Alumna’s Podcast Fosters Professional Connections

Jackie Dawood ’19 M.A. is passionate about organizational psychology, and she wanted to find a podcast she could listen to that focused on what is happening in the field. When she couldn’t find one, she decided to create her own.

Dawood, who earned a master’s degree in industrial/organizational psychology from the University of New Haven, now hosts The Millennial-ist Podcast, which covers how the workplace is changing and how millennials are redefining it.

“I wanted to take what I learned in my classes at the University and apply it to everyone who is working,” she said. “I wanted to continue the conversation, and I wanted to stay front and center in the field. It was important for me not to lose touch with opportunities to continue to learn.”

The podcast has covered topics such as company culture, the importance of soft skills, and navigating office politics. Her guests on the podcasts have included her former professor, Angela Karachristos, as well as fellow industrial/organizational psychology alumni such as Rami Khaldi ’19 M.A. and Ariel Schiffer ’12, ’14 M.A.

"I wanted to continue the conversation, and I wanted to stay front and center in the field. It was important for me not to lose touch with opportunities to continue to learn."Jackie Dawood ’19 M.A.

“I want my podcast to be a platform for education,” said Dawood. “The company culture episode was one of my favorites. It was fun to see how culture varies in different industries. It’s a hot topic, but we don’t always understand the principles behind it.”

Now a human resources analyst in Krispy Kreme’s Innovation Office in Charlotte, NC, Dawood says she and her teammates are dedicated to motivating their colleagues “just as the company’s donuts motivate their customers.”

Passionate about serving as an educator in the field, Dawood also motivates clients through her coaching and consulting business, focusing on areas such as branding, resume writing, and interview preparation.

“The University’s graduate program in industrial/organizational psychology helped me to feel confident,” she said. “The relationships I developed with my professors and classmates were invaluable, and what I learned was applicable to the real world and prepared me for success.”