What actually moves a career forward?
It would be convenient if the answer were simply: work hard, do great work, get promoted, repeat. But anyone who has spent enough time in corporate life knows the ladder has a funny habit of turning sideways when you least expect it.
Back with another special mashup episode of Candid with Candidates, Jenn Hahn brings together career advice from five executives who have navigated the moves, pivots, and leadership transitions that shape long-term career growth. The focus is career velocity: building the skills, confidence, executive presence, and reputation that can move you toward your next opportunity.
This episode features perspectives from:
- Andrea Wasserman, Executive Coach and former C-suite Retail Leader
- Rebecca Lupfer, Chief Merchant at The GIANT Company
- Natasha Brinegar, Vice President of Category Management for Meat and Seafood at Food Lion
- Mark Heitke, Head of Commerce Media Strategy at Symbiosis
- Aaron Gottlieb, Executive Vice President at Advantage Solutions
What You’ll Learn
- Why Andrea Wasserman believes your career can be made in meetings and how preparation builds confidence.
- How Rebecca Lupfer adapts executive presence to different audiences and environments.
- Why targeting skills instead of titles can open unexpected career opportunities.
- How Natasha Brinegar used lateral moves to build the experience that supported her career growth.
- What Mark Heitke’s corporate-to-startup transition can teach you about finding the environment where you thrive.
- Why Aaron Gottlieb recommends seeking difficult meetings to build your leadership skills and personal brand.
Whether you’re working toward your first leadership role, eyeing the C-suite, considering a lateral move, or wondering what needs to change to get your career moving again, this episode offers practical advice from leaders who have already navigated those decisions themselves.
Listen now, stay curious, bring the energy, and keep taking ownership of your career journey.
Guest Links:
Connect with Andrea Wasserman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreawasserman/
Check out Executive Express at https://www.theexecutiveexpress.com/
Connect with Rebecca Lupfer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccalupfer/
Explore The GIANT Company: https://giantfoodstores.com/
Connect with Natasha Brinegar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-brinegar-071b853/
Food Lion: https://www.foodlion.com/
Connect with Mark Heitke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markheitke/
Explore DoorDash: https://careersatdoordash.com/
Connect with Aaron Gottlieb: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajgottlieb/
Explore Advantage Solutions: https://youradv.com/
Explore Daymon Japan: https://daymon.com/
Listen to their full episodes:
Andrea Wasserman: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5dk57JYQrhxW4UBct4QWJR?si=916e7056757c4422
Rebecca Lupfer: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3fVcAlUt3XAZynCNn9LGuh?si=0023fd95e4034701
Natasha Brinegar: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3oQ1JEF2h9r1dG89yflLLt?si=p1HfNHiCQQqcgVtBku1yLg
Mark Heitke: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6dRE4qaxRKexHyU3BokG1u?si=6eab6b80043d48d9
Aaron Gottlieb: https://open.spotify.com/episode/156l24qt8Ra0lT47E9L8Mt?si=Dyvbiop_QnqucsnctIpSdA
Next Steps:
Enjoyed the episode? Please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in retail.
For more behind-the-scenes stories and career advice follow Jenn on LinkedIn
