In this candid, tools-forward conversation, Ingrid Goldbloom Bloch—founder of Mosaic Careers—shares how to use design thinking to navigate real constraints and real possibilities. She explains why human problems aren’t linear, how to distinguish circumstances from thoughts, and how small reframes shift feelings, actions, and results. Ingrid introduces the idea of “gravity problems” (unchangeable realities like caregiving load or a tight budget) and redirects energy toward what is changeable: the stories you tell yourself, the skills you emphasize, the micro-experiments you try, and the support you invite in through radical collaboration.

Drawing on exercises like Odyssey Planning and the “8–12 lives” thought experiment, Ingrid helps listeners surface the themes that run across their many possible futures—then translate those themes into low-risk pilots and resume narratives that point where they’re going, not just where they’ve been. She also tackles time pressure with her “tiger time” practice (non-negotiable blocks for high-energy work), attention batching, and matching tasks to your natural energy curve. Finally, Ingrid invites a kinder inner dialogue—asking whether you’ve become your own toxic boss, and how models like Internal Family Systems can help you notice, name, and soften the inner critic. The result is a grounded roadmap for moving forward toward an unknown future—one reframe, one micro-step, and one protected block of time at a time.

Thank you to our sponsor Gies College of Business

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To learn more about Ellevate Network and how we’re building a community that supports women+ at every stage of their careers, visit ellevatenetwork.com or reach out to [email protected].