Redefining Ambition

Arielle Patrick is the Chief Communications Officer at Ariel Investments, a global asset management firm and the first Black-owned mutual fund firm in the United States. After graduating from Princeton University, she began her career at the renowned PR firm Weber Shandwick, where she skyrocketed to a VP role in under 6 years. She was eventually recruited by its competitor, Edelman, and rose to an EVP before landing her current role. One of Arielle’s self-described “superpowers” is being a connector and developing meaningful relationships. In fact, her boss, Mellody Hobson, named by Forbes as one of the world’s most powerful women, offered her a job after years of a mentor/mentee relationship. In this episode, Arielle discusses what her relationship was to “success” in the early days of her career, shares ways she stays present and practices self-compassion - she frequently reminds herself that she is kind, powerful, and strong - relays tough leadership lessons she has learned, and offers advice she would give to her younger self. We originally recorded this episode in the summer of 2022, when Arielle had added another title to her name: “mom.” Nine months later, Arielle vulnerably reflects on how motherhood has enabled her to find new purpose, meaning in her work, and outlook on leading with compassion.

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About the host: Jamie Vinick is the Founder/CEO of The Women's Network (“TWN”), the largest collegiate women's networking organization in North America. To learn more about TWN, check out our website: www.thewomens.network.

This podcast was produced and edited by Max Onderdonk.

Sam Saperstein is the Managing Director/Head of Women on the Move at JPMorgan Chase and Host of the Women on the Move podcast. After beginning her career as a journalist, Sam quickly realized that she had other career interests and headed to Business school to make a change. Upon graduation, she held a number of leadership roles and rose through the ranks at McKinsey & Company, Mastercard, and, later, JPMorgan Chase. In this episode, Sam highlights the key differences between sponsorship and mentorship (and the importance of both), shares how her definition of success has evolved over time, and opens up about her full-circle moment.

"To me, ambition does not only mean getting to the top of something. Ambition might be having a well-balanced life, doing something that you really enjoy doing while also being able to do things outside of work like [having] a family or personal interests...that are just as important to you as work."

Laura Liswood is the Co-Founder and Secretary General of the Council of Women World Leaders, which is composed of women presidents, prime ministers, and heads of government, the author of multiple books, and an acclaimed speaker and advisor. The Council’s mission is to promote good governance and enhance the experience of democracy globally by increasing the number, effectiveness, and visibility of women who lead at the highest levels in their countries. Her latest book, “The Loudest Duck,” is a business guide that explores workplace diversity to offer an alternate, nuanced approach to diversity to create a truly effective workplace for all. In this episode, Liswood opens up about the inspiration behind the founding of the Council, the intersection between DEI initiatives and leadership (and how they function in tandem to create a more equitable work environment), and what makes her most optimistic about Generation Z.

Ola Wadibia is the Vice President and Financial Literacy and Community Development Lead of Women on the Move at JPMorgan Chase & Co. Throughout her career, including her time at Prosperity Now, a non-profit that champions economic opportunity for low-income individuals and families, Ola's work focused on advancing financial stability and literacy, and gender and racial equity. In this episode, Ola, who "always uses gender, race, and class as a lens by which [she sees] the world," opens up about the importance of financial empowerment, especially for women and communities of color, setting boundaries, combating tunnel vision, and finding what sparks joy.

Find us on Instagram: @redefiningambition and @thewomens.network!

Michèle Penzer is a Managing Partner at the renowned New York City-based law firm Latham & Watkins. After attending Harvard University for her undergraduate degree and Yale University for law school, Penzer forged an impressive career in negotiation law and leveraged financial transactions, and was named as a leading woman lawyer in New York City by Crain’s Business in 2017. In this episode, Penzer imparts advice on facilitating successful negotiations, opens up about how she harnessed confidence in high-pressure professional environments, shares how her definition of success has evolved over time, and highlights that “it is so important for women to recognize” the significance of networking.

Dena Wimette is the Head of Innovation at Ben & Jerry's, the multi-million dollar, socially responsible ice cream staple that has championed causes ranging from climate activism to criminal justice reform. Wimette has spent over 15 years with the company, working in brand management and communications before becoming the driving force behind “all the new things” for the brand, as she puts it. She also teaches marketing part-time at Champlain College and manages a coffee brand and digital marketing service, both of which she founded with her husband. In this episode, Wimette peels back the curtain as to what the Ben & Jerry’s creative process is like (from celebrity collaborations to the ice cream “Flavor Lab”), shares how she exercises her creativity “muscle” beyond ice cream innovation, and explains the importance she placed on working with a company that “stood for more than the products.”

Dr. Ellen Censky, Ph.D. is the President and CEO of the Milwaukee Public Museum: Wisconsin’s Museum of Natural History. An acclaimed biologist, author of several books, and pioneer of the internationally-adopted BioBlitz program – which allows scientists to collaborate with communities to discover ecosystems “right in [their] own backyard” – Dr. Censky has forged an indelible scientific legacy. In this episode, Censky discusses how the BioBlitz program inspired young scientists to pursue interest in the field, shares entertaining anecdotes which were just “part of the job” while conducting research in the Caribbean Island of Anguilla, and emphasizes the importance of keeping an open mind and maintaining curiosity about our “amazing planet.”

Brittney Cummins, a Consultant at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and former mechanical engineer, and Megan Duley, a Major in the United States Army Reserve and entrepreneur, set off on two completely different tracks before crossing paths at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. After spending years working in the energy sector (Brittney) and serving in special operations, communications, and intelligence units (Megan), they re-evaluated their career choices and decided to pivot, ultimately meeting in business school. In this second episode of a two part conversation, Brittney and Megan share the value they have found in stepping outside of their comfort zones, reflect on how their own definitions of success have evolved - which include the “celebration of others’ success” and “leading with humility” - and emphasize the importance of surrounding yourself with people that “share your values but have lived a different life.”

Dr. Adaira Landry is an Emergency Medicine physician, Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School, consultant, and published author. An advocate for greater diversity in medicine, Dr. Landry avoids the “toxic concept” of achieving perfection and, instead, uses self-compassion to navigate her packed schedule. Dr. Landry penned a viral article published in Vogue titled “One ER Doctor Reflects on a Career of Being the Only Black Person in the Room,” that ignited powerful conversation on the importance of representation in medicine and beyond. In this episode, Dr. Landry imparts valuable advice on how self-reflection can inform meaningful mentorship, discusses challenges and disparities she has encountered as a woman of color in the medical field, highlights why she does not identify with the term ‘imposter syndrome,’ and shares how she “owns her day” by blocking off time for herself.