Episode Highlight: On this episode of the Embracing "Only" podcast, we are featuring one of the most impactful moments from episode 34 with guest Dr. Kim McLear. We explore what it means to be a truth-teller, the emotional cost of retaliation, and how choosing courage over fear can break generational cycles of harm. 

Kim is an author, speaker, and social designer who works at the vibrant intersections of the arts, tech, wellbeing, civic engagement, and justice. She served 20 years of distinguished public service as a senior officer in the U.S. Coast Guard and bravely exposed three of the largest abusive cover-ups of racism, sexual assault, and retaliation in modern U.S. military history.

This episode is just a short snippet that highlights the best and most powerful learning moment from a past episode. You can listen to the full episode (filled with more wisdom) here: Episode 34: Choosing to Challenge workplace bullying and retaliation.

Key Discussion Points:

00:59 Claiming the Label “Whistleblower”: Whistleblowing is not dishonorable. It’s an act of integrity rooted in American history.

03:29 The Audacity to Be Your Full Self: It is powerful and takes courage to show up authentically in spaces where your gender, the color of your skin, sexual orientation, or your accomplishments are considered threatening.

05:30 Navigating Fear and Survival: Sharing stories of abuse and psychological violence is important not only for the storyteller but for the countless others who don’t survive the system.

09:05 Centering Courage Over Fear: It is both a responsibility and a gift to use our voice to make the path easier for those who follow.

In Summary: Dr. Kim McLear shares how choosing truth over fear can change a system. She reminds us that being your full self in environments not built for you is radical, courageous, and essential.

Resources from this episode:

Follow Kim on LinkedIn or visit her website. 

If you happen to be a woman of color and you are looking for a community of like minded women, join Olivia here: https://www.mysistersshoulders.com/ 

Ready to make a change?

→ If you are struggling to navigate your corporate career but are ambitious and have goals you want to accomplish quickly, Olivia is the coach for you. She can help you reach your goals. 

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.

→ If you are ready to transition out of Corporate and want to start building a profitable portfolio career as a business owner, board member or more, but you’re unsure of the next steps, Archita can guide you through a successful transition to entrepreneurship.

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Connect with your hosts:

Follow Embracing Only on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook, or check out the website.

_________

Produced by Ideablossoms

Episode Highlight: On this episode of the Embracing "Only" podcast, we are featuring one of the most impactful moments from episode 10 with guest Priyanka Lugani. Through intuitive decision-making, self-study, and a deep connection to nature and ancient wisdom, she shares how you can lead with your truth, make peace with mistakes, and reimagine what success looks like on your own terms.

Priyanka  is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of Alma Deli, a plant-based food brand based in London, which is pushing the boundaries of connecting the ancient wisdoms of the world with food, travel, art, spirit, and science. Today, Priyanka advocates for systemic change across health, education, and food.

This episode is just a short snippet that highlights the best and most powerful learning moment from a past episode. You can listen to the full episode (filled with more wisdom) here: Episode 10: Women Leaders on a Mission - Feeding Clean Food to the World.

Key Discussion Points:

00:59 Choosing Freedom & Self-Expression: Self-expression and freedom of choice are two of the core pillars of entrepreneurship.

02:43 Success Without a University Degree: University is not the only path to success, but you have to have a growth mindset and be open to learning in different forms.

05:30 The Role of Family Support: Having an emotional and financial support system does give you more freedom to fail, learn, and experiment. 

06:35 Finding Your Source of Inspiration: You can find inspiration from so many places in your daily life. 

In Summary: Priyanka Lugani shares her journey from fashion to holistic healing, emphasizing the importance of self-expression, support systems, and inspiration drawn from health, nature, and ancient wisdom.

Resources from this episode:

Follow Priyanka on LinkedIn or visit her website. 

If you happen to be a woman of color and you are looking for a community of like minded women, join Olivia here: https://www.mysistersshoulders.com/ 

Ready to make a change?

→ If you are struggling to navigate your corporate career but are ambitious and have goals you want to accomplish quickly, Olivia is the coach for you. She can help you reach your goals. 

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.

→ If you are ready to transition out of Corporate and want to start building a profitable portfolio career as a business owner, board member or more, but you’re unsure of the next steps, Archita can guide you through a successful transition to entrepreneurship.

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Connect with your hosts:

Follow Embracing Only on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook, or check out the website.

_________

Produced by Ideablossoms

Episode Highlight: On this episode of the Embracing "Only" podcast, we are featuring one of the most impactful moments from episode 71 with guest Animah Kosai. This episode is a must-listen if you’ve ever felt pressured to conform, questioned your leadership style, or struggled to stay authentic in high-stakes environments.

 Animah is a passionate advocate for ethical leadership, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. She founded Speak Up At Work to diagnose the speak up culture in companies and assess their response to reports on wrongdoing, harassment, unsafe, and unethical practices.

This episode is just a short snippet that highlights the best and most powerful learning moment from a past episode. You can listen to the full episode (filled with more wisdom) here: Episode 71: Speaking Up in the Workplace with Animah Kosai.

Key Discussion Points:

00:59 Bullying vs. Strong Leadership: There is a difference between strong assertive leadership and bullying. Transformation is possible if the bully is open to learning and acknowledging what they did wrong.

03:49 Understanding the DARVO Pattern: Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender is a common corporate response to being called out. 

05:18 Toxic Leadership Conditioning: Past experiences shape behaviors. Leadership mirrors toxic systems until we consciously choose another path.

08:09 The Challenge of Disrupting Systems: We are living in a world designed by and for  cis straight white men from certain educational backgrounds.

10:32 Authenticity as Resistance: The roots of “professionalism” are deeply racialized and gendered, and it serves to erase identity.

In Summary: Animah Kosai encourages self-awareness in leadership, especially in addressing and transforming bullying behavior. She discusses the need for authenticity and systemic change in corporate cultures to promote inclusivity and challenge existing biases.

Resources from this episode:

Follow Animah on LinkedIn or visit her website. 

If you happen to be a woman of color and you are looking for a community of like minded women, join Olivia here: https://www.mysistersshoulders.com/ 

Ready to make a change?

→ If you are struggling to navigate your corporate career but are ambitious and have goals you want to accomplish quickly, Olivia is the coach for you. She can help you reach your goals. 

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.

→ If you are ready to transition out of Corporate and want to start building a profitable portfolio career as a business owner, board member or more, but you’re unsure of the next steps, Archita can guide you through a successful transition to entrepreneurship.

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Connect with your hosts:

Follow Embracing Only on Linkedin, Instagram, and Facebook, or check out the website.

_________

Produced by Ideablossoms

Jessica Michalak, a two time cancer survivor #chosetochallenge two diagnosis as she fought Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Jess was first diagnosed at the age of 19 and then seven years later she found herself as a patient in the stem cell transplant unit where she served as an ICU nurse.

She finds strength in her meditation, prayer, mindfulness and gratitude practice.

She encourages all to embrace the challenges they are given because oftentimes those challenges can lead to blessings you didn’t expect. For Jess, it was her cancer diagnosis that brought her to her nursing career and doctorate degree, using which she now cares for and comforts patients and family members as they navigate their journey’s through what might seem like insurmountable challenges.

Episode 33: Leadership Practices & Lessons from a Two-Time Cancer Survivor

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers.

Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally.

Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

On this episode of The Nine Oh Six, Archita and Olivia unpack how we all can intentionally ride the ship vs. the wave of the social injustice movement. They then look at the workplace and talk through the impact of the bystander effect and how important it is to choose to challenge our limiting beliefs, those of others in a way, in which you can control the controllables. They wrap it up with talking about the shadow we cast as leaders, workplace burnout and how asking for help and knowing how to do so has never been more important than now! Tune in to unpack how you #choosetochallenge!

Episode 32: Real Talk with Archita and Olivia - The Social Injustice Movement, Workplace Culture & Burnout

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers.

Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally.

Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Jeanine McIntosh Menze was awarded her ‘wings of gold’ on June 24, 2005 and became the first Black female aviator in the 215-year history of the United States Coast Guard! In this episode of The Nine Oh Six Jeanine shares how her staying true to not only her why but her how helps her conquer fear in all walks of her life. She challenges us to cancel out the noise, especially the negative self talk that keeps ‘the only’s’ from seeking with clarity the light they were meant to shine in. She encourages us all to reach back and pull up another person as we continue to scale our leadership journeys.

Episode 31: Becoming The First Black Female Aviator in The U.S Coast Guard

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers.

Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally.

Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

In this episode of The Nine Oh Six, Sanhita Sen who works for the District Attorney’s Office of Philadelphia. shares how she is choosing to challenge systemic racism in the United States Justice system by helping Philadelphia launch a Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission.  She shares how this is the most important and challenging work she has ever done.

She deconstructs how her class, career, education, and race motivate and fuel her passion for finding ‘individual justice’. She challenges us with kindness on how we can be intentional in what we choose to challenge and how uncomfortable we are willing to get. She walks us through the power of being the oppressor and being oppressed and her continued journey to challenge the underlying power conversation which requires an investment in imagination.

Episode 30: Choosing to Challenge Systemic Racism in the U.S Justice System with Curiosity And Kindness

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers.

Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally.

Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

This episode provides a sneak peek into Season Three of The Nine Oh Six. Lots of changes: new guest co-host Olivia Cream join us this season! Focus this season is #ChoosetoChallenge. We will interview extraordinary women who are being intentional in what they #ChoosetoChallenge. Season 3 episodes drop March 8th!

In this episode of The Nine Oh Six, Meha and Archita reflect on the year that was 2020 - our personal journeys, how we navigated the year and what continues to shape us and our approach to life, including the social justice reckoning in the U.S. We also share how we plan to show up in 2021, and most importantly, we express our gratitude to our listeners, our family and our friends.

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers.

Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally.

Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Olivia Grant-Cream is a U.S. Veteran born and raised in Jamaica, and is one of the first Black female Engineer Officers of a major Coast Guard cutter to graduate from the United States Coast Guard Academy. Olivia has spent the past decade working in the healthcare industry in Human Resources, and is passionate about changing the face of Corporate America. Recently, she started a coaching practice to help under-represented high performers discover their why and win in the workplace. Olivia is also writing a book -  "The Only: A survival guide for under represented employees in Corporate America."

In this episode, Olivia challenges our listeners to ask the right questions in the pursuit to discovering their individual 'why', especially when part of an underrepresented community. She also reflects on her experiences in the U.S. Coast Guard and how we should empower ourselves with our intentions.

Episode 28: From First Black Woman Engineer Officer in The U.S. Coast Guard to Corporate America

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers.

Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally.

Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Anastasia Thatcher Marceau is an executive in social impact consulting at Accenture. She's also a world traveler, an adjunct professor at The New School in New York City, and mom to two young daughters. In this episode of The Nine Oh Six, Anastasia shares with us how she dealt with the new reality of going back to corporate life after maternity leave, and how she is teaching her daughters the concept of self-love. Anastasia also reflects on how we don't need a title to make a difference in our workplace or our communities.

Episode 27:  Leadership Skills & Lessons from an Executive in Social Impact (And New Mom)

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers.

Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally.

Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Monique Ball continues to break stereotypes society has and continues to place on her. Very early on, education empowered her to her first job in broadcasting and has been her cornerstone as she moved up the ladder in digital advertising prior to transitioning to be a stay at home mom and most recently a licensed real estate agent.

In this episode of The Nine Oh Six, Monique highlights how she decided at age nine that she was not going to be the 'stereotype' that society expected her to be. She discusses how going to a historically black university gave her an opportunity to live four years as one of the majority, preparing and empowering her for the rest of her life as a minority. She finally challenges us to be curious, as she believes curiosity drives connection. 

Episode 26: Leadership Development from a Woman of Color Who Continues to Break Stereotypes 

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers.

Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally.

Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Saloni Multani is the Chief Financial Officer of the Biden-Harris campaign for the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election.

In this episode of The Nine Oh Six, Saloni underscores for us why we all have a responsibility in playing our part in our democracy. She shares how her journey in corporate America took on a different turn when she reflected on what she can do as an individual to make a difference in this world.

Saloni also reflects on how she is raising her daughters to be educated and responsible young citizens, and gives us specific actions that we all can take, in the days to go before the U.S. Presidential election.

Episode 25: U.S. Election Special - A Conversation with Saloni Multani, CFO of the Biden-Harris Campaign

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers.

Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally.

Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Episode Highlight: On this episode of the Embracing "Only" podcast, we sit down with Kim Crowder, transformational leadership expert and founder of Courageous Crowd. Kim is known for helping Fortune 500 companies transform crises into catalysts for growth, and she brings both her extensive corporate experience and entrepreneurial wisdom to this conversation. We explore how high-achieving women of color can hold boundaries, navigate toxic environments, and trust their values when stepping into alignment and away from overwork.

As a LinkedIn Top Voice, Kim has been featured in Forbes, the New York Times, CBS, and Business Insider. She now leads a team of experts creating sustainable leadership culture in the most complex workplaces.

Key Discussion Points:

02:50 Defining Boundaries While Holding Influence: There are stark differences between being a boundary-holder in corporate America vs. consulting. 

09:43 The Importance of Living Your Values: Showing up as yourself and staying true to your values will help you attract the right kind of clients & team members.

15:31 Finding Alignment With Yourself and With Work: Finding moments of quiet is the way to find alignment within yourself, which will then flow into your work.

20:01 Sacred Work vs. Strategic Work: Not all passions are meant for capitalism. There are some things that you may be extremely passionate about but would prefer to keep sacred.

27:30 What Alignment Actually Feels Like: Alignment often comes in small moments. There is power in recognizing the value of these.

30:58 Turning Chaos Into a Superpower: The chaos that you are currently living through could later on become the foundation of what you can build on your own.

41:17 Being a Black Woman in the Boardroom Today: Cultivate and honor what makes you unique as your superpower. You may not be able to ignore how other people feel about it, but you don't have to internalize it. 

In Summary: Kim Crowder emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, leveraging experiences as superpowers, and maintaining mental health and creativity through journaling and finding quiet moments.

Resources from this episode:

Follow Kim on LinkedIn.

If you happen to be a woman of color and you are looking for a community of like minded women, join Olivia here: https://www.mysistersshoulders.com/.

Ready to make a change?

→ If you are struggling to navigate your corporate career but are ambitious and have goals you want to accomplish quickly, Olivia is the coach for you. She can help you reach your goals. 

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.

→ If you are ready to transition out of Corporate and want to start building a profitable portfolio career as a business owner, board member or more, but you’re unsure of the next steps, Archita can guide you through a successful transition to entrepreneurship. 

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Connect with your hosts:

Follow Embracing Only on

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Annette Maxberry-Carrara has many stories. From helping her Afghan daughter escape the Taliban, Annette herself escaping the Algerian civil war to political activism in the United States, her experiences are rich and unencumbered. She lives her life through the power of imagination to battle chronic pain from lupus and fibromyalgia, not giving failure power and working through adversity.

Episode 24: Writing Success Stories with Courage, Compassion And Empathy

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers.

Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally.

Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Tamika Jean-Baptiste is an executive in the diversity, inclusion and belonging space. She is also a mother who is raising her young son with a strong, value-based multicultural identity.

In this episode of The Nine Oh Six, Tamika shares how her life experiences, role models and her 'village' have all shaped her into the strong leader and mother that she is today. Tamika also emphasizes to us that diversity is a reality, and inclusion is a behavior...and behavior needs to be exercised over time. And ultimately, we all are a byproduct of our own life experiences.

Episode 23: Leading a Diverse and Inclusive Life as a DEI Executive And as a Mother

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers.

Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally.

Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

In this episode of The Nine Oh Six, we catch up with Dr. Ashlesha Tawde - a Major in the Indian Army. Ashlesha is a Soldier, a Doctor, and a Mother - and today, she is an active physician working in rural India, in the midst of a global pandemic. Ashlesha shares with us how how her army background has trained her for facing crisis situations. She discusses the revolutionary impact of technology in building awareness of COVID-19 in Indian communities. Ashlesha also reflects on how positivity is a weapon, and how we all truly are warriors today during this pandemic.

Episode 22: A Soldier, a Doctor, and a Mother on the Frontlines of a Pandemic 

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers.

Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally.

Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

In this episode of The Nine Oh Six, we catch up with Elsbeth Hurry - an entrepreneur and life coach. Elsbeth discusses how she has prioritised an important leadership skill: making strong connections during the time of a crisis. This has led her to reset short-term goals while not losing sight of her vision of what she wants to accomplish. She shares how resilience and self-awareness coupled with courage will help us lead with more purpose. 

Episode 21: Leading with Resilience And Self-Awareness during a Crisis

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers.

Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally.

Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

In this mini episode of The Nine Oh Six, we check back in with Trisha Oreta. Trisha is an international banking executive based in New York City. Today, we talk about managing a team during a global crisis, and how she's had to reset expectations for herself with what success looks like as we adjust to this new normal. We also reflect on the importance of showing vulnerability, particularly as female role models, during these challenging times.

Episode 20: The Importance of Female Role Models in a Global Crisis

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers.

Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally.

Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

In this mini-episode, our guest from Season One Episode 12, Nes Reign shares how showing gratitude and taking moments to reflect is a blessing. A former hip hop artist, self-proclaimed ‘hustlepreneur’ and an individual who has navigated a lot of personal pain shares how she is staying positive and encourages us to not loose sight of the bigger picture with her closing thoughts.

Episode 19: Gratitude is Attitude (One of The Most Underrated Leadership Skills)

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers.

Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally.

Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

In this mini-episode of The Nine Oh Six, we check back in with Kristie Savage, a data scientist at Spotify. On Episode 2 of Season One, Kristie had shared her passion for increasing STEM education. Now, she explains to us the power of virtual mentoring and shares actionable steps on how we can support each other. She also shares how she stays motivated despite the uncertainty, while sheltering in place with her fiancee in Brooklyn, New York.

Episode 18: The Power of Virtual Mentoring for Career Development in STEM

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers.

Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally.

Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

In this mini episode of The Nine Oh Six, we check back in with Dr. Andrea Bouman. When we interviewed Andrea in Episode 8, Andrea reflected on her journey of pursuing her passion in medicine to serve her rural community, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, while becoming a new mom at the same time. Now, we check in with Andrea as she reflects on how she manages to stay positive despite the challenging times, and how her support system at home has helped her focus on strengthening her community as an ER physician during this pandemic.

Episode 17: Staying Positive on the Frontlines of The COVID Pandemic

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers.

Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally.

Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Courtney Boehrer, a Human Resources leader in the MEdTech industry and coach of Team HeartStrong was our guest on Season One, Episode 3 of The Nine Oh Six. Courtney shares how she is navigating the new normal for her and her family amidst the crisis.  She tackles mental toughness, the evolution of the workplace and giving ourselves grace while we lead with our hearts during this mini episode of The Nine Oh Six.

Episode 16: Leadership Skills And The Evolution of The Workplace 

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers.

Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally.

Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Priyanka Lugani, founder and creator of Alma Deli and guest on Season One, Episode 10 of The Nine Oh Six shares how she is defining success, staying positive and how her motivation mantra that "everything is rigged in your favour" keeps her pushing forward. She tackles anxiety, finding your fears, and healthy eating in this mini-episode of The Nine Oh Six.

Episode 15: Clapping to the Contra Rhythm of Life

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers.

Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally.

Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Episode Highlight: On this episode of the Embracing "Only" podcast, we are featuring one of the most impactful moments from episode 26 with guest Monique Ball. What does it take to rise above stereotypes and rewrite the narrative? Monique shares how identity, education, and self-belief can become tools for empowerment.

Monique is a licensed real estate agent and previously worked in broadcasting and digital advertising. Throughout Monique’s life, she has continued to break societal stereotypes, and through education, she has been empowered to rise above the expectations placed on her. 

This episode is just a short snippet that highlights the best and most powerful learning moment from a past episode. You can listen to the full episode (filled with more wisdom) here: Episode 26: Breaking stereotypes and leading with curiosity.

Key Discussion Points:

00:58 Ignorance and Misinformation: We have to think critically about the information we consume, especially in times of crisis. 

01:59 Navigating Stereotypes: People choose to accept stereotypes and misinformation rather than educate themselves. Use this as motivation to supersede whatever judgment society has placed on you.

07:05 Understanding Historically Black Universities: Historically black colleges and universities are institutions that were founded on the principle of helping minorities have higher education.

08:08 Empowerment in Belonging: There is empowerment that comes with being part of the majority.

In Summary: Monique encourages us to challenge stereotypes, use adversity as motivation, and invest in education as a path to empowerment. She urges us to seek environments that affirm our identity and build self-confidence.

Resources from this episode:

Follow Monique on LinkedIn. 

If you happen to be a woman of color and you are looking for a community of like minded women, join Olivia here: https://www.mysistersshoulders.com/ 

Ready to make a change?

→ If you are struggling to navigate your corporate career but are ambitious and have goals you want to accomplish quickly, Olivia is the coach for you. She can help you reach your goals. 

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.

→ If you are ready to transition out of Corporate and want to start building a profitable portfolio career as a business owner, board member or more, but you’re unsure of the next steps, Archita can guide you through a successful transition to entrepreneurship.

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Connect with your hosts:

Follow Archita on Linkedin or check out her website.

Follow Olivia on Linkedin or check out her website.

Follow Embracing Only on Linkedin, Instagram, and Facebook, or check out the website.

_________

Produced by Ideablossoms

A sneak peek into a few short mini episodes we will share to wrap up Season One of The Nine Oh Six. We are living in peculiar times and we tackle how our guests on Season One are navigating their new normal. 

In Season 1 of The Nine Oh Six Podcast, we asked the 9 inspirational women we interviewed how they define success - and we learned that success comes in many different forms. Too often we are told that success comes from reaching the top of the proverbial corporate ladder.

What about those who might have different journeys, and are defining success on their own terms?

In this episode, we celebrate them!

Listen to our special mini episode as these nine women share their definition of success. It will leave you inspired!

Episode 13: We Asked 9 Inspirational Women We Interviewed How They Define Success

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers.

Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally.

Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

In this episode of The Nine Oh Six, we interview Nes Reign - a musician, writer, podcaster, author, former hip-hop artist and self-proclaimed 'hustlepreneur', who identifies as a proud Muslim of Moroccan origin. Nes reflects on creativity, building resilience, and finding one’s place in this world. She takes us on a journey from how an operation at age 5 left her blind, to signing her first record deal at 15, to losing her sister...and how all of these moments continue to shape her journey of learning, growth and success.

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Meet Trisha Oreta, a banking executive and Wharton MBA grad based in New York City. In this episode of The Nine Oh Six, we take an introspective look into Trisha's life, from her parents’ intentionality to expose her to many cultures, to her ability to persist through difficult experiences. Listen to how the formational moments in Trisha's life shaped the success story she is today, a compassionately-driven person who builds international relationships in a global career.

Episode 11: An International Banking Executive... with Compassion

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers.

Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally.

Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Priyanka Lugani is a serial entrepreneur who has a deep fascination for the collective. She is the founder of Alma Deli, a plant-based food brand based in London, which is pushing the boundaries on connecting the ancient wisdom of the world with food, travel, art, spirit, and science. In this episode of The Nine Oh Six, Priyanka shares her journey of self-discovery after dropping out of college. She explains why nature is the greatest healer, and reflects on how a major illness inspired her to challenge all of us to help our families be more in tune with what we eat.

Episode 10: Women Leaders on a Mission - Feeding Clean Food to the World

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers.

Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally.

Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

In this episode of Real Talk with Meha and Archita, we reflect on the past three episodes of Season 1. We also weave in some of our own experiences, including what it has been like to be road warriors as new moms - while also trying to keep breastfeeding our babies. We reflect on our upbringing, and the role that our parents have had in making us feel unstoppable. We also talk about goal setting and the importance of being bold, in both our professional and our personal endeavors.

Episode 9: Real Talk with Meha and Archita: New Moms, The Influence of Parents, and Goal-Setting

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers. Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally. Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Meet Dr. Andrea Bouman, an ER physician in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. In this episode of The Nine Oh Six, Andrea reflects on her journey of pursuing her passion in medicine to serve her rural community, while starting a family along the way. Hear from her as she shares her experiences as a student at Michigan Tech and as a resident at Henry Ford Hospital, as she overcame self-doubt and leaned on her support system to get to where she is today. 

Episode 8: Overcoming Self-Doubt to Become an ER Doc as a Breastfeeding Mom

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers. Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally. Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Be bold and take risks. This has been what defines Elsbeth Hurry's mindset as her life path has taken her from working with two Fortune 500 companies, to working in ski security in Vail, owning a wine bar, founding a charity for Ethiopian children, and launching a tech startup.

Elsbeth is also a mom of 2, and has had a less than traditional journey to becoming a mother.

In this episode of The Nine Oh Six, hear from Elsbeth as she shares her mindset behind how she took leaps of faith in her career development journey, and also to learn a different take on how to actually attain that proverbial ‘work-life balance’. 

Episode 7: Career Development: Be Bold and Take Risks

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers. Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally. Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

This special episode of The Nine Oh Six is a journey of self-reflection and celebration, where Archita gives thanks to three inspirational women who have impacted her life.

Vijaya Sivakumar, Archita’s mother (Amma), shares her experiences raising two daughters while managing a male-dominated career in urban India. Shobha Subhash, Archita’s aunt (Aunty), shares what it was like to rejoin the workforce after a decade at home. Pamela Fritz, Archita’s mother-in-law (Mutter), shares her experience of starting her own business as a young mom of two, which is still thriving nearly three decades later.

These three women are inspirational proof that success comes in many different forms, and we must celebrate this.

Episode 6: Giving Thanks: Courage, Resilience & Sacrifice as Leadership Skills

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers. Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally. Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Meet Dr. Ashlesha Tawde, a veteran of the Indian Armed Forces. In this episode of The Nine Oh Six, Ashlesha reflects on her dual identity as a soldier and as a civilian, including planning her wedding while in a war-zone at the border of India and Pakistan. Hear from her as she shares the childhood experiences that shaped her desire to enter the Indian military. Ashlesha also reflects on the critical role that her support system - including her life partner - has played throughout her life, especially as she now raises her young daughter.

Episode 5: Inspirational Women Success Stories: A Soldier, a Doctor, and a Mother

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers. Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally. Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Episode Highlight: On this episode of the Embracing "Only" podcast, we are featuring one of the most impactful moments from episode 24 with guest Annette Maxberry-Carrara. Feeling behind or unsure if it's too late to pivot? This conversation will remind you that reinvention isn’t about timing; it’s about courage, clarity, and action.

Annette is a screenwriter, celebrated author, and political activist. She embodies empathy, compassion, and courage, from saving her Afghan daughter from the Taliban and escaping the Algerian Civil War, to getting involved in political activism in the United States.

This episode is just a short snippet that highlights the best and most powerful learning moment from a past episode. You can listen to the full episode (filled with more wisdom) here: Episode 24: Writing Success Stories with Courage, Compassion And Empathy.

Key Discussion Points:

01:00 Reinventing Yourself: You can reinvent yourself at any age, no matter your background or education. All it takes is courage. 

02:57 Stepping Out in the Face of Fear: Failure is not the end of the world. True failure is letting fear hold you back from trying anything.

03:33 Doing What You Can with What You Have: Don’t let what you don’t have hold you back. Rather, explore what you can do with what you have.

06:56 Tapping Into an Untapped Market: If you are looking for a business opportunity, all you need is a bit of creativity and an untapped market.

In Summary: Annette reminds us that reinvention is always possible, regardless of age, setbacks, or fear. She encourages us to act before we feel ready and to embrace failure as part of the process.

Resources from this episode:

Follow Annette on LinkedIn. 

If you happen to be a woman of color and you are looking for a community of like minded women, join Olivia here: https://www.mysistersshoulders.com/ 

Ready to make a change?

→ If you are struggling to navigate your corporate career but are ambitious and have goals you want to accomplish quickly, Olivia is the coach for you. She can help you reach your goals. 

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.

→ If you are ready to transition out of Corporate and want to start building a profitable portfolio career as a business owner, board member or more, but you’re unsure of the next steps, Archita can guide you through a successful transition to entrepreneurship.

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Connect with your hosts:

Follow Archita on Linkedin or check out her website.

Follow Olivia on Linkedin or check out her website.

Follow Embracing Only on Linkedin, Instagram, and Facebook, or check out the website.

_________

Produced by Ideablossoms

In Real Talk with Meha and Archita, we take questions from previous episodes and reflect on them from our own perspectives. In this episode, Meha reflects on her Indian-American identity and Archita shares her career transition from an engineer to a business executive in marketing. We also discuss experiences that shaped Meha’s confidence in public speaking today, and Archita shares a key defining moment in her life.

Episode 4: Real Talk with Meha and Archita: Identity, Public Speaking & Career Transition

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers. Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally. Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Meet Courtney Boehrer, the founder of Team HeartStrong and a successful global HR professional. She reflects on life as an open heart surgery survivor, facing severe body image issues, apprehensions of leaving a 15-year corporate career, and how her defining moments shaped her new lease on life to ultimately be a coach and empower others with embracing their strengths - while leading with healthy and strong.

Episode 3: Leadership Skills: Leading with Heart to Redefine Strong

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers. Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally. Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Meet Kristie Savage, a data scientist with a passion - to increase the number of women in non-traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers. In this episode of The Nine Oh Six, Kristie reflects on her journey off-the-beaten-path to find her dream job, including life lessons moving from Michigan to New York City, how she stays off social media, and her passion for mentorship.

Episode 2: Career Development in Data Science

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers. Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally. Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Meet Tina Marchand, an inspirational woman and the founder and owner of Ellie and Piper, an online party boutique. In this episode of The Nine Oh Six, Tina digs deep into the layers of being your own boss after a successful corporate career, how being a first-generation Vietnamese-American has influenced her work ethic, her success stories, and how the loss of two angel babies gave her a reason to celebrate life and find something she loves doing 18 hours a day/7 days a week.

Episode 1: Success Stories from A Party Boutique Boss with Purpose

About Embracing "ONLY"

Welcome to Embracing Only, the podcast dedicated to empowering women in the workplace by sharing inspiring stories from diverse women who’ve defied the odds in their careers. Each episode spotlights women in leadership, providing insights into their journeys and the leadership skills they’ve developed along the way. With a focus on career development for women of color, we offer actionable career advice for women to help them navigate challenges and thrive professionally. Join us as we create a supportive community for women to rise, claim their power, thrive as "an only" in the workplace, and lead with purpose.

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Hear from nine women defining success on their own terms on ‘The Nine Oh Six’: a podcast co-hosted by lifelong friends Meha Chiraya and Archita Fritz. 

This podcast originated from a desire to share the stories of the extraordinary women in our lives, within our networks and communities, who are forging a path forward. Our goal is simple -- elevate these stories so we can learn from and get inspired by each other.

The name of this podcast is an ode to where our friendship began - the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan.

Episode Highlight: On this episode of the Embracing "Only" podcast, we spotlight a powerful moment from episode 70 with guest Cindy Gallop. What happens when your values no longer align with your workplace? Cindy shares insight on walking away, speaking up, and building a career rooted in authenticity and impact.

Cindy is a bold entrepreneur, brand innovator, and advocate for social change with over 30 years in advertising. Known for her disruptive style, she calls herself the Michael Bay of business.

This short clip features one of the most impactful learning moments from a past episode. You can listen to the full episode (filled with more wisdom) here: Episode 70: Disrupting the Status Quo.

Key Discussion Points:

01:00 The Value of Being Your Own Filter: When you are your own filter and put what you are out there, you will attract your tribe and you'll keep away the people who are not for you.

03:37 Aligning with Your Values (As an Individual and a Business): When businesses come together with their consumers and employees based on shared values, they can make things happen that will benefit consumers, employees, society, and the company.

06:55 Knowing the Right Time to Leave a Job: Working at a company that is not in alignment with your values will cause you stress. This means it’s time to get out.

09:52 Overcoming Fear by Taking Action: The micro-action that will have the single biggest positive effect on your life is saying what you think. This is how you bring your value to the table and become your own filter.

In Summary: Cindy emphasizes the power of authenticity, value alignment, and fearless self-expression in both life and work. She encourages individuals to be their own filter and live their values unapologetically.

Resources from this episode:

Follow Cindy on LinkedIn or visit her website. 

You can support Cindy Gallpo’s mission by making a tax-deductible donation to Inspire Access x MLNP—an initiative championing equity and access in business. Whether you're a major investor or simply passionate about real change, we highly encourage you to contribute.

👉 Donate here to support a visionary female founder.

If you happen to be a woman of color and you are looking for a community of like minded women, join Olivia here: https://www.mysistersshoulders.com/ 

Ready to make a change?

→ If you are struggling to navigate your corporate career but are ambitious and have goals you want to accomplish quickly, Olivia is the coach for you. She can help you reach your goals. 

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.

→ Ready to leave Corporate and build a profitable portfolio career? Archita can guide your transition to entrepreneurship with clarity and confidence.

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Connect with your hosts:

Follow Embracing Only on Linkedin, Instagram, and Facebook, or check out the website.

_________

Produced by Ideablossoms

Episode Highlight: On this episode of the Embracing "Only" podcast, we are featuring one of the most impactful moments from episode 30 with guest Sanhita Sen. How do you stay true to your values in corporate systems that resist change? Sanhita is sharing insight on navigating identity, power, and purpose in corporate environments.

Sanhita is an experienced Assistant District Attorney with a demonstrated history of working in the law practice industry. She has a Doctor of Law from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. 

This episode is just a short snippet that highlights the best and most powerful learning moment from a past episode. You can listen to the full episode (filled with more wisdom) here: Episode 30: Choosing to Challenge Systemic Racism in the U.S Justice System with Curiosity And Kindness.

Key Discussion Points:

00:59 Moving Beyond Surface-Level Diversity: We need to stop running from real conversations about power and privilege, and instead confront them honestly and intentionally.

05:01 Staying True to Your Values Within the System: You do not have to dedicate your life to the downfall of capitalism; rather, you can choose to act intentionally in the systems you live in.

03:35 The Social Networking Aspect to Dismantling Racism: People are more likely to change when ideas have been introduced to them by a friend.

10:29 Making Space for Less Privileged Voices:  You can use your privilege and platform to make room for voices that don't naturally have access to that privilege. 

In Summary: Sanhita Sen encourages those more privileged to use that power to amplify marginalized voices. She explains that investing in imagination is the only way to create a more inclusive future.

Resources from this episode:

Follow Sanhita on LinkedIn. 

If you happen to be a woman of color and you are looking for a community of like minded women, join Olivia here: https://www.mysistersshoulders.com/ 

Ready to make a change?

→ If you are struggling to navigate your corporate career but are ambitious and have goals you want to accomplish quickly, Olivia is the coach for you. She can help you reach your goals. 

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.

→ If you are ready to transition out of Corporate and want to start building a profitable portfolio career as a business owner, board member or more, but you’re unsure of the next steps, Archita can guide you through a successful transition to entrepreneurship.

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Connect with your hosts:

Follow Archita on Linkedin or check out her website.

Follow Olivia on Linkedin or check out her website.

Follow Embracing Only on

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Episode Highlight: On this episode of the Embracing "Only" podcast, we are featuring one of the most impactful moments from episode 28 with Olivia Grant-Cream from before she was a host on the show. Olivia is sharing the exact steps you need to take to advocate for yourself in the workplace.

 Olivia is a US veteran, born and raised in Jamaica, with over 12 years of experience in HR leadership. She has recently left her corporate job to pursue entrepreneurship full-time, where she helps ambitious women of color break through barriers and create the success they deserve.

This episode is just a short snippet that highlights the best and most powerful learning moment from a past episode. You can listen to the full episode (filled with more wisdom) here: Episode 28: From First Black Woman Engineer Officer in The U.S. Coast Guard to Corporate America.

Key Discussion Points:

00:58 Advocating for Yourself in the Workplace: You cannot accomplish anything in your organization without knowing what you want, networking, and adding value.

05:11 Stop Trying to Prove People Wrong: Don’t chase things just because someone says you can’t do it. That doesn’t help you in your life.

06:05 Understanding Your Why: Without a clear why, you’ll waste energy chasing goals that don’t actually belong to you. 

In Summary: Olivia shares practical strategies for career growth by focusing on clarity, strategic networking, and adding visible value. She urges us to define our “why” instead of chasing goals rooted in ego or external doubt.

Resources from this episode:

Start with Why & Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek

If you happen to be a woman of color and you are looking for a community of like minded women, join Olivia here: https://www.mysistersshoulders.com/ 

Ready to make a change?

→ If you are struggling to navigate your corporate career but are ambitious and have goals you want to accomplish quickly, Olivia is the coach for you. She can help you reach your goals. 

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.

→ If you are ready to transition out of Corporate and want to start building a profitable portfolio career as a business owner, board member or more, but you’re unsure of the next steps, Archita can guide you through a successful transition to entrepreneurship.

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Connect with your hosts:

Follow Archita on Linkedin or check out her website.

Follow Olivia on Linkedin or check out her website.

Follow Embracing Only on Linkedin, Instagram, and Facebook, or check out the website.

_________

Produced by Ideablossoms

Episode Highlight: On this episode of the Embracing "Only" podcast, we are featuring one of the most impactful moments from episode 67 with guest Mary Waweru. We’re diving into creating inclusive workplaces as Mary shares impactful DEI practices and the importance of anti-racism.

Mary is an intersectionality, racial equity, decoloniality, and social impact consultant. As the CEO and founder of Crest Impact, she guides organisations to build safe and inclusive cultures, practices, policies, and communications.  

This episode is just a short snippet that highlights the best and most powerful learning moment from a past episode. You can listen to the full episode (filled with more wisdom) here: Episode 67: Taking Action To Be Anti-Racist.

Key Discussion Points:

01:00 Recognizing the Value of DEI: DEI affects every aspect of a business, from the brand and the people within the organization to people externally and brands wanting to partner with the organization.

04:06 Creating Safe Spaces for Conversation: Hard conversations don’t have to be scary. Normalise having these conversations and allow people to make mistakes, make guesses, and be unsure. 

08:18 The Value of an Expert to Assist with DEI Work: DEI shouldn’t be assigned as a side project to the only woman or person of color on the team.

09:40 The Need for Anti-Racism: It’s not enough to be “not racist,” you have to take action to be anti-racist. 

In Summary: Mary emphasizes the importance of cultural humility, racial equity, and social impact within organizations. She encourages us to be anti-racist through action, commitment, education, and learning.

Resources from this episode:

Follow Mary on LinkedIn or visit her website. 

Find Mary’s anti-racism courses here.

If you happen to be a woman of color and you are looking for a community of like minded women, join Olivia here: https://www.mysistersshoulders.com/ 

Ready to make a change?

→ If you are struggling to navigate your corporate career but are ambitious and have goals you want to accomplish quickly, Olivia is the coach for you. She can help you reach your goals. 

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.

→ If you are ready to transition out of Corporate and want to start building a profitable portfolio career as a business owner, board member or more, but you’re unsure of the next steps, Archita can guide you through a successful transition to entrepreneurship.

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Connect with your hosts:

Follow Archita on Linkedin or check out her website.

Follow Olivia on Linkedin or check out her website.

Follow Embracing Only on Linkedin, Instagram, and Facebook, or check out the website.

_________

Produced by Ideablossoms

Episode Highlight: On this episode of the Embracing "Only" podcast, we are featuring one of the most impactful moments from episode 66 with guest Dorothy Mashburn. Workplace negotiations can be intimidating. Luckily, Dorothy is sharing her tips to help you master them.

 Dorothy is a leading authority in negotiation and has a fervent mission to champion the underserved in corporate arenas. With a track record of negotiating pivotal deals with global giants and managing international teams, her unique insights empower minorities and women to achieve their career aspirations. 

This episode is just a short snippet that highlights the best and most powerful learning moment from a past episode. You can listen to the full episode (filled with more wisdom) here: Episode 66: Mastering Workplace Negotiations.

Key Discussion Points:

01:00 Do Not Negotiate Against Yourself:  If you negotiate against yourself, you will never reach any big goals. Your job is to dream big.

03:39 Sponsorship as Minority Women:  In general, minority women do not have sponsors in the workplace unless they have created those relationships for themselves. You have to stand up and advocate for yourself.

05:57 Changing Negotiation Power Dynamics:  If someone says your ask is too big, do not immediately apologize. This gives them the power. Stand in your power and stay confident in your ask.

07:28 Don’t Fear the No:  No is just the start of the negotiations, not something that should scare you.

In Summary: Dorothy Mashburn challenges us to advocate for ourselves and go big when negotiating. She urges us not to fear the “no” and emphasizes the value of staying calm and confident during high-stakes negotiations.

Resources from this episode:

Follow Dorothy on LinkedIn or visit her website. 

If you happen to be a woman of color and you are looking for a community of like minded women, join Olivia here: https://www.mysistersshoulders.com/ 

Ready to make a change?

→ If you are struggling to navigate your corporate career but are ambitious and have goals you want to accomplish quickly, Olivia is the coach for you. She can help you reach your goals. 

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.

→ If you are ready to leave corporate or you want to start a profitable side brilliance but you’re unsure of the next steps, Archita can guide you through a successful transition to entrepreneurship. 

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Connect with your hosts:

Follow Archita on Linkedin or check out her website.

Follow Olivia on Linkedin or check out her website.

Follow Embracing Only on Linkedin, Instagram, and Facebook, or check out the website.

______

Produced by Ideablossoms

Episode Highlight: On this episode of the Embracing "Only" podcast, we delve into navigating transition and finding alignment. Discover the challenges and triumphs of transitioning from corporate life to entrepreneurship, and hear personal stories and strategies for finding alignment and maintaining clarity during significant life changes.

Olivia also makes a very exciting announcement in this episode. Tune in to find out more.

Key Discussion Points:

01:23 The Value of Alignment: The market does not define you. If you are in alignment, abundance will come.

04:20 Understanding Your Passions, Values & Priorities: Understanding your passions, values, and priorities is key to making any successful career transition.

12:35 The Importance of a Support Network: It’s easy to miss patterns in our own behavior. This is why surrounding yourself with people who will tell you the truth is so important.

16:05 Creating a Financial Safety Net: Operating from a place of desperation eliminates creativity and innovation. A financial safety net makes pivoting easier.

19:54 Culture Fit and Workplace Values: The longer you stay in an environment that is misaligned with your core values, the more you will become a shadow of your former self.

24:02 Taking Control of Your Life: We have to take a proactive approach with our careers and lives. Do not give your power to anyone else.

32:24 Debunking the ‘Growth at All Costs’ Myth: Check in to make sure that whatever you are pursuing right now is in alignment with your larger mission and that you will not be sacrificing that mission for a short-term achievement.

In Summary: Olivia and Archita emphasise the value of understanding your passions, values, and priorities and aligning with them before you make any transitions. They encourage us to take control of our lives and ensure that are actions are in alignment with our long-term mission.

Resources from this episode:

The 5 Book by Dan Zadra and Kristel Wills

Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams

If you happen to be a woman of color and you are looking for a community of like minded women, join Olivia here: https://www.mysistersshoulders.com/.

Connect with your hosts:

Follow Archita on Linkedin or check out her website.

Follow Olivia on Linkedin or check out her website.

Follow Embracing Only on Linkedin, Instagram, and Facebook, or check out the website.

_________

Produced by Ideablossoms

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Episode Highlight: In this episode of the Embracing “Only” podcast, we welcome back bestselling author and corporate change-maker Mita Mallick. With her signature candor, Mita shares wisdom from her upcoming book The Devil Emails at Midnight: What Good Leaders Can Learn from Bad Bosses, which explores 13 “devil boss” archetypes, drawing on personal stories and real-life failures turned into lessons in leadership. 

Mita is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author on a mission to fix what's broken in our workplaces. With a background spanning global brands like Unilever, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson, Mita brings deep insight into marketing, HR, and organizational transformation. 

Key Discussion Points:

02:58 Why Good People Become Bad Bosses: Stress in the market, pressure from above, or personal issues at home can cause leaders to act out in harmful ways.

06:29 Beloved but Incompetent Leaders: Mediocre men keep getting promoted based on potential, while overqualified women of color are passed over.

12:30 Diversity Under Attack: As corporate DEI commitments backslide, Mita challenges companies to stand firm and urges employees to "vote with their wallets”.

16:48 Internal vs. External Consistency: If your external brand doesn't match your internal culture, expect to be called out.

21:39 Building a Personal Safety Net: Loyalty is dead. Women of color must protect themselves in workplaces that don’t always protect them.

29:08 Burnout & Overfunctioning: Women of color are told to "work twice as hard" to get half as far. This is exploitation masked as opportunity.

33:24 The Midnight Email Culture: What does it say about a company when leaders only respond between 10 PM and 1 AM?

In Summary: Mita Mallick encourages us to reimagine leadership in modern workplaces. She challenges leaders to prioritize coaching and development, create inclusive environments, and maintain genuine commitments to diversity and ethical practices.

Resources from this episode:

Find Mita's books here: https://www.mitamallick.com/book

Follow Mita on Linkedin or check out her website.

Check out our first episode with Mita here: https://embracingonly.com/episodes/debunking-corporate-myths-to-transform-your-workplace 

If you happen to be a woman of color and you are looking for a community of like minded women, join Olivia here: https://www.mysistersshoulders.com/.

Ready to make a change?
→ If you are struggling to navigate your corporate career but are ambitious and have goals you want to accomplish quickly, Olivia is the coach for you. She can help you reach your goals. 

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.

→ If you are ready to transition out of Corporate and want to start building a profitable portfolio career as a business owner, board member or more, but you’re unsure of the next steps, Archita can guide you through a successful transition to entrepreneurship. 

Reach out to her on

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Episode Highlight: On this episode of the Embracing "Only" podcast, we are featuring one of the most impactful moments from episode 65 with guest Lisa Hurley. If you are struggling with boundaries at work, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. 

 Lisa is an entrepreneur, writer, podcaster, and Anthem Award-winning activist. Her work centers Black women and encompasses self-care, community care, joy, and rest. She is the founder and CEO of The Great Exhale, a soft virtual space where Black women can relax, heal, and thrive.

This episode is just a short snippet that highlights the best and most powerful learning moment from a past episode. You can listen to the full episode (filled with more wisdom) here: Episode 65: Leveraging Your Uniqueness For Success.

Key Discussion Points:

00:55 Advocating for Yourself in Corporate:  Surviving and navigating the corporate world can be incredibly taxing. You have to put yourself before the company you work at and advocate for yourself.

02:34 The Illusion of Corporate Necessity:  Corporations will take care of themselves. You are not essential to their success.

08:03 The Work Family Myth:  Your team at work is not your family. You can care about individuals as people, but this does not mean that your company is your family.

09:52 Taking Control of Your Life:  You are in charge of your own life. Everything starts and ends with you.

In Summary: Lisa Hurley emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy and taking control of our lives in corporate spaces. She urges us to recognize our personal value and set boundaries to avoid burnout and lead a fulfilling professional life.

Resources from this episode:

Follow Lisa on LinkedIn or visit her website. 

Space to Exhale: A Handbook for Curating a Soft, Centered, Serene Life by Lisa Hurley

If you happen to be a woman of color and you are looking for a community of like minded women, join Olivia here: https://www.mysistersshoulders.com/ 

Ready to make a change?

→ If you are struggling to navigate your corporate career but are ambitious and have goals you want to accomplish quickly, Olivia is the coach for you. She can help you reach your goals. 

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.

→ If you are ready to leave corporate or you want to start a profitable side brilliance but you’re unsure of the next steps, Archita can guide you through a successful transition to entrepreneurship. 

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Connect with your hosts:

Follow Archita on Linkedin or check out her website.

Follow Olivia on Linkedin or check out her website.

Follow Embracing Only on Linkedin, Instagram, and Facebook, or check out the website.

_________

Produced by Ideablossoms

Episode Highlight: On this episode of the Embracing "Only" podcast, we delve into redefining productivity and thriving amidst struggle with Grace Marshall, an award-winning author, speaker, and productivity ninja at Think Productive. She's here today to share how we can redefine success on our own terms and how life's messiest moments can spark growth, creativity, and resilience.

Grace is a self-proclaimed, naturally disorganized, chief encourager. She helps people rethink productivity, not as a relentless race to do more, but as a way to work smarter with heart. She's coached thousands from being overwhelmed to learning how to get things done without burning out in the process. She's been featured in The Guardian, Forbes, and on BBC Radio.

Key Discussion Points:

03:43 Redefining Productivity: Ticking things off a list can be a seductive form of productivity. However, giving yourself the space to be curious and explore failure is productive as well. 

09:17 Cultivating a Fulfilling Work-Life Experience: When your work is enjoyable, it’s sustainable because it’s not going to lead to burnout.

12:37 How to Go From Survival Mode to Thriving: Reframing the phrase “I’ve got to” with “I get to” will help you look for opportunities and joy in your life.

19:22 Finding Opportunity Amidst Struggle: First, recognize that you are struggling, then get curious about the situation. When we approach a struggle with curiosity, it allows us to find opportunity within it.

32:49 Separating Truth from Fiction: When you are in a triggering situation, asking yourself what is true helps you separate the facts from your fears and feelings.

40:51 Handling High-Functioning Fear in Leadership: As a leader, it is important to surround yourself with truth-tellers so they can help you snap out of high-functioning fear if needed.

In Summary: Grace Marshall encourages us to rethink productivity by embracing curiosity, to redefine success on our own terms, and to view life’s struggles as opportunities for growth. She stresses the importance of creating work experiences that are fulfilling.

Resources from this episode:

How to be REALLY Productive: Achieving Clarity And Getting Results In A World Where Work Never Ends by Grace Marshall

Struggle: The surprising truth, beauty and opportunity hidden in life’s sh*ttier moments by Grace Marshall

Follow Grace on Linkedin or check out her website.

If you happen to be a woman of color and you are looking for a community of like minded women, join Olivia here: https://www.mysistersshoulders.com/.

Connect with your hosts:

Follow Archita on Linkedin or check out her website.

Follow Olivia on Linkedin or check out her website.

Follow Embracing Only on

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals? 
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.