Embracing Only: Workplace Culture & Career Development for BIPOC Leaders

Priyanka Lugani is a serial entrepreneur who has a deep fascination for the collective. She is the founder of Alma Deli, a plant-based food brand based in London, which is pushing the boundaries on connecting the ancient wisdom of the world with food, travel, art, spirit, and science. In this episode of The Nine Oh Six, Priyanka shares her journey of self-discovery after dropping out of college. S...

In this episode of Real Talk with Meha and Archita , we reflect on the past three episodes of Season 1. We also weave in some of our own experiences, including what it has been like to be road warriors as new moms - while also trying to keep breastfeeding our babies. We reflect on our upbringing, and the role that our parents have had in making us feel unstoppable. We also talk about goal setting...

Meet Dr. Andrea Bouman, an ER physician in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. In this episode of The Nine Oh Six, Andrea reflects on her journey of pursuing her passion in medicine to serve her rural community, while starting a family along the way. Hear from her as she shares her experiences as a student at Michigan Tech and as a resident at Henry Ford Hospital, as she overcame self-doubt and leane...

Be bold and take risks. This has been what defines Elsbeth Hurry's mindset as her life path has taken her from working with two Fortune 500 companies, to working in ski security in Vail, owning a wine bar, founding a charity for Ethiopian children, and launching a tech startup. Elsbeth is also a mom of 2, and has had a less than traditional journey to becoming a mother. In this episode of The...

This special episode of The Nine Oh Six is a journey of self-reflection and celebration, where Archita gives thanks to three inspirational women who have impacted her life. Vijaya Sivakumar, Archita’s mother ( Amma) , shares her experiences raising two daughters while managing a male-dominated career in urban India. Shobha Subhash, Archita’s aunt ( Aunty) , shares what it was like to rejoin the wo...

Meet Dr. Ashlesha Tawde , a veteran of the Indian Armed Forces. In this episode of The Nine Oh Six, Ashlesha reflects on her dual identity as a soldier and as a civilian, including planning her wedding while in a war-zone at the border of India and Pakistan. Hear from her as she shares the childhood experiences that shaped her desire to enter the Indian military. Ashlesha also reflects on the crit...

In Real Talk with Meha and Archita , we take questions from previous episodes and reflect on them from our own perspectives. In this episode, Meha reflects on her Indian-American identity and Archita shares her career transition from an engineer to a business executive in marketing. We also discuss experiences that shaped Meha’s confidence in public speaking today, and Archita shares a key definin...

Meet Courtney Boehrer, the founder of Team HeartStrong and a successful global HR professional. She reflects on life as an open heart surgery survivor, facing severe body image issues, apprehensions of leaving a 15-year corporate career, and how her defining moments shaped her new lease on life to ultimately be a coach and empower others with embracing their strengths - while leading with healthy...

Meet Kristie Savage, a data scientist with a passion - to increase the number of women in non-traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers. In this episode of The Nine Oh Six, Kristie reflects on her journey off-the-beaten-path to find her dream job, including life lessons moving from Michigan to New York City, how she stays off social media, and her passion for mentorship....

Meet Tina Marchand, an inspirational woman and the founder and owner of Ellie and Piper, an online party boutique. In this episode of The Nine Oh Six, Tina digs deep into the layers of being your own boss after a successful corporate career, how being a first-generation Vietnamese-American has influenced her work ethic, her success stories, and how the loss of two angel babies gave her a reason to...

Hear from nine women defining success on their own terms on ‘The Nine Oh Six’: a podcast co-hosted by lifelong friends Meha Chiraya and Archita Fritz.  This podcast originated from a desire to share the stories of the extraordinary women in our lives, within our networks and communities, who are forging a path forward. Our goal is simple -- elevate these stories so we can learn from and get inspir...