Swishie - Interviews with inspiring women of color who thrive in work and life Lia Fetterhoff

Self-awareness and curiosity are imperative to start transitioning your career. Zennebe knew at a very young age that she wanted to be a teacher, but recently she’s started to follow the call to do more for the education space. Grit, determination, and keeping the goal in mind has helped Zennebe see things through so she can continue to impact students and teachers on a larger scale: from transitioning from being a teacher to designing experiences in the education technology (EdTech) space. If you’re considering your own career transition or are curious about EdTech, listen in!

About Zennebe

Zennebe Arnold has taught English for 15 years, is a training academy director, and has recently gotten into User Experience writing. She champions diversity & inclusion both in workforce and educational settings. Building strong relationships is important to her, and she loves helping people reach their goals. She recently began exploring UX Writing as an avenue to carefully craft language that impacts tone and improves the user experience. She is a married mother of four and loves to travel, read, write, learn, and jump rope.

Check out Zennebe’s story on Medium: https://medium.com/@zenn.arnold

Twitter: @zennarnold

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zennebe-arnold/


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We live in a time when being busy is rewarded. However, Glasa’s challenge to high-achievers is to unbusy yourselves by creating some space in your calendar: be alone with your thoughts, stop ignoring what you might be pushing down, and get clear on what you really want out of life. Often we are afraid to just be with ourselves, yet individuals who are comfortable with this thrive as change agents because they’re already taking a risk when they show up as themselves. Glasa helps marginalized identities truly show up in life 100% unapologetic and authentic. The more space people have to do this, the bigger the impact we will all make on this world.

About Glasa

Glasa Gottschalk believes that you were not meant to simply survive. You were born to thrive! During her journey as a human, leader, consultant, and now coach, she has noticed that so many of us chase success that’s not our own, simply because we never paused to define it on our own terms. Title, status, wealth...none of this matters if you don’t first have a handle on who you are, what you value, and the impact you want to create in this one and only life. When you have clarity on these 3 things, life becomes less scary, more fulfilling, and ultimately more fun. This is the foundation of creating true freedom in your life. And it all begins with your mindset!

As a Life & Business Mindset Coach, and owner of GII Coaching & Consulting, Glasa partners with clients to gain clarity and momentum through powerful 1-on-1 coaching. She is passionate about creating equity, especially for women of color, and believes there is a gap in the coaching industry when it comes to serving marginalized identities. When not coaching she serves in several capacities for her local Habitat for Humanity, enjoys hiking with her husband and dogs, and loves a good impromptu road trip.



Resources

Get the free downloadable: Tips to Create Space in Your Life (So You Can Make Space for What Really Matters): https://mailchi.mp/1f54cf429db3/tipstocreatespace

Website: GoToGii.com

Instagram: @GoToGii

Facebook: facebook.com/GoToGii

TikTok: @glasagottschalk

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/glasagottschalk/


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Is it worth it to experience “success” and big shifts if it’s done in a way you don’t enjoy? Hannah explores what their version of success looks like through focusing on how it feels to do the work instead of simply focusing on outcomes. As a first-generation Cuban-American, Hannah found their way to entrepreneurship through resourcefulness and coming from a line of engineers who figured it out. Now, they are reevaluating how to make the journey much more enjoyable, and sustainable. If you’re looking for inspiration on how to enjoy being as much as doing, this episode is for you!

About Hannah

Hannah (she/they) is a first-generation Cuban-American non-binary femme in San Diego, California. Currently, Hannah is a freelance content strategist and copywriter for digital brands and small businesses. Having been part of activist, government, and nonprofit spaces for nearly ten years, Hannah has experienced and witnessed the need for intersectional action in business spaces and beyond. She studied systems of oppression and women's leadership in her undergraduate education, and she incorporates this education through advocacy for leadership development and empowerment for women and femmes of color. Outside of her work, Hannah is a proud rescue dog parent, amateur artist, and sometimes coordinated roller skater.

Website: www.wocspacecollective.com

Instagram: @wocspacecollective

Podcast: Thot Leadership https://open.spotify.com/show/4A9yDq5EfzAPeL5Zu1C5V6


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Neha O’Rourke had the six-figure salary, award-winning campaigns and clients, worked at the best agencies, and was “successful.” However, Neha was breaking down physically, emotionally, and mentally. Her hair was falling out – and in her words, “as an Indian, when you’re affecting the hair, something’s wrong!” She asked herself why she would allow her career to put her in this type of place when it wasn’t fulfilling. So began her journey to get clear on her purpose and what actually mattered to her in life. After quitting and taking a year and a half of being “somewhere in between” to reset, Neha eventually got that clarity and realized she could help others, too. Neha founded her company, Somewhere In Between Coaching to help others find their purpose.

About Neha

Neha O’Rourke is an award-winning Career & Energy Coach and Founder of Somewhere In Between Coaching, a company dedicated to empowering career-driven women to discover their purpose and realign with their definition of happiness, intentionality, and fulfillment —and bring it to the forefront in ways that advance her personal and professional endeavors.

Somewhere In Between’s range of services — including 1:1 Coaching, Group Workshops, and Public Appearances has been embraced by brands such as Expedia, WeWork, NEMA, The Wing, and more. Her thought leadership has been featured in publications such as The Lily by The Washington Post, The Chic, Yoga Digest, and Lux and Concord, and on WGN News and Fox 32. Neha has been recognized by Honebook and Rising Ride Society as “20 on the Rise” in the coaching category.

Prior to Somewhere In Between Coaching, Neha worked in advertising where she architected strategies and campaigns for nationally recognized brands. As a result of physical, mental and emotional burnout, Neha shifted her career to launch Somewhere In Between Coaching. She fundamentally believes that life is too short to be “surviving” your career and that every woman deserves to thrive, both professionally and personally.

Website: https://sibcareercoaching.com/

Instagram: @somewhereinbetweencoach


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Has anyone ever asked you, "Why do you work so hard?" --particularly if you were in a toxic job environment? When Lekeshia's wife (then dating at the time) posed her with this question, she didn't have a great answer. Over time, she started to ask herself what she wanted to do instead, and her journey is an inspirational one. Now, she consults with leaders and businesses on cultural responsiveness and how to be an active ally. Learn more about Lekeshia's story in this episode!

About Lekeshia

Lekeshia Angelique believes that discrimination happens not because of a lack of empathy, but a lack of education. As a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consultant, she has spent over two decades helping entrepreneurs and business leaders to redefine their authority into genuine allyship. Her workshops, presentations, and special programs have touched the lives of thousands of people across the globe, from the US to Germany to Afghanistan. She has spent 22 years working in the US Army, one of the most diverse organizations in the world. With master’s degrees in both Criminal Justice and Psychology, along with a Diversity Management Certificate from Cornell University, Lekeshia has a powerful understanding both of the work that needs to be done around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and of how our brains function, helping her to support leaders and entrepreneurs in shifting their perspectives and practices. She knows that by embracing D, E & I, we grow impact and revenue, and fulfill our commitment to truly changing the world.

Lekeshia Angelique lives in a small town outside of Nashville, TN with her wife, Cassandra, 10 year old twin daughters, London and Laila and their dog Polo. Her 20 year old twin daughters, (Yes, that’s 2 sets of twins, all girls!) are Sophomores in college in TN studying Art and medicine. Her oldest and only son is 24 year old Dajour, who lives in Des Moines, Iowa and is a Relationship Banker at a local bank. When they are not pouring into their family, Lekeshia and Cassandra love to travel the world and experience new cultures while making lasting memories. Lekeshia’s life philosophy is to do the thing that scares you the most now, don’t wait until you feel that it is safe to do so, your mental health depends on it.

You can find her on social media here:

Instagram:  @lekeshia_angelique

FB: www.facebook.com/lekeshiaangeliqueconsulting

FB Group: www.facebook.com/groups/deilounge

Twitter: @lahconsultants

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lekeshiaangelique


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Have you always had an inner knowing about the kind of work you wanted to do, but wondered how you could do more with that knowing? Or maybe you want to make your voice louder to speak up for issues and causes you're passionate about. In this episode with activist and organizer Joie Ha, we discuss how she knew at an early age that she wanted to be an activist, how she’s working to break the stereotypes of being an Asian woman (and inspiring me to do the same!), and how she approaches the work she does when people close to her may not always agree.



About Joie

As the daughter of refugees, Joie Ha (she/her/hers) has always endeavored to do more good for more people. She has been an activist and organizer for minority communities in Colorado for over 10 years. She has a B.A. in Anthropology and a M.A. in Development Practice with a focus on holistic methods of treating mental health for the Vietnamese refugee community in Denver. She has completed development work in Malaysia as a Community Development Officer in Kampung Sungai Suloh, and Cambodia as a researcher regarding how hip-hop can create fictive kin for youth enticed by the familial aspects of gangs. In the United States, Joie often engages in community projects with focus on anti-racist work, civic engagement, and the intersection of art and activism. She sits on several boards including serving as Chair for the Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission and Board Member for Colorado Asian Pacific United.

Website: coredei.com

Instagram: @core.dei


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