Brief Summary:

Leo Cortez is the Head of University Recruiting for Airbnb, with several recruitment and career development roles under his belt. He has dedicated 10 years of his life to teaching and school administration before transitioning into the competitive space of corporate America. In this episode, Nick and Tony interview Leo about what it’s like to change careers when you’re 30, the importance of networking and paying attention to people you meet, leaving a legacy for your community, tips to increase your chances at getting hired, and how to Man Up in the career ladder.

The episode touches on the following key topics and ideas:

• Who Leo is, his educational background, his career history, his favorite mariachi song, and his favorite street taco spot (00:04:35)
• How Leo knew that he wanted to pursue education and a career in the academe (00:10:51)
• How to move up in the education field and the importance of keeping your network alive (00:13:37)
• The reason behind Leo’s drastic career change (00:17:04)
• The opportunity that led Leo from education to the high-tech space (00:18:58)
• Which one is harder, education or corporate? The pandemic answers it clearly, as most parents would know (00:22:08)
• Leo’s introductory role and responsibilities in the corporate system, and how networking expanded opportunities for his career (00:24:08)
• What are the different networking events that exist in the corporate space? (00:26:39)
• Navigating the competitive space of corporate America; the importance of understanding your company (00:29:23)
• How to set yourself apart from other job candidates (00:31:31)
• How networking and researching increase your chances of getting hired by a company (00:34:20)
• Does networking in corporate America differ from small business networking? (00:39:04)
• Why networking with 5 people is better than meeting 40 new people (00:42:50)
• The advantages and challenges of transitioning your career from education to corporate (00:46:33)
• Working on your legacy and prioritizing your family and community over your career (00:49:47)
• Leo’s professional tip: use a professional email address when applying for a job (00:57:20)
• Personalizing your public information for better business and brand recall (00:58:50)
• How to organize your resume for better hiring chances (01:00:53)
• Why networking is a big part of the recruitment process (01:05:42)
• Leo’s advice for those who want to move up in their corporate careers (01:08:42)
• Closing statements (01:10:06)