SHIFT HAPPENS

Dr. Christina Enzmann, a gynecologist in Baltimore, MD, former assistant professor and book author, describes her own experience navigating peri-menopause and menopause, including intense physical symptoms, relationship changes, and the need to take a more proactive, integrative approach to her health. She emphasizes the importance of addressing root causes rather than just treating symptoms.

Christina’s shift started with the transition from a busy academic role in medicine at the University of Maryland to pursuing a more integrative, functional medicine approach. She discusses feeling burnt out, wanting more work-life balance, and not feeling fulfilled on her then position.

Claudia and Christina discuss the significant lack of research, funding, and understanding around women’s health issues, especially during menopause. They note that many women feel unsupported and dismissed by the traditional medical system.

Christina discusses the benefits of integrative and functional medicine, including addressing nutrition, sleep, movement, and mindset. She contrasts this with the more data-driven, symptom-focused approach of traditional medicine, which she feels often fails to provide women with the deeper understanding and personalized care they need.

Claudia and Christina acknowledge the overwhelming amount of often contradictory self-care information available, especially on social media. They emphasize the importance of finding trusted, qualified sources and not getting caught up in the noise of marketing and unsubstantiated claims.

Christina shares her personal strategies for managing stress and maintaining energy, including spending time in nature, going for walks, and using adaptogenic supplements. She underlines the importance of listening to your body’s needs and not pushing too hard. 

Instagram: Dr. Christina Enzmann

Website: Dr. Christina Enzmann

Book: Somebody Told Me (in German), co-author Dr. Christina Enzmann and Susanne Liedtke

To learn more about SHIFT HAPPENS, click here

 To learn more about Claudia's business Curated Conversations and her Salons in New York, Zurich and Berlin, click here

You can also connect with Claudia on Instagram @shifthappens.podcast and LinkedIn at ClaudiaMahlerNYC

This podcast is created, produced and hosted by Claudia Mahler.

Social Media support Magdalena Reckendrees

Ayanna Taylor, the Chief of Staff of GirlTrek, America's largest public health movement for Black women and girls, discusses her upbringing by a single immigrant mother from Jamaica, and how her mother’s sacrifices and actions to provide for her, shaped Ayanna’s understanding of love as an active commitment rather than just a feeling. Ayanna also shares how the loss of her father at a young age taught her not to take time for granted.

She describes, how becoming a stepmom to her husband’s two children, and then having her sown son, were pivotal moments, that shifter her perspective from just focusing on herself to prioritising the needs of her new family.

We talk about GirlTREK. Ayanna explains that she leads the largest Black women’s health movement in the US. GirlTREK encourages women to walk 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, and provides culturally-relevant programming and community engagement to keep them motivated and connected. 

Ayanna’s reflects on her career journey and the influence of her experiences. She shares how her early aspirations to be in an encyclopedia later translated in being someone who is there and committed to people. This evolved through her career as a teacher, textbook publisher, and education consultant. She sees how her diverse career path has equipped her for her current role as Chief of Staff, and how her personal experiences have shaped her approach to leadership and service to community.

Ayanna discusses her personal strategies for relaxation and rejuvenation, including her daily walking routine, solo quiet time, and the energising effect of travel, and exploring new ideas through books and podcasts.

To learn more about today's guest, please visit:

Instagram: GirlTREK

LinkedIN: Ayanna Taylor

Website: Access Educational Advisors

To learn more about SHIFT HAPPENS, click here

 To learn more about Claudia's business Curated Conversations and her Salons in New York, Zurich and Berlin, click here

You can also connect with Claudia on Instagram @shifthappens.podcast and LinkedIn at ClaudiaMahlerNYC

This podcast is created, produced and hosted by Claudia Mahler.

Social Media support Magdalena Reckendrees

Sophia discusses her background in the corporate world, including roles in management consulting, a hedge fund, and consumer companies. She explains that she never really aspired to be an entrepreneur, but was inspired to start Oddball after becoming frustrated with "catfish foods" - highly processed products masquerading as healthy.

Also, seeing more diverse role models in entrepreneurship gave her the courage to make the leap. When she was younger, she did not see female founders that "looked like her". So in the beginning of her career, the thought of starting up on your own was too daunting. We are also talking about the importance of meaningful work, making a difference in the world and meaningful relationships. Sophia explains that as she has grown, she has learned to rely on different friends for different needs, rather than expecting one person to fulfill all her needs.

She openly shares her challenges with stress and anxiety, and finding ways to truly relax and recharge. She finds solace in activities like travel, exercise, and discovering new, beautifully curated spaces. Connecting with other entrepreneurs also helps provide perspective and motivation when she struggles.

Sophia started Oddball to create a healthy, minimally processed snack inspired by how ate growing up in Hong Kong and Singapore: balanced and whole food-based eating. The goal is to bring bach the fun and joy into snacking, without the guilt or pressure associated with many health foods today.

Sophia is gearing up for a nationwide launch by the fall and discusses the lengthy prosedd of perfecting the product formulating and building out the team and supply chain to support the larger launch.

Follow and learn more about my guest today:

Instagram: Sophia Cheng 

LinkedIN: Sophia Cheng

Instagram: Oddball World

Website: Oddball World

To learn more about SHIFT HAPPENS, click here

 To learn more about Claudia's business Curated Conversations and her Salons in New York, Zurich and Berlin, click here

You can also connect with Claudia on Instagram @shifthappens.podcast and LinkedIn at ClaudiaMahlerNYC

This podcast is created, produced and hosted by Claudia Mahler.

Social Media support Magdalena Reckendrees

Edwina describes how she started her career at a technology consulting firm called CACI, where she discovered her passion for data analysis and understanding customer behaviour. This led to her groundbreaking work with Tesco, where she helped them launch one of the first successful customer loyalty programs by leveraging customer transaction data.

After her success in the corporate world, Edwina became frustrated by the lack of visible female role models, which inspired her to start the Female Lead, as educational charity focused on highlighting the achievements of contemporary women, She discusses the importance of providing young women with inspiring examples of what they can accomplish.

Edwina reflects on the male-dominated environments she navigated throughout her career, and how she overcame the challenges of being the only women in the room. She discusses the need for businesses and leader to better understand the diverse and evolving needs of women as consumers and employees.

Edwina and Claudia discuss the power of combining personal stories with data-driven insights to drive change for women. They emphasize the importance of women finding common ground and speaking with a unified voice to advocate for their needs and create meaningful progress.

Edwina shares how she finds fulfilment and motivation in her work, including through reading and connecting with inspiring people, and enjoying simple pleasures like gardening. She discusses her latest book "When She's in the Room" and her goal of helping people discover their unique "fulfilment personas" through the Fulfilment Finder Tool.

Follow and learn more about my guest today:

Instagram: The Female Lead

LinkedIN: Edwina Dunn

Website: Edwina Dunn

To learn more about SHIFT HAPPENS, click here

 To learn more about Claudia's business Curated Conversations and her Salons in New York, Zurich and Berlin, click here

You can also connect with Claudia on Instagram @shifthappens.podcast and LinkedIn at ClaudiaMahlerNYC

This podcast is created, produced and hosted by Claudia Mahler.

Social Media support Magdalena Reckendrees

Tanvi shares her pivotal moment of when she started her first organization in India at the age of 19. It is called Becoming I Foundation and began as a platform for young people to connect with community development. The inspiration to start it came from frustration with what was happening around her, and having gone through a breakup that made her feel very small, she needed something to uplift her from that.

This shift was so meaningful and a turning point because other then the intellectual experience of starting something, the emotional experience of starting something at that age that eventually became a young people's movement, was a unique growing experience. It gave Tanvi the confidence to try something she had never done before, enter rooms and make important asks, and lead people to action on things they are about. That moment lead the path for her career today, who she is and how she sees the world.

Tanvi Girotra is an advisor and coach to global purpose-driven organizations and leaders. She has worked with numerous social, business and political leaders, helping them reflect on both the head and the heart of their own leadership and solve adaptive challenges in order to lead better, more equitable organizations. 

Tanvi holds a Masters in Public Policy from the Harvard University where she frequently returns to teach and coach student programs and fellowships on values-based leadership and storytelling. She calls New York and New Delhi home.

Prior to starting her advisory practice 'Enable', Tanvi was an entrepreneur building new organizations, movements and campaigns in India to create solutions for systemic challenges in the education system. Through authentically moving and empowering people for large-scale change, she created a volunteer movement of young people that still continues to train young leaders for purposeful problem-solving. She is a National Advisor at GirlTrek - America’s largest health movement focused on black women and their leadership. A Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award recipient, she is the Vice Chair, Board of Directors for Fora Network for Change that is a center for excellence for women’s leadership. She has won various awards for Justice, Empowerment and Citizen Action and her work has been recognized at the UN. Tanvi is a public speaker and has been invited to speak at the World Economic Forum, UN ECOSOC, UN WOMEN, European Union Development Days, the Clinton Global Initiative and at various TEDx conferences, alongside heads of state, social and business leaders.

Follow and learn more about my guest today:

Instagram: Tanvi Girotra

LinkedIN: Tanvi Girotra

To learn more about SHIFT HAPPENS, click here

 To learn more about Claudia's business Curated Conversations and her Salons in New York, Zurich and Berlin, click here

You can also connect with Claudia on Instagram @shifthappens.podcast and LinkedIn at ClaudiaMahlerNYC

This podcast is created, produced and hosted by Claudia Mahler.

Social Media support Magdalena Reckendrees

 

Anna Believantseva, Co-founder & COO at Esper Bionics, shares a transformative moment she and her team experienced at their office, when they were setting up the first bionic hands for their users. One of the users, Nika, was born without a hand and had never experienced grasping something with both hands. The first time she used the bionic hand to hold something, it was profoundly moving, not just for her but for all  witnessing it. The emotional impact of that moment, seeing her reaction, her tears of joy and accomplishment, was unforgettable and deeply impactful.

It was such a meaningful moment because it encapsulated the essence of Anna's work's impact on real lives. It brought to light the profound difference technology can make, offering something fundamentally life-changing to someone who never thought it possible. It was a poignant reminder of the human side of technological advancements.

From this, Anna learned the value of empathy and the emotional connection in her and her team's work. All the years dedicated to refining their product, overcoming obstacles, enduring late nights, and working through countless weekends – all these efforts are validated in the feedback they have witness firsthand. This experience has reinforced the importance of perseverance and the motivation to continue innovating for the sake of transformative impacts on lives.

Anna efficiently transforms tech concepts into practical operational plans. She has over eight years of leading experience in operations management, managing teams, finance and legal processes for three international startups. 

At 29, Anna was listed in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in North America. For over 1,5 years she leads WTech New York Chapter, advocating for women in hardware tech sectors.

At Esper Bionics, Anna focuses on streamlining team functions and strategies, enhancing market analysis and secures U.S. partners.

Guided by the philosophy to "make things done", Anna’s current focus at Esper Bionics is on enhancing team efficiency and maintaining sharp focus. She ensures that tasks are executed effectively and innovative solutions are consistently delivered.

Follow and learn more about my guest today:

Websites: Esper Bionics

LinkedIN: Anna Believantseva

To learn more about SHIFT HAPPENS, click here

 To learn more about Claudia's business Curated Conversations and her Salons in New York, Zurich and Berlin, click here

You can also connect with Claudia on Instagram @shifthappens.podcast and LinkedIn at ClaudiaMahlerNYC

This podcast is created, produced and hosted by Claudia Mahler.

Social Media support Magdalena Reckendrees

Nearly two decades ago, while swimming in the Aegean Sea, Yasmine encountered a distressing sight: plastic waste clinging to rocks. This observation marked a turning point in her life. Over the years, the situation worsened, with more plastics dumped into the oceans, often with poorer countries being paid by the Western world to accept this waste. This realisation struck a chord with her, especially since she has always had a passion for materials in her roles as a designer and architect.

It was then that her interest in sustainable materials took root. She dedicated her time and that of her team to researching and experimenting with recycled materials and various sustainable alternatives from around the globe. Yasmine's ambition is about demonstrating tangible, viable design and architectural solutions that avoid environmentally harmful materials like plastics and concrete, the latter of which accounts for a significant portion of global CO2 emissions.

Today, she and her team have amassed a library of over 300 sustainable materials. Gradually, they started incorporating these into their projects, and it's only in recent years that the demand for sustainable options has surged. Yet, the battle against greenwashing persists. Yasmine is committed to demonstrating that sustainable decisions not only benefit the environment but can also enhance financial returns, contrary to common misconceptions. Her mission is to change the way we build by utilising alternative materials that are not only environmentally friendly but also aesthetically pleasing. This journey began with a single, transformative moment in the Aegean Sea, and it has propelled her to advocate for a more sustainable future in design and architecture.

This meaningful moment extends beyond her personal realisation and into her broader mission to mobilize others towards sustainability. Her involvement in global discussions on sustainability, such as those at COP28 and during the World Economic Forum, has provided her with a platform to share her experiences and advocate for the adoption of sustainable materials. These talks are an integral part of her effort to not only showcase the environmental benefits of such materials but also to highlight their positive impact on our health. This awakening drove me to explore beyond traditional material research into the realm of 3D printing, specifically with recycled plastics, leading to global recognition and opportunities to exhibit her work at prestigious venues like Design Miami in Basel, the Venice Architecture Biennale, and the London Design Festival. 

Follow and learn more about my guest today:

Websites: Impact Design & www.mahmoudieh.com

Instagram: Yasmine Mahmoudieh

LinkedIN: Yasmine Mahmoudieh

To learn more about SHIFT HAPPENS, click here

 To learn more about Claudia's business Curated Conversations and her Salons in New York, Zurich and Berlin, click here

You can also connect with Claudia on Instagram @shifthappens.podcast and LinkedIn at ClaudiaMahlerNYC

This podcast is created, produced and hosted by Claudia Mahler.

Social Media support Magdalena Reckendrees

In January of 2011 , Yrthya started a new position as the very first Chief Diversity Officer for New York State. This was a huge shift from her previous role at Toyota. Here, she found myself securing the most exciting job she'd never thought she'd get. It was a big role, with lots of potential, great responsibility in an administration that, at that moment in time, was going to transform the way NY State government.

Inspite of saying yes to the role with excitement and lightness, she immediately started suffering from that now well documented phenomenon of “impostor syndrome.” She took the role and 2 days later learned that she was pregnant. She was so worried that she wouldn’t be able to balance it all, do her best and handle the stress.

The job was demanding in and of itself, but doing it while being a first-time mom made it exponentially harder. Yrthya dealt with the pressures of serving in public office, a toxic, male dominated work environment and the incredibly loaded and unfair demands placed on mothers in our society. 

She does not want to diminish how difficult and hard it was. But, it was also such a unique moment to test her metal, if you will, to emerge much stronger, wiser and kinder.

It was a moment, a time period, that taught her so much about herself, about her potential and about developing personal vision. It was a step that redefined the things she valued, reframed my career aspirations, and ignited her passion for my own potential.

Yrhtya learned three very important life lessons:
One, she realized after taking that position that she needs to be the architect of my own career: "The only person who has my career interests at heart was me". 
The second lesson she learned, was that she was powerful and strong. She tapped into energy reserves and a resilience she  didn’t know she had. She was a first-time mom, breastfeeding her baby and commuting once a week to Albany. It all gave her so much perspective into the power of being a woman. 
And thirdly, she learned from that role, that being the first means nothing, if you don’t leave enough behind for someone else to take up the torch.

Follow and learn more about my guest today, check out Yrthya's LinkedIN profile:

LinkedIN: Yrthya Dinzey Flores

To learn more about SHIFT HAPPENS, click here

 To learn more about Claudia's business Curated Conversations and her Salons in New York, Zurich and Berlin, click here

You can also connect with Claudia on Instagram @shifthappens.podcast and LinkedIn at ClaudiaMahlerNYC

This podcast is created, produced and hosted by Claudia Mahler.

Social Media support Magdalena Reckendrees

In 2017 Mari hit rock bottom mentally and physically, and decided to take ownership of my health by turning to wellness. She lost an astonishing 90lbs through strength training and completely transformed her life, inspiring her to launch both Bloom and the Strength app that have grown through her own platforms. Since then, she has dedicated her life to helping women from all backgrounds reach their full potential both mentally and physically.

The moment taught her about the working from the inside out, learning to believe in yourself, and knowing that you are WORTH the time and energy it takes to become your best self. She further learned to keep going, keep doing the work, and keep transforming into the best version of herself. She always reminds herself "this is what hard feels like".

Mari Llewellyn, Co-Founder of Bloom, Founder of Strength by Mari, Mental Health Advocate and Fitness Entrepreneur who in 2022 landed on Forbes’ coveted “30 Under 30” list further solidifying her place in the health and wellness space. She has grown her platform of over 2M combined followers by documenting her everyday life and sharing her inspiring fitness journey with her loyal community. Mari lost an astonishing 90lbs through strength training and completely transformed her life, inspiring her to launch both Bloom and the Strength app which are completely self-funded businesses that have grown through Mari's owned platforms. Since then, she has dedicated her life to helping women from all backgrounds reach their full potential both mentally and physically.

Most recently, Mari has expanded her empire as the host of the podcast “Pursuit of Wellness.” After launching, the show peaked on Apple Podcasts at #2 in the Mental Health genre and #3 in the Health & Wellness genre. On the Spotify Podcast charts the show peaked at #4 and charted for a total of 42 weeks, putting Mari in the top 10% of chartered podcasters.

Follow and learn more about my guest today, check out Mari's website and activities here:

Website: www.marillewellyn.com

Brands: Bloom, Strength by Mari

Instagram: instagram.com/marillewellyn

To learn more about SHIFT HAPPENS, click here

 To learn more about Claudia's business Curated Conversations and her Salons in New York, Zurich and Berlin, click here

You can also connect with Claudia on Instagram @claudiamahlerconversations and LinkedIn at ClaudiaMahlerNYC

This podcast is created, produced and hosted by Claudia Mahler.

Social Media support Magdalena Reckendrees

Pumela Salela, one of Africa's leading Global Business Facilitators, shares how her meeting Nelson Mandela in person and receiving a scholarship from him, propelled her into a life of purpose and a stellar academic and professional career. Pumela describes how her dedication for  human connection is infused by the turning point of shaking Mandela's hand.

She then distinguishes between a turning point and a pivotal moment. Her pivotal moment was brought on by Covid and the lock down in London, far from her family. She took the circumstance as a chance to go deeply within and reflect and work on things, she has never had the space and mindset to address. In comparing this phase with the evolving of a butterfly, she felt that cocooning and withdrawing into stillness made it possible to reset and fly out with a new and invigorated sense of self.

Pumela Salela considers herself a Visionary Catalyst ™️. She helps individuals, organisations and countries ignite their spark and fuel their fire. Multiple Award Winning Pumela Salela has been Country Head for the United Kingdom (UK) under Brand South Africa, the custodian of the South Africa Country Brand in the last 8 years. Pumela has also worked as a Consultant for the World Bank, based at the organisation’s headquarters in United States, Washington D.C. and a Director: BPO at the dti, South Africa, The Director role was preceded by her position as Deputy Director for Investment Promotion at Trade and Investment South Africa. 
In 2022 she was awarded the EuroKnowledge Leadership Award, a prestigious award for excelling in Leadership. In the same year she was awarded the Champion for Africa Award in the UK. She is considered one the United Kingdom’s most influential Africans in 2018, Pumela was featured as a POWERHOUSE in DESTINY magazine in South Africa. She is the 2018 recipient of the African Achiever Award presented to her in the House of Lords, UK. In 2019 she received the BRITISH Award for African Development.

Prior to this Pumela was the Chief Director for Economic Policy Development and Planning
at the Department of Economic Development in South Africa. The Rockefeller Foundation acknowledged her contribution and innovation in formulating systems which address poverty by selecting Salela to be one the 18 global recipients of the foundation’s inaugural Global Fellowship on Social Innovation–and only South African to receive the honor.

Follow and learn more about our episode guest and check out Pumela's website and activities here:

Website: www.pumelasalela.com

Foundation: ELNOS Foundation

Instagram: instagram.com/pumelasalela

To learn more about SHIFT HAPPENS, click here

 To learn more about Claudia's business Curated Conversations and her Salons in New York, Zurich and Berlin, click here

You can also connect with Claudia on Instagram @claudiamahlerconversations and LinkedIn at ClaudiaMahlerNYC

This podcast is created, produced and hosted by Claudia Mahler.

Social Media support Magdalena Reckendrees



She has also been a lecturer in Strategic Brand Management at VEGA, The School of Branding. Salela studied to complete her MBA with distinction (cum laude) in England through a Nelson Mandela Scholarship where she received the Council Award for being the Best MBA student. 

Pumela is the Chairperson of the Nelson Mandela Scholarship Alumni Association
and a Mentor to Graca Machel Scholars. She is featured in the 2013 issue of the book:
South Africa’s Most Inspirational Women. She has also been featured in the 2012 issue of
DESTINY magazine as one of South Africa’s Young and Powerful Achievers. In 2013 the
DESTINY magazine showcased her as one of the Top 40 young leaders, innovators and
job creators in South Africa. Ms Salela has served as an On-air Advisor to investors on an
Entrepreneurship Television Show called Rise South Africa.