What happens when the career you've spent twenty years building becomes an identity you no longer want to wear?

In this episode of Hats On, Ruchika, a global brand builder turned entrepreneur, joins us for a deeply personal conversation about career identity, ambition, motherhood, entrepreneurship, risk, leadership and the invisible rules we inherit from our families.

Ruchika grew up Indian in Abu Dhabi, shaped by the story of her grandmother, who crossed the India-Pakistan border during Partition. From that experience came a family philosophy: work hard, be honest, value money and limit your risks. Ruchika followed that philosophy remarkably well.

She built a career with global brands travelled across markets, led teams and learned how to build brands people love. Then she became a mother and something changed and started a much bigger question: Who are you when nobody is giving you a title?

We talk about:

• Family, Partition and inherited attitudes toward risk
• Ambition and self-imposed pressure
• Leadership and career identity
• Motherhood and the reality of postpartum life
• What happens when professional success becomes part of your identity
• Leaving a senior corporate career for entrepreneurship
• Child development, toys and sustainability
• The pressure to constantly achieve
  

Ruchika is now building Little Jukey, a development-led and sustainable toy subscription brand planned for launch in London in December 2026.

Find out more: @thatlondonfounder, @littlejukeyDisclaimer: Guest's opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hats On! or its partners. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice.

What happens when the career you studied for isn't the path you're meant to follow? And when the world doesn't always have a clear place for all the parts of who you are?

In this episode, Coral talks about activism, identity, career reinvention, bisexual visibility, queer inclusion and the importance of learning to embrace every part of yourself.

Coral studied art history and began her professional life working in museums. But a growing concern about animal welfare eventually led her into activism—and ultimately into a career dedicated to creating social change.

She also shares what it means to be bisexual in a world where people often want to use simple categories, why bisexual people can experience a particular kind of invisibility, and what it feels like to have to explain your identity again and again.

In this episode:

• Career reinvention and finding meaningful work
• Animal rights and ethical activism
• Veganism and conscious choices
• Activist burnout and self-care
• LGBTQ+ inclusion and belonging
• Queer bachata and challenging gender roles

Ultimately, this is a conversation about belonging to a cause, to a community, to your body, and most importantly, to yourself. Because you don't have to choose just one version of who you are. You can wear them all.

Links to the Project 1882 and Queer Bachata are:

- https://share.google/qFKu75x5EPbmAi1hl

- @queer_bachata

Identity. Activism. Animal rights. LGBTQ+ inclusion. Burnout. Authenticity.

Disclaimer: Guest's opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hats On! or its partners. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice.

What does it take to build a career that spans science, global leadership and boardrooms, while staying true to your values?

In this episode, Heather shares how a career that began in the laboratory evolved into executive leadership, why curiosity has been her greatest career advantage, and the lessons she has learned about building influence, developing confidence and advocating for yourself.

In this episode:

• From scientist to global business leader
• Why curiosity is the ultimate career skill
• Building a "squiggly" career instead of a linear one
• Why women shouldn't wait to be noticed
• Sponsorship, networking and career growth
• Menopause at work: breaking the taboo
• Creating inclusive workplaces for women
• The difference between managing people and creating leaders
• Leadership lessons for the next generation

Whether you're building your career, leading a team, navigating menopause, or simply wondering what great leadership really looks like, this conversation is full of practical wisdom and timeless advice.

Because the best legacy a leader can leave isn't a title. It's the people they help grow.

Leadership. Women in STEM. Menopause. Career growth. Curiosity.

Disclaimer: Guest's opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hats On! or its partners. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice.

(Episode in Spanish) ¿Qué pasaría si un producto sencillo pudiera transformar no solo la salud de las mujeres, sino también su confianza, su educación, la sostenibilidad y las conversaciones que las familias tienen en casa?

En este episodio, Romina comparte cómo una idea simple se convirtió en un movimiento que ha ayudado a miles de mujeres a comprender mejor sus cuerpos, evitando al mismo tiempo la generación de unas 30.000 toneladas de residuos gracias a los productos menstruales reutilizables.

En este episodio:

• Crear un negocio con propósito
• Romper el estigma en torno a la menstruación
• Salud femenina y educación menstrual
• Sostenibilidad y reducción de residuos plásticos
• Innovación inclusiva para mujeres transgénero
• Liderazgo y empoderamiento femenino
• Por qué los negocios con propósito se fortalecen
• El poder de la comunidad frente a la competencia

Tanto si eres emprendedor, líder, educador o simplemente te apasiona generar un cambio positivo, esta conversación te recordará que las empresas más exitosas no se limitan a vender productos: transforman conversaciones. Y, a veces, cambiar una conversación cambia el mundo.

Descubre más sobre LifeCup aquí: https://lifecup.co/

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(ENG) What if one simple product could change not only women's health but also confidence, education, sustainability, and the conversations families have at home?

In this episode, Romina shares how a simple idea became a movement that has helped thousands of women better understand their bodies while preventing an estimated 30,000 tonnes of waste through reusable menstrual products.

In this episode:

• Building a purpose-driven business
• Breaking the stigma around menstruation
• Women's health and menstrual education
• Sustainability and reducing plastic waste
• Inclusive innovation for transgender women
• Female leadership and empowerment
• Why businesses with purpose become stronger
• The power of community over competition

Whether you're an entrepreneur, leader, educator or simply passionate about creating positive change, this conversation is a reminder that the most successful businesses don't just sell products. They change conversations. And sometimes, changing a conversation changes the world.

Find out more about LifeCup here: https://lifecup.co/Women's health. Menstrual health. Purpose-driven business. Sustainability. Female entrepreneurship.Disclaimer: Guest's opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hats On! or its partners. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice.

What if the best parts of your life were the ones you never planned?

A deeply honest conversation about following your curiosity even when it completely changes your life.

We explore why connection is at the heart of leadership, what motherhood taught her about resilience, why our closest relationships are our greatest teachers, and how making decisions from love rather than fear can transform the direction of our lives.

In this episode:

• Building a career around meaningful connections
• Starting a business after years in corporate leadership
• Entrepreneurship and lifelong learning
• Motherhood, divorce and personal growth
• Falling in love where you least expect it
• Reinvention at every stage of life
• Learning to embrace life's unexpected turns

Whether you're questioning your career, navigating change, building a business, or simply wondering if it's too late to start again, this conversation is a reminder that the most meaningful journeys rarely follow a straight line.

Find more about The Keynote Co: https://thekeynoteco.com/

Career reinvention. Motherhood. Entrepreneurship. Divorce. Unexpected love.

Disclaimer: Guest's opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hats On! or its partners. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice.

(Episode in Spanish) ¿Qué ocurre cuando un error acaba definiendo quién eres, al menos a los ojos de los demás?

En este episodio hablamos del peso del juicio, de la culpa, de la salud mental y de cómo una depresión puede hacerte sentir completamente desconectada de ti misma.

En este episodio hablamos de:

• El mundo del arte
• Vivir en una ciudad que no sientes tuya.
• Decidir no ser madre y romper expectativas.
• La depresión desde dentro, sin filtros.
• El peso del juicio y la culpa.
• Reconstruir la autoestima después de tocar fondo.

Si este episodio consigue que una sola persona se sienta menos sola, habrá merecido la pena. Porque pedir ayuda no es un signo de debilidad. Es el primer acto de valentía.

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(ENG) What happens when one difficult chapter begins to define your entire identity?

In this episode, we explore the reality of living with depression, the weight of guilt and shame, and how difficult it can be to ask for help when you feel you've lost yourself.

This conversation is about much more than mental illness. It's about becoming yourself again.In this episode:

• The art world
• Living in a city that doesn't feel as own anymore
• Choosing not to have children
• Living with depression and recognising the warning signs

• Why guilt and shame can keep us trapped
• The importance of therapy and asking for help

• Rebuilding confidence after difficult life experiences

If you've ever struggled with anxiety, depression, burnout, self-doubt, or simply felt disconnected from yourself, this episode is a reminder that healing is possible—and that asking for help is one of the bravest things we can do.

Mental health. Depression. Self-worth. Healing.Disclaimer: Guest's opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hats On! or its partners. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice.

What happens when you leave everything behind for love… and life doesn't unfold the way you imagined?

From navigating cultural differences and leaving behind a successful career, to an unexpected redundancy during maternity leave, postpartum loneliness, and rebuilding her confidence from scratch, Akshaya shares a story that will resonate with anyone who has ever had to start over.

But this isn't a story about setbacks.

It's a story about resilience.

About learning that asking for help is a strength, not a weakness. About choosing self-respect over self-pity. And about discovering that motherhood didn't make her smaller—it made her stronger.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Leaving India to build a life in Germany
• Postpartum loneliness and rebuilding from within
• Balancing motherhood, ambition and identity
• Letting go of people-pleasing
• The lessons she hopes to pass on to her daughter
• The invisible challenges of migration, balancing career and family far from home
• What it really takes to create a life between two cultures.

This is a conversation for every woman who has questioned herself, felt alone, or wondered if she was strong enough to begin again.

Disclaimer: Guest's opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hats On! or its partners. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice.

What happens when a university internship changes the course of your entire life?

At just 21 years old, Jennifer traveled to India and encountered a reality that challenged everything she thought she knew about poverty, opportunity, and her own future.

What followed was a decision that would reshape not only her career, but the lives of more than 31,000 people.

In this episode of Hats On, we talk to Jenifer, founder of Tierra Grata, a Colombian social enterprise bringing clean energy, safe water, sanitation, and opportunity to some of the country's most remote rural communities.

This conversation goes beyond impact metrics. Jennifer opens up about the realities of building a mission-driven organization from scratch, the challenges of being a young female founder, the pressure of carrying a purpose bigger than yourself, and the personal identity crisis that emerged when her mission became her entire life.

In this episode we cover:

• Building Tierra Grata with no blueprint and no guarantees
• Bringing water, energy and sanitation to rural Colombia
• Anxiety, burnout and rediscovering identity beyond the mission
• Being a young woman leading in challenging environments
• Learning to separate the founder from the person

This is a conversation about purpose, courage, resilience, and the belief that one person can help create change even without a perfect plan. And perhaps most importantly, it's a reminder to keep listening to your heart.

Find out more:

• https://tierragrata.org/en/socios-gratos-eng

Disclaimer: Guest's opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hats On! or its partners. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice.

What if the people closest to death had the most important lessons about life?

In this episode of Hats On!, we speak with Abigail, hospice nurse, author, educator, speaker, and creator of the movement "Die Better" on a conversation that is equal parts profound, practical, and unexpectedly uplifting.

For years, Abigail has sat beside people in their final days, listening to their fears, regrets, hopes, and reflections. Through thousands of end-of-life conversations, she has gained a rare perspective on what truly matters and what doesn't.

She shares her own experience navigating serious health challenges, the powerful connection between emotional and physical wellbeing, the importance of creativity for healing, and why women need to stop measuring their worth through constant productivity.

In this episode:

• What people regret most at the end of life
• Why talking about death helps us live better
• The connection between emotional and physical health
• Creativity, healing and reconnecting with yoursel
• Financial literacy as a tool for independency
• Moving from constant productivity to simply being

This is not a conversation about dying. It's a conversation about living more intentionally, loving more deeply, and remembering that our time is precious.

Because when we stop pretending life is endless, we often discover what truly matters.

Find out more about Die Better:

• https://www.nurseabigaild.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/nurseabigaild

Disclaimer: Guest's opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hats On! or its partners. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice.

What if people discover I'm not as capable as they think?

This second Deep Dive focuses on impostor syndrome.

This is not just a conversation about awareness. It's a practical session, where together, you'll work through three evidence-based exercises designed to help challenge the inner critic, recognise your achievements more accurately, and build a healthier relationship with your own success.

In this episode we cover:

• What impostor syndrome really is (and what it isn't)
• Why high-achieving women experience it so often
• The connection between belonging and self-doubt
• How perfectionism fuels impostor feelings
• Why confidence is often the result—not the starting point
• Three practical exercises you can start using today
  

If you've ever questioned whether you deserve your success, this episode is for you.

Because the goal isn't to eliminate self-doubt completely. The goal is to stop believing everything it tells you.

The 3 exercises are:

• The evidence file
• Inner critic cross examination
• Write 10 things you are proud of

Disclaimer: Guest's opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hats On! or its partners. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice.