JD DeGulis, President and Portfolio Manager at Soundshore Management, joins host Karen to discuss navigating a career in finance. Soundshore is a long-only, value-focused boutique managing roughly 35 concentrated positions, with about two-thirds of assets coming from institutional clients like pensions and endowments.

JD's core advice for young people entering finance centers on two big decisions: understanding where you fall on the analytical-versus-sales spectrum, and broadening your search beyond the well-known names. He emphasizes that selling is far more pervasive on Wall Street than most people expect - even roles in banking and private equity are largely about persuasion and relationship-building. He also encourages candidates to explore smaller and mid-size firms, where opportunity and compensation are often comparable to the big banks.

On AI, JD is direct: get in and start using it now. He sees a real advantage for younger professionals who can not only use AI tools fluently but also explain them to senior colleagues who are less familiar. He recommends building your own agents, running repeated experiments over time, and using AI to prepare thoroughly for networking conversations and interviews.

The conversation also touches on the importance of intellectual curiosity - following industries and stocks you genuinely care about, going deep on resources like the Acquired podcast and Farnam Street, and reading consistently every day. JD closes with a reminder that the investment business demands accountability; the market gives you clear, unforgiving feedback, and being willing to pitch an idea, be wrong, and learn from it is exactly what separates candidates who stand out from those who don't.

A few of the reading/listening resources that JD suggested:

• Digital news mainstays:
  • Wall Street Journal and WSJ What's News Podcast (short episodes 2x/day)
  • The New York Times
  • Bloomberg
• Podcasts
  • Farnam Street - Newsletter and Farnam Street’s The Knowledge Project Podcast by topic (Business & Leadership, Wealth & Investing, etc)
  • All In podcast
  • Colossus Business Breakdowns podcast - HERE is the episode with JD DeGulis discussing Vistra Corp. and the rapid evolution of the renewables industry
  • Acquired podcast - Incredible, you can search for in-depth conversations by topic
• Resources for learning AI
  • Anthropic Academy
  • Coursera -

LAUNCH Career Strategies was founded by Karen Elders and Elyse Spalding. We help young professionals launch a successful career path with expert coaching services. Reach out today for an initial FREE coaching session.
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In this episode of Top of the Pile from Launch Career Strategies, host Karen Elders sits down with Emma Pratt, co-founder of Girl Math Capital, to talk about building a career in finance, taking smart career risks, and making investing more accessible for women.

Emma shares her path from Vanderbilt University to starting her career in leveraged finance at Bank of America, where she built a strong foundation in financial analysis, deal work, and evaluating businesses across industries. She then moved to Uber to work in strategic finance and M&A, helping drive smarter financial decisions and cost efficiencies across the business.

The conversation also dives into the story behind Girl Math Capital - an investing community Emma co-founded with friends to help women learn about alternative investing in a supportive, judgment-free environment. What started as a small group quickly grew into a platform offering education, deal flow, events, and a network for women interested in venture, angel, and real estate investing.

Emma also shares advice for students and young professionals on preparing for competitive finance roles and building the confidence to make bold career moves.

If you’re curious about careers in finance, alternative investing, or building something of your own, this episode is full of practical insights and inspiration.

LAUNCH Career Strategies was founded by Karen Elders and Elyse Spalding. We help young professionals launch a successful career path with expert coaching services. Reach out today for an initial FREE coaching session.
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Hiring managers don't remember resumes - they remember stories

In this episode of Top of the Pile, Karen sits down with storytelling expert and narrative strategist Aaron Calafato to talk about why storytelling isn’t just a “nice to have” skill - it’s essential to standing out in today’s job market.

Aaron has helped brands like Indeed, Glassdoor, and Palo Alto Networks build trust through story-driven content, and he brings those same principles into the job search and interview process. Aaron is the creator and host of the award-winning 7 Minute Stories podcast, which has reached over 30 million listeners, and the co-creator and co-host of Glassdoor’s The Lonely Office. He also serves as an audio growth strategist for State of Mind, one of Apple’s leading mental health podcasts.

Together, we break down the difference between simply having conversations versus telling intentional stories, and why most job seekers struggle to clearly communicate their value.

We dive into the idea of storycatching — paying attention to your own experiences as they happen — and how self-reflection and self-awareness can help you build short, compelling stories that resonate in interviews and networking conversations. Aaron also explains what a throughline is, why it matters, and how understanding both your own story and a company’s mission can dramatically improve how you show up in interviews.

If you’re a college student, recent grad, or early-career professional trying to articulate your strengths, pivot careers, or feel more confident talking about your experience, this episode will give you practical tools to tell better stories — and get remembered for them.

LAUNCH Career Strategies was founded by Karen Elders and Elyse Spalding. We help young professionals launch a successful career path with expert coaching services. Reach out today for an initial FREE coaching session.
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