Dr. Diane van Staden, a career pivot strategist and podcast host, shares her journey of lifting others and the power of storytelling. She believes that everyone has a purpose and a story that can influence and help others. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing the value in every life and the power of living out your story authentically. Dr. Van Staden also discusses the impact of mindset and the role of parents in shaping our beliefs about ourselves. She encourages individuals to reflect on their limiting mindsets, set goals, and chart a course to overcome obstacles and achieve success.

Takeaways

Everyone has a purpose and a story that can influence and help others.

Recognize the value in every life and the power of living out your story authentically.

Reflect on your limiting mindsets, set goals, and chart a course to overcome obstacles and achieve success.

The role of parents in shaping our beliefs about ourselves is significant.

Faith and mindset play a crucial role in overcoming societal limitations and achieving success. Recognize your own value and power, and pursue your passions with confidence.

Seek out role models and mentors who can inspire and guide you in your career.

Join supportive communities and access resources that can help you navigate a dynamic career path.

Separate your purpose from your job title and be open to evolving and shifting as opportunities arise.

Design your career around your purpose to create opportunities for impact and influence.

Believe in your dreams and put in the work to make them a reality.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

01:12 Lifting Others Up: The Power of Storytelling

04:01 Recognizing the Value in Every Life

08:09 The Role of Parents in Shaping Beliefs

15:45 Faith and Mindset: Overcoming Societal Limitations

26:17 Growing Up in Apartheid South Africa

30:04 Internal Monologue and Lessons Learned

37:37 Recognizing Your Value and Power

39:26 Finding Your Calling in Public Health

44:09 The Importance of Role Models and Mentorship

48:04 Designing Your Purposeful Career

57:43 Separating Purpose from Job Titles

01:07:05 Authoring a Book: Designing Your Purposeful Career

01:08:13 Speaking on International Stages

01:09:16 Believing in Your Dreams and Pursuing Them

In this engaging conversation, Dwayne Griffith, an advocate for entrepreneurs and the vice president of programs at Watson Institute, shares his insights on the challenges faced by Black entrepreneurs, particularly in the context of VC funding. He discusses the importance of understanding cultural contexts in entrepreneurship, the role of accelerators and investors in supporting underrepresented founders, and his personal journey from youth leadership to becoming a leader in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Dwayne also highlights the significance of Islandpreneur, an initiative aimed at supporting Caribbean entrepreneurs, and emphasizes the need for economic resilience in the Caribbean.

Chapters

In this episode, fashion expert Sophia Levina shares her inspiring journey from art direction to pursuing a master's degree. Discover how she navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty of online education. Learn about her unique approach to styling, considering body type, color type, and archetypes.

Join Sophia and Surayya as they discuss the vital role of designers in shaping culture and the importance of mental health. Explore the impact of depression and the gradual build-up over time. Discover why therapy and maintaining mental health are essential, just like physical health.

Sophia's personal story of overcoming depression and becoming a psychoanalytic business coach highlights the importance of understanding past experiences and childhood psychology in decision-making.

Learn more about Sofiya here: https://levinas.design/

Key takeaways:

Don't miss this insightful conversation on fashion, mental health, and personal growth.

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Career Choices During COVID-19

08:56 Transforming Personal Style Through Archetypes

30:03 Tips for Success in the Fashion and Styling Industry

38:17 The Power of Designers in Shaping Culture

39:41 Understanding Depression as a Gradual Build-Up

43:16 The Connection Between Creativity and Mental Health

46:03 The Role of Childhood Psychology in Decision-Making

01:01:45 Designing Your Life for Well-Being and Happiness

In Part 1 of this conversation, fashion expert ⁠Sophia Levina⁠ shares her inspiring journey from art direction to pursuing a master's degree. Discover how she navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty of online education. Learn about her unique approach to styling, considering body type, color type, and archetypes.

Join Sophia and Surayya as they discuss the vital role of designers in shaping culture and the importance of mental health. Explore the impact of depression and the gradual build-up over time. Discover why therapy and maintaining mental health are essential, just like physical health.

Sophia's personal story of overcoming depression and becoming a psychoanalytic business coach highlights the importance of understanding past experiences and childhood psychology in decision-making.

Key takeaways:

Don't miss this insightful conversation on fashion, mental health, and personal growth.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

2:45 Name For Everything You Are Doing

7:02 Less Is More For Outfits?

12:00 Stylish vs Trendy

23:09 Confidence With Dressing Well

25:07 Developing A Signature Look

29:23 Moment Of Realization

35:39 Finding Your Passion

45:38 Enrolling Into A Program

54:52 Hardest Part Of The Journey

In this conversation, Surayya and Ashley Fluellen discuss the challenges of balancing art and business, drawing parallels to Issa Rae's experiences in Hollywood. They explore the frustration of unkept promises in the industry and the need for artists to navigate the gray area between social change, business success, and artistic expression. They also discuss the disappointment of projects not panning out as expected and the importance of giving oneself grace and embracing imperfection.

The conversation highlights the responsibility of successful Black artists and creatives to give back, while also emphasizing the need for self-care and prioritizing one's own needs. Ashley Fluellen discusses her childhood artistic expressions and how it has influenced their current work. Ashley talks about her love for teaching and the challenges she faced in the American school system. She also shares her experience working in a hyper-capitalist company and how it went against her values.

Overall, Ashley talks about the challenges of balancing multiple roles and the importance of experimentation and finding one's unique path. Ashley envisions creating a supportive community and providing opportunities for artists and creatives of color.

About Today's Guest:

Ashley Fluellen helps leaders resist perfectionism by tapping into their creativity. She offers 1:1 creative coaching to clients that need help in executing their creative vision, and she hosts arts-focused professional development workshops for teams. Her goal through this work is to help others break away from the goal of finding the "right answer" by embracing the messiness of the creative process.

Chapters

In Part I of this extended conversation, Surayya interviews Titilope, the founder of Sisterly HQ, a digital platform for Nigerian women. They discuss the empowerment of Nigerian women, the rise of African female artists, and the societal backlash faced by women who openly embrace their sexuality. The conversation delves into the impact of patriarchy, misogyny, and religious influences on women in Nigeria.

The conversation delves into the experiences of women in a patriarchal society, the impact of feminism, and the role of women in Nigerian culture and music. It also explores the lack of representation and opportunities for women, as well as the challenges they face in breaking societal norms. The influence of family, mentors, and friends in shaping the speaker's perspective is evident throughout the discussion. The discussion also explores the role of social media in shaping personal identity and the challenges of maintaining connections in a digital age.

Follow Sisterly HQ's journey here: https://www.sisterlyhq.com/

Chapters

00:00 Impact of Patriarchy and Societal Backlash

49:54 Gender Bias and Corruption

59:30 Influence of Family and Upbringing on Career Choices

01:03:00 Navigating Societal Expectations and Career Decisions

01:13:22 The Role of Social Media in Personal Connections

In this conversation, Surayya interviews Crystal Da Cruz, the owner and founder of Box in Black, a high-end curating service that features black and brown-owned brands. They discuss the importance of the 15% Pledge, which calls for major retailers to dedicate 15% of their shelf space to black-owned businesses. Crystal shares her inspiration behind Box in Black and her goal to make it a leader in the gifting industry. She also talks about her love for luxury and her desire to create a platform for discovery and inclusivity.

Crystal Da Cruz shares her journey as an entrepreneur and the challenges she faced in pursuing her vision. She discusses the importance of recognizing the desire for more and challenging societal expectations. Crystal emphasizes the need to believe in one's personal worth and overcome feelings of inferiority. She also highlights the barriers faced by entrepreneurs from minority backgrounds and the importance of breaking into exclusive industries. The conversation concludes with a preview of Part Two, where Crystal will delve into the luxury industry and her experiences as a woman of color in entrepreneurship.

Follow Crystal's work here: https://boxedinblack.com/

Sustainable food entrepreneur Taylor Quinn joins Surayya to discuss his journey from shy Canadian kid to dynamic founder of Tailored Foods. They explore the importance of food in our lives, the challenges and opportunities of the food system, and Taylor's vision for a more sustainable future.

Learn how Taylor Quinn turned his passion for food into a thriving business dedicated to sustainability. In this episode, he shares insights on building a career you love, working across different cultures, and the future of the sustainable and global food industry.

Chapters:

Follow Taylor Quinn's work here: https://tailoredfood.org/

Zoey Zheng, a life coach and inspiration, discusses the importance of finding meaning and purpose in our careers. She highlights the lack of long-term vision and alignment of values as a major reason for the lack of meaning in work. Zoey emphasizes the need for a shift in leadership models to enable entrepreneurs to find their missions and build organizations that benefit society. She provides three strategies for infusing more purpose into our lives and careers: envisioning our ideal life, identifying what makes us feel alive and what makes us feel angry, and reflecting on our true desires. Zoey offers advice for aspiring life coaches, including the need for personal transformation, learning from coaching institutions, and practicing coaching skills.

You can follow and connect with Zoe's work here: https://www.zoeylifecoach.com/

Interested in telling your story on the podcast? Please visit us here: www.purposefulprofessional.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Zoey Zheng

09:55 Infusing Purpose into Life and Career

26:05 Discovering Your True Self Through Different Environments

35:17 Journey of Self-Discovery and Cultural Exchange

44:17 Challenges and Rewards of Being an Entrepreneur

56:24 Becoming a Life Coach: Personal Transformation and Skill Development

In this episode, Surayya interviews Jessica Gooding, a writer and civil rights advocate, about her journey and work in the civil rights field. They discuss the recent Supreme Court verdict on affirmative action and its impact on education. Jessica shares her perspective on the verdict and the loss of opportunities for marginalized students. They also discuss the importance of speaking up and using writing as a tool for advocacy.

Jessica reflects on her experiences of injustice as a biracial individual and growing up in Philadelphia, which shaped her career path and passion for social justice. She highlights the importance of representation and the challenges faced by marginalized communities. Jessica emphasizes the need for empathy and understanding in the legal field, particularly in cases involving wrongful convictions and police brutality. She also addresses the difficulties of balancing motherhood and a career, and the societal pressures placed on women.

Overall, Jessica's story is one of resilience, determination, and a commitment to changing the narrative.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

11:14 Advice for Students from Minoritized Backgrounds

29:54 Philadelphia's Influence on Career Path

38:26 The Impact of First Jobs

45:02 Transitioning to the Legal Field

52:05 Balancing Motherhood and Personal Goals

59:08 Challenging Societal Expectations

01:07:15 The Challenges of Civil Rights Law

Interested in telling your story on the podcast? Visit our website www.purposefulprofessional.com