In this final episode of Meaningful Work, Meaningful Life Season 10, I’m wrapping up the season by reflecting on the inspiring conversations with trailblazing leaders.

In Season 10, themed Leaders on a Mission, I brought to light the powerful stories of individuals who are redefining success and making tangible, positive impacts on the world.

From providing life-changing employment opportunities to ensuring accessible legal support for underrepresented founders, this season was full of lessons on purposeful leadership and social innovation.

Listen to Episode 124 of Meaningful Work, Meaningful Life to hear some of the most transformative conversations and discover the inspiration that Season 10 brought.

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Connect with Francine Beleyi, the host

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#MeaningfulWork #LeadersOnAMission #MWMLSeason10 #Entrepreneurship #Empowerment #Storytelling #Leadership #PurposeDriven

You may have heard the buzz about fractional CMO, fractional COO, fractional CEO lately, but what exactly does it mean—and why is everyone talking about it?

Imagine being able to control your work hours, choose your clients, and do more of what you love without being tied to a full-time executive role.

Fractional leadership is that game-changing opportunity, and in this episode 123 of Meaningful Work, Meaningful Life, and the final of Season 10, I sit down with Karina Mikhli, a leader in this Fractional space, to share her journey and expertise.

Four years ago, Karina couldn’t have imagined the impact she would create in the world of fractional leadership.

Her journey has led her to an unexpected but powerful reality. Karina had already built an impressive career in publishing and operations but found herself drawn to something different—something more flexible and aligned with her passion for optimising businesses.

She discovered fractional leadership, a role that allowed her to help companies scale without being confined to a traditional executive job.

But she didn’t stop there.

Karina saw a need for a supportive network for fractional leaders, and so she founded @Fractionals United, now a vibrant community of nearly 11,000 members!

Like many entrepreneurs, Karina faced challenges—navigating self-doubt, building a community from scratch, and balancing work with her creative outlets.

This conversation will inspire anyone who’s considering the leap into fractional leadership or looking for ways to make a meaningful impact in their career.

🔊 Ready to dive into the future of work and learn how Karina’s mission is reshaping leadership?

Listen to Episode 123 of Meaningful Work, Meaningful Life to hear more about Karina’s journey from being born in Ukraine, transitioning from a high school teacher to becoming a fractional COO.

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Connect with Francine Beleyi, the host

Connect with Karina Mikhli, the guest

• Website: https://www.karinamikhli.com/ | https://www.fractionalsunited.com/

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She made a powerful discovery that would change her life!

Ghita Zniber, venture capitalist and co-founder of Kalys Ventures realised that her true passion wasn't leading her own entrepreneurial journey but supporting others in theirs.

In this insightful episode 122 of Meaningful Work, Meaningful Life, Ghita shares her journey from a diverse educational background to becoming a key player in the African startup ecosystem.

She delves into her mission to support entrepreneurs, particularly in Africa, and the personal values that guide her in both life and work. 

Tune in to this episode to learn more about Ghita’s unique path to becoming a key player in the African startup ecosystem, how she’s helping startups to create meaningful impact and her advice for entrepreneurs to successfully pitch their businesses to investors.

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Connect with Francine Beleyi, the host

 Connect with Ghita Zniber, the guest

• Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kalys-ventures/

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#AfricanStartups #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #femalefounders

She took a bold leap when she realised: “If on paper everything is right and I’m still unhappy, something’s wrong.”

Today, that leap has turned her vision into reality.

Aravinda Seshadri graduated from Stanford Law School and became a partner at a boutique law firm. On the surface, her career seemed perfect. But she knew something was missing.

She craved more than just success—she wanted to make a meaningful impact. Aravinda believes that legal support shouldn’t be a luxury for startups, especially those founded by underrepresented and marginalized entrepreneurs.

In episode 121 of Meaningful Work, Meaningful Life, Aravinda Seshadri, Founding Partner of Venturous Counsel, shares her inspiring journey from Stanford to creating a unique law firm dedicated to supporting diverse founders in the tech industry.

We dive deep into her passion for social justice, the importance of diversity in startups, and practical advice for navigating the legal landscape as an entrepreneur.

Tune in to get inspired by Aravinda's story!

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Connect with Francine Beleyi, the host

 Connect with Aravinda Seshadri, the guest

• Website: https://www.venturouscounsel.com/

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Keywords: Aravinda Seshadri, Venturous Counsel, underrepresented founders, legal support, diversity in tech, startup law, venture capital, networking tips, intellectual property protection, mission-driven work.

#DiverseFounders #StartupLaw #VentureCapital #LegalAdvice

This is what’s missing in how we approach solving the world’s biggest challenges: A shift from individualism to something bigger—collaboration.

In this #120 episode of "Meaningful Work, Meaningful Life," I had the honour of speaking with Karim Sy, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Jokkolabs. With roots in Mali, Lebanon, and Senegal, Karim has spent his career fostering entrepreneurship and technological innovation across Africa.

Join us as we explore Karim's fascinating journey, his mission to drive social change through open-source technology, and his vision for a collaborative future in Africa's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

More info about the podcast 

Connect with Francine Beleyi, the host

Connect with Karim Sy, the guest

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karimsy/

What if the key to overcoming your greatest challenges isn’t your circumstances, but the stories you tell yourself? 🎙️

In episode 119 of Meaningful Work, Meaningful Life, I had the incredible opportunity to speak with Dr. Constance Scharff, a global leader in mental health research and the founder of The Human Resilience Project.

Tune in to learn about the profound impact of narratives on personal growth and healing.

More info about the podcast 

• Website: https://www.francinebeleyi.com/podcast/ 

Connect with Francine Beleyi, the host

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francinebeleyi/ 

 Connect with Dr. Constance Scharff, the guest

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cscharff

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How do you move from building a career to embracing your life’s true calling?

In episode 118 of Meaningful Work, Meaningful Life, I have an inspiring conversation with Olatokunbo Ige, a former international human rights lawyer turned social entrepreneur.

With over four decades of global experience, Olatokunbo reveals her powerful transition from the United Nations to founding initiatives like Livingstones Ecovillage and UTRADER.

Her journey is a testament to resilience, faith, and a deep commitment to community empowerment and sustainable development.

Join us as we uncover how Olatokunbo is pioneering meaningful, lasting change across Africa and beyond.

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Connect with Francine Beleyi, the host

 Connect with Olatokunbo Ige, the guest

• Website: https://thelivingstonesfamily.com/ecovillage/

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In this episode 117 of “Meaningful Work, Meaningful Life,” we explore the incredible journey of Matt Parfitt, Founder and CEO of Grace Enterprises.

Matt shares his transition from primary school teacher to social entrepreneur, detailing how his faith-driven mission has led to the creation of several successful social enterprises.

These businesses provide meaningful employment to individuals facing significant barriers, such as homelessness and addiction, while promoting sustainable and ethical business practices.

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Connect with Francine Beleyi, the host

 Connect with Matt Parfitt,  the guest

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When people think of virtual assistants, they rarely think of African talent

In this episode 116 of Meaningful Work, Meaningful Life, we sit down with Erefa Coker, the founder of IMÒ Interns, a groundbreaking platform that connects businesses worldwide with skilled, remote interns from Africa.

With a background in HR and a passion for creating economic opportunities, Erefa shares her journey, the challenges she’s faced, and her mission to empower young African talent.

We dive into how she built trust with international clients, the impact of remote work, and her vision for the future of global employment.

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Connect with Francine Beleyi, the host

 Connect with Erefa Cocker, the guest

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In this episode 115 of “Meaningful Work, Meaningful Life,” we kick off our season 10 “Leaders on a Mission” series with Christopher Marquis, Sinyi Professor at the University of Cambridge Judge School of Business and author of the book “The Profiteers: How Business Privatises Profits and Socialises Costs.”

Chris exposes the strategies companies use to shift environmental and societal costs while maximising profits for shareholders. He also highlights pioneering companies that are actively creating positive impacts, offering a roadmap for transformation.

Chris shares his personal journey, his inspiration from students, and insights into corporate sustainable responsibility.

If you're passionate about corporate sustainability, curious about how businesses can be a force for good or seeking inspiration to align your work with your values, this episode is a must-listen.

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 Connect with Francine Beleyi, the host

 Connect with Chris Marquis, the guest

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🎁Free Download: The Ultimate Guide to Building Trust, Profit & Making an Impact https://nucleusofchange.com/buildingtrust/