How Ali Feller Landed Her Dream Job and What You Can Learn From It

I sat down for an interview with one of my favorite people, Ali Feller. 

If you know the name, you probably know her as the host of Ali on the Run Show, one of the top running podcasts in the country. Or maybe you’ve heard her voice booming over the loudspeakers as a race announcer at the NYC, Boston, or Chicago Marathons.

But before all of that, she was just a fresh-out-of-college grad trying to figure out how to land her dream job in New York City. Spoiler alert: she did it.

And she did it with a combination of grit, curiosity, and emotional intelligence. No fancy connections, no silver spoon. Just hustle and heart.

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From Cold Emails to Editor in Chief

Ali and I met on the editorial team of Dance Spirit Magazine, a publication we both idolized before we ever set foot in the office. At the time, we were 20-somethings, wide-eyed and grateful to be in the building. We worked hard, but we also laughed a lot, made deadlines feel fun, and shared more cinnamon dolce lattes and chocolate-covered graham crackers than I can count.

But how Ali got there is what I want to focus on.

She didn’t have a secret contact or a perfect resume. What she had was boldness. When she couldn’t find the right person to contact about an internship, she took initiative and emailed someone in sales. That email got forwarded to the editor, and guess what? She landed the internship.

Ali spent months commuting six hours round-trip from Connecticut to New York, unpaid, just for the opportunity to show up and prove herself. And she did. That internship turned into a full-time role, which turned into a promotion, which eventually turned into Editor in Chief of the very magazine she’d dreamed about as a kid.

That’s the power of being bold.

Why Confidence and Curiosity Beat Credentials

In our interview, Ali and I talked a lot about the pressure college grads feel to show up fully formed…like you have to have all the experience, all the answers, and a clear five-year plan. 

But here’s the truth:

Confidence and curiosity will take you further than your credentials.

Ali is living proof. She wasn’t the most “qualified” when she started. She didn’t have decades of experience. What she did have was the mindset that she could figure it out, and she backed that up with action.

She showed up early, stayed late, asked smart questions, and genuinely cared. She didn’t fake expertise. She built it. And that’s what made her stand out.

So if you’re staring at job postings that ask for “3+ years of experience” when you’ve just walked across the graduation stage, don’t panic.

Confidence and curiosity are skills you can lead with.

You Will Get Feedback. Here’s How to Handle It.

We also got real about criticism. Whether you’re new in your field or 10 years in, feedback is coming. And not all of it will feel constructive.

Ali shared that in her early days, she struggled with anything that wasn’t pure praise. Words of affirmation are her love language, after all. But over time, she realized that feedback, even the uncomfortable kind, is essential for growth.

If you can learn to approach feedback with curiosity instead of defensiveness, you’ll grow faster than most people around you. Emotional intelligence isn’t just about knowing yourself; it’s about regulating your response when things get tough.

Your Dream Job Isn’t a Fantasy. It’s a Strategy.

There’s a reason I wanted to feature Ali in the Independence Lab. Her story isn’t just inspiring, it’s actionable.

She didn’t stumble into her dream job. She made intentional moves. She showed up with emotional intelligence. She knew when to speak up. She knew when to ask for more. And most of all, she believed she was worth it.

If you're a new grad trying to figure out where to start, take this as your sign: You don’t have to know all the steps. You just need to take the first one.

Here’s How to Start Your Own Dream Job Journey

Want to take the same kind of career leap Ali did?

📥 Download my free guide:

 Post-Grad Glow-Up: The Career & Confidence Starter Pack College Didn’t Give You

You’ll get resume tips, interview strategies, and emotional intelligence tools designed specifically for recent grads. These are the exact tools that helped me 5x my salary and land leadership roles in my 20s.

Final Thoughts

Ali’s journey is proof that landing your dream job isn’t about checking every box; it’s about showing up with heart, humility, and hustle.

Lead with confidence. Stay curious. Trust your voice. And always, always go after what you want, even if it feels a little scary.

Because the truth is, you might just get exactly what you ask for.