Creating a startup and making it succeed is not an easy thing. Usually, it takes a combination of experience, teamwork, business acumen, and lessons learned in past ventures to truly bring the vision to life. Just ask Dan Fisher and Brett Singer. They are the principals and founders of Bottle Rocket Media in Chicago, IL.  Their venture has grown into the #1 Chicago-based video production agency, garnering numerous awards, including an Emmy. Without their combined experiences and knowledge in the video and television industry, the business wouldn't be where it is today. This just goes to show how powerful a true partnership can be and the success it can bring; the takeaways from this episode are nearly endless!

Too many of us have been shown the path we are supposed to take, regardless of whether we think it's the path we should take; that road dead ends in frustration and feeling unfulfilled. Here, Kassi Cheirogeorgou shares where and how her path in life detoured away from the "proper" course she was following, essentially living two completely separate lives at work and at home, and how she found happiness and satisfaction in the more creative direction she chose. 

Many people in the professional world consider neurodivergence a nuisance. After all, divergent means different, and fitting those circular pegs into the square holes of corporate life doesn't always lead to the best of outcomes. Which is why sometimes the roadmap to career success for neurodivergents involves taking the road less traveled.  Take it from Karina Schulz. She has spent her working life making bipolar work for her in the best ways possible, creating a successful business, and authoring a book about her struggles and successes. By working in ways that complement her strengths, she uses bipolar as her superpower to tackle whatever challenges work (and life) throw at her. 

To say that the tech space has been a less than welcoming place for women to work is like saying you'll get slightly damp if you're caught outside in a hurricane; massive understatements to say the least. Limor Bergman knows this well. As a software engineer, engineer manager, and director of engineering in a career spanning two decades, Limor has had to navigate a workplace that is often outright hostile towards women, leading her to start a mentorship program with PowerToFly, a non-proft whose goal is to fast-track economic equity by upskilling and connecting underrepresented talent to roles in highly visible sectors.  Through mentorship and coaching, Limor has shared her wisdom with countless women, proving that all those cracked glass ceilings out there are ready to shatter.

In order to succeed in one's career, all aspects of life need to be in balance. So many of us think that the solutions to problems at work are always found at work when often the exact opposite is true. What's going on at home and in your personal life has just as much, if not more so, of an impact upon mental well-being in the workplace. Remember, there's no time clock on the adage "You cannot pour from an empty cup." Enter from stage left Kim Coffin. Kim is an entrepreneur of 25 years, and a Sex, Love, and Relationship Coach whose approach to self-care, self-acceptance, and self-love in all aspects of one's life spills over profusely into the career realm. In this episode, you can expect to find insight into just how much of an impact keeping that cup full has on our bodies, on our well-being, and all of our relationships, most importantly with one's self. *P.S.* If the title didn't give it away, there will discussions of a sexual nature in this episode. Also, there is a discussion of sexual assault, so please be aware if that's a sensitive subject. 

'Adversity' is a word that conjures up so many images in one's mind. Challenge. Disempowerment. Difficulty. Rejection. For some though, it brings to mind something else: opportunity. Opportunity for change, for a breakthrough; this is how Jovan Glasgow uses adversity. Listen in as Jovan explains his approach to life and learn about using all of your experiences, both the good and the bad, as the raw materials for personal growth.

We are all born with natural gifts. Whether we know what exactly those are is another thing altogether. Corrie LoGiudice seemingly had it all: she ran a successful business, had a lovely home in Brooklyn, and was a happy mother. But underneath the overwhelm was there, the straw ready to break the camel's back. And when the breaking point came and went, it left in its wake the blueprint for change. Listen in as Corrie shares how she overcame her adversity to find balance in her life, and in the process built a successful coaching business and spoke on the TEDx stage. This is  a story you won't want to miss! 

To many of us the phrase 'Life as a Digital Nomad' sounds like something straight out of a fairy-tale: simply too good to be true. Or attainable by us, at the least. Isabel Leong is here to debunk that myth. She has taken her career fully nomadic, having traveled in and worked from over 40 different countries. Listen in as she talks about the challenges she has faced and overcome, and get all the necessary tips to make the transition to full-time nomad a reality!

We've all heard it before: "This call may be monitored for training purposes." It's been said to us so many times now that we don't even blink at how misguided the whole sentiment is! Craig Knight is a researcher who studies and consults in the psychology of workplace satisfaction, and we're so happy we got him on the line to discuss his insight into creating engaging and positive workplaces. Want to hear about how the modern office space gets its inspiration from philosophy in 18th century prison architecture? Then this episode is for you.

It's that time of year again: the end of the school year! To commemorate, we're re-releasing one of our favorite episodes featuring Acacia Fante. Listen in as she shares wisdom gained in her transition from the classroom to the EdTech space. Want more info on the #TeacherTransition movement? Check us out at careerbenders.com