Career Unicorns - Spark Your Joy

  Do you dream of being your own boss, but fear holding you back? In this inspiring episode, lawyer and entrepreneur Danielle McMillian shares her remarkable journey of overcoming adversity and building a life of purpose. We delve into: - How a furry feline friend sparked the creation of her successful pet sitting business, Pretty Petsitting. - The challenges of navigating life as a Black woman wi...

  Feeling stuck and unsure of your next step? You're not alone. In this episode, we're joined by the inspiring Kate Sullivan, a 4x Emmy award-winning journalist and host of PBS's "To Dine For." Kate shares her powerful insights on how to reinvent yourself and pursue your dreams, even when fear holds you back. Here's what you'll learn: - How to identify the whispers of your true calling and keep mo...

  Feeling stuck in your career? Want to make a pivot but lack the "perfect" experience?    This episode is for YOU! Join us as we chat with Heather Stevenson, General Counsel at Redcell Partners and former Deputy General Counsel of the Boston Globe Media Partners.  Heather's career journey is an inspiring example of leveraging your network to land your dream role, even with a non-traditional path....

  Do you feel your passion is to make the world a better place?  But you're unsure of how to build a career out of it?  In this episode, we discuss: - How the intersectionality of our identities impact our career and life choices. - The differences between Ally Wong's "Jungle Asians" versus "Fancy Asians." - How teachers make an impact, and can change our life path.   - Steps you can take to turn...

  Do you struggle to speak up at work? Meyling Ly Ortiz, Managing Counsel at Toyota, found her authentic voice and used it to propel her career.  In this episode, we discuss - How finding your authentic voice can accelerate your career. - How being the daughter of refugees of the Khmer Rouge Killing Fields in Cambodia fuels her passion and purpose.  - How going to therapy journey of self-discovery...

Are you feeling stuck in your career?  Do you want to be promoted, but you're not sure how?   This week, I'm thrilled to celebrate Jacqueline Lee 's well-deserved promotion to General Counsel role at Flynn Group ! Jacqueline's journey is packed with valuable insights for anyone looking to advance their career. In our latest podcast episode, we delve into: - The power of self-worth: How Jacqueline'...

  Do you want to feel like you belong at work?  But you haven't been invited to the table and have been passed over for promotions?  Komal shares: - How she successfully advocated for her leadership role as Chief DEI officer. - What she learned about her self worth when only the white guys were being asked out.  - Why organizations need to stop blaming POC for leaving and look at changing their cu...

  Do you feel burnt out and need time off?  But you're afraid employers will see it as a red flag?  Lisa Chin (Intellectual Property Leader & Lawyer at Fortune 500 Company) shares: - Why she took a year off to travel and explore what she really wanted from her career. - How being candid about why she took time off resulted in her getting an offer.  - How she realized her specialty was not a good f...

  Do you want to make a big career change?  But you haven't taken action because you're afraid of failing?   In this episode, we discuss: - How to make a big career change going from dropping out of college and driving Lyft to becoming a software engineer at a Fortune 50 company. - How growing up as a Black man in a single parent household impacted his life and career decisions, and made him have...

  Do you want to make a big career change?  But you haven't taken action because you're afraid of failing?   In this episode, we discuss: - How to make a big career change going from dropping out of college and driving Lyft to becoming a software engineer at a Fortune 50 company. - How growing up as a Black man in a single parent household impacted his life and career decisions, and made him have...

  Happy Valentine's Day!  What better way to celebrate love than going to therapy to heal generational trauma?   In this episode with Dr. Stephanie J. Wong, we discuss:  - Why therapy is important, especially in Asian American Pacific Islander communities where it's often considered taboo. - How there's been an increased need for mental health support because of 45's presidency that has emboldened...

Do you have a physical or mental illness that is debilitating?  And you had to figure out how to get help to recover and rebuild your life and career?  In this episode, we discuss:   - How being a workaholic in tech and ascending into leadership led to her burnout.  - How she had PTSD that was so bad she could barely walk or eat and could not sleep at night.  - How her son asking her why she was l...

  Are you feeling uncertain about the world?  And you're trying to figure out how to ground yourself?  Martha shares:  - How she navigated the uncertainty of the DACA process to renew her work permit every 2 years. - What she learned from being undocumented and how she leverages it to create more inclusion in corporate America.  - How she landed a job in finance, marketing, and product development...

  Have you experienced failure in your career?  And you're struggling with how to pick yourself up?  Tyler shares:   - How he navigated corporate America as a Black man growing up with Caribbean culture in Brooklyn. - What he did as a father during the pandemic to support his wife and children.  - How he overcame the odds of landing a Big Law job after graduation when he received a "no offer" afte...

Do you feel like you're being marginalized or othered?  And you're stuck between different cultures and generations?  Neha shares how to: - Break the box and no longer leaving parts of yourself out just to get in the door.  - Come to terms with being othered and marginalized.  - Navigate patriarchy in Indian and American cultures.  - Manage the minefield of unwritten rules in corporate America. -...

  Studies show that one out of four people quit their New Year's resolution within the first week of setting them. And most people quit before the end of January. To help you make better decisions, we're resharing this episode with Michelle Florendo, a decision engineer and coach for Type-A professionals and the host of Ask A Decision Engineer Podcast.    In this episode, we discuss: - How the int...

  Do you have imposter syndrome?  And you're wondering if it'll ever go away?  Rasha shares: - Why she believes imposter syndrome is not just internal doubt, but part of external factors like microaggressions. - How she found a sense of belonging in Big Law. - How to balance being a working mom and a leader at the workplace during the pandemic.  - Why mentors and sponsors can make a huge differenc...

  Do you want to make a career change?  But you're not sure how to do it?  Thomas shares: - How he made multiple career pivots from government to tech to VC. - What qualities to look for when founding a startup. - Why having a vision will help you with rejections. - How he manages his depression and suicidal ideation since age 8. - Why it's important to not struggle in silence, and how to find sup...

Do you feel like you're the only (insert blank) person in the room?  And you feel a sense of otherness?  Valerie shares: - How getting burnt out taught her to take care of herself and embrace herself. - How she survived Big Law, is a recovering lawyer, and is now using those experiences to create inclusion and belonging. - How she understands that feeling othered is sometimes by design and sometim...

  Do you wonder what intersectionality means and how to embrace it in your life and career?  In this episode with Donna Vivar (Manager of Advising and Strategy + Training, UC Berkeley), we discuss: - How to bring all of your identities to your life and work.  - How racism and colonialism impacts our identity.  - How to navigate strategic change at large institutions. Follow Donna on LinkedIn at  h...

  Have you been told that you don't belong?  In this episode with Dr. Gomez shares (Assistant Professor at San Jose State): - How she continued her doctorate program even though several professors told her she didn't belong.  - How one professor believing in her changed the course of her life.  - How to trust yourself in a world that dehumanizes you. Follow Dr. Gomez on LinkedIn at  https://www.li...

  Are you a first generation professional who wants to build a great reputation and strong network? In this episode with Dyanna Volek (Government Affairs Manager featured on New York Times and CNN), we discuss: - How to build a stellar reputation and get featured on The New York Times and CNN. - How passion planning can help you reach your goals, like finding your soulmate. - How we can say no gra...

  Do you know you have a dream in mind, but have been told it's not possible?  In this episode with Frankie Reed (former Ambassador of Fiji and the surrounding region and career member of the U.S. Foreign Service), we discuss: - How she forged her own path into human rights and being appointed to ambassador even though she was told it won't happen. - How she turned a crisis turned into an opportun...

  It's Career Unicorns - Spark Your Joy podcast 2 year anniversary.  For this special occasion, we're doing a deep dive with one of Samorn's clients, Stephanie Kiman (Sr. Marketing Programs Manager at SAP).  We discuss:  - Why winging it in your career can work for a while, but ultimately will not lead to happiness or fulfillment.  - How the "techsession" led to unexpected layoffs and how to bounc...

  Are you living someone else's dream?  And you're not sure how to find your own path? In this episode with Watchen Nyanue (Founder & CEO of I Choose The Ladder), we discuss: - How growing up as a refugee from Liberia helped her to move fearlessly through the world. - What you can do to always look for the upside. - How going to therapy every week can help you heal traumas and show up as the best...