Lindsay O’Shea is a Clinical Psychology Doctoral Candidate. She enjoys supporting emerging adults therapeutically as they navigate career explorations, relationships, and life transition in Brentwood, California. In her entrepreneurial ventures, Lindsay is a cofounder at Work Wise which aims to bring psychological concepts into organizations to help them flourish.
“I wish I knew that the world is so much bigger and so much more interesting than you can imagine as a teenager. Exploring new interests, new places, not choosing to be comfortable and safe with what is familiar will almost certainly present opportunities and choices that can be fulfilling and life-changing.
I would have taken more chances in college and earlier in my working career. My regrets center around things I didn’t do much more than what I have done. ”
“Academic success means little in life. I would have focused more on personal relationships and individual growth in addition to academics.”
“I wish I knew how to manage personal finances & properly budget. What you will have to think about growing up (TAXES when you start working, BUILDING CREDIT SCORE, INVESTMENTS). My finances would be managed better and I would have had much more $ saved up for my future. It also help me become more responsible about my spending habits.”
“That it’s good to always reach for your goals, but that it’s ok to fail because that gives you another chance to succeed. That pursuing someone else’s dream or being under other people’s influence on how you pursue life; will inevitably bring you back to step 1 to the question of what you want to do and who you are. Take advice as advice and not as truth. It would have made me less fearful of pursuing my own joy in life. I would have started on my own path much faster.”
“What it takes to be successful in life; long-term goals with plans, mindsets, habits, discipline, and networking not grades and certificates (memorization can get achieve those while not necessarily achieving success). Focus on the right things vs wasting time and energy on the wrong things”
“Failure is ok and should be encouraged (together with reflection and support). I would’ve taken more risks, tried more things, been less afraid to dream.”
Mark Kelly, J.D. has served 30-years on the Los Angeles Police Department, and is a 4-year Veteran of the U.S. Army with Honors. He earned his Juris Doctorate in Law with recognition in Leadership. Mark also served as a former Council member and Mayor Pro-Tem for the City of Glendora.
Karen Law is currently Counsel for Cydcor, a leading outsourced sales company in North America. With a B.A. from Bryn Mawr College and a J.D. from UCLA School of Law, Karen started her legal career at Baker & Hostetler LLP and moved on to work with several startups in both a legal and non legal capacity before landing her current position at Cydcor. Karen brings a unique perspective as an attorney who has practiced litigation and corporate law and has worn many hats for the companies she's supported.
Dr. Michael Pobanz received his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from UC Santa Barbara and is currently a school psychologist for students from 4th to 12th grade. He has worked for LAUSD for over 18 years, at all levels of education. Dr. Pobanz has traveled to over 50 countries, and lived in both Spain and Japan. He is trilingual (Japanese & Spanish) also has a private practice as a Licensed Educational Psychologist in the San Fernando Valley. He can be contacted at michael.pobanz@lausd.net
Beth Baker is a cultural anthropologist at California State University, Los Angeles. She studies immigration from Latin America, the impacts of mass deportation on U.S. society, and the immigrant rights movement. Dr. Baker has a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of New Mexico.
Shawn has worked in the animation industry for 20 years as a character designer, animator, storyboard artist, story artist, and assistant director. He currently works at Skydance Animation as a story artist on two of their upcoming feature films, "Luck" and "Split."
There’s a beauty about working behind the scenes in theatre that makes the entire experience that much more special. Once you’ve ingrained yourself in the process, you’ll never see theatre the same way again and you will be all the better for it.
Paul has been working as a lighting technician/designer for the stage for roughly 10 years now, his skills vary from Lighting design/Programming, stage management, technical direction, board operations (lighting & sound), crew work, directing, and bits of performance here and there. There’s never a moment, working in theatre that any of these skills will go unused.
Lora was born in upstate New York, raised in Phoenix, AZ, then moved to Downtown Los Angeles in 2006 to attend the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) and has been in the industry ever since.
Her passions include:
- graphics & wash treatments from designing graphic tees for Tilly’s, PacSun, Target, and Macy's
- sustainability & social responsibility from manufacturing for Patagonia and Prana
- active & lifestyle fabric development from designing activewear at Splits59
Brendon Chung is a video game developer based in Los Angeles. After leaving the world of big-budget titles, he founded Blendo Games, an award-winning independent game studio.
ZAW STUDIOS in association with Beyond The Influence Team is filming from the ground and the sky to tell stories of Life Hacks: What I Wish I Knew, and of the career mentors' amazing opportunity to share, inspire, and influence.