Balancing Ambitions Podcast

Welcome to the latest episode of Balancing Ambitions! Today, we’re thrilled to have Josh Allen, Chief Revenue Officer at Quickbase, as our guest. With over two decades of experience building and leading high-performing sales teams, Josh has been instrumental in driving growth at companies like Drift, CarGurus, and LogMeIn. His journey includes scaling Drift’s ARR from $20 million to $60 million in two years and playing a pivotal role in CarGurus’ IPO. Beyond his professional achievements, Josh’s focus on balancing family, fitness, and community makes him a compelling guest with a wealth of insights on leadership and life.

In this engaging conversation, Josh reflects on his career path, including taking a "halftime" break to reset priorities. He delves into the importance of embracing the ups and downs of career growth, his decision to step back for family and fitness, and how he leverages his experiences to lead authentically. Josh also shares lessons from owning a CrossFit gym, his approach to personal and professional balance, and how he integrates hobbies like music into his life. Whether you're looking to advance in your career, prioritize fitness, or find harmony in a busy schedule, this episode offers practical tips and heartfelt advice.

Tune in now to learn from Josh’s journey and discover how to balance ambition with personal fulfillment!

TIMESTAMPS

00:24 – Guest intro: Josh Allen

02:15 – From W2 roles to leadership in tech

04:30 – The nonlinear nature of career growth

07:10 – Career “halftime” and stepping back for family and fitness

13:25 – Building intentional routines for work-life balance

18:40 – Lessons from owning a CrossFit gym during COVID

26:00 – Leveraging LinkedIn for authentic leadership and knowledge sharing

31:20 – Managing family dynamics and planning with a spouse

36:55 – How hobbies like music enrich life and leadership

48:20 – Closing thoughts on balancing ambition with fulfillment

50:15 – Outro and final remarks

Connect with the Guest:

Website: https://www.quickbase.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-a/

#WorkLifeBalance #CareerLeadership #FitnessJourney #FamilyFirst #LeadershipDevelopment

Welcome to the latest episode of Balancing Ambitions! Today, we're joined by Tonya Montella, a highly respected entrepreneur and career coach, sought after by organizations like The Mom Project, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Drift. Tonya’s journey has been marked by six successful career transitions, culminating in senior leadership roles and a 50% salary boost in just three years. She now empowers women feeling stuck in their careers to find jobs that truly excite them, secure the pay they deserve, and achieve meaningful success. As the CEO of Tonya Empowers LLC, Tonya’s work as an author, public speaker, and career coach has made her a standout figure in career transformation and women’s empowerment.

In this engaging conversation, Tonya delves into the journey from her former W2 role to becoming a full-time entrepreneur. She discusses her dedication to guiding women in defining what they truly want out of their careers and life, beyond just the resume. Tonya shares her thoughts on balancing career ambitions with family responsibilities, emphasizing the importance of making time for oneself amidst life's demands. With insights into the mindset shifts and support systems she recommends for women aiming to thrive professionally and personally, Tonya offers a unique perspective on achieving career satisfaction and holistic balance.

Tune in now to discover how Tonya’s strategies can inspire you to make intentional choices for a more balanced and fulfilling life!

TIMESTAMPS

00:25 - Guest intro: Tonya Montella

02:15 - Transition from W2 job to entrepreneurship

04:30 - Balancing her career coaching business alongside a W2 job

06:05 - Realizing the demand for in-depth career coaching for women

09:45 - Defining career goals and focusing on what truly matters

13:25 - Overcoming mindset blocks and self-doubt

17:50 - Strategies for setting intentional career goals

22:10 - Transitioning family-owned business to a mobile model

27:20 - Balancing family responsibilities with entrepreneurship

33:05 - Prioritizing personal fulfillment and self-care tips from Tonya

Connect with the Guest:

Website: https://www.tonyaempowers.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyamontella/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tawny_000/

#CareerFulfillment #WorkLifeBalance #EmpoweringWomen #Entrepreneurship #CareerCoaching

Welcome to the latest episode of Balancing Ambitions! Today, we're joined by Mike Connolly, a retired sales executive turned business owner and coach. Mike started his career in engineering but found his true calling in sales, leading teams at PAETEC, Windstream, and Experian before landing a life-changing role at CarGurus. After retiring, Mike quickly realized he wasn’t done yet and founded Pay Forward Coaching, an initiative dedicated to providing free career advice and services. He’s also an ultra-marathon runner and co-founder of K9Wear, a unique dog apparel brand.

In this insightful conversation, Mike shares his journey from early retirement to launching new ventures that align with his passions. He discusses the importance of balance, not in the traditional sense, but through focusing on activities that truly fulfill you. Mike dives into his experiences running ultra-marathons, founding Pay Forward Coaching, and how he manages to juggle it all by cutting out things that don’t bring joy. Whether you're aiming to balance work, personal ambitions, or new ventures, Mike’s approach offers a fresh perspective on achieving fulfillment.

Tune in now to learn how Mike balances his life by focusing on the things he loves and how you can too!

TIMESTAMPS

00:25 - Guest Intro: Mike Connolly 

03:45 - Retiring early and lessons from his father’s experience

08:00 - Importance of living for today versus saving for the future

09:25 - Balancing saving, investing, and building wealth

18:30 - The origins and purpose of Pay Forward Coaching

23:45 - Growth of Pay Forward Coaching and volunteer efforts

27:15 - Founding K9Wear and partnership with Tommy Bahama

34:30 - Mike’s ultra-marathon journey and how it began

45:35 - Finding balance through cutting out non-essential tasks

48:00 - Mike’s philosophy on passion projects and business ventures

51:45 - Final thoughts on achieving balance and enjoying life

Connect with the Guest:

Website: https://payforwardcoaching.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrconnolly/

#LifeBalance #Entrepreneurship #UltraMarathon #PayItForward #BusinessMentorship #CareerAdvice

Welcome to the latest episode of Balancing Ambitions! Today, we are joined by Lorie-Lyn Fernandes, Director of Enterprise Applications at CarGurus, and a seasoned entrepreneur with a passion for photography. Lorie-Lyn has spent over a decade balancing a thriving career in technology and her own photography business. In this episode, she dives into the importance of setting boundaries, embracing automation, and how her background in engineering has influenced her approach to business and life.

Lorie-Lyn shares her journey from launching her photography business, fueled by her love for capturing moments, to how she stepped away to refocus on family life and her full-time role. She explains the critical role of technology in helping small businesses grow and scale, drawing from her experience in enterprise applications. Whether you're trying to balance your career with a side hustle or looking for ways to streamline your processes, this episode is filled with practical tips on how to manage it all while maintaining your sanity.

Tune in now to learn how Lorie-Lyn uses automation and smart tools to make the most of her time, how she overcame entrepreneurial burnout, and why setting boundaries can be the key to success.

TIMESTAMPS

01:15 - Guest intro: Lorie-Lyn Fernandes 

03:10 - Early days in photography and transition into real estate tech

06:45 - Turning a photography hobby into a successful side business

11:25 - Challenges of running a business during the pandemic

14:40 - The importance of setting boundaries in both business and life

20:10 - Lessons learned from stepping back from photography and refocusing

24:30 - How automation plays a role in managing small businesses efficiently

29:45 - Insights into enterprise applications and scaling businesses

33:10 - Final thoughts on balancing a busy career, family, and side hustles

35:00 - Connect with Lorie-Lyn Fernandes

Connect with the Guest:

Website: ⁠https://lorielynphotography.com/⁠, https://www.cargurus.com/

Linkedin: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorielynfernandes/⁠

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorielynphotography/

#LifeBalance #AutomationInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #PhotographyBusiness #WomenInTech #BoundariesInLife

Hi, I’m Kim Menapace, host of the Balancing Ambitions podcast! As a mom of two, wife, corporate woman, and entrepreneur, I know firsthand how challenging it is to juggle family, work, side hustles, and self-care. But here’s the thing—balancing it all is possible! On my podcast, I’ll be sharing stories and insights from my own journey, including how my husband and I grew our real estate co-hosting business, my return to fitness after injury, and how we manage our ambitious goals as parents. Together, we'll learn from others who are also chasing big dreams while keeping life in balance. Join me as we navigate this incredible journey of doing it all!

#BalancingAmbitions #RealEstateInvesting #WorkLifeBalance

Welcome to the Balancing Ambitions podcast, where we support and inspire those juggling family, work, side hustles, and personal care. Join host Kim Menapace, a corporate woman by day and entrepreneur by night, as she shares insights from her own journey and other high achievers. Subscribe and tune in weekly for stories, tips, and community.

#BalancingAmbitions #HighAchievers #WorkLifeBalance