Offered by Kira D.

Joined November 2024

Ex-Disney Recruiter | Interview + Career Coach | Resume Wizard | OPT Savvy

WHY should you hire me as your coach? BLUF (Bottom Line, Up Front). Quick bulleted list and story form both provided below, based on how you learn/read best. The Short List: -Former Recruiter for the Walt Disney Studios and Lucasfilm. I know what it takes to get into rooms and to walk out as the "candidate to beat" in a lineup of interviewees. -10+ Years experience coaching professionally (full-time) for students and experienced professionals, including top business schools like the USC Marshall School of Business (UG, MS, MBA). - Helped clients land roles in: corporate finance, CPG, entertainment (business side, marketing, finance, etc), internal consulting/strategy, supply chain/ops, pharma/medical, tech, automotive, IB and management consulting (undergrad only), brand management and product management, to name a few. - Consistently called out by clients as being the best when it comes to mock interviews (behavioral) and resume notes/edits. - Expert copy writer. - Lived and worked in Los Angeles for 22 years. I survived the Great Recession (2008), multiple SAG and WGA entertainment strikes and almost strikes, changing industries and job functions multiple times, and have landed roles with some of the most competitive companies in the world (Disney, DreamWorks, USC). Story Version: One of the best reviews on my page is from a former MBA student (and Military Vet). He said, "Kira is an incredible career coach and an even better human." This is what matters. Yes - that I am a knowledgeable and experienced coach. But more than that - I care about my clients and their overall well being. Job searching, grad school, transitioning from the Military and career switching are all incredibly stressful - a lot of times, more stressful than I think people anticipate. I love seeing people walk through these challenges and come out the other side, literally transformed. Often achieving more than they themselves thought possible! I have helped first gen, international students, recently separated military vets, and other non-traditional students (or clients) break into new industries and build a career path that they are excited about. When I graduated from undergrad, I graduated off cycle in December, because I kept changing my major and had to take extra classes. I landed my first job as a Production Assistant at DreamWorks Animation by February. In April, at graduation, all my friends were freaking out. Those I'd worked with in production on campus asked how I got my job and if I could teach them how to land jobs like the one I had. In addition to working with friends individually, I referred 5 people to the studio where I worked. Within 12 months, 4 of them were hired and the person who wasn't was an artistic prodigy and now works at Netflix. This has always been something I've loved doing. It just took me a while to realize it was an actual job :). My main goal in any conversation is to help YOU get clear about your next step - and to identify what you need to do in order to reach your short and long term career (and life!) goals. I'm typically a good fit and have a lot of experience working with people who: - Are MBAs recruiting for internships or full-time for all role types (Corporate Finance, Marketing/Brand, non-tech PM, PMM, Leadership Programs, Supply Chain/Ops, Business Intelligence, Sales, Startups) outside of IB and Management Consulting. I have experience working with clients and students in IB and Consulting - but there are a lot of folks on the platform who have more hands on experience here. I will say - I do a mean behavioral interview - and have had folks with a bent towards IB and Consulting remark that they have benefitted from my approach to the behavioral portion of the interview process, while working with other coaches on the technical/case portion. - Are making a significant career pivot (to a different job function, industry, or both - or out of Military service). - Are neurodiverse (ADHD, etc) and need help with productivity hacks and finding work streams that work for them. - Are students at any level (undergrad to graduate) and searching for an internship or full-time job - Are early/mid career professionals looking for a new career direction and need some help shaping and managing their career search/exploration process. - Are international students struggling with networking best practices in the US and understanding the basics of H1B and STEM OPT. I have worked with programs where 70-90% of the students were from outside the US. That said, I am not an immigration professional and cannot provide legal advice. - Are interested in careers in the entertainment space (film, TV, streaming, etc.) OR who are wanting to transition out of entertainment into a more "traditional" corporate role. Networking can be tricky for everyone! My top asynchronous recommendation? A play-by-play handbook "The 20 Minute Networking Meeting". I suggest it so often, I finally made an affiliate Amazon link: https://amzn.to/454gEpO