The Next Step: Adulting 101

In this episode, Nikki interviews Scott Harken, a senior relationship manager at Rabo AgriFinance, about his non-linear path from history major to finance. Scott explains that he partners with agricultural companies to create promotional financing programs for farmers which involves problem-solving, research, and spending time with clients. He traces his journey from discovering a love of history in high school, struggling at the University of Northern Iowa, taking a “gap year” working at Hooters in Florida, then earning a history degree at Wartburg College after an English professor highlighted how history skills translate to business. After selling water for Arrowhead Water in Phoenix, he moved into mortgages at Principal/Citigroup, anticipated the coming collapse, and in 2008 shifted to John Deere Financial and eventually Rabo AgriFinance. He emphasizes ethics, transferable skills, and advises new graduates to pursue their passions.

On this episode, Nikki interviews Brooke Kraft, Vice President of Talent Management at VGM Group, Inc., where she explains the job search and hiring process from an HR perspective. Kraft outlines VGM’s recruiting lifecycle: identifying the need through preparation/job analysis, creating legally sound job descriptions and candidate-attracting job posts, choosing where to advertise, reviewing applicants, conducting screenings, interview stages, and making offers. Finally, Brooke advises new grads to search frequently, stay open-minded about titles, prepare authentic interview examples, and research the company.

On this episode, Nikki  interviews Patrick Luensman, director of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center at the University of Northern Iowa and co-owner of the Grid Lounge in Cedar Falls, about entrepreneurship. They discuss why entrepreneurship is easier when young and the bountiful number of supports available to those wishing to start their own business. Patrick provides three pieces of advice to anyone wanting to start a startup: choose a group to help, learn their needs and feelings, and talk to them.

On this episode, Nikki interviews Tori Labernik, a 2017 UNI alum, with a communications major and psychology minor. Tori begins by describing her career path from Target as an executive team lead, to admissions recruiting at Cornell College and later Central College. Most recently, she joined Pella the talent acquisition team at Pella Windows and Doors and now focuses on campus recruiting. Tori explains what stands out at career fairs: leadership and involvement, strong communication, curiosity, company research, and unique questions. She advises students to research 5–7 employers, use career services for resumes and mock interviews, dress professionally, bring paper and digital resumes, deliver a clear elevator pitch, follow up via LinkedIn or email, and communicate honestly about interest their interest.

On this episode, Nikki interviews Wartburg College alumni and Senior Area Vice President at Gallagher, Aaron Loan. First, Aaron details his career journey from political science/PR major, to a Washington DC Senate internship, radio sales, to financial services as an advisor where he moved from Cedar Rapids to Milwaukee and finally Philadelphia. He returned to Iowa before the historic 2008 floods and ended up helping to rebuild the family sod farm. Later, he joined Acumen before the team joined Gallagher, where he now advises employers on benefits. Nikki and Aaron discuss why benefits vary by industry, workforce health, claims experience, and competition, and why total compensation matters beyond salary. Aaron describes the client process involving data review, employee feedback, network analysis, and multiple meetings leading to renewal and open enrollment. Aaron highlights key choices for new grads: networks, co-pay vs high-deductible plans with HSAs, employer education tools, and annual ability to change selections.
Next Step Book

On this episode, Nikki interviews University of Northern Iowa Communication and Media alumni, Shelby Reicks ,about charting her own path from a rural Iowa dairy farm to becoming a full-time travel content creator. Shelby describes landing a sports marketing job at Paragon Marketing Group in Chicago working on ESPN’s high school sports account where she discovered her love of travel. She explains how she started on TikTok with a “travel deals” series, posted consistently for months, went viral, and proactively called a company she promoted to secure a major multi-video brand deal. She continued creating and pitching and eventually was able to quit corporate work. The bottom line?  If you have big dreams and are willing to work,  just GO FOR IT!

On this episode, Nikki continues her conversation with Dr. Kyle Rudick as they chat about the power of a graduate degree during economic downturns. They argue enrollment rises because people re-skill and up-skill to reenter the job market above where they may have left. They cite post-2008 recession unemployment rates by education level (about 30% for high school, 12% for bachelor’s, and 4.5% for master’s), emphasizing master’s holders are more insulated from layoffs. They go further into how master’s study differs from undergraduate work by fostering curiosity, self-motivation, and independent problem-solving. Finally, Kyle provides some insider knowledge when it comes to securing financial support for graduate study.

In Episode 34, Nikki welcomes Dr. Kyle Rudick of the University of Northern Iowa. Kyle contrasts undergraduate education as broad “tool gathering” with graduate school as focused development, mentorship, and creating knowledge rather than simply receiving. They discuss personality traits that make for good graduate students: those driven by curiosity and deep interest in their field. Kyle provides advice on the age-old question of whether to pursue the degree immediately or to wait. 

In this episode, Nikki interviews Brett Caviness, a University of Northern Iowa graduate and award-winning real estate agent in California, about forging a path from small-town Iowa to the Silicon Valley. Brett advises students not to overthink relocation, to secure a job before housing, budget carefully for cost-of-living, watch for rental scams, and treat moves as non-permanent decisions.

In this new mini-series, Nikki explores crooked career paths and how individual have used transferable skill sets to sell themselves in a new industry.  The first episode features her husband, Matt Harken, Manager of Safety and Environmental Engagement at GROWMARK. He explains his role in helping promote safe, compliant practices in agriculture services that feed and fuel the world. He recounts a non-linear trajectory: a scholarship football player who started as an accounting major, switched to PE education after struggling in macroeconomics. He taught driver’s ed and coached at his hometown school, then lost his dream of becoming head coach. A new opportunity led him to college football coaching and operations, then to water well drilling, and later into agricultural safety through transferable skills like sales, project management, and leadership. He discusses how he developed his leadership style and urges students heading to college to chase your heart and advises graduates to say yes and get off the fence.