If you want to show up to your next Zoom styled and feeling your best, Gina Lamana has you covered.  A clothing buyer and wardrobe stylist for more than two decades, Gina’s career in fashion began at FIT and FIDM, where she earned a degree in fashion merchandising. She worked as a stylist for TV before turning her attention to personalized wardrobe styling for women on the go. In addition to her style boxes for purchase online she also meets with clients one on one at her studio. Nestled in the garden of a private home in Los Angeles, Spool Boutique provides visitors a unique, personalized shopping experience. It’s by appointment-only, and is stocked with a curated collection that includes a mix of local and New York-based designers and hard-to-find European labels. Listen and be inspired to take your next idea from a vision to concept creation. 

Experienced. Passionate. Relentless. Those are characteristics we’d all welcome in an attorney. But Alison Saros, J.D., M.Ed., is not “just” an attorney, She’s had an amazing journey toward a very unique -- and much needed -- legal, school counseling, and educational law practice in the firm she founded, Saros Law APC. “I try to help kids understand that they're not alone in this. And that parents who come in — they're so embarrassed because their kid doesn't learn the same way or their kid got in trouble — doesn't mean they failed, doesn't mean their kid failed. It means they're kids and that they're trying to learn how to negotiate life.” In last week’s episode, we heard about Alison’s approach to education, counseling, mental health, and law… as well as the career shifts that are the foundation of her practice. There was so much to learn from her courageous journey, we are sharing the second half of our discussion. It’s full of captivating stories and lessons that will have you asking, “What’s next and best for me?” You’ll also build the courage to start your journey.

“When someone walks in my office most of the time, the fact that they walked into my office means something traumatic has happened to them… whether they've been arrested or they got in trouble or they're just really struggling in school, it means something traumatic has happened.” Alison Saros, J.D., M.Ed., has a unique ability to help her clients — who include children, teens, young adults, and parents — from multiple perspectives. She is a licensed and credentialed school counselor, former Los Angeles County deputy district attorney, law professor, and practicing attorney in her own firm -- Saros Law APC. Alison specializes in criminal, juvenile, and educational law and advocacy, civil rights litigation, and counseling support consulting. Her services are sought after world-wide. Listen to this engaging, energetic episode to not only learn about law, education, mental health, and advocacy, but also to be inspired to make a courageous mid-career leap — even when you’re happy where you are.   

“When you work for yourself, you have to be prepared because you're never going to work as hard for anybody else as you do for yourself. You are your own boss and it's the toughest boss you're ever going to have.” Meet Kelli Szluka - owner and Creative Director of Kelli & Company. Kelli began her career by making a leap from New York to Los Angeles to design for major television networks - AMC Networks, History Channel, FX, Lifetime, and CNN to name a few. She’s also designed Emmy and Golden Globe Campaigns. After making her mark in Los Angeles Kelli moved back to New York and launched Kelli & Company. She is unique in her experience working for TV networks in both Los Angeles and New York as well as her expertise designing for a variety of companies and products. In her boutique agency work today she harnesses the value and impact of image use and composition both in print and digital media and isn’t shy about discussing with a client what won’t work - what will work - and why. Listen to her story and be inspired to take chances too.

“When I got to college, I learned that I wasn't prepared. At all. At all. You can get good grades and decent test scores and get in. But are you prepared to compete?” Darlene Fountaine became committed to helping children and families prepare for a lifetime of success. As the long-time admission director for a prominent independent school, Darlene was the “go-to” person from whom parents, colleagues, and even students sought advice. Recognizing the need for personal change -- while building on her passion and experience -- Darlene became the recent Founder of “Your Go-To Coaches.” It has allowed her to expand her talents to serve a larger population because — as the tagline reminds us — “children do not come with a manual.” Darlene is a parent, certified Life Coach, school board trustee, and holds an MBA from the University of Southern California. Listen to this episode and be reminded that you too have invaluable resources that can help you do something new and good.

“When COVID-19, broke out and we went to safer-at-home protocols, we said, ‘How do we continue to live our purpose, our mission, our values and do our work?’” Renata Simril got creative. It’s something she’s accustomed to doing as President and CEO of the LA84 Foundation, a legacy organization established by residual funds from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics that has invested over $230M in youth sport programs and elevated the role that sports play in positive youth development. Renata is concurrently the President and CEO of the Play Equity Fund, a nonprofit organization that ensures all kids — regardless of income — have equal access to sports and structured play. Before LA 84, Renata was the Senior VP & Chief of Staff to the Publisher of the Los Angeles Times. She also was the Senior VP of External Affairs with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and had spent a decade in real estate development. Ensuring equity, accessing opportunities, and plain hard work have been constants in Renata’s life. She started out by serving as a military police officer in the U.S. Army as a means to pay for college. Renata’s been a trailblazer ever since. She says, “When you get a seat at the table -- as a woman in particular -- we have to use that opportunity to its fullest. So if you're in a business meeting and you have an opportunity, speak up if you're prepared. Lean in. Leap forward for that moment because when we do that, extraordinary things happen.”

“I encourage you to take stock of your life. Leave the doors of your life open to really experience it. I get excited to talk about this because I'm an example. I took the leap as a filmmaker at the age of 59.  I'm so glad I did. The good, the hard, the failures, the successes, I wouldn't change a thing.” Brenda Hayes is the director and producer of the documentary BackBurner Dreams, an award winning film that has been accepted to eight film festivals and airs on PBS. The film follows the journeys of three women of color, as Brenda challenges them - over nine months’ time - to revisit and try to revive their long held dreams that have been waylaid by life. Out of her passion to create films and inspire women to experience their dreams, Brenda created a workshop in collaboration with her films “Reigniting Dreams - Reimagining Community.” Listen and be inspired to realize yours.

“I measure happiness on a daily basis. If I'm not happy, then something's wrong. I ask myself, ‘Am I helping people? Am I still feeling valued? Appreciated? And am I properly compensated?’” These are questions Leslie Spencer asks personally and as the Senior Managing Consultant in the National Accounts Group at PFM Asset Management, LLC. Leslie has been a licensed securities professional for 30 years who started as a stock broker and now has billion dollar public sector clients. She admits that she wasn’t always a winner, but learned how to build confidence, skill, and a winning attitude that propelled her success. Listen to today’s episode to remind yourself that you too are a winner.

“One of the things that has helped me most is letting go of the fear of what other people think. I'm not beholden to what my imagination says someone might think about me and I trust that when I'm being my authentic self, all of the people, places, and things that I need will appear.” Through her company - Girls Empowerment Experience, Mauri Konell teaches classes and hosts experiences that help kids find their confidence through yoga, journaling, meditation, and exercise. She gives them a space to think through their experiences and helps them start to realize who they are. We learned in Part 1 of this episode that Mauri is on a mission to change the world by encouraging kids to “be their own hero.” Growing up, Mauri had a difficult time fitting in and feeling like she belonged.  She struggled with self image, depression, anxiety, and an eating disorder that caused her to be hospitalized at the age of 13. She remembers thinking “when I make it out of here, I’m going to help other kids who feel this way.” She followed through with her decision. While studying Psychology at Occidental College, Mauri took a part time job teaching karate to kids and eventually ended up running the karate school. She loved the experience, which set her on a path to healing herself and teaching others to realize that “their superpower is believing in themselves.” Today’s episode will inspire you to turn adversity into power. 

“We're always getting stronger at whatever we are practicing. If we're practicing trusting ourselves or we’re practicing listening to ourselves, then we're building that trust. And that is the power.” Mauri Konell, Creator & Founder of Girls Empowerment Experience, grew up in a family of lawyers and doctors. She followed their prescriptions for “success,” but found that their traditional path to “security” wasn’t bringing her security at all. After years of resisting her true calling, she discovered that her happiness would only be found by her own definition of it. Mauri is a competitive athlete, coach, and karate teacher who’s impacted the lives of thousands of children. She’s also a fitness model who has shared her story on national television on ‘Million Dollar Mile’. Her mission is to empower young girls and kids to be “their own hero.” Listen to today’s episode to remember how to become yours.