Overview

Mala Singh is the Chief People Officer (CPO) of Electronic Arts. I had the pleasure of working with Mala when she was Chief People Officer at Minted, and I couldn't wait to speak with her in this episode, because she's is one of the wisest people I know. Not only did I want to learn more about Mala's own career journey from British Guyana to the U.S. to a global career in HR, I also knew Mala would have great insight to share from her own experiences and from her role as a CPO on the executive team of a world class, creative organization that has had to manage through this pandemic with 25 offices around the world.

We cover a lot of ground in this conversation starting with Mala's own career, which I would say she guided by defining success for herself and making decisions that didn't necessarily always propel her upward but resonated with her desire to have certain experiences, like a global career, and to grow. Such decisions took her to places like Paris, so I myself don't think that was a bad trade-off! She offers tips on what to think about managing your career at each decade, shares how EA has cared for its employees during the pandemic, offers her forecast on whether or not we'll be going back to offices, encourages us all to be allies, and gives us tips on how to manage a full, ambitious personal and professional life.

I love what Mala had to say on all these topics. Listen in to hear her wisdom!

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Overview

On this episode, I’m in conversation with Bridget Jones, a finance coach and founder of Smart Sister Finance. Prior to Smart Sister, Bridget worked in finance and was an executive leader at several leading food companies where she held finance and operations leadership roles at companies like Clif Bar and Whole Foods Market.

I wanted to chat with Bridget, because finances is directly tied to work-life integration and managing our careers from decade to decade. While salary is not an intrinsic motivator, meaning the core thing that gets most of us excited about our work, the reality is our jobs pay the bills! They support our lives. And so, being wise about one's finances is important to facilitating Sustainable Ambition.

And impressively, Bridget was so good with her own finances, she met and exceeded her goal of being able to retire by the age of 50. Now, that's someone I want to talk to!

I love all the insights in this conversation about how work and finances are intertwined in creating a sustainable life. We talk about Bridget’s own career journey, why she had a goal of retiring by 50, and what surprised her most after she had downtime and recharged. We explore the importance of setting financial goals and tying those to your overall life goals - what are you working and saving for? We advocate embracing planning for what you want in your life, focusing on the big rocks and accepting that it is iterative. And, we close by covering just how important it is to talk about money. From Bridget's perspective, it’s powerful to set an intention, because it will then likely manifest.

Thanks for being on Bridget! Such an important topic and appreciate you sharing your own story and tips for people to find freedom by getting smart about their finances!

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Overview

On another solo episode, I share some thoughts on a topic that has come up a lot over the last year during the pandemic… And that is the concept of living in not knowing. What does “living in not knowing” even mean? It means living in uncertainty. Not being clear on a path, say, or having the answer. It’s a weird liminal state. The challenge is that we are wired to want to know. We want certainty. And, when we don’t have that, it causes consternation and stress.

Why is this important to the concept of Sustainable Ambition? Because I talk about the idea of crafting a career to support your life from decade to decade, which implies we will go through many transitions over the course of our adulthood. And it’s in transitions, that we live in moments of uncertainty and not knowing. During such times, we can often feel unmoored and unclear.

In this episode, I share 15 lessons on what I’ve learned through my own experiences to survive and thrive during uncertainty and growth stages. I hope my sharing of these insights and tools that have provided me with guidance and relief can help you in finding some peace, as well as enrichment and joy, as we all wade through this time of uncertainty. Because in the end, while periods of not knowing have been some of the toughest for me, they’ve also been some of the most enriching of my life. I wish the same for you.

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Overview

I loved being in conversation with Stephanie Carter, founder of The Verse, a media platform designed and delivered by grown-ups, for grown-ups, built on real talk; action-ready, beyond-the-masses tips; and original ideas. In founding The Verse, Stephanie realized she was one in an army of grown-ups seeking reinvention, and she hopes that by sharing her setbacks and wins, she can help people to view their second half with optimism and excitement.

And this is what we delve into in this conversation. If you're wondering what's next for your second act, listen in. We cover everything from the importance of paying attention to the voice telling you that something new is on the horizon, getting started on figuring out what's next sooner than you think, getting help working with a coach, and leaning into a beginner's mindset. Stephanie knows what it's like to step away from being a master in one's discipline and she encourages us to embrace growth no matter your age and get comfortable with not being good as we learn new things.

And if you're earlier in your career, take Stephanie's advice to take more risk (this is becoming a theme on the podcast!) and if you're in your 30's and 40's look and plan ahead.

So much wisdom packed into this interview! Thank you for being on, Stephanie!

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Overview

In this conversation, I welcome Lisa Lewis Miller, career change expert, author, and founder of Career Clarity, a company helping individuals step into the careers they've been dreaming of. If you are someone who exclaims, “I don’t know what I want to do with my life!,” then this is the episode for you! Lisa offers a foolproof way to uncover your internal wisdom, because as she shares, you are the only one who knows. The answer isn’t “out there” or with anyone else. And a key theme of our conversation is permission—to explore what’s possible, to go for what you want, and to embrace our desire to learn and grow throughout our career.

And if you are feeling unhappy with your job during the pandemic and not listening to that voice in your head, or as Lisa would advise listening to what your body is telling you, because you feel like you should just be grateful to have a job, listen to Lisa to find encouragement and hope that there are still opportunities out there for you to find your career fulfillment.

I had so many more questions I could have asked Lisa, so I encourage you to explore her book and podcast. Find more in the detailed show notes!

Thanks for being on with me, Lisa, and sharing such deep, empowering perspectives!

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Overview

This is my first solo episode! I thought I’d share with you just what I mean by Sustainable Ambition and why I think it’s an important concept for us to consider when managing our careers, especially in today’s world. I’ve been working on this concept for the last 5 years and likely have been living it all my adult life without realizing it until a few years ago.

So, for grounding, at a high level, Sustainable Ambition is about crafting a fulfilling career to support your life from decade to decade… with the end goal being to experience more fulfillment in your professional and personal life with more ease, while still being ambitious.

In the episode, I talk about what inspired the model, some high-level thoughts on Sustainable Ambition, and then go deeper into the model. The Sustainable Ambition Method has 3 pillars: Right Success, Right Aspiration, and Right Effort. I discuss each pillar and share how they are about: defining Personal Reward, creating a Regenerative Career, and building Work-Life Resilience, respectively.

Thanks for being with me for my first solo episode, everyone! I hope you find it helpful to learn a bit more about Sustainable Ambition. Cheers!

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Overview

Joining me on this episode is friend, author, and traveler David Brown. David and I met working in the marketing and branding world, but we also have another thing in common. We both took time off and traveled. Shhhh! Don't tell anyone!

David and his wife, Alexandra, took a year off traveling the world and then chronicled their journey and learning in a beautiful book, “A Year Off: A story about traveling the world—and how to make it happen for you.”

I wanted to talk with David about his experience of taking time off, in addition to talking about general career satisfaction and walking your own path. In the end, David shares more about the impact of what he learned from traveling and shares wonderful insights for those of us who follow more non-traditional career paths.

David talks about the importance of paying attention, being present to your life and experiences, and that it’s okay to carve your own path leaning into who you are. He states so beautifully, “There really isn’t a sustainable option other than to be yourself.”

Now, I know that during the pandemic, we’re all not traveling. But I think David shares good lessons regardless of how you travel (meaning daydreaming or side jaunts!), and I think at this moment in this pandemic we could all use a little dreaming about what a pause might look like. Also, David and Alexandra’s book includes beautiful photography throughout, so I encourage you to pick it up to carry you abroad now while we’re hunkered in place.

A final thing I will note, as I ran out of time to discuss this with David, is the lasting impact that travel has. Dr. Rick Hanson talks about building resilience by having an experience and embedding it within you. I love his advice and I know for myself, I consistently go back to my memories of my extended travel, and it sustains me and fills me up. I still call upon my travels and its reserves. It is the gift I have given myself that keeps on giving. David also shares, “It was such a good decision. I loved it!”

And, David - I loved our conversation and so appreciate your wisdom! Thanks for being on with me.

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Overview

In this episode, I’m joined by Maghan Haggerty, founder of Connecting Dots Coaching & Consulting and a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach. I wanted to have Maghan on the show to share her wisdom on the importance of tapping into your strengths to help you find more work fulfillment. One of Sustainable Ambition's pillars is Right Success, which is about defining success on your terms and defining your own personal reward. I believe a key component of that is leaning into your strengths, especially those that put you into flow.

So, you'll hear in my early interviewing days that I'm very CURIOUS about what Maghan has to share! She talks about the importance of leaning into one’s strengths, how to define them (they are the activities not just that we are good at, but that we have an affinity for), as well as how our strengths can at times turn into weaknesses. We talk about Gallup's CliftonStrengths Assessment, which Maghan is certified in administering, and how the philosophy is such that the strengths can be applied to any profession, because they are about how we interact in the world.

Another important theme you hear us talk about throughout the episode is PAY ATTENTION! If there's one thing to take away, that is it. Don’t go blindly through your career. Pay attention.

I hope in listening to Maghan you get convinced of the importance of investing in identifying your strengths, and even more importantly working to determine how to bring them into your everyday life experiences.

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Overview

Joining me on this episode of the Sustainable Ambition Podcast is Amber Beam, a collaborator and fellow career coach who brings wisdom around managing your career over time, especially for mid-career changers.

Amber tells us about the importance of continual learning in today’s market environment, advocates burning the proverbial career ladder, and instead champions managing one’s career through lateral moves and creating a portfolio of experiences or gigs to progress you forward towards your goals. She shares her concept around talent mobility, The Growth Effect, and is an advocate for employees and employers to get past old structures and norms to create more growth for both parties. Amber drops many wisdom bombs in this episode, including great advice on how to manage your career in your 20’s, 30’s and 40’s.

It's hard not to have a good time being in conversation with Amber, so I hope you appreciate her enthusiasm and encouragement to build a career with more flexibility and growth no matter your stage and age. Really, Amber’s energy is quite infectious!

Thank you for sharing so many great insights, Amber! I loved being in conversation with you!

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Overview

In this episode of the Sustainable Ambition Podcast, I’m joined by friend, mentor, and business colleague Philip VanDusen. Philip is one of my favorite people to talk to, and I seek him out often for his wisdom. Philip has held esteemed roles in his creative career, such as VP Design at Old Navy and Pepsico, as well as serving as an Executive Creative Director on the agency side. After Corporate life, Philip went out on his own and now runs his own branding agency, as well as fosters a creative community. Philip offers a lot of free content to creatives and entrepreneurs, which I encourage you to check out (with links below in the resources section).

I wanted to talk to Philip and hear his insights on navigating a career over time, what it’s like to jump out of a traditional corporate gig and into entrepreneurship, and why, when and how one should build a personal brand. As you’ll hear, we cover a lot of ground, and I still didn’t get to ask him everything on my list! I’ll definitely have to have Philip back again.

I hope you find the conversation as enjoyable as I did. Thank you for sharing all your wisdom with us, Philip!

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Overview

I was thrilled to be joined by Wade Brill, a Mindfulness Coach, the Centered in the City podcast host, and Speaker who helps busy professionals experiencing stress and overwhelm be more present, productive and energized. Wade is really an inspiration and shared so much wisdom in our conversation. I couldn't stop asking questions!

Given Wade’s expertise, it’s not surprising that I wanted to speak with her about Sustainable Ambition and especially what I call the third pillar, Right Effort, which is about directing your energy so your work doesn’t unintentionally take over your life.

In our conversation, we cover how to deal with overwhelm, what to watch out for around burnout, her framework for radical self-care (a way for ambitious people to support themselves holistically), the power of managing our energy and self-regulation of our minds and bodies, and a lot more.

I hope you find the conversation as helpful and powerful as I did. It was so good to have you on Wade. Thank you!

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Overview

Rebecca Williams, Story Coach, Executive Communications Coach, and a Brand Storyteller, joins me to discuss the importance of clarifying your story, claiming it, and then speaking your why.

For me this conversation goes to the root of the first pillar of Sustainable Ambition, Right Success, and aligning to your own personal reward, defining success on your terms. In this conversation, Rebecca shares how painful it can be to not have clarity about your purpose, your why, and how it can be uncomfortable following a path that just isn’t you. As she says, “Trying to fit into someone else’s narrative doesn't work.” But then when you find that clarity—knowing your purpose, values, and your genius—everything starts to align.

She also shares the power of story and how being a good storyteller is important for all of us to connect with others in many situations. Most importantly, I love this insight Rebecca shares about how story can impact our own fulfillment: “We have to see a bigger story for ourselves if we want to live fulfilled, purpose-driven lives.”

It’s a great conversation. Appreciate your honest sharing and teaching, Rebecca. Thank you!

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Overview

In this episode, I’m joined by friend Tim Galpin who is currently Senior Lecturer of Strategy & Innovation and Academic Director of the MBA program at Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. He also consults with Fortune 500 and FTSE 100 companies in the areas of strategy formulation and execution, M&A due diligence and integration, business restructuring, and organizational culture change. Tim has spent the majority of his career both in strategy consulting and in academia as a business professor.

I was interested in talking to Tim about his career trajectory, knowing it hasn’t been one note and that he transitioned to a new phase later in his career having an early vision for what he would do. What shows up as a subtle but important lesson is how we aren’t defined by where we start out or our early successes, or lack thereof. Tim is the first of his family to go to college. He almost failed out after one year, yet today teaches at Oxford, just two generations after one side of his family left the U.K. for the United States. The luck of a professor who mentored him also gave him inspiration for where he could take his career. Tim has an amazing success story, one fueled by the love of learning.

Through the sharing of his own experiences, we learn the importance of being curious, continually learning, and not getting yourself locked in to a lifestyle that limits your flexibility and options.

Thanks for sharing your career story and wisdom with us, Tim!

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Overview

In this conversation, I'm joined by Heather Ainsworth, my friend and the CEO and Founder of Workable Concept. Heather is an expert in helping organizations, individuals, and leaders create circumstances for caregivers to thrive in work and life.

Heather is one of the best people I know who has for me modeled what I think of as Sustainable Ambition. And, what I LOVE about this conversation with Heather is not only how open and vulnerable she is in what she shares and the wisdom that comes from that openness, but also the insight that you can play BIG in your career and command what you need from work on your terms to have Sustainable Ambition.

If you're seeking Sustainable Ambition and better work-life integration at any stage in your career, this is a conversation worth a listen. If you're just starting out, listen and learn from Heather's sage advice.

So great to be in conversation with you, Heather!

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Overview

As one of my first interviews on the Sustainable Ambition Podcast, I was thrilled to be joined by a friend and former client, Geoff Tanner, who is currently Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer at the J.M. Smucker Company. Not only is Geoff a successful marketer and growth-minded business leader and innovator, he's a present and wonderful father to his two children.

In this conversation we cover a lot of ground from starting one's second career sooner than you think to ruthless prioritization to the fact that people want to be led by genuine, authentic leaders who bring their whole selves to work. And, yes, I do ask him how he balances work and raising two young children.

I hope you find the conversation as helpful and insightful as I did. Thank you for being on, Geoff!

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