We had the good fortune of connecting with Calicia Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Calicia, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Student Career Studio helps the world by assisting students with finding money for college, landing their dream job and developing professionally. We are a one stop shop for minority collegiate students to find scholarship, internship and leadership opportunities. Our goal is to bridge the gap between opportunities and students. We assist students with resumes, mock interviews, LinkedIn strategies, professional development and networking. What sets us apart is students are able to come to one site and get the information they need. We have information on scholarships they can apply to and internship opportunities across various industries, for a wide range of majors. We also highlight corporate leadership summits, certifications and diversity conferences students can attend for additional professional development. We provide clear and concise information with direct access to the opportunity, all on one site. We also match students with professionals in their industry, as well as, connect them with recruiters through our weekly speaker series.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
After spending 10 years in the oil and gas industry as an engineer at Chevron, I recently made a career transition into the Tech Industry. I joined Microsoft as a Senior Technical Program Manager at Xbox. A career pivot is not easy and it is a very difficult decision to make, but it’s not impossible. As a black woman in STEM, it’s important for me to continue to inspire others and lead by example. I’ve been told “no” more times than I can count, which only fueled my drive, ambition and hunger. I always remind myself, all I need is one yes, and when those yes’s come, I take full advantage of them. When nobody else wants to bet on you, you absolutely must bet on yourself! I want the world to know that no matter where you are in life, it’s never too late to reach your dreams and goals! Keep pushing, stay consistent and get more comfortable with the fear of regret, rather than the fear of failure.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Great question! For a week long trip, we would definitely do some shopping (and ice skating) at the Galleria, ride bikes along the bayou, go bowling at Pinstripes, ride the paddle boats and have a picnic at Hermann Park and do a cooking class at Well Done Cooking. We would grab drinks at the Sugar Room, Roots Wine Bar or MADD.  We would eat some great Thai and Tex-Mex and of course grab brunch on the weekend.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve been tremendously blessed to have so many advocates along my journey who have sown seeds in my life. At the top of the list are my parents and my best friend because they have been the most influential in my journey. My parents created a solid foundation for me growing up and enabled me to be exposed to a lot when I was younger. The sacrifices they made to provide my brother and I a good life has gone unmatched. My best friend consistently inspires me, challenges me and pushes me to get out of my comfort zone and go after my dreams.

Website: www.StudentCareerStudio.org

Instagram: www.instagram.com/studentcareerstudio

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caliciajohnson/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/studentcareerstudio

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrARa0-RjK3fq2ALy3In3-A

Other: www.CaliciaJohnson.com

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