When I close my eyes and don’t think about my age, I still feel like I’m in college. For me, college was some of the best years of my life. The newfound freedom to come and go as I please…… taking classes that genuinely interested me……surrounded by friends 24/7. And while I was in that incredible bubble of time, my inner voice told me to cherish each moment because when it was over……well, sh*t was about to get real.

And it did. In New York City. My first job was in a boiler room environment. (IYKYK) Just imagine sitting in a big room (no cubicles) with a hundred other people cold-calling companies. Every. Single. Day. The monotony was broken up by interviewing candidates.

My parents encouraged me to move home (Chicago) after college and save money. But I had my eyes on The Big Apple. The more they pushed me to stay home, the more motivated I became to move and find a job to prove that I could succeed.

And I was. Even after witnessing the Twin Towers fall on September 11th, experiencing the 30-hour Blackout in 2003, losing family members while being long distance, and living paycheck to paycheck, I survived my “quarter-life crisis.” I made A LOT of mistakes along the way, which is how we learn. But I also had a lot of fun. I do often wonder, though, if I was provided more “Adulting” tools and resources along the way, perhaps some critical decisions I made may have been different.

I accepted the first offer extended and moved to NYC immediately. Lucky for me, my first job became my passion. I realize this does not happen for most people.

For the last 25 years, I have remained hyper-focused on Talent Management. My heart ultimately led me back to my hometown, Chicago, where I live today.

Throughout my career, I have worked with thousands of recent grads. I have coached them on all things related to job searching, interviewing, and negotiating. Working in-house not only allowed me to prepare candidates before accepting an offer, but also to manage their career expectations once they joined the company.

One thing has always remained clear to me. There is a massive discrepancy between the expectations of recent grads and their employer. The longer I am in the business, the more pronounced I see these differences and the more passionate I become to help grads succeed post-college.

Looking back, there I was in New York City, 22, with no family, my first apartment, my first job, and my first salary to live on independently. I was suddenly Adulting, and I didn’t even know it.

While I am blessed to have two parents who have been my biggest cheerleaders, there was so much more I could have learned and accomplished earlier if it had been pointed out. And not by my parents!! Often, advice coming from others makes a more profound impression.

WHAT IF you had an opportunity to take a class all about Adulting after college? WHAT IF you had specific takeaways you could look back on when the time presented to guide you in making that decision? WHAT IF you had the opportunity to listen to experts in all things related to work, finance, real estate, insurance, and mental health? WHAT IF you had a community of other rising or recent grads that you could bounce ideas off, discuss current challenges, or help support?

Well, now you do.

Welcome to Adulting101-Masterclass.