BONUS Get on the Chariot: Finding Career Purpose and Possibility

Surprise! In this bonus episode of Inside the Session, Drs. Jason Branch and Cheryl Fisher welcome career counseling expert and Alliant MACC Systemwide Program Director Dr. David Paul for a wide-ranging conversation about how work shapes identity, purpose, opportunity, and personal growth.

Dr. Paul challenges the traditional separation between personal and career counseling, arguing that the two are deeply connected because our work can be central to how we understand ourselves and care for those around us. The conversation explores the history of career counseling, barriers faced by marginalized communities, the role of mentorship, navigating family and cultural expectations, work-life balance, and the changing role of technology and AI in counseling.

Dr. Paul also encourages listeners to think beyond traditional career pathways, create opportunities when existing ones aren’t accessible, and remain open to changing direction as their strengths and the profession evolve. He ultimately returns to the metaphor of a career as a “chariot” that moves us forward, encouraging listeners to keep preparing, pursuing, and imagining what might be possible.