Psych Mic

Val DiFebo is the CEO of Deutsch New York. For over 25 years, Val DiFebo has been one of the key architects of Deutsch’s continual success and leadership in the advertising industry. As CEO of Deutsch’s NY office, Val brings a wealth of expertise to the business of advertising and marketing. As a leader that positions herself at the intersection of business strategies and digital techniques, since 1992 Val has continually redefined the Agency’s integrated multidisciplinary offering, allowing for the creation of rapid business solutions that impact a client’s business. Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, IKEA, Procter & Gamble, Samsung, Green Giant, PNC Bank, Sherwin-Williams, and The Michael J. Fox Foundation are a few of the blue-chip clients she’s touched thus far. Along with the Agency’s success, The Today Show, CNN, and other media outlets have all sought out her point of view, and she has been profiled in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Fortune.

A trusted industry thought leader, Val is anything but shy when it comes to advocating for equality in the workplace. Her philanthropic involvement includes supporting early career playwrights and creative storytellers through her position on the Board of The Playwrights Realm, as well as Chairman of the Hearts of Gold Foundation, which assists at-risk mothers. Additionally, she is a board member of The ANA Educational Foundation (AEF), as well as her alma mater, Williams College, where she studied — you guessed it — psychology!
In this episode, we covered:

1. What is advertising, and how is it different from marketing?
2. What does Deutsch help their clients with?
3. How did your interest in psychology develop into an interest in advertising?
4. What advice do you have for psych majors who are multi-passionate but are unsure how to take there next steps?
5. Was it difficult to market your psych background in industry?
6. Is it easier now for psych majors to enter the marketing/advertising industry?
7. What do you look for in a candidate?
8. How did you become CEO of Deutsch NY?
9. What makes for good leaders and mentors?
10. Are mentors people you actively seek out or do they just come about?
11. What does your day look like?
12. What do you love most about your job?
13. What do you love about advertising specifically?
14. How do you see advertising changing over the next couple decades?
15. What skills are important to be successful in advertising?
16. For psych majors who are interested in advertising, where can they look for positions they’d be qualified for?
17. The power of yes
18. Graduate school - necessary?
19. Hope for psych students

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Music by: Adam Fine

Nicole Vienna, PsyD, is a licensed psychologist specializing in forensic and neuropsychological evaluations. She completed her PsyD in Clinical Forensic Psychology at Alliant International University - California School of Forensic Studies and her bachelor's at the University of Arizona.
She is currently the CEO and clinical director of her private practice, Vienna Psychological Group, which collaborates with clients across multiple facets of forensic evaluation services. they provide detailed assessments used in legal proceedings and case development for both criminal and civil issues affecting adults and juveniles. They also conduct screenings for employment in public safety to determine if a candidate is a suitable fit for the psychological demands of the position. In addition, they work closely with families and educators to evaluate learning disorders, behavior problems, intelligence and achievement, and other issues impacting academic performance.
Read more about Nicole's practice and training here.
Book referenced: Insider's Guide to Graduate Programs in Clinical and Counseling Psychology by John Norcross and Michael Sayette
In this episode, we cover:

1. What is forensic psychology?
2. Do forensic psychologists always serve the court?
3. What do you need to do to be called a “forensic psychologist”?
4. How did Nicole land her internship if her PsyD was not APA accredited?
5. Roadblocks in Nicole’s training
6. Why would you get a master’s in forensic psychology if it doesn’t lead to licensure?
7. Why did you choose a PsyD over a PhD?
8. Why did you major in sociology and criminal justice in undergrad instead of psychology?
9. What was the biggest challenge you faced in graduate school?
10. Tips on balance and time management in grad school
11. Doctoral students are typically high-achievers. How do you advise them to embrace failure?
12. Was it annoying to go through clinical experiences in grad school knowing you didn’t want to work in clinical settings?
13. Why do forensic psychologists need to be clinical psychologists?
14. What was it like to work at an inpatient psychiatric hospital during grad school?
15. What was it like to work at a jail?
16. What are important things to consider before working at a jail? A lot of people are drawn to it, but are scared.
17. What does your day to day look like? What do evaluations look like?
18. Do you work equally with the prosecution and the defense?
19. What kinds of cases stick with you the most?
20. What do you wish you knew before entering this field?
21. Are there any practices in the criminal justice system you wish we would get rid of?
22. What is one skill, quality, or general factor that has served you no matter where you went?

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Music by: Adam Fine

Maxine Nwigwe, Psy.D. is a behavioral scientist, designer and futurist. She has held multiple roles across educational, corporate and nonprofit settings and has 10+ years experience in designing and developing solutions in learning, mental wellness/psychological wellbeing and workforce development. Dr. Nwigwe is also the founder of the instructional studio, Work. Love. Play, LLC. In this space, she advises startups/founding teams and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises on the integration of culturally informed and environmentally sound behavioral insights to promote organizational development and transformation. She holds a Doctorate in Psychology (specializing in Assessment and Adult Development) from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology & Society (specializing in human behavioral ecology) from Cornell University.
In this episode, we cover:

1. What is behavioral science?
2. How do you use design and behavioral science in your work?
3. What makes you a good behavioral scientist?
4. Why did you major in biology and society?
5. Why did you decide not to continue as a pre-med student?
6. Why did psychology open the door for you to be a healer?
7. Can you recall an experience that solidified for you that you wanted to go into this field?
8. How do you pay attention to your interests?
9. Why did you choose a PsyD over a PhD?
10. What do you look for in great mentors?
11. How do you assess if your mentor aligns with your values?
12. What did you learn about yourself in graduate school?
13. How and why did you pivot into the community engagement and design space?
14. What is one skill, quality, or general factor that has helped you no matter where you went?
15. What does the future hold for the field of psychology?

To submit questions for future speakers and to get even more career tips, follow @psych_mic on Instagram and visit psychmic.com to sign up for the newsletter, where you'll get career tips, grad school resources, and job opportunities straight to your inbox.

Music by: Adam Fine

Garth Neufeld, LMFT, teaches an array of psychology courses at Cascadia College where he has been a professor since 2016. Garth is the founder of Teaching Introductory Psychology Northwest and the co-founder of the PsychSessions: Conversations About Teaching N’ Stuff podcast. Garth is the Director of Regional Conference Programming for the Society for the Teaching of Psychology and the co-chair of APA’s Introductory Psychology Initiative. He has served the national teaching of psychology community through the AP psychology exam reading, APA’s Summit on the National Assessment of Psychology, and APA’s Summit on High School Psychology Education. In 2018 Garth was awarded a presidential citation from the American Psychological Association (APA) as a Citizen Psychologist for his co-founding and ongoing participation as president of Shared Space For All, a non-profit organization that educates and mentors at-risk Thai children toward the prevention of prostitution. Garth is also the recipient of the 2019 STP Wayne Weiten Teaching Excellence Award.
In this episode, we talk about Garth's own lack of direction after his BA in psychology from Saskatchewan University in Canada, why he got a Master's in Marriage & Family Therapy but chose to become a professor instead, his experience as a professor at a community college, finding friends and mentors who have an "inner gold," advice for psych students to harness their skills and knowledge, how to get your feet wet in teaching, advice for preventing burnout among teachers, and so much more!
Listen to Garth's PsychSession's podcast!
Check out Garth's nonprofit, Shared Space For All!
To submit questions for future speakers, follow @psych_mic on Instagram and visit psychmic.com to sign up for the newsletter, where I will be sending out job opportunities and tips for job searching related to the fields of our weekly speakers!

Music by: Adam Fine

Heidi K. Gardner, PhD, is a Distinguished Fellow at Harvard Law School’s Center on the Legal Profession. Previously she was a professor of Organizational Behavior at Harvard Business School. Dr. Gardner’s book “Smart Collaboration: How Professionals and Their Firms Succeed by Breaking Down Silos” was published in 2017 by Harvard Business Press, and became a Washington Post bestseller. Named by Thinkers 50 as a Next Generation Business Guru, Dr. Gardner co-founded the research and advisory firm Gardner & Co, which helps clients across professional services, industry, government, and non-profits to drive change through smarter collaboration.

Dr. Gardner has lived and worked on four continents, including as a Fulbright Fellow, and for McKinsey & Co. and Procter & Gamble. She earned her BA in Japanese from the University of Pennsylvania, a Masters degree from the London School of Economics in Industrial Relations, and a PhD from London Business School in Organizational Behavior.
Topics we cover:

• Growing up in Amish Country - Lancaster, PA
• Why Japanese language, culture, and history fascinated Heidi
• How Heidi went from being a Japanese major to a manager at Procter & Gamble
• What it means to be a leader & getting your team to shine
• Heidi’s Fulbright scholarship in post-communist Germany
• “As long as you are dealing with human beings, the value of psychology will always shine through”
• Why Heidi loves going to grocery stores in new countries
• What is Industrial Relations? - Heidi’s Master’s program
• Organizational behavior - the human component of business
• Working at McKinsey - culture, people, & work
• Wanting a job you think about in the shower
• What does a PhD in Organizational Behavior give you?
• What is smart collaboration?
• How does Heidi apply smart collaboration today?

To submit questions for future speakers and to get even more career tips, follow @psych_mic on Instagram and visit psychmic.com to sign up for the newsletter, where you'll get career tips, grad school resources, and job opportunities straight to your inbox!
Music by: Adam Fine