Femme Hive

Not knowing where you're headed or what your mission in life is can be daunting. After we graduate from college, we somehow expect that life continues on a straight path but it rarely does. That's why on this week's episode, we learn that rejection is not failure but an opportunity for us to expand our portfolio of possibilities.

Our host Thamina is joined by Katie Belfi, Readiness & Resilience Consultant. In 2012, Katie gave up her private-sector gig as a commercial litigator and joined the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a Regional Counsel. She later worked in Emergency Management at NYU Langone Health and in 2018, Katie eventually founded Belfi Consulting where she is offering a fresh take on emergency preparedness & resilience for everyone from families to Fortune 500 companies.

After more than a decade of introspection and exploring different interests, Katie eventually combined her background in emergency management and wellness after initially judging herself for operating in two seemingly divergent paths. She highlights that what she now believes she was meant to do, she never could have intellectually discerned in her 20s. Her message to young female professionals: Allow yourself to experience different things and work on the relationship with yourself in the present moment!

For 58 weeks straight, our Founder & Host Thamina has published a new episode of the Femme Hive podcast in addition to her demanding full-time job in Tech Sales. No winter break, no exceptions while on vacation, no excuses.

On this week's episode, Thamina shares what she has learned about the importance of showing up consistently and why sometimes "done is better than perfect". If you have been considering to take that leap and either launch a podcast, start that blog, or train for a marathon, this might be the last bit of inspiration you need.

"I wish my waist was smaller." "I wish I didn't have any cellulite." "I wish I had a sixpack." Everyone - women, men, non-binary people - has probably experienced some form of body dysmorphia in their life where they worry about flaws in their physical appearance.

On this week's episode, we are joined by one of our beloved previous guests, Katya Gorbacheva, Personal Trainer & Founder of Total Body Lab. We talk about unsolicited comments and women's internalized misogyny, which is oftentimes the source of women feeling bad about themselves and their bodies - in addition to pop culture and social media.

Katya also emphasizes that a lot of your physical appearance depends on your genetics and the fact that beauty standards constantly change. As someone who suffers from body dysmorphia herself, she also shares some valuable exercises that can help you be more accepting of your body.

We all have the same 24 hours in a day. But some people use the available time they have more effectively than others.

Our host Thamina is juggling many responsibilities at the same time and suffers from severe productivity guilt. And yet she is actively prioritizing rest and sleep because she knows her body and mind can only take so much. When you know what time of the day you are most productive and what time is better invested in rest and leisure, you'll be able to work with a lot more focus and as a result, get more done.

The future of work has irrevocably changed due to the global pandemic. Many young professionals either moved in with their parents again or were hopping from one Airbnb to another, enjoying the freedom to work from anywhere. No matter your individual circumstances, most employees have come to appreciate the added flexibility working from home has afforded them.

This week, our host Thamina is joined by Sarah Aviram, Remote Work Thought Leader and Author of "Remotivation - The Remote Worker's Ultimate Guide to Life-Changing Fulfillment". Sarah has held Human Resources and Talent Development leadership roles within Fortune 500 consumer product organizations as well as in smaller, high-growth technology companies. She has also worked remotely from 12 different countries herself, and her experiences have provided her with insights into the challenges and opportunities for professional fulfillment faced by remote workers.

On this episode, Thamina and Sarah talk about misconceptions around remote work on both the employer and employee side and the six core "remotivators" Sarah has identified that drive your professional fulfillment.

Consulting, Finance, and Software Engineering are common fields that college graduates gravitate to post-graduation. And you can't really blame them considering the lucrative salaries and bonuses as well as the prestige that are usually attached to these jobs.

That being said, it's not for everyone.

On this week's episode, our host Thamina introduces us to her world of Tech Sales and shares with us why she believes a role in Sales at a global technology company is a great first career step for young professionals. Not only is the earning potential in this field high but Sales people also gain many invaluable insights into how business is being done. Thamina sheds some light on the most common Sales roles - such as Sales Development Representative, Account Executive, and Account Manager - and what each role is all about. If you are trying to get a foot into the door of tech or you simply haven't found your passion yet but are interested in the business side of things, Sales could be a great option for you.

Can you imagine a life where going blind or passing out regularly from excruciating pain is a frequent occurrence? Can you imagine sitting in work meetings while experiencing levels of pain that are comparable to the pain men experience during a heart attack?

When it comes to female health, women experience guilt, shame, and gaslighting every single day because we live in a society that is built for men. On this week's episode, we are joined by Lena Klein, Customer Success Manager at LinkedIn and endometriosis patient who bravely and vulnerably shares her horrific experiences with her disorder, from years of being undiagnosed to frightening challenges in her day-to-day life. Lena shares some invaluable tips for women who are facing similar health issues.

1 in 10 women suffer from endometriosis and it is one of the most common causes of infertility. We also talk about the stigma around menstruation and why we need to unlearn that and start having open conversations about the most natural parts of human life.

Do you sometimes experience imposter syndrome because you don't have any hard skills? Do you occasionally question whether you deserve to be where you are today?

Our host Thamina knows exactly what it means to be a generalist who used to think that her "soft" skills weren't valuable compared to her STEM friends' math and engineering talent. It took a few years of successfully working in business at a global tech companies to realize that she indeed has many valuable, transferrable skills that will serve her well throughout life.

On this episode, Thamina walks us through the benefits of being a generalists and what types of skills will be in high demand in the years to come.

Internalized limitations and belief systems can really hurt young women when it comes to owning their authentic narrative and creating a fulfilling life for themselves.

This week, our host Thamina is joined by Rebekah Bastian, Founder of OwnTrail, a peer-to-peer support system platform for women, to talk about how to embrace your authentic, non-linear life path. Rebekah herself fell into her first job out of college by accident and also refers to founding OwnTrail as "accidental entrepreneurship".

Rebekah's advice to young female professionals: Take inventory on which belief systems serve you and which aren't. Embrace uncertainty while also not shying away from having difficult and vulnerable conversations with yourself and those around you.

She believes that there is no one right path but the more we own our story and choices, the more progress we make. Set-backs and facing obstacles doesn't mean we're doing life wrong, it means we are human.

Creating your own path to success in your career takes a lot of hard work. It’s more than showing up, doing your job, and checking off the accomplishments expected of your role. If you want to blaze a trail and get the skills and experience you need to grow professionally, building your personal brand is essential for any young female professional.

On this week's solo episode Thamina shares her strategy to building a strong personal brand at work to attract new exciting opportunities and advance quickly. Spoiler alert: It all starts with nailing your core role.