CareerConnect

If you are career-curious and interested in discovering how someone landed their first job or how blind and low vision people succeed and thrive at work, this is your page! Check out our Success Stories Video Blog Series. Listen to our one-on-one interviews with employees, employers, and business owners big and small. Read about how others have succeeded through hard work and perseverance. Hear first-hand experiences of traveling for work and leisure, working a guide dog on the job, connecting with mentors and role models, and more. When you are looking to learn about how people just like you have found success in their chosen vocation, the CareerConnect series, Success Stories, has a video or blog for you. 

Success Stories

In CareerConnect’s latest success story video series, we visit with Russell Shaffer, Senior Director – Global Culture, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Walmart. Listen as Joe Strechay and Russell engage in a frank and candid discussion on the importance of work, finding opportunities that match one’s career interests, and learning how to thrive in the modern and competitive corporate workplace. This three-part series will engage job seekers of all ages as we listen and learn how Russell managed college, dealt with vision loss, and raised a family all while motivated and empowered to work.

Current Success Stories

• Let’s Get to Work! Podcast

• Meet Joe Hodge: Software Quality Assurance Analyst with APH

• Interview with Richard Archuleta, Medically-Retired Veteran Working at the Environmental Protection Agency

Meet Russell Shaffer

In Part 1 we meet Russell Shaffer, who shares about his education, employment, early life through college, and the power of having a supportive family. In this first of three videos, Russell also talks about how the COVID era job search parallels his own experiences looking for work during the post-9/11 economic slump.

In Part 2 Russell discusses mentoring and how “disclosure” of disability at work and in life is important to know and own.

In Part 3 We wrap up our interview with Russell sharing his philosophy about picking opportunities on your own terms and the importance of perseverance.  He shares lessons he’s learned from sports, personal fitness, moving out for the first time, and negotiating with family.  Finally, Russell offers pieces of advice to students and viewers.