Shift-Starters Erin Baker

Scientist & entrepreneur Komal Dadlani is starting some powerful shifts in science and education. While studying biochemistry in the University of Chile, Komal recognized the lack of scientific instruments in laboratories. So, in 2013, despite having had no prior knowledge of entrepreneurship and business start-ups at the time, Komal courageously took on the challenge of co-founding and becoming CEO of Lab4U, a company that develops technologies that transform mobile devices into scientific instruments. Lab4U is designed to supplement the gaps in science and education and allows its 120,000 users around the world to have a lab in their pockets. Komal, guided by her desire to serve humanity, is committed to democratizing science and revolutionizing education by helping students become more inquisitive about the world. She has received numerous accolades in recognition of her work, including the Cartier Women’s Initiative Award.
In today’s episode, Komal and I discuss the gaps in science & education in Chile and Latin America and how those inequalities inspired her to start Lab4U. We describe the beauty of science and how we can all don lab coats and be scientists of our lives and explain why, as a society, we need to grow our “threshold” of science. We also highlight the importance of integrating spirituality, science, and business and how revolutionizing science and education can impact society and alleviate suffering in the world.
“Good intentions are not enough to solve the world’s problems - we need a real understanding of science to change them.” - Komal Dadlani
This week on Shift-Starters:
The impetus behind Lab4U The science & education inequalities in Chile and Latin America The beauty of science and what defines a scientist Life as a series of data points and why a PhD is an entrepreneurial venture Bringing the scientific mindset into education and entrepreneurship The power of inquiry-based learning and the importance of helping students inquire about the world The fundamental philosophy of coaching Science as an approach to life and the long-term vision of Lab4U Exploring epistemology and the philosophy of science Transforming education to reduce social pain and the importance of civic & scientific literacy The lessons Komal realized about being a woman entrepreneur in a male-dominated world My past life in the tech industry and the perspective that’s missing in start-up culture The place of spirituality in science and business The tension between science and religion and how the two can work in symbiosis Resources Mentioned:
The Universe in a Single Atom: The Convergence of Science and Spirituality by His Holiness the Dalai Lama The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership: A New Paradigm for Sustainable Success by Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman, and Kaley Warner Klemp Related Content:
Leave it Better Than You Came with Sophia Wood Connect with Komal Dadlani:
Lab4U Lab4U on LinkedIn Lab4U on Instagram Lab4U on Facebook Lab4U on Twitter Komal Dadlani on LinkedIn Komal Dadlani on Instagram Komal Dadlani on Twitter EMAIL: info@komaldadlani.com / komal@Lab4U.co Let’s Start Some Shift!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Shift-Starters with Erin Baker. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
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Where in your work do you hold yourself back, discounting your knowledge and experience, thinking that everybody knows what you already know? Do you often think that the wisdom you possess is simply obvious, so you hold yourself back from sharing it with your clients, peers, and the wider world? These thoughts occur to many of us so frequently that they prevent us from sharing our gifts, talents, and wisdom with the world. We tell ourselves we don’t have anything worthy to say or teach. We never put up the coaching programs or workshops we said we would because everyone already knows what we have to share with the world.
In this episode, I reveal the curse that many high-achievers, top-performers, and lifelong learners suffer from - and how you can move through it. I describe our tendency to undervalue our knowledge and expertise and explain how this tendency prevents us from working with others and creating valuable content. I also discuss the importance of taking risks in testing whether the knowledge you possess is simply common and underscore the power of asking “why?”
“Remind yourself that you have so much more to give to this world than you are giving yourself credit for.” - Erin Baker
This week on Shift-Starters:
A clapping experiment and the curse of knowledge The curse of knowledge and how it can impede entrepreneurs and leaders from creating and sharing our gifts with the world How we undervalue our knowledge and what our experience tells us How the curse of knowledge affects me in my everyday life A strategy for getting past the curse of knowledge Testing how obvious your knowledge and experience are Pulling an idea and creating social media content, workshops, or courses around your knowledge and ways of being The value of surrounding yourself with beginners Let’s Start Some Shift!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Shift-Starters with Erin Baker. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
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Join me on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content, information, and to request your FREE 7 Questions for Tackling Fear workbook, visit our website.

Executive & Leadership Coach ClaireYvonne Naisbitt was already creating some great shifts in her life when I first met her. After 20 years of being a senior leader in the oil & gas industry, ClaireYvonne decided that she wanted to do something completely different in her life. So, she left her corporate job and went on a journey of deep work and self-exploration where she contemplated femininity, duality, and the “ands” of the world. Today, ClaireYvonne - an award-winning mentor - is dedicated to helping others navigate through the transitions and shifts in their lives through her business, BrightCatalyst.
In this episode, ClaireYvonne and I discuss how we can turn the loud concert in our heads into birdsong. We share what leaving her corporate job taught her about trusting our path, even if we don’t fully understand it. We discuss the importance of cultivating a space where we can listen to the subtle wisdom of our heart and body. We also underscore the role of nature in healing, the importance of bringing more femininity into the world, and highlight how creativity and happiness come whenever we reconnect deeply with ourselves.
“Nature is a big bomb for the soul. It helps us descend into a place of calm, where the live band in our minds becomes birdsong.” - ClaireYvonne Naisbitt
This week on Shift Starters:
What drove ClaireYvonne to leave the oil & gas industry to do something different in her life What the transition from working in a big corporation to starting a business was like for ClaireYvonne ClaireYvonne’s 9-month soulbbatical and how it helped her tap into her creative side Deciding to take it slow in life and switching from scarcity to an abundance mindset Joy creation and the power of being in the moment Cultivating a space in our lives where we can listen to the heart and body What it means to reconnect with our bodies to make decisions The healing power of nature and exercises to help us reconnect with the wisdom of our body One of the most difficult challenges in Western society The importance of balancing femininity and masculinity in the world The role of nature in helping us access our highest consciousness The relationship between leadership and happiness Related Content:
The Secret to Liberating a Billion Souls: Trust AND Surrender with Shelley Paxton Connect with ClaireYvonne Naisbitt:
BrightCatalyst BrightCatalyst on Facebook ClaireYvonne Naisbitt on LinkedIn Let’s Start Some Shift!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Shift Starters with Erin Baker. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
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Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more Shift Starters, like you.
Join me on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content, information, and to request your FREE 7 Questions for Tackling Fear workbook, visit our website.

Before she founded the Global Legacy Institute, Angela Tennison decided to follow and support a person who ran for the presidency: Barack Obama. When he was elected, Angela soon found herself in the White House serving as an aide and became the first African-American woman to serve as the White House Usher, a role where Angela had the opportunity to manage staff, logistics, and operations. After seven years of service in the White House, Angela spent the last part of her political career as the first and only Leadership Development Director at the US Department of Education. Today, as the founder and CEO of the Global Legacy Institute, Angela develops and coaches leaders, helping them leave powerful legacies in the world. Beyond her work at the Institute, Angela is on a bigger mission to have courageous conversations on systemic racism.
In this episode, Angela and I discuss what it takes to move the needle of racism and bridge our biggest divides in society. We discuss her journey and how searching for purpose helped Angela know she was on the right path. We define what it means to be courageous and highlight why it’s okay to not know every step of the way in life’s journey. We also discuss how you can participate in a movement and the impact of having deep conversations on systemic racism.
“Having human moments with others and sharing our humanity is what’s going to shift the conversations, the systems, and what’s really possible.” - Angela Tennison
This week on Shift-Starters:
Angela’s journey into the White House and what kept her going Encountering the fear of “What if I don’t?” How being in service to something great served Angela The Samurai game and how we often fill the blanks of our self-worth Responding to the call of service and how the killing of George Floyd impacted Angela and her mission The map is not the territory and why it’s okay to not know every step of a big mission to start some shift Confronting impostor syndrome and the importance of trusting your voice and what you have to say How service to a cause can serve ourselves while serving our mission The power of conversations in moving the needle on systemic racism What it means to play your part in a mission or a movement The 50% rule and why I seek other leaders who I don’t agree with all the time What courage means and its role in doing work Related Content:
What if I can’t? What does it really mean to *do* you? With Erin Hatzikostas Connect with Angela Tennison:
The Global Legacy Institute Angela Tennison Angela Tennison on LinkedIn Angela Tennison on Instagram Angela Tennison on Facebook Angela Tennison on Twitter Email: angela@angelatennison.com Let’s Start Some Shift!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Shift-Starters with Erin Baker. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
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Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more Shift Starters, like you.
Join me on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content, information, and to request your FREE 7 Questions for Tackling Fear workbook, visit our website.

Where in your life have you decided you simply can’t? And in this area of your journey, have you ever stopped to think what can happen if you asked yourself, “What if it’s possible?” Because that’s exactly what started some shifts in the life of Tim Snell, Head of Performance at the London tech start-up Modulous. Asking “what if'' questions took Tim on a journey that led him to a path of healing and self-discovery that opened his heart. Today, in addition to working on projects and initiatives at Modulous, Tim is also a Certified International Leadership & Performance Coach and SOMA Breath Advanced Instructor who leads his clients into places they never imagined they could achieve.
In this episode, Tim and I discuss how the story of a young boy inspired him to embark on a spiritual journey and discover what’s possible. We describe how Tim had lost his hearing at age four and how he later questioned the diagnosis about his hearing loss. We explain what shifts started happening as a result of Tim’s deep exploration within. We also discuss the memoir Tim is currently writing, the challenges of the writing process, and the reason writers should never hike alone.
“The process of ‘what if’ is about opening yourself up to a different reality. It’s also about working through other real blocks inside you.” - Tim Snell
This week on Shift-Starters:
Tim’s journey of self-discovery and learning why he lost his hearing at a young age How Tim was treated differently after losing his hearing Turning to spiritual explorations to find answers The story of a boy who healed himself through meditative practices What Tim learned about his hearing loss when he went to a retreat in Peru Going deep into one’s personal shadows and re-learning how to listen Discovering the blocks that prevented Tim from hearing How it’s easy for us to blame other people for our problems and the importance of ownership Integrating our challenging experiences into ourselves The circumstances that inspired Tim to write his book The value of telling stories to help others Common misconceptions about writing and the writing process Why people should seek a community of writers Resources Mentioned:
Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life by Shelley Paxton Connect with Tim Snell:
Tim Snell Website Tim Snell on LinkedIn Tim Snell on Instagram Tim Snell on Facebook Tim Snell on YouTube Email: tim@timsnell.co Let’s Start Some Shift!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Shift-Starters with Erin Baker. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify
Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more Shift Starters, like you.
Join me on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content, information, and to request your FREE 7 Questions for Tackling Fear workbook, visit our website.

Whenever you hesitate to take a leap of faith into something you dream of, what sort of questions pop into your mind? Are they around the lines of “What if I can’t start a business,” “What if I can’t write a great book,” or “What if I don’t earn enough income?” We tend to go down the rabbit hole of such doubts, preventing us from starting some shifts. But there are better questions that we can ask ourselves. And, like consulting a compass that guides us through life’s journey, asking ourselves better questions can shift our mindset and approach towards different actions we want to take.
In this episode, I share two better questions you can ask yourself in your shift-starting. I discuss some of my coaching principles and why I do them. I reveal some of the most common questions I hear from people who are about to embark on new journeys, whether it’s starting a business, writing a book, or creating a podcast. I also describe what happens when we shift our mindset from “What if I can’t?” to “What if I don’t?” and explain how we can change the energy of fear by asking powerful questions.
“When we ask ourselves ‘What if I can’t,’ we shut down possibility and creativity. When we ask ‘Can I?’ we open up so much more in the world and take risks.” - Erin Baker
This week on Shift-Starters:
My coaching principles and why I don’t give my clients answers The biggest fear clients face when they’re starting new projects Better questions to ask yourself before starting some shifts in your life The top regrets of the dying and how we can shift from “What if I can’t?” to “What if I don’t?” The impact of asking “Can I?” How we can allow ourselves to take risks and try new things Why finding answers aren’t everything and the value of curiosity Finding an incredible question to live into Let’s Start Some Shift!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Shift-Starters with Erin Baker. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify
Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more Shift Starters, like you.
Join me on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content, information, and to request your FREE 7 Questions for Tackling Fear workbook, visit my website.