Successful: The Podcast

Thank you to all the amazing guests and listeners who have supported us in making this podcast dream come true! In this final episode of Season 2, we (Karla and Natalie) share our favorite moments of the season, what we're grateful for, and what we're looking forward to in Season 3. Key Takeaways: We have so much to be grateful for, including surpassing 1,000 downloads of this show! Through “Successful: The Podcast” we're grateful to have the opportunity to shine the light on issues that women face and share the real stories of women who are redefining success to live more fully and with more joy. We're learning that while we're all on our own journeys, many things connect us as women, from the success we're achieving to the difficult emotions that get in the way (like impostor syndrome). We can take comfort in knowing we're never alone in those experiences. We had some incredible guests this past season; some key highlights included meeting some of our personal heroes and women whose courage and work we admire. In Season 3 (coming in early 2023), we're looking forward to expansion: Expansion in our outreach to more women who are redefining success in unique and joyful ways, and expansion in the ways we connect with our listeners. It's been a true honor to be on this journey with each other and with all the women who have tuned in and shared their stories on our show. We are absolutely humbled and grateful for you all. Thank you and see you in Season 3! If you like the show, we’d be so honored if you left us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This way, more women can learn about us and, hopefully, feel inspired to define and pursue their own success in ways that bring them joy. Click here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts Click here to leave a review on Spotify

Paulina Lainez, a former college professor, went all in on her 3D-printed jewelry small business during the pandemic (her side hustle at the time). Along with her husband, Alvaro, she runs "Eres Una Maravilla" ("You are a Marvel"), a company that celebrates LatinX culture and women through earrings and other designs. She shares why it's important to celebrate her culture and focus on everyday wins as a small business owner.  Key Takeaways:  On entrepreneurship: It's a difficult decision to jump into your side hustle. A lot goes on behind the scenes that can worry any entrepreneur. It's normal to have emotional breakdowns - we all have them! Social media is a fantastic way to get in front of customers, but it can also be intimidating, seeing other businesses become seemingly successful "overnight". Remember that everyone is on their own journey. It's helpful to have a partner or someone in your life that can help remind you of everything you've achieved and that you're on the right track. Always remember why you started your business and who your customers are. For Paulina, her customer is someone who, like her, wants to celebrate their culture on a daily basis. That's who she thinks of when she creates a product. Don't let what others are doing distract you and make you feel like you need to change what you're doing. Stay focused and stay true to who you are. On designing jewelry that celebrates LatinX culture: When Paulina looked for jewelry that reflected her Mexican heritage and skin color ("morena" or "tan"), she saw a gap in the jewelry space. From then on, everything she created celebrated her Latinx culture. The creative process as a designer starts with realizing what already exists and what you don't want to do. Then, you can begin to think about what you can create that people haven't seen yet. On success and celebrating the small wins:  Don’t make someone else's goals your goal just because you're trying to keep up with them. Every time that we reach a big goal that we set for ourselves, there's a different goal that awaits. With this mindset, you might feel like you're always chasing the next goal and it's never enough. Remember to focus on the small, daily wins. Success is different every day. For Paulina, it's about being content with what she's achieved that day. Links:  Shop Paulina's extensive collection, featuring earrings, keychains, and other items made of polymer clay and 3D prints  Shop Paulina’s latest Christmas collection  (it's amazing!)  Follow Paulina on Instagram Follow Paulina on Facebook Learn more about Border Angels, a non-profit organization that Paulina supports About Paulina Lainez:  Paulina Lainez is the owner of Eres Una Maravilla, an online based store that features wire, polymer clay, and 3D printed jewelry and accessories. Paulina and her husband run the small business together and focus on celebrating Latinx culture in every collection they release. They also donate part of their proceeds to various nonprofits that support the Latinx Community. They hope that their creations help you celebrate your culture on a daily basis.

Heide Garrigan quit her corporate job of 20+ years to pursue a career as an entrepreneur and leadership coach. She shares her journey towards entrepreneurship with us, and notes that naming her fears - recognizing that they are there and acknowledging them - allowed her to take the first step into her new career path. Key Takeaways: Surrounding yourself with people who are where you want to be in life gives you the ability to see yourself in that situation Recognizing and naming your fears can help you open up doors for yourself. Heidi didn’t take the leap into being a full time coach until she acknowledged her fear of leaving her past company Naming your fears can be as simple as speaking that fear aloud or writing it down Don’t ignore your fear or your saboteurs - if you name them and face them you can deal with them Aligning your work with your values as an entrepreneur may mean turning down clients who don’t align with your values Being an entrepreneur can be lonely, Heide recommends building a community for yourself so you can collaborate, brainstorm and connect with others Your environment influences your energy, so be sure to surround yourself with people who you want to be in your life Having a sense of purpose in multiple areas of your life (like career and motherhood for example) is important for a balanced life Continue to set yourself goals and live a life aligned to your values Heide’s definition of success: “Success is being confident and reaching your goals, being resilient. And when it doesn't work out that you can keep, pick yourself up and keep going and doing all of that while staying aligned to your values.” Links: www.pivotalconsultinginc.com Heide’s LinkedIn profile

Have you ever felt like you’re not understood? Our guest this week Sarah Elkins is a coach and entrepreneur who guides people to see their magic through understanding their strengths. Through her consulting, coaching work, and talks she gives, she creates environments where they can feel like they are part of something that matters. Key Takeaways: Gallop’s CliftonStrengths finder is a great way to identify and better understand your strengths Your strenghths can be your advantage if you understand them and use them intentionally People like to be understood but not predictable Knowing your strengths helps you achieve your goals in a way that uniquely fits to how you operate See your strengths as wonderful things if you can use them with intention Can you define what you believe success to be regardless of your income? Links: Gallop’s CliftonStrengths finder Elkins Consulting Website No Longer Virtual Conference Chicago, February 2023 Sarah’s Podcast  Sarah’s Book, ‘Your Stories Don’t Define You’ LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesmileisfree/ Instagram: @sarahlynnelkins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elkinscommunication/

Alexandria Rollet is on a mission to guide as many people as possible back to themselves and their own intuitive nature. She joins us to chat about how we can combine practical business tools with those that are more “unseen”, like Astrology and Human Design to better understand who we are. You can learn more about Alexandria’s mission here. Key Takeaways: “Logical” tools that we apply in business aren’t contradictory to those that are more spiritual, like astrology and human design. In fact, they can co-exist to help us find what it is in life that feels true to who we are. Having a mentor or someone that is modeling what we’d like for ourselves is a powerful way to see what is possible for us. For Alexandria, this was the key to her leaving the corporate world and launching a business to help people amplify their intuition. Astrology and Human Design are systems that help us find a sense of self and discover what helps us feel fulfilled in life. They can help us answer big and small questions like: -How are you here to operate? -How can you simply be here as you are? -How should you work through trials and tribulations? -What are the successes and joys that you might experience throughout your life? -What kind of environment do you thrive in? -What is the ideal workflow for you? -What’s your bigger life purpose? -How much energy do you have to get things done? By understanding Human Design, we can also discover our “authority”, which is the unique ways in which our intuition works. Intuition can lead you to the exact thing that you need if you listen. To listen to our authority, try an “intake detox”. An intake detox (from social media, as well as books, podcasts, and even looking for advice from friends and family) puts us back in a beginner mindset, where we can learn to rely on ourselves for answers. Success is not a “thing”, but rather, it’s a feeling. It’s an internal feeling that can help guide us to do the things that generate that desired feeling we want. Links: Follow Alexandria on Instagram @alexandria.rollet. Learn more about working with Alexandria at www.alexandriarollet.com. About Alexandria Rollet Alexandria Rollet is on a mission to guide as many people as possible back to themselves and their own intuitive nature. She believes that everyone is intuitive and that your Authority in Human Design is the foundation of your intuition, and subsequently your most intrinsic tool for guiding yourself through life.

Jennifer Jane Young is an Intuitive Business Advisor who is the founder of The School for Intuitive Leadership, where she works with clients “translate their visions & intuitive guidance into practical actions and helps them find the most intuitive and aligned solutions and path forward to success.” She teaches us why tuning in to our intuition can be such a powerful tool for propelling us forward in our lives, and gives us tips for how to connect with our own intuition. Key Takeaways: Intuition is calm and it will come back to you until you listen.  Intuition is an energy from the spiritual realm, your inner gps. We need to tune in and slow down enough to hear it Our intuition guiding us towards growth, so we can be an even higher expression of ourselves. It often pushes us out of our comfort zone Common roadblock Jennifer sees in her practice is overthinking, using the left brain too much. People experience analysis paralysis instead of listening to the intuition where there is infinite possibility Failure is a learning experience; Most successful entrepreneurs have taken the most risks and have had the most amount of failures. Sometimes you need to try things out to know they're not for you Get out of your left brain headspace by breaking a routine - trying something new, maybe working at a coffeeshop you've never been to, etc Links: jenniferjaneyoung.com theschoolofintuitiveleadership.com  Book the Artist's Way Human design

Angela was living in and renting a New York City apartment when unexpectedly, her apartment was put up for sale. With no desire or ability to buy it, she and her boyfriend had to figure out where to live next. They loved to travel and spend time in nature, so they thought, "why not move into a van"? They downsized and gave away most of their belongings (including Angela's beloved tall plant, Heidi!), and embarked on an adventure that has taught Angela how to work to live, instead of living to work. Key Takeaways: People are just like water: If we're put into a new situation and a new space, most of us are able to mold ourselves into those circumstances and surpass obstacles to find happiness wherever we are. Pursuing a life of adventure doesn't have to involve doing dangerous, extreme activities. An "adventure" can involve: -Exploring something that sparks your curiosity -Doing something new that is different from your regular day -Engaging in something that makes you smile -Doing something about which you can later tell a good story The key to living adventurously is not the activity itself, but rather, your mindset: If you think you're going to have an adventure, you will! If you don't see the adventure in your activity, then you may miss the adventure altogether. Living in a van isn't for everyone (it's a VERY small space!), but if it's ever sparked your curiosity, try it out, even if for just a month. You'll regret not doing it more than if you do. Success is simple: don't compare yourself to others and pursue whatever makes you feel fulfilled and happy. Do work towards goals, but make sure the pursuit of those goals provides you with a happy experience. Work smarter, not harder: give yourself breaks, even if it's with the smallest of things like grabbing a coffee, talking to a friend, or going for a walk. Not taking breaks is detrimental to your mental and physical health. Links: Follow Angela on Instagram @angela.rreynoso (with two “r”s!). About Angela Reynoso Angela is a full-time nomad living in a van with her boyfriend. She is a visual designer who's landed contract gigs with the podcast, fitness, e-commerce, and beauty industries. Being a contractor allows her to travel at her leisure and take one day at a time.

Sarah Villafranco was a practicing emergency room doctor when a series of life events spurred her to try something different - developing a skincare brand. On a whim she took a soap making class which turned into a passion for product formulation, and eventually she started her own company, Osmia Skincare. We speak about aligning your deeply held values to your career path, and how ‘doing good things with good people’ has become her current definition of success. Key Takeaways: Sometimes, to make meaningful change in your desired area of impact you may need to think beyond your current career Many of us feel the pressure to pursue higher education due to our upbringing All aspects of our lives serve as steps along the way of our journey Sarah spoke of how her strong chemistry and science background helped her understand the science of skincare and product formulation, and how it allows her to critically select the ingredients that go into her products Trust your gut more often, and move towards those things that you truly love Don’t take life so seriously! Question if something you’re worrying about will truly matter in a day or a week’s time Seek ways to ‘do good things with good people’ Links: Meet Dr. Sarah Villafranco Discover Osmia Skincare Instagram handles: https://www.instagram.com/osmiaskincare/ https://www.instagram.com/sarahvillafranco_md/

Tara Stiles followed her calling to teach yoga in a way that feels authentic and comfortable after discovering the inner peace it provided for her. She observed that yoga could be intimidating, rigid, and intense for many, so, she set out to find a better way. As a co-founder of Strala Yoga, a best-selling author, and a well-being expert, Tara honors who she is by helping others feel good while prioritizing her own well-being as well.  Key Takeaways:  Yoga doesn't have to be intimidating. It's meant to feel good and be an experience of community and connection.  It's easy to feel pressured to go after success one way because we see others (such as on social media) being successful in certain ways. But we can remain authentic to who we are and what interests us by asking ourselves: -Is this something that still excites me? -Is what I'm doing fun? -Am I still helping people? -Am I stuck in a job I created for myself that I don't want anymore?  Don't be afraid to change the way you're doing things if it doesn't feel good. The formula is simple: When YOU feel good, others around you will feel good too.  Being very busy can be hard, making it challenging to take care of ourselves. How can you unbusy your mind and unbusy yourself so you're not "double-doing" (achieving externally while simultaneously stressing yourself out internally)?  It's easy for most women to feel burned out and one point or another because we give so much or feel we need to prove ourselves more. But, self-care is not selfish. Taking care of yourself helps you get more of what you want to get done.  Links:  Meet Tara and her work at www.tarastiles.com  Practice yoga with Strala at www.stralahome.com  Check out Tara’s books here. You can buy Clean Mind, Clean Body: A 28-Day Plan for Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Self-Care on Amazon via this link.  About Tara Stiles:  Tara Stiles is the co-founder of Strala Yoga, a best-selling author, and a well-being expert. Tara revolutionized yoga for millions, transforming a practice so often seen as foreign, dogmatic, and guru-based, into an everyday movement that supports ease and well-being. Strala Yoga is practiced in more than 100 countries, thousands of Guides lead Strala classes around the globe, and Tara shares daily yoga with thousands of people on the Strala Yoga app. Her podcast, Feel Better with Tara Stiles, explores a path of calm and harmony through the life topics of health, purpose, family, relationships, and career. She has been profiled by The New York Times, Times of India, The Times (UK), and featured in most major national and international magazines.

Maya Oren became the Creative Director for a boutique hotel after starting off as an entrepreneur making films and telling stories from around the world. She also has a substack newsletter called ‘On Holiday’ in which she hopes to inspire others to live more intentionally and find the sweetness out of everyday life experiences. Key Takeaways: Creativity can be part of our everyday lives, it doesn’t have to be siloed to a large artistic pursuit Shifting from entrepreneurship to the corporate world can be empowering in that it can provide us with the resources to realize the full potential of our creativity Finding rituals that help to ground you can bring some slowness and intentionality to our lives -We can pull ritual inspiration from our cultural heritage and through examining how other cultures approach life -For example, Maya has taken to lighting Shabbat candles on Friday and using a Mezuzah over her door to honor her cultural background and find some moments of ritual Recognition in our careers will come when we’re living in alignment and from a source of joy Links: https://mojalvo.substack.com/about Maya’s Substack, ‘On Holiday’ Instagram: @mojalvo About Maya Oren: Maya Oren is a multi-hyphenate creative, currently as the brand experience manager at the LINE DC, and owning MOJALVO, a visual content studio focused on travel and hospitality. As a first-generation American, she has a deep desire to learn about, and preserve traditions that exist within the fabrics of our diverse cultures, with hopes of deepening the connection of humans to one another, through their diverse backgrounds. Maya has a deep interest in individualistic healing and holistic wellness and moonlights as a kundalini/intentional movement facilitator.

Welcome to Season 2 of Successful: The Podcast! In this season kick-off episode, we got to know Becky Daniels, a self-described “connector”, “master mainfestor”, and co-founder of Micropolitan Matchmakers, an organization focused on helping people find BIG love in small towns. Becky emphasizes that dating is not just another job, and yet many women turn dating into another project with deadlines, to-dos, and milestone markers. She reminds us that dating is supposed to be a journey of fun and self-discovery, two things that she also seeks to incorporate into her own life, not just in dating, but in her day job and side business.  We talk about finding flow as we pursue our passions, honoring our habits, and creating space in our lives to let “magic” happen. Key Takeaways: Like Becky did, listen to what you’re passionate about and also have a knack for - what are you good at that you enjoy, and how might you turn that into a business that you take seriously? Dating is meant to be fun! It’s an opportunity to not only get to know prospective partners but also get to know ourselves, including what we value, what our love languages are, and how we want our future partner to make us feel. When dating, our mindset is key! It’s important to let go of defined constraints and formulas we create of how things “should” be. Rather, we need to welcome the process, let go of timelines, and “feel” our way throughout the dating journey. Honoring our habits is an excellent way to make room for “flow” and for “magic” to happen. For Becky, those habits include journaling, meditating, and getting enough sleep. If you don’t honor the daily habits that serve you, you’re robbing yourself of future energy. Routines are important but also make sure you’re listening to yourself. As women, we can’t assume that we’ll feel the same energy every day or every week. We need to plan around our unique circadian rhythms and cycles. Creating magic in your life is simple: relax! Tune into what you want and how you want to feel and put that vibe out into the universe. Things will happen when they’re supposed to happen. Links: Get in touch with Becky and explore her dating coaching services: www.beckydaniels.com Follow Becky on Instagram: @beckyjodaniels Learn more about Micropolitan Matchmakers: www.micropolitanmatchmakers.com Follow Micropolitan Matchmakers on Instagram @micromatchmakers

After being diagnosed with cancer a year after moving to the U.S. from Mexico, Aideé found herself dealing with a difficult diagnosis, language barrier, and cultural barriers all at once. In this final episode of Season 1 of Successful: The Podcast, Aideé shares with us how this experience led her to create Rosa es Rojo, an organization focused on making wellness and cancer prevention accessible to Hispanic women and their families in the United States. As a CEO, mother, and wife, Aideé also shares how her “inner mentor” has guided her ability to be still, listen to herself, and turn adversity into a sense of empowerment. Key Takeaways: -  According to the American Cancer Society, cancer is the leading cause of death among Hispanics living in this country. One in three Hispanic women living in this country will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. -  The good news is that 42% of all cancer cases have roots in an unhealthy lifestyle or unhealthy behaviors. -  Rosa es Rojo is making wellness and cancer prevention something that is accessible to Hispanic women and their families through education and community support around nutrition, mental health, physical activity, and other healthy mindsets and behaviors in a culturally-relevant way. -  Connecting with your “inner mentor” or “higher coach” (in other words, deeply listening to oneself) can support our ability to overcome adversity and feel empowered. Aideé’s inner mentor lessons include: -  Instead of “fighting” our life battles (including difficult ones, like cancer), learn to embrace them; they’re all part of what allows us to value our life and grow. -  Use the knowledge you have in your hands to empower others; keep growing your knowledge so you can empower others even more. Know that you are not alone. When things get difficult, connect with those around you that can support and uplift you. -  When it comes to figuring out your meaning of success, give yourself time to discover your guiding principles or values to live by; to do this, be patient and make time to be still and simply listen. -  To incorporate stillness into your life on a practical level, first, know that “work-life balance” is a myth. Rather, you can think of your life as “rhythms” - some weeks will have a different rhythm than others. Make time every week to consciously decide which rhythm best serves you for a given period and incorporate those chosen rhythms into your life. Episode Resources: -  Learn more about and get involved with Rosa es Rojo: https://en.rosaesrojo.org/ -  Listen to SuperVive, a Spanish-speaking podcast about living a happier, healthier, and more resilient life: https://en.rosaesrojo.org/podcast BONUS: You can listen to Karla being interviewed by Aideé via this link. -  Learn more from the American Cancer Society about how cancer affects Hispanics living in the United States via this report. -  Playing Big by Tara Mohr -  Adam Grant’s tweet on his definition of success

Kristin found EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) after a traumatic accident and found out first-hand the healing benefits of this somatic (physical) therapy. She has turned her passion for this technique into a healing practice where she helps others heal their trauma through EFT and other integrated healing techniques - healing body, mind and spirit. We explore the benefits of this technique, Kristin’s experience with her current clients and she even walks us through a simple demo of the technique! Go to Kristin’s website https://www.yewtreeintegratedhealing.com/ to sign up for her newsletter to get content about healing, EFT, tarot for healing, and other integrative healing and self care modalities. - Kristin writes that, “EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), also sometimes called tapping, is a gentle but powerful way of relieving stress, anxiety, the pain of grief, self-defeating patterns, and physical discomfort. It is also a brilliant way to deactivate triggers associated with distressing experiences or memories. There is no issue too big or too small for EFT.” - There are 9 tapping points that you can utilize in the technique - You can clear trauma or negative emotions by rewiring your brain to respond differently to these experiences and emotions - EFT can help by allowing us to dig down to the ‘root’ or core issues that we have, that may manifest as surface issues - The most common trend Kristin sees with women in her practice is low self worth that can manifest in a myriad of ways like imposter syndrome at work or self-abandonment (always putting others before ourselves) for example This can be related to trauma or conditioned beliefs like ‘don’t raise your voice’, ‘help others before you help yourselves’ Sources - The Tapping Solution - Nick and Jessica Ortner More About Kristin: Website: https://www.yewtreeintegratedhealing.com/ Instagram: @yewtreehealing Kristin Panasewicz is a healer and therapist through her practice, Yew Tree Integrated Healing. Her primary tool is EFT (sometimes known as 'tapping'), though other treatments in her medicine bag include guided visualizations, cord cutting rituals, and Soul Tarot. Kristin firmly believes that healing has to engage the mind, body, and the spirit in order to see lasting change. Working with trauma survivors is her passion, but she's also worked with diverse issues ranging from anxiety and phobias to limiting beliefs. There is no issue too big or too small to be healed. Originally from Princeton, New Jersey, Kristin has an MA from Georgetown University and has lived in London for more than a decade. She is an Accredited Practitioner of EFT and is currently studying for her Diploma in Integrated Healing Techniques. Kristin works with clients around the world and loves doing so.

Ana quit her job at the beginning of 2020 without knowing that she’d soon become an entrepreneur and launch her podcasting consulting agency, The Podcast Space. Ana shares her experiences of living spontaneously and boldly, all while finding purpose in a life and business that align with her values of community and helping others. Book a Power Hour with Ana to talk about your business or podcast idea. As a listener of Successful: The Podcast, you'll receive $20 off! You can also download Ana’s free show notes guide here: https://linktr.ee/thepodcastspace. Key Takeaways: - Take opportunities to be spontaneous, it may work out in your favor! - Listen to those mentors who you trust, and take their advice to heart. - Having hobbies will make you a better leader, as you have something to focus on outside of work. - Define what your values are, and live by these values. In this way, you will attract those who align with you and repel those who don’t align as well. - You don’t have to quit your job to be successful, you can find ways to do what you love doing outside of work and use your job as a tool. - Make connections in your community, you never know when those people may come back in your life to help you on your journey. - Instead of trying to reach the masses through your work, think about how you can impact a single person today. That alone can provide a life of meaning, while also developing solutions that might help many people with the same problem. - Instead of hindering your own success by doubting your abilities, have more faith in what you can do, then go do it! _______ Ana is the Founder and CEO of the podcast consulting agency, The Podcast Space. Ana's superpower is the ability to help clients identify a podcast idea that accelerates their business or professional goals, establishes trust with their ideal customer, and avoids content creator overwhelm. As a skilled podcast producer and strategist, Ana saw the opportunity to help entrepreneurs get their message across, but also to create a more meaningful impact in the world. In January 2020 she founded The Podcast Space, an online podcast consulting agency where she works specifically with female entrepreneurs who support the betterment of others and their common communities. Along the way, she mentors them to make a greater positive impact on their audience, as well as to become better hosts. Connect with and learn from Ana via her website https://www.thepodcastspace.com/  or instagram @ThePodcastSpace.

As women, we don't always ask for what we want and deserve. In this episode, Sales Director Rocío León, shares the lessons she's learned in her career about why asking matters, why we don't do it enough, and how we can all ask more often so we can receive what matters to us.  Key Takeaways: Identifying your values helps you figure out what you want in life. Once you've done that, then you need to go ask for it! Asking for what you want and deserve in the workplace doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes, it's as simple as gaining enough courage to just ask the question. Asking for what you want may involve negotiating. In those cases, don't just focus on what YOU want, but also consider what's in it for the other person.  When you're told no, take a  step back and reconsider whether you're talking to the right individual. If your ask really matters to you, find the right decision-maker and ask again. There are three key reasons why women don't ask more often for what we want and deserve: Societal norms Imposter syndrome Lack of negotiating skills One great negotiation skill is to try to understand what matters to the other person and communicate. If you both want an orange, for example, take time to understand why the other person wants it and then express why you want it. You may realize that you're after completely different aspects of the orange and you can both get what you want in that negotiation experience. What matters is clear communication and a desire to understand what the other person values. When you go and ask someone for what you want, don't forget that the other person is also human. Most people want to help you and see you succeed! Resources: Negotiating skills book recommendation: "Getting to Yes" Learn more about Rocío: Rocío León is a 1st generation Mexican-American woman in tech, passionate about living her best life and using her experiences to help other women do the same via the Power of the Ask. She is a Director of Digital Transformation at a leading FinTech company and former international management consultant. She brings new ways of thinking and challenges societal norms leveraging the experiences she acquired living abroad in Europe and Latin America. Rocio recently spoke to 1,000 women at the Women in Tech Texas conference and is passionate about women's empowerment. Follow and connect with her on LinkedIn here.

When we know our values, we can make decisions that feel good and that are in alignment with who we are. In this special episode, our very own life and career coach, Karla, shares a few tips on why values matter and how to identify yours. Key Takeaways: Values are the principles we live by that are shaped by our experiences, our beliefs, and our upbringing. When we know our values, we can make conscious decisions about how to live our lives versus living at the effect of what happens to us. Once we know our values, we can evaluate how well our lives match our values. If they don't match, this may be a clue that it's time to make some changes in your life. Examples of values include friendship, loyalty, respect, freedom, abundance, and security, among many others. There are two types of values: a) Fear-based: the values, which we choose out of fear of losing something (for example choosing "security" because we're afraid of being poor) b) Conscious-based: these are values that we choose consciously because we want them, not out of fear, but out of desire (for example, choosing "abundance" because we desire an abundant life) It's important to beware of whether the values that we're choosing are our values or someone else's. Values are meant to change as we evolve. Here's a quick exercise to identify your values: Think of a time when things felt great for you. What might have been the values you were honoring at this moment? Conversely, when was a time that was challenging? What might have been the values that were crossed at this moment that made that experience difficult? Once you have a list of 8-10 values, narrow them down to 3-5 that are so important that you would defend no matter what. Rank your values from 1 to 5 (#1 being the most important). Evaluate for each value: On a scale of 1-10 (1=never, 10=all the time), how often are you honoring those values in your life? What might be some changes you need to make to better honor those values? References: Values-based coaching: Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC) Core values list: https://jamesclear.com/core-values

When the pandemic hit, many of us realized the value of our time and gained a different perspective on how we wanted to live our lives. This was the case for Emily Adair, owner of the event planning company Grey Pine Events & Design. What was different for Emily when the pandemic hit wasn't that she'd just lost her job, but she was also newly pregnant. And yet, Emily believed in herself and relied on her family's support to go after her entrepreneurial dreams and launch her event design company.  Key Takeaways:  Your network and personal support system are powerful tools to help you go after your dreams, whether or not they involve starting a business.  Sometimes, we have to spend time doing work that isn't fulfilling. However, we can still choose to have perspective and appreciate those experiences for the skills they teach us. Finding evidence to support your self-belief is key (for example, your work ethic, your stamina, and the skills you have). Self-doubt is real, but it doesn't need to be an obstacle. Life is meant to be lived, whether or not you have children. Having children doesn’t have to take you away from your dreams and hobbies. Rather, you can bring your children along the ride with you, whether that means traveling or owning your own business. Do it scared. You can feel fear and go after your dreams anyway. What you want in life should change as you get older and as YOU change. Embrace those changing desires and keep going after them.  About Emily Adair  Emily Adair is the founder of Grey Pine Events & Design based out of the Austin/San Antonio area. After losing her Event Coordinator job due to Covid, she decided a year later that it was finally time to believe in herself and follow her lifelong dream of becoming her own boss. She is a mother to a bright and beautiful two-year-old boy, who after being born during a global pandemic, helped mold her into the confident business owner she is today. So much so that she named her company after him. Grey Pine offers an array of services from event planning, balloon installations, giant marquee letter rentals, and photo booth backdrop rentals. Along with her husband, they proudly have taken on the new hobby of woodworking and make all of their props themselves! Get in touch with Emily via Instagram or Facebook:  https://www.instagram.com/grey.pine.events/ https://www.facebook.com/GreyPineEvents/

Turning your passion into a career can bring up all kinds of emotions with imposter syndrome and fear of the unknown being two of the most common. Our guest this week, Spanish language entrepreneur Megan Miller walks us through her journey from consultant to business owner, and how she’s conquering her fears and facing her doubts along the way. Key Takeaways: You can battle imposter syndrome with certifications in your subject of interest Music is a great tool for accelerating the language learning process Being content and being complacent can be similar feelings Life is too short to show up any less than 100% For Megan, showing up 100% means having those ‘lightbulb’ moments with clients when she notices they figure out a concept or achieve a goal Your first year as an entrepreneur can be an emotional rollercoaster, but it will even out over time Success to Megan is the ability to completely serve someone else, and know what they need at that moment in time The motivation to learn is the ignition that allows you to make the effort to learn anything new Recognize that most people are trying their best in life You can feel fear, but do the scary things anyway - this allows you to accept it rather than to fight it Megan Miller is the founder of Aprovechar Language Solutions, LLC, which provides personalized, habit-based Spanish language and culture coaching programs to busy adults around the world. She also helps IT companies in Latin America and Europe tell their stories for a U.S.-based audience through translation, editing, and localization projects. Megan has over 20 years of experience in Spanish and has been obsessed with learning and teaching all of her life: from living abroad at 19 in Madrid, Spain; travelling worldwide; and being a training consultant and language coach. www.aprovecharlanguagesolutions.com IG: @aprovecharlanguagesolutions LI: @aprovechar-language-solutions YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLhimOhw1TfPfgOM5JB9I7Q

It’s inevitable that we’ll face some criticism during our careers, but how do we handle it? Instead of thinking of criticism as something to fear, we can learn how to use these moments as opportunities to grow, learn from our mistakes, and question if the criticism was valid in the first place.  Key Takeaways: Handling Criticism If you feel emotional or triggered after receiving feedback, ask yourself why and investigate these emotions Ask yourself what’s true and what’s perhaps another person’s interpretation of reality If you find yourself triggered, notice if you feel safe in the situation and relationship  Notice your tendencies and fears that may have led to the feedback/criticism Stepping back from a situation helps you gain perspective. This will allow you to reflect, question the narrative, and ask yourself what’s really going on and if it’s true. This can diffuse the negative reaction you may have. Big ‘T’ truth, little ‘t’ truth: What is the reality (T) of the situation versus someone’s perception of reality or their truth (t)? Someone may have experienced the situation totally differently than you did. Investigate what’s true and what’s someone’s perception of the truth. We have a choice to internalize criticism or not; it can be dangerous to associate feedback with one’s identity Giving Feedback to Others Make sure to set expectations of others at the beginning of working relationships Give "good" feedback frequently, as it makes it easier to give constructive criticism when needed Create a culture where people are expecting feedback on things that are working well (helps to remove fear around getting any kind of feedback) Define your feedback style. For example: ‘The Sandwich Method’ is an approach that starts and ends with positive feedback, with constructive feedback given between Remember: It’s not easy to give or receive feedback - it's all part of the human experience! Armchair Expert podcast episode about shame: https://armchairexpertpod.com/pods/cathy-oneil

Do you ever feel like your reality isn't what you think it should be?  Life coach Sarah Leslie lived with this feeling at her job as a clinical social worker before realizing that she could create her own reality by taking responsibility for her own happiness and living with intention. In this episode, Karla and Sarah discuss how we can shape our realities by changing our beliefs and thought patterns, and how taking action and listening to our intuitions are the antidotes for feeling unaligned in life. Key Takeaways: It’s okay to talk about unfulfilling life situations, but nothing will change unless we take action and follow through with what we want to do It’s okay to change your mind about your path in life Our beliefs and thoughts create our reality We can choose the beliefs that serve us in order to develop the identity of who we want to be (i.e. Telling yourself ‘I am a person who works out every morning’ if that’s an identity you want to have) Question your beliefs to uncover which ones aren't true, and which ones were placed there by others Tuning into your intuition can help you uncover your life purposes (there isn’t just one!) Purpose doesn’t have to be one thing, and it can change over time Having someone to give you perspective and "hold up a mirror" to see what’s holding you back can be key to changing your life More about Sarah: Sarah is a licensed clinical social worker turned Life Coach, mentor, and trusted advisor. She spent the first 20 years of her career working from the therapy chair and as the Director of Clinical services over a 150-bed residential facility.   After a dramatic shift in her own life, she pivoted to life coaching in the virtual space allowing her the freedom to work from anywhere!  She stands out from others in her field as she is fiercely committed to her own personal growth so that she can continue to push past her own limits. Now, she helps high-performing individuals become the CEO of their own lives where they are emotionally, physically, spiritually, and financially fit.   She enjoys spending time with people that energize her soul including her husband and two schnauzers.  Last year she and her husband traveled around the country for 6 months in a camper van for their honeymoon to start their marriage off on a good foundation. They both love nature, being near the water and the mountains, cooking delicious meals, and having thought-provoking conversations. Get in touch with Sarah at: https://sarahlesliecoaching.com/

What if we could view life as a dance - a journey where we immerse ourselves in dancing simply to dance? In this episode, Natalie and Karla talk about the pressure we put on ourselves to achieve, which can often steal enjoyment from the activities we pursue (whether it’s dancing or something else!). They discuss ways in which they're both aiming to get healthier and how too much of a competitive streak has gotten in the way of their goals. They also talk about activities that they're both pursuing in order to learn and practice enjoying the process without an outcome or achievement in mind. Key takeaways: Not everything we do in life is always going to be fun, but it's important to become aware of the ways in which we steal enjoyment from ourselves as we pursue goals and activities we like Use the 80/20 rule: if 80% of the activity is enjoyable, don't throw in the towel (i.e., give up on what you're doing) simply because 20% of it isn't as enjoyable Creative work takes time and effort, but it's important to look at the big picture of why we're pursuing our goals Life is not about the destination, but rather, it's a dance. "The point is not to finish the dance, but to dance" - Alan Watts Questions to ponder: What activities can you immerse yourself in purely for the enjoyment of the activity versus the outcome or reward of it? When do you notice yourself stealing enjoyment from the activities you’re pursuing? Why do you think you do it? As you pursue various goals, what will help you feel supported to keep things fun? For example, would an accountability partner help? Resources: Alan Watts Organization: https://www.instagram.com/alanwattsorg/

Can disliking your job be a good thing? It was for Jane Kim, our latest podcast guest. Disliking her HR corporate job "enough" led her to quit and leave it all behind. She didn't have a plan for what she would do instead, but she did know her passion: music. In this episode, Jane shares with Natalie how she redefined success for herself to build a career in the music industry that lights her up. Jane shares the signs that told her it was time for a change and how her network supported her dreams as someone brand new to the industry. She also shares two key questions that have guided her decisions and that can support us all as we figure out what career path to pursue. Key takeaways:  Disliking your job "enough" can be a blessing in disguise It's important to pay attention to the signs that tell you it's time to leave a job - like not being able to sleep because you're anxious about waking up for work the next day If you decide to quit your job, it's ok to not have a plan. You'll figure it out! To figure out a new career path, tap into your network, be honest about what you know (and don't know) and be ok with working for free to gain experience To redefine "success", also consider redefining "failure"  "Success" is an ever-evolving definition - keep exploring what it means to you! Trust that everything will work out in the end. It usually does. About Jane: Jane Kim is an artist manager working with artists, producers, and DJs. Her agency Axiom Music also provides talent buying and agent services working with a wide range of genres of artists, managing music programming and festival booking in Dallas Fort-Worth. She is also an A&R for an artist mgmt company/label SMG Ent. (Audrey Nuna) based out of New York. Jane also has had success as a DJ working with brands such as Christian Dior and Ralph Lauren curating groovy disco house music interspersed with hiphop and dance songs. Contact Jane via e-mail at: Jane@axiommusic.agency. You can also follow her on Instagram @snacksatparties and follow her music agency @axiommusic_.

Do you ever feel stressed out and like you can’t find a way to relax after a tense moment? What if you could stop the stress as it’s happening? In this episode we introduce a few techniques that we’ve learned from Karla’s coaching education and one of Natalie’s favorite yoga teachers that help you to reduce the effects of stress on your body by lowering your adrenaline levels, evening out your breath, and giving your mind something else to focus on. Key Takeaways: Positive Intelligence reps or PQ reps, is a way to bring you back to the present moment by bringing your attention to any of your five senses. In turn this helps your brain to stop negative thought patterns by focusing elsewhere. This can be anything from rubbing your thumb and forefinger together and really feeling the sensation or really feeling the water temperature when you’re washing your hands. Resonance (or resonant) breathing is a technique that uses slowing down your inhales and exhales to about 5-7 breaths per minute (we usually take about double that amount). This can switch your body from using your sympathetic nervous system or your ‘fight or flight’ state to using your parasympathetic nervous system, otherwise known as your relaxation state. Focusing on this technique of taking slower inhales and exhales (counting to 5-7 seconds on your inhales, pausing, and taking 5-7 second exhales) can lower your blood pressure, stress levels, heart rate, and is a great way to quickly relax your body Sources: PQ Reps ; Resonance Breathing Study ; Schuyler Grant clip about resonant breathing

Natalie shares some of the formative experiences she's had that have shaped her views on life and work and how to find joy in the midst of it all. Key takeaways: We make time for what we value, analyze what you're making time for and if it's serving your goals Having hobbies outside of work helps you to find joy throughout your day Taking time for yourself throughout the day can help you stay grounded and feel like you've had a more successful day. This can look like a 5 minute break to take a walk or take some deep breaths Showing up as your authentic self will help you find your community and reduces the pressure to 'fit in'

These next two weeks, we're trying something different! Instead of interviewing other women, we are interviewing each other so you can get to know us better. In this latest episode, Natalie interviews Karla, who shares what it's like to be a Mexican/American nomad. Having grown up in Mexico with an American mom, Karla discusses what her Mexico and American cultures have taught her about work and family. She also shares how she changed her life from living in a city and working in a corporate job to moving into a camper and launching her own business. Key themes: -How culture shaped Karla's views on work, life, and family -The decision-process to becoming a nomad and living on the road -How to take action on our dreams, breaking big ones into small actions -The big question that changed Karla's career trajectory -Fighting fear by looking at the big picture of what matters most in our lives

What does it mean to be "gutsy"? In this episode, we discuss our experiences doing gutsy things at work and in other areas of life, including speaking up for what's right and being honest about mental health. Karla shares a few different tactics that can help to ease fear before doing something gutsy, such as getting curious about your thoughts and understanding your emotional "elephant". Key takeaways: -To be "gutsy" means to show courage, determination, and spirit. -Gutsiness is not just about chasing adrenaline-driven activities (like bungee jumping) but also about doing the things that scare us in our day-to-day work and home lives. -Our emotions can be equated to an "elephant", which can be hard to tame. We need to get curious about our emotions in order to gain mastery over the "elephant". -A way to combat nerves before doing something gutsy is to get curious and write down the thoughts are that are making you anxious. This will help you notice the fear-based lies coming from your brain. Once you write down and recognize these lies, cross them out with a big marker. Now, write down new thoughts that create more supportive emotions (such as excitement, a sense of fun) so you pursue the "gutsy" thing with more ease and flow. -We can shift to courage and gutsiness when we let go of our egos and shift to serving others. Resources: Switch book by the Heath brothers:  https://heathbrothers.com/books/switch/

In this episode, Karla & Natalie speak with MBA student and former data analytics colleague, Stephani Calderón, about her journey and how she’s been breaking barriers in her education and career. The ladies discuss: - Challenges and opportunities of being a woman in the workplace - The benefits of having a community to support you and push you to ‘think bigger’ - Coming from an immigrant family - Shifting from a career in consulting to attending an MBA program Key Takeaways: - Question your dreams to see if you can ‘think bigger’ - Build your ‘board of directors’, a community of people to push you outside your comfort zone and demonstrate what’s possible - Find a mentor or someone to shadow in your career, someone who is doing the things that you would like to be doing - Seek out opportunities to mentor others and raise up other women - Think about addressing the gender and demographic gaps when building teams Links: Subscribe to Karla's travel articles on: https://aventuraroad.substack.com/

In this week’s episode, we discuss career moves that we dreamed about and have seen through "rose-colored glasses", only to realize that even good things come with challenges. Natalie discusses a difficult scenario that happened after teaching her first yoga class, and how working in her dream field of sustainability hasn’t been what she expected. Karla discusses her journey as an entrepreneur and the burn-out she experienced after 5-6 months. She explains how the rose-colored glasses through which she viewed herself came off when realized she needed a break after switching careers. Takeaways: -Even dream careers have difficult moments -Don’t let the challenges break you, use them as fuel to keep striving towards your dreams -Remember why you started and remind yourself of your passions and purpose to keep you on track -Acknowledge that you may need a break on your journey to avoid burn-out -Treasure each part of your journey, especially when the "honeymoon" phase of your journey ends -Remember that one day you will have perspective, and see the lessons and gifts of the difficult parts of your journey -It can be lonely in the struggle, but we all experience these moments of doubt and circumstances not being what we expect

In this episode, we talk with actress Juanita Olivo about her background, and all about performing - both on stage and how this can translate to whatever career you’ve chosen. Takeaways: On Finding Your Passion -It’s important to find a passion that you’re willing to sacrifice and work hard for, but you may find many passions on your journey -It’s okay if it takes time to figure out what you want to do -Listen to yourself (inner voice) to find your path, it may also change later On Performing -It’s a choice whether you let mistakes and your mind dictate how you act in the present moment -It takes practice to be aware that you have the choice to let mistakes hold you back or if you can “flow” into the next moment On Mindset -Get in touch with how you’re feeling in your body with mini-meditations and body scans before you perform (public speaking, presentations, etc.) -Remind yourself of your humanity and the audience’s humanity -Think of a performance as an exchange of energy between performers and the audience; treat it as a discovery -Be compelling by being authentic Juanita Olivo is an actress and singer from the Dominican Republic raised in Miami, FL. She has worked with Sesame Street Workshop as the lead vocalist for "Sesame Street Live! Let's Party!" and "What If Works" as a principal actor and mentor to young adults in the arts. Her love of acting has taken her to many different corners of the world and she wants to help make the world a better place one performance at a time. 

In this episode, we discuss how and why to redefine success on an individual level. Karla shares her journey of redefining success and how she realized that she was measuring her success as she did in her corporate career (performance metrics, income, etc.) and this made her feel disconnected and overwhelmed in her new career as an entrepreneur. Her old definition of success was externally-focused, and now, as an entrepreneur, she wanted to focus on her internal success - if she feels peace and if she’s growing in ways that excite her. Natalie discusses a structured activity to redefine success for yourself (see the process below). Takeaways: -Your definition of success changes as you change and grow. -As you redefine success for yourself, it’s important to focus on how you want to feel on a day-to-day basis. -Sometimes it helps to step back to assess what you want and how you want to feel. Here's the brainstorming process Natalie shared to redefine success for yourself:  -What are your values? -How do I want to feel on a daily basis? -When I’m gone, what do I want to be known for? -Circle keywords and phrases that stand out -Consolidate ideas into 3-5 statements of how you want to view success for yourself Note: Sometimes it’s helpful to look back at your old definition of success and assess how that made you feel References: Microsoft work index https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-trend-index ‘The Great Resignation’. https://hbr.org/2021/09/who-is-driving-the-great-resignation

Meet the ladies behind the podcast and learn the origin story of Successful: The Podcast. Karla is an ex-corporate consultant who is now a writer and a life and career coach for women. Natalie is still a corporate consultant who works as a yoga instructor on the side. The two ladies met while working at the same company and stayed in contact even though they never worked together. Throughout their friendship, they’ve shared stories of the trials and successes that come with being a career woman. Natalie had the idea for the podcast in 2020 when she was struggling with her career, and wanted to be able to share the real stories of women who work to let them know that they’re not alone in what they experience - both good and bad. She knew that Karla would be the perfect partner in this endeavor, and she was! Karla had wanted to create a podcast for a while but hadn’t found the right partner yet. When Natalie came to her with the idea, it was a no-brainer. Coming up with a name for the podcast was probably the most difficult part of the podcast creation process, but after months of ideation and being disappointed when good podcast names were already taken, the name ‘successful’ came to Natalie while on a run. Successful: The Podcast was born! The ladies aim to tell the real-life stories of women redefining success in life, at work, and on their terms, to inspire listeners to redefine success so it works for them. Welcome to ‘Successful’!