Redefining Ambition

After moving to Canada from Turkey and earning a Ph.D. in Finance in less than four years, Dr. Fatma Sonmez-Leopold has pursued her passion in higher education. Since then, she has inspired countless students to develop an interest in finance. Dr. Sonmez-Leopold opens up about challenges she encountered in her pursuit to earn her doctorate, the confidence gap she has witnessed in the classroom, and advice regarding ascending - and succeeding - in a field that has traditionally lacked diversity.

Business Chicks’ CEO Emma Isaacs discusses her new book WINGING IT and how, as a university dropout, she was able to create her first company at the age of 18, successfully manage a multi-million dollar firm that is home to over half a million women globally, raise six children and overcome fear: an obstacle that often holds people back.

Noora Raj Brown, SVP of Communications and Brand Marketing at goop.com, shares how she jumpstarted her career in the fashion industry and ultimately landed a job at a premier online lifestyle and media company. Noora discusses how she has been able to ascend in a competitive editorial world, differentiate herself, and maintain a positive outlook during the pandemic while offering advice she wishes she had given to her younger self.

Christine Broda, a User Researcher at Spotify, opens up about how she has battled imposter syndrome while working at one of the hottest tech companies on the market, a transformative life event that shaped her perspective on life and how she has found meaning and purpose during the pandemic.

Christine Broda, a User Researcher at Spotify, opens up about how she has battled imposter syndrome while working at one of the hottest tech companies on the market, a transformative life event that shaped her perspective on life and how she has found meaning and purpose during the pandemic.

Erin Sharoni, a researcher, entrepreneur, DJ and former TV host gets candid about challenges she’s confronted throughout this pandemic and her career, and details how she has achieved success across many different disciplines. After co-hosting shows on NBC News, Showtime Networks, and CBS Sports, she transitioned to biotechnology and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Biology from Harvard. Erin’s focus is concentrated around longevity, its connection to wider issues associated with biosphere integrity, and why she believes it’s “among the most critical action items on humanity’s list.”

Erin Sharoni, a researcher, entrepreneur, DJ and former TV host gets candid about challenges she’s confronted throughout this pandemic and her career, and details how she has achieved success across many different disciplines. After co-hosting shows on NBC News, Showtime Networks, and CBS Sports, she transitioned to biotechnology and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Biology from Harvard. Erin’s focus is concentrated around longevity, its connection to wider issues associated with biosphere integrity, and why she believes it’s “among the most critical action items on humanity’s list.”

The connotations associated with characterizing one as "ambitious" often exposes a clear gender divide: men are often perceived - and referred to as - driven and assertive, while women are "ambitious" and aggressive. Eric Black and Brian Morris - both recent graduates - join the conversation on the destigmatization of the word “ambitious” and share their perspectives on preconceived notions.

Suzie Reider holds one of the most powerful positions at Waze, the navigation app that most of us are very familiar with. She has served in various senior leadership capacities at Google (including serving as the Chief Marketing Officer at YouTube, which is owned by Google) and transitioned to Waze, where she serves as Global Managing Director. Prior to working in tech, Suzie spent most of her early professional life working in publishing. She’s a mom of two young adults who, like many of us, are trying to navigate these uncertain and challenging times.

In this episode, Suzie gets candid about leadership, gender inequality and methods in trying to maintain joy, job fulfillment, and both personal and professional responsibilities.

Bola Sokunbi turned her finance blogging hobby into a business and founded Clever Girl Finance, a platform that empowers and educates hundreds of thousands of women to make more strategic financial decisions. She’s a best-selling author, a money expert, a mom to twins and the leader of a community seeking to drive conversation forward on financial wellness.