In this episode of Embrace the Squiggle, Colleen and Kristine tackle two impactful listener questions that highlight the challenges of leadership and the importance of work-life balance.

💡 Leadership Challenges: Listener 1 writes in about how to handle inaccurate data from colleagues that’s impacting her reports and reputation. Colleen and Kristine share strategies for:

• Communicating effectively with your team.
• Building trust to address issues constructively.
• Creating a collaborative work environment to solve recurring problems.

⏳ Reclaiming Your Balance: Inspired by listener 2 who realized her life was entirely defined by work, the hosts discuss actionable ways to:

• Set boundaries and reclaim personal time.
• Develop a multifaceted identity outside of your career.
• Prioritize your well-being without sacrificing professional growth.

Packed with relatable stories and practical advice, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating career challenges or striving for personal growth.

Interested in being a guest on the podcast in 2025? Fill out our application here https://forms.gle/QX6a9a7cV76VYzbt9

Connect and learn more from Colleen at www.maxady.com and on Linkedin at www.linkedin.com/in/comara

Connect and learn more from Kristine at https://www.kristinethody.com and on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinethody
Subscribe to the podcast Embrace the Squiggle and listen every week for a new career adventure!

And please leave us a rating on your podcast app, it really helps us out!

Colleen and Kristine sit down with Emmy Award-winning producer, journalist, and author Shirley Neal to explore careers, creativity, and the power of perseverance.

🌍 Shirley shares her journey from TV writing and production to authoring her debut book, Afrocentric Style: A Celebration of Blackness & Identity in Pop Culture. The discussion dives into:
✨ Navigating career challenges and following your intuition
✨ The significance of travel in shaping career decisions
✨ Staying current in your field and adapting to change

📖 Shirley also gives an inside look into her new book, a stunning exploration of Black identity and culture through pop culture moments, memes, and memories.

🎧 Tune in for career insights, pop culture wisdom, and Shirley’s inspiring advice for aspiring professionals.

Connect with Shirley:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirley-neal/

https://afrocentricstyle.net/

https://shirleyneal.com/

Connect and learn more from Colleen at www.maxady.com and on Linkedin at www.linkedin.com/in/comara

Connect and learn more from Kristine at https://www.kristinethody.com and on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinethody
Subscribe to the podcast Embrace the Squiggle and listen every week for a new career adventure!

And please leave us a rating on your podcast app, it really helps us out.

Have you ever had a boss who is just checked out?

Colleen and Kristine delve into the challenges of disengaged leadership and its impact on teams. They explore how overburdened and under-trained leaders can unintentionally harm team dynamics and productivity. The discussion includes strategies for effective communication, the importance of weekly feedback, and the value of hiring complementary skills to build a well-rounded team. They also touch on the concepts of reverse mentoring and cultivating a personal board of directors for leaders.

Interested in being a guest on the podcast in 2025? Fill out our application here https://forms.gle/QX6a9a7cV76VYzbt9

Connect and learn more from Colleen at www.maxady.com and on Linkedin at www.linkedin.com/in/comara

Connect and learn more from Kristine at https://www.kristinethody.com and on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinethody
Subscribe to the podcast Embrace the Squiggle and listen every week for a new career adventure!

And please leave us a rating on your podcast app, it really helps us out.

In this episode of Embrace the Squiggle, Colleen and Kristine sit down with Ja'Milla Lomas, a dynamic professional whose career is as multifaceted as her talents. From dreaming of becoming a cardiovascular surgeon ballerina to thriving in communications and community service, Ja'Milla's journey is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the power of finding your true purpose.

Born and raised in Houston, Ja'Milla reflects on her path of self-discovery, from her transformative years at Smith College to navigating career shifts that spanned retail, experiential marketing, and special events. Now serving as the Public Information Officer and Community Relations Director for the Houston Fire Department, Ja'Milla combines her innate charisma and passion for service to make a meaningful impact on her community.

• What are you binging or streaming on TV right now? The Walking Dead
• What color brings you the most joy? rainbow! I love colors! Each one brings out a different kind of emotion in you.
• What is your favorite place on earth? place of serenity - getting lost in Paris - campsite in a random place
• What do you value most in others? honesty - lies will eventually unravel
• What book recommendation do you have for our listeners? My Darkest Prayer https://a.co/d/7OMXbph
• A Free Man of Color https://a.co/d/9OhKQpj

Connect with Ja’Milla https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamillacklomas/

Follow on Insta: millamoo1913

Interested in being a guest on the podcast in 2025? Fill out our application here https://forms.gle/QX6a9a7cV76VYzbt9

Connect and learn more from Colleen at www.maxady.com and on Linkedin at www.linkedin.com/in/comara

Connect and learn more from Kristine at https://www.kristinethody.com and on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinethody
Subscribe to the podcast Embrace the Squiggle and listen every week for a new career adventure!

And please leave us a rating on your podcast app, it really helps us out.

Were you a theatre kid? Do you think you have used your theatre kid skills in your squiggly career?

This week we speak with Shannon Herber to discuss her squiggly career journey from musical theatre and her pivot into the music industry. Shannon’s story is a testament to the power of adaptability, continuous learning, and embracing life's unexpected turns.

Shannon is the Founder & Chief Consultant of the music industry consulting firm Wise River Consulting. Wise River works at the intersection of music and tech, introducing artists, labels and managers to the ways in which emerging tech can enhance their connection to fans, build communities and provide passive revenue streams. Wise River also includes live events, artist relations and GRAMMY consulting. Ms. Herber was named one of Shesaid.so's Alternative Power 100 Music List in 2019 and is a Global Advisory Board Member for UK-based arts non-profit In Place of War; a Co-Chair of the Association For Electronic Music's Emerging Tech Committee; and a Board Member for US-based music non-profit Femme House. She is a Professional member of the Recording Academy and a member of the UK-based Association for Independent Music.

Connect with Shannon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-herber/

https://www.instagram.com/shannon.herber/
https://bsky.app/profile/shannonherber.bsky.social

Rapid Fire:

• What are you binging or streaming on TV right now? Nobody Want's This on Netflix and Say Nothing on FX
• Where is somewhere you want to visit again? Bali, Indonesia
• Book Recommendation? Doppelgänger by Naomi Klein

Interested in being a guest on the podcast in 2025? Fill out our application here https://forms.gle/QX6a9a7cV76VYzbt9

Connect and learn more from Colleen at www.maxady.com and on Linkedin at www.linkedin.com/in/comara

Connect and learn more from Kristine at https://www.kristinethody.com and on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinethody
Subscribe to the podcast Embrace the Squiggle and listen every week for a new career adventure!

And please leave us a rating on your podcast app, it really helps us out.

This episode is a celebration of squiggles and commitment! We went all in on this podcast, and it has been such a pleasure to make this squiggly podcast for you all. This episode not only a celebration, but also includes a focus on navigating internal promotions, building networks, and leveraging mentorship and sponsorship. We also discuss the differences between mentorship and sponsorship and share personal stories of career growth, rejection, and success.

Interested in being a guest on the podcast in 2025? Fill out our application here https://forms.gle/QX6a9a7cV76VYzbt9

Connect and learn more from Colleen at www.maxady.com and on Linkedin at www.linkedin.com/in/comara

Connect and learn more from Kristine at https://www.kristinethody.com and on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinethody
Subscribe to the podcast Embrace the Squiggle and listen every week for a new career adventure!

And please leave us a rating on your podcast app, it really helps us out.

This episode of Embrace the Squiggle Dawn Creighton shares her squiggly path starting from her childhood dreams of being in cosmetology to her diverse roles in banking, sales, nonprofit management, and community outreach. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity, resilience, following one's gut, and valuing personal experiences and connections above material possessions.

Dawn Creighton is Assistant Vice President, Community Outreach Officer, Western Massachusetts Market, Liberty Bank. Dawn is highly connected in the Western Massachusetts community through her work past experiences with the Associated Industries of MA, Greenfield Community College, MassHire Holyoke, and Corporation for Public Management. She created many partnerships with local non-profits.

Speed Round Answers:

• What colour brings you the most joy? Pearl / off-white
• What is your favourite place on earth? Being in a kayak.
• If you were to get a tattoo, what would it be? Something like her daughter’s fish hook tattoo
• What book recommendation do you have for our listeners? Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret? Judy Blume https://a.co/d/iTCgNAp

Connect with Dawn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawncreighton/

Interested in being a guest on the podcast in 2025? Fill out our application here https://forms.gle/QX6a9a7cV76VYzbt9

Connect and learn more from Colleen at www.maxady.com and on Linkedin at www.linkedin.com/in/comara

Connect and learn more from Kristine at https://www.kristinethody.com and on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinethody
Subscribe to the podcast Embrace the Squiggle and listen every week for a new career adventure!

And please leave us a rating on your podcast app, it really helps us out.

Did you have a dream job that once you got it, you actually didn’t like that much? This episode is for you.

This week on Embrace the Squiggle we hear from Joan Perrault, who discusses what its like to have a dream job for 15 years that ends up not being everything she thought it would be. They explore the importance of leadership in job satisfaction, tips for identifying the right leader during a job search.

Joan has navigated through various roles and industries along her very squiggly career path. Her career journey has taken her from for-profit to non-profit, marketing to education, at home and abroad, with stints in higher ed, manufacturing, healthcare, and even government service. She's been pleasantly surprised at just how relevant her seemingly disparate experience has been with each new career step that she takes.

It all comes together in Joan's current role as a Continuous Improvement Coach for Unit-Based Teams (UBTs) at UMass Memorial Health, where she represents a labor-management partnership between the hospital system and its largest labor union, the SHARE union.

Outside of work, Joan has an addiction to audiobooks, practices improv comedy, and enjoys spending time with her partner and two little ones.

• What color brings you the most joy? Blue
• What is your favorite place on earth? Playa Fronton in the DR, can only get there by row boat
• What do you value most in others? Authentic and real people
• What book recommendation do you have for our listeners? Drive by Daniel Pink https://a.co/d/gqT6DoM

Connect with Joan on LinkedIn

Interested in being a guest on the podcast in 2025? Fill out our application here https://forms.gle/QX6a9a7cV76VYzbt9

Connect and learn more from Colleen at www.maxady.com and on Linkedin at www.linkedin.com/in/comara

Connect and learn more from Kristine at https://www.kristinethody.com and on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinethody
Subscribe to the podcast Embrace the Squiggle and listen every week for a new career adventure!

And please leave us a rating on your podcast app, it really helps us out.