Dr. Jade Singleton is a former investment banker turned DEI strategist, researcher, and founder of the IKONI Collective, a wellness collective devoted to centering and sustaining Black women.

One of Jade’s most powerful takeaways:

“We don’t just need rest like Eat, Pray, Love. We need rest for survival.”

Don’t miss her Kickstarter campaign for the Ninety-Two documentary, a film centered on beauty, inspiration, and radical healing.

Connect with Dr. Jade Singleton on LinkedIn and learn more at https://www.ikoni.org/

In this episode of Lift Up Connections, Christine sits down with Melissa Appel, product leader, author of Aligned: Stakeholder Management for Product Leaders, and a longtime supporter of women forging their own paths in tech and life. Christine and Melissa first connected as mothers navigating demanding careers, and their relationship has evolved through shared vulnerability, values, and vision.

"Being in a safe space with like-minded women was key to me believing in myself."

Tune in to hear Melissa’s perspective on career growth, self-advocacy, and why letting go of conventional definitions of success is sometimes the boldest move a leader can make.

This week, I’m doing something a little different. I am the one in the interview seat.

In this personal episode, Kyle and I explore how my two-decade UX consulting career laid the groundwork for Lift Up Connections to support mid- and senior-level women at career and life inflection points.

We also get raw and real about self-worth, resilience, and the messy middle moments that often spark our greatest growth. If you are navigating career questions, wondering how to balance your zone of genius with what lights you up, or just need some honest company on the path, this one’s for you.

In this episode, Christine Perfetti chats with Shanae Chapman, founder of Nerdy Diva, civic tech leader, AI innovator, and advocate for inclusive design and equity in tech.

Shanae shares her journey from growing up in North St. Louis to building an impressive career in public service, UX, and entrepreneurship.

Christine and Shanae discuss the power of role models and mentors, and how Shanae's navigating challenging industry shifts with resilience. Shanae shares why she built Mocha Mama, an AI tool designed to support maternal health for black women and how she’s pushing for equity through human-centered innovation.

Interview Highlights:

Resources and Links:

Nerdy Diva

Mocha Mama on ChatGPT

Shanae on LinkedIn

Christine interviews Catherine Norman, a renowned counselor, about managing the inner critic, one of the most common challenges facing women in business and tech.

Catherine breaks down why our brains have a negativity bias and explores how inner critics develop at different ages throughout our lives: from the emotional 5-year-old who experiences all-or-nothing thinking to the logical but rigid teenager who sees only black and white outcomes.

The conversation includes the "facts versus assumptions" exercise, strategies for talking to the different inner voices, and the importance of recognizing that many successful paths exist rather than falling into perfectionist thinking. Catherine also addresses how to navigate career uncertainty.

"Being able to notice that voice for what it is... Being able to say, 'Hey, I noticed you,' or, 'Hey, that's my negative thinking again'. That is the most powerful tool here inside your own brain. If you notice that, then that gives you the options to do something about it."

- Catherine Norman, Counselor and Therapist

In this episode, Christine chats with Marli Mesibov, the Content Strategy Director at Verily, an Alphabet company, to explore her journey from theater stage manager to content strategy leader in health tech.

Marli opens up about the twists and turns her career has taken, the creative roots of her UX strategy and content design work, and the intentional choices that helped her redefine success.

Marli shares how her background in theater sharpened her ability to organize ideas and tell stories, how she found her way into UX through curiosity and serendipity, and the lessons learned about speaking up as a woman in tech. 

“You don’t need to know what you want to do. You just need to know what you want to do next.”

Whether you’re exploring your next move, carving out your voice, or trying to claim more space in your career, this conversation will leave you feeling seen and inspired.

Resources:

Lean In

Verily

Lift Up Connections

"You will never have more of what you want until you want what you already have.” 

Christine Perfetti chats with Malaika Simmons, TEDx speaker, founder of Momentology Media, and creator of the Momentology™ Method to explore what it means to live with intention, purpose, and authenticity.

In this episode of Lift Up Connections, Christine sits down with Amanda Stockwell, a longtime UX consultant, Duke University professor, and co-founder of The List, a nonprofit connecting university students to startups.

We explore what it means to take big and brave career steps without knowing exactly where you will land. Amanda shares how she transitioned from corporate roles to consulting, then into teaching and nonprofit leadership. Each time, Amanda was driven by intuition, connection, and a desire to do meaningful work.

Christine and Amanda discuss:

Whether you're figuring out your next act or feeling stuck in between, Amanda offers a grounded and optimistic look at how to keep going. And why you don’t need to have it all figured out to start!

Tamara Adlin is a pioneer in the UX and product world who is widely known for her groundbreaking work on personas and her talent for speaking truthfully about the team and personal dynamics that shape and sometimes derail our work.

Tamara's the co-author of The Persona Lifecycle, a longtime independent consultant, and the host of the new podcast, Corporate Underpants.

In our conversation, Tamara and I talk about the messy middle of our careers, including the grief of letting go of who we once were professionally, the courage to try something new, and the feelings associated with reinvention.

We get real about aging in tech, why women need to talk about money more openly, and how communities, including Never Search Alone and Lift Up Connections are providing support in uncertain times.

Resources:

🎧 Learn more about Tamara’s work at Adlin Inc. and Corporate Underpants

💡 Never Search Alone — Phyl Terry's free job search support community 

In this personal and raw episode, Christine sits down with Alla Weinberg, a design leader and expert in psychological safety, to talk about trauma, something we don’t often talk about at work.

Christine and Alla discuss the trauma many of us carry without realizing it until something cracks open, such as becoming a parent, leaving a toxic workplace, or a relationship ending. Alla shares her own story of discovering her trauma after the birth of her son, and how that realization influenced her purpose, work, and understanding of what it means to show up authentically.

If you are experiencing burnout, feeling disconnected, or questioning the systems you are operating in, this conversation is a great reminder that you are not alone. Healing doesn’t have to happen in isolation. There is a way forward that starts with compassion for ourselves.

Connect with Alla on LinkedIn: Alla Weinberg

Sign up for Alla's trauma healing session