the financial industry into a clinical psychology doctoral program has equipped me to help clients navigate and execute fulfilling career changes. I have helped clients gain acceptance to selective internships, jobs, fellowships, and graduate schools, and have facilitated career transitions into Tech, consulting, and the nonprofit sector.