The Power of Transferable Skills: Carolina Baldin on Switching Careers

In this episode of the Speaking of Phenomenal podcast, Carolina Baldin shares her journey from being an attorney in Brazil to becoming a freelance journalist in Chicago. She discusses the importance of curiosity in journalism, her experiences reporting on gentrification in Pilsen, and offers advice for early career journalists. Carolina emphasizes the significance of using one's voice in writing and how her background in law has influenced her approach to storytelling

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Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction and Background
• 3:17 Transitioning from Law to Journalism
• 6:35 Curiosity as a Driving Force
• 9:35 Reporting on Gentrification in Pilsen
• 13:00 Insights on Early Career Journalism
• 15:54 Writing for the Speaking of Phenomenal Blog
• 18:44 The Importance of Form in Communication
• 21:54 Conclusion and Future Endeavors

Transcript

Amy Boyle (amyboylephoto) (00:00.142)
Welcome to the Speaking of Phenomenal podcast, Carolina. I'm so glad you're here.

Carolina Baldin
Thank you, Amy. Thank you so much for having me. I'm excited to introduce the Phenomenal You to our listeners! And, full disclosure, I write the blog posts and recaps for the podcast. We've known each other since our days at Medill, where we both earned our master's in journalism.

Amy Boyle
Yes, it’s great to have you here, Carolina.

Carolina Baldin
Thanks! I’m Carolina Baldin, a freelance journalist based in Chicago, originally from Brazil. I moved here five years ago—just five weeks before the pandemic started. Back in Brazil, I worked as an attorney, but after moving, I couldn't practice law here. I decided to pursue a passion I’d always had: journalism and writing. At the time, I didn’t even know what Northwestern or Medill was, but after researching, I realized it was a perfect fit to help me transition careers.

Amy Boyle
Looking back, do you have advice for listeners who are curious about exploring fields that may seem unrelated—like law and journalism?

Carolina Baldin
It’s funny because people often think law and journalism are worlds apart, but they’re more connected than you’d think. In both fields, you’re researching, interviewing, and analyzing information. When I was an attorney, I had to interview clients, gather facts, and craft arguments—skills I now use as a journalist. I recommend focusing on the skills you gain, rather than the field itself. Curiosity, the ability to ask the right questions, and handling complex topics are all transferable. I think anyone can draw from their past experience, no matter how different it may seem.

Amy Boyle
You mentioned curiosity—something essential in both law and journalism. Is there a particular source of your curiosity?

Carolina Baldin
Definitely from my parents. My mom encouraged us to view school and learning as something fun and fulfilling. I remember we had lots of outdoor classes, which made education enjoyable rather than just a duty. This early sense of curiosity grew as I started wondering why people make the choices they do and how those choices impact society.

Amy Boyle (04:38.635)
And speaking of impact, let’s discuss your recent article with Block Club Chicago about gentrification in Pilsen. Can you tell us how your curiosity led you to that story?

Carolina Baldin
I was first drawn to Pilsen during a class at Medill. I didn’t know much about Chicago neighborhoods, but I’d heard about Pilsen’s issues with gentrification. I started researching, reaching out to professors, business owners, landlords, and residents. I wanted to understand the long-standing dynamics that were causing long-term residents to leave, while also noticing the area felt safer. The stories from those affected—like a former tenant who had to leave due to rent increases—were powerful. I was fascinated by how people, like one landlord who kept his rents low, made choices to support their community.

Amy Boyle
That’s incredible, and I’ll make sure to link to the article in today’s episode notes. Lionel, one of your sources, really stood out as a character study. What was it like to spend time with him?

Carolina Baldin
Lionel was so open and generous with his story. He trusted me, even though I was still a student with just an idea. I was struck by his willingness to share his life story, his childhood in Pilsen, and why he stayed connected to his roots. It was a reminder of how open people can be when you approach them with genuine curiosity.

Amy Boyle
As a journalist, you've also written for Poynter, where you shared practical advice for early-career journalists. What tips would you give someone interested in pitching stories?

Carolina Baldin
At Medill, there was always pressure to come up with story ideas. One thing that helped me was Stephen King’s advice to “write about what you know.” I started pitching ideas based on my own challenges, like how to start a journalism career in a time of industry layoffs. I also focused on developing habits that could make the transition smoother, like reading daily, conducting practice interviews with friends, and writing constantly—even without an editor.

Amy Boyle
Building good habits is so grounding. And speaking of writing, you contribute weekly to the Speaking of Phenomenal blog. How has that experience been?

Carolina Baldin
Writing for the blog has been both challenging and rewarding. Coming from a legal background, where my writing was technical, it was hard to shift into using my voice more personally. I had to learn to be creative and add a personal touch. If you read my early blog posts compared to recent ones, you’d see the growth. This experience has helped shape me into the kind of journalist and writer I want to become.

Amy Boyle (19:21.489)
I remember reading your blog post on our interview with Susan Murphy, the broadcasting coach. What stood out to you about that piece?

Carolina Baldin
Susan really resonated with me because she understands that how we say things matters. This was something I always felt as an attorney and as a journalist. Our tone and delivery can uplift or discourage people. Susan’s approach to mindful communication felt like a revelation—she validated my belief in the importance of the form in which we convey information.

Amy Boyle
Susan’s advice on intentionality really connected with the podcast’s overall theme: we’re all in this together, sharing diverse voices and perspectives. Thank you so much for being a part of that mission and for sharing your journey today.

Carolina Baldin
Thank you, Amy. I love being part of the Speaking of Phenomenal community. It’s inspiring to see how our lives aren’t linear, and we’re constantly learning and evolving.

Amy Boyle
Thank you for joining us on this episode of Speaking of Phenomenal. Be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast. Remember, each of you is capable of extraordinary things. Until next time, take care, and remember: you are phenomenal.