Conversations with Seven Sisters

This week on Conversations with Seven Sisters, Jen speaks with Robin Newman a children's book author and Bryn Mawr Alum. They discuss her time at Bryn Mawr and her career. Robin shares her experiences studying abroad in France, working as a paralegal, and eventually finding her passion for writing through children's literature. They talk about the importance of the Society of Children&ap...

This week on Conversations with Seven Sisters, Jen speaks with Katrina McGhee again to update us on her book release and how her online business has been going! Katrina wrote the book Taking a Career Break for Dummies and she now runs a coaching business helping people take career breaks and thrive during and after! Find Katrina here: https://www.kmcgheecoaching.com/   Get her book here: https://w...

This week on Conversations with Seven Sisters, Jen speaks with Bryn Mawr Alum Jennifer Brunton about her new book "The #ActuallyAutistic Guide to Building Independence" (and her previous books too!), her career in community colleges, about being neurodivergent and a mom, and her experience with DEI. Through her consulting business she is a nationally recognized Keynote Speaker,  coach an...

Do you have a high schooler who is getting ready to apply for college? You won’t want to miss this episode of Conversations with Seven Sisters!  This week, Jen speaks with Brooke Stengel (Bryn Mawr ℅ ‘91), an Independent College Counselor with over 30 years of experience. Brooke believes that the college process isn't about finding the "best"​ college -- it's about finding the...

UPDATE BELOW!!!! Link to Sign the Petition: https://www.change.org/p/oppose-the-immediate-elimination-of-the-mount-holyoke-tennis-program On today’s Conversations with Seven Sisters we have a special edition of the podcast where Jen speaks with members of the Mount Holyoke Tennis Team to discuss their team being cut without prior notice by the administration.  UPDATE! On the 21st of May the tennis...

Does global warming play a role in your decision to have children or not? This episode dives into how the climate crisis impacts family planning.  This week on Conversations with Seven Sisters Jen speaks with Meghan Kallman and Josephine Ferorelli, authors of The Conceivable Future: Planning Families and Taking Action in the Age of Climate Change. They explore the ways in which the climate crisis...

Have you heard of being faceblind? Yes, that is a real diagnosis, called prosopagnosia, that means you can’t tell faces apart.  This week on Conversations with Seven Sisters Jen speaks with Sadie Dingfelder (Smith ℅ 2001) about her career journey from writing a Washington Post article to writing a book all about discovering neurodivergence. Sadie shares all about her career from starting at Emily’...

Have you ever dreamed about sipping Italian coffee on a terrazza every morning? Why not make that dream a reality!   This week on Conversations with Seven Sisters Jen speaks with Fosca D'Acierno, a Bryn Mawr Alum and expert on life in Italy. They speak all about how Fosca has ended up as an American living in Italy for over two decades with a successful career and family. Fosca is an Italian...

From the halls of Bryn Mawr College to the offices of Goldman Sachs. You can imagine the culture shock as one has every leadership position filled by women and the other is… lacking female presence.  This week on Conversations with Seven Sisters, Jen speaks with Bryn Mawr College Alum Jamie Fiore Higgins about her time at a Seven Sisters College and the transition from a women led environment to a...

Have you ever thought about writing a book? Maybe even getting it published? Well this episode is for you! This week on Conversations with Seven Sisters Jen speaks with Jeanne Blasberg (Smith College Alum) all about writing and getting novels published. Jeanne Blasberg is an award-winning and bestselling author and essayist. She has written three novels in a thematic trilogy. Her forthcoming novel...

 “Everyone can have financial ease, calm and confidence” - Ariel Nathanson. Don’t believe it’s possible for you after struggling with finances? Or you want to make it even simpler for yourself? Listen to this episode with financial educator and Wellesley Alum, Ariel Nathanson.  This week on Conversation with Seven Sisters Jen speaks with Ariel Nathanson on all things finances and how she has gone...

So many people who lose someone close to them are blindsided by the administrative burden that comes and causes so many issues during a time of immense grief. But there are things you can do to prepare and prevent such a burden and we have an expert on the subject to help you!  This week on Conversations with Seven Sisters Jen speaks to Barnard Alum, Abby O’Leary, who has used her life experience...

Have you struggled with your job in facing a toxic workplace or discrimination? If so, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Jamie Lee who can help you navigate workplace politics.  In this episode of Conversations with Seven Sisters, Jen talks with Jamie Lee (Smith College ℅ 04), a coach who helps women who hate office politics get promoted and paid.  Jamie and Jen discuss the toxic jobs the...

Have you ever wondered what lie outside of the United States would look like? Especially for your career or education? If so, this episode is for you.  In this episode of Conversations with Seven Sisters Jen speaks with recent Mount Holyoke Alum Lexi Lobdell on her journey since graduation over the Atlantic to study in Finland and work in Norway.  Lexi was a neuroscience major with an interest in...

Since the events of 2020 have you been worried about the state of our democracy and want to help protect it? If you are looking for ways to get involved, make sure to listen to this episode.  In this episode of Conversations with Seven Sisters, Jen is honored to be joined by distinguished Wellesley College Alum, Secretary Jocelyn Benson, to discuss how her role is critical to our democracy, how sh...

Do you wonder if you are truly ready for the financial responsibilities in your future? Well this week we speak to financial advisor Karen Van Voorhis about all things money and retirement.  Karen is a Certified Financial Planner™(CFP®) and work as the Director of Financial Planning at  Daniel J. Galli & Associates. She advises clients and their families on a wide range of topics including inv...

Do you remember where you were that fateful night in November 2016? Well our guest Ann O’Leary most definitely does as she was with Secretary Hillary Clinton in New York.  In this episode of Conversations with Seven Sisters, Jen is honored to be joined by distinguished Mount Holyoke College Alum Ann O’Leary. Ann is an attorney and American political advisor, attorney, and nonprofit leader.  Ann O’...

This week Jen speaks to Erica Thomas(Smith College ℅ ‘94) about how common emotional eating is and how we can overcome it using self compassion.  Erica explains how she got into the field of therapy and has used it to help people who struggle with their relationship to food and how to bring more self-compassion into your life. She tells the story of how she went from a gap year in England to Smith...

In this episode of Conversations with Seven Sisters Jen is chatting with Dr. Wendy Dean (Smith College ℅ ‘87) on the fascinating topics of moral injury, the medical industrial complex, and how you as a patient can address the issue in your actions.  Have you been to a doctor's appointment lately and noticed the rushed nature of your visit and of course the ever growing bill you got after? Wel...

This week we are joined by Topsy (Martha) Siderowf (Smith College ‘61) to discuss her experience at Smith College in the 1950-60's and how Smith has impacted her long career. Topsy was also lucky enough to have a personal experience with one of Smith College’s most famous alums, Sylvia Plath, who was her English professor her freshman year. Listen along for her stories of Sylvia in class and...

On this episode of Conversations with Seven Sisters we are joined by Katrina McGhee (Smith College ℅ ‘01), a Career Break Coach, to discuss finding the right career for you, her own career break, the challenges of writing a book, and why you should take a career break too.  Katrina is a Career Break & Sabbatical Fairy Godmother here to make your dreams come true. She is a certified master coac...

Join us this week on Conversations with Seven Sisters for a discussion with Reshma Saujani, who you may recognize from her work as the founder of Girls Who Code and currently the CEO of Moms First (formerly Marshall Plan for Moms), to learn more about how you can use your powers and advantages to support moms. Reshma shares about how she found her passion of supporting women and moms and has chann...

This week on Conversations with Seven Sisters,  Jennifer Pollock McNally, the Seven Sisters Founder & Smith Class of 94, is interviewed by fellow Smithie, Montserrat Coughlin Kim (Smith College ℅ ‘94).  Jen & Montse talk about all things Seven Sisters - how it started, what is new, how to get involved and what is on the agenda in the future.   We also learn about the origin of everyone&apo...

This week on Conversation with Seven Sisters we are honored to celebrate the Fourth of July with Becca Balint, D-VT, the first woman and openly LGBTQ+ person to represent VT in Congress. She received her BA from Smith College, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Becca earned her masters in education from Harvard University in 1995 and her MA in history from the University of Massachuset...

This week on Conversation with Seven Sisters we hear from Dorie Clark (Smith College ℅ ‘97) who you may know as a multifaceted author, marketing expert, coach, and speaker. Dorie’s most recent book, The Long Game : How to be a long-term thinker in a short-term world, is all about how we can break past the fast paced nature of today’s work culture and stay focused on our long term growth goals. Dor...