Brian Kurth

Current

Author at Test-Drive Your Dream Job: A Step-By-Step Guide To Finding And Creating The Work You Love
President at VocationVacations
President at Brian Kurth + Company

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Past

Director, Business Development at Telenisus
Product Management Mgr/Director at Ameritech
Business Sales at ATandT

Regional Trainer at May Department Stores

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1 more...

Education

Loyola University of Chicago
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Recommended

4 people have recommended Brian

Connections

500+ connections

Industry

Professional Training & Coaching

Brian Kurth’s Summary

Brian Kurth (www.briankurth.com) is the founder of VocationVacations (www.vocationvacations.com) and is a nationally-recognized career coach/strategist, professional speaker and author. He has appeared on CNBC, CNN, Fox News, Microsoft's Small Business Summit (live), MSNBC and NBC’s TODAY Show (live). Brian's career advice has been featured in articles in BusinessWeek, Entrepreneur Magazine, Fast Company Magazine, Fortune Magazine, Men's Journal, The New York Times; O, The Oprah Magazine; and The Wall Street Journal, just to name a few.

After a successful corporate career in Chicago, he moved to Portland, Oregon and founded VocationVacations, the only company of its kind that allows people to experience their dream job for 2-3 days. Brian is the author of “Test-Drive Your Dream Job – A Step-By-Step Guide to Finding and Creating the Work You Love” (Hachette, 2008) and is a sought-after speaker.

The concept for VocationVacations was born on Chicago's Kennedy Expressway in 1999 during one of Brian’s long, daily commutes. He wondered what it would be like to be a wine maker, a tour guide or a dog trainer. A business idea was born. VocationVacations was launched in January 2004.

Before launching VocationVacations, Brian spent more than a decade in the corporate world which included living and working abroad in Tallinn, Estonia and Budapest, Hungary; working his way up in product marketing within the telecommunications industry with AT&T and Ameritech; and finally becoming the director of business development for a dot-com.

For speaking engagement requests and sponsorships, please contact George Greenfield at CreativeWell at:
george@creativewell.com

For media requests, please contact Dianne Haines at:
dianne@vocationvacations.com

Brian Kurth’s Specialties:

Career Strategy, Career Coaching, Career Consulting, Mentorship, Professional Speaking, Media & Public Relations, Branding and Entrepreneurialism

Brian Kurth’s Experience

Author

Test-Drive Your Dream Job: A Step-By-Step Guide To Finding And Creating The Work You Love

(Public Company; AMZN; Internet industry)

January 2008 — Present (1 year 11 months)

"The mix of candor, concrete advice and real-life stories adds up to a must-read for those who are ready to shove aside the status quo and take a chance at a more satisfying career."
(USA Today )

"This is far more than a collection of motivational quotes. Test-Drive Your Dream Job offers concrete examples and practical solutions for the disenchanted. Highly recommended!" (Curledup.com )

"If you have ever worked at a job that you hated, you know how downtrodden you can get. Finding your dream job always seems like an arm's length away, but it doesn't have to be that way. This book lays out the step by step path that you need to create your dream job. Inspiration abounds within the pages of this book."
(Laurawilliamsmusings.blogspot.com )

"This revolutionary, hands-on program from the founder of VocationVacations will help you mesh your working life with your deepest sense of self..."
(The Sunday Oregonian )

"You can make money and love your job. However, be smart about any job transitions. Read this book first!" (Reviewyourbook.com )

"Test-Drive Your Dream Job is both an engrossing chronicle of Kurth's journey to creating his own dream job and a sourcebook for those who can't afford a mentoring fee or would prefer to set up a test-drive themselves."
(Bookpage )

In TEST-DRIVE YOUR DREAM JOB, you'll discover how you can identify, explore and experience your dream job, and how or if you want to pursue it. Author Brian Kurth, founder of VocationVacations, offers professional, personal and financial perspectives on how to transition into a new career and turn your dream job into a reality without risking your current job or jeopardizing your financial stability.

Brian Kurth is a sought-after career transition expert and speaker. He has shared his wit and wisdom in appearances on NBC's TODAY Show, CNN, and FOX News, and has been featured in articles in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and Fortune Magazine. He lives in Portland, Oregon.
President

VocationVacations

(Professional Training & Coaching industry)

April 2004 — Present (5 years 8 months)

Created and launched a company that provides one-on-one dream-job mentorship experiences in combination with career coaching and assessments.

Cultivated national and international media contacts and leveraged them as VocationVacations’ main marketing and promotions engine. Managed ongoing direct relationships with CBS, CNBC, CNN, Discovery Communications, Fortune Magazine, FOX, Harpo Studios, Martha Stewart Radio, MSNBC, The New York Times, NBC Nightly News, NPR, The Oprah Magazine, The TODAY Show, USA Today, Wall Street Journal and XM Radio. Generated more than 300 media stories in the US, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, Spain and the UK.

Developed multi-faceted revenue streams based on mentorship packages, publishing and television production. Managed contracts with over 300 experts in more than 150 vocation types in 30 states. Negotiated strategic marketing partnerships with Ameriprise, Hilton Hotels and Monster.
President

Brian Kurth + Company

(Professional Training & Coaching industry)

April 2004 — Present (5 years 8 months)

Professional career consulting and development firm providing individual career transition counsel as well as corporate outplacement services. The crux to Brian Kurth + Company is the belief that attaining mentorship in one's new career is THE key to a successful career transition.
Director, Business Development

Telenisus

(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)

February 2000 — September 2001 (1 year 8 months)

Designed business development strategy resulting in revenue-generating alliances in the field of managed Internet security for NTT (Japan) and Articon Integralis (UK & Germany). Negotiated vendor contracts with Cisco and Nokia. Acted as point person for Telenisus during prospective European and Asian companies’ acquisition due diligence efforts.
Product Management Mgr/Director

Ameritech

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; AIT; Telecommunications industry)

September 1995 — February 2000 (4 years 6 months)

Generated new product revenue of $30 million, 25% above objective. Implemented national and international data strategy. Led promotions team comprising product marketing, billing, and IT. Developed and implemented new optional calling plans for business customers including governmental tariffing and competitive pricing strategy.

Managed 15 Hungarian product managers at Matav, Hungary’s telephone company. Grew Matav’s business customer revenue stream by 15%, to over $40 million. Introduced promotions, market communications, loyalty incentives and an educational program to shift Matav’s image as a former Communist-run monopoly to a customer-focused, market-driven company. Defined Matav’s product pricing and marketing strategies in advance of Hungary’s new competitive marketplace.
Business Sales

ATandT

(Professional Training & Coaching industry)

February 1993 — September 1995 (2 years 8 months)

Sold business telecom calling plans and consistently exceeded AT&T sales objectives by more than 20%. Earned place on AT&T’s fast-track Leaders’ Council Program (LCP).
Regional Trainer

May Department Stores

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; MAY; Retail industry)

August 1988 — February 1990 (1 year 7 months)

Wrote and produced sales associate training program for more than 1,000 employees across ten Famous-Barr department stores.

Brian Kurth’s Education

Loyola University of Chicago

MA , Political Science , 1990 — 1991

Activities and Societies:

Earned full, academic scholarship
University of Wisconsin-Madison

B.A. , History, Political Science and Int'l Relations , 1984 — 1988

Activities and Societies:

Dean’s List; Order of Omega Honor Society, Vice President

Additional Information

Brian Kurth’s Interests:

Spending time with family and friends is #1 for me. Also a huge animal lover. I travel too much to own a dog but I'm lucky to have a hilarious cat who thinks she's a dog. When I have the time, I really love to be outdoors hiking or biking. I enjoy all types of food -- I'm a big-time foodie who can't cook, however. Also into microbrews and wine varietals.