Sl Foundation Presents The Power Of Storytelling With Shane Adams

Mrignayni Chhotwani, or Maggie, is a senior software engineer at Visa. Shane and Maggie talk about her love for stand-up comedy, her recent relationship status, and her thoughts on the importance of persistence.  She also discusses some of the challenges she faces being a woman in a male-dominated industry, how she found her love for computer science, and how she was able to acclimate after a big move from India to the US for her master’s degree.According to Glassdoor, the salary of a Senior Software Engineer at Visa makes an average salary of $103,684 per year.You can reach out to Mrignayni through her LinkedIn profile.

Dana Rygwelski is Founding Director for MassChallenge, a startup accelerator. Originally from Pennsylvania, Dana sits down with Shane to talk about her many many feats, including being one of 5 women to squat over 700 pounds, working in some awesome positions in companies like Hulu, and even defeating cancer. Dana is an open book as she sits down to tell Shane about obtaining an abortion in college and even getting caught as a rebellious teen for stealing. Despite all these struggles, Dana was able to find a place in the top in the world of startups as she helps companies get where they need to be.According to Glassdoor, the salary of a director at MassChallenge ranges from $71,000 to $110,000 per year.You can reach out to Dana through her LinkedIn profile.

Dana Rygwelski is Founding Director for MassChallenge, a startup accelerator. Originally from Pennsylvania, Dana sits down with Shane to talk about her many many feats, including being one of 5 women to squat over 700 pounds, working in some awesome positions in companies like Hulu, and even defeating cancer. Dana is an open book as she sits down to tell Shane about obtaining an abortion in college and even getting caught as a rebellious teen for stealing. Despite all these struggles, Dana was able to find a place in the top in the world of startups as she helps companies get where they need to be.According to Glassdoor, the salary of a director at MassChallenge ranges from $71,000 to $110,000 per year.You can reach out to Dana through her LinkedIn profile.

Aanandh Chandrasekar is a chemical engineer major who became an Investor Evangelist at Capital Factory. Aanandh talks with Shane about growing up in Sugar Land, Texas as a child of Indian immigrants. He talks about being bullied for being smart and going to Nationals for Quiz Bowl. Aanandh offers the challenges he faced in college, advice on finding jobs, and details on his work in venture capital. He talks about how he didn’t let his college major determine his career and that an unconventional pathway, sometimes, is the right one.According to Paysa, a director at Capital Factory makes an average salary of $68,000 per year.You can reach out to Aanandh through his LinkedIn profile.

Aanandh Chandrasekar is a chemical engineer major who became an Investor Evangelist at Capital Factory. Aanandh talks with Shane about growing up in Sugar Land, Texas as a child of Indian immigrants. He talks about being bullied for being smart and going to Nationals for Quiz Bowl. Aanandh offers the challenges he faced in college, advice on finding jobs, and details on his work in venture capital. He talks about how he didn’t let his college major determine his career and that an unconventional pathway, sometimes, is the right one.According to Paysa, a director at Capital Factory makes an average salary of $68,000 per year.You can reach out to Aanandh through his LinkedIn profile.

Stephanie Cantú, PhD is the Senior Student Program Coordinator at The McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. Stephanie and Shane sit down to talk about growing up as a child of divorce, being bullied for being less affluent than her peers, becoming a yoga instructor, and studying the social psychology of mating. She recalls the major factor that led her to where she is today— seeing a female president of Texas A&M University and being inspired to become a female president of a university herself. Stephanie also talks challenges of being a woman of Hispanic heritage in the world of academia and how she overcame those challenges.According to The Texas Tribune, a program coordinator at the University of Texas at Austin makes an average of $57,750.You can reach out to Stephanie through her LinkedIn profile.

Stephanie Cantú, PhD is the Senior Student Program Coordinator at The McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. Stephanie and Shane sit down to talk about growing up as a child of divorce, being bullied for being less affluent than her peers, becoming a yoga instructor, and studying the social psychology of mating. She recalls the major factor that led her to where she is today— seeing a female president of Texas A&M University and being inspired to become a female president of a university herself. Stephanie also talks challenges of being a woman of Hispanic heritage in the world of academia and how she overcame those challenges. According to The Texas Tribune, a program coordinator at the University of Texas at Austin makes an average of $57,750. You can reach out to Stephanie through her LinkedIn profile.

Danny De Los Santos is a Global Sales Enablement Manager at the technology company Cloudera. Danny came from the small town of Mercedes in the south of Texas. In this episode, Danny discusses his sexuality with Shane and struggles he’s faced because of it. Danny also talks about breaking out of the status quo when it comes to extracurriculars. He mentions how one of the best way to escape a bad situation is through obtaining an education, which is why he was the first in his family to go to college. He talks about his decision to deviate from his family of migrant farmworkers to pursue a marketing career that played to his creative strengths. According to ZipRecruiter, a Sales Enablement Manager makes an average salary of $105,863/yr. You can connect with Danny via his LinkedIn.

Danny De Los Santos is a Global Sales Enablement Manager at the technology company Cloudera. Danny came from the small town of Mercedes in the south of Texas. In this episode, Danny discusses his sexuality with Shane and struggles he’s faced because of it. Danny also talks about breaking out of the status quo when it comes to extracurriculars. He mentions how one of the best way to escape a bad situation is through obtaining an education, which is why he was the first in his family to go to college. He talks about his decision to deviate from his family of migrant farmworkers to pursue a marketing career that played to his creative strengths. According to ZipRecruiter, a Sales Enablement Manager makes an average salary of $105,863/yr. You can connect with Danny via his LinkedIn.

Shayna Dunitz is the Chief Operating Officer at the startup Central Athlete. Shayna talks about working in startups ever since she graduated from Ithaca College in New York and how she enjoys running marathons. Shayna and Shane discuss getting out of her comfort zone, taking initiative in business, navigating friendships, and becoming more involved in college. The two discuss how many people don’t consider themselves artists, athletes, or coders, but it’s never too late to try something new. They come to the conclusion that trying new things can result in finding a new career or favorite hobby. According to Glassdoor, a fitness manager salary ranges from $32,000-$66,000 per year. You can reach out to Shayna through her LinkedIn profile. Episode Webpage

Shayna Dunitz is the Chief Operating Officer at the startup Central Athlete. Shayna talks about working in startups ever since she graduated from Ithaca College in New York and how she enjoys running marathons. Shayna and Shane discuss getting out of her comfort zone, taking initiative in business, navigating friendships, and becoming more involved in college. The two discuss how many people don’t consider themselves artists, athletes, or coders, but it’s never too late to try something new. They come to the conclusion that trying new things can result in finding a new career or favorite hobby. According to Glassdoor, a fitness manager salary ranges from $32,000-$66,000 per year. You can reach out to Shayna through her LinkedIn profile. Episode Webpage

Vida Biggins is a Management Consulting Senior Analyst at Accenture, the world’s largest consulting firm. Vida talks with Shane about dropping out of high school, attending community college, and then graduating from the Ivy League college Columbia. She discusses how having determination and taking initiative opened up new possibilities for herself. Vida talks about how she turned her adversity into strengths and initiated conversations that helped her further her career. She discloses how she looked past all the negative words people had to say and used that to fuel her determination to succeed. She also talks about how happiness isn’t about doing the things that look good on a resume, but rather about doing the things that she’s passionate about. According to Glassdoor, a Management Consulting Senior Analyst makes an average base salary of $83,828 per year. You can reach out to Vida through her LinkedIn profile. Episode Webpage

Vida Biggins is a Management Consulting Senior Analyst at Accenture, the world’s largest consulting firm. Vida talks with Shane about dropping out of high school, attending community college, and then graduating from the Ivy League college Columbia. She discusses how having determination and taking initiative opened up new possibilities for herself. Vida talks about how she turned her adversity into strengths and initiated conversations that helped her further her career. She discloses how she looked past all the negative words people had to say and used that to fuel her determination to succeed. She also talks about how happiness isn’t about doing the things that look good on a resume, but rather about doing the things that she’s passionate about. According to Glassdoor, a Management Consulting Senior Analyst makes an average base salary of $83,828 per year. You can reach out to Vida through her LinkedIn profile. Episode Webpage

Jose Tamez is a Software Application Tech Support Associate Manager at Accenture, the world’s largest consulting firm. Jose talks with Shane about how he achieved his dream by overcoming the challenges of moving and cultural barriers, a serious health ailment, and a long-distance relationship. He discusses how change can open up new, unknown pathways, and can often times be for the better. Jose states many examples of setting an end goal and finding the little steps to take to achieve it. According to Glassdoor, a Technical Support Manager makes an average base salary of $86,236 per year. You can reach out to Jose through his LinkedIn profile. Episode Webpage

Jose Tamez is a Software Application Tech Support Associate Manager at Accenture, the world’s largest consulting firm. Jose talks with Shane about how he achieved his dream by overcoming the challenges of moving and cultural barriers, a serious health ailment, and a long-distance relationship. He discusses how change can open up new, unknown pathways, and can often times be for the better. Jose states many examples of setting an end goal and finding the little steps to take to achieve it. According to Glassdoor, a Technical Support Manager makes an average base salary of $86,236 per year. You can reach out to Jose through his LinkedIn profile. Episode Webpage

Lyric Wardlow is the Executive Director of her own non-profit, Yociety, and a Youth Specialist at Texas Network of Youth Services. Lyric sits down with Shane to talk about spending time in homeless shelters, being bullied, facing abuse from her father, and even dancing to pay the bills. She talks about how she was able to overcome these struggles with perseverance and determination. She tells Shane how her adversity made her a stronger person. According to Glassdoor, youth services jobs can make $44,000 to $95,000 per year. You can reach out to Lyric through her LinkedIn profile. Episode Webpage

Lyric Wardlow is the Executive Director of her own non-profit, Yociety, and a Youth Specialist at Texas Network of Youth Services. Lyric sits down with Shane to talk about spending time in homeless shelters, being bullied, facing abuse from her father, and even dancing to pay the bills. She talks about how she was able to overcome these struggles with perseverance and determination. She tells Shane how her adversity made her a stronger person. According to Glassdoor, youth services jobs can make $44,000 to $95,000 per year. You can reach out to Lyric through her LinkedIn profile. Episode Webpage

Nathan Ryan is the CEO and Founder of Blue Sky Partners and a Commissioner for the city of Austin. Nathan talks about his wide variety of careers, from going on tour as a professional drummer, to working at Disney as a graphic designer— all without a 4-year college degree. Nathan and Shane discuss the power of making network connections and how they lead from one job to another. He talks about starting his own consulting business from the ground up with the help of experienced friends. You can reach out to Nathan through his LinkedIn profile. Episode Webpage

Nathan Ryan is the CEO and Founder of Blue Sky Partners and a Commissioner for the city of Austin. Nathan talks about his wide variety of careers, from going on tour as a professional drummer, to working at Disney as a graphic designer— all without a 4-year college degree. Nathan and Shane discuss the power of making network connections and how they lead from one job to another. He talks about starting his own consulting business from the ground up with the help of experienced friends. You can reach out to Nathan through his LinkedIn profile. Episode Webpage

Federico “Fede” Galarraga is an entrepreneur who founded three different companies: Tastegraphy, Full Fridge, and Sigma Lion. Fede talks about originally being from Venezuela and then getting his degree at the University of Houston in Texas in Electrical Engineering. Fede discloses that he really just got that degree to make an audio amplifier for the rock band of his dreams. Shane and Fede talk about how that degree actually landed him a job as a software developer at IBM, only for him to leave it to start his own businesses from scratch. Fede discusses how people shouldn’t be afraid to fail and take risks— it often leads learning valuable lessons and furthering progress. He shares the tips and tricks he learned while becoming an entrepreneur. According to Glassdoor, a software developer salary at IBM ranges from $43,682 to $160,524 per year. According to BizFluent, The average salary of an entrepreneur is between $58,000 and $68,000 per year, but it varies greatly depending on the industry. The top entrepre