The Things We Have Learned

After a year filled with major life shifts—marriage, a new home, a new job, and my first L&D industry conference—I pause to reflect on what it feels like to build a podcast in the middle of so much change. In this mini episode, I touch on everything from how I'm learning to practice gratitude to understanding the true value of time. I also dig into how setting boundaries, saying no, and carvin...

In this episode of The Things We Have Learned, I sit down with my pal, Mickey Shalman (she/her), a queer professional building a long, grounded career in the reinsurance world. We explore the power of clear expectations: how naming what you need, setting boundaries early, and communicating with intention can transform not just your workday, but your whole sense of stability at work. Mickey shares...

In this episode of The Things We Have Learned, I sit down with my pal Amy Illarde (she/hers), a healthcare marketing professional, certified career coach focused on LGBTQ+ professionals, and community-builder in Chicago. We chat about something that drives both our work: what it truly means to practice people-centered leadership. Amy shares her non-linear career path, the lessons she learned shift...

In this episode of The Things We Have Learned, I sit down with Jamie Sharp (she/they), an opera singer turned nonprofit and philanthropic leader, to explore what it really takes to sustain yourself while leading change. Jamie, the founder of Cultivart, a resource hub for arts leaders of color and recipient of the 2024 Sphinx  MPower Artist Grant, shares her journey of balancing creative identity w...

In this short mini-episode of The Things We Have Learned, I pause to reflect on the lessons I've learned while launching the podcast. From the technical hurdles to the creative sparks, I share how the process of starting something new is always a learning journey. You’ll hear my candid thoughts on the surprises, challenges, and small wins that shaped the first few episodes, as well as what I hope...

In this episode of The Things We Have Learned, I sit down with Kim L. Hunt (she/her), a dynamic leader whose path has taken her from studying journalism at Iowa State University to impactful roles at AIDS Foundation Chicago. We trace the moments that shaped her journey: changing careers, navigating personal identity in professional spaces, and leaning into relational leadership to build trust and...

In this episode of The Things We Have Learned, I'm joined by Yusef Garcia (he/him), founder and Principal of Monarq Advisors. Yusef opens up about embracing your oddball identity, forging non-linear career paths, and leading with vulnerability and authenticity in challenging environments. We dive into the moments that shaped his journey — the surprises, the pivots, the resistance — and how he’s bu...

In the first full episode of The Things We Have Learned, I sit down with Emily Esquivel (she/her), a psychotherapist and Dr. Jessica Esquivel (she/her), a physicist and STEM advocate, a married couple whose professional and personal journeys intertwine in powerful ways. Together, Emily and Jessica reflect on how identity, lived experience, and partnership shape the way they show up as leaders — in...

Looking for a new LGBTQ+ leadership podcast? Wish you had a mentor? Consider 'The Things We Have Learned,' a podcast providing career guidance for LGBTQ+ individuals through conversations with Chicago LGBTQ+ leaders.