She Is New to America Pro Podcast | Ep. 1 — Community, Team Dynamics & Finding Your Superpower ft. Azhar Imanakunova

Welcome to the very first episode of the She Is New to America Pro Podcast! 🎙️
Our host Luba Inz – COO, Business Systems & Growth Strategist, journalist at heart, and first-generation immigrant – sits down with Azhar Imanakunova, the founder of She Is New to America Pro, to open this new chapter together.
In this founding episode, Azhar shares the origin story of the community: from a single tweet that received 495 responses to a thriving space of 250+ ambitious immigrant women. Together, Azhar and Luba dive deep into team dynamics, self-discovery, leadership without a title, and how cultural backgrounds shape the way we communicate and grow in Corporate America.
Whether you're just starting your career journey in the U.S. or already at the C-suite level, this conversation will give you practical tools, honest stories, and a lot of inspiration.

⏱ TIMESTAMPS
00:00 — The origin story: why Azhar created She Is New to America Pro
05:07 — Why the podcast is in English: going global
07:07 — Mentorship, leadership program & taking up space without asking for permission
18:46 — Team dynamics: building teams around strengths, not just job descriptions
24:46 — The 16 Personalities test story
30:38 — How to discover your superpower
41:02 — How to transform a complacent team into a high-performer
51:03 — Luba's career journey: from marketing assistant to COO
56:27 — The "replace yourself" mindset
58:39 — How to self-advocate and negotiate without burning bridges
01:04:00 — Book rec: The Culture Map by Erin Meyer — a must-read for immigrant professionals
01:07:00 — Cultural differences in communication: Russian, Kazakh, and American styles

🔗 Connect with our community:
She Is New to America Pro — https://community.newtoamerica.pro/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-to-america-pro

📚 Mentioned in this episode:
The Culture Map — Erin Meyer
Radical Candor — Kim Scott
16Personalities test — https://www.16personalities.com
--
She Is New to America Pro is a community for immigrant women building careers in Corporate America. This podcast brings you real conversations, real stories, and real tools – so you can walk away stronger, clearer, and more confident in your own path.

The conversation delves into the expectations and beginnings of a community, exploring the concept of hypnosis and sharing personal stories. It then transitions into the journey of co-founders, the dynamics of partnership, and the impact of collaboration, concluding with a focus on shared vision and mutual growth. The conversation delves into the significance of community and its impact on personal and professional growth. It also explores the role of women's communities and the power they hold in shaping the future. The themes of community, professionalism, and personal growth are central to the discussion, highlighting the transformative influence of supportive networks and the pursuit of individual development.

Takeaways

• Community co-founding and partnership
• The power of storytelling and personal experiences Importance of Community
• Professionalism and Personal Growth

Chapters

• 00:00 Expectations and Community Beginnings
• 08:23 The Journey of Co-Founders
• 17:30 The Dynamics of Partnership
• 26:04 The Impact of Collaboration
• 36:02 Shared Vision and Mutual Growth
• 47:19 The Power of Community
• 01:07:37 The Role of Women's Communities