In Dialogue: Navigating Nonlinear Career Paths
Introducing the first event in In Dialogue, Pleased to Meet You’s new guest speaker series.
This networking mixer and panel is designed for women in their 20s and 30s navigating career uncertainty — whether you're struggling in the 2026 job market, questioning the traditional path, or exploring a non-linear career that better fits your life.
The evening features a curated panel of leaders in career coaching and non-linear career development. Expect practical insights, honest conversation, and tactical advice you can immediately apply to your job search or career transition.
Through candid advice, tactical insights, and an audience Q+A, we’ll explore:
Designing a career that aligns with your lifestyle
How getting hired in 2026 actually works (hint: it’s not just LinkedIn)
The portfolio career and alternative career models
Networking strategies that feel authentic and are actually effective
Navigating ambition and career transitions without burning out
What to expect:
Guided networking options designed for both introverts and extroverts
A candid, insight-driven panel rooted in real career journeys
Audience Q+A with tactical takeaways
An elevated networking atmosphere with mixed drinks, beer, and NA options from Olipop
Small bites available for purchase from Katt Co.
Dreamworldgirl zines and merchandise available for purchase
You’ll Leave With:
Clarity on job searching and networking best practices
A framework for building a non-linear or portfolio career
New connections with creative, ambitious women
A more grounded perspective on the future of work
Event Flow
6:30 PM — Arrival + Networking Mixer
Optional headshots by Giselle David (add-on ticket)
7:45 PM — Guest Speaker Introductions
8:00 PM — Panel Conversation + Audience Q+A
9:00 PM — Networking + Closing Remarks
About the Moderator:
Daphne Bryant is an interdisciplinary and LA-based artist whose mission is to uplift women, POC, and queer voices worldwide. She graduated from Emerson College with a BFA in Creative Writing and is the founder and creative director of popular multimedia publication Dreamworldgirl Zine.
About the Speakers:
From pre-med student to model to growth leader, Alexa Dafonte's career has been anything but conventional. Now heading up growth at a VC-backed consumer tech startup, she's built a career out of trusting pivots and finding the throughline between curiosity, people, and building things that connect. Through her content, she shares the unfiltered reality of non-linear paths, reinvention, and what it actually takes to bet on yourself.
Janel Abrahami is a career coach, writer, speaker, and creator at the forefront of modern careers and ambition, helping 100k+ millennials and Gen Z find their place in the Future of Work. Her popular newsletter, Going Places, is your source for what's working in the new economy and proven playbooks for creating a career on your terms.