B.O.O.S.T. Podcast
B.O.O.S.T. Podcast
Navigating Job Loss with Confidence: Cara Santucci’s Mission to Empower Federal Workers | EP153
Facing job loss can be overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be the end of the road. In this episode Cara Santucci, a seasoned social responsibility leader, and I discuss how her latest initiative, Unemployed Help Hub, is providing vital resources for federal workers impacted by recent executive orders.
From resilience-building strategies to emerging job market trends, Cara shares invaluable insights to help individuals turn uncertainty into opportunity. If you or someone you know is navigating a career transition or want to learn how social responsibility can drive lasting change, this episode is for you.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-santucci/
Website: unemployedhelphub.com
Email: UnemploymentHelpHub@gmail.com
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I really want people to know that there's no shame in losing a job. And what matters is how you move forward, and that this site is here to make sure that no one has to do that alone.
Kelly Leonard:That was Cara Santucci. She's a seasoned social responsibility leader who excels in building businesses through nonprofit partnerships, innovative technology, and strategic leadership to foster impactful community collaborations. Her latest project, Unemployed Help Hub, seeks to provide resources to individuals navigating job loss. In this episode, Cara shares resources to tap into new markets. I'm Kelly Leonard, and this is the Boost Podcast.
Announcer:Welcome to the Boost Podcast, the podcast created to ignite your business and career potential. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, launching your entrepreneurial journey, an established business leader, or early career professional, we've got you covered. In each episode, host Kelly Leonard and her guests dive into one aspect of Kelly's Signature Boost framework, ensuring you get practical, actionable insights, tips, and takeaways to build your brand, optimize relationships, obtain more leads, secure thought leadership space, and tap into new markets. Get ready for bite-sized power-packed interviews with entrepreneurs and business leaders. Greatness awaits you. So let's boost together. And now, here's Kelly Leonard. Hey Kara, welcome to the Boost Podcast.
Cara Santucci:Thank you so much for having me, Kelly. I am really excited to be speaking with you today.
Kelly Leonard:So for folks who are hearing your name for the very first time, tell us a bit more about yourself and the work that you do.
Cara Santucci:Yeah, my name is Kara Santucci. I have lived in Montgomery County pretty much my whole life. And I am an entrepreneur, a development professional at Montgomery College. And I just have a huge passion for giving back in innovative ways in the community.
Kelly Leonard:Yes, yes. And one of your most recent ideas has been the Unemployed Help Hub. And so tell us more about what inspired you to create this website specifically aimed at supporting federal workers who've been impacted by the executive orders. Like, was there a particular moment or experience that drove your decision to move forward with this project?
Cara Santucci:Yeah, honestly, nobody expects to wake up one day and find out that their job is gone. I don't think anyone is really prepared for that feeling, especially in the federal space where stability really feels like a given. But as you mentioned, an executive order gets signed, policy shift. And then suddenly people who have built their entire careers and who have still many years left to contribute are just thrown into unemployment without any warning. And I saw it happen in my own family. One day they had a solid career, and then the next they were scrambling to figure out what was next. And just that moment of uncertainty and seeing the stress of that feeling of what now really stuck with me. And I knew that they weren't alone and that this was a common experience that our community was facing. And that's when I realized that there needs to be more than just another job board. And I wanted to create a space that wasn't just about finding the next job, but about finding support and rebuilding confidence and realizing that losing a job doesn't mean that you're losing your purpose.
Kelly Leonard:You know, and the thing that I definitely am so thankful for people like you who look beyond sort of their own immediate needs to recognize the needs of the larger community. And having known you for many, many years, decades, I feel one thing that I've never known, which maybe you'll share with me, is that you are like that you have a technology background, which I don't think you do. So even walk us through even how you thought, hey, I'm gonna start this website. Like, what does that look like?
Cara Santucci:Yeah, I mean, I am one of those people where I just have a mindset of I'll figure it out. And the internet is a beautiful place uh to have so many resources out there. And so I first thought to say, well, how do I want this website to look? What do I want it to provide? And uh that's where I really thought, you know, this is really built around two pillars. I wanted to have a static portion of the website where it's offering resources, but then I also wanted the group component to have real connection. And so this place really provides both, which is unique. And that didn't help me in obviously preparing on how to make this happen. But, you know, ChatGBT, OWIX, uh, we have a lot of great resources out there. Um and honestly, that's something that I hope that our website can provide when it comes to recruitment opportunities, exclusive service discounts, mental health resources, but also where trends are going in the future around technology because people are using those resources for their resumes and understanding where things are going. And I think what makes this website so unique, obviously, is that it creates that community and that this isn't just a list of links that people can go and look at. Yes, that's great, but it allows people to really find that you're in the same boat, you're lifting one another up, and we're really breaking through a stigma around what is unemployment. And that motivation carries me through my late nights of not knowing what I'm doing and figuring it out. But um, you know, I really want people to know that there's no shame in losing a job, and what matters is how you move forward and that this site is here to make sure that no one has to do that alone.
Kelly Leonard:Yeah, I so appreciate that. And so one of the things that you mentioned these two pillars, and so can you dig in a little bit deeper in terms of like what the resources, um what resources your website offers to help federal employees as they transition?
Cara Santucci:Yeah, we so we have two pillars. One is called the resource hub, and then one is called the HubNet community. So the resource hub is a place where you can post resources. I we really encourage businesses. You know, if you're an entrepreneur yourself, you could be a photographer that wants to offer free or discounted headshots to federal workers. You know, some people may not have had a headshot in a very long time. You could be a recruiter that, you know, wants to be able to access, you know, a great talent pool and you want to connect with some talent. Um, this is an easy way to correspond there too. So the resource hub is really gonna be a lot of static information where businesses can post again, service discounts, just up-to-date information. We're gonna be grabbing things and resources from each state so that people can really again have this place to see the resources. But the Hubnet is gonna be that community portion where people can post job opportunities, they can post their talent profile, they can communicate about career resources or advice. Somebody may have just gotten a job and they're they said, Hey, I just got a job. This is what I did to get here. And then lastly, motivation. Mental health is a pillar that's in both of these uh spaces because this is a really difficult time for a lot of people. And so we want to be able to provide uplifting resources for both and to provide that resilience.
Kelly Leonard:Awesome. And I mean, it sounds like an entire wraparound service. And so I know this is um, you know, a labor of love and work in progress for you. Are there specific needs that you may be looking for in supporting the hub to move forward?
Cara Santucci:Yes, we definitely are looking for if you're a lawyer and you know you can be able to provide any expertise. You know, some people again are getting laid off from many different circumstances and they need legal support. If you are a photographer, we definitely want to offer uh you know, discounted headshots. If you're a mental health professional and you want to offer free or discounted counseling sessions, career coaches, resume services, those types of things. If you're a business and you can be of any niche, if you're a business that wants to provide a discount, you know, when you're unemployed, that's what that means. You don't have money coming in. So just anything that you can provide. And then lastly, just information. If you have information or access to information that says, hey, this is a new resource that's about to come out to the state, and you want us to share it, we want to be able to do that. We want to be able to be a reliable place that gives the most up-to-date information so that people know what to do, how to file unemployment, if they can't, can they? You know, there's a lot of different moving pieces. So awesome.
Kelly Leonard:And so, Kara, as you look ahead, um, what, in your opinion, are some of the emerging trends that you're seeing in the job market for federal workers, and how can they proactively tap into some of these new opportunities to ensure some long-term success?
Cara Santucci:Yeah, I mean, you know, we see this, but the job market is shifting, um, and especially since COVID. And federal workers who can stay ahead of the trends will have the real advantage here. I mean, digital skills are huge. Um, cybersecurity, AI, data analysis, they're just becoming more and more essential fields and tools that everyone really needs to be familiar with. Um, and while remote work may have not been as permanent as we once thought, um, it has opened the door to flexible career paths and including independent ventures. And I think we're seeing a mindset shift that people are realizing that careers shouldn't be entirely dependent on one employer, and that more professionals are just exploring entrepreneurship, freelancing, consulting, and creating their own history and their own future and their own opportunities. So I would say if you ever considered starting your own, um, this is a perfect time to do this. And the good news is that federal employees have a lot of strong transferable skills. And so the key is learning how to apply them in these industries and roles. And that's exactly where our site comes in because we want to help people understand where the job market is heading and how to take control of those next steps, whether that means pivoting to a different field, launching something new, or finding a new job. And lastly, this is a time where we really can take advantage of, you know, having some upskill. And many colleges, universities, um, organizations are offering certificate programs and designed to help workers in transition. And we can be able to really advance our own skills. So this is a time where if you're unemployed, maybe you can do that. And again, it's not just about finding your next job, but it's about making sure that your next move is fulfilling and stable and hopefully future-proof.
Kelly Leonard:Absolutely. Thank you for that. And so, Kara, if folks are listening and they're interested in either tapping into the resources for themselves andor being a resource for folks who are perhaps in transition, what's the best way for them to get in touch with you or to access the site?
Cara Santucci:Yeah, so uh definitely recommend going to our website, um, unemployedhelphub.com. That is where you can find all of the areas of where you can connect to. Um, you can also find our contact form there, um, and you can be able to reach us, reach out to us. And I will say that there is a tab where it's about supporting our mission. And so if you say, Hey, you know, I love what you're doing, but I may not particularly be able to help in one of the categories, you know, this is a free platform. And so if you would like to support our mission with advertising opportunities or just business sponsorships or partnerships, we welcome that. Not only will it provide support with our mission, but hopefully can bring a lot of value to you and showing that you're a business that supports, you know, your community and those people that are using the site will see that and we will celebrate you for that.
Kelly Leonard:Awesome. Thank you so much, Kara, for your heart, for community, and for serving other folks. I am so grateful for you and your contributions.
Cara Santucci:Thank you so much. It is a pleasure to know you.
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