Grit, resilience, strong values and a work ethic instilled in her from a young age propelled Jane from her dirt poor Iowa upbringing to an executive role at Microsoft where she was one of the top 10 women at Microsoft at 40.  By 52, Jane had launched three billion-dollar businesses. We discuss Jane’s new book, "Worthy: From Cornfields to Corner Office of Microsoft,"  and the story that led her to a life she never could have imagined.

When a door opened, Jane leapt through it and went all in. When she felt like a fraud, and was flooded with fear and insecurity, she kept going. When she felt like she didn't belong among the upper middle ivy leaguers, she kept going. Jane wants you to know that your background does not define your future. If you find it hard to relate to people who have all the answers, and don’t have major issues they are struggling with, this is the book for you. Jane doesn;t shy away from the uncomforable memories, including her recovery from the bulimia that nearly destroyed her. 

From the Jane's Gottman Institute bio:

"Unwilling to let circumstances, fear or others define her, Jane was penniless and married at 20, earned an MBA at 24, saw the ocean at 25, commuted to South America each week at 31, brought two sons into the world by 35, was a millionaire at 37, and one of the top 10 women at Microsoft at 40.  By 52, Jane had launched three billion-dollar businesses, been VP of the largest merger in the history of the US, forged global alliances, won lots of awards and left a legacy of strong leaders in her wake.

Along the way to the corner office, Jane was hit on, spit on, shot at, yelled at, a zero and a hero. She’s been called a bulldog, a bitch, an idiot and brilliant, all in the same week.

Married to her high school sweetheart, Jane lives in Washington state and works to make a difference, serving on boards including Boys & Girls Clubs, writing, speaking, and consulting. 

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Connect with us on Instagram @meantforit and reach out via email at contact@meantforit.com with your thoughts or suggestions for future episodes. Visit www.meantforit.com for more inspiring stories, and if you leave us a review on iTunes, we'll celebrate with a happy dance!

Favorite Quotes from the Podcast:

"I never look at a no as a no. I always think of it as a not yet."

"I'm no longer afraid to be afraid. And that being afraid means that I am stretching, I am growing, I am trying to do something I've never done before."

"Nobody has the full meal deal. Know what you're good at, embrace that and own it."

"In sharing your secrets and having the courage to share your secrets, that's when you heal."

"Everybody has a secret. And it's the secrets that kill."

"I worked my heine off and I took jobs that required me to travel overseas when my child was one and a half years old and commute."

Diane Kahn is a teacher and co-founder of Humans of San Quentin, an organization seeking to break down the walls and stereotypes of prison life and to humanize the lives behind bars.  Diane was teaching inside San Quentin to help prisoners receive their high school diplomas when the idea for Humans of San Quentin was born. In our conversation, Diane shares the story of starting the organization and why she is so passionate about sharing the stories of people in prison.  When you visit the Humans of San Quentin site,  you will find moving stories, art and poetry from prisoners around across the US and other countries. Listen to our conversation to hear how the people Diane has met in San Quentin and around the world have transformed her, and they ways they can transform you.

Visit the Humans of San Quentin Website

Connect with Diane

Follow Diane Instagram @humansofsanquentin, on Facebook: Humans of San Quentin page, on Reddit @humansofsanquentin, on TikTok @humansofsanquentin, on LinkedIn @DianeKahn

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Imagine you are two months pregnant and you are let go from your job. You begin to search for jobs with decent maternity leave policies, but you notice companies are not clear on this information.

What would you do knowing you have a baby on the way?   Little did Georgene Huang know that this life-changing moment would allow her the opportunity to help make the workplace better for women. Partnering with Romy Newman, the two would soon found Fairygodboss, a community that provides women information about the ‘hard-to-ask’ questions when interviewing with a potential company.   In episode 26 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Editor and Host Polina Selyutin speaks with Romy Newman about how they started Fairygodboss, their business model, insights from the reviews they are receiving and key career advice.

This is the story of two friends with a vision for a  business and an ability to get things done. Inspired by entrepreneurship and motivated to empower women and girls, Edwina Govindsamy and Ariel Gough started Bailly, an eco and health conscious fragrance line. With backgrounds in marketing and healthy ambition, Edwina and Ariel dove in and started figuring things out. In our conversation, Ariel generously shares the roadmap of how Baily progressed from idea to reality. We discuss what Ariel learned about sourcing ingredients, packaging, sales growth, managing finances and other strategies for growing and managing Bailly. 

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Learn more about Bailly

Fran Hauser’s career history makes one thing very clear: She’s a powerhouse. Having served as president of digital for the Style and Entertainment Group at Time Inc., Fran oversaw digital business for PEOPLE, InStyle, Entertainment Weekly and others. She also served in other senior roles at Time Inc., including as general manager of Time Inc. Interactive. And before that worked at AOL as vice president and general manager of AOL Movies and Moviefone.

Now, Fran serves as a startup investor and advisor for companies including HelloGiggles, Meditation Studio and The Wing. Impressively, 18 of the 20 companies in her portfolio are founded by women. Fran’s passion for empowering female businesswomen can also be seen in her volunteer activities. She serves on the board of directors for GlobalGiving; as a special advisor to Girl Be Heard; and as an advisory board member of 92Y Women inPower and Rent the Runway’s Project Entrepreneur.

Last year Fran published a book every modern career woman needs on her bookshelf, The Myth of the Nice Girl. In it, she guides females to believe and understand that it’s possible to me ambitious and likeable; that you can make decisions firmly and collaboratively; and that you can give feedback directly and kindly. In short, it offers advice for getting the career you love, without becoming a person you hate.

 “After years of self-discovery, building a successful career, and paying close attention to what worked – and most importantly – what felt right for me, I ultimately came to see that I didn’t have to sacrifice my values or hide my authentic personality in the name of achieving success,” Fran writes in her book.

In today’s episode of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Fran joins hosts Polina and Brianne to discuss the disease to please, her model for setting boundaries, strategies for speaking up more in meetings, and the importance of including men in your network. We also discuss ways to add fences around your time, some of her favorite sources for inspiration and exciting trends in the digital landscape. We hope this interview leaves you feeling empowered and emboldened to achieve the career you love, that also allows for you to be the truest version of yourself.

Jaime Rich, Program Specialist at Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) shares how she works to reduce underage drinking and driving through education and advocacy. Jaime shares some sobering stats about drunk driving that hopefully inspire you to listen in to the conversation, and find a way to get involved:

“In 2019, 10,142 people died in drunk driving crashes so that is one person every 51 minutes. Every two minutes a person is injured in a drunk driving crash, and 2 out of 3 people will be involved in a drunk driving crash.” 

Staggering statistics for a problem that is completely preventable. Prior to her role at MADD, Jaime spent 12 years working on policies to reduce underage substance abuse with the Center for Human Development. Jaimie shares some of the wins in her career, how she stays optimistic, and ways you can get involved in this important issue. The passion from teenagers  who are energized to  help prevent substance abuse, keeps Jaime motivated and focused on the work, even when progress seems slow and limited. Listen in to hear some of the ways MADD is working on reducing drunk driving and how you can get involved.

Join us as Joan Barnes, the founder of Gymboree, she shares  her journey from a young woman seeking community into a powerhouse businesswoman. Gymboree started as a mommy and me play center in Marin County, California that eventually Joan led to a successful franchise business and chain of international children’s clothing stores. At the time of Gymboree’s blockbuster IPO in 1993, the company had annual revenue of $86.3M. In 2010, Bain Capital acquired the company for $1.8 billion!  In this truthful conversation, Joan shares her  unorthodox approach to business, motherhood, domestic life, her struggles with bulimia, and the personal sacrifices she made when putting her work first. 

Joan's insights on the challenges of balancing professional ambition with personal happiness are as relevant today as they were during her time with Gymboree. This episode and Joan’s book, Pay it Forward,  will be fascinating for entrepreneurs who like to hear behind the scenes stories about companies that made it to  the exhilarating  day of a successful IPO.  Joan shares the challenges of accepting VC funding and balancing a family life with a growing franchise This is not the story about having it all, partially because Joan knew she didn’t want it all, and also because a complete focus on her business, resulted in sacrificing her marriage and spiraling deeper into bulimia.

Today, Joan has found peace with her family, friends and knowing that  she made bold choices and stayed true to herself. So, sit down or take this podcast for a walk as we have a real conversation with a woman who despite the odds, always knew she was meant to be a trailblazer. 

Notable Quotes from Joan Barnes:

"Professional friendships are not the same when you don't have that job anymore."

"I'm a cheerleader, not a caretaker."

"We all know what to do. It sometimes takes us a while to, you know, uncover it all."

"I wouldn't do anything differently because you kind of are who you are."

Topics Discussed:

• (00:00) Joan's early life and her path to entrepreneurship

•  (09:29) The societal pressures and personal challenges of motherhood

•  (13:40) The inception and global success of Gymboree

•  (25:20) Joan's battle with bulimia and her road to recovery

•  (44:00) Life after Gymboree: Embracing spirituality and letting go

•  (49:33) The importance of listening to your heart and making conscious choices

Find us on Instagram @meantforit. You can also visit our website at www.meantforit.com, and sign up for our newsletter here or email us contact@meantforit.com

We jump with joy when we hear from you. Unless it's negative, then we may stomp a bit.. 

Meet Therese Huston, author of “How Women Decide: What’s True, What’s Not, and What Strategies Spark the Best Choices.” In her book, Therese shares research that shows women and men are, however, actually equally skilled when it comes to decision making. And, as an expert on the topic of changing the conversation surrounding female decision-makers, 

In this episode, Polina and Therese discuss high-pressure decision making, the gender myth and also some tactical advice that may help you when you’re stuck trying to make your own decisions. And for further reading on the topic, we highly recommend Therese’s Harvard Business Review article that illustrates women don’t always get the fair shake they deserve when it comes to how their decisions are perceived.

Heidi Kühn, CEO and founder of Roots of Peace, was raised with a pioneer spirit, love for the earth and humanity. Heidi’s commitment to peace was further strengthened during her time attending University of California Berkeley in the 1970’s.

After a cancer diagnosis, Heidi made a promise to God to help others. Inspired by Princess Diana’s commitment to the removal of landmines, Heidi recovered, and lived up to her promise by founding Roots of Peace with a vision of turning “Mines to Vines” – replacing the remnants of war with bountiful vineyards and orchards of peace around the world. Heidi saw the landmines as a cancer of the earth, and devoted herself to saving lives while preventing people and children from tragic death or crippling injuries.

In Heidi’s new book, Breaking Ground: From Landmines to Grapevines, One Woman's Mission to Heal the World, Heidi shares the story of starting Roots of Peace 22 years ago from the basement of her home in Marin County, California. For two decades, Heidi straddled her role as a mother to four children, while growing support for the Roots of Peace vision. With help from local Napa Valley Vintners, her friends, a community of supporters, the United States Government, the United Nations, World Bank and other organizations, Roots of Peace has planted seeds of hope and peace in eight countries around the world.

In our conversation, Heidi shares the faith and mindset that gave her the courage and resilience that helped Roots of Peace thrive and allowed Heidi to overcome her fears. “Faith not fear” was the belief that allowed Heidi to walk through live minefields, make difficult decisions and keep Roots of Peace alive through multiple hardships.

Heidi has been recognized for her work by numerous world leaders, including Kofi Annan, H.H. Pope Benedict XVI, H.H. Pope Francis and many heads of state and government.

Heidi’s faith, vision and personal story is likely to give you inspiration to pursue the goals that are calling you. Heidi says, “I believe that once we commit ourselves wholeheartedly to a noble cause, there are higher forces that steer us in a certain direction and that come to our aid when we are in need.” After listening to Heidi’s story, and reading her book, you may decide it’s time to pursue your calling, and this is exactly what Heidi is seeking with her book. Heidi’s unwavering belief in a world where children are free to walk without fear of death or injury is a mission we can all support.  We hope you enjoy this conversation, read Heidi’s book and join her on the mission of restoring mines to vines.

The mission of Megan O’Connor’s company is empowering: We build educators into entrepreneurs. The company she co-founded, Clark, gives tutors and educators an online platform with tools for opening and managing an education business. For example, if you decided you wanted to start a side business tutoring, you could join Clark to automate scheduling, payment management, monitor student progress, find client leads, and get support from others with similar businesses. Clark also has added a content platform that facilitates sharing and collaboration among tutors on content ideas. Clark is the perfect example of technology enabling business owners to improve where they spend their time, and increase their revenue, impact and reach. Clark was even featured on Apple's Planet of the Apps, and as a result received venture funding and the opportunity to work with Gary Vaynerchuk to perfect their platform. 

Some of the best startups are created when the founders are passionate about solving a problem. While growing up, Megan watched her mother – a school teacher – struggle with the demands of her personal tutoring business. When Megan realized there wasn’t a solution on the market to help her mom reduce time spent on administrative tasks with her tutoring business, the seed for Clark was planted. Today, Clark has 11 full-time employees, funding from leading venture investors, and ambitious plans to continue its work of creating powerful tools that empower the people doing some of the most important work there is, our educators.

In this episode,  Susan Griffin-Black, co-founder of EO Products, shares her story.  Susan tells us about her path from her early days in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to becoming a pioneer in the natural products industry. Raised by a father who was an early feminist and advocate for women's economic empowerment, Susan's entrepreneurial spirit was nurtured from a young age. She recounts her experiences in the fashion industry, opening her first retail store in San Francisco, and eventually co-founding EO Products.

In 1995, Susan founded EO Essential Oils, starting with a few essential oil blends. Her vision was to create a company that she would want to work for, one that prioritized sustainability, community, and holistic well-being. Over the years, EO has grown significantly, becoming a trusted name in the natural products industry.

Susan's story is one of intentional living. Susan's dedication to holistic, sustainable practices has been unwavering. "Our premise was we wanted to create a company that we would want to work for. And so what does that look like?” Susan’s Buddhist spiritual practice has also been a guiding force, helping her navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. Susan has always believed in meeting people not for what they can do for you, but to understand their journey and learn from their experiences.

As EO Essential Oils approaches its 30th anniversary, Susan is optimistic about the future. She plans to continue growing the business while staying true to its core values. New products are in the pipeline, and there are exciting plans to celebrate this milestone with the community.

Susan Griffin's journey is a reminder and model  that success is not just about financial achievements but about values based living.  We hope Susan’s story inspires you to stay committed to your dreams.  We also discuss the months when it was a struggle for Susan to make payroll and a living wage. It was not easy, but the alignment of values, purpose, great products and smart business decisions led to EO’s success. Susan says, “You just have to collectively aim for the highest good for the most amount of people. Always, always, always."

Memorable Quotes

"I've had a Buddhist spiritual practice for 30 years. This is, I don't care what all of the external voices are saying, but if I go down this path, it's just not aligned with my values."

"Our premise was we wanted to create a company that we would want to work for. And so what does that look like? 

"Essential oils are like very, very distilled flowers and plants and bark and, you know, all sorts of plant material, but they have so much vitality."

“You just have to collectively aim for the highest good for the most amount of people. Always, always, always."

EO Products

As a book lover since childhood, Cherilyn Parsons longed to be a part of the literary community. So, she risked her security, job stability and comfort for her dream of starting a world-class book festival in Berkeley, California.

Although there had been a book festival in her home region, the San Francisco Bay Area, more than a decade prior, there wasn’t one when Cherilyn decided to take a chance and begin her efforts. And even though she had no prior experience in event planning or the literary world, she did have one very important skill on her resume – fundraising.

“I had no experience in event planning,” she says. “I did not know the literary world. I had no money to start with. But I thought, hey, let’s do the book festival.”

And so, with a background in nonprofit fundraising, most recently at the Center for Investigative Reporting – Cherilyn thought she could apply her experience to help launch a large-scale book fest. And although it wasn’t easy, she made it happen. Now in its third year, the 2-day Bay Area Book Festival draws more than 50,000 attendees and 300 authors for events and panels spanning 9 city blocks in Berkeley.

In episode 43 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Host Polina Selyutin discusses with Cheryl how she took her idea to launch, the ups and downs along her path and the personal sacrifices she made to make her dream come true. Read (and listen) on to learn why book festivals are such powerful forums for connecting authors and book lovers, as well as what it takes to create, fund and manage large-scale public events.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY’S SHOW:

• Setting The Scene: Cherilyn’s love of books began in her childhood. “I always devoured books,” she says, “ … I always wanted to be a part of the book world.”
• Making The Leap: “I had no experience in event planning,” she says. “I did not know the literary world. I had no money to start with. But I thought, hey, let’s do the book festival.”
• Starting From Scratch: While Cherilyn did have a wealth of experience in fundraising for established nonprofits from prior roles, when it came to raising money for a brand new gig, it was “a completely different ball game.” Often asked, “Who else is funding you?” nobody wanted to step up to the plate to be first in line for an event with no track record. “It was really, really difficult and humbling,” she says. “I was used to doing this and raising funds.”
• The Power Of Partnerships: Cherilyn aimed her focus on building partnerships for her first year of her journey. She worked tirelessly to network to gain buy-in from potential partners. To her, a partnership – even without a financial tie – was just as important as funds for the credibility it would help establish for the festival. “I had to build the partnerships in order to have the credibility that showed other people were involved – and believed – in the festival before others would believe in it financially,” she says.
• The First Wins: Through her work, Cherilyn found launch partners in UC Berkeley and the San Francisco Chronicle. “Credibility is essential,” she says. “Everyone looks at who else is involved to know if they should get involved.”
• It Just Takes One: After getting one donor, Cherilyn then leveraged that support to pitch many more donors.
• Facing Fear: When Cherilyn quit her job to pursue her dream of launching a book festival in the Bay Area, she knew her personal credibility – and her future – was on the line. “I made it up as I went along,” she says. “I mean, honestly, there were nights when I was crying on the floor of my little home office, because someone had said ‘no’ to funding and people didn’t trust me.”
• The Power Of Books: Cherilyn feels books are a solitary, sacred and intimate space. At festivals, book lovers and authors have the opportunity to get out of the solitary and join together in discussion. “It’s a very deep communion – a book – between the reader and the writer,” Cherilyn says. “ … There is something really magic about the private experience of reading, and then the public experience of coming together to share this.” She says she loves how festivals contain, “All these people loving books together.”
• Becoming A Leader: Cherilyn’s goal is for the Bay Area Book Festival to become one of the leading book festivals in the world. Because the Bay Area is so innovative and progressive, she wants the book festival to reflect the spirit and innovation of the region. Additionally, she wants it to maintain a strong international focus, saying that it’s important to hear voices from around the world.
• Did You Know: An impressive 70% of book buyers in the United States are women.

Follow us at @iwhjpodcast

Practicing Judaism was the last thing Miriam Racquel Feldman ever wanted. In fact, it was something she denied, preferring instead to be a free spirit, and a citizen of the world.  After repeatedly rejecting her Jewish roots, Mriam found herself reluctantly following the love of her life to retrieve him from an “orthodox cult”. But that is not the fate that awaited Miriam.

In Miriam’s memoir,  “God Said What?!", you will follow the story of how a letter from a former boyfriend, who had joined a religious community in Israel, set Miriam on her life’s path.  Miriam shares the day-to-day stories and moments during her studies at a women's yeshiva, as she was slowly captivated and  drawn towards the beauty of an orthodox Jewish life.

Miriam also addresses some common  misconceptions about the role and treatment of women in orthodox Judaism as was portrayed in several popular Netflix dramas over the last couple of years. We discuss meanings behind some of the Jewish laws and traditions she practices, and the universal message of peace and kindness that transcends religious boundaries. Whether you're Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, or of any other faith, Miriam's story offers encouragement for anyone seeking a deeper connection to their spiritual path.

Drop in and say hello to us on Instagram @meantforit.

Sign up for our free newsletter here on substack. to get a curated list of things we loved during the week to read, watch or listen to.

Email us directly at contact@meantforit.com  - we do a happy dance  when we get listener emails .

Visit our website at www.meantforit.com

Top quotes from Interview:

"I went to a rabbi and showed him this letter. The rabbi looked at it and said, "Your boyfriend's in a cult.""

"I had totally rejected my Judaism. I thought if Jews blend in with non-Jews, there won't be antisemitism."

"I love having this spiritual way of looking at the world that is just beyond what I see with my physical eyes."

"Jewish prophecy says there will come a time of peace, and I believe we are evolving towards that."

"Chabad is very not insular. It's very out there, out there, out there all the time."

Times are a-changing, and with it, comes new efforts to keep our planet healthy, which we are major supporters of at I Want Her Job. Today’s interview is with someone hustling to change the future of clean energy, Dawn Lippert. As the co-founder of Elemental Excelerator (formerly Energy Excelerator), a startup accelerator program based in Hawaii, Dawn and her team helps budding businesses change the world, one community at a time.

As co-founder of the organization, Dawn talks to I Want Her Job: The Podcast Host Polina Selyutin about the iteration she went through to refine and design the model Elemental Excelerator uses to fund and support startups. With many startups having different needs and time frames to scale, Dawn says, the nonprofit helped develop a model that works by partnering with corporations to test products and services, as well as non-competing companies that can support and complement one another.

Dawn also discusses her initial inspiration for the nonprofit, largely driven by the realization that the change the world needs to see, needed to be accelerated. “As I was working on these issues in Washington, D.C. on the policy side, it became really clear to me that the speed at which we needed to find solutions was astonishing,” she says. “Entrepreneurship to me is that tool … It’s our theory of change that by empowering entrepreneurs who are building quickly scalable business models that can really address these challenges at scale. That’s how we’re really going to change the world.”

As of press time, Elemental Excelerator has awarded $20 million to 53 portfolio companies (up to $1 million per company), co-funding 28 demonstration projects across areas affecting infrastructure, the environment and quality of life (including energy, water, agriculture and transportation systems). The nonprofit was created in collaboration with Emmerson Collective, an investment and philanthropic platform.

Alisha Gaddis is the consummate I Want Her Job Leading Lady. She’s an actress, musician, author, comedienne, wife and mom. Not only does Alisha wear a plethora of hats, but she’s also damn good at what she does. She is an Emmy-winning actress, to be exact, and along with her husband, Lucky Diaz, the two are the first Americans ever to win a Latin Grammy in the children’s category for their music in Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band. In addition, the two lovable entertainers who are reminiscent of a modern-day, kiddo-friendly Lucy and Ricky, star in Lishy Lou and Lucky Too! on The Friday Zone on PBS. And with 26 episodes under their belt, Alisha and Lucky are set to film season two.

In addition, Alisha is an editor and author of multiple books, including Women’s Comedic Monologues That Are Actually Funny, and the just-released book in the same applause acting series, Teen Girls’ Comedic Monologues That Are Actually Funny. And Alisha knows a thing or two about being funny. She’s performed comedy in top venues and on multiple network TV channels and has even opened for Ray Romano, Drew Carey and Sarah Silverman. Alisha also has an innate eye for design, and her Silverlake home with Lucky was even featured on Apartment Therapy – twice!

At I Want Her Job we adore Alisha so much. Since our interview with her three years ago, we’ve watched her career in awe, and consider her the ultimate Leading Lady. She’s graceful, successful, kind, humorous and a champion of women. She even let us use her likeness for our “About” page. [Talk about nice!] Listen to our latest episode and you’ll walk away a fan girl, too.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S SHOW:

• Her Music: How Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band came to life and to living rooms everywhere!
• Success Sauce: Find out the secrets to Alisha’s wild success. A hint? Alisha always says “yes” when opportunities appear and does not stop at rejection. For reals. She got her first literary agent after 250 rejections!
• The Creative Process: Alisha discusses her self-study masterclass approach to teaching herself how to start new creative projects in music, theatre, TV shows and book publishing. “You have to know the structure of what comes before you in order to bust out and create your own work,” she says.
• Discovering Her Calling: “Be open to what the universe presents you,” Alisha says.
• The Art of a Deal: Despite an amazing opportunity with a big box store falling through, Alisha was determined a book was still in her future. Based on her inspiration by fellow female comedians, Alisha pitched her agent the idea for monologue series that’s now five books strong. Find them on Amazon here.
• In 5 Years: In an interview with our site five years ago, Alisha had just started out in her band. We asked her where she saw herself in five years. Her predictions, including winning a Grammy, game true! “Never let someone tell you your goals are too big or too silly,” she says.
• Family First: Alisha shares how her father, a successful football coach, and her mother, a kindergarten teacher, influenced her work ethic, ambition and joyful optimism.
• Pursuing Comedy As A Career: “You can make people see more truth if you are making them laugh than if you are preaching to them,” Alisha says.
• Never Give Up: Alisha believes in pushing past rejection and has a mantra of “work wins!” She advises to never stop pursuing your dream because, “You could be just three feet from gold.”
• Additional Advice: Read more about Alisha and find out her advice for fellow women entertainers on her I Want Her Job interview.
• Learn More: Get more information about Alisha Gaddis and her body of work here.
• Connect: Follow Alisha on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Imagine wearing a beautiful gold choker with black onyx cabochons on the end. It’s on-trend, stunning … but wait, it’s only $200? And it’s real gold?

Yes. Thanks to a dream of two best friends – Bouchra Ezzahraoui and Sophie Kahn – over a Sunday brunch, exquisite gold jewelry brand AUrate came to life. AUrate, which is “AU” for gold (thanks, chemistry class!) and is pronounced “OR-ate” (because, like an “orator” the brand tells a story), was launched in December 2014. Inspired by Warby Parker, what sets the brand apart is its ability to offer high-quality gold jewelry direct-to-consumer. By cutting out the middleman, the brand can offer customers stunning jewelry at up to 50-to-75% off typical industry prices. As Morocco-raised Bouchra says, “Gold is extremely expensive in the United States.”

The duo, who met while attending graduate school at Princeton in 2009, built AUrate while holding full-time jobs, taking classes in design and hosting pop-up shops on the side. Beyond the hustle, what’s so impressive about Bouchra and Sophie is their deep passion for educating consumers about the differences in gold and other jewelry, saying stores carry, “Fine jewelry or fashion pieces you’d pay a lot for, but are not really made out of fine materials.” One example of that? Fashion jewelry that turns one’s fingers green! Facing this problem themselves, after some digging, research confirmed what they had already known: In retail there was either affordable fashion jewelry or expensive fine jewelry. There was nothing in the middle, and a gap needed to be filled.

Others caught on and quickly agreed. Once the demand took off, the two decided to dive into the company full-throttle. While Sophie focuses on the fashion and design side of the business, Bouchra is drawn to the business side. In episode 24 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Editor and Host Polina Selyutin speaks with Bouchra and Sophie about the strategies they used that resulted in 400% annual growth, advice to other entrepreneurs, and combining their individual background in math and finance with design, art and social purpose. Go to www.iwantherjob.com for more show notes and links to topics discussed in the show.

Follow us @iwhjpodcast

Aundrea Cline-Thomas was meant to tell stories. An award winning journalist, Aundrea’s dedication, integrity, humility and work ethic has already paid off. Aundrea received the 2017 Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists Broadcast Journalist of the Year Award and has won two regional Emmy awards for her reporting. We think Aundrea is just getting started. 

In our conversation, we discuss how Aundrea landed her first job, advice for people interested in jobs within broadcast journalism and the major career decisions that led to Aundrea's current role as a reporter for CBS NY. We also discuss how Aundrea’s cultural background as the daughter of African immigrants, has influenced everything about the way she lives her life.

Annette Ross was meant for love. After overcoming a tragic accident during the birth of her second child that left Anette unable to walk, Annette went on to create a beautiful life with five daughters and the love of her life. In our conversation, we discuss how Annette adjusted to life and how her love for her family has always carried her forward.

Annette shares advice on navigating through life in a way that keeps joy and gratitude at the forefront, while also being open to opportunities and accepting challenges. 

You can learn more about Annette by reading her memoir, Where Fairytales Go or by watching the HBO documentary, Any One of Us.

We were honored to host Annette and inspired by her beauty and strength.

Reach out to us: contact@meantforit.com

Honestly, do you wish you could write copy for a website or email that people actually wanted to read?  Imagine a future where you triple your earnings by learning how to write non sucky copy. In this future you, Laura Belgray is someone you want to know. 

Laura’s new book, Tough Titties, is a hilarious memoir where Laura shares her story, from her awkward teenage years to every major milestone in her life. Luckily for the reader, Laura believes in TMI.  We guarantee you will laugh out loud and maybe feel better about the embarrassing moments in your life. In our conversation, Laura shares how she teaches people  to write better through her online courses. Yes, it is possible to learn the skill of writing! And, if you think you have nothing to write about, Laura has a course for that also. Laura says, "your everyday, boring, mundane life is full of stories."

Meet Laura, go to her site for freebies, sign up for her email and join the after hours party.

If you enjoy this podcast, please share it with a friend and follow us on IG @meantforit

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Bea Arthur knows a thing or two about making a pivot.

And no, just to be clear we’re not talking about the same Bea Arthur who starred among the OG Girl Squad – the Golden Girls. This Bea Arthur, like the other, was a bad ass. But, unlike the Bea of nostalgia’s past, this Bea Arthur has an entrepreneurial bug that bit her hard and never left – seeing her through two startups since graduating college in 2008.

Now, as for that pivoting, as a licensed therapist and startup founder, Bea has learned the importance of making nimble, not-so-easy decisions and has mastered the art of picking herself back up again. Her company, In Your Corner (formerly Pretty Padded Room), is a leader in using telemedicine to offer counseling and coaching services online through video and text. Her idea was so standout that it landed her an appearance on ABC’s Shark Tank. Even without getting an investment from the sharks, Bea used their feedback to tweak her idea, and as Fast Company put it, she “turned her mistakes into assets.”

Now, Bea is about to make a pivot again, and has decided to close the virtual doors of In Your Corner to make room for her next business venture in the online therapy space. But this time she’s turning her attention to America’s warriors – service men and women – and is launching an online resource for them later this year called Inside the Wire.

“[When you’re in the military] you can’t stop to think about your circumstances,” Bea says. “You can’t wallow and eat a burrito and watch Netflix. You have to keep your mind sharp. I got really into the idea of emotional endurance.”

In addition to being a serial entrepreneur, Bea is a TEDx speaker who shared her ideas on the “Culture of Comparison” (which, we highly recommend you YouTube.) She also was the first African-American woman to be accepted into the prestigious Y Combinator accelerator program in Mountain View, Calif. She’s also the co-host and co-producer of You’re Not Crazy, a comedic show about mental health on YouTube. She is a first-generation American who was born and raised in Houston, Texas, by her parents who immigrated from Ghana in West Africa.

In episode 13 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Podcast Editor Polina Selyutin speaks with Bea about her college education at Columbia in New York City, her first startup fizzling out, her work helping domestic violence survivors and how the three have swirled together to give Bea business ideas that are helping to solve problems and assist others.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S SHOW:

• Ambitious In The Big Apple: Why Bea made the leap from working in real estate to her current field of therapy. “You eventually find your path,” she says.
• One Thing Leads To Another: How Bea’s first company, Me Too, led her to start her second company, Pretty Padded Room.
• Making Ends Meet: Bea says many therapists start out “making peanuts” as many get their start doing charity work, social work and grant work.
• Brain Lifting: “Mental health should be as much of a priority as physical health,” Bea says.
• On Idea Sharing: Don’t keep it to yourself, Bea advises. Tell as many people as possible as it will get you, “a lot further, a lot faster.”
• Do The Hustle: Bea discusses her cultural influences, including her parents whose hard work led to success and inspired her to work hard and hustle.
• Mamma Knows Best: “My mom is a blue collar hero,” Bea says. “It wasn’t until my first company failed and I was heartbroken and lying on the floor, and my mom was like, “Did I ever tell you about the first two years of my company?”
• Lessons Learned: The importance of knowing what you don’t know when it comes to a startup. “Once you get to a certain growth stage, literally your job as CEO is to put out fires,” she says.
• Eyes Wide Open: Bea discusses the importance of “being awake while you are learning” and discusses how paying attention to patterns, noticing what is working and what isn’t working are some of the therapy tools Bea has applied to her business.
• Fertility Freeze: Bea discusses her decision to freeze her eggs until she’s ready to start her family in two or three years. She recommends EggBanxx and is a brand ambassador for the company.
• Parting Advice: “I’m not that special,” Bea says. “The difference between successful people and people who don’t make it is persistence.”
• Some of Bea’s Favorite Resources:
• Women 2.0,
• Seth Godin’s blog,
• James Altucher,
• Marie Forleo,
• Gotham Gal
• Learn More: Connect with Bea on Twitter and Her Website

How does one make the transition from being interested in a job at a tech startup to becoming a sought-after technology investor, advisor and founder?

Sarah Kunst is the founder of Proday, a subscription-based workout app that allows you to: “Train alongside world-class athletes. Anytime. Anywhere.” In today’s show, this startup founder and former venture capitalist walks us through the steps she took on her path to attract some incredible opportunities. (Like backing from the Los Angeles Dodger’s accelerator program and funding from angel investors Arielle Zuckerberg and Sara Haider.) And she didn’t let statements like, “We really like you, but you don’t have the experience” get in her way. Not one little bit. In fact, Sarah became a female VC before she even turned 30, which is no easy feat.

Through hard work and a relentless drive to help startups, this 2015 Forbes 30 Under 30 list-maker and contributing editor to Marie Claire, understands what it takes to carve out a career path and bring others up with you. In episode 27 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Sarah walks Editor and Host Polina Selyutin through the road she traveled and the decisions she made that led her to become a highly respected investor and advisor.

In episode 32 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, we speak with Lauren Collins, staff writer at The New Yorker, and author of When In French: Love In A Second Language. The book, which is a memoir of falling in love, learning a new language and adjusting to a new culture, was recently selected as a “Notable Book of 2016” by The New York Times. And it’s easy to see why.

With plenty of humor and fascinating details on linguistics and French culture, in the book Lauren recounts her journey of learning and adjusting to a life in France. In her interview, she shares the story of the one decision that changed her life. Weeks before her 30^th birthday, Lauren decided to shake things up, requesting to work for The New Yorker from London. It was during this fateful trip that, in a decidedly American way, Lauren walked over and introduced herself … to her future husband!

Eventually moving with him to Paris, When In French chronicles the cultural adjustments and clashes of living in a new country. Listen in to hear more about Lauren’s journey, details on her sought-after job at The New Yorker and more.

If you want to expand the possibility of the type of work you can do beyond your day job, then  you must listen to this episode and learn about refugee advocate Dr. Michelle Dimasi. Michelle has worked on economic empowerment of women, unaccompanied asylum seeker minors and human rights for over a decade while living in Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and on Christmas Island, off the coast of Australia. In this podcast , Michelle shares how her work found her.  Listen to hear about the clues the universe kept sending Michelle until they were too numerous and obvious to miss. We discuss how to follow the clues you receive and do work or volunteering that brings you joy and purpose. Michelle shares why she is pulled to helping refugees and how this is the work she will do her entire life. We also discuss a few simple ways you can get involved in your own community.

Learn more about Michelle

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Jenn Donahue is a Navy veteran,  civil engineer, teacher and business founder. Jenn has been in charge of 1400 Navy personnel and 3 battalions, managed high profile projects as an operations engineer. Jenn has taken her education to the highest levels including a bachelors in ocean engineering, a masters and PHD in civil engineering from UC Berkeley.

In our conversation, we discuss the early origins of Jenn’s passion for building and the decisions  she made that led her to becoming an engineer and joining the navy. We talk about some of Jenn’s projects, places where Jenn has worked while serving in the navy and Jenn’s advice for others who have a deep love for building and engineering.

You will be blown away by Jenn’s accomplishments and her desire to offer mentoring to those who dream of similar career paths.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend. On your iPhone select episode, click 'details', click on the 3 dots to the right of play and text or email it to a friend.

Episode co-hosts: Amber Greene and Polina Selyutin

Learn more about Jenn

Follow us or reach out for interview ideas to @iwhjpodcast

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Eve Rodsky’s goal is to change how families think about the distribution of household and care work. In other words, Eve’s work revolves around reversing thousands of years of cultural norms that expect women to manage almost all the childcare and housework. It started one day when Eve was crazy busy juggling a new born, a toddler, an exhausting to-do list, and a demanding job. On that fateful day, Eve’s husband sent a text message, "I'm suprised you didn't get blueberries." The blueberry request is this moment, now frozen in time, that eventually led to what Eve did next. Eve decided to start the “Sh*t I Do” spreadsheet to understand the scope of work that most women manage; which includes an enormous amount of “cognitive labor”. As a Harvard Law School graduate and organizational consultant, Eve addressed this household problem with the same intensity, and using the same set of skills she used  in her day job as a mediator. Eve started to ask around and collected thousands of tasks and responsibilities women manage in their homes.

Eve’s research eventually led to “Fair Play”, a  book devoted to helping partners divide the 100 most common household and caretaking responsibilities. Today, Eve is leading a movement devoted to advocating for policy and cultural changes related to who owns the cognitive labor for the housework and childcare responsibilities in a family. 

In our conversation, Eve shares her story and what she has learned during the last 9 years while researching the gender division of labor. We have a lively discussion on why it is so important to shift cultural expectations for care and housework. We also learn about Eve’s early influences and why men, women and society devalue women's time.

Learn more about Eve

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If you enjoy this episode, download our conversation with Caitlyn Collins on Making Motherhood Work. 

Esther Wojcicki is asked about parenting advice – sometimes over 10 times a day! In How to Raise Successful People: Simple Lessons for Radical Results, Esther shares the guiding principles she has used to raise her wildly successful daughters, as well as in her teaching of journalism to students at Palo Alto High School who affectionately call her Woj. Her parenting philosophy can be distilled into a combination of values and practices within an acronym called TRICK, which stands for trust, respect, independence, collaboration and kindness. In her book, Esther drills into each area, explaining why she believes each component to TRICK is critical. She also offers ideas for utilizing her TRICK philosophy with your children, and shares dozens of memorable stories.

There is no doubt the book will be a best seller since Esther has had such tremendous success as a mother and teacher. Each of Esther’s daughters have phenomenal career achievements. Daughter, Susan Wojcicki is the CEO of YouTube; Janet Wojcicki is a professor of pediatrics at University of California, San Francisco; and Anne Wojcicki, is the founder and CEO of genetic testing company 23andMe. At the center of Silicon Valley for her entire career as an influential teacher, Esther also is a dedicated community member. With Google famously beginning its empire in daughter Susan’s garage, Esther has truly been surrounded by the tech revolution.

Hundreds of Esther’s students still keep in touch with her, and as her daughters say in the book’s foreword, they often meet former students who say, “You know, your mom really changed my life. She believed in me.” Esther has been nominated for national awards for her teaching and thousands of students who went through her program often consider the experience life changing – both for the work they did, and for the respect, autonomy and the bar set by Esther.

In addition to sharing her philosophy for raising independent, kind and community-oriented children, Esther’s book feels like a handbook for global citizenship. She firmly believes that kindness, finding ways to help others and the quality of our relationships are at the forefront of a happy life. 

In our conversation, Esther shares how tragedy and other intense difficulties  during her childhood influenced her parenting philosophy. We discuss why using TRICK with children and in schools leads to radical results and learn hands-on tactics for using TRICK in your family. Esther is a brilliant example of the impact one teacher can have, and the joy of living a life of purpose.

If you have ever struggled with negotiations, this episode with Mori Taheripour a globally recognized negotiation expert is for you. Mori is an award-winning faculty member at the Wharton School and the author of Bring Yourself: How to Harness the Power of Connection to Negotiate Fearlessly. 

In our conversation, Mori shares the decisions and career choices that led to her path and we discuss ways to improve your negotiation skills. 

Topics Discussed:

-Everything is negotiable

-Negotiation is a skill you can learn. The more you practice, the better you get

-Knowing your worth is critical in improving your negotiation skills

-Belief in abundance and comfort with risk will help you become a better negotiator

Mori’s clients includes Fortune 100 companies, major sports leagues, and government agencies including Goldman Sachs Foundation, Google, the National Basketball Players Association, Wells Fargo, and the White House Fellows Program.  

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Jessica Jackson is the Chief Advocacy Officer for Reform Alliance, an organization working to reduce the number of people in the criminal justice system by focusing on probation and parole. Jessica previously served as a Human Rights Attorney, Mayor of Mill Valley, California and National Director of #Cut50. Jessica is also getting attention for mentoring and helping Kim Kardashian with her law studies and advocacy for criminal justice reform. Kim has been studying 18 hours a week under Jessica’s guidance as she pursues a legal degree. 

In our third conversation with Jessica, we discuss the progress that has been made in reducing national incarceration rates and Jessica’s current role with the Reform Alliance. Jessica’s path to criminal justice reform came from a deeply personal story that impacted her family. Shortly after she was married and had a newborn, her husband was sentenced to almost 10 years in prison for a non violent offense. This experience completely changed Jessica’s  life and set her down a path to fixing the problems she witnessed in the criminal justice system. Listen to our conversation in episode #18 where Jessica shares her personal story of  completing her law degree as a single mom, representing clients on death row and running for public office.

As someone who believes in turning anger into action, Jessica has devoted her career to public service. Listen in to hear her story and get insight into recent progress and work being done to improve our criminal justice system.

Listen to episode #18 where Jessica shares her career story. 

Listen to episode #78 where Jessica Jackson shares how to get involved in your community and public office.

In this episode we discuss all things femtech with Healthcare Law Lawyer, Advisor and Portfolia FemTech Fund Partner Delphine O’Rourke. We get into what FemTech is, why it’s so important for women to invest and support this sector, and how you can help. In case you haven’t noticed, in the past, VCs have overlooked products designed for women primarily because they don’t understand the needs or the market  

When you invest in or support FemTech, your contributions help the market develop innovations that address issues like osteoporosis, menopause, fertility and many more opportunities that will help women live better and longer lives..  According to Market.us, the Global FemTech Market size is projected to surpass around USD 127.1 Billion by 2033! For example, have you ever considered why the dreaded speculum used in annual ob-gyn exams has not been updated since the 1800’s? Neither did we until Delphine mentioned it. 

Whether you're an experienced investor or just curious about how to get started, this episode may cause a paradigm shift in how you think about investing. As a Fund Partner at Portfolia, Delphine is part of a team that decides what start-ups to invest in. We discuss how you can also join a Portfolia fund with a minimum $10k if you are an accredited investor.

if you enjoy this topic, don’t miss our podcast with Portfolia founder and venture capital pioneer, Trish Costello, and our podcast with Ida Tin, the woman who coined the term Femtech!

Want to talk more about this?  Find us on Instagram @meantforit. You can also visit our website at www.meantforit.com, and sign up for our newsletter here or email us. contact@meantforit.com.

Notable Quotes from Delphine:

"We need to move medicine for women out of the 1900’s, 1800’s into modern medicine."

"We make 92% of consumer decisions, 82% of healthcare decisions."

"Shifting the contraceptive burden is highly impactful and that's what we look for."

"We want to make our money work for us and it's just sitting in a checking account. The financial gap, the pay gap, will just continue and compound."

Podcast Chapters:

(03:48) Femtech is where technology intersects with women's health
(07:35) The stark reality of women's health innovation and the need for change

(15:10) The potential of wearable bone technology and its impact on osteoporosis

(18:59) Portfolia invested in a male contraceptive that is reversible

(22:55) Maven's success story and the shifting role of employers in healthcare

(29:29) Why investment education is critical for women

(32:53) Exploring why men haven't invested in women's health historically

(37:35) Every woman will go through menopause unless she dies

(43:03) An accredited investor is someone who is eligible to invest in credit funds

(49:56) We know we have a loneliness crisis in the United States

(53:03) Maven provides women's health remotely through telemedicine

According to Shopify’s Director of Talent Acquisition Anna Lambert, the recruiting industry is broken. And, we happen to agree. While most companies utilize a traditional process for filtering out candidates based on a list of experience and requirements, Shopify does things very differently. In fact, Shopify actually encourages candidates to apply if they don’t meet all the traditional requirements listed on a position.

“We don’t want to exclude people who can be incredible in a role because they don’t think they’re qualified,” Anna says. Shopify’s website goes further, saying, “Experience comes in many forms, many skills are transferable and passion goes a long way.” Don’t you wish more companies thought like that?

In episode 29 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Editor and Host Polina Selyutin speaks with Anna about how Shopify actively seeks to understand a job candidate historically and how the company factors in passion projects and career goals. If you’ve ever been discouraged by the traditional job application process, you won’t want to miss today’s show.

Dr. Eliza Nemser is an earth scientist working on climate solutions at the intersection of science, policy, and politics. In our conversation we discuss how Eliza fell in love with earth science and the path that led her to becoming a co-founder of Climate Changemakers. If you are curious about what it is like to be a geoscientist or how to start an organization focused on community organizing, this episode is for you.

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Tracy McCubbin is a professional declutterer, but what she really does is help people manage their relationship to stuff. When Tracy realized she had a talent for helping people organize their stuff, she turned it into dCluttefly, a thriving business.  Tracy decided to start a service that will help others start their own decluttering and organizing businesses. The $22B storage industry, Tracy’s waiting list for her services, and the fact that most Americans cannot park in their garages due to excees stuff, is an indicator of the market size and need for people who can help us manage what we buy.

It is easy to feel overwhelmed with the problems of the world and unable to help, but there is a way to help: by making conscious choices to buy less things. In our conversation, we discuss the mental and financial impact to our health, our finances, the environment and our homes when we buy too much. In Tracy’s book, Making Space, Clutter Free: The Last Book on Decluttering You'll Ever Need, Tracy outlines a range of 7 emotional blocks that people have related to stuff and offers advice on how to move past emotional blockers such as hanging on to the past or creating a fantasy lite. Does that sound familiar?

If you are feeling overwhelmed with the stuff in your home or if you want change your buying habits, Tracy breaks down the emotional triggers that create the urge to buy and hold on to the things that don't serve our needs.

Sharon McMahon, America's favorite government teacher and bestselling author of "The Small and the Mighty." shares how she went from a classroom government teacher to a social media success with over a million followers on Instagram. Once you hear this episode you will understand why Shaon’s  nonpartisan videos on the electoral college and other political processes captured the hearts and attention of her followers and mass media.

You may not know that there is currently a  lack of standardized civic education across the United States. Each state decides how much time to allocate within their schools to teach about US Government and Civics. Yes, read that again and stop for a minute to consider the consequences of inconsistent and insufficient government education for American students. If students are not taught how to make change locally, statewide or nationally, or that their vote and participation matters, perhaps that explains a lot including why so many of us complain that the system is not representing us?

We talk about Sharon’s brilliant book,  "The Small and the Mighty," which profiles twelve unsung American heroes who made extraordinary impacts on history. One of the  heroes is Clara Brown, an enslaved woman who became a pioneer in Colorado, through sacrifice, faith and decades of hard work. 

We also discuss the current election and why the majority of Americans feel they are not represented by either candidate. Sharon offers suggestions for  electoral reforms and a multi-party system that would drastically change election outcomes.  Sharon recommends FairVote,  an organization working to  improve election systems at the state level. Do not miss this episode that will challenge you to think critically about your role in democracy and we guarantee will inspire you to get poltically engaged in what matters most to you.

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https://sharonmcmahon.com

Sharon's Podcast

Sharon's newsletter

Visit our website at www.meantforit.com,

email us directly at contact@meantforit.com

 Favorite Quotes from this episode:

"I think that you can love something while also knowing the truth about it."

"No work for liberty is lost; it changes the fabric of what the country is."

"Just do the next needed thing."

"We are reaping the harvest of what we have sown."

The news cycle reminds us that the world has some serious figuring out to do when it comes to refugees – those individuals who have left their home country due to war, conflict or persecution. Thankfully, there are advocates out there working relentlessly to find solutions. One of these people is Jessica Therkelsen, global policy director for Asylum Access, a nonprofit devoted to refugee rights.

And, while we know there’s a problem and that refugees are homeless while building a new life, what many of us may not realize is the scale of this crisis. There are more than 20 million refugees today, and a refugee (including children) stay in a refugee camp in exile for an average of 20 years.

This isn’t okay with Asylum Access. The nonprofit believes refugees have a right to a fair chance at a new life – wherever they might be – and the group works tirelessly to help refugees in their new country obtain basic rights to live and work. Last year Asylum Access helped more than 20,000 refugees gain these basic rights through individualized legal services. And it doesn’t stop there. The nonprofit also advocates with the United Nations and government entities around the world to ensure the systems that help refugees obtain these basic human rights remain intact.

“There is a growing recognition in the international community that the status quo of how we deliver aid is not meeting long-term needs,” Jessica says, “… What somebody experiences to become a refugee is something you never ever want your family or friends to experience.” Listen to episode 9 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast to hear her advice on how you can get involved and make an impact.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S SHOW:

• Understand and Access: How Asylum Access helps refugees understand their rights legally in the places where they are exiled.
• Tools of the Trade: While Jessica travels and can often be found in New York, Washington, D.C., and Geneva, Switzerland working on global policy, she swears by the power of Skype for connecting and working.
• On Perspective: “I try to be very cognizant of my own privilege and the luck that I’ve had to live a life that is very open and free. I have the right to live in the United States. I have the right to move freely in this country. I can choose where I live. I can choose where I work. I am able to go to school. That’s something that I am grateful for every day, and it’s also something that I fundamentally believe that everyone should have access to.”
• On Global Policy: “We’re not really talking about a special package of rights for a special package of people. We’re talking about families – parents, youths – people who want to live a normal life, who want to go to school and have opportunity. These are not crazy things to want. These are not crazy things to ask for.”
• I Got It From My Mama: The special woman who inspired Jessica’s career path.
• Food For Thought: “We don’t all have the same deck of cards that we’re playing with.”
• Dance Lessons: How Jessica’s days in ballet during law school gave her the ability to focus, the maturity to deal with rejection and the inspiration to shoot for really, really big goals.
• Resting + Recharging: How time outdoors and spent reading helps Jessica refuel.
• On Her Nightstand: The New Yorker and The New York Times Magazine
• Creating Comfort: Find out how you can get involved and make a difference in the refugee rights movement.
• Learn More: AsylumAccess.org
• On Twitter: Follow her @JessTherkelsen and the nonprofit @asylumaccess

What if you could find an employer that not only allowed – but embraced – flexible work options? Enter The Second Shift, a business launched in 2014 to serve as a digital matchmaker for businesses seeking on-demand talent with professional women looking for flexible employment opportunities, including consulting and freelancing, in the fields of marketing and finance. Founded by Jenny Galluzzo and Gina Hadley, The Second Shift has caught the attention of female creatives and the media alike. (Editor’s Note: “Helping Moms Lean In, But Not Too Far” on the duo in The New York Times is a must-read.) Membership for the service is free, with The Second Shift taking a small percentage from both employer and employee once an individual is contracted.

Even prior to founding The Second Shift, Jenny and Gina had vibrant careers. Jenny worked as a television producer, booker and on-air reporter for Good Morning America, News 12 The Bronx and Plum TV. She even started her own vintage caftan clothing line, Mayer Studio. Gina hailed from the world of advertising, and before having children worked as a creative coordinator at Ogilvy & Mather on the IBM account. After becoming a mom, however, Gina embraced the life of an entrepreneur – working at Ads.com, launching and selling Urban Monkeys and launching another company, Gina Hadley Consulting.

In episode 15 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Editor Polina Selyutin speaks with Jenny and Gina about testing a concept prior to launch, bucking the 9-to-5 status quo, secrets to startup success and more.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S SHOW:

• On Building A Business: Since founding The Second Shift, Jenny and Gina have staffed more than 100 projects and currently work with more than 70 companies. This year, they’re on track to double, if not triple, those numbers.
• Secrets To Startup Success: Jenny and Gina started small – testing The Second Shift concept for a year before launching saying, “Every time we did something, we did it very thoughtfully and pragmatically … We wanted to prove this concept without spending an enormous amount of money on development.”
• The Way We See It: While many companies still have a ‘bed check’ mentality, The Second Shift feels confident that women placed on projects will find a way to deliver excellent results based on their preferred schedules. Change is difficult, the ladies say and, “For a lot of people, they have a lot invested in the status quo … We are trying to disrupt the way businesses look at this kind of talent. We are asking companies to change the way they look at hiring practices. We really are creating the supply and demand.”
• Why It Works: While larger companies are often fully invested in the status quo, the needs of smaller companies are changing quickly. Because of this, many of these companies are open to flexible, project-based roles.
• Dipping A Toe In: When you want to test a new job opportunity or industry, Jenny suggests, “Try it out for a little bit and build up your tolerance.”
• Advice For Fellow Working Women: Jenny and Gina encourage women to stay involved in their careers, regardless of the job size or role, because it’s vital to stay engaged with the job market.
• Parting Lessons: 1/ Just keep swimming! “The moment will pass and you don’t want to have made any decisions that are going to negatively impact that.” 2/ Pay it forward. “If you’re listening to this, and you have the opportunity to hire someone through our network, you can help create that opportunity for them and get the best.” 
• Favorite Business Book: The Lean Startup
• Learn More: Connect with The Second Shift on Twitter and Facebook or email them at info@thesecondshift.com

Tracy McCubbin is a professional declutterer, but what she really does is help people manage their relationship to stuff. When Tracy realized she had a talent for helping people organize their stuff, she turned it into dCluttefly, a thriving business. 

In our part 2 of our conversation with Tracy, we discuss the 7 emotional clutter blocks Tracy discovered while running her business. Tracy walks us through each emotional block and offers examples of how people use shopping or holding on to excess stuff as a way of avoiding their emotions or problems. We discuss some of the ways our society is rigged against our desire to buy less and how your home can become a more peaceful and joyful place when you remove the things that you don’t need. Whether  you are hanging on to the past, creating a fantasy life, feeling guilty about your purchases or feeling shame for not using the stuff you bought, Tracy can help. After 14 years helping people declutter their homes, Tracy has seen it all and can help people move past common emotional mistakes related to the things we own.  

Tracy's book, Making Space Clutter Free: The Last Book on Decluttering You Will Ever Need

Joi Gordon was working as an assistant district attorney, pursuing a legal career when one day she realized, this wasn’t her dream job. Then, while watching a morning show she learned about a nonprofit that supplied low-income women with a perfect interview outfit.  As someone who knew the power a great suit could bring, she was intrigued. 

Now, Joi has served as the CEO for Dress for Success for the past two decades. The organization, which spans more than 156 cities in dozens of countries is often referred to as the “Starbucks of the nonprofit world.”

In today’s episode of I Want Her Job The Podcast, Joi shares why she’s a lover of learning, why the right dress or suit can make all the difference and the importance of following your own path.

When Christine Marsh was younger she wanted to change the world. If you consider high school teachers who change the lives of their students through their passion, enthusiasm and dedication to their work as people who have changed the world, Christine succeeded. Christine has taught high school English in Arizona for 30 years, and was named  Arizona's Teacher of the Year in 2016. After a repeated number of colleagues and friends encouraged Christine to run for state senate, about 7 different times, Christine decided to go for it. Since teaching is Christine's first love, Christine is passionate about reducing class sizes and increasing teacher salaries. While serving in the state senate, Christine faced one of the most difficult tragedies any parent can face, Christine's beloved son died two years ago after purchasing a percocet pill that was laced with fentanyl. Despite her overwhelming grief, Christine has committed to speaking about the dangers of fentanyl whenever possible, and put forth a bill that legalized fentanyl test strips and removed the product from the state’s definition of prohibited drug paraphernalia. Christine is committed to raising awareness on the dangers of counterfeit drugs. As if she didn't have enough to handle in the last few years, Christine also recently finished treatment for colon cancer, and encourages others to ask their doctors about when to get screened. In our candid conversation, Christine shares how she has endured losing her son, and some of her hopes and goals for the future. We discuss how getting through the next minute, the next hour, and the day was a coping strategy for unimaginable grief.  If you want to be blown away by a woman who is unstoppable, and changing the world through her courage and commitment to serving Arizona's citizens, we think you will enjoy this conversation with Christine Marsh. 

We are certain that Kathy Caprino’s authenticity about finding a career that feels right will resonate with your personal story and we guarantee you will be soothed by her advice and caring voice. Kathy is an internationally-recognized career, executive and leadership coach, trainer, writer, and speaker dedicated to supporting the advancement and success of women in business. In her role as a Senior Forbes contributor and host of the Finding Brave podcast, Kathy helps listeners explore ways to be brave. Most importantly, Kathy is deeply committed to heaping women find their calling.

In our conversation, Kathy shares why her previous experience as a corporate executive left her feeling empty and how she pivoted first to becoming a marriage and family therapist and then how she found her calling in career coaching and writing. We discuss Kathy’s path in detail and the ways Kathy has found meaning in helping women thrive. 

If you enjoy this episode, then you have to check out Kathy’s book, The Most Powerful You: 7 Bravery-Boosting Paths To Career Bliss, where Kathy explores the 7 damaging power gaps that negatively affect 98% of professional women and 90% of men today. Kathy’s book teaches you how to overcome these gaps to reach your highest potential.

Kathy's website

Kathy on LinkedIn

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Meet Lauren McGoodwin, the founder of Career Contessa. Lauren generously  shares the story of how she started her business, her motivation and how she built Career Contessa from an idea to the  leading career site for millennials offering career tips, career advice, job listings and career coaching. 

Lauren shares her story of how she struggled to find her place after graduating from college, and how a role in recruiting gave her the idea for Career Contessa. From day one, Lauren has been driven to help people find the opportunities she could not find and to have the career advice so many of us are missing. For those of us who lack connections or career mentorship, Career Contessa wants to be your trusted advisor.

In our conversation we discuss topics ranging from Lauren’s book Power Moves,  to common career mistakes, “watering your own grass”, entitlement,  and how a false narrative of the perfect job can hurt your future. This is the advice we wish we had when we started our careers. 

https://www.careercontessa.com/

Power Moves by Lauren McGoodwin

The Career Contessa Podcast

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Topics Discussed:

• Lauren shares the story of how she started Career Contessa and its purpose as a leading career site for millennials, offering career advice, job listings, career coaching, and job resources.
• Lauren discusses her struggle to find a job after college and how her experience in recruiting gave her the idea for Career Contessa. She emphasizes her drive to help others find opportunities that she had difficulty finding herself.
• Lauren explains her motivation for writing the book, "Power Moves," which aims to help people build fulfilling careers. She describes it as a comprehensive guide to building a healthy, successful, and fulfilling career on one's own terms.
• Lauren discusses the importance of reframing our perception of our careers and provides examples from her book on how to do so.
• Lauren explores the concept of the ambition trap and the feeling of entitlement that can hinder progress and success in careers. She highlights the challenges millennials face in managing their expectations and adjusting their narratives.
• Lauren shares the timeline of how Career Contessa grew, from its start as a school project to offering career coaching, creating online courses, and expanding through various media platforms.
• Lauren discusses the challenges she faced in transitioning from a predictable work environment to running a startup. She also offers advice on staying organized, establishing processes, and maintaining consistency.
• Lauren envisions the future of Career Contessa, aiming to provide the best resources and adapt to changing trends and preferences, such as creating content in different formats to reach a wider audience.
• Lauren provides advice for individuals building their own businesses, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing an email list, marketing strategies, and consistency.
  
  
  

When Graham Cochrane had to choose between his lifelong dream of being in a rock band or supporting his new family, he made the biggest pivot of his life. Newly married, on food stamps and between jobs, Graham had an idea to help musicians by sharing his knowledge of audio engineering and music. Shortly after Graham started creating online courses and videos to help people with audio engineering, his new career as an online sales rockstar was launched. 

We love that even during Graham’s most challenging times on food stamps, he and his wife committed to donating a portion of their income to charity. They have kept that practice and these days are ,giving an astonishing 50% of their earnings to charity. Graham says,"we committed to increase our standard of giving every year, not just our standard of living.".

 If you want to capitalize and earn money in your online business or by sharing what you know. Listen in for tips on how to make it happen.

From news reporting to Capitol Hill in various roles, then making a very intentional switch to working in San Diego where Holly Smithson ran CleanTECH San Diego and today as CEO of Athena, Holly has thrived in every role. As Holly shares in this podcast, everything that Holly has done and her success in each role comes from her intention, her desire to mobilize people toward a cause, and her intention to make a meaningful impact. 

After realizing Capitol Hill was not right for her, Holly made an intentional decison to move to San Diego. In San Diego, Holly found the business culture with metrics, accountability and cooperation a place where she felt she belonged and could fulfill her vision. While Holly didn’t have any connections in San Diego she had the vision and knew what she had to offer.  Holly’s skills and experience combined with her unstoppable confidence and work ethic came together in a way that led to Holly’s amazing success in her roles. As Holly says, “anytime I put my mind to it I will manifest the hell out of it.” 

Holly wants others to know that it doesn't make sense to stay too long in roles that make you unhappy. In the podcast, we discuss why Holly is so committed to Athena and why she is so inspired by the women she works with. Recently, Holly’s breast cancer diagnosis and treatment made her aware of how she could help other women going though cancer. Holly’s newest intention is empowering women to demand the medical care they deserve and to be fierce advocates for themselves. We have no doubt that when Holly decides something, you can’t go wrong jumping on her team or investing in her vision.

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Have you ever wondered what it takes to make a career switch? Or, have you wondered what to do to make that career switch successful – and not a complete disaster? We sat down with a woman who wrote the book on the art of a career transition – literally. Dr. Dawn Graham is author of Switchers: How Smart Professionals Change Careers and Seize Success. She’s also a coach for the Wharton School’s Executive MBA program and host of Career Talk on SiriusXM channel 132. In today’s episode of I Want Her Job The Podcast Dawn answers your top career transition questions. 

Questions discussed include:

Should I go back to school?

How do I pass an interview in a new career track?

How do I know if my job switch is worth it?

Today’s episode shares advice from Dawn that is practical and will help you think through your career switch. And with advanced degrees in counseling psychology, her training allows her to understand the fears, doubts or mistakes that can often block us from making the career switch our souls want us to make.

Clarity comes through action, Dawn tells I Want Her Job The Podcast Co-Founder Polina. Learn how Dawn’s advice can help you test out the new career role you are considering. Then, hear guidance from Dawn about what to do when you get an interview, how to show your dedication for a new role, and more.

To contact the show reach out to: contact@meantforit.com

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If you're a parent, chances are you know about Dr. Laura Markham. And if you don't, allow us to introduce her and her parenting advice that could be life-changing for you and your family. Dr. Laura is the founding editor of AhaParenting, a blog 130k+ subscribers strong. As a parenting expert she's been interviewed for thousands of articles by publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Real Simple, Newsday and Parents magazine. In addition to her blog, she shares critical parenting advice in each of her weekly emails, aimed to help you build stronger and deeper bonds with your children. After all, we are mightily convinced she just may be a modern-day Mary Poppins.

In today's episode Dr. Laura shares her philosophies on raising kids with empathy and connection, as well as ideas for building stronger and more trusting relationships with your children. She walks us through a scenario on how to deal with temper tantrums, tips on managing technology with kids and more. We also discuss how putting in the work now to build loving and trusting relationships can ripple toward the future, creating an output with lasting effects.

If you enjoyed this conversation please subscribe, leave us a review, follow us on IG @meantforit.

You can reach us at: contact@meantforit.com

How often during your college years did you wonder: How are these classes going to help me? What will do I with the information I’m learning? But, what if you had the chance to discover your “why” during a yearlong opportunity — before you kicked off your career? That’s exactly what Abby Falik has created with Global Citizen Year, a program that helps students stretch themselves during a gap year between high school graduation and college.

Abby is the founder of the organization, which also helps students learn about cultures and languages, and gain experiences and memories, while staying with host families in Brazil, Ecuador, India and Senegal, and work as apprentices in local organizations.

In our previous conversation with Abby (during 2018 and featured episode #82), Abby shared the roots of her passion and what made her determined to make the gap year part of every student’s college experience. In our latest conversation, Abby shares the story of the launch of Global Citizen Academy, a new program bringing together high school students worldwide for the opportunity to explore topics like effective communication, systems thinking and ethical decision-making. Global Citizen Academy is seizing this historic moment to help high school graduates find ways they can help their communities within an organization that has proven leadership training.

Abby was once the type of student she hopes to inspire. She was attending college at Stanford when she realized that she was longing for more than simply listening to professors in lecture halls. Abby took a break and spent a year in Brazil working and traveling. After coming back to Stanford after this life-changing journey, she noticed she gained confidence and maturity, which she credits with altering the course of her life. But before Abby realized her vision, she worked in a nonprofit — managing, building and creating ideas — and then attended Harvard to obtain an MBA that would help her create Global Citizen Year.

If you like today’s episode, we recommend you scroll back through our podcast archives to our conversation with Abby in episode #82.

Janelle Kellman, Esq. is the Mayor of Sausalito, CA. In our conversation, we discuss Janelle’s path from private practice as an environmental attorney in San Francisco to launching a successful e-commerce company and launching the Center for Sea Rise Solutions in 2021 to support the localization of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Janelle’s passion for teamwork was ignited and nurtured by a lifetime of sports including playing two Division I sports at Yale. Janelle says, “Sports taught me hard work, collaboration and team work”. 

Janelle grew up in a small coal mining town in Pennsylvania. When Janelle’s mom developed asthma, Janelle became passionate about the environment and about working to find the balance between how we live in the natural environment. Janelle credits her father’s volunteering and involvement with community organizations as an early inspiration. The Jewish philosophy of Tikkum Olam (Repair of the world) has also guided Janelle’s motivation for environmental work and public service.

Listen in to hear why Janelle recommends people have a yes mindset, why removing expectations is the key to happiness and why the Japanese concept of ikigai is the recipe for success.

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Reach out to us at: contact@meanforit.com to say hello or recommend somone for a future episode.

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Until next time,

Polina and Amber

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Lindsey Williams was meant for a career in healthcare and urology.  You might think this is an odd choice but when you listen to this episode, you will understand why as a co-founder of FemTech start-up MyUTI, Lindsey is perfectly in her zone. Lindsey's sense of humor, (that of a 14 year old boy), intellect, work ethic and southern charm led her to a successful career working in start-ups focused on urology and cancer. 

MyUTI is an online service that allows people to quickly and easily test at home if they have a urinary tract infection and within 24 hours know the best antibiotic to take. Antibiotic resistance is a common problem that results in recurrent, often painful, and sometimes very serious urinary tract infections. When you have a UTI, you want immediate relief. If you have had one, then you are probably nodding your head or taking a deep breath as you recall the unpleasant memory.

According to UCSF, around 40 percent of women will have a UTI at some time in their lives. UTI's are the second most conmon infection in the US. A UTI occurs when bacteria enter the bladder, usually through the urethra (urine tube), and begin to multiply.

In our conversation, Lindsey shares how she met her co-founder and launched MyUTI. If you are interested in the healthcare sector, FemTech and early stage start-ups, you will love this story about how Lindsey found the path she was meant to live. And, if you or someone close to you gets a recurring UTI, give MyUTI a try!

MyUTI

MyUTI Founder Story

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Have you ever thought about what it’s like to work as a financial advisor? Kristin O’Keeffe Merrick, a money expert with 19 years of professional experience in the financial industry, is a financial advisor at her family-run firm, O'Keeffe Financial Partners. Kristin shares her career path story and why more women should consider financial advising as a career option. We discuss the challenges Kristin faced when transitioning to a financial advisor role and advice on how to get started in this field.

We also discuss the project Kristin started with her close friend, Lindsay Shookus, Women Work F#cking Hard, a networking group that is bringing together women with the goal of helping women business owners. Kristin also writes about money for leading publications such as Forbes, NY Magazine and she is a frequent guest on Today Show, the NBC Nightly News and Yahoo Finance Kristin was recently named as 2020 Badass 50 by InStyle Magazine.

Eugenia Cheng has built a “portfolio career” combining her passions for math, piano and education. Eugenia has a PHD in Pure Mathematics and is a Scientist in Residence at School of the Art Institute in Chicago. As part of her portfolio career, Eugenia also performs as a concert pianist and is a published author of two books about math. Eugenia also works to develop math training materials and curriculum, she does research in math within higher dimensional category theory, and she writes about math for media publications. Eugenia has built her career by finding ways to use her talents and work to help others. Eugenia suggests we build our careers by finding what we are really good at and then finding how to use our talents in the best possible way to contribute to society.

Eugenia has a talent for showing how math relates to our world, and in describing the beautiful and mysterious intersections of math, science and art. We talk with Eugenia on how she got on her path and how playing the piano was her refuge when she was frustrated with the confinements of her school years. Eugenia offers suggestions for encouraging kids to enjoy math ( there is some great advice for those of us who have math phobias), we talk about Eugenia’s latest book, beyond infinity, and Eugenia’s thoughts on how math, science and art are spiritually related. Eugenia stepped away from a conventional tenured academic path to create a career where she could user her strengths and interests. Eugenia's thoughtful and analytical approach to creating a career that allowed her to contribute more to society, applies to those of us trying to find work where we can also use more of our strengths. We think you will love this conversation abut how to combine different interests, including Eugenia’s thoughts on the concept of  infinity, how “drunk cooking” and math are similar and how you can stretch the possibilities within your career.

As President George W. Bush’s White House Press Secretary, Dana Perino has mastered the art of handling stress. And, if this were a game of superlatives, you could also say she’s most likely to be the most prepared person in any room. She also broke a glass ceiling during her time working in the White House, as during her tenure as White House Press Secretary, she was the first female to serve as a spokesperson in a Republican administration.

Respected across the aisle, Dana was appointed to the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors by President Barack Obama after departing the White House.

In 2009, she joined FOX News Channel as a contributor. And in just 11 years at FOX News, she is appearing on two hours of national television on the channel each day. Dana anchors FOX News Channel's afternoon news program, The Daily Briefing and is one of the co-hosts of The Five a weekday roundtable discussion program where different voices across the spectrum break down the biggest issues of the day.

Dana also leads the 2020 election coverage and has anchored special events for the primary and Iowa caucuses. She also made news herself when she nabbed an exclusive interview with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to discuss the state of social media and political advertising, which also was his first interview with the network.

In episode #118, Dana shares some of her career defining moments, advice for pursuing career goals and managing fear. We speak about her passion for guiding the future female leaders as the founder of Minute Mentoring. We also talk about her book, And the Good News Is... Lessons and Advice from the Bright Side, which shares career advice from lessons Dana has learned along her path.

 Dana also shares one of her get-ahead secrets – her ability to transfer her energy to an audience. She says, “If you are not amped up a little bit, your audience is going to be bored.” Dana also shares other insights about nabbing your dream job. She advises that even if you are offered the second-in-command role, you should still grab the opportunity to learn as much as you can, so that when your time comes, you know how to be in charge. We also talk with Dana about how her parents and grandparents, ranchers in Colorado, gave her the values and mindset that have shaped her path, love of news and work ethic.

Since October 7, we have added more political content with a focus on the  war in Israel. We didn’t plan on making our podcast political but we couldnt be authentic without having the conversations we feel are so important, As we think about leading the lives that were meant for us, alongside careers, purpose, relationships and the things that make up a good life, polticis is a part of our daily lives. Some weeks it's the appetizer and someitmes it is the main course. 

As we share in this episode, the  war in Israel and the tsunami of lies and hatred towards Jewish people galvanized thousands of activists, including us.  In this episode, we spoke with Jonah Platt and Dr. Logan Levkoff about their advocacy stories. We discussed challenging conversations about the war and the impact of activism on our personal and professional lives. As Sharon McMahon reminded us in a previous episode, no effort toward liberty is ever lost. Whatever contribution we can make towards the truth is worth every effort. We hope this conversation will encourage you to advocate for the cause closest to your soul.

https://www.jonahplatt.com

Listen to Jonah's podcast

Dr. Logan Levkoff

Need some inspiration about getting involved with an issue you’re passionate about? You’ll find plenty in today’s interview with Shannon Watts. After the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Shannon was devastated. Like many of us, she assumed the horrific tragedy would provoke outrage and change. When legislative and social change didn’t appear, and the status quo remained solidly in place, Shannon channeled her outrage and grief by starting a Facebook page for her few dozen online friends. Almost 7 years later, that single page has evolved into Moms Demand Action – a political powerhouse and one of the largest grassroots organizations in the country.

In today’s conversation, I Want Her Job The Podcast Host Polina Selyutin and Guest Co-Host Willow Older discuss Shannon’s new book, Fight Like a Mother, which is part memoir, part manual, and part manifesto. We talk about Shannon’s journey as an accidental activist and find out how Moms Demand Action is changing perceptions and creating unlikely allies in the battle for common sense gun safety legislation. 

Shannon also shares how she manages to rise above cynicism, despite unprecedented rates of gun violence. We learn why “losing forward” is a crucial part of reaching big, long-term goals. And we find out how Moms Demand Action is developing volunteer leaders across the nation.

To contact the show reach out to: podcast@iwantherjob.com 

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Guest Co-Host Willow Older, Co-Founder of @today.i.noticed

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If you decide to divorce a narcissist this is a must-listen episode.  Dr. Ramani, the world’s leading expert on narcissism, joins us for a third episode to discuss what you can expect during a divorce. We cover the emotional landmines, legal traps and issues you are likely to struggle with even long after your divorce. Your ex may start to behave in ways you never expected, like suddenly becoming a father who is completely devoted to sharing custody. We cover the best and worst-case scenarios of ending a marriage with a narcissist, including a quick settlement to the torture of vindictive custody battles.

Dr. Ramani also offers valuable guidelines for getting through the divorce. We cover the importance of choosing a divorce attorney who understands narcissism and why you must be prepared to be meticulous in your activities and always document your communication with your ex. Dr. Ramani suggest you use an app such as My Family Wizard to communicate so it is documented and admissible in court.

We also discuss the emotional impact on children and the long-term consequences of growing up with a narcissistic parent. Doctor Ramani shares invaluable advice on supporting your children and there is a hopeful reminder:  Every child needs just one truly loving and  supportive adult to thrive, and the suffering they endure in a divorce can be transformed into strength and resilience.

Previous Episodes with Dr. Ramani

• Dr. Ramani's Guide to Dealing with Narcissists at Work
• Dr. Ramani on Dealing with the Narcissists in Your Life

Notable Quotes from Doctor Ramani

"You're going to war, and you have to be prepared for that."

"Narcissistic people are novelty seekers. They do tend to lose interest in situations, but as long as the kids represent a place of power, they will fight that right to the end."

"Be present, be attuned, be loving, be all the things you want to be with that child."

"The courts are about parental rights. It's not about child's rights."

Topics Discussed:

(00:00) Doctor Ramani offers advice on dealing with a narcissist during a divorce
(09:29) You need to document everything that happens with your children
(13:40) There are two mistakes people make when going through divorce proceedings
(25:20) When you have a child with a narcissistic person, your kids are carrying legacy burden
(44:00) Legal system for divorces involving children
(49:33) Do narcissistic parents ever stop fighting over children? 

Connect with us on Instagram @meantforit and share your thoughts via email at contact@meantforit.com. Visit www.meantforit.com for more episodes that offer guidance, light and community.

Solving the problem of food waste and creating new products based on upcycled food was the type of project Caroline Cotto was meant to work on. As someone who has intentionally sought out challenging experiences since high school, Caroline is determined to live on the side of impact and adventure.  Today, Caroline is the COO of Renewal Mill, a next generation ingredients company that's reducing food waste by upcycling the byproducts of food manufacturing into high quality ingredients and products. In our conversation, Caroline shares how her career decisions, family influences, traveling and love of food led her to Renewal Mill.

• Renewal Mill
• Whole Foods names upcycled foods and Renewal Mills' upcycled flours a Top 10 Food Trend for 2021
• Named World Changing Idea by Fast Company 
• Featured on PBS Newshour

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If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and please subscribe for future episodes.

Podcast co-hosts Polina and Amber

Ashira Solomon is an international Public Speaker and Member of The Quad, an Israeli show with 4 co-hosts covering  everything Israel and Jewish from the unique female perspective. In this  episode Ashira  a native of Livermore, California, takes us through her transformative journey that led her to embrace a new religion and to become an advocate of independent political thought in a world where identity politics seems to be the norm.

Ashira's story begins with her grandmother's dream to visit Israel. This dream, deeply rooted in family heritage, was the reason for Ashira's life-changing decision to move to Israel and study at the University of Haifa. We discuss Ashira's experiences of studying terrorism, peace psychology, and her eventual conversion to Judaism.

Listeners will be inspired by the ways Ashira challenges the assumptions placed upon her by academic advisors and peers alike. Her defiance against low expectations due to her race, and her refusal to conform to political ideologies simply based on her ethnicity, shows how Ashira is fiercely independent and intellectually curious.

We discuss what it is like to live as a black woman today in Israel, Ashira's conservative stance in a liberal state like California, and the misconceptions Ashira is fighting to correct among her American peers.  Ashira shares what it really feels like to live and study in Israel and how political discourse between citizens varies in Israel and the US.

Zoom in to a topic you want tp hear first:

00:30-4:41  Childhood, conversion to Judaism, and decision to study in Israel. Experience studying terrorism, peace psychology, and learning Hebrew.

4:41-6:51 Deepening connection to Israel, language, and people. The start of the conversion process and sense of homecoming.

06:51-10:05  Influences and Evolution. Influence of family, advisors, and educational experiences. Struggles with beliefs and identity.

10:05-14:50 Reflections on creating unity amidst diverse perspectives. Importance of international experiences and understanding.

14:50-37:19 Efforts to unite black and Jewish communities. Participation in events, discussions, and initiatives for impact and dialogue.

43:2Ω Final thoughts and call to action for building bridges and creating a better world.

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Making decisions is critical for any CEO. But today’s Leading Lady has a Master’s in the art.

In this episode of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Denyelle Bruno, CEO of Los-Angeles based health-conscious restaurant Tender Greens talks to us about the importance of ensuring that senior leaders understand how vital it is to ensure that decisions are received and understood throughout multiple levels of an organization. And, she would know a thing or two about this, because in addition to her current role, she previously served as president of retail operations for Drybar, where she led the opening of 55 locations. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, in addition to that, Denyelle also was one of only seven people who worked with Steve Jobs to open the first 25 Apple stores. Her career experience also includes roles as vice president of retail for PUREBEAUTY and at Peet’s Coffee & Tea in vice president roles focused on retail strategy and market expansion, as well as retail marketing and operations.

The advice that comes from a career tenure like Denyelle’s is gold. And, after all of her experience, one of the most important pieces of advice she has for all of us is simple, yet gutsy:

Ask for the role you want. As Denyelle shares in our conversation, almost every role in her successful career has resulted from her asking for it.

It’s an important lesson to remember, especially as many of us often think that if we just work hard enough, and broaden our skill set and experience, then the offers will come directly to us. And while this happens sometimes, what we’ve been reminded of during our chat with Denyelle is that if you really want the job, ask for it. But first, listen to today’s episode for tips on how to ask for it from the expert herself. After all, you never know if this could be the move that changes the course of your career … forever.

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Beth Comstock is the former vice chair of GE and a corporate director of Nike. Her accomplishments include building GE’s Business Innovations and GE Ventures, as well as overseeing the reinvention of GE Lighting. Prior to her role as vice chair she served as chief marketing officer of the company. And before that she had another dream job as the president of integrated media at NBC Universal, overseeing the company’s digital efforts, including the early formation of Hulu.

While Beth has built an incredible career, she’s also made some tough decisions in the process of doing so. We’re all lucky enough live vicariously through her, with the opportunity to learn more about her journey and the decisions that led her to career success in her new book out today called Imagine It Forward.

In it, Beth shares her story, documenting the ups and downs of working at GE and NBC during a time of tremendous growth. But, Beth will tell you she also wrote this book to help those out in the middle of their career. It’s for those who want to make change happen, but feel they need permission to do so, whether through others or from themselves.

In today’s episode I am joined by I Want Her Job founder Brianne. Together, we talk to Beth about inspiring change, the importance of embracing tension and conflict, how to navigate gatekeepers and more.

We hope you enjoy today’s conversation. You can also visit I Want Her Job dot com for an online version of today’s interview.We rely on word-of-mouth to help our community grow and would love if left a review of our podcast on iTunes and subscribe to future episodes. You can read more interviews on I Want Her Job dot com, where you can also sign up for our newsletter. And if you have ideas for future guests, we’re just an email away.

In one of the most important and timely conversations on our podcast, Izabella Tabarovsky shares her research in tracing the roots of anti-zionism rhetoric to the Soviet Union. Izabella’s article,  “Zombie Anti-Zionism” for Tablet magazine shares the striking similarities between today's anti-Israel language and Soviet propaganda from the 1960s to the 1980s, revealing a dangerous connection that many are unaware of. Izabella explains how this rhetoric, which demonizes Zionism and Israel, has been meticulously and expertly transmitted to the West and passionately adopted by the global left. 

We discuss Izabella’s process of tracing the origins of anti-zionism to the communist party of the Soviet Union and cover some of the channels, major players, publications and methods that allowed it to infiltrate American society. Izabella’s research shows the explosive growth of this rhetoric after the 1967 Six day Arab-Israeli war.  When Israel won the war, the Soviet Union started to see that there was an Israeli and US alliance, with Zionists firmly aligned with the West against the USSR and its allies. Izabella shares the significant influence of Soviet propaganda, the role of third-world publications, and the geopolitical chess moves that led to the widespread, and highly successful adoption of anti-Zionist rhetoric as a “peace movement”.

Similarly to the discredited and fraudulent Protocols of the Elders of Zion, the anti-zionist rhetoric coming from the modern left, is an echo of Soviet led propaganda that equated zionism with fascism, colonialism, and portrayed zionists as traitors to their homeland. 

If you want to know the historical context of the propaganda around the Israel-Gaza war, and the origins of today’s anti-Israel, anti-zionist movements, do NOT miss this conversation, and please share it with a friend.

 https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/zombie-anti-zionism

(08:26) Why did the Soviets invest such an incredible amount of resources into propaganda

(14:23) More people from the former Soviet Union know about Angela Davis than Americans do

(19:30) Mahmoud M. Abbas and the Soviet Union Connection

(24:21) How Anti zionist language came  from the Soviet Union

(31:51) Today's language is even more radical than we had in the seventies and eighties

Please stop by and say hello to us on Instagram @meantforit.

Visit our website at www.meantforit.com,

and sign up for our newsletter here on substack. or email us directly at contact@meantforit.com  - we do a happy dance  when we get listener emails .

Quotes:

"What we hear on college campuses is not criticism, it's demonization of Zionism in Israel."

"The Soviets invested an incredible amount of resources into this propaganda."

"The Soviets had geopolitical interests in targeting Israel, and in targeting Zionism as an ideology."

"So today, essentially, the dividing line is that Zionists are people who believe that Israel has a right to exist."

"The Soviets completely redefined the word Zionism."

"For us, the United States most certainly was a force for good."

Alex Otte is Mother's Against Drunk Driving youngest National President. Alex got involved with MADD when she was hit by a boat driven by a drunk driver. Alex’s injuries were life-threatening, severe and long lasting. Today, Alex is using her voice, her story and her passion to advocate for an end to drunk driving. While there is good news coming in 2026 about an almost complete reduction in drunk driving due to new technologies that will be implemented in all new cars, with an estimated 9,400 lives saved and countless injuries prevented annually from the new technologies once all cars on the road are equipped, there is still so much we can do today. An estimated 10,000 people die per year due to drunk driving and more than 300,000 are injured annually. With several years left before the new technology makes it to new cars, there are still going to be tens of thousands of lives lost. Think about that for a minute - tens of thousands of preventable deaths, and hundreds of thousands of preventable injuries caused by drunk driving. If you want to be a part of preventing drunk driving deaths and injuries, you can get involved with your local MADD chapter. Listen in to hear how Alex endured a horrible tragedy and has made it her mission to prevent future deaths and injuries and to support victims and survivors. This is a more serious topic, but it is one we must pay attention to. Next time you think you can make a difference to prevent the next drunk driving incident, take the action. Your future will thank you.  

Find a local MADD Chapter

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Check out our new website

If you have ever wondered why motherhood in the US is so difficult, you don’t want to miss this conversation with Caitlyn Collins, Assistant Professor of Sociology a Washington University and author of Making Motherhood Work: How Women Manage Careers and Caregiving. In her book, Caitlyn dives into the ways public policy shapes the lives of mothers in the USA, Germany, Italy and Sweden. By examining the different policies in each country, and through detailed interviews with 135 women, the book shows how public policy decisions deeply influence culture and drastically shapes the lives of parents.

This conversation is likely to leave you shocked, and, hopefully inspired by the possibility to reimagine options for supporting mothers and children with benefits such as paid parental leave and universal affordable, high quality childcare. As Caitlyn says, instead of blaming themselves, mothers in the US should consider that the current system just isn’t working.

Follow us @meantforit and please share this episode with a friend.

If you love writing, blogging, photography, creating content — and having control of your future while developing your own business — we think you will enjoy hearing how Lauryn Evarts created her blog and brand, The Skinny Confidential. When Lauryn started blogging 6 years ago, she was broke and miserable working in a bartending job. Today, With six employees, Lauryn is running her own business. 

In today's episode of I Want Her Job: the Podcast, we talk to Lauryn about how she engages with her audience, her mindset for setting goals and dealing with criticism. She also shares how she chipped away every day at the goals she made for her blog. "Every day when I laid my head on the pillow I had built The Skinny Confidential in some small way,” she says. 

Now as a professional blogger, Lauryn shares some practical advice for what it takes. “If you can’t deal with criticism probably being an influencer is not the way to go,” she says. But if you can? Well, we think the upside could be that it's your dream job.

Dr. Ramani Durvasula,  a licensed clinical psychologist, Founder and CEO of LUNA Education and author of several books, joins us to share her wisdom and expertise on the topic of narcissism. You may not know it, but chances are high that there is a narcissistic personality somewhere in your life. In our conversation, we discuss ways to identify narcissists, common personality traits and the need to accept that narcisists don't change. We also delve into discussing the ideas that society benefits from narcissists that drive innovation, and the emotional pain that is highly likely in close relationships with narcissists.

Dr. Ramani has millions of followers on social media and her work has been featured at SXSW, TEDx, The Today Show, and Investigation Discovery. On YouTube, Dr. Ramani's short and informative videos have millions of views . The focus of Dr. Ramani's clinical, academic and consultative work is the impact of narcissism and high-conflict, entitled personality styles on human relationships, mental health, and societal expectations.

Get Dr. Ramani's new Book: It's Not You

Follow Dr. Ramani here:

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Topics Discussed:

• Does society need narcissists? Advantages and disadvantages.
• Understanding, naming,and addressing narcisstic behavior, toxic relationships, and healing from narcisstic abuse.
• Challenges faced by individuals dealing with narcissistic parents or partners in family court systems that may not prioritize child welfare over parental rights.
  Dr.Ramani recommends support groups as well as self-education through reading books about the subject.
• Making excuses for toxic behavior.
• Being careful about to to share your experiences because others may not believe them or undermine your feelings.
• Teaching children and adults about unhealthy behaviors and giving them permission to step away from uncomfortable situations. 
• How empathy can sometimes enable toxic behavior.
• Integrating naricissim education into curricula and in gender-based violence, domestic abuse, etc. education.
  
  

We use Fireflies.Ai to transcribe our podcasts and we love the accuracy of the transcripts, the summary, outline and chapters help us find key highlighs. If you need an AI notetaker to 5x your efficiency give it a try by signing  up here! We promise that we only promote products we love. 

Dr. Leana Wen, emergency physician, former health commissioner for Baltimore, professor of health policy and management, contributing columnist for The Washington Post, CNN medical analyst, and author shares stories from her new memoir, Lifelines: A Doctor's Journey in the Fight for Public Health. Dr. Wen has an incredibly inspiring immigrant story of struggle, sacrifice and tremendous achievement. In our conversation, Dr. Wen shares how the early hardships she experienced shaped her character and her career goals. If you are looking for an inspiring career story, Dr. Wen’s path is guaranteed to lift your spirits. We also discuss some of the innovative programs Dr. Wen led during her time serving as Baltimore's Health Commissioner.

This is a must listen episode! 

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Reach out to us: contact@meantforit.com

BJ Miller is a physician, author, speaker,  practicing hospice and palliative medicine physician. In his current role, BJ sees patients and caregivers through Mettle Health, an online palliative care service. Previously,, BJ was the Executive Director of San Francisco’s Zen Hospice Project.

Most importantly, BJ is a deep, soulful thinker with extraordinary compassion and a true desire to help ease and reduce suffering in our world. BJ is also someone who fully appreciates the beauty, connectedness and mystery of our existence so we are thrilled to have BJ as our first male guest on the podcast!

BJ shares how he got on his career path and we discuss the ways his family and upbringing shaped his character.  We discuss the sources of BJ resilience, what BJ has learned about death and the ways society can make dying a better process. Listen in to hear BJ reveal what people who are able to deal with death peacefully  have in common. This is an extraordinary conversation with an extraordinary human. We are honored to share BJ’s story and hope this conversation gives you new insights and maybe a little more peace in talkihng about death.

Watch BJs famous Ted Talk Here  

Mettle Health

BJ NYT One Man's Quest to Change the Way We Die

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Reach out to us at contact@meanforit.com for future guests or if you are interested in sponsoring our podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share with a friend, send us a note. We would be extra, extra grateful if you decide to leave us a review on itunes.

Topics Discussed

(02:00) BJ talks about accident that led to amputation of both legs
(12:57) BJ's mom contracted polio when she was 18 months old
(18:23) After the accident, BJ decided to go to medical school
(23:41) BJ's list of things he wants to change about end of life care
(40:18) BJ shares after seeing so many deaths, his is not sure death is bad
(49:45) People who have questioned their faith or their faithlessness have examined themselves
(52:33) Mettle Health offers online palliative care, counseling and coaching
(01:00:18) What about any religious practices that make grieving easier

Memorable Quotes:

"There's nothing wrong with you for dying."

"Life includes death. There's no separating the two."

"The beauty of life is, yes, being inside of you, but also outside of you."

"We act like big, dumb teenagers. We got way too much power that we know to do with."

"I reserve the right to freak out if that's what I need to do at that time."

"Life is something much more magical than you would ever feel it to be in a hospital."

If you enjoy this episode please share it with a friend and follow us on Instagram @meantforit.

Get yourself a Bug Bite Thing

Shelby Stanger’s formula is living life with adventure. When Shelby realized that adventure gave her energy, joy and confidence, she intentionally scheduled and prioritized adventure into her life. By choosing adventure, Shelby found love, a career she loved and a way to bring other people the same gifts. Shelby’s book, Will to Wild, Adventures Great and Small to Change Your Life, shares what she has learned in her years covering adventurers. Shelby reveals the stories of adventure seekers such as hikers, surfers, runners, on how they faced their fears, got unstuck and found meaning and life guidance through their adventures. What we love about Shelby’s story is how her life transformed and her life path emerged with each leap and decision Shelby made to choose authenticity and happiness. Shelby’s advice for those who want to have their own adventure is to put down the deposit, and get ready for your world to expand. 

Judy Robinett’s story begins in Franklin, Idaho. As a young girl who was bullied during junior high, Judy felt uncomfortable at social events, which she would often arrive late to and leave early from. Until her 40s, she felt shy, awkward, not good enough, not cute enough and not educated enough.

Today, however, Judy’s life paints a different picture. As a well-known and highly respected investor and advisor, she is known as the woman with a titanium Rolodex. If you’re curious about how she made the leap from insecure young woman to confident businesswoman, then you will want to hear episode 30 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast.

In today’s show, Judy shares how an attitude of, “Keep your head down; work hard; and wait your turn,” turned into advice worth tossing. She read Dale Carnegie’s How To Win Friends And Influence People and immediately realized that it was actually those leaving early on Friday to socialize at the golf club were the ones getting ahead at work. After reading this book, she began to make intentional choices in how she interacted with others.

This fresh outlook aids Judy to this day. When she meets someone new, Judy immediately begins looking for ways she can help, which she explains further in her step-by-step approach in her book on networking – How To Be A Power Connector. In today’s episode, Editor and Host Polina Selyutin discusses the art of connection with Judy and tips that can help you develop your own titanium Rolodex.

Claire Bidwell Smith is a grief counselor and author. Claire’s path to her current profession came from losing both her parents to cancer while Claire was still young. At first, Claire was in shock and tried to run from the overwhelming grief and anxiety she was feeling. Eventually, Claire decided to become a therapist and worked in private practice for over a decade. Claire went on to write three books about dealing with grief, anxiety and loss. Today, Claire is continuing her work to help people with grief by speaking widely and  working with organizations devoted to helping people find end of life and grief support.

In our conversation, we discuss how Claire found her way to becoming a therapist and writer. Claire shares the experiences that changed her and we talk about some of Clarie’s adventures while researching for her book, After This, an exploration of what happens when we die. If you have faced grief, or want to prepare yourself for dealing with grief that eventually reaches all of us, you don’t want to miss this conversation.

If you enjoy this podcast, please click share and email or text it to a friend!

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Reach out with guest ideas to contact@meantforit.com

Erica Liu Williams is the founder of Gr8nola, a “delicious, low sugar superfood granola.” A two-time Olympic time-trial swimmer who’s married to a former-NFL football player named “Tank” Williams, Erica first created gr8nola as a crunchy snack during their annual food cleanse. Erica shares how she started her business as a “cottage food operator,” baking trays and trays of gr8nola in her kitchen and selling at a local farmer’s market. As sales grew, there was a lot that she needed to learn in order to grow her business. “Once I started doing my second farmer’s market and selling online, I needed other certifications and of course, an official nutrition label. It took me tons and tons of phone calls and networking with other food entrepreneurs to figure it all out. There’s no step-by-step guide.”

In our conversation, Erica shares the story of growing gr8nola, pivoting during Covid, and expanding her sales channels. Erica offers advice on how to start your own business, from the earliest stages of kitchen production and hiring to figuring out how to scale and build brand awareness. We also discuss Erica’s early influences and the decisions that led her to a career she loves. Plus, we find our what led Halle Berry to share her love of gr8nola on her IG page!

Episode co-hosts: Willow Older and Polina Selyutin

Follow us or reach out for interview ideas to @iwhjpodcast

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Gianna Stanley made a huge career pivot when she realized her post college dream job for a boutique marketing and consulting agency was not the the path she wanted for the rest of her career. Instead of staying stuck and unhappy, Gianna made a bold move to leave her job, and then another bold move by deciding to go to the Institute of Culinary Education in NYC.  The decision to go to culinary school actually came out of Gianna’s volunteering at the St Francis House Day shelter. After leaving her job, Gianna increased her volunteer hours at the shelter and soon realized the work of cooking and feeding people gave her the joy and purpose she was craving.

At the Institute of Culinary Education, Gianna fully embraced the intensity of the cooking program and took advantage of various internships and opportunities to learn. After finishing the program, Gianna got an externship at Blue Hill and then accepted a position as a private chef along with a side job as a chef with a pop-up event company called The Underground Kitchen. In addition to her cooking jobs, Covid led Gianna to another side gig as a food photographer. In our conversation, Gianna shares her career story and how she started and grew her food photography business. If you have a career switch on your mind or are curious about starting a new side hustle, you will love learning how Gianna has followed her heart to a create her own recipe for a meaningful career. 

Follow Gianna @sustainablygia

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• Lindsay Pinchuk was meant to be a  marketer and community builder. Listen to hear how Lindsay used her marketing experience to build her own 7-figure company, Bump Club and Beyond, that reached over 3 million users per month.  Lindsay has experience working with and creating activations for brands such as Target, Nordstrom, The Honest Company, ULTA, Huggies, Unilever, and hundreds more.

Today, Lindsay uses her 25 years of experience in creating and growing brands to help others. As the CEO of Lindsay Pinchuk Marketing + Consulting, Lindsay’s company offers consulting, coaching, and speaking services to businesses of all sizes and stages. Lindsay also started Dear FoundHer, a top 2% podcast that helps female entrepreneurs build, scale, and sell their businesses. 

In our conversation we discuss some of Lindsay’s signature marketing strategies, her startup story and why Lindsay is so committed to helping other businesses and entrepreneurs. What I love most about Lindsay is her authenticity. When you speak with Lindsay what you see and hear is what you get, and what are you are getting is decades of marketing experience and and a force energy for getting things fearlessly,

https://www.lindsaypinchuk.com/

If you enjoy this podcast, please share it with a friend and follow us on Instagram @meantforit

• Reach out to us anytime: contact@meanforit.com to say hello or recommend somone for a future episode. We would really, really love to hear from you.

Sign up for our monthly newsletter with a curated list of our recommendations on what to read, watch, listen to and more.

Topics Discussed:

• Lindsay's approach to community building through events and speakers
• The importance of personal connection and building relationships with the community
• The significance of hosting events for marketing purposes
• Engaging the community through knowledge sharing and small group interactions
• Addressing Anti-Semitism
• Lindsay uses an email management system called Flow Desk for targeted communication.
• Lindsay cautions against relying too much on AI-generated content and encourages personalization.
  
  

How do you define success? It’s a question Courtney Martin asked herself and others while writing her book, The New Better Off: Reinventing the American Dream, which attempts to help all of us think about redefining our measures of success. She encourages us to “reject the tired narratives about success” because our motives and lives will change when we shift our focus, instead, to community.

“The New Better Off most succinctly is realizing that our quality of life is more determined by the quality of our relationships than by our own individual achievements as we’ve historically thought about it,” Courtney says. “It’s more about meaning, relationships, community and fulfillment – as opposed to status and stuff.”

The book asks questions many of us have asked ourselves, and it challenges what many of us have come to accept as the status quo. One of our favorite lines in Courtney’s book is: “I don’t want to get a good job, a house with a white picket fence, 2.5 kids and then just go to sleep.” Host Polina Selyutin speaks with Courtney about this desire for meaning, purpose and community in our lives and a fear of where the traditional path can lead us in episode 46 of I Want Her Job: The Podcast.

Other topics of discussion include how the traditional 9-to-5 job structure created in the ‘50’s for those without caretaking responsibilities simply doesn’t work in the world we live in today. (For example, by the year 2020 it’s estimated that half the workforce will be freelance, she cites.) 

We also discuss her decision to put community first by living in a co-housing community in Oakland, Calif., where individuals practice radical hospitality by dining together weekly, sharing homeownership activities and helping one another. And if you aren’t the co-housing type, Courtney shares ideas on how similar principals of community housing can be easily integrated into our lives – from hikes with family and friends to group dinners. After all, Courtney says, the relationships in our lives are the things that make us the happiest.

Sharon Coleman is on a mission to bring comfort to those going through cancer treatment. The inspiration for her business came through her own struggle with cancer. She endured extensive treatments when she was diagnosed, and two years later had undergone surgery, radiation and many, many hours of chemotherapy treatments. 

The experience inspired her to create a curated care package gift box business called Lemon and Honey Gifts. Each box is made with love and an understanding of what people going through treatments need and want. If you’ve ever been in the position of not knowing what to do or say when a friend or family member is diagnosed, Sharon’s packages packed with comfort are a place to start.

In today’s episode of I Want Her Job: The Podcast, Sharon shares how she started her business and opened her Shopify store, without any previous technical e-commerce skills, as well as how she learned to navigate the dozens of new issues that would pop up each week. She also shares the resources that helped her start and grow her e-commerce business, which is helpful for anyone looking to launch her own business. Plus, Willow Older, a writer/editor and friend of the I Want Her Job team, joins Polina Selyutin as co-host on this very special show.

Colombian-born Renata Black lost both of her parents in an airplane accident when she was a toddler. A tragedy of this type could devastate and stunt a life. But that is not Renata’s story.

Instead, Renata shares how the loss of her parents, and her knowledge of the precious nature of life, became her competitive advantage. Renata was adopted by her aunt and uncle and was raised in Miami. She dropped out of school at 15 and returned to Colombia to stay with her grandmother. After moving back, she saw the differences between living in the United States and the poorest areas of Colombia. It gave her an early understanding of the vast differences in how people live.

Later in her 20’s, when a dream job with MTV didn’t work out, Renata purchased a ticket to travel the world. In doing so, she expanded her perspectives regarding how fellow women live in various areas of the world. It was Renata’s world travels that gave her a deep motivation and burning desire to find ways to help other women rise through microfinance. And, it was while she was volunteering in India that she had a moment of inspiration after a woman came up to her and said, “I don’t want your money, but can you teach me how to make it?” So, Renata studied under Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize Winner, for three months and then launched a microfinance program in India – the Seven Bar Foundation.

In 2016 Renata met Modern Family’s Sofia Vergara though a mutual friend. The two launched EBY, a direct to consumer size inclusive seamless underwear membership program. Their products are for “women who kick ass every day and who want to empower other women to kick ass, too.” Through the online subscription, you can share your style profile. Then, boxes of selected-for-you underwear will arrive every 1, 3 or 6 months. And to support other women while you support your best assets, 10% of net sales are directed to the Seven Bar Foundation– to empower women in business around the world through microfinance. In their first year they’ve helped 1,800 women and children rise out of poverty.

Renata lives her life by asking herself every morning, “What can be possible if I live outside of fear?” After listening to Renata’s story, you may be inspired to ask yourself the same question, and then take the first steps toward the living the in the answer.

To contact the show reach out to: podcast@iwantherjob.com 

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Sophia Khalifa, an engineer, working on AI at Amazon AWS, has a story we need to hear. Sophia is a muslim Bedouin Arab,  born and raised in Israel. In Sophia's culture and community,  girls traditionally do not receive an education, but Israeli policies mandating schooling for all children, changed her entire life. Sophia graduated from Tel Aviv University with a BS in Electrical Engineering, moved to the US, worked as an engineer for Intel, received her MBA from Stanford, and started working at Amazon leading trust and safety for generative AI. SInce October 7, Sophia’s life changed again when she added activism to areas where she excels.  

Sophia says, “ ​​if ​Israel ​was ​not ​established, ​I ​probably ​would ​be, ​ ​illiterate, ​married ​to ​my ​cousin ​and ​herding ​sheep, ​somewhere ​in ​Galilee. ​Because ​that ​was ​ ​generation ​after ​generation. ​That's ​the ​culture ​that ​we ​had ​but ​Israel ​actually ​up ​leveled ​the ​field ​for ​the ​Arabs. ​And ​if ​you ​look ​at ​the ​number ​of ​like ​20% ​of ​the ​population ​of ​citizens ​and ​the ​population ​in ​Israel ​are ​Arabs. ​Most ​of ​them ​are ​Muslims. ​ And ​in ​universities ​today, ​the ​percent ​of ​Arabs ​pursuing ​bachelor ​degree ​is ​20%, ​same ​as ​their ​percent ​of ​the ​population.”

As a muslim Arab who grew up in Israel straddling two cultures, Sophia speaks from first hand experience about the  cultural divisions in Israel. In our conversation, Sophia dispels the damaging lies against Israel as an apartheid state guilty of genocide and oppressing Arabs. Sophia breaks down how each of these lies is absurdly false and how the repulsive jew hatred that is poisoning our society and hijacking the social justice movement should concern all of us. Sophia tells us that the real problem is not Israel vs Hamas, it is the western world vs. radical Islam. 

Sophia emphasizes the importance of identifying Islamist anti semitism, and the need for honest conversation about this global threat. 

When we talked about those who try to attack Sophia’s honesty  because her experience doesn’t match up with the story they believe about Israel, Sophia had wise words, “first ​they ​try ​to ​spread ​lies. ​ ​And ​then ​when ​you're ​able ​to ​fight ​against ​it ​because ​you're ​sharing ​the ​facts, ​the ​truth, ​then ​they ​try ​to ​discredit ​you.”

Must Read Quotes from this episode:

“​​And ​then ​I ​think ​that ​as ​long ​as ​you're ​using ​this ​social ​justice ​language, ​you ​are ​kind ​of ​like ​protected, ​you ​are ​righteous,  ​and ​then ​that ​gives ​you ​the ​legitimacy ​to ​say ​anything. ​But ​no ​one ​comes ​and ​tries ​to ​question ​what ​you're ​saying. And ​what ​is ​happening ​is ​that ​we ​have ​the ​islamist, ​anti ​Semitism. ​And ​I'm ​not ​saying ​Muslim. ​I'm ​saying ​islamist, ​extreme ​Islam, ​antisemitism ​that ​is ​exploiting ​that ​language ​and ​using ​that.”

“​They ​try ​to ​be ​for ​the ​oppressed, ​for ​women's ​rights, ​for ​LGBTQ ​rights ​and ​all ​that they're ​trying ​to ​be ​on ​the ​right ​side ​of ​history. So ​they ​hear ​that ​social ​justice ​lingo ​about ​like, ​ah, ​genocide, ​colonialism, ​white ​supremacy  Which ​is ​like, ​if ​you ​went ​to ​Israel, ​you ​would ​laugh ​to ​think ​that ​this ​is ​like ​white ​supremacy. ​You ​cannot ​tell ​the ​difference ​between ​a ​Jew ​and ​Arab ​in ​Israel.”

“But ​all ​of ​a ​sudden, ​your ​teacher, ​someone ​that ​you ​look ​up ​to, ​come ​to ​you ​and ​tells ​you ​you ​don't ​have a ​future. ​ ​I ​felt ​like ​so ​helpless ​in ​those ​moments. ​But ​then ​luckily, ​I ​have ​this ​critical ​thinking ​that ​today ​is ​missing ​from ​our ​college ​students a​nd  ​I ​saw ​that ​my ​experience ​with ​the ​jewish ​people ​is ​different. ​It's ​not ​what ​he's ​saying. ​So ​he ​probably ​doesn't ​know ​what ​he's ​talking ​about, ​or ​maybe ​he ​knows, ​but ​he's ​like ​lying ​to ​us. ​And ​I ​just, ​just ​ignored ​it.”

"The hate to the Jews is more important and stronger than the love for their own future."

"We need to understand that this is the thing that is going to take our liberty, in the name of being liberal or tolerating other people."

"The problem here, it’s not Israel versus Palestine. It’s really about extreme Islam, who is trying to take power and control all over the world."

"I stand for my truth, and I don’t care what people think about it."

(00:00) Sophia is grateful that Israel made education mandatory for all children

(05:55) People are using this word to label Israel as an apartheid state

(08:34) I think that antisemitism is not something that ever disappeared

(17:57) Sophia: Americans have a lack of understanding of fundamentalism

(19:37) Sophia’s growing up in Israel

(25:21) Sophia’s experiences in Israel on 9/11 happened

(29:25) A turning point for Sopha when your friend told you she wanted to a suicide bomber

(57:29) Arab Israelis support of a two state solution

(01:00:37) Israel disengaged from Gaza in 2005

(01:03:19) Everyone should be united against Hamas

(01:05:31) First step in solving problem is being explicit about what the problem is

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In this life deeply soulful conversation we speak with  Nicole Avant to discuss her  tribute to her mom in her new book  "Think You'll Be Happy." We explore themes from Nicole’s book including living a life centered around  love of family, community, the arts, gratitude and serving others.

Nicole's mindset is an example of the power of  positive energy and the importance of being a blessing to others, no matter the circumstances. Nicole talks about her upbringing in a household filled with love, wisdom, and how she learned from so many wonderful people that were friends with her parents. Nicole’s parents, Clarence Avant and Jacqueline Avant were both extraordinary leaders in the music industry and in their communities. The Avant  home was a meeting place for some of America’s greatest artists and leaders such as Ella Fitzgerald, Maya Angelou, the Clintons and the Obamas. Despite her glamorous and successful life, Nicole remains humble and grounded, attributes she credits to her mother's teachings.

We discuss how Nicole intentionally turned a tragedy into a source of inspiration, the importance of traditional values and the impact of small acts of kindness. 

We know you will not forget the lessons Nicole shares on being good, spreading good, supporting people who are grieving and choosing to  be the blessing every day of your life. 

Nicole Avant https://thinkyoullbehappy.com

Nicole's father Clarence Avant

Clarence Avant, Mighty Engine Behind Black Superstars, Dies at 92

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Zoom in:

(00:00) Nicole Avant's new book is about love and gratitude

(05:22) The book is focused on grit, grace, and gratitude

(09:10) How your mother taught you to be the blessing

(16:20) This book really made me want to be a better friend

(22:13) You left your ambassadorship in the Bahamas to support your family

(27:08) In your book, you talk about bullying among children in today's society

(34:00) Your mom taught you to always be grateful. What are some of your favorite life lessons

(38:26) You talk a lot about energy and intuition in the book

(42:27) You talk about learning from your ancestors, and your father had incredible life story

(46:11) Investment in the arts

(51:35) Lessons from Nicole’s mom

(55:25) Paying it forward

(59:47) Lead with generosity that really is the message out of this book

We’ve all been through heartache and heartbreak, but Amy Chan has made a career of it. Amy is the founder of Renew Breakup Bootcamp, a  retreat that takes a scientific and spiritual approach to healing the heart. If you or someone you know is reeling from the pain of a breakup, attending one of these workshops can be transformative. During Covid, the bootcamps are going strong with online sessions. Amy was a guest on the podcast in episode 100 to discuss her career path and how she started Renew Breakup Bootcamp. 

In our latest conversation, Amy joins us to discuss her new book, Breakup Bootcamp. Amy shares highlights from her book and we discuss some of the book’s themes such as recognizing love addiction, tools for getting over breakups and understanding our love compass. Amy shares how the many breaks ups she endured gave her an understanding of common dating patterns and the different ways we can sabotage ourselves in love or get stuck in suffering during breakups. Amy has poured all the research and learnings from her career and fours years of break up bootcamps into this must-read book on dealing with dating and breakups.

Follow us @iwhjpodcast

Follow Amy @missamychan

Christina Ramirez was on an assignment at UC Santa Barbara 13 years ago when she came up with the idea for eco-conscious toothbrushes. Today her Plus Ultra Bamboo Toothbrushes are sold in more than 320 retail stores in 22 states, including Whole Foods and Amazon. She also has her sights set on expanding into other eco-conscious products.

In our conversation Christina shares how wise advice from her stepmom encouraged her to leave a job that had left her feeling miserable for an out-of-the-mold job that would bring her long-term happiness. The wise push, Christina says, gave her the confidence to walk toward her ultimate business dream. But her dream didn’t come without a lot of hard work and tough lessons. We talk about the ups and downs she faced when starting a new business – from flying to China to find manufacturers, to a tough lesson in quality control when her first lot of 5,000 toothbrushes were damaged.

We also talk about all the steps Christina took even before facing the production hurdles to bring her idea for a bamboo toothbrush to life. She had a goal: She wanted to create a product sold at Whole Foods. So, she applied for, and was hired for, a job as a cashier. Then, for 6 years she did everything she could to move up in the company. And although she says she didn’t make enough money to even buy a car, she was happy to be working among like-minded peers while learning about the business. Christina shares how she pitched her idea for bamboo toothbrushes to Whole Foods, and how she got the green light from the company’s buyers on a category call. And then, since she didn’t even have a product yet, she shares the day-and-night hours it took to research, develop and manufacture the product shed dreamed about.

If you’ve ever wanted to build a business, we think you will love Christina’s inspiring story. And we’ve got a good feeling it will give you that boost you need to pursue your very own business dreams. 

Other Topics Discussed: 

• Finding a job that serves your soul
• Manufacturing in foreign countries
• The reality of the time commitment in starting a company
• Outsourcing
• The problem with old school toothbrushes. (In 2018, more than 50 million pounds of toothbrushes ended up in landfills.)

To contact the show reach out to: podcast@iwantherjob.com 

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Benjamin Percy is an author, screenwriter,  and Marvel Comics writer for Wolverine and X-Force. Ben joins us to share his path to becoming a writer. We discuss how Ben's upbringing and work ethic led him to his dream job of spending the day with his imaginary friends. If you are curious about what it takes to be become a writer including the tradeoffs and work required to make it happen, you will love this conversation.  Ben is currently working with Paramount Plus, where they are adapting Urban Cowboy into a series,  Ben  co-wrote the feature film, Summering, with director James Ponsoldt,  has taught extensively, including at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, the Breadloaf Writers’ Conference, the Tin House Writers’ Workshop, Aspen Summer Words, and the Paris Writing Workshop. Ben's class is on Skillshare at this link:  http://skl.sh/benpercy

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When the Covid lockdown started, Stella Delp was a sophomore at Stanford and determined to find a way to help. News stations were showing lines for food that were miles long, while some farms were in situations where they needed to destroy enormous amounts of food. Stella joined two friends, co-founders James Kanoff and Aidan Reilly as the third employee at newly formed Farmlink Project with the goal of reducing food waste and helping to get fresh produce to food banks. Five months later, Farmlink Project has delivered 12 millions pounds of fresh produce to food banks across the country and is currently delivering up to 1M pounds per week! Stella’s current role is Chief of Staff for a fully volunteer staff that has reached 50 full time volunteers and 140 part time volunteers.

In this conversation, Stella shares her Farmlink Project journey and insights into the food industry. Famlink Project’s latest goal is to keep growing and to create a platform that farms, food banks, and other organizations looking to feed people & reduce food waste will be able to easily access. This story will leave you feeling inspired by the possibilities for a small group of people to make a huge difference and start a movement. 

Follow Farmlink Project's work

@iwhjpodcast

A random act of kindness to help  furnish an apartment for someone who aged out of foster care altered the course of Georgie Smith’s life. Georgie started receiving requests from others who needed the same type of assistance. When Georgie realized there were no organizations providing this help to set up homes for kids coming out of the foster system, Georgie decided to create a Sense of Home with a model that could be repeated by other non-profits. In our conversation, Georgie shares how furnishing an apartment can help to change the future for kids coming out of foster care. We discuss the story of starting a Sense of Home, its impact and the super hero resilience Georgie finds among those she is helping. Growing up Georgie’s dad would ask her ‘What are you doing to do about it’ when she read stories of people struggling. This mindset and the example of generosity from her parents shaped Georgie’s career and life path. This story will leave you hopeful, inspired and may encourage you to ask yourself what you are going to do about the problems that move you.

• Jazmine’s story and home creation
• Testimonials capturing the love of strangers 
• A Sense of Home warehouse tour  

If you love design and user experience, this is a podcast for you. Today we speak with Wendy McKennon, head of user experience at Color Genomics -- a digital health startup with a mission to help people make the most of their health information.