Corner Office Breakdowns

In this episode, Ambika sits down with Elaine Ling Hering, author of “Unlearning Silence: How to Speak Your Mind, Unleash Talent and Live More Fully.” 

Together, they dive into the dynamics of silence, voice, power, and leadership. Elaine shares her journey and insights on how silence can stifle or empower us. They unpack the nuanced benefits and pitfalls of using one’s voice in various contexts.

Guest Bio: Elaine Ling Hering is an author, speaker, and thought leader in the fields of communication, power dynamics, and leadership. Her book, “Unlearning Silence,” provides a deep exploration into the ways in which societal norms and personal experiences shape our use of voice and silence.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode: 

Book: “Unlearning Silence: How to Speak Your Mind, Unleash Talent and Live More Fully” by Elaine Ling Hering 

People: Adam Galinsky’s research on acceptable behavior, Omkari Williams’ work on micro activism, Claudine Gay, and Trish Hershey’s concept of rest as resistance. 

Join the Conversation! Reach out to Ambika at @cornerofficebreakdowns to discuss. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe on your preferred podcast platform and leave a review. Your feedback and support helps immensely! 

Ambika sits down with Sahaj Kaur Kohli, MAEd, LGPC, founder of @browngirltherapy and author of “But What Will People Say” to discuss (as her book’s subtitle so perfectly articulates), navigating mental health, identity, love, and family between cultures. This episode centers South Asian experiences, but topics apply to intersectional multicultural and immigrant experiences. 

Show Notes
00:24 The Impact of Brown Girl Therapy
01:28 Journey to Writing a Groundbreaking Book
01:49 Navigating Cultural Identity and Mental Health
04:31 The Birth of Brown Girl Therapy and Its Evolution
05:43 Exploring the Book’s Themes and Personal Resonance
09:03 Understanding the Psychological Impact of Being a Second-Generation Immigrant
13:25 The Role of Impression Management in Cultural Identity
16:16 External Validation and Its Influence
24:00 Exceptionalism and the Pressure to Overcompensate
26:20 Navigating Relationships with Other Indian Women
26:53 Exploring the Impact of Internalized White Supremacy
28:38 The Struggle with Trust and Competition within Communities
28:52 The Journey of Brown Girl Therapy and Facing Challenges
31:20 Cultural Scapegoats and the Cycle of Exceptionalism
36:31 Navigating Difficult Conversations and Emotional Validation
46:16 Reflecting on Parenting and Cultural Legacy
47:01 The Healing 

In this episode of Corner Office Breakdowns, Ambika speaks with 

Melissa Goldstein and Natalia Rachlin, the co-founders of Mother Tongue Magazine, who sought to fill a gap in maternal narratives in media. They discuss the magazine’s mission to include diverse, authentic stories of motherhood, transforming the genre into one that resonates deeply and universally, regardless of one’s direct experience with parenting. Exploring the magazine’s thoughtful approach to advertising and intentionality in growth and storytelling, the dialogue also touches on personal identities, generational shifts in understanding motherhood, and the importance of slow media in today’s fast-paced world.

00:00 Opening Greetings and Personal Updates

01:42 The Struggles of Parenting and Work-Life Balance

02:53 Preparing for Travel and Managing Kids

04:12 The Essence and Challenges of Motherhood

06:06 Introduction to Mother Tongue Magazine

10:13 Exploring the Identity and Impact of Motherhood

10:56 The Creative Process and Vision Behind Mother Tongue

19:59 Diverse Voices and the Power of Storytelling

31:15 Reflecting on Identity, Work, and Motherhood

38:04 The Importance of Inclusive Narratives in Motherhood

40:03 Navigating Expression and Perception

41:03 The Challenge of Packaging Emotions

41:26 Evolving Conversations in Media

43:59 Exploring the Intersectionality of Motherhood

44:40 Balancing Toxic Positivity and Negativity

46:00 The Role of Storytelling and Activism

46:38 Finding the Balance in Editorial Content

57:27 The Impact of Generational Perspectives

01:02:12 The Journey to Creating ‘Mother Tongue’

01:09:05 Expanding Reach and Embracing Slow Media

01:18:20 Reflecting on the Journey and Looking Ahead

Guest: Sarita Walsh 

Being Coach, Sarita Walsh joins Ambika to explore our cultural relationship with money. Our simultaneous fascination and distaste of wealth and the wealthy, and how we can stop and/or start connecting our worth with how much we’re worth.

Guest: Lisa Marchiano

Exploring the intersection of career and vocation with Lisa Marchiano in our new podcast episode. A thought-provoking discussion that challenges the way we view our professional lives and personal callings. Industry leaders, professionals, and dreamers—this conversation is for you. Listen now.

Join Ambika Gautam Pai for a live recording of Corner Office Breakdowns, a podcast that reconciles humanity and the workplace, part of the Advertising Week podcast network.

As a mom of two, a first-generation South Asian American and the Chief Strategy Officer advertising agency, Mekanism, Ambika Gautam Pai is an experienced feeler and expert at “breaking” shit down. Her candid LinkedIn content-turned-popular newsletters reconciling humanity and the workplace take new form as a bi-weekly podcast.

Ambika reflects on the decision to leave her job as Chief Strategy Officer.

In Corner Office Breakdown’s season one finale (!!!), Ambika speaks to
Amber Rae. Amber is an international best-selling author, writing
mentor & story doula who believes in the healing power of the written
word. She helps people find the stories within and then shepherds them
into existence by teaching that belonging, acceptance, and connection
come from allowing ourselves to be fully seen, heard, and known.
Website: https://www.amberrae.com/
Instagram: @heyamberrae

In the ninth episode of “Corner Office Breakdowns,” Ambika talks to Anushay Hossain, the author of “The Pain Gap” and a feminist policy analyst who has been featured on CNN, MSNBC, and more. They start by discussing the healthcare field and its limited understanding of women’s bodies and then shift to the idea that dismissing women’s experiences is disconnecting us from our intuition and keeping us disempowered. 

In episode 8 of Corner Office Breakdowns, Ambika partners up with Amani Duncan, a highly awarded executive who has worked across beauty/fashion, media, advertising, music/entertainment, and manufacturing.

Together, they unpack how and why the idea of “ego” has become so negative. They reframe ego as critical to both achieving progress and fulfilling corporate America’s commitment to a more diverse workforce.