In Bloom with Ela Richmond

Ela Richmond
  • 4.7 (10)
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Build a life, not just a career. Every week I learn from extraordinary women about how they're building a life they're proud of. Gain clarity on your own path and values and learn from the experiences of diverse and inspiring women in topics like relationships, work, love, and more!

  1. 08/28/2025

    #54 - Focus on the Next Step, Not the Whole Map with Gayle Schueller

    We’re told we need a perfect plan — but Gayle Schueller’s story shows a different way. Over 30 years, she built a career leading sustainability at one of the world’s biggest companies, raised a family, and made pivots that looked risky in the moment but made sense over time. In this conversation, Gayle shares the choices that shaped her career and life, the values that guided her when the “right path” wasn’t obvious, and what she wishes she had known in her 20s about success, family, and balance. Her secret? You don’t need to see the whole map — you just need to focus on the next step.

    1 hr

  2. 05/21/2025

    #53 - How Do You Know When It's Time to Trust Your Gut and Pivot? with Sheila Cosgrove

    Sheila Cosgrove is a transformational leadership coach in the professional development space, serving as Founder and CEO of Sheila Cosgrove Coaching and Consulting. With over 25 years of experience in hospitality and senior consulting roles at North Highland and RGP, she has built a boutique practice specializing in women's leadership development while maintaining her commitment to authentic career evolution. In this illuminating episode, Sheila shares her journey of transitioning from corporate success to entrepreneurial fulfillment. She offers valuable insights on: Recognizing when your career no longer aligns with your inner wisdomTaking calculated risks to discover what truly lights you upBuilding confidence in professional settings where women often struggle to be heardSheila's story demonstrates how women in their twenties and early career stages can build meaningful professional paths without sacrificing their authenticity or feeling trapped by their initial career choices.

    40 min

  3. 04/05/2025

    #52 - Peace and Ambition: The Delicate Balance of a Driven Woman with Akshaya Ravi

    You wake up and grab your phone. A million notifications. This is the tension Akshaya Ravi understands deeply. In this episode, she opens up about her evolution from relentless hustle to intentional peace. Akshaya built her identity on being the hardest worker in the room—until she realized something was missing. "I kept pushing. You got this award, it's okay. Go for the next one. I don't take a moment to appreciate it," she confesses. We explore her journey from accounting to tech sales, her morning ritual that changed everything (simple tea on her balcony), and her perspective on professional presentation as a strategic choice rather than a limitation. For those of us navigating careers while protecting our spirits, Akshaya offers honest reflection on what it means to want both achievement and tranquility in the same life. No perfect answers—just the possibility that maybe we don't have to choose.

    43 min

  4. 03/27/2025

    #51 - *SPECIAL* What No One Tells You About the Growth You Experience When You Choose Family Over Career with Heather Morehouse

    Are you terrified that choosing family over career means giving up on your own growth and identity? Heather Morehouse is a dedicated homeschooling mother of four and family-focused woman, serving as the backbone of the Morehouse household for over two decades. With 20 years of experience in child development and home education, she has raised remarkably well-adjusted children while maintaining her own journey of personal growth and discovery. In this refreshingly honest episode, Heather shares her journey of choosing family over professional ambitions and the unexpected transformation that followed. She offers valuable insights on: How viewing life in seasons rather than trying to "have it all at once" creates freedom and reduces pressureWhy the process of parenting herself while parenting her children led to profound personal developmentHow being "gut-wrenchingly honest" with herself transformed both her relationship with her family and herselfHeather's story demonstrates how young women can find meaningful personal growth and fulfillment without following conventional career paths or societal expectations.

    1h 1m

  5. 03/22/2025

    #50 - Can Traditional Values Actually Become An Advantage In Life & Career with Vahbiz Cooper

    Can family wisdom help your career? Vahbiz Cooper is a marketing professional in the B2B SaaS industry, serving as Digital Marketing Manager at Demandbase. In this insightful episode, Vahbiz shares her journey of balancing traditional Indian upbringing with modern career ambitions. She offers valuable insights on: How the "respect goes both ways" philosophy from her family has shaped her approach to workplace boundaries and communicationWhy company culture dramatically impacts work-life balance and the importance of finding an environment that aligns with your valuesThe power of regular family gatherings and check-ins for maintaining strong relationships in both personal and professional contextsVahbiz's story demonstrates how young women can leverage their cultural heritage as a competitive advantage without sacrificing their authentic voice or professional ambitions. From Dubai's luxury-focused environment to her current role, she reveals how traditional wisdom continues to guide her success in unexpected ways.

    59 min

  6. 03/13/2025

    #49 - Hard Work Isn't the Enemy with Kathy Dunlay

    Kathy Dunlay is a business leader in the technology sector, serving as Founder and CEO at New England Sales & Marketing. With 35 years of experience and an immigrant family background that shaped her work ethic, she has built a successful consultancy serving over 120 B2B technology companies while maintaining control over her time and honoring her family's legacy. In this thought-provoking episode, Kathy shares her journey of balancing ambition with personal fulfillment. She offers valuable insights on: How her Albanian immigrant family's 100-year vision influenced her career choicesWhy working hard can be fulfilling when aligned with your personal valuesHow surrounding yourself with the right people indicates you're on the right pathKathy's story demonstrates how ambitious professionals can achieve career success and flexibility without apologizing for their dedication to work or sacrificing their authentic definition of fulfillment.

    1h 5m

  7. 02/07/2025

    #48 - You Can't Give 100% to Everything: A Working Mom's Guide to Excellence with Rasheité Calhoun

    Rasheité is a partnerships leader who serves as Sr. Manager of Partner Programs at Frontline Education. While building successful partner programs and driving business growth, she's also raising four children - including a college athlete, a high school senior, and two young kids. In this candid episode, Rasheité shares how she redefined excellence as a working mom. She offers refreshing insights on: Why you don't need to give 100% to everything to be successful How to adapt your standards as life changes Being authentic in both professional and personal spaces Through real stories - from bringing her mom on business trips to managing late-night proposals - Rasheité shows how you can achieve professional success without sacrificing family life or your sense of self.

    58 min

  8. 02/01/2025

    #47 - Learn Out Loud (SOLO): Nobody Has It Together

    Turns out those perfect career and life paths are a myth. Here's what I'm learning from my guests about the messy truth of success - and why not having it all figured out might be exactly where you need to be.

    14 min
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4.7
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Build a life, not just a career. Every week I learn from extraordinary women about how they're building a life they're proud of. Gain clarity on your own path and values and learn from the experiences of diverse and inspiring women in topics like relationships, work, love, and more!

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