Episode 9: What it Looks Like to Pivot Successfully - The Pattern at Play with Hiwote Getaneh

In today’s episode we’re putting the whole pattern together with an interview with Hiwote Geteneh, The Possibility Pattern’s Exec Producer, on her journey from working in public policy to becoming a podcast producer. Her story is filled with insights that no matter what journey you’re on, there is some wisdom here for you. Join us for this conversation that serves as a beautiful illustration of what it looks like to be going through these kinds of transformations and transitions, filled with ideas that you can take away from her story and implement in your journey yourself.

Hiwote Getaneh is an audio producer curious about stories that help us better understand ourselves. She has produced the New York Times show Together Apart with Priya Parker, Where Should We Begin and How’s Work with Esther Perel, and TED’s Far Flung with Saleem Rashemwala. She is also the host and executive producer of an upcoming series on Black Joy. Trained in public policy, Hiwote worked for years as a Senior Research Analyst before veering from the traditional path to explore her research and strategy sensibilities in the media world as a Senior Marketing Strategist for brands like Mic and Afropunk. She is an alumnus of Virginia Tech (BS) and Johns Hopkins University (MPA).

In our conversation we talk about:

* How she got started in public policy and how she knew it wasn’t for her

* Why she stayed even though her intuition knew she was on the wrong path

* What led her to creating her first podcast and how that took her from dissatisfied to transitioned

* How you want to be seen can hold you back from what you enjoy doing

* Her transition into the media industry and leveraging transferable skills

* How shooting her shot finally landed her a full time job as a podcast producer

* The importance of aligned action and letting go of perfectionism

* How she identified her strengths and started aligning her projects to her strengths

* How getting to embodied as a producer led her into another transition to become an entrepreneur

Where to connect with Hiwote:

* Instagram @hiwote.getaneh

* Depth & Candor website

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thepossibilitypattern.substack.com