“Taking the opportunity to learn from someone who is an expert just expedites your journey; it makes so much sense to learn from their mistakes and grow from their experiences.” - Ki-Youn Kim, SCS learner
Ki-Youn Kim was making a big career change. After years of working in the non-profit sector, she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a freelance Science Communication Specialist. With two Bachelor’s degrees (one in biology with a minor in politics, and one in neuroscience), and a Master of Science Communication, she holds a unique skillset. “My passion is making science accessible for all audiences, and deconstructing complex scientific information, so anyone can easily understand its importance and impact,” says Ki-Youn. “I recently took the leap and started my own freelance business, which is exciting and overwhelming all at the same time. In my graduate degree, I gained a strong set of multimedia skills, and learned about podcasting. Now that I’m self-employed, I decided to further explore this
communications tool, and enhance my podcasting skills. That’s why I came to the School of Continuing Studies (SCS).”
In Fall of 2021, Ki-Youn started taking Podcasting: Strategy and Success with instructor Fatima Zaidi. “I love learning from industry leaders. Fatima taught us how to be strategic podcasters, but she also explored how there needs to be more diversity and inclusion in podcasting. She encouraged us to get your voice out there,” recalls Ki-Youn. “For years I’ve had a podcast idea in my head. But I don’t want to just talk about science, I want to provide stories so listeners can learn about STEM without it being hard-core science or inaccessible. Scientific content can be fun and entertaining, and this course made me realize that a podcast really is the right medium to share my ideas once they’re ready to go.”
When it comes to continuing education, Ki-Youn says learning from experts is the fastest way to grow and meet your goals. “Taking the opportunity to learn from someone who is an expert just expedites your journey; it makes so much sense to learn from their mistakes and grow from their experiences,” reflects Ki-Youn. “It’s such a benefit to learn strategies and shortcuts from people who have been there. That’s the benefit of learning from an expert, and that’s how I approach professional development. Even though it’s a commitment, it’s saving me time in the long run because I can be more strategic in what I do, and ideally make fewer errors along the way.”
Next, Ki-Youn aims to grow her freelance business, launch her podcast, and pursue an MBA. “This course helped me think bigger picture, and encouraged me to leverage podcasting as a tool in my marketing and branding efforts,” she says. “These skills will help me grow my business, as I find new ways to tell stories, communicate my message, and support my clients.”