Step into the Pivot

Theresa Conti & Ivana Polonijo

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CAREERS
UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Step into the Pivot where your hosts Ivana and Theresa talk to people just like you. We will have honest conversations with our guests about issues they have faced, how they had to pivot to address them and lessons learned that you can apply to your life.

7 NOV

Alison Nakamura Netter: There But For the Grace of God Go I

Purpose-driven nonprofit leader Alison Nakamura takes us on her journey of transformation, sharing the pivotal moment at age 30 when she abandoned her successful Manhattan PR career to pursue social work—a decision that seemed financially risky but spiritually essential. With remarkable candor, she reveals how growing up between two parental influences, her nurse mother's service-oriented values and her father's traditional success metrics created an internal tug-of-war that eventually led to her breaking point. "I remember going to Ann Taylor and putting on this weird gray suit and going to interviews in the city when I was like 19. And I was like, this could not be farther from who I am," Alison confesses. That disconnect eventually became too powerful to ignore, leading to a career pivot that would completely reshape her life's trajectory. For anyone standing at the crossroads of comfort and calling, security and purpose, or expectation and authenticity, this conversation offers both permission and practical wisdom. Listen in and discover how stepping into your pivot, however frightening, might be the most expansive move you'll ever make. Guest Bio: Alison Nakamura Netter is a purpose-driven nonprofit leader with a proven track record in advancing gender equity and reproductive health and rights. She currently serves as Executive Director of ZanaAfrica Foundation, an organization that supports girls in Kenya from adolescence to adulthood—ensuring they have the knowledge, resources, and agency to shape their own futures. With 18 years of experience across domestic and international causes, Alison has led initiatives to combat sex trafficking in Cambodia, address food insecurity, and promote diversity and inclusion in the arts in New York City. Her multifaceted background in fundraising, nonprofit management, strategic communications, and social work equips her with a unique skill set to lead sustainable, community-driven change. Alison’s commitment to service started early, teaching English to Haitian immigrants preparing for their U.S. citizenship exams and volunteering at a hospital providing companionship to marginalized patients. Those experiences shaped her values and continue to guide her leadership today. She holds a BA in Sociology from Northeastern University and a Master’s in Social Work from Hunter College’s Silberman School of Social Work. Alison is deeply committed to supporting organizations and solutions that create lasting, sustainable impact. She lives in New York with her husband, son, and their goldendoodle, Molly. When she’s not working, you’ll find her spending time with friends and family, exercising, and spending time in nature. Connect with Alison: LinkedIn Connect with Theresa and Ivana: Theresa, True Strategy Consultants: tsc-consultants.com LinkedIn @treeconti, Insta @tscconsultants Ivana, Courageous Being: courageousbeing.com LinkedIn @ivipol, Insta @courbeing SITP team, Step Into The Pivot: stepintothepivot.com LinkedIn @step-into-the-pivot, YouTube @StepIntoThePivot

26 min
24 OCT

Anne Tankersley: The Marathon, Not the Sprint

When Anne Tankersley decided to make 2023 her "self-care year," she had no idea how profoundly that decision would change her life. A mammogram revealed triple-negative breast cancer, launching her into an intense journey of treatments, career transitions, and personal transformation. With remarkable candor, she describes attempting to maintain her professional momentum through 20 weeks of chemotherapy, only gradually learning to adjust her expectations and accept support. Her story powerfully illustrates the delicate balancing act many face when serious health challenges collide with career ambitions. Whether you're personally affected by breast cancer or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers both practical guidance and emotional resonance. And the message remains clear: early detection through regular mammograms saves lives, perhaps even yours. Guest Bio: Anne completed her bachelor’s degree in economics and French studies. For the first few years of her career, Anne worked for a small family-owned construction company. During that time, she found her love for accounting and decided to move into public accounting to get exposure to a variety of industries and clients. Anne started with Geffen Mesher in 2008 and worked in both tax and assurance departments until finally deciding to focus on the assurance practice. Over the last 15 years, she has worked with a variety of clients, primarily focusing on real estate, hospitality, investment companies and employee benefit plans (EBPs). She found her passion in auditing EBPs. Anne enjoys working with clients to navigate the complex regulatory environment and being part of our client’s benefit process by helping plan sponsors meet their fiduciary responsibilities, providing guidance on best practices for operating a plan and knowing at the end of the day, participants are able to retire. Connect with Anne: LinkedIn Connect with Theresa and Ivana: Theresa, True Strategy Consultants: tsc-consultants.com LinkedIn @treeconti, Insta @tscconsultants Ivana, Courageous Being: courageousbeing.com LinkedIn @ivipol, Insta @courbeing SITP team, Step Into The Pivot: stepintothepivot.com LinkedIn @step-into-the-pivot, YouTube @StepIntoThePivot

35 min
10 OCT

Kim Kelleher: Prepare for the Plan to Change

Despite having regular mammograms and being previously told she had benign fibrocystic breast tissue, Kim received news that would change everything. The confusion of conflicting test results and constantly changing treatment plans taught her what would become her mantra: "Prepare for the plan to change." This wisdom carried her through surgery, chemotherapy, and the difficult decisions that followed. Kim's transformation was ‘pivoted’ into an opportunity learning to prioritize her own needs and desires after a lifetime of people-pleasing. The ripple effects of this mindset shift have touched every area of Kim's life. At 58, she joined a business partnership, embracing uncertainty and opportunity with newfound confidence. She's developed a passion for health and wellness, researching mitochondrial function and metabolic health with the awareness that none of us is invincible. Most importantly, she's learned to put herself first – to do what brings her joy before tackling obligations. Guest Bio: Kim Kelleher is a Luminary at Luma Accounting, a bookkeeping/accounting firm (no tax!) committed to helping small- and medium-sized businesses gain clarity around their finances. Luma’s “secret sauce” is the blending of accounting, technology and process - this gives clients not only the accounting support they need, but also helps identify opportunities for innovation through technology and processes changes. The firm was born from the merger between Kim and her business partner Heather Deibele - they found they shared the same values and both craved collaboration. Together, they built a 100% remote, work-on-your-own-time and highly collaborative model designed to support US-based women seeking flexible but meaningful work. Now at Luma, Kim is focused on ensuring the firm’s mission of BEST. EXPERIENCE. EVER., both for clients and for team members. Connect with Kim: LinkedIn Connect with Theresa and Ivana: Theresa, True Strategy Consultants: tsc-consultants.com LinkedIn @treeconti, Insta @tscconsultants Ivana, Courageous Being: courageousbeing.com LinkedIn @ivipol, Insta @courbeing SITP team, Step Into The Pivot: stepintothepivot.com LinkedIn @step-into-the-pivot, YouTube @StepIntoThePivot

36 min
26 SEPT

Claudia St. John: Breaking the Silence - Part 2

This episode covers extremely sensitive topics, including violence. Listener discretion is advised. Please prioritize your well-being while listening. How do you move forward when the foundation of your life story crumbles beneath you? Claudia St John returns to share the aftermath of her father's shocking confession to murdering her grandmother 26 years earlier. The moment Claudia learned the truth, she knew she would turn her father in to authorities. Yet she took a month to carefully consider the consequences of this decision—a period she describes as "one of the loneliest times of my life." Friends and family offered no guidance until after she'd already acted, when suddenly everyone agreed she'd done the right thing. When prosecutors ultimately decided not to pursue the case against her elderly father, Claudia felt relief that the final decision hadn't rested solely on her shoulders. Claudia's story is a powerful reminder that vulnerability can be our greatest strength. By sharing our most difficult truths, we not only free ourselves but potentially help others navigate their own impossible situations. As she powerfully states, "In these days of anger and tribalism... forgiveness is an underpinning of everything that we do." Her journey shows us that even in our darkest moments, there remains the possibility of finding peace, meaning, and a renewed sense of purpose. Guest Bio: Claudia St. John, SHRM-SCP, SPHR is the Founder and CEO of The Workplace Advisors™, a leading HR consulting and training firm specializing in equipping businesses with the consulting support and people skills they need to grow. She is an SPHR (Senior Professional in HR), SHRM-SCP (SHRM Senior Certified Professional), and Certified Professional Behavioral Analyst who empowers organizations with evidence-backed insights, so they can navigate the evolving landscape of talent acquisition, engagement, and retention with confidence and foresight. Known as The Workplace Advisor™, she helps organizations zoom out, shift their mindset, and build businesses that lead their industry. A frequent keynote speaker, Claudia is a regular media contributor on the topic of HR. She wrote the book, Transforming Teams: Tips For Improving Collaboration and Building Trust, a book for leaders that addresses why fundamental breakdowns happen within organizations, and what they can do to correct them. Claudia holds an Undergraduate degree in Employee Benefits & Labor Relations from The American University and a Master’s degree in Business & Public Administration from The George Washington University, in addition to numerous HR and behavioral science certifications. Connect with Claudia: LinkedIn Connect with Theresa and Ivana: Theresa, True Strategy Consultants: tsc-consultants.com LinkedIn @treeconti, Insta @tscconsultants Ivana, Courageous Being: courageousbeing.com LinkedIn @ivipol, Insta @courbeing SITP team, Step Into The Pivot: stepintothepivot.com LinkedIn @step-into-the-pivot, YouTube @StepIntoThePivot

25 min
12 SEPT

Claudia St. John: Breaking the Silence - Part 1

This episode covers extremely sensitive topics, including violence. Listener discretion is advised. Please prioritize your well-being while listening. What would you do if someone you loved confessed to an unthinkable crime? Claudia St. John faced this impossible question when her father casually admitted to murdering her grandmother – 26 years after the fact. With raw honesty, Claudia shares the month-long moral crisis that followed – consulting doctors, prosecutors, priests, and even the brother of the Unabomber as she grappled with an impossible choice. Should she protect her father or report him? The decision she and her sister ultimately made speaks to profound questions about family loyalty, moral responsibility, and personal integrity. This powerful testimony isn't just about trauma. it's about resilience in the face of unimaginable betrayal. While few will face circumstances as extreme as Claudia's, her story offers profound insights for anyone confronting difficult truths or painful choices. Listen and discover how even the darkest experiences can ultimately lead to growth, wisdom, and healing. Guest Bio: Claudia St. John, SHRM-SCP, SPHR is the Founder and CEO of The Workplace Advisors™, a leading HR consulting and training firm specializing in equipping businesses with the consulting support and people skills they need to grow. She is an SPHR (Senior Professional in HR), SHRM-SCP (SHRM Senior Certified Professional), and Certified Professional Behavioral Analyst who empowers organizations with evidence-backed insights, so they can navigate the evolving landscape of talent acquisition, engagement, and retention with confidence and foresight. Known as The Workplace Advisor™, she helps organizations zoom out, shift their mindset, and build businesses that lead their industry. A frequent keynote speaker, Claudia is a regular media contributor on the topic of HR. She wrote the book, Transforming Teams: Tips For Improving Collaboration and Building Trust, a book for leaders that addresses why fundamental breakdowns happen within organizations, and what they can do to correct them. Claudia holds an Undergraduate degree in Employee Benefits & Labor Relations from The American University and a Master’s degree in Business & Public Administration from The George Washington University, in addition to numerous HR and behavioral science certifications. Connect with Claudia: LinkedIn Connect with Theresa and Ivana: Theresa, True Strategy Consultants: tsc-consultants.com LinkedIn @treeconti, Insta @tscconsultants Ivana, Courageous Being: courageousbeing.com LinkedIn @ivipol, Insta @courbeing SITP team, Step Into The Pivot: stepintothepivot.com LinkedIn @step-into-the-pivot, YouTube @StepIntoThePivot

22 min
29 AUG

Sarah Simoneaux + James Passarelli: Mentorship Behind Every Door

A chance meeting in a Bronx apartment building sparked a 13-year mentorship journey that transformed both lives and careers. When Sarah Simoneaux rushed to New York after her daughter Nicole hadn't been heard from in weeks, she discovered not only her daughter in crisis but also an unexpected connection that would reshape her understanding of purpose and success. During her extended stays supporting Nicole's recovery, Sarah met James Passarelli, her daughter's upstairs neighbor who was finishing a history degree with uncertainty about his future. Years later, as Sarah contemplated scaling back her work to spend more time with family, James proposed a collaboration that allowed her to continue meaningful work while reclaiming precious personal time. "James has given me that gift of time, which is incredibly precious," Sarah shares, highlighting how mentorship often comes full circle. Listen now to discover how human connection can transform not just careers but entire life trajectories, and consider how you might step into your own pivot, whether by circumstance or by choice. Guest Bio: Sarah Simoneaux, CPC is the founder and president of Simoneaux Consulting Services. SCS specializes in helping firms with retirement services technology and operations consulting, training tailored to retirement services firms’ client-facing associates, finding opportunities from government legislation and regulation of qualified plans, and strategic planning. Sarah is an experienced keynote speaker who specializes in weaving compelling stories into ERISA and management topics. Connect with Sarah: LinkedIn Guest Bio: James Passarelli, based in Boulder, CO, US, is currently a President at Carta Consulting. James Passarelli brings experience from previous roles at ftwilliam.com, Complect and EGPS. James Passarelli holds a 2011 - 2013 Master of Arts (M.A.) in History @ Fordham University. With a robust skill set that includes Copy Editing, Writing, Research, Online Publishing, History and more. Connect with James: LinkedIn Connect with Theresa and Ivana: Theresa, True Strategy Consultants: tsc-consultants.com LinkedIn @treeconti, Insta @tscconsultants Ivana, Courageous Being: courageousbeing.com LinkedIn @ivipol, Insta @courbeing SITP team, Step Into The Pivot: stepintothepivot.com LinkedIn @step-into-the-pivot, YouTube @StepIntoThePivot

24 min
15 AUG

Helen McConnell: Tap Into Your Purpose, Prosperity and Happiness

From functioning alcoholic to emotional freedom expert, Helen McConnell's life transformation began with a terrifying realization: "I'm going to lose it all." Though outwardly successful with the elegant BMW, beautiful condo, and executive career, Helen's inner world was crumbling under addiction. Her powerful pivot started with sobriety through AA, but something still felt missing. The true revelation came years later when Helen discovered Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) – commonly known as "tapping." Within just two minutes of trying this simple practice, she experienced what she describes as an "energetic release" of decades of stuck emotions. This moment led Helen to not only transform her own life but to dedicate herself to helping others find similar freedom as a certified EFT practitioner. This episode features a live tapping demonstration that showcases the technique's remarkable efficiency. Host Ivana experiences a dramatic reduction in tension about an upcoming speaking engagement after just one round. The physical release was visibly apparent as stress literally "dumped out" of her body. Discover how this deceptively simple practice could transform your relationship with stress, trauma, and emotional barriers. Ready to experience what Helen calls "participating in a miracle"? Listen now and tap into your own emotional freedom. Guest Bio: Helen is an exceptionally skilled and gifted practitioner of emotional freedom technique with a true passion for empowering all professionals, and especially women. She is a leading tapping expert and her expertise lies in helping people achieve success and enjoy their lives to the fullest. With a focus on stress reduction, Helen teaches simple tools that effectively eliminate stress and all its symptoms. Her dedication to her clients’ well-being shines through in her work, as she guides them on a transformative journey towards a more balanced and fulfilling life. Connect with Helen: YouTube, LinkedIn, Book, Online Resources: "How to Tap", "What if I Could Stop Worrying So Much?" , "Tapping for Neck Pain, Stress & Tension" Connect with Theresa and Ivana: Theresa, True Strategy Consultants: tsc-consultants.com LinkedIn @treeconti, Insta @tscconsultants Ivana, Courageous Being: courageousbeing.com LinkedIn @ivipol, Insta @courbeing SITP team, Step Into The Pivot: stepintothepivot.com LinkedIn @step-into-the-pivot, YouTube @StepIntoThePivot

27 min
1 AUG

Jeff Acheson: Save the Starfish - Part 2

Welcome to the finale of our two-part conversation with Jeff Acheson. A parable about saving starfish opens this profound conversation with Jeff, who shares his journey of transforming devastating personal loss into purposeful action. After losing his daughter Amber two years ago, Jeff founded Amber's Aces to partner with ROX (Ruling Our Experiences), an organization dedicated to building confidence and self-esteem in young women. Through tears and powerful insights, he reveals how "Amber is not here, but she's not gone," as her legacy continues through this mission to help girls overcome the same struggles she faced. Jeff breaks barriers by openly discussing grief, mental health, and emotional intelligence in the retirement industry, creating pathways for others to share their experiences. His perspective bridges gender divides, reminding us that mental health affects everyone. His approach shifts from curative to preventative mental health support, channeling grief into meaningful change that extends far beyond one life. Learn how you can support this mission by visiting our website to find information about ROX and Amber's Aces. Guest Bio: After 46 years in financial services, investment management, and retirement planning, I’ve chosen to focus the most strategic chapter of my career on entities and professionals I deeply respect—law firms, lawyers, and lobbyists. Our shared commitment to precision, discipline, and excellence makes serving the legal community both a professional and personal mission. As CEO of the Advanced Strategies Group (ASG), I’m leading a targeted effort to modernize retention and retirement strategies in the legal industry. Too many plans offered them still follow one-size-fits-all templates that ignore the complexity and sophistication today’s legal professionals require. That’s why I developed the Law Firm Benefits and Planning Platform. These solutions are powered by The Attorney’s Edge, our virtual-first planning platform, and ASG MAPS—an investment strategy framework built to optimize 401(k) outcomes for high-balance participants. I hold seven professional designations as validation of my commitment to being a trusted authority in my field, and I’m a past president of both National Association of Plan Advisors and the American Retirement Association. I also co-authored the NAPA Nonqualified Plan Consultant (NQPC) designation curriculum and serve as a consultant to my peers in this space. ASG’s history was built beyond the legal sector, but today we’re fully invested in serving it—offering a sophisticated alternative to the status quo. The focus of my personal life is on pursuing my definition of Ikigai and helping others find theirs in loving memory of my daughter Amber, who couldn't find hers. Connect with Jeff Acheson: Amber's ACE's for ROX, LinkedIn Connect with Theresa and Ivana: Theresa, True Strategy Consultants: tsc-consultants.com LinkedIn @treeconti, Insta @tscconsultants Ivana, Courageous Being: courageousbeing.com LinkedIn @ivipol, Insta @courbeing SITP team, Step Into The Pivot: stepintothepivot.com LinkedIn @step-into-the-pivot, YouTube @StepIntoThePivot

22 min

Welcome to Step into the Pivot where your hosts Ivana and Theresa talk to people just like you. We will have honest conversations with our guests about issues they have faced, how they had to pivot to address them and lessons learned that you can apply to your life.

Creator

Theresa Conti & Ivana Polonijo
Years Active

2024 - 2025
Episodes

66
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2025 Step into the Pivot
Show Website

Step into the Pivot