Meet Lauree Ostrofsky

Support for This Kaleidoscope Career comes from Divine Asset Management, a woman-owned firm advising individuals, families, and business owners on long-term strategies that align wealth with values. Explore more at WorkWithDivine.com

In this episode of Kaleidoscope Career, host Helen Jonsen sitsdown with Lauree Ostrofsky, an empathetic coach and business consultant with a compelling story of resilience and transformation.

Lauree shares her personal battle with a brain tumor at 28, which led her to shift her focus from public relations to becoming a speaker, author, and entrepreneur.

Find Lauree at https://www.simplyleap.com/

Lauree is the accidental founder of the Hudson Valley Women in Business membership community, which has now become a non-profit continuing to serve thousands of women members.

With her optimistic approach, Lauree emphasizesthe importance of authenticity, community building, and continuous personalgrowth.

The episode also features a fun lightning round where Lauree reveals her favorite books, dream destinations, and more.

00:00 A Life-Changing Diagnosis

00:47 Introduction to Kaleidoscope Career

01:42 Meet Lauree Ostrovsky

02:23 Lauree 's Career Journey

06:11 Balancing Work and a new family unit

10:07 The Power of Authenticity in Business

11:29 Early Career and Education

14:38 A Major Life Twist

21:26 Founding Hudson Valley Women in Business

28:54 The Power of Community

30:46 Turning a Hobby into a Business

32:44 Transitioning Leadership

33:46 Personal Reflections and Changes

37:36 Speed round: Fun and Personal Questions

45:21 Passion Projects and Final Thoughts

***This Kaleidoscope Career Podcast is a production of helen jonsen media, llc.

Online Course:

Command the Room: Develop Your Signature Remarks Toolkit for Leaders  (link here)

A practical communication course for leaders who want to speak with clarity, confidence, and impact. Learn to craft your Signature Remarks, including your passion statement, talking points, personal stories, and your go-to talk that help you show up, stand out, and lead.

Code: COMMAND15

Discount: 15% off enrollment

https://genconnect-courses.thinkific.com/courses/Command-the-Room-The-Signature-Remarks-Toolkit-for-Leaders?ref=6311fe

Speakers: Learn more about Innovation Women

 https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=96435&awinaffid=2281255&ued=https%3A%2F%2Finnovationwomen.com%2Fjoin%2F

Affiliate Disclosure

The show notes contain affiliate links. helen jonsen media may earn a commission from purchases at no extra cost to you.

https://www.divineassetmgt.com/workwithdivine

In this episode of This Kaleidoscope Career, host Helen Jonsen interviews former Forbes Executive Editor, Technology Betsy Corcoran, an innovator at the intersection of education and technology.

Support for This Kaleidoscope Career comes from Divine Asset Management, a woman-owned firm advising individuals, families, and business owners on long-term strategies that align wealth with values.

Explore more at WorkWithDivine.com

ABOUT THIS EPISODE & BETSY CORCORAN

A former Silicon Valley Bureau Chief for Forbes and a seasoned tech journalist, Betsy's career has evolved to focus on the impact of AI and technology in education. She explains how being a mother, involved in her children’s lives, played a role in her decision to enter the unknown.

BETSY discusses her journey from journalism to cofounding EdSurge, and her current role with PlayLab AI, a nonprofit building AI infrastructure for teachers and students. Her passion for storytelling, Helping others in education, and deep collaboration in tech innovation are central themes.

The episode features a speed round where Betsyshares her love for open water swimming, her musical aspirations, and the desire to make a meaningful difference in the world.

00:00 Introduction to Kaleidoscope Careers

01:21 Meet Betsy Corcoran: Innovator inEducation and Technology

02:04 A Day in the Life of Betsy Corcoran

04:19 Betsy's Journey from Journalism toEducation Technology

14:16 The Birth of EdSurge & Family Considerations

23:13 Betsy's Current Endeavors and Future Plans

23:35 Speed Round: Getting to Know Betsy

28:41 Betsy's Board Positions and Contributions

33:15 Final Thoughts and Reflections

35:22 Conclusion

Additional Notes:

Future Fluent futurefluent.net

Playlab.ai

Consulting firm: http://www.ledelabs.com

New Harmony Line https://newharmonyline.org/

DesignTech High School https://www.linkedin.com/school/design-tech-high-oracle/

Project Ollie https://www.linkedin.com/company/project-ollie/

LEARN MORE

Command the Room: Develop Your Signature Remarks Toolkit for Leaders, presented by Helen Jonsen

A practical communication course for leaders who want to speak with clarity, confidence, and impact. Learn to craft your Signature Remarks, including your passion statement, talking points, personal stories, and your go-to talk that help you show up, stand out, and lead.

Code: COMMAND15

Discount: 15% off enrollment

https://genconnect-courses.thinkific.com/courses/Command-the-Room-The-Signature-Remarks-Toolkit-for-Leaders?ref=6311fe

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: The show notes contain affiliate links. helen jonsen media may earn a commission from purchases at no extra cost to you.

Season 3/

In this enlightening episode of Kaleidoscope Career, host Helen Jonsen delves into the dynamic career journey of Molly Tschang, CEO of Abella Consulting and founder of Say It Skillfully, Inc.

Molly shares her career evolution from aspirations of marine biology to chemical engineering, and from key roles in companies like DuPont, IBM, and Cisco Systems to her impactful work in leadership consulting and the NGO NetHope.

Highlighting her unique ability to connect and foster safe spaces for authenticity, Molly discusses how to handle failure, leverage strengths, and pursue passions. The episode also touches on her philanthropic efforts, particularly with Save the Children and Community Solutions.

Helen and Molly enjoy a light-hearted speed round, revealing Molly's love for tennis and her admiration for tennis great RogerFederer, and Seinfeld!

00:00 Introduction to Kaleidoscope Career

01:09 Meet Molly Chang: A Kaleidoscope Career

02:10 Early Career and Education

05:18 Transition to IBM

15:40 Joining Cisco Systems

18:50 Philanthropy and Nonprofit Work

25:08 Empowering Myself at Cisco

25:36 Discovering Executive Coaching

27:42 Leaving Cisco and Starting My Consultancy

28:30 Meeting Marshall Goldsmith

28:52 The Birth of 'Say It Skillfully'

30:18 The Importance of Communication

45:14 Navigating the Pandemic as an Introvert

47:37Passion Projects and Final Thoughts

FIND MOLLY:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollytschang/

Say It Skillfully, Inc. https://www.sayitskillfully.com/

Nonprofits:

Community Solutions https://community.solutions/

NetHope https://nethope.org/

More from helen jonsen media

A NEW Online Course from Helen Jonsen

in production with GenConnectU and LinkedIn Learning
Command the Room: Develop Your Signature Remarks Toolkit for Leaders 

A practical communication course for leaders who want to speak with clarity, confidence, and impact. Learn to craft your Signature Remarks, including your passion statement, talking points, personal stories, and your go-to talk that help you show up, stand out, and lead. Learn more here.

Discount Code: COMMAND15 15% off enrollment

Affiliate Disclosure

The show notes contain affiliate links. helen jonsen media may earn a commission from purchases at no extra cost to you.

Join host Helen Jonsen in conversation with Jory Des Jardins, long-considered a Silicon Valley innovator, including advice for entrepreneurs and those adding optionality to their work lives.In this episode, the co-founder of BlogHer and Optionality and currently leading CANDOR Partners, Jory, talks about her entrepreneurial journey in Silicon Valley.

She discusses how she manages her multifaceted career, balancing work and family, and her passion projectsfocused on mental health and the future of work.

She reflects on the impact of BlogHer in revolutionizing influencer marketing and offers advice on navigating herkaleidoscope career.

Jory also shares insights into the importance of creatingflexible and meaningful work environments, writing the playbooks for things that need to be normalized, and the role of emerging technologies like AI.

The episode delves into her passion for writing, her love for storytelling, and her current projects aimed atupskilling professionals and promoting brain health.

Learn more about Jory on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorydesjardins/

In this episode of `This Kaleidoscope Career`, host Helen Jonsen interviews Lisen Stromberg, a successful author, entrepreneur, and advisor.

They discuss the challenges and opportunities that come with non-linear career paths, especially for women balancing work and caregiving roles.

Lisen shares insights on her approach to time mastery, theimpact of workplace culture, and the importance of collaborative change.

The conversation also touches on her personal experiences,favorite activities, and passionate advocacy for reproductive rights and humanrights.

To wrap up, they delve into the broader societal changes needed to support a more inclusive and supportive work environment.

00:00 Introduction to Kaleidoscope Careers

00:26 Meet the Host: Helen Jonsen

01:18 Guest Introduction: Lisen Stromberg

02:13 A Day in the Life of Lisen Stromberg

04:22 The Concept of Social Impact Entrepreneurship

05:57 The Kaleidoscope Career and Motherhood

06:55 Lisen's Personal Journey and Career Challenges

11:21 The Scandinavian Model and Family Caregiving

15:37 Current Trends and Future Outlook for Women in the Workforce

23:26 Addressing Burnout and Toxic Workplaces

27:43 Navigating Toxic Work Environments

29:54 Introducing My New Online Course

30:37 Balancing Fun and Family

33:28 Exploring Hobbies and Passions

35:22 Dream Destinations and Travel Goals

42:58 The Impact of Elder Care on Careers

47:38 Advocating for Important Causes

49:11 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Lisen’s Books

Intentional Power: The 6 Essential Leadership Skills forTriple Bottom Line Impact https://amzn.to/47och9l

Work, Pause, Thrive: How to Pause for Parenthood WithoutKilling Your Career,  https://amzn.to/3J2lJah

Recommended author: The First, the Few,the Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America  Deepa Purushothaman (Author)https://amzn.to/42Rzlf9

Online Course from Helen Jonsen

in production with GenConnectU and LinkedIn Learning

Command the Room: Develop Your Signature Remarks Toolkit for Leaders 

A practical communication course for leaders who want tospeak with clarity, confidence, and impact. Learn to craft your Signature Remarks, including your passion statement, talking points, personal stories, and your go-to talk that help you show up, stand out, and lead.

Code: COMMAND15 Discount: 15% off enrollment

https://genconnect-courses.thinkific.com/courses/Command-the-Room-The-Signature-Remarks-Toolkit-for-Leaders?ref=6311fe

This Kaleidoscope Career is a production of helen jonsen media

https://helenjonsen.com/

For an expanded conversation, join us on This Kaleidoscope Career on Substack. As a free subscriber, you will receive insider tips and stories to help you build your unique career. More paid perks coming!

https://substack.com/@thiskaleidoscopecareer

*The show notes contain affiliate links. helen jonsen media may earn a commission from purchases at no extra cost to you.

In this episode of 'This Kaleidoscope Career,' host Helen Jonsen welcomes Sherice Torres, a seasoned chief marketing officer with experience spanning Google, Meta, cryptocurrency, and electric vehicles. Sherice shares the twists and turns of her extensive career, including her recent sabbatical, 'Project Lotus,' which she used to reclaim joy and redefine success. 

Sherice explains her recent kaleidoscope includes Lotus Leadership Group and her new role at Stanford Graduate School of Business.

They discuss the challenges faced by women in industry, particularly women of color, and the importance of a supportive network. 

Sherice highlights her love for coaching, impactful career advising roles at Stanford, and influential reading favorites. 

Find Sherice on LinkedIn

——

A NEW Online Course from Helen Jonsen

in production with GenConnectU and LinkedIn Learning

Command the Room: Develop Your Signature Remarks Toolkit for Leaders 

A practical communication course for leaders who want to speak with clarity, confidence, and impact. Learn to craft your Signature Remarks, including your passion statement, talking points, personal stories, and your go-to talk that help you show up, stand out, and lead.

Register here

Code: COMMAND15 Discount: 15% off enrollment

Podcast Timeline:

00:00 Introduction to Kaleidoscope Careers

01:22 Meet Sherice Torres: A Career of Twists and Turns

04:14 From Nickelodeon to Google: Career Highlights

07:13 Balancing Family and Career Moves

11:19 Navigating Big Tech and Personal Challenges

17:55 Burnout and Rediscovering Self

21:18 The Reality of Being a Working Mom

27:50 Balancing Career and Family

28:41 The Importance of Asking for Help

32:30 Project Lotus: Reclaiming Joy

36:49 Starting Lotus Leadership Group

38:16 New Role at Stanford Business School

42:42 Speed Round: Fun and Hobbies

47:15 The Power of a Women's Network

48:37 Passion Projects and Giving Back

51:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

For Charity:

Jack Kent Cook Foundation

Breakthrough Silicon Valley

Sherice talks about these authors:

Jasmine Guillory (for fun)

Toni Morrison (to honor and meet)

Maya Angelou (to honor and meet)

 Sherice belongs to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Early and mid-career fellowships, entrepreneur accelerators, and fully-funded higher ed programs can be huge stepping stones in any career.

For Dr. Vicki Johnson, they have provided skill-building experiences around the world and laid the groundwork for her entrepreneurial move into helping others do the same, ProFellow.com.

Learn more about This Kaleidoscope Career as Helen Jonsen interviews Vicki and together they offer advice and takeaways in a world of disruption and unexpected change.

Exploring Kaleidoscope Careers with Helen Jonsenand Dr. Vicki Johnson

About Vicki https://www.drvickijohnson.com/

Social https://www.linkedin.com/in/vjohnson1/

About ProFellow https://www.profellow.com/about-us/

New Book: Pitch Your Potential

Book pre-order. ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Pitch-Your-Potential-Formula-Opportunities/dp/1394328265⁠

Season 3, Episode 1 (Sept. 2025)

00:00 Introduction: Solving Problems Creatively

00:26 Welcome to Kaleidoscope Career

01:24 Meet Dr. Vicki Johnson

02:03 A Day in the Life of an Entrepreneur

02:55 Early Career and First Fellowship

03:49 Impact of 9/11 and Emergency Management

06:02 Exploring Fellowships and GlobalOpportunities

08:55 Navigating Career Challenges andOpportunities

13:49 Building ProFellow and Family Life

20:05 Joining the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center

22:51 The Value of Entrepreneurship for Women

23:28 Pandemic-Induced Relocation to Oregon

26:05 What is ProFellow?

28:19 ProFellow's Commitment to Privacy andCommunity

30:20 Personal Passions and Family Life

32:50 Speed Round: Fun and Personal Questions

37:39 Pitch Your Potential: The Book

40:26 Advice for Women and Caregiving Challenges

43:43Final Thoughts and Farewell

-------------

From Helen Jonsen

Online Course from Linkedin Learning: 

Command the Room: Develop Your Signature Remarks Toolkit for Leaders 

A practical communication course for leaders who want to speak with clarity, confidence, and impact. Learn to craft your Signature Remarks—your go-to messages that help you show up, stand out, and lead.

Code: COMMAND15

Discount: 15% off enrollment

https://genconnect-courses.thinkific.com/courses/Command-the-Room-The-Signature-Remarks-Toolkit-for-Leaders?ref=6311fe

In this episode of This Kaleidoscope Career, host HelenJonsen interviews Catarina Dolsten, a medical doctor turned management consultant, Catarina shares her journey from practicing medicine in Sweden to her work in maternal and child health in Sub-Saharan Africa and Bangladesh,and eventually founding the Aktum Group in the United States.

Learn More about Catarina Dolstenon Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/crdolsten/

And at Aktum Group https://www.aktumgroup.com/

Throughout the conversation, Catarina emphasizes theimportance of curiosity and adaptability in navigating career changes. She also discusses her experiences moving a family to a new country,  the cultural differences she observes, and howher throughline in diagnostics, analytics, and a love for people has propelled her into organizational management.

This insightful conversation highlights how one can blenddiverse skills and experiences into a fulfilling and dynamic career.

00:00 The Importance of Curiosity

00:30 Introduction to Kaleidoscope Career

01:26 Meet Catarina Dolsten

02:07 Early Career in Sweden

04:15 Transition to the United States

07:37 Working in Nonprofits

13:48 Founding the Aktum Group

21:57 Navigating the Pandemic as an Entrepreneur

26:29 The Problem with Long Meetings

27:53 Speed Round: Fun and Interests

29:28 Dream Destinations and Food Adventures

31:05 Hobbies and Cultural Interests

34:46 Reflections on Career and Life Lessons

42:27 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Favorite Book: The Slave (a classic from 1962) https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-slave-isaac-bashevis-singer/1102949794

In this episode of 'This Kaleidoscope Career,'host Helen Jonsen is joined by Kym McNicholas, CEO of the Global PAD Association. Kym shares her remarkable career journey that spans from being ashy college student aspiring to become an athletic trainer, to becoming aprofessional water skier, sports, tech and business journalist, and now anadvocate for Peripheral Artery Disease awareness.

Global PAD Association

www.thewaytomyheart.org

The conversation delves deep into Kym’sexperiences in journalism, her pivotal moments, and the profound impact she ismaking in the field of global health. Listeners will be inspired by Kym’sunwavering passion, her bold transitions throughout her career, and hercommitment to saving lives through early diagnosis and awareness of PAD.

The episode also touches upon Kym’s personalanecdotes, including her transformative moments in broadcasting, her innovativeapproaches in healthcare advocacy, and her relentless drive to createmeaningful change in the world.

Kym McNicholas https://www.linkedin.com/in/kymmcnicholas/

00:00 Introduction to the Kaleidoscope Career

01:37 Meet Kym McNicholas: A Journey fromShyness to Broadcasting

02:32 Kym's Early Career: From Athletic Trainingto Radio

05:12 Breaking into Sports Journalism andBroadcasting

09:16 Transition to Business and TechnologyReporting

12:02 The Energy News Live Experience

16:56 From Local TV to Silicon Valley

21:45 Advocacy and the Global PAD Association

36:43 Personal Reflections and FutureAspirations

44:19Conclusion and Farewell

Navigating This Kaleidoscope Career with FranHauser

In this episode of 'This Kaleidoscope Career,'host Helen Jonsen converses with Fran Hauser, a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and bookstore owner.

She is passionate about helping women acceleratein their careers by writing, speaking, investing in women’s start-up ventures, and in book consulting.

Fran discusses her diverse trajectory, startingfrom her early days in accounting and evolving through various corporate roles at companies like Coca-Cola and Time Inc. where she was in the C-suite as head of digital.

She delves into her transition to startupinvesting, driven by a desire to support female entrepreneurs, and later becoming an author. Her first book 'The Myth of The Nice Girl' became a best seller and is still fueling conversations about women at work. Her third is expected later in 2025.

Fran also talks about her latest venture as abookstore owner and the importance of storytelling, community and family.

Helen and Fran explore the common themes andthrough lines that have guided Fran's journey, focusing on her advocacy for women and her passion for storytelling.

Find Fran here

Find Bedford Books here

Podcast timeline:

00:00 Introduction and Mission

00:27 Welcome to This Kaleidoscope Career

01:22 Meet Fran Hauser

01:44 Fran's Career Journey

03:23 Transition to Startup Investing

04:17 Writing and Advocacy

16:19 The Myth of The Nice Girl

22:13 Balancing Leadership and Authenticity

24:43 Book Bound Podcast and Bookstore

26:10 Reading Like Writers

26:41 Workshops and Bookstore Dreams

27:40 Opening the Bookstore in Record Time

29:42 Building Community and Author Networks

30:52 Navigating the Challenges of BookstoreOperations

34:41 Publishing Workshops and Programs

38:13 Speed Round: Fun and Personal Insights

41:17 Family and Personal Life

44:52 Advice for Women with Kaleidoscope Careers

47:30Conclusion and Final Thoughts