Thriving in Intersectionality

What if the " wrong " career moves are actually the right ones? And what happens when a physician decides the traditional path isn't enough? For Dr. Meklit Workneh, the answer to these questions was a journey that took her from Ethiopia to Stanford, through public health fieldwork, FDA regulatory medicine, and ultimately to leading AI-integrated clinical trials at Moderna. Her story...

What happens when a 16-year career break becomes the foundation for a more purposeful professional life? Priya Venkatesan's story challenges everything we think we know about linear career paths and proves that "starting over" can actually mean starting stronger. From computer science in India to business systems analysis at UC Davis, Priya's journey through immigration, visa r...

What do you do when you realize you don't want to be " a cog in a very big machine "? For Dr. Maggie Marcus, the answer was a career pivot that led from the CIA to the classroom to leading a family foundation—all while raising bilingual children and teaching the next generation of educators. Her journey proves that seemingly "winding" career paths often have invisible thre...

What happens when personal loss becomes the catalyst for finding your voice? For Simone W. Johnson-Smith, a personal loss in 2021 ended six years of procrastination and launched a movement that now reaches over 100 countries. From Jamaican immigrant to U.S. diplomat to award-winning author and podcast host, Simone's story is about recognizing the psychological realities of living between cult...

A solo episode with a twist featuring the voices of Dr. Christina Padilla, Summie Yeung, and Horatio Morgan What if the most powerful diversity and inclusion tool in your workplace isn't a training manual or policy document, but something as simple as food? In this special solo episode with a unique blend format, Dr. Lola Adeyemo explores the stories we tell through food, the bridges we build...

From a $3,500 investment to an eight-figure tech company—all without VC funding. Neelima Parasker's story spans 25 years in corporate tech before making the leap to entrepreneurship at age 40+. This isn't just a business success story—it's a masterclass in career evolution, strategic risk-taking, and turning industry frustrations into innovative solutions. About Our Guest Neelima Pa...

What does it take to completely reimagine your career in a new country? Dr. Ekaette Joseph-Isang proves that it's never too late to bloom where you're planted—even when that means leaving medicine behind to become a transformation coach. In this powerful episode, Dr. Ekaette shares her remarkable journey from practicing internal medicine in Nigeria to becoming a sought-after growth and t...

What happens when cutting-edge neuroscience meets precision engineering in the pursuit of human optimization? You get a revolutionary approach to health that's changing how high-performers think about their bodies and brains. In this powerful episode, Dr. Lola Adeyemo chats with Dr. Gina D'Andrea-Penna and Gil Acevedo, co-founders of Nexus Fitness, who are bringing scientific rigor to th...

What does it really mean to take a risk in your career? Dr. Stanley Lewis, founder and CEO of A28 Therapeutics , discovered that staying in a "safe" job was actually the riskiest move of all. His mentor's profound insight - "You risk never knowing what could be" - changed everything. In this compelling episode, Dr. Lewis shares his evolution from practicing physician to bi...

  June and July - those pivotal months right between your year's ambitious start and when we accept that the year is ramping down. That means it's time for a career pulse check! In this timely solo episode, host Lola Adeyemo guides you through a three-part mid-year assessment designed to help you evaluate where you stand professionally and what adjustments you might need to make for the...

  "What does it take to build a thriving career when you're navigating multiple intersectional identities?" Dr. Janine Lee knows firsthand. As the Global Head of Learning at a Fortune 500 tech company, Dr. Lee has spent nearly 20 years breaking barriers while building an impressive multifaceted career. In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, she shares how being an America...

In this electrifying episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, host Lola Adeyemo welcomes Saundra Pelletier, a powerhouse in women's health innovation and a fierce advocate for women's empowerment. As CEO, President, and Interim Chair of Evofem Biosciences, Saundra shares her journey from a one-room apartment on welfare in Maine to revolutionizing women's reproductive health – all w...

In this enlightening episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, host Lola Adeyemo welcomes Dr. Cristina Padilla, a distinguished Latina leadership scholar, consultant, and coach. Dr. Padilla shares her journey as a first-generation Mexican American navigating professional spaces, her approach to culturally relevant leadership development, and valuable insights for Latinas and other professionals of...

  In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, host Lola Adeyemo speaks with Craig DeLarge, a digital healthcare strategist and mental health advocate whose remarkable 45-year career spans pharmaceutical giants, academia, and global leadership. Craig began as a fashion design major before switching to marketing and has subsequently led to an impressive career trajectory through marketing rese...

  In this insightful solo episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, host Lola Adeyemo challenges the traditional one-to-one mentorship model and introduces a powerful alternative: creating your personal board of directors. Drawing from her experience serving on multiple nonprofit boards and navigating her own career as an immigrant woman of color in STEM, Lola shares a strategic approach to assemb...

  In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, host Lola Adeyemo welcomes Eric Hellon, whose career journey spans graphic design, real estate expertise, and social entrepreneurship. Eric shares how his intersectional identities as a multiracial individual and "girl dad" have shaped his career decisions and professional growth. With experience as a real estate agent, broker, certifie...

  In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, host Lola Adeyemo welcomes Loc Nguyen, whose remarkable journey spans multiple intersecting identities and career transitions. From arriving in the United States as a Vietnamese refugee to serving in the Air Force, experiencing corporate America, and now building a nonprofit while pursuing his doctoral studies, Loc's story exemplifies the po...

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, host Lola Adeyemo welcomes Horatio Morgan, an AI specialist and business process improvement expert whose remarkable journey from Jamaica to the United States exemplifies resilience, adaptability, and the power of embracing opportunity. As an engaged member of the Immigrants in Corporate community, Horatio shares his experience navigating professio...

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, host Lola Adeyemo welcomes Maryam Habashi, a transformational business development coach with nearly three decades of professional experiences across corporate America, sales leadershiphip roles and entrepreneurship. As the founder of INFUSE system, Maryam specializes in implementing systems that drive measurable growth for top producers, team lead...

In our latest Women's History Month episode, host Lola Adeyemo sits down with Amaka Eziuku, Managing Partner at Synesis Group. With over 14 years of experience transforming talent and operational complexity into strategic advantages, Amaka shares insights from her journey as a Nigerian immigrant in the consulting world. What You'll Learn in This Episode: How intersectional identity can b...

Conversation Highlights In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, host Lola Adeyemo welcomes Carrie M. Sawyer, an international bestselling author, speaker, design researcher, CEO, and nonprofit founder who has dedicated her career to creating inclusive environments where everyone can thrive. During this thought-provoking discussion, we explore career navigation from biomedical engineering...

In this enlightening episode, Lola Adeyemo sits down with Irene Valdés Wochinger, Chief of Staff at the Gates Foundation's Communications Division. From her multicultural upbringing in Puerto Rico to her pivotal Fulbright research in Mexico and current leadership role, Valdés Wochinger shares how her diverse background has shaped her approach to social impact work and professional growth. Her...

In this compelling episode of the Thriving in Intersectionality podcast, host Lola Adeyemo speaks with Ukeme Awakessien Jeter, who made history as the first person of color to serve as Mayor of Upper Arlington, Ohio. Born in Nigeria and educated across multiple countries, Ukeme shares her remarkable journey from engineer to lawyer to civic leader. Her story illuminates the unique challenges and op...

At the start of a new year, many professionals reassess their career paths and goals. In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, host Lola Adeyemo shares insights from a recent mentoring conversation with a senior director, exploring how professionals with multiple minority identities can navigate career success while maintaining cultural authenticity. She provides practical frameworks for...

In this episode, podcast host Lola Adeyemo interviews Gianna Driver, a recognized Filipina-American Global HR leader, to explore Gianna's journey and the valuable lessons she has to share with aspiring professionals. The discussion covers a range of topics, including: - Gianna's organic path into HR and discovery of her passion for people-focused roles - Understanding the nuances of inte...