Career Safari

SEASON FINALE: Natalie Poindexter (Black-American) passionately pursues more inclusive, authentic leadership and systems - you can call her a disruptor, and she's proud of it! After dedicating part of her career to the healthcare sector, Natalie strategically shifted her focus to assist businesses in their pursuit of funding, with a particular emphasis on grant funding. In this episode we discuss: our new partnership, Net-Do Community; how a serendipitous moment with Mark Cuban opened doors; and teaching people how to maneuver in the grant world.  Join the Career Safari Community for more: www.thecareersafari.com Watch us on YouTube Episode Edited by: Yamini Ranjan

For over 10 years, Amrutha Jindal (Indian-American) has worked on the front lines defending individuals that have been accused of border crimes along the US & Mexico border. While her career started in corporate law, she came to realize that representing corporate clients wasn't why she became a lawyer. She has since dedicated her career to addressing disparities in the legal system. In this episode we discuss: Finding peace and opportunities even when job offers don't work out Not being satisfied in corporate law Life lessons from being a public defender  Episode Edited by: Yamini Ranjan Watch on YouTube Join our community for more: www.thecareersafari.com

In many regards, Dr. Christine Ngaruiya (Kenyan-American), considers herself an outsider. Being born in the US to immigrants - then moving to Kenya and living there as a Kenyan-America. Nevertheless, throughout her life she has been brave enough to make her voice heard. She found a space to channel her voice within the medical research field, exploring topics around noncommunicable diseases. At the time of this recording she was a Director and Associate Professor at Yale School of Medicine. She has now taken on a new role at Stanford University's medical school.  In this episode we discuss:  Being an outsider - being bullied in Kenya and dealing with racism in the US Learning how to create work boundaries  Recognizing her role as a leader and advocate   Watch the full episode on YouTube Episode edited by Yamini Ranjan.

Hilla Ovil-Brenner (South African-Israeli) started her career journey as a lawyer, but it didn't take her very long to determine that was not the path for her. She then poured her energy into something that she loved - grammar - and founded Whitesmoke, an English grammar checking software. Her company accomplished what few tech startups achieve, it became a publicly traded company. Hilla has since become one of the most influential tech and start up leaders in Israel & the Middle East.( Read the last sentence again.)  In our conversation we discuss the stigma against being a mom and an entrepreneur, how she plans to change the tech landscape and her advice to founders.    Episode Edited by: Yamini Ranjan

Early in her career, Amanda Koonjbeharry (Guyanese American) found herself in different leadership positions in her home state of Minnesota. As a public servant she led the statewide Super Bowl LII anti-sex trafficking committee. She was then the Director of Public Policy where she co-led several projects on public safety and policing during the aftermath of George Floyd's murder.    In our conversation she reflects on her experience being a young government leader, racial disparities in Minnesota and the weight of being one of a few women of color in leadership.    Watch full episode on YouTube Episode Edited by: Yamini Ranjan Music from: www.epidemicsound.com

Janine Hernandez's (Colombian American) story is equally about her journey back to herself AND all the amazing work she does as an author and book coach. Not many can say they wrote their first book at 12! Yet while she was making her career dreams happen, she was also faced with one of the darkest moments of her life - finding herself in a relationship with someone that was verbally/emotionally abusive. Then as she left that relationship and healed, her creative spirit reached new heights. In this episode we discuss - the signs of narcissistic abuse, writing her first book at 12 and pushing past the fear of becoming a published author. Watch full episode on YouTube For more information on domestic abuse: www.thehotline.org Episode Edited by: Yamini Ranjan Music from: www.epidemicsound.com

Our advice, listen to this episode and ask yourself, "What are you here to teach me?" That's because it doesn't take long for you to recognize the magic of Susan De Toledo Hulley(Brazilian American).  Within a few minutes of talking with her, you feel as if your soul is seen and being cleansed. Throughout her life, her goal has been to learn, connect and share with people. That has been evidenced by her fierce fight for human rights - including protesting the Vietnam war and being part of student led protests in Brazil in the '60s. In this magical conversation we talk about: the importance of having hope, retiring from teaching and starting her healing/therapy practice. She also answers some audience questions: How do we overcome trauma? Episode Edited by Yamini Ranjan Watch the Full Episode on YouTube

Before the recent upheaval in the tech sector, we had an all encompassing conversation with Emily Tsitrian (Greek-Armenian American) about the excitement and challenges of being in the tech community. Emily has led several teams at different tech startups. She reflected on her journey by writing, "Make Me the Boss: Surviving as A Millennial Manager in the Corporate World," to help first time managers successfully lead teams. In our chat we discuss our experiences in the tech world - including the obstacles that prevent women and people of color from being hired to the risky decisions hiring managers make. Watch the entire episode: YouTube Episode Edited by: Yamini Ranjan

In our Season 2 premiere, we have a free-spirited conversation with Dr. Tiffany Ingram. Tiffany is so firmly rooted in her family's history and the legacy of being a Black Detrioter, it's no surprise that she has blossomed and continues to shine as bright as she does. At several points in her life she tenaciously took chances on building a new life for herself and creating safe spaces for others.     We explored - why she loves doing "the most", her role as influencer on her platform Policy & Fashion - a space for plus sized professional women to thrive and what her doctorate research said about career advancement for African-American women.   Watch the entire episode on YouTube Learn More Episode Edited by: Yamini Ranjan

Season Finale Dr. Christine Chin-Sim (Jamaican) found herself dealing with a major life change at 42. For the past two decades she was a devoted mother and housewife, but it was time to face her divorce and rebuild her life  - and that she did! In the years that followed, Dr. Christine got her PhD in Psychotherapy in Marriage and Family Counseling. Now with her growing YouTube community and practice, Leverage 4 Change, she helps people navigate relationships, attachment styles and changes in their life.  She chats with us about her life changes and answers audience questions about relationships.  Episode Edited by: Yamini Ranjan

Rediate Tekeste (Ethiopian-American) entered a new phase of leadership as Sr. Brand Director when she realized that everything we do ties back to our emotional intelligence and self-awareness. "You can't lead from a place of emptiness." We explore why it's important to work through your emotions and triggers as you grow in leadership, the balance of working with creatives, and how she is giving Ethiopian-Americans an opportunity to reconnect with Ethiopia.  For More Visit Our Website Episode Edited By: Women of Wayland Podcast  

Dr. Illona Willken (South African) has reinvented her career more than anyone we've interviewed so far - from being a ballet teacher, school teacher, project manager in weapons and ammunition to ultimately becoming a medical doctor at 48. While she started her career journey not wanting to have a career at all - she quickly realized that if she and her children were to have a better lifestyle, she would have to be all in. We have an introspective conversation about the difficulties of being a working mom to how her personal battle with chronic fatigue changed the course of her career.  For more visit our website.  

For many years Parry Burton was living her life as an actress and maî·tre d in Los Angeles. Like many people, the COVID-19 pandemic gave her a moment to reflect on where she wanted to put her creative energy and from there, her hair care company Naturally Parry was born. As a Biracial American, she dealt with struggling to embrace her curls and that curiosity led her to building her own business. In this episode we talk about what brought her to this moment, the beauty of being in a business partnership with her mother and flexing her muscles as a new entrepreneur.   Episode Edited By: @Women Of Wayland Podcast 

Ep 104 This month's Torchbearer, Chiraz Bensemmane, decided to establish her own business at 21. After she struggled starting her career in the corporate world in France; she finally found her stride as a world-traveling business development professional. This is when she realized how much her skills were in demand and created her own company, Pitch World Fast. We have a hilarious conversation about her journey and she shares advice on how to close the deal! 

Our Torchbearer, Olamide (Lami) Ajibesin, is a DEAL. MAKER. not only for the businesses and entrepreneurs she guides as a deal advisor and mergers & acquisitions expert - But even in how she has navigated her own career. As a Nigerian-American woman learning and breaking the rules, she has determined to make her journey extraordinary. In this episode we talk about owning your career journey, some of the amazing deals she has made and her advice to entrepreneurs.

In this candid talk we chat with our Torchbearer Hyepin Im, a Korean-American non-profit executive and community advocate  that started her career in the accountant and venture capital world. After she faced multiple layoffs and challenges she found the good in her goodbyes by answering God's calling and then watched miracle after miracle happen in her life. Hyepin's courage to advocate for the Asian community has got the attention of many powerful institutions, including the White House. We talk about what it's like being in those spaces and what drove her passion to change careers. 

In our first episode we talk with Pallavi Agarwal, an Entrepreneur from India.  Grit and resilience is what took Pallavi from asking “what is software?” – to explaining the ins and outs of Salesforce to her clients at her own company, Kander. She shares with us how she stumbled upon consulting at a time when she was unsure about the next direction in her life and how that turned it into her own an international business.   To read Pallavi's entire career journey, visit our website.  You can also reach out directly to Pallavi. Join our Torch Community for more!

Welcome to Career Safari, our space to disrupt the views on what it means to be a career woman. Join us as we showcase the career journey of multicultural women. Here's our sneak peek. Career Safari premieres May 12th!