Career Downloads

Career Downloads The podcast where professionals are interviewed to learn more about their backgrounds, job history, and techniques used to manage their careers.

05/26/2025

Paola Mendiola emphasizes what often gets overlooked in career advice: the power of support systems.

Her parents' work ethic and grit became her foundation. Friends who understand when she's busy. Mentors who provide guidance.

"Without my family, I wouldn't be where I am right now." Sometimes the most important career assets aren't skills or credentials - they're the people who believe in you.

05/25/2025

Simple but powerful mentorship philosophy from Paola Mendiola: "Look forward two steps, look back two steps."

She actively shares opportunities with students who are where she was two years ago, particularly resources she wishes she'd known about then.

"What advice would you give to that person?" becomes her guide for helping others navigate their tech journey.

Now studying Digital Forensics at CSN, she embodies this approach by connecting with younger students and sharing knowledge that could benefit them.

05/24/2025

The pandemic disrupted many students' hands-on learning opportunities. Paola Mendiola felt this gap after high school and found a solution through Tech Impact.

The 16-week intensive IT training program provided the practical experience she missed. But the mentorship component made it special, every cohort member receives their own mentor. Paola connected with Chelsea through this pairing.

Now studying Digital Forensics at CSN, she credits Tech Impact for building her technical foundation. Programs like this show how skills gaps can be addressed with focused, hands-on training.

05/23/2025

The power of paying it forward in action.

Paola Mendiola attended NCWIT award ceremonies as a high school student, receiving recognition for her achievements in technology. Fast forward a few years, and she's now the one speaking to current award recipients.

"I was once where you guys were... being able to come up here and talk to you guys, it's like a full circle moment for me."

She told the students "you could be next", showing how quickly roles can change in tech when you stay engaged with organizations like NCWIT.

Now pursuing Digital Forensics at CSN, Paola exemplifies how early recognition and networking opportunities compound over time.

05/22/2025

The power of LinkedIn networking in action right here.

Paola Mendiola discovered a SIM networking event through social media, attended it, met our host Manuel Martinez there - and now she's sharing her Digital Forensics journey on the podcast.

Her message is simple but powerful: "There's a bunch of stuff out there, and I feel a lot of people don't know about it."

She encourages everyone to get on LinkedIn, even as a lurker without a profile picture, just to explore opportunities. Sometimes one post, one event, one connection can change your entire trajectory.

Watch how this CSN student leveraged social media to expand her cybersecurity network and opportunities.

05/21/2025

Raw honesty from Paola Mendiola about her high school robotics experience.

She admits being intimidated by the hands-on robot building, partly because so few girls participated. Her SECTA Pair of Dice Robotics team had only 5-6 girls total.

But here's the beautiful part, the program learned and evolved. Now they host Girls in Tech events, bringing middle school girls from throughout Las Vegas to explore robotics and different tech majors.

Paola's journey from that hesitant high schooler to a confident Digital Forensics student at CSN shows how crucial early representation and encouragement are in technology fields.

Listen to her complete episode to hear how she built confidence and found her path in cybersecurity.

05/20/2025

Technology's greatest power? Bringing people together.

Paola Mendiola shares how a simple family video call changed her life forever. Unable to travel to Mexico to meet her extended family, her father set up a Skype call that let her see her grandmother and aunts for the first time.

That magical moment of connecting faces to voices sparked something special, her passion for technology and desire to help others through her work in cybersecurity.

Now studying Digital Forensics at the College of Southern Nevada, Paola's journey from that childhood video call to protecting others online shows how personal experiences shape our career paths.

Watch the clip and listen to her complete episode to learn more about her inspiring story.

🎙️ NEW EPISODE ALERT - Tomorrow (5/20)!I had such an inspiring conversation with Paola Mendiola, a digital forensics stu...
05/19/2025

🎙️ NEW EPISODE ALERT - Tomorrow (5/20)!

I had such an inspiring conversation with Paola Mendiola, a digital forensics student who's navigating her path into cybersecurity. Her story beautifully captures what it means to turn curiosity into career direction.

Paola takes us back to the moment that started it all - when her father brought home their first computer and she was able to see her grandparents in Mexico through video calls for the first time. That wonder and connection is what drove her toward technology.

In tomorrow's episode, she opens up about:
• Her experience in high school robotics and feeling like one of the few girls in the room
• How Tech Impact gave her the hands-on training she missed during the pandemic
• Building confidence and a professional network through LinkedIn
• The full-circle moment of speaking to young women at a tech event
• Her aspiration to become a cybersecurity educator

What makes this conversation special is hearing from someone who's actively building their career right now. Paola's perspective offers valuable insights for students entering tech and seasoned professionals looking to support the next generation.

Episode releases Tuesday, May 21st. Links in comments!

05/19/2025

"IT is going from a technical job to an experience management job."

Jason Frame, CIO at Southern Nevada Health District, believes technology leadership is evolving beyond technical infrastructure to focus on experience management, both customer experience (CX) and employee experience (EX).

After attending a customer contact conference aimed at sales and marketing professionals, Jason had a revelation: "Every CIO needs to be here because this is the future of how people interact with us."

Watch our full Career Downloads episode to learn how IT departments can drive better experiences while maintaining technical excellence.

05/18/2025

"Tell me the last thing you learned, how you learned it, why you learned it, and what you got out of it."

This is the interview question Jason Frame, CIO at Southern Nevada Health District, asks every candidate, despite his HR director questioning it.

Why? He's looking for naturally curious people who teach themselves new skills. These are the team members he calls on first for innovative projects and unfamiliar challenges.

Jason emphasizes that learning doesn't need to be technical, cooking the perfect steak demonstrates the same valuable mindset.

His advice for job seekers: If interviewers don't ask about your learning habits, proactively bring it up yourself!

Watch the full Career Downloads episode for more leadership insights from Jason's technology career.

05/17/2025

"If all you are is a server admin, and then we say we're going to the cloud... that makes you unemployable."

Southern Nevada Health District CIO Jason Frame warns that narrowly specialized IT roles are becoming "dinosaurs" as technology rapidly evolves.

He encourages his team to develop skills beyond their core responsibilities, emphasizing that adaptability and broad technical knowledge are increasingly essential in the shifting technology landscape.

Watch the full Career Downloads episode to learn how Jason helps his team build future-proof skill sets in today's ever-changing IT environment.

05/16/2025

"Apply anyway!", powerful advice from Jason Frame, CIO at Southern Nevada Health District, on the latest Career Downloads podcast.

Studies show many qualified professionals (especially women) won't apply for jobs unless they meet 100% of requirements, while others confidently submit applications with just 30% of qualifications.

Jason shares what really matters in interviews: beyond technical skills, hiring managers seek team fit, learning attitude, and openness to change.

Watch this clip for a taste, then check out our full episode with Jason to learn about his journey in technology leadership and more career insights!

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