Listen "From software engineer to customer experience to AI entrepreneur, meet Mariena Quintanilla"
Episode Synopsis
In this episode, you’ll meet Mariena Quintanilla, a Los Angeles-based career flipper who proves you can pivot, even within the same industry.After spending nearly two decades in tech, moving through roles in software engineering, product management, solutions architecture, and customer experience (plus navigating a layoff), Mariena had a realization: she didn’t want to keep climbing the corporate ladder but she still loved tech.So, she made the leap. Today, Mariena runs Mellonhead.co, an AI education and consulting company helping others make sense of emerging technology.In our conversation, we talk about:The inner work that happens before, during, and after a big leapBuilding a financial safety net and jumping anywayThe identity shifts that come with walking away from a titleWhy knowing who you are matters more than knowing where you’re goingMariena doesn’t sugarcoat the messy middle. She shares what it really felt like to start over, the fears she faced, and the courage it took to rebuild on her own terms.Connect with MarienaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariena/Website: https://mellonhead.co/
Thanks for tuning in to The Career Flipper!If this episode made you think, laugh, or feel a little braver about your own flip, do me a favor:💌 Share it with a friend⭐ Subscribe or follow wherever you listen💬 Leave a quick review! It helps other career flippers find our little corner of the internet. Let’s stay connected: 📲 Instagram: @thecareerflipperpod for all things podcast💼 LinkedIn: The Career Flipper Podcast🪑 And if you want to see my career flip furniture flips in real life, follow me at @sandiegofurnitureflipper Submit your story:Have a career flip story? Whether you’re in the messy middle or celebrating the other side, I’d love to hear it and maybe even feature you on the show. Submit your story here: thecareerflipper.com. Want to support the show or work together? Book me to speak about career change at your next event, collaborate through sponsorships or affiliates or got another idea? Drop me a note at [email protected] Bonus: If you’re in customer experience or building your own business, check out my online courses. Before I started flipping my life and furniture, I led CX teams and created training that’s helped over 12,000 students worldwide. Learn more at thecareerflipper.com/courses. 🎵 Music Credits Season 1: Intro & outro music by Audionautix.comSeason 2: Original music by yours truly, Jenny Dempsey, recorded in my home studio And hey, remember my favorite question: What’s the best that could happen? 💫
Thanks for tuning in to The Career Flipper!If this episode made you think, laugh, or feel a little braver about your own flip, do me a favor:💌 Share it with a friend⭐ Subscribe or follow wherever you listen💬 Leave a quick review! It helps other career flippers find our little corner of the internet. Let’s stay connected: 📲 Instagram: @thecareerflipperpod for all things podcast💼 LinkedIn: The Career Flipper Podcast🪑 And if you want to see my career flip furniture flips in real life, follow me at @sandiegofurnitureflipper Submit your story:Have a career flip story? Whether you’re in the messy middle or celebrating the other side, I’d love to hear it and maybe even feature you on the show. Submit your story here: thecareerflipper.com. Want to support the show or work together? Book me to speak about career change at your next event, collaborate through sponsorships or affiliates or got another idea? Drop me a note at [email protected] Bonus: If you’re in customer experience or building your own business, check out my online courses. Before I started flipping my life and furniture, I led CX teams and created training that’s helped over 12,000 students worldwide. Learn more at thecareerflipper.com/courses. 🎵 Music Credits Season 1: Intro & outro music by Audionautix.comSeason 2: Original music by yours truly, Jenny Dempsey, recorded in my home studio And hey, remember my favorite question: What’s the best that could happen? 💫
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.