Embrace the Squiggle: Change happens. Growth is a choice.

Ever wondered what happens when "Take Your Daughter to Work Day" turns into a full-blown career? This week's episode is a delightful deep dive with Lindsay LaBonte, who turned her childhood fascination with her dad's mortgage business into her own financial industry adventure! What's in store: The real story of how Lindsay went from "playing bank" as a kid to act...

Ever wondered what a Chief of Staff actually does… and how to become one? This episode unveils the squiggly career moves that can lead to this powerful but often misunderstood role. What You'll Discover: How to leverage research skills from academia into business advantage The unspoken challenges of managing teams at a young age Why the Chief of Staff role might be the perfect fit for "c...

Questioning your career path? This week's guest went from working a normal corporate job to co-founding a tech company with a billion-dollar IPO—and reveals the unconventional wisdom that guided her journey. What You'll Gain: Permission to leave "secure" jobs when they no longer serve your growth How side hustles can transform into unexpected career opportunities The unfiltered...

Feeling like your diverse background is holding you back? This week's guest went from investigative journalism in Taiwan to launching an AI fashion startup—and will transform how you see your own career "detours." What You'll Learn: How to reframe past experiences as unique competitive advantages The confidence to make bold pivots between seemingly unrelated industries Practica...

Ever feel like your career path looks more like a game of pinball than a straight line? (Same.) In this episode, we chat with the amazing Kokui Adesokan about her squiggly journey from growing up in Togo to thriving in the U.S. aerospace and tech industries. Kokui opens up about the pivots, plot twists, and big leaps of faith that shaped her career—from studying chemical engineering to finding her...

Feeling lost in the fog of vague directives? You're not alone! In this straight-talking episode, Colleen and Kristine tackle the frustrating reality of unclear organizational goals that leave middle managers dangling. Highlights: Gallup reveals how many employees are actually working in the dark Why unclear direction doesn't just hurt productivity—it undermines psychological safety Speci...

Are you the kind of person who hits a big milestone… then immediately moves on to the next goal? Same. In this episode, we’re talking to Robyn Glaser—venture executive and all-around badass—about why high-achieving women so often skip the celebration phase, and how that needs to change. We loved this conversation with Robyn Glaser — and we think you will too. 🙌 We talk about: ✨ What it’s like to...

What a delight chatting with Christina Mitine about her fascinating career path! From aspiring veterinarian to Oracle sales to various AWS roles, her journey proves there's no "right way" to build a meaningful career. Episode Highlights: Christina shares how the Women in Revenue Group on Lin provided crucial networking opportunities We discuss navigating different company cultures a...

Maintaining genuine professional relationships isn’t just nice, it’s essential. In this episode, we talk about how staying in touch (even casually) can quietly shape your career in powerful ways—and how it’s played out over decades for our guest, Soo Finley. This week, I got to catch up with my high school friend Soo Finley, who now works at the executive level in banking—and let me tell you, her...

What does it take to build a thriving business while navigating some of life’s toughest personal challenges? This week on Embrace the Squiggle , Colleen and Kristine sit down with the unstoppable Bonni Scepkowski. She is an award-winning meeting strategist, founder of Stellar Meetings, and a master of orchestrating meaningful moments in the life sciences industry. But behind her professional succe...

What if the skills you already have could open the door to a career you actually love? This week, we’re joined by the brilliant Ashleigh Beadle, who opens up about her non-linear path from law school dreams to launching her own consulting business. Ashleigh shares the real story behind her career pivots—what worked, what didn’t, and how she leaned into her transferable skills (even when things did...

Terrified of Public Speaking? You’re Not Alone, And We’ve Got You Covered. 🎤😅 In this episode of Embrace the Squiggle , Colleen and Kristine get real about the nerves, mindset shifts, and messy moments behind the mic. From giving a TEDx talk to delivering a major keynote, they’re pulling back the curtain on what it really takes to speak with confidence... and why you don’t need to be perfect to...

What if the very things that once held you back became the foundation for everything you built? In this episode of Embrace the Squiggle , Kelly Martins joins Colleen and Kristine to share the real story behind her squiggly career journey. From a background in graphic design and photography to launching her own consulting business focused on empowering others through strategic marketing and leaders...

"I’m an introvert... but what I do for a living is an extroverts dream.” Ever felt like your personality didn’t quite match your job title? This week on Embrace the Squiggle, Nellie Beckett gets real about navigating that exact tension—and how she’s turned it into one of her biggest strengths. From nonprofit gigs and teaching in Baltimore to creating meaningful community connections in public...

What do marine biology, massage therapy, and managing a Chamber of Commerce have in common? Moe's career journey. In this episode of Embrace the Squiggle , Colleen sits down with Moe Belliveau, the Executive Director of the East Hampton Chamber, for a conversation that’s anything but linear. With Kristine away, Colleen dives into Moe’s fascinating path, from dreaming of becoming a marine biol...

Kristine and Colleen chat with Patrika Alis Cheston, a marketing and sales strategist who’s anything but conventional. Patrika walks us through her winding career path—from studying education and journalism to leading strategy for startups and founding her own ventures, Roundology and Outsource SDR. She opens up about the power of internships, why it’s okay to pivot (again and again), and how reco...

How do you turn career pivots into purpose-driven success? This week, Kristine and Colleen sit down with Lisa Michaud , a real estate investor, entrepreneur, and former HR and accounting professional, to explore her incredible career evolution. Lisa opens up about the mindset shifts that helped her navigate multiple career transitions, the power of mentorship, and why personal challenges—including...

What happens when you're suddenly in charge of the people you used to work alongside? In this episode, Colleen and Kristine unpack the tricky dynamics of leadership transitions—especially when it means managing former colleagues and friends. They share real talk on: Setting new boundaries (without being a jerk) Navigating emotional landmines with emotional intelligence Redefining relationship...

Colleen and Kristine sit down with Karen Single for a candid and inspiring conversation about embracing the unexpected turns in a career. Karen opens up about her journey—from dreaming of becoming a teacher in the 1960s to facing academic dismissal from college, and ultimately carving out a fulfilling path in higher education. She reflects on career pivots, including a detour into the corporate wo...

In this episode of Embrace the Squiggle , Colleen and Kristine sit down with Michelle Wirth, an inspiring entrepreneur and former engineer who has navigated a truly remarkable career journey. From dreaming of becoming Oprah to breaking barriers in engineering and public relations at Mercedes-Benz, Michelle shares the lessons and challenges that shaped her path. Tune in to hear Michelle’s story of...

Kristine and Colleen sit down with Michelle Hooey to explore the nonlinear paths of career growth, personal transformation, and navigating life’s toughest challenges. After nearly two decades in corporate leadership, Michelle hit burnout while also facing profound personal struggles—multiple pregnancy losses and the birth of her daughter, Goldie, in 2023, who was born with complex medical needs. T...

Colleen and Kristine kick things off with LinkedIn advice for anyone facing layoffs, then dive into an inspiring conversation with Luzed Guzman Romano, a top-performing sales leader and advocate for women in Massachusetts. 💡 In This Episode: ✨ How to authentically present yourself on social media after a job loss ✨ The power of compassionate leadership & community ✨ Luzed’s journey from no...

Hate the idea of networking? You’re not alone. This week, Colleen and Kristine break down how to make networking feel natural —not slimy. 💡 Why networking isn’t just about job-hunting 💡 How to build connections without an agenda 💡 Easy ways to expand your network (LinkedIn, local events & more!) 💡 Simple LinkedIn strategies to boost your visibility Ditch the awkwardness and start making co...

Is your college student (or maybe you !) wondering how LinkedIn can help land that first job? This episode is packed with practical career advice to make job searching easier and more effective. This week on Embrace the Squiggle , Colleen and Kristine sit down with Paige Carbone , Regional Executive Director for MADD, to uncover key lessons from her career journey—from college admissions to nonpro...

In this episode of Embrace the Squiggle , Colleen and Kristine sit down with Maggie Clancy , an entrepreneur and riding academy owner, to discuss resilience, leadership, and making bold career shifts. From an early dream of medical school to building a thriving horse business, Maggie shares the lessons she’s learned along the way—including how working with horses shaped her leadership skills. She...