Ungovernable Women: Two fixers. Nothing off limits.

The Manifista podcast explores the career paths of ambitious women and how they charted their own unique path to success. Each episode we have fresh and inspiring conversations with successful women about their careers the lessons they've learned along the way. We also have spirited discussions about issues such as managing your fertility, balancing career and home life, how to know when it's time to quit or start a new job, salary negotiation and why we should all care about childcare policy. 

Have a question or comment? Email us at [email protected].

“My success doesn’t have to exclude yours” - Naila Ruechel

Naila Ruechel is a celebrated model, stylist, video director and fashion photographer whose work has appeared in Harper's Bazaar and New York Magazine among others. In this episode she talks about what diversity and representation means in the creative industries and how she has navigated the world as a Black woman. She cares deeply about mentoring young people and creating opportunities for people of color and in this episode she also shares her top advice on how to make it as a freelancer in the fashion industry.

Have a question or comment? Email us at [email protected].

Topics discussed in this episode:

Diversity and representation   

• We have a history of exclusive clubs 
• People are taking steps to right that wrong
• Focus on areas in which you can actually have an impact 

Mentoring and paying it forward  

• I take mentorship really seriously 
• My success doesn’t have to exclude yours 
• Young people are mentors to me as well

Business of fashion 

• Nobody gives you anything unless you ask for it 
• Find the unique value that you bring to every role
• We have to as women push forward 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Naila’s website (link)
Naomi Campbell
Melanie Daniels
Shanika Jarvis
Saya Jordan
Dario Calmese
Tyler Mitchell
Edward Enninful
Samir Nasir 
Mae Jemison
Issa Rae
Shonda Rhimes
Jordan Peele
Hidden Figures (link)
Mario Testino
Annie Leibovitz
Werner Herzog
The Glass Menagerie by Tenessee Williams (link)

“Moms in particular make great advocates” - Cindy Changyit Levin

Cynthia (Cindy) Changyit Levin is a mechanical engineer turned activist and global public health advocate. In this episode she explains how motherhood inspired her to leave her corporate career, and well paying job, and find her calling as an activist working on global public health issues. A little over a decade later she is now raising two young activists of her own as well as writing a book and how-to-guide for mothers who wish to go into advocacy.

Have a question or comment? Email us at [email protected].

Topics discussed in this episode:

Advocacy and activism 

• "Advocacy can be pretty intimidating"
• "My favorite kind of advocacy has to do with relationship building"
• "The average citizen is asking “what can I do?” 
• "I don’t think that disagreement is bad"

Motherhood and raising young activists

• "Motherhood was utterly life changing for me"
• "It has been empowering to add advocate to the titles"
• "Moms in particular make great advocates"

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Blogpost: Advocacy made easy; writing a letter to the editor (link)
• Cindy’s blog on advocacy (link)
• Bread for the World (link)
• Shot at Life (link) 
• Results (link)
• Sunrise Movement (link)
• Ava DuVernay's documentary 13th (link)
• How to talk so your kids will listen, and listen so your kids will talk (link)

“Reproductive health is more than the biological clock” - Dr. Pam Oliver

Dr. Pam Oliver is an accomplished obgyn, public health advocate and corporate executive of Novant Health. She has dedicated her professional life to women’s health and in the process discovered her own talent as a leader and public health advocate, learning how to lead with confidence and setting clear boundaries between work and family life. Building on years of experience, Dr. Oliver uncovers the inconvenient truth about racial injustices in the maternal and infant healthcare systems and shares key health advice she wants all women to know.

Have a question or comment? Email us at [email protected].

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Career and leadership 
  • “The best leaders are reluctant leaders”
  • “I didn't set out to have a title” 
  • “I had to get really comfortable with failure” 
• Balancing work and family life
  • “I’m very intentional about turning off work” 
  • “My idea of success for my kids has changed” 
  • “How do you do it all?” 
• Fertility and conceiving 
  • “It’s not as simple as an automatic “it’s going to happen” 
  • “When you’re getting closer to 35, I think you’re pushing on it”
  • “Reproductive health is more than the biological clock”
• Public health
  • “Maternal health goes back to social determinants of health” 
  • “The inconvenient truth about stressors”
  • “It’s an important time for women of color to get into leadership”

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Admiral William H McRaven “make your bed” motivational speech (link)
• Start with Why by Simon Sinek (link)
• The Spread of Trust by Stephen Covey (link)
• Malcolm Gladwell (link)
• Oh, the Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Seuss (link)
• Jocko Podcast (link)