Futures in the Making

Is a career in tech driven by stability—or by a genuine calling?

In this episode of Futures in the Making, Alena Gladkova speaks with Nadia Damkovskaya about leaving tech, recognising burnout, and understanding whether your career still aligns with your health, values, and long-term goals.

They explore why so many people stay in tech despite the pressure, how hustle culture affects the body, and which questions can help you choose a more sustainable career path.

Chapters:
00:00 | In this episode
00:41 | Meet Nadia
01:11 | I quit my job
05:23 | Life after tech
13:07 | Money is power
18:34 | Burnout signs
24:13 | Your body knows
30:50 | Red flags to watch for
32:22 | Stress management
34:25 | Burnout recovery
40:05 | Bay Area hustle culture
45:59 | Try this to stay motivated
49:18 | Evaluating startup ideas
50:48 | Choosing a career path
52:03 | Questions to ask yourself

About Nadia Damkovskaya

Nadia is a serial entrepreneur who has spent the past 15 years building more than 100 projects across tech, event marketing, mental health, and wellbeing. After years of creating online mental health startups, she made the difficult but intentional decision to step away from tech and move into private practice, where she now works with clients one-on-one.

Guest: Nadia Damkovskaya
Instagram: @nadiadamkovskaya

Host: Alena Gladkova
LinkedIn: Helen Glad

Looking for top global talent in AI, ML, Gaming, or Web3?
Visit: https://kpeople.guru

Recruit the best talent for your company:
https://kpeople.guru/service/on-demand

#podcast #podcasting #podcastshow #burnout #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthadvocate #mentalhealthandwellbeing #mentalhealthsupport

We have more tools, more flexibility, and more ways to optimize our lives than ever before. Yet many ambitious people feel exhausted, anxious, and unable to switch off.

In this episode of Futures in the Making, Alena Gladkova speaks with Omar Shaker, MD, an Egyptian-American physician, writer, and Board-certified functional medicine practitioner. Together, they explore why productivity does not protect us from burnout, how chronic stress affects the body and our ability to make decisions, and where healthy ambition quietly turns into self-destruction.

They also discuss the vagus nerve, nervous system regulation, sleep, cortisol, HRV, longevity medicine, AI-related anxiety, cognitive overload, and the difference between being exhausted and becoming completely disengaged from your work.

Omar explains why working harder is rarely the answer, what high achievers often misunderstand about recovery, and how to build a more sustainable relationship with ambition without giving up the goals that matter to you.

In this episode:

00:00:00 | Why high achievers are burning out
00:00:49 | Meet Omar Shaker, MD
00:01:14 | Is hustle culture making us more stressed?
00:05:19 | What is the vagus nerve?
00:10:24 | How to manage anxiety and chronic stress
00:12:41 | How high achievers can avoid burnout
00:15:37 | Managing your health like a business
00:27:38 | HRV and the health metrics worth tracking
00:31:07 | Depression and why Omar left traditional medicine
00:35:54 | Chronic stress, cortisol, and why sleep is the foundation
00:44:37 | What longevity medicine gets wrong
00:51:35 | AI anxiety and cognitive overload
00:57:56 | What it means to become AI-native in 2026
00:59:30 | Stress-management techniques that actually help
01:03:32 | Weight-loss peptides and potential side effects
01:05:20 | Lifespan versus quality of life
01:06:54 | One habit that can change your health
01:09:11 | The biggest stress-management mistake
01:10:02 | Can you build a billion-dollar company without burning out?

About Omar Shaker

Omar Shaker is an Egyptian-American writer, medical doctor, and Board-certified functional medicine practitioner. He left traditional healthcare to build The Human Dash, a trauma-informed and data-driven support system for people working in high-intensity environments.

His work combines clinical data, behavioral change, Somatic Internal Family Systems, and practical tools designed to help people move through difficult periods and continue performing without sacrificing their long-term health.

Omar was named one of the HIMSS Future 50 and has spoken at HL7 and AHIMA.

Guest: Omar Shaker, MD
Connect with Omar on LinkedIn

Host: Alena Gladkova
Connect with Alena on LinkedIn

Looking for exceptional talent in AI, ML, Gaming, or Web3?
Learn more about KPeople
Recruit talent on demand

Inside the Mind of an AI Optimist | Marina Davidova

She lost herself completely. And she's not alone.

Marina Davidova is Co-founder and Managing Partner of DVC, a venture fund backed by 200+ operators from OpenAI, Google, Meta, Tesla, and Microsoft. Their portfolio includes Perplexity AI, Thinking Machines Lab, Higgsfield, and other companies reshaping the AI landscape.

On paper, she has everything. But for years, she couldn't tell you what she actually wanted.

In this conversation, Marina is honest about what ambition costs. What motherhood and career feel like when you're trying to do both. And what it took for her to find herself again.

This is the first episode after a break. It's for anyone who's doing everything and feeling nothing.

We talk about:

• The moment you realize you've lost yourself
• Why success can feel completely empty
• Motherhood, ambition, and knowing what you actually want
• What it takes to find your way back
• Building meaningful work and meaningful life
• The gap between who people think you are and who you actually are

Listen on: Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Find Marina:
LinkedIn: /msdavidova
Instagram: @msdavidova

Ever wondered how to start a podcast?

In this episode of Futures In The Making, we speak with Ksenia Pokrovskaya — a FAANG software engineer and podcast creator — who shares real insights from years inside a popular tech podcast.

This conversation goes beyond the surface and explores what podcasting actually looks like behind the scenes — from messy workflows to long-term growth and consistency.

⏱️ Timestamps:

• 00:00 — In this episode
• 00:20 — Meet Ksenia
• 00:46 — Podcast longevity secret
• 01:54 — Podcasting tips for beginners
• 02:46 — AI doing the work for podcasters
• 04:57 — Podcasting can be really messy
• 08:44 — Our favourite podcasting tip
• 11:16 — Podcast engagement rate
• 12:17 — Benefits of podcasting
• 15:17 — How to choose podcast topics
• 16:38 — Preparing for a podcast
• 18:43 — Podcasting backstage
• 19:55 — Being a woman in a male-dominated field
• 23:59 — Handling comments
• 25:12 — Dealing with haters
• 28:12 — Joining an established podcast
• 29:53 — FAANG restrictions
• 31:22 — From guest to podcaster
• 32:47 — Day in the life of a software engineer
• 34:47 — AI-proof jobs & future skills

👩‍💻 About the guest:

Ksenia is a software engineer with 8+ years of experience, including 4+ years in iOS development. She focuses on building products that are both technically strong and intuitive for users. Alongside engineering, she hosts a tech podcast where she shares insights on development, startups, and modern tech careers.

Her work helps make complex technical topics more accessible and supports engineers and creators in growing professionally.

🔗 Connect with Ksenia:

• LinkedIn: Ksenia Pokrovskaya
• Instagram: @ksenks

🎙️ Host: Alena Gladkova

• LinkedIn: Alena Gladkova
• Instagram: @glad.helen

🕵️‍♀️ About us:

We help companies hire top global talent in AI, ML, iGaming, and Web3.

• Website: https://kpeople.guru
• Recruiting services: On-demand recruiting

#podcast #podcasting #womenintech #techcareers #contentcreation #softwareengineering

🎙️ In this episode:
While some see LinkedIn as boring and mostly cringe, others become LinkedIn influencers and start getting brand partnerships. We explore what it really takes to grow on LinkedIn in 2026 — from personal branding and content creation to understanding what actually works for audience growth and B2B influence.

⏱️ Episode Timestamps:
00:00 | In this episode
00:34 | Meet Margo Laz
01:28 | LinkedIn VS other social media platforms
06:46 | What determines LinkedIn growth
07:45 | Become a LinkedIn influencer
09:50 | LinkedIn content strategy
12:50 | LinkedIn personal branding
17:13 | LinkedIn cringe is real
22:25 | LinkedIn marketing for business
27:31 | Top LinkedIn influencers right now
29:31 | ROI for LinkedIn B2B campaign
34:19 | What awaits the LinkedIn influencers
38:17 | How to spot paid content on LinkedIn
39:26 | One thing everyone hates about LinkedIn
40:58 | I wish I knew how to go viral on LinkedIn
42:06 | Quick Fire Round

🎧 Guest: Margo Laz
Margo is the founder of Kudos Narratives. She helps B2B tech companies collaborate with top LinkedIn creators and influential voices. Her entrepreneurial path started while still a student — from running an e-commerce design store to co-founding a coworking space that hosted 300+ events.

She later created major tech conferences such as EMERGE (supported by Microsoft, AWS, and Google), earned an MA in Storytelling & Experience Design in London, and consulted hyper-growth SaaS startups on influencer and content strategy. Margo has connected over 50,000 professionals in tech and creative sectors, spoken on TEDx, and been featured in Forbes and Sifted (by Financial Times).

🔗 Guest Links:
LinkedIn: Margo Laz

🎙️ Host: Alena Gladkova
LinkedIn: Helen Glad

🕵️‍♀️ My team hires top global talents in AI, ML, iGaming, and Web3 for your business: kpeople.guru

🚀 Boost your CV: Career Coaching
👥 Hire top tech talent fast: On-Demand Recruiting

⏱️ Episode Timestamps:

00:00 | In this episode

00:20 | Meet Elena Hawk

01:18 | How to spot a millionaire

02:14 | What car do rich people drive

04:26 | Personal finance for beginners

07:21 | Building an emergency fund

11:04 | Budgeting for beginners

13:07 | Subscriptions are the worst

16:55 | Personal finance 101

18:00 | Let's talk tax strategy

20:02 | Why pay for tax planning

22:50 | How to invest for beginners

25:52 | How to invest in stock market

28:39 | Index funds for beginners

34:07 | Take emotions out of personal finances

35:54 | How to become a millionaire

38:28 | What money management tips work

39:54 | Budgeting 101

42:33 | Money talk is crucial

44:25 | On a way to financial independence

50:16 | Cost of living Silicon Valley edition

55:30 | Quick Fire Round

🎙️ Guest: Elena Hawk

Elena is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, fractional CFO, and entrepreneur helping professionals and founders make confident financial decisions. She leads two financial firms focused on financial planning, investment management, and CFO advisory for startups and small businesses.

Her approach bridges personal and business finance, helping clients cut through noise, build systems, and gain control over their future. Elena’s work is rooted in clarity, strategy, and the belief that money should serve your goals — not the other way around.

🔗 LinkedIn: Elena Hawk

🎧 Host: Alena Gladkova

Alena is the Founder of Key People — a recruiting agency that helps companies hire top global talent in AI, ML, iGaming, and Web3 — and the host of Futures in the Making podcast.

🔗 LinkedIn: Helen Glad

📸 Instagram: @glad.helen

🕵️‍♀️ My team hires top global talents in AI, ML, iGaming, and Web3 for your business: kpeople.guru

🚀 Boost your CV: Career Coaching

👥 Hire top tech talent fast: On-Demand Recruiting

#podcast #podcasts #podcastshow #personalfinance #financialfreedom #financialplanning #budgeting #moneytalk #financialwellness #futuresinthemaking #leadership #finance

⏱️ Episode Timestamps:
00:00 | In this episode
00:21 | Meet Anastasia
01:30 | How to build a personal brand in 5 steps
03:13 | The crucial element of building a personal brand
07:19 | What is personal branding, and what are the risks
10:55 | Common mistakes in building a personal brand
12:45 | The WRONG WAY to start a personal brand
16:15 | What makes a strong personal brand in 2025
21:33 | How to build a profitable personal brand
23:07 | What if your personal brand changes over time
29:57 | LinkedIn profile tips from a social media expert
31:40 | Brand storytelling and content creation on Instagram
36:59 | Free Instagram content ideas
39:12 | Promote your business for free on social media
41:24 | Do THIS for social media growth
48:17 | AI is changing personal branding strategies

🎙️ Guest: Anastasia Zaitseva
As CCO at ZiMAD (290M+ downloads), Anastasia helps tech companies in gaming, SaaS, and AI simplify complex ideas and communicate clearly. She built a global communications system from scratch, leading a 15-person team across PR, brand, content, support, and community. Her efforts secured 450+ global media placements, millions of social media views, and consistent brand messaging.

Beyond ZiMAD, she’s advised 50+ startups (Seed to Series B) on storytelling, investor comms, and go-to-market strategy. She’s also a speaker, mentor for women founders, host of founder circles, and contributor to top industry platforms.

🔗 LinkedIn: Anastasia Zaitseva
📸 Instagram: @iamzaiceva

🎧 Host: Alena Gladkova
🔗 LinkedIn: Helen Glad
📸 Instagram: @glad.helen

🕵️‍♀️ My team hires top global talents in AI, ML, iGaming, and Web3 for your business: kpeople.guru

🚀 Boost your CV: Career Coaching
👥 Hire top tech talent fast: On-Demand Recruiting

#podcast #podcasts #podcasting #podcastshow #marketing #marketingdigital #marketinsights #personalbrand #personalbranding #personalbrandingexpert

Want to learn how to build a strong personal brand? This episode features Anastasia Zaitseva, Chief Communications Officer at ZiMAD. We talk about how to grow your personal brand on social media and what really works in 2025.

⏱️ Episode Timestamps:

00:00 | In this episode

00:21 | Meet Anastasia

01:30 | How to build a personal brand in 5 steps

03:13 | The crucial element of building a personal brand

07:19 | What is personal branding, and what are the risks

10:55 | Common mistakes in building a personal brand

12:45 | The WRONG WAY to start a personal brand

16:15 | What makes a strong personal brand in 2025

21:33 | How to build a profitable personal brand

23:07 | What if your personal brand changes over time

29:57 | LinkedIn profile tips from a social media expert

31:40 | Brand storytelling and content creation on Instagram

36:59 | Free Instagram content ideas

39:12 | Promote your business for free on social media

41:24 | Do THIS for social media growth

48:17 | AI is changing personal branding strategies

🎙️ Guest: Anastasia Zaitseva

As CCO at ZiMAD (290M+ downloads), Anastasia helps tech companies in gaming, SaaS, and AI simplify complex ideas and communicate clearly. She built a global communications system from scratch, leading a 15-person team across PR, brand, content, support, and community. Her efforts secured 450+ global media placements, millions of social media views, and consistent brand messaging.

Beyond ZiMAD, she’s advised 50+ startups (Seed to Series B) on storytelling, investor comms, and go-to-market strategy. She’s also a speaker, mentor for women founders, host of founder circles, and contributor to top industry platforms.

🔗 LinkedIn: Anastasia Zaitseva

📸 Instagram: @iamzaiceva

🎧 Host: Alena Gladkova

🔗 LinkedIn: Helen Glad

📸 Instagram: @glad.helen

🕵️‍♀️ My team hires top global talents in AI, ML, iGaming, and Web3 for your business: kpeople.guru

🚀 Boost your CV: Career Coaching

👥 Hire top tech talent fast: On-Demand Recruiting

#podcast #podcasts #podcasting #podcastshow #marketing #marketingdigital #marketinsights #personalbrand #personalbranding #personalbrandingexpert

What is augmented reality all about? This episode of 🎙️ The Futures In The Making Podcast explores the exciting world of AR with Anna Belova, who has built tools that enable anyone to create immersive AR experiences.

⏱️ Episode Timestamps:

00:00 | In this episode

00:23 | Meet Anna Belova

01:02 | What is augmented reality

01:57 | How augmented reality is used

04:39 | AR use cases in business

07:01 | AR experience for beginners

08:50 | Augmented reality education

15:30 | Best augmented reality glasses

21:52 | Virtual reality technology and AI

25:34 | AR technology limitations

28:04 | Forbes 30 under 30 list

34:03 | How Forbes 30 under 30 became a pipeline to prison

35:12 | How to raise capital: advice from Forbes 30 under 30 honorees

🎙️ Guest: Anna Belova

Anna is the CEO of DEVAR, leading a team of engineers, designers, and creators who build next-gen AR experiences for businesses and brands. With a Master of Arts and Human Science degree, she’s a recognized Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur making AR accessible to all.

LinkedIn: Anna Belova

🎧 Host: Alena Gladkova

LinkedIn: Helen Glad

🕵️‍♀️ My team hires top global talents in AI, ML, iGaming, and Web3 for your business: kpeople.guru

🚀 Boost your CV: Career Coaching

👥 Hire tech talent fast: On-Demand Recruiting

#podcast #podcasts #podcasting #podcastshow #augmentedreality #augmented #vr #vrglasses #arglasses #vrgaming #virtualreality #extendedreality #forbes #30under30

Why did Google Search traffic drop 20%? This episode unpacks how AI is changing the rules of the marketing game — and what it means for SEO, content creation, and the future of digital jobs.

⏱️ Episode Timestamps:
00:00 | In this episode
00:19 | Meet Dennis Lazard
00:58 | Why you need a YouTube channel for your business
03:52 | How is AI changing SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
07:45 | Is AI chatbot privacy compromised
11:20 | AI agent web VS human web
17:54 | Leave the boring jobs to AI
22:45 | How AI can help businesses drive results
24:06 | I analyzed 300+ data sources and THIS is what I found out
28:38 | Make SEO optimized blogs using AI tools sound authentic
32:28 | AI impact on jobs in marketing
35:17 | AI and jobs it will create
39:08 | Why write a book in 2025
44:46 | How to write a book with AI
47:21 | How to create a lead magnet

🎙️ Guest: Dennis Lazard
Dennis helps fund and scale SaaS, AI, and tech companies through international SEO, organic growth, and data-driven marketing strategies. With over 15 years of experience, he’s led teams across the UK, US, and Europe, and launched 7+ digital products across eCommerce, MarTech, AI, LegalTech, and more.

He’s the winner of the 2019 Best MarTech Startup in Central Europe (€50,000 prize) and holds certifications in Digital Marketing (OMCP), Advanced Analytics (SQL), and Product Management (SPOC).

LinkedIn: Dennis Lazard

🎧 Host: Alena Gladkova
LinkedIn: Helen Glad

🕵️‍♀️ My team hires top global talents in AI, ML, iGaming, and Web3 for your business:
kpeople.guru

🚀 Boost your CV: Career Coaching
👥 Hire global tech talent: On-Demand Recruiting

#podcast #podcasts #podcasting #podcastshow #marketing #marketingdigital #marketinsights #marketingautomation #SEO #AItools #contentmarketing