Content notice: This story includes brief mentions of sexual assault and trauma recovery.
Life rarely unfolds the way we imagine. That’s one of the key messages alumna Shannon Porter (Mktg’23) shared with students in Bonnie Auslander’s Written Communication for Business Leaders course. In a candid and vulnerable presentation titled “What They Don’t Say About ‘The Job’ After College,” Porter outlined a personal journey that took her from trauma to podcast success—navigating rejection, resilience and discovery along the way.
Her visit to Leeds came with inspiration for fellow young job seekers: It’s OK not to have it all figured out. You can learn as you go and piece things together.
What do you wear in court?
Porter’s college experience was overshadowed when she was raped by a close family friend her freshman year (not on the CU campus). She quietly struggled to keep studying, apply for internships, and maintain a meaningful college life while handling something far from typical—pursuing a two-year legal process against her perpetrator, whom she later discovered had also assaulted her cousin and three other women.
During finals the first semester of her junior year, Porter wasn’t just preparing for exams; she was preparing for court. There weren’t too many people she could turn to with questions like, “What’s the right thing to wear in court?”
“Life turned out to look very different than what I had thought,” she said. “I was really struggling,” she said. “At school, I felt like I was living a double life, dying on the inside as I tried to recover.”
The job search that didn’t go as planned
One of Porter’s biggest surprises after graduation was watching her peers fulfill Leeds’ 90% placement rate—securing jobs within six months—while she waited for her big break.
“I did mostly everything right,” she said, describing her efforts to study hard, engage in class and go the extra mile. She struggled with accounting and nearly failed, but overall, she was “doing the grind.” In her sophomore year, she won the Communication Strategy Case Competition at Leeds, which she now credits with helping her build a foundation in presentation and storytelling skills.
Yet despite her persistence, she still found herself among the 10% of recent graduates without a job. She had envisioned a traditional corporate path and 9-to-5 lifestyle. But after receiving 1,300 rejections—one within minutes—she stopped tracking applications in her Excel spreadsheet.
Finding her voice
Despite the challenges, Porter was discovering her voice. Her presentation at Leeds was a great example. She was warm and confident, demonstrating skills honed through crafting dozens of episodes of “What They Don’t Say: Sexual Assault and Everything in Between.” Co-created in 2023 with her cousin Lauren King, the podcast was born from a burning desire to open up dialogue around sexual assault—topics they wished they could discuss with supportive friends.
The podcast tackles raw, unfiltered subjects like “Terrible Pillow Talk: Crying During Sex,” aiming to create space for honest conversations about trauma and healing.
There are many ways to build a meaningful career—even if it doesn’t look like everyone else’s version of success.
Shannon Porter (Mktg’23)
And their message has resonated: To date, they have amassed 18,000 social media followers, 1 million TikTok likes, 80,000 streams and downloads, and more than 800 messages from listeners—and counting.
“Consent is hot”—and so is being scrappy and creative
Since launching the podcast, Porter has done whatever it takes to stay financially afloat while advancing its mission. From selling items on Etsy and eBay to working with nonprofits and creating branded merchandise with the slogan “consent is hot,” she’s been resourceful and determined.
Recognition has followed. She secured an interview with Jess Michaels, a Jeffrey Epstein survivor, for the podcast. That led to Porter’s current role as a part-time social media manager for Michaels’ startup, which focuses on sexual assault first aid. Another milestone was interviewing Susan Bratton, a high-profile relationship and intimacy expert featured on The Diary of a CEO.
Producing the podcast is demanding work. “Every week it can feel like dragging myself behind a vehicle,” Porter admitted, describing both the intensity of the editing process and the emotional vulnerability of releasing each episode. She often wrestles with self-doubt, questioning whether an episode is truly ready. Yet the podcast has become a powerful springboard for broader conversations—fueling consent and sexual assault workshops that Porter is developing and plans to bring to college campuses, including CU Boulder.
“I have pieced together a messy, low-income life in service to keeping this podcast going,” she said. “While there are bad moments, days and weeks, this is an example of a path. The 9-5 job on a corporate ladder is not the only way.”
Three Principles for Staying Grounded
Since graduation, Porter has leaned on a few principles to navigate personal and professional growth.
- Show up curious. “There’s something to learn from everyone. If you’re bored, show up more.”
- Set boundaries. “Say ‘yes’ first and then learn to say ‘no.’ If you say yes to everything, you’ll deprive the world of what you’re meant to build.”
- Use AI wisely. AI tools can be helpful in research and editing, but you never want to lose your unique voice. “I never want to use AI in a way that will outpace the integrity of my brand. Once you lose your brand, it’s hard to get it back.”
Looking Ahead
At the heart of Porter’s work is a commitment to education and open dialogue—especially around topics that are difficult to discuss. She began her Leeds presentation with the concept of a “trust tree,” a framework for engaging in honest conversations about issues like sexual assault. Her approach encourages curiosity, respect and wonder, rather than judgment.
Her message to students was simple yet powerful: “The important thing is to find and do something that will build you up.”
After her presentation, Porter reflected on LinkedIn: “Three years ago, I was sitting in those same chairs applying for jobs and hoping for something great. I didn’t know I’d end up on a completely different path than any I thought were options.”
She continued, “It was a full-circle moment to talk with students about the realities of life after college, and to remind them that there are many ways to build a meaningful career—even if it doesn’t look like everyone else’s version of success.”