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UNBOSSED with Marina

UNBOSSED with Marina

By Marina Malaguti

Hello, I'm Marina.
I am a technologist, mom, leadership coach and aquarian ;)

The UNBOSSED Chronicles is a series of short episodes hosted by Marina, designed to inspire and enrich your day. These episodes serve as food for thought, spotlighting Marina's latest discoveries in areas such as lifestyle and technology, and championing the principles of feminism. Tune in to embrace the spirit of being 'unbossed'.

#Technology #Business #Feminism #Lifestyle
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E66 - Interview with Andreea Moga, Founder and Tech Mentor at Growth Mentor Academy

UNBOSSED with MarinaMar 01, 2022

00:00
56:39
E75 - Interview with Sallyann Della Casa, Founder & Chief Identity Hacker at GLEAC

E75 - Interview with Sallyann Della Casa, Founder & Chief Identity Hacker at GLEAC

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

In this episode:

Sallyann Della Casa is one of the 4% of women globally who has a patent pending method and algorithm (for measuring soft skills) as a sole inventor.

Sallyann holds degrees and certifications in Law, Organizational Behavior and Urban Planning. She speaks five languages and is a published author. Her education spans the globe from Harvard University to Franklin College to University of Toronto.

Sallyann spends her days obsessing about GLEAC, her technology company, which measures and develops soft skills gaps for any job (current and future) in 10 minutes a day. GLEAC’s clients and partners include Prada, Accenture, Korn Ferry, Monster etc. GLEAC has been featured in the Dubai Cares, The Future is Human pavilion at Expo 2020.

Sallyann Della Casa is also the Founder of the Growing Leaders Foundation. In partnership with the UNDP, thousands of at-risk youths and adults annually benefit from her Foundation’s work delivering soft skills in the Caribbean Latin America and Mena region.

She is currently based in the APAC region. Her Foundation has worked with many of the largest companies in the region from Mubadala, DP World, DU, Nestle, DLA Piper, PWC etc. In 2016, she served as the only female in C-suite position at Careem to help stabilize the workforce and shape its organizational culture. Careem was purchased by Uber for 3.1b in Jan 2020.

Sallyann is having the time of her life right now ensuring every human, regardless of their background and degree, will not only have an equitable seat at the job table, but can also invite someone to sit…

About me:

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, cruciverbalist, and aquarian. ;) 

I talk about living an UNBOSSED life. 

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Useful Links and Resources:

  • https://www.gleac.com/

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on Linkedin, Twitter, and in our comments section.  

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/live-it

License code: 0OYRKRXZRCJPIFYY


Jul 14, 202352:51
The UNBOSSED Chronicles - May 30

The UNBOSSED Chronicles - May 30

The UNBOSSED Chronicles is a series of short episodes hosted by Marina, designed to inspire and enrich your day. These episodes serve as food for thought, spotlighting Marina's latest discoveries in areas such as lifestyle and technology, and championing the principles of feminism. Tune in to embrace the spirit of being 'unbossed'


May 30, 202309:57
The UNBOSSED Chronicles - May 29

The UNBOSSED Chronicles - May 29

The UNBOSSED Chronicles is a series of short episodes hosted by Marina, designed to inspire and enrich your day. These episodes serve as food for thought, spotlighting Marina's latest discoveries in areas such as lifestyle and technology, and championing the principles of feminism. Tune in to embrace the spirit of being 'unbossed'

May 29, 202315:23
E74 - Interview with Christine Sandman Stone: Storyteller, Mentor-Extraordinaire and Founder, Deliver at Scale

E74 - Interview with Christine Sandman Stone: Storyteller, Mentor-Extraordinaire and Founder, Deliver at Scale

In this episode I interviewed Christine Sandman Stone: Storyteller, Mentor-Extraordinaire and Founder, Deliver@Scale.

Christine Sandman Stone is an advisor, strategist, connector of ideas and people, and author.

Christine's career began with technical project management - quickly evolving into project recovery, developing top performing tech teams, building business technical strategies and financial plans, then changing and building organizations to sustained success.

Christine builds and advises tech organizations to execute. Founder of Deliver@Scale, Christine is a sought-after expert in the areas of strategic planning in tech, transformation, work-life balance, and tech talent diversity. She previously led Groupon’s recovery and survival of the pandemic via OKR and Agile transformation across the Product & Engineering organizations. She honed her skills at VW/Audi, EMC2 Dell, McDonald’s and consulting firms.  Leading technical change and developing people is a natural part of Christine’s approach, formalized in her graduate work in Organizational Behavior.

Her first book The Parent Track: Work-life Balance Hacks to Elevate Your Career and Raise Good Humans came out in 2020 gives working parents viable guidance to navigate career and family.  Her second book The Management Mentor: Practical, Tested Tools for New Managers (will be published in Spring 2023) just finished beta testing with  people managers in growing companies, and is set to be a sought after reference for newly-minted people managers, especially those in tech.

She mentors with Chicago Innovation, AnitaB, Illinois Science and Technology Coalition, and is active with the Chicago Women in Tech community including ARA, i.c.Stars, Chicago Executive Women’s network and others.  She is an organic connector of technology and people.

Thoughts: Our stories, our tribal knowledge can help others. We have a generational gap, and not enough role models of folks making this work. Let’s share our stories.


Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist, and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

Jan 25, 202354:56
E73 - Interview with Lauren Valbert, Author and Trainer on Imposter Syndrome Part II

E73 - Interview with Lauren Valbert, Author and Trainer on Imposter Syndrome Part II

GET 10% OFF Lauren’s Book by using the code UNBOSSED10 at checkout.

www.imposterbook.com

US: https://tinyurl.com/3duc6t88

NL: https://tinyurl.com/vjabcbxp

I talked to Lauren Valber about Imposter Syndrome. Lauren is a person who has "reinvented herself" several times. She has founded her own company twice, been a global marketing communications senior professional for mostly tech companies for many years, developed innovation programs for corporate clients, and has been working with start-ups and scale-ups for more than two decades. In the newest chapter of her life, She is starting her own training company, Training 2.0, to help people raise their game in innovation, business process transformation or professional presentations, whether that be as a trainer, a facilitator, or an innovative person. She’s also a seasoned event host, panel moderator, webinar facilitator, and workshop leader. Her personal passion is to increase the representation of marginalized people on stage and in media, as "presentation is representation". She offers presentation training to associations that support women, minorities, and marginalized people, to help level the business playing field.

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist, and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women in underrepresented fields”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Useful Links and Resources:

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on Linkedin, Twitter, and in our comments section.

Follow UNBOSSED Podcast

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/live-it

License code: 0OYRKRXZRCJPIFYY

Oct 21, 202246:21
E72 -  Interview with Lauren Valbert, Author and Trainer on Imposter Syndrome Part I

E72 - Interview with Lauren Valbert, Author and Trainer on Imposter Syndrome Part I

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

In this episode:

GET 10% OFF Lauren’s Book by using the code UNBOSSED10 at checkout.

www.imposterbook.com

US: https://tinyurl.com/3duc6t88

NL: https://tinyurl.com/vjabcbxp

I talked to Lauren Valber about Imposter Syndrome. Lauren is a person who has "reinvented herself" several times. She has founded her own company twice, been a global marketing communications senior professional for mostly tech companies for many years, developed innovation programs for corporate clients, and has been working with start-ups and scale-ups for more than two decades. In the newest chapter of her life, She is starting her own training company, Training 2.0, to help people raise their game in innovation, business process transformation or professional presentations, whether that be as a trainer, a facilitator, or an innovative person. She’s also a seasoned event host, panel moderator, webinar facilitator, and workshop leader. Her personal passion is to increase the representation of marginalized people on stage and in media, as "presentation is representation". She offers presentation training to associations that support women, minorities, and marginalized people, to help level the business playing field.

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist, and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women in underrepresented fields”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Useful Links and Resources:

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on Linkedin, Twitter, and in our comments section.

Follow UNBOSSED Podcast

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/live-it

License code: 0OYRKRXZRCJPIFYY

Oct 20, 202236:32
E71 - Interview with Megan Ross, President & CEO at Lincoln Park Zoo

E71 - Interview with Megan Ross, President & CEO at Lincoln Park Zoo

In this episode I interviewed Megan Ross, President & CEO at Lincoln Park Zoo.

A trailblazing leader, Megan Ross, Ph.D. serves as President & CEO of Chicago’s iconic Lincoln Park Zoo. As the first woman and first scientist to lead the global urban zoo and science center, Ross drives the zoo’s mission and vision of being open, accessible, and welcoming for guests from all around the globe.

Dr. Ross has had an extensive career of learning about — and caring for — animals that has taken her across the world, from China to Atlanta to right here in Chicago. She joined Lincoln Park Zoo in 2000 as the Hope B. McCormick Curator of Birds, and over the next 20 years she served as the zoo’s General Curator, Vice President of Animal Care and Education, Executive Vice President, and Zoo Director.

Appointed as CEO in 2022, she centers her work on four pillars: Care, Conservation, Community, and Culture. These values are the zoo’s platform for engaging the people of Chicago around broader issues of animal welfare, coexistence with nature in an urbanizing world, and environmental issues like climate change, habitat loss, and conservation of diverse and healthy ecosystems, both at the zoo and around the world.

A passionate, published scientist and committed environmentalist, she incorporates her broader perspective into improving animal welfare and helping zoo visitors connect with nature. For instance, she launched ZooMonitor in 2016, an animal-behavior monitoring app that gives insight into the needs and best possible care of animals. Today, the app has been downloaded by more than 700 institutions across more than 50 countries.

Dr. Ross is also widely regarded as an expert on zoo ethics as the former chair of the ethics board for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and a newly appointed AZA board member. Locally, she is also a member of Leadership Greater Chicago’s inaugural Daniel Burnham Fellowship cohort, The Chicago Network and the Economic Club of Chicago.

A self-proclaimed science nerd, Dr. Ross has a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in psychology and lives in the Chicago area with her husband and two children.

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist, and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

Key Highlights/Tools:

  • Woman CEO
  • Modern Zoo Culture
  • Lincoln Park Zoo Chicago

Memorable Quotes:

  • “I think it is important to say why not instead of why because when you ask why you can always come up with reasons why not; but when you say why not it is hard to say why not.” - Megan Ross, President & CEO at Lincoln Park Zoo

Useful Links and Resources:

  • https://www.lpzoo.org/
  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-ross-ph-d-48908b112/


Apr 12, 202253:60
E70 - Interview with Megan McCann, CEO & Founder of McCann Partners

E70 - Interview with Megan McCann, CEO & Founder of McCann Partners

I interviewed Megan McCann, CEO & Founder of McCann Partners. Megan McCann is an established IT recruitment and technology services leader known for building and leading highly successful IT services firms, and for the work she does to advance diversity and cultivate talent across the technology industry.

Megan is the CEO of leading IT recruitment firm McCann Partners, which she founded in 2011. She and her team deliver IT recruitment with intention and integrity to a growing portfolio of innovative organizations—from Chicago-based startups to companies with a global footprint. McCann Partners is dedicated to creating a more equitable and diverse workforce, and proud that more than 70% of their talent placements in the past two years have been diverse hires. Prior to McCann Partners, Megan co-founded and helped build Geneva Technical Services (GTS), and was a strategic force in growing SelecTech—both premier IT recruitment firms.

Megan’s impact on the tech community far exceeds her day-to-day work as CEO of her own firm. Passionate about attracting, retaining, and advancing women in technology, Megan is a proud co-founder of ARA, a national organization that seeks to promote women in technology and leadership through mentorship, events, and programs. Her additional industry and leadership affiliations include membership in the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion, the American Staffing Association, CHIEF, and TechServe Alliance.

She is also a founding partner of the Chicago Executive Women’s Networking Group and an active member of Chicago Innovation’s Women’s Mentoring Co-Op. In addition, as a Chicago Business Journal Bizwomen Headliner in Technology, Chicago Business Journal Women of Influence, a three-time Midwest Women in Tech Awards finalist, and an Illinois Technology Association CityLIGHTS finalist. In 2021, Megan was named to Staffing Industry Analysts inaugural Top 50 DE&I Influencers list and selected as a ChiTech Academy Young Women’s Leadership Society Ambassador of the Year.

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

Key Highlights/Tools:

  • IT and Tech Staffing
  • Great Resignation
  • DEI hiring

Memorable Quotes:

  • “If I look at my industry now, there are definitely now enough senior candidates that are diverse. We need to start talking about succession planning now, so that when time comes, we have the candidate for the role” - Megan McCann, CEO & Founder of McCann Partners

Useful Links and Resources:

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on Linkedin, Twitter, and in our comments section.

Follow UNBOSSED Podcast

Anchor: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

Apr 05, 202251:20
 E69 - Interview with Parissa Behnia, CEO & Business Whisperer at Sixense Strategy

E69 - Interview with Parissa Behnia, CEO & Business Whisperer at Sixense Strategy

I interviewed Parissa Behnia, CEO & Business Whisperer at Sixense Strategy. Parissa Behnia coaches C Suite and Senior leaders who are high will-high skill and have a growth mindset. In other words, they're badasses like you who go 80MPH in a 45MPH zone. These days, leadership is full of complexities whether you’re navigating from an audacious goal or trying to avoid that iceberg up ahead. In either case, Parissa's clients choose her because she's either sat in those seats or next to those seats often enough to know how it can feel to be alone in a crowded leadership room. She's unafraid to speak truth to power to help propel you forward.

With over two decades of corporate, consulting, coaching and – let’s be honest – real life experience, Parissa’s key strategic difference is Empathy. Empathy in business is more than being nice to one another, it’s a strategic imperative. It means that leaders create context and understanding so that they do a better job of serving their customers AND engaging their teams. She’s so passionate about the application of empathy in business that she’s developed the Sixense Empathy Model for her clients to employ. And, she wants all of us to put empathy at the forefront of how we engage with everybody.

One of Parissa’s favorite things to do is to stand in front of a whiteboard – real or pretend – to help clients imagine what the world could look like and then propels them as they navigate to that vision of success. This work enables clients to put together pieces of the puzzle to create the “A-Ha!” or “Eureka!” moment that ignites action. She leans into the discomfort of the unknown and invites her clients to embrace all of their talents (even ones they don’t recognize or value fully) to create their own paths out of the unknown.

Parissa Behnia is a Certified Professional Coach, holds a BA from Northwestern University and MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business.

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist, and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Key Highlights/Tools:

  • Executive and Leadership Coaching
  • Group Coaching: https://www.sixensestrategy.com/inconceivable-influence/
  • Sixense Empathy Model

Memorable Quotes:

  • I needed to touch the flame and feel the burn in order to choose to do differently moving forward - Parissa Behnia, CEO & Business Whisperer at Sixense Strategy.

Useful Links and Resources:

Follow UNBOSSED Podcast
Mar 29, 202201:00:14
E68 - Interview with Dr. Kathleen S. Caliento, President & CEO of Cara Collective

E68 - Interview with Dr. Kathleen S. Caliento, President & CEO of Cara Collective

Dr. Kathleen S. Caliento has spent two decades committed to urban education, student success, and dismantling social injustice. As the President & CEO of Cara Collective, she leads a social purpose enterprise with 30 years of experience helping people affected by poverty (and often the interrelated challenges of recovery, domestic violence, episodic homelessness, incarceration, and systemic inequity) to get and keep quality employment. Further, Cara Collective works with employers and organizations across the nation to create more equitable workforce solutions and build a more inclusive economy for all. Through its four entities, Cara Collective produces nearly 1,000 jobs each year, at retention rates more than 20 points higher than national norms.

Before joining Cara Collective, Caliento was the Chief Learning and Design Officer at the Academy Group, where she worked to help people rise above the effects of poverty, while demonstrating a professional commitment to access and equity. Prior to the Academy Group, she held several leadership positions at Spark, including Executive Director of Spark Chicago. A published author, Caliento earned her Master of Arts in Secondary Science and her Doctor of Philosophy in Science Education from Columbia University. Caliento serves on the Boards of Adler University, 826CHI, and Leadership Greater Chicago LFA Board. Additionally, she attended the Civic Leadership Academy at the University of Chicago and is a Fellow of the 2020 class of Leadership Greater Chicago.

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist, and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Key Highlights/Tools:

  • Being Hatian American in New York
  • Guidance and support as a woman of color
  • CEO and President Cara Collective in Chicago

Memorable Quotes:

  • “As a person of color, the question about whether “I can” is always there.[...] And yet we do it everyday.” -Dr. Kathleen S. Caliento, President & CEO of Cara Collective
  • “You are black. You are a woman. That's two strikes against you. Unless you have an education, no one is going to respect you” - Parent of Dr. Kathleen S. Caliento, President & CEO of Cara Collective

Useful Links and Resources:

  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-caliento/
  • https://caracollective.org/
Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on Linkedin, Twitter, and in our comments section.

Follow UNBOSSED Podcast

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/live-it

License code: 0OYRKRXZRCJPIFYY

Mar 08, 202257:49
E67 - UNBOSSED Founder Spotlight - Bri Caplan, Founder & CEO at CoderHeroes + Founder & Executive at Director Code Your Dreams

E67 - UNBOSSED Founder Spotlight - Bri Caplan, Founder & CEO at CoderHeroes + Founder & Executive at Director Code Your Dreams

UNBOSSED Founder Spotlight - Bri Caplan,  Founder & CEO at CoderHeroes + Founder & Executive at Director Code Your Dreams

Mar 08, 202244:31
E66 -  Interview with Andreea Moga, Founder and Tech Mentor at Growth Mentor Academy

E66 - Interview with Andreea Moga, Founder and Tech Mentor at Growth Mentor Academy

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist, and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

In this episode:

I interviewed my first international guest, Andreea Moga Tech Entrepreneur, Mentor with a touch on the Growth Mindset, former technology consultant at big global IT firms in The Netherlands and The UK, Romanian at heart & at origins with a BsC and Msc in Electronics, Telecommunications and IT. Andreea Moga is the founder of Growth Mentor Academy and the Chairwoman and lead Co-Founder at Techlabs Rotterdam - a non-profit learning accelerator for tech skills.With Growth Mentor Academy, Andreea’s mission is to create a world where more women are being seen and really are visionary leaders in the tech space. In her free time, she enjoys reading books, helping people with her knowledge and building communities to achieve greater goals.

Key Highlights/Tools:

  • Being a women in tech in Europe
  • Climbing the ladder vs Climbing a Jungle Gym
  • Becoming tech experts and transferring knowledge
  • Hiring in Tech & the Gap between Tech Education and the Real World

Memorable Quotes:

  • “A lot of us forget that as we become experts, we can multiply ourselves by transferring that knowledge to others” - Andreea Moga, Founder and Tech Mentor at Growth Mentor Academy
  • “When a woman is interviewed for a job she’s usually asked about her past experience and men aer asked questions about the future - e.g. leadership, strategic and potential” - Andreea Moga, Founder and Tech Mentor at Growth Mentor Academy

Useful Links and Resources:

  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreeamoga/
  • https://techlabs.org/location/rotterdam
  • https://growthmentor.academy/
Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on Linkedin, Twitter, and in our comments section.

Follow UNBOSSED Podcast

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unbossed

Mar 01, 202256:39
E65 - Central Bank Digital Currencies - UNBOSSED Podcast Topics- With Diana Barrero Zalles and Sangita Gazi
Feb 24, 202251:52
E64 - UNBOSSED Founder Spotlight - Cheryl Kemp, Founder & Chief Exercise Officer at (dissolved) indiFIT
Feb 24, 202258:32
E63 - Interview with Ari Krzyzek, Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Chykalophia

E63 - Interview with Ari Krzyzek, Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Chykalophia

Co-founder and chief creative officer of Chykalophia (read: see-ka-lo-fia), Ari Krzyzek helps Femtech DTC and women-led companies craft a brand that delights their customers beyond a pretty design, deliver no-brainer user experience, and getting them the clarity they need to for their business to thrive online.

She has over 10 years of branding and design experience, a certified brand strategist, and UX expert. She has transformed businesses visions into a tangible form that help set their business apart from their competitors. As her diverse client roster attests, the one constant in her work is spot-on design for major impact every time.

Additionally, she serves as a design consultant, mentor and professional peer in support of fellow female entrepreneurs through the #1 ranked private business incubator in the world, 1871 Chicago, Interaction Design Foundation, and ADPlist.

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist, and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Key Highlights/Tools:

  • Growing up in Bali
  • Leaving the family business
  • Seen a role model and speaking dreams to universe into reality as a graphic designer
  • Side hustles and quitting your full time job
  • Getting mentors to help out
  • Being in community help with the transition from fulltime to startup

Memorable Quotes:

  • “Stop wasting time that you are never going to be good at, instead discover and invest in your strengths” - Ari Krzyzek, Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Chykalophia
  • “Things happen for you not to you” - Ari Krzyzek, Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Chykalophia

Useful Links and Resources:

  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/arichykalophia/
  • https://chykalophia.com/
Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on Linkedin, Twitter, and in our comments section.

Follow UNBOSSED Podcast
Feb 22, 202201:02:02
E62 - UNBOSSED Live Woman Founder Spotlight - Gabby Lubin, CEO & Founder at Spark by Gabby
Feb 16, 202254:52
E61 - Interview with Chandra Brown, CEO of MxD

E61 - Interview with Chandra Brown, CEO of MxD

Chandra Brown is passionate about U.S. manufacturing. As CEO of MxD, the nation’s digital manufacturing and cybersecurity institute, Chandra uses that passion and her more than 25 years of experience in manufacturing to help American manufacturers seize the potential offered by new and emerging digital technologies.

In her role at MxD, Chandra oversees all technology investment, partner relationships and project execution for the more than $120 million dollar portfolio of advanced manufacturing technology, cybersecurity and workforce development research, development, and demonstration.

Her journey to MxD started in Portland in the private sector at a small to medium size metal manufacturing company called Oregon Iron Work, where she worked for over 19 years, also becoming the CEO of United Streetcar where the 1st modern streetcar in the United States in over 60 years was built.

While at Oregon Iron Works, Chandra was presented with the opportunity to work for the Obama administration as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing, a role that entailed traveling the world promoting U.S.-made products and working on trade barriers.

MxD is an opportunity that brings her experience in both the public and private sector together.

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist, and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Memorable Quotes:

  • “One of things that I am most proud of, is that my organization, MxD, it is very diverse in the manufacturing space. My board is more than half women. 60% of the senior leadership team is women. 50% of staff in stem positions is people of color.”- Chandra Brown, CEO at MxD
  • “You better have kitchen cabinets- a group of diverse people that are there to advise you” - Chandra Brown, CEO at MxD

Useful Links and Resources:

  • https://www.mxdusa.org/
  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandrabrown/
Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on Linkedin, Twitter, and in our comments section.

Follow UNBOSSED Podcast
Feb 15, 202201:04:16
2022 Podcast Intro
Feb 14, 202201:43
E60 - Blockchain - UNBOSSED Live Topics - with Linda Goetze and Valerie Spina

E60 - Blockchain - UNBOSSED Live Topics - with Linda Goetze and Valerie Spina

Linda Goetze, Valerie Spina and I talk everything Blockchain, Web3, Crypto, Omniverse and  More! Tune in!


  • Linda Goetze, Blockchain Chamber of Commerce, Vice President of the Board of Directors
  • Valerie Spina, Blockchain Researcher, Blockchain Researcher, ICAST (International Center for Appropriate & Sustainable Technology)
Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on Linkedin, Twitter, and in our comments section.

Follow UNBOSSED Podcast

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/live-it

License code: 0OYRKRXZRCJPIFYY

Feb 10, 202257:56
E59 - Interview with Stephanie Neely, Managing Director, J.P. Morgan Asset Management

E59 - Interview with Stephanie Neely, Managing Director, J.P. Morgan Asset Management

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

Stephanie D. Neely is Managing Director, J.P. Morgan Asset Management. Prior to joining Chase,

Stepahnie was Treasurer of the City of Chicago, Illinois for 2 terms (2006, 2011). Neely accumulated more than 20 years of private-sector financial experience before being appointed City Treasurer. She returned to the private sector in 2015 when she became Vice President of Treasury for Allstate Insurance Company, where she oversaw corporate finance and commercial banking.

As the City’s banker, Neely manages a $7 billion portfolio and tracks the balances on all City accounts. During her time in office she has streamlined the office, reinvented its programs and achieved double-digit returns on pension fund investments. She serves as trustee on the City’s five public pension boards.

Her innovative programs include Small Business Development Loans, Financial Literacy programs in Chicago Public Schools and free seminars on using Social Media to build small businesses.

Stephanie Neely is a native Chicagoan with deep ties to the City and a strong commitment to its civic and financial well-being. She is the daughter of an entrepreneur who owned and operated a successful chain of gas stations located on the southside of Chicago.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Smith College, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago.

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist, and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Memorable Quotes:

“If I can change just one thing, I would ask people to try to see the world from a different lens” - Stephanie Neely “Women think no means no forever. Ask again and keep asking.” - Stephanie Neely “Typically in politics women are asked and men go for it” - Stephanie Neely

Useful Links and Resources:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-d-neely-ba8a1938/ Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on Linkedin, Twitter, and in our comments section.

Follow UNBOSSED Podcast Anchor: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDTz6_FepG04QTs1BjFLBjw/ Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eUhfH8E Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/e7cWtBv Google Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/enjChPt Audible:  https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/cea4c49e-6c7e-4dab-833e-eb57d204c493 And all others…

Feb 08, 202259:46
E58 - Interview with Tai Duncan, Vice President of Community Integration at Cresco Labs

E58 - Interview with Tai Duncan, Vice President of Community Integration at Cresco Labs

Support this podcast: anchor.fm/marina-malaguti
In this episode:
Tai Duncan is Vice President of Community Integration at Cresco Labs, one of the largest multi state, vertically integrated cannabis companies in the US. In this role, Tai and her team provide expertise and leadership to promote Cresco’s community related goals to a wide internal and external audience, driving strategic initiatives that align with Cresco’s rapid expansion and serve as the company’s central point of contact with community leaders.
A licensed attorney since 2008, Tai has enjoyed a successful legal and business career, serving in a variety of roles across industries. As a founding member of the adult basketball fitness company, Swish House, Tai has acted as a consultant to the startup since 2014, serving as its Vice President of Business and Legal affairs prior to joining Cresco.
With civic engagement as a priority, Tai has served on boards, committees and as a volunteer for nearly a dozen local organizations. She has been a member of the Board of Trustees of The Cove School, Lookingglass Theatre Company, and the Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation. Tai continues to be involved with a variety of nonprofit
organizations through philanthropy, advocacy, and board service, including Imerman Angels and A Silver Lining Foundation. In 2016, Tai received the WNBA Chicago Sky’s
#RedefinePossible Women’s Leadership Award, and she was recognized as one of Chicago Scholars’ 35 Under 35 Making an Impact in 2018. Tai Is also a member of the inaugural cohort of The Black Bench Chicago public affairs leadership development program.
Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist and aquarian. ;)
UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women in Chicago”.
If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!
Key Highlights:

Do your best, don’t do the best.
Watchout for the golden handcuffs and the exhausting noise
I'm Still Here by Austin Channing Brown
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know by Adam Grant
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
Trailblazer: The Power of Business as the Greatest Platform for Change by Marc Benioff and Monica Langley

Memorable Quotes:

“Do the best you can, at time, with what you have” - Tai Duncan’s mom
“If you want to be an artist, just go do that; don’t pay for school” - Tai Duncan’s dad
“Lawyers think cool, that’s why I loved it” - Tai Duncan

Useful Links and Resources:

www.linkedin.com/in/tai-d-b831763/
sky.wnba.com/
Feb 01, 202255:34
 E57 - Interview with Niharika Hanglem, Program Director at Kaplan Institute and Board Director at Delta Institute

E57 - Interview with Niharika Hanglem, Program Director at Kaplan Institute and Board Director at Delta Institute

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women in Chicago”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

Interview with Niharika Hanglem, Program Director at Kaplan Institute and Board Director at Delta Institute.

As the Program Director at Illinois Tech's Kaplan Institute, She is leading the design and development of Kaplan Institute’s programmatic frameworks. If you are working to advance equity in entrepreneurship and drive transformative change in the innovation and startup ecosystem, get in touch with her.

Prior to that, she consulted for the Melinda Gates-backed GET Cities initiative and the USAID-funded Global Innovation Exchange initiative. She was also an Innovation and Entrepreneurship consultant for the World Bank, working on various social innovation projects for 5+ years. And a StartingBloc Fellow building on her passion to create significant social impact using market-based solutions for innovative projects across service delivery models.

She has over 13 years of work experience in the social innovation space and her expertise covers innovative business models, innovation, and entrepreneurship. She has worked for various startups, social enterprises, and the private sector. Some of her notable projects include: built an ecosystem diagnostic of the social enterprise sector in Asia and Africa, facilitated and showcased the use of big data innovations in global projects, conducted impact assessments for 150+ schools in the urban slums of India, launched a first-of-its-kind school choice initiative, supported the design and deployment of the 108 emergency medical service, and launched the inaugural India Demo Day showcasing innovative startups in NYC.

Born and raised in India, Niharika earned an MBA from the Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies & a Masters in Sociology from the University of Mumbai.

Key Highlights:

  • Research
  • Economic Dynamic and Social Work
  • Social Innovation, Social Enterprises, and Social Entrepreneurship

Memorable Quotes:

  • “Fundamentally I am a researcher” - Niharika Hanglem, Program Director at Kaplan Institute
  • “When I look at my work, I always try to bring empathy to it” -  Niharika Hanglem, Program Director at Kaplan Institute
  • “There is a difference between Social Innovation, Social Enterprise, and Social Entrepreneurship. Social Innovation is the idea, Social Enterprise is the delivery model and Social Entrepreneurship is a mindset.”-  Niharika Hanglem, Program Director at Kaplan Institute

Useful Links and Resources:

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Jan 25, 202255:29
E56 - Interview with Pam Buchanan, Founder of Everly James

E56 - Interview with Pam Buchanan, Founder of Everly James

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women in Chicago”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

In this episode I interviewed Pam Buchanan, Founder of Everly James. Former Managing Director at NASDAQ.

Key Highlights/Tools:

  • Creating confidence and conviction as a professional woman
  • Be open to new challenges, not necessarily ready
  • Make a better world by vibrations, energy, and the five senses

Memorable Quotes:

  • “You really do have to be grounded in the belief that what you are saying is the truth and it is better for the company.” - Pam Buchanan, Founder of Everly James
  • “We got in the room, we sat down at the Table. Now let’s stand up and present ourselves”  - Pam Buchanan, Founder of Everly James

Useful Links and Resources:

  • https://byeverlyjames.com/
  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/pam-buchanan/
Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on Linkedin, Twitter, and in our comments section.

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Jan 18, 202251:33
E55 - Interview with Phyllis Glink, Executive Director, Irving Harris Foundation

E55 - Interview with Phyllis Glink, Executive Director, Irving Harris Foundation

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women in Chicago”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

In this episode:

Phyllis Glink (she/her/hers) is the Executive Director of the Irving Harris Foundation. In her over two decades with the Foundation she has led, developed and implemented its grantmaking and field leadership work in the areas of early childhood development and child and family welfare, reproductive health and justice, Jewish values, and social justice. Phyllis works closely with the Foundation’s partners in the non-profit, advocacy, philanthropy, and government communities to leverage shared investment and maximize the impact of Foundation grants in Illinois and across the country. She leads the Foundation’s partnerships with national replication and public policy efforts such as BUILD, the Early Learning Challenge Collaborative, First Five Years Fund, the Alliance for Early Success, the Educare Learning Network, Health Connect One’s replication of the Community Based Doula model and the Harris Foundation’s Early Childhood Professional Development Network, a group of 18 infant mental health and child trauma institutions across the United States and Israel. Phyllis holds many leadership roles in the public and philanthropic sectors including serving as co-chair of the Governor’s Early Learning Council, the Illinois Commission on Equitable Funding for Early Childhood Education and Care, the Advisory Board of the National Center of Excellence in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation, the Membership Committee for the Early Childhood Funders’ Collaborative, and co-chairs BUILD’s Advisory Board.

Prior to joining the Irving Harris Foundation, Ms. Glink worked for the Chicago Community Trust focusing on grant making and program development in the areas of education and women and girls’ issues. Ms. Glink started her career in philanthropy at the University of Chicago where she worked for seven years in the Central Development Office as a major gifts officer raising funds for the successful $650 million capital campaign.

Key Highlights/Tools:

  • Identical twin
  • Jewish
  • Activist
  • Raising Money
  • Systemic Philanthropy - using private money to change the way public money is invested
  • White woman leading a foundation trying to be an anti-racist organization

Memorable Quotes:

  • “We are using private money to change the way public money is invested”- Phyllis Glink, Phyllis Glink at Executive Director at Irving Harris Foundation
  • “There’s never going to be enough philanthropy in the world no matter how many billionaires give away money, because the big money is really public money; therefore we need to change the policies, systems and structures that invest public money” - Phyllis Glink,Executive Director at Irving Harris Foundation

Useful Links and Resources:

  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/phyllis-glink-1924425/
  • https://www.irvingharrisfdn.org/
Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on Linkedin,Twitter, and in our comments section.

Jan 11, 202258:52
E54 - Interview with Geeta Pyne, Chief Enterprise Architect - Platform and Architecture at Intuit

E54 - Interview with Geeta Pyne, Chief Enterprise Architect - Platform and Architecture at Intuit

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women in Chicago”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

In this episode:

Interview with Geeta Pyne, Chief Enterprise Architect - Platform and Architecture at Intuit. Geeta Pyne has extensive experience in Technology strategy,architecture and digital solution delivery. As lead architect she has led global companies through digital transformations, cloud migrations and enabled new business models. She has worked in both Products development and Business Technology solution delivery. She brings enterprise mindset while working in a startup, agile fashion. Recently as the Vice President of Data at Zuora she drove data strategy and execution to help the company scale to $1 Billion. Prior to Zuora, she worked at multiple high-tech companies from healthcare to supply chain to cloud and data management. She started her career as a research scientist developing algorithms for Satellite Image Processing and takes pride in holding IP in India’s first parallel computer PARAM and Image Processing system ISROVISION. In the recent past she has laser focused on data, machine learning, AI and using data as a competitive differentiator.

Key High|lights:

  • Woman in tech growing up in India
  • Immigrant data leader
  • India Space Organization
  • Getting into the room
  • Horizontal Career Growth and Vertical Career Growth

Memorable Quotes:

  • “If you are good at something, dig deep into your craft”- Geeta Pyne, Chief Enterprise Architect at Intuit
  • “Some people go for opportunities, others go for possibilities. Geeta goes for possibilities.” - One of Geeta’s managers
  • “Don’t only think about who you invite [into a meeting], also think about who you are excluding.” - Geeta Pyne, Chief Enterprise Architect at Intuit
  • “Nobody messes with Geeta Pyne” - Geeta Pyne, Chief Enterprise Architect at Intuit

Useful Links and Resources:

  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/geetapyne/
  • https://tipco.medium.com/lessons-from-an-immigrant-data-leader-geeta-pyne-chief-enterprise-architect-intuit-544f039d09c6
Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

Follow our Podcast
Jan 04, 202251:11
E53 -  Interview with Dr. Suzet M. McKinney, Principal and Director of Life Sciences for Sterling Bay - Part 2

E53 - Interview with Dr. Suzet M. McKinney, Principal and Director of Life Sciences for Sterling Bay - Part 2

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women in Chicago”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

In this episode:

Dr. Suzet M. McKinney is a public health expert, medical executive, thought leader, strategic thinker and nationally recognized expert in emergency preparedness and response. As Principal and Director of Life Sciences for Sterling Bay, Dr.McKinney oversees relationships with the scientific, academic, corporate,tech, and governmental sectors involved in the life sciences ecosystem.She also leads the strategy to expand Sterling Bay’s footprint in life sciences nationwide. She is back on UNBOSSED to talk about life sciences in Chicago and Nationwide.

Key Highlights/Tools:

  • 16 years difference in life expectancy in people 3 stops from the Blueline away (living within the medical district and outside of the medical district)
  • Life Sciences have a number of economic benefits, including not needing a college degree for employment, therefore using life sciences for the unemployed and underemployed on the West side of Chicago
  • There is a 30 years difference in life expectancy between people living in the southside vs downtown
  • Job opportunities in life science that do not require a GED
  • October 19,2021 Ally at 1229 W Concord Place, Lincoln Yards, Groundbreaking
  • Venture Capital Investment in Life Science topped $20B in a single quarter

Memorable Quotes:

  • “When an opportunity presents itself, go for it” - Dr. Suzet McKinney

Useful Links and Resources:

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

Follow UNBOSSED Podcast
Dec 31, 202136:04
E52 - Interview with Anel Ruiz, Senior Vice President at Culloton + Bauer Luce

E52 - Interview with Anel Ruiz, Senior Vice President at Culloton + Bauer Luce

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women in Chicago”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

In this episode:

I interviewed Anel Ruiz, Senior Vice President at Culloton and Bauer Luce.

Senior Vice President Anel Ruiz is a versatile communications strategist with extensive experience at the highest levels of city and county government as well as in nonprofit management.

Prior to joining CBL, Ruiz served as Press Secretary for Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, leading communications strategy as the city faced crisis after crisis—including the longest teachers’ strike in decades, the COVID-19 pandemic, and protests and civil unrest.

Ruiz previously served as deputy chief of staff for Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, overseeing policy development and managing the County’s Bureau of Economic Development, Justice Advisory Council, Commission on Human Rights & Ethics, as well as the Commission on Women’s Issues. She also has served as the public affairs director for the Chicago Department of Public Health where she led teams that consistently produced innovative and award-winning marketing and digital campaigns.

In addition to her public service, Ruiz honed her operations and fundraising skills in the nonprofit sector at Free Spirit Media and the National Museum of Mexican Art.

Ruiz received her undergraduate degree in political science from Augustana College. She is a 2014 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow and a 2016 Civic Leadership Academy Fellow.

Key Highlights:

  • Ex Press Secretary for Mayor Lori Lightfoot, City of Chicago
  • Storytelling
  • Nonprofit and Social work
  • THE FIRST LATINA PRESS SECRETARY FOR THE MAYOR IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO

Memorable Quotes:

  • “Growing up, I wanted to be a priest” - Anel Ruiz,  Senior Vice President at Culloton and Bauer Luce
  • “I'm an optimist and optims is hard work” - Anel Ruiz, Senior Vice President at Culloton and Bauer Luce
  • “If my mom can’t understand the process, is way too complicated”  - Anel Ruiz, Senior Vice President at Culloton and Bauer Luce
  • “La pincha necesidad” - Anel’s mother

Useful Links and Resources:

  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/anel-ruiz-aab0b016/
Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

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Dec 28, 202153:21
 E51 - Interview with Miloney Thakrar, Founder and Principal at Mind the Gender Gap

E51 - Interview with Miloney Thakrar, Founder and Principal at Mind the Gender Gap

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women in Chicago”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

In this episode:

I interviewed Miloney Thakrar, Founder and Principal at Mind the Gender Gap. Miloney Thakrar is the Founder & Principal of Mind the Gender Gap, Inc., a boutique consultancy that helps companies–from nonprofits to startups to Fortune 500s–leverage technology and data storytelling to accelerate gender equity, diversity, and inclusion. Her proprietary approach uniquely combines data feminism, data storytelling, and technology to craft scalable, innovative solutions that drive impact. The Forum on Workplace Inclusion and the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) have featured her work. A Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, she holds dual graduate degrees in Gender & Social Policy and Public Policy from the London School of Economics and Australian National University. She is the recipient of the June 2021 Inclusion 1st Ally Award and the 2021 UN Women USA Chicago Gender Equality Award. She serves on Garbo's Advocacy Council, Angel Valuation's Board of Directors, and ¡Milwaukee Evaluation!'s Board. When she is not eradicating donut charts from DEI reports or convincing her dad to buy a cell phone, you can find her reading in hammocks or hiking the Great Plains of Illinois.

Key Highlights/Tools:

  • Gender Gap
  • Equality in gender expression
  • Entrepreneurship, Start-up
  • Analytics, Research
  • Intersectionality, Intersectional Gender Equity
  • Data Storytelling, Data Feminism
  • Systems of Oppression

Memorable Quotes:

  • “Starting a business is like riding a roller coaster blindfolded and not knowing when you are going to stop” - Miloney Thakrar,Founder & Principal
  • “There will never be gender equity without addressing the inequities in research & data.” - Miloney Thakrar,  Founder & Principal
  • “There is no magic bullet in DEI, it is going to take a lot of work” - Miloney Thakrar,  Founder & Principal

Useful Links and Resources:

  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/miloneythakrar/
  • https://www.mindthegendergap.org/
Follow UNBOSSED Podcast
Dec 21, 202101:07:28
E50 - Interview with Alifya Valiji, Founder at The Closed Round

E50 - Interview with Alifya Valiji, Founder at The Closed Round

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women in Chicago”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

In this episode:

I interviewed Alifya Valiji, Founder of Closed Round, to break down the black box around early stage VC. She is also platform lead DayoneD1and former venture associate at techstars

Key Highlights/Tools:

  • Venture Capital
  • Start-ups
  • Entrepreneurship

Timestamp:

0:00   Introductions & GetCities Venture Capital Fellowship

4:00  Reverse Culture Shock

10:00 About Closed Round

25:00 Democratization of Venture Investments

37:00 Alifya helps with generating a first idea for a start-up and working through idea to getting a start-up going

50:00 Outros

Useful Links and Resources:

  • https://twitter.com/AlifyaValiji
  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/alifyavaliji/
Join the Conversation

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Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/live-it

License code: 0OYRKRXZRCJPIFYY

Dec 14, 202154:45
E49 - Interview with Kristi Ross, Co-Founder, Co-CEO & President of tastytrade

E49 - Interview with Kristi Ross, Co-Founder, Co-CEO & President of tastytrade

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women in Chicago”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

Kristi Ross is Co-Founder, Co-CEO & President of tastytrade and has been in the fintech and  trading industry for more than 30 years. Kristi is the Co-Founder of original dough, a visual front end trading technology platform launched in 2014, which was ultimately combined with and  rebranded when the team launched their own online brokerage firm tastyworks in 2017. Kristi serves as Executive Board Member of tastytrade and is Chairman of tastyworks. She also co hosts the show Bootstrapping in America, where she interviews innovative entrepreneurs. Kristi is passionate about empowerment of do-ers, self-directed investors and entrepreneurs.

Previously, Kristi was the CFO of thinkorswim Group as a private company, where she led  numerous mergers, acquisitions and integration including thinkorswim’s acquisition by TD  Ameritrade for $750M in 2009. Prior to thinkorswim, she was CFO of Automated Trading Desk  Specialists, a stock specialist on the Chicago Stock Exchange. Kristi has held positions in public  accounting, specializing in financial services industry clientele including traders, proprietary firms,  market makers, specialists, discount brokerage and advisory firms.

Kristi has been honored as Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young, the IL Tech Assoc, CityLights’ Prominent Tech Woman, the Moxie Awards’ Woman in Tech, James Haugh Award  and has been named to Innovate Finance Global Women in Fintech Powerlist, Crain’s  Chicago’s Tech 50, the Techweek 100 list, Chicago Business Journal’s Women of Influence list  and Midwest Women in Tech Award. She has spoken at many technology events has been featured by prominent publications such as Fortune, Chicago Tribune, and Crain's Chicago.

Kristi is an active board member of companies in the banking, trading, technology and finance  industry. She has actively participated as a member of the ChicagoNEXT Fintech Council of  World Business Chicago, P33 Technology Initiative and Co-Chair Capital & Finance Committee,  Executive Committee board member of CEC/1871, Economic Club of Chicago member, The  Chicago Network member and The Commercial Club member. Her philanthropic passions include Midtown Educational Foundation, Rock the Street Wall Street, entrepreneurship, overall  financial literacy and the importance of physical fitness.

Memorable Quotes:

  • “ We are trying to add a layer of fun and approachability to the financial markets” - Kristi Ross about tastyTrade

Useful Links and Resources:

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Dec 07, 202101:00:50
E48 - Interview with Katie Edmonds, Strategic Designer at Rhode Island School of Design

E48 - Interview with Katie Edmonds, Strategic Designer at Rhode Island School of Design

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women in Chicago”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

In this episode I interview Katie Edmonds, Strategic Designer at Rhode Island School of Design.

Katie Edmonds is a strategic designer specializing in the intersection of design and research. As Studio Lead, she develops and delivers programs that introduce and develop strategic design capabilities. Directly prior to joining RISD she worked in New York City at the intersection of nonprofit and government developing strategic interventions in economically vulnerable communities. This practice was based in placemaking and participatory design on topics including public safety and smart cities for clients including the NYC Mayor’s Office of Tech and Innovation and the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice. Prior to her graduate studies she worked in Silicon Valley and New York City in a variety of startup contexts focusing on entertainment and technology. She holds a Masters degree in Media Studies and a Masters degree in Transdisciplinary Design from Parsons School of Design, and an undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley.

Key Highlights/Tools:

  • Empathy is about believing that you can’t understand people and that trying is a worthwhile endeavor
  • Known-Known, Known-Unknown, Unknown-Known, Unknown-Unknown

Memorable Quotes:

  • We are in a moment of great revision where, the need to change is so pressing and the ability to choose what that could be is under attack by the status quo - Katie Edmonds
  • “If not us who, if not now when”- John F. Kennedy
  • You can believe yourself to be an empathetic person and practice empathy - but believing that people are worth understanding is more important - in the latter creates new knowledge and helps the world move forward. - Katie Edmonds

Useful Links and Resources:

  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieedmonds/
  • https://complexity.risd.edu/about/our-strategic-design/
Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on Linkedin,Twitter, and in our comments section.

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Nov 30, 202101:06:47
E47 -  Interview with Felicia Davis, President and CEO of Chicago Foundation for Women

E47 - Interview with Felicia Davis, President and CEO of Chicago Foundation for Women

In this episode my guest is Felicia Davis, President & CEO of Chicago Foundation for Women. Felicia Davis is a self-described “girl from the South Side.” She is deeply committed to the community through inclusive service to others. As president and CEO of Chicago Foundation for Women, she leads their strategic efforts in investing in women and girls as catalysts, building stronger communities for all.

Felicia is passionate about transforming lives and serves as an educator and mentor through a variety of networks, participating on numerous boards and committees, including as a member of Governor JB Pritzker’s Inauguration Committee, the Board of Regents for Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, an appointee to the Illinois Senate Sexual Discrimination, Harassment Awareness and Prevention Task Force, the American Cancer Society, and iHeartMedia Chicago’s Local Advisory Board.

She has been in public service for the majority of her career. As a member of the Chicago Police Department, she served with distinction for a decade, as a police officer and then as a violent crimes detective. As Interim President of Olive-Harvey College, appointed by City Colleges of Chicago’s Chancellor Juan Salgado, Felicia led the College’s efforts in developing, maintaining, and evaluating academic programs and enhancing the student learning experience for optimum achievement. She served as the inaugural Executive Director of the Office of Public Engagement in Mayor Rahm Emmanuel’s administration, where she led efforts to connect communities to resources. As Mayor Emmanuel’s First Deputy Chief of Staff, she implemented community-focused strategies to increase public safety across the City.

Felicia exemplifies leadership in all she sets out to do. She is a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow and a founding member of the Chicago Foundation for Women’s South Side Giving Circle, where she has blazed a trail for supporting Black women and girls through philanthropy and collective giving.

Memorable Quotes:

  • Think about this deeply, honestly; think about all the women that make your life possible whether it is by cleaning, child care, support function and pledge: “I will not be the reason why another woman is paid unequitably”  - Felicia Davis
  • “My blue uniform allowed me to go places where my black skin did not” - Felicia Davis
  • “Greater opportunities lie right outside of your comfort zone”

Useful Links and Resources:

  • https://www.cfw.org/
  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/felicia-davis-406a191/
Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our Linkedin and Twitter, and in our comments section.

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Nov 23, 202101:06:13
E46 - Interview with Sandee Kastrul, President and Co-Founder of i.c.Stars

E46 - Interview with Sandee Kastrul, President and Co-Founder of i.c.Stars

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women in Chicago”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

In this episode:

I Interview Sandee Kastrul, President and Cofounder of i.c.stars. Sandee Kastrul sees stars.

Sandee is president and co-founder of i.c.stars, an innovative nonprofit leadership and technology training program founded in 1999 to prepare inner-city adults for technology careers and community leadership.

An early pioneer of the social enterprise model, i.c.stars has graduated more than 300 community leaders, and will expand into multiple cities in 2016 and 2017. Under Sandee’s leadership, i.c.stars was highlighted by the U.S Chamber of Commerce for its work in youth employment. She is a proud board member of Good City, The Ryan Banks Academy, and HICC (Hispanic Innovation Center in Chicago). She’s also an advisor for the Axelson Center, Chicago Ideas Week, and the Experience Institute.

Key Highlights/Tools:

  • Diversity training in the 90s vs now
  • Cyber-Ceilings & Systems of oppression
  • Sandee is a Change Agent that disguises as a Technologist

Memorable Quotes:

  • We must harness the process on learning with, learning for and, learning from each other in order to create the organizations of the future - Sandee Krastul
  • Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has- Margaret Mead
  • For every minute we are cleaning the kitchen and spending time on other people, we are investing less in ourselves. We need to trust our men will take care of us. - Sandee Krastul

Useful Links and Resources:

  • https://www.icstars.org/
  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeekastrul/
Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

This week's question is: What challenges have you faced as a woman founder?

Ask Sandee anything by leaving a question/ comment on Substack.

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Nov 16, 202150:46
E45 - Interview with Marina Malaguti, Host at UNBOSSED Podcast
Nov 09, 202142:38
E44 - Interview with Cheryl Kemp, Founder & CEO - IndiFit

E44 - Interview with Cheryl Kemp, Founder & CEO - IndiFit

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist and aquarian ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women in Chicago”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

In this episode:

Cheryl Kemp is the Founder & CEO of indiFIT, a business management platform for fitness and wellness instructors.

Cheryl's earliest roots are in the restaurant industry, which she jumped into at the ripe age of 16. Those roots led her to several exciting career adventures in the food delivery and digital ordering space - including being an early marketing hire at OrderUp, who was ultimately acquired by Groupon, and leading Enterprise Partnerships at Ritual. The only thing she loves more than building startups is group fitness, which is why she is deeply passionate about empowering fitness instructors with technology. She is also a dog and plant mom who can be spotted scooting around Chicago on her Vespa.

Key Highlights:

  • Female Founder Story
  • Thank you Kathleen Brown for your recommendation!
  • She is going to be one to look out for amazing successes in the future!
  • No Code Tools:
    • Sharetribe: https://www.sharetribe.com/
    • Bubble: https://bubble.io/
    • Pairi:https://pairi.app/

Timestamp:

0:00 - Introductions

5:00 - Get to Know Cheryl

15:00- Early Days and Cheryl’s Entrepreneurial Spirit

30:00 - You won’t want to miss this section, Listen to Cheryl talk about starting IndieFit

45:00 - Talks about being a woman founder

Memorable Quotes:

  • Success is like a bow and arrow- sometimes you need the tension of being pulled back in order to be catapulted forward.

Useful Links and Resources:

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

This week's question is: What challenges have you faced as a woman founder?

Ask Cheryl anything by leaving a question/ comment on Substack:

Follow our Podcast
Nov 02, 202150:50
E43 - Interview with Dr. Suzet M. McKinney, Principal and Director of Life Sciences for Sterling Bay

E43 - Interview with Dr. Suzet M. McKinney, Principal and Director of Life Sciences for Sterling Bay

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women in Chicago”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

In this episode:

Dr. Suzet M. McKinney is a public health expert, medical executive, thought leader, strategic thinker and nationally recognized expert in emergency preparedness and response. As Principal and Director of Life Sciences for Sterling Bay, Dr.McKinney oversees relationships with the scientific, academic, corporate,tech, and governmental sectors involved in the life sciences ecosystem.She also leads the strategy to expand Sterling Bay’s footprint in life sciences nationwide. She previously served as CEO and Executive Director of the Illinois Medical District, where she managed a 24/7/365 environment that included 560 acres of medical research facilities, labs, a biotech business incubator, universities, raw land development areas, four hospitals and more than 40 healthcare-related facilities. Within two years

of leadership, Dr. McKinney accomplished a financial turnaround of the IMD, successfully retiring  more than $40 million in debt.

In 2020, Dr. McKinney was appointed by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker as Operations Lead for the  State of Illinois’ Alternate Care Facilities, a network of alternate medical locations designed to  decompress the hospital system during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to leading the IMD, Dr. McKinney served as the Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of  Public Health Preparedness and Emergency Response at the Chicago Department of Public Health  (CDPH), where she oversaw the emergency preparedness efforts for the Department and  coordinated those efforts within the larger spectrum of the City of Chicago’s Public Safety activities,  in addition to overseeing the Department’s Division of Women and Children’s Health. She also

provided support to the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Threat Reduction Agency, lending subject matter expertise in biological terrorism preparedness to the country of Poland.

Previously, she served as the Sr. Advisor for Public Health and Preparedness at the Tauri Group,  where she provided strategic and analytical consulting services to the U.S. Department of Homeland  Security’s (DHS), BioWatch Program.

Dr McKinney also serves on numerous boards and advisory committees and works in academia.

Dr. McKinney holds her Doctorate degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago School of  Public Health, with a focus on preparedness planning, leadership and workforce development. She  received her Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Brandeis University (Waltham, MA) where she was  also a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Fellow. She received her Master of Public Health degree  (Health Care Administration) and certificates in Managed Care and Health Care Administration  from Benedictine University in Lisle, IL.

Key Highlights/Tools:

  • "Death by organic chemistry"
  • Many women and men struggle with imposter syndrome. Engage in activities that cultivate self-confidence
  • Timing is everything
  • Explore any opportunity that comes your way
  • Mottos to live by: go big or go home and, get shit done


Oct 26, 202154:39
E42 - Interview with Laurie M. Joyner, President of Saint Xavier University

E42 - Interview with Laurie M. Joyner, President of Saint Xavier University

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women in Chicago”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

In this episode:

I interviewed Laurie M. Joyner, who began her service as the 20th president of Saint Xavier University in January 2017.

Known as a “mission-driven, student-centered and accomplished administrator passionately committed to institutional success,” President Joyner has championed mission integration efforts, inclusive excellence initiatives and the alignment of organizational structure and resources to drive educational quality and improved institutional performance.

During her presidency, SXU embarked on the STRIVE 2025: Pathways to Institutional Excellence,

Accountability and Sustainability Strategic Plan (STRIVE 2025), enrolled its two largest and most diverse first-year classes in its 175-year history, increased first-to-second year retention for three consecutive years, expanded high-impact educational practices and institutionalized a service excellence initiative aligned with the core values of respect, collaboration, responsiveness and effectiveness.

Under her leadership, SXU has also secured the largest federal grant in institutional history, established the first endowed professorship, and since FY17 has reduced long-term debt by 46.6%, increased cash on hand by 288%, increased total financial assets by more than 312%, increased its quasi-endowment tenfold and nearly tripled its total endowment (282%).

President Joyner is passionate about improving diversity, equity and inclusion on campus and is a 2019 National Inclusive Excellence Leadership Academy (NIXLA) Fellow. During her tenure, SXU became one of 29 colleges across the state to form the Illinois Equity in Attainment (ILEA) initiative, a partnership geared toward eliminating racial and socioeconomic achievement gaps across student groups while increasing graduation rates by 2025.

Key Highlights/Tools:

  • Career Mapping your way to Presidency
  • Don’t internalize other people’s stuff
  • Don’t get too sucked into the press about you-- “it’s really none of your business
  • What other people think of you is not your business
  • The most important decision in your life is who you choose as your partner
  • Education is helping us become more human

Memorable Quotes:

  • Don’t feel like you have to be completely prepared to grab onto an opportunity
  • For some women, we tend to get the more challenging leadership positions in some of the more challenging organizations

Useful Links and Resources:

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

Oct 19, 202152:13
E41 - Interview with Elena Valentine, CEO & Co-Founder of Skill Scout

E41 - Interview with Elena Valentine, CEO & Co-Founder of Skill Scout

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women in Chicago”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

In this episode:

Elena Valentine is a workplace filmmaker and design researcher. Elena has made it her mission to help people find meaning in their work through stories that matter. With the motto “you cannot be what you cannot see” Elena started filming jobs as a way to get young people excited about careers. Since then, her team at Skill Scout has since built a world class media company. Their films have helped clients like Nike, McDonalds, and American Airlines engage candidates and employees alike. Elena's particularly excited about Skill Scout's latest project, the Humans@Work documentary and virtual film festival series that shares stories of people who find passion and meaning in their work.

Elena was recently named HR Superhero by DisruptHR Chicago and Newcity's Film 50 of 2020. She is also the co-founder of Mezcla Media Collective, a a thriving community based Chicagoland non-profit that elevates femme identifying filmmakers of color.

Key Highlights/Tools:

  • Building businesses to last
  • The Power of an Eternal Prayer
  • The Entrepreneurship Journey

Memorable Quotes:

  • You cannot be what, you cannot see.

Useful Links and Resources:

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

This week's question is: What challenges have you faced as a woman founder?

Ask Elena anything by leaving a question/ comment on Substack.

Follow UNBOSSED Podcast

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/live-it

License code: 0OYRKRXZRCJPIFYY

Oct 12, 202157:27
E40 - Interview with Dorri McWhorter, President and CEO at YMCA of Metro Chicago

E40 - Interview with Dorri McWhorter, President and CEO at YMCA of Metro Chicago

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women in Chicago”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

In this episode:

I interviewed Dorri McWhorter,President and CEO at YMCA of Metro Chicago. Dorri joined the YMCA in August 2021. Before serving at the Y, Dorri joined YWCA Metropolitan Chicago in March 2013 and has led the organization’s transformation to a social enterprise, including the YWCA’s expansion of digital services with the launch of YShop.org (e-commerce platform), womenshealthexchange.org (health insurance and information) and the MPWR, pronounced “empower”, mobile app (community engagement). Dorri leverages her large-scale change experience from working over 20 years in management consulting to the work that the YWCA does to create social change. Dorri lead the process for the YWCA to develop an exchange traded fund (ETF) for women’s empowerment (NYSE: WOMN) in partnership with Impact Shares, which is the first non-profit investment advisor to develop an ETF product. Dorri was included in the inaugural list of “The Blue Network”, comprised of the top 100 innovators in Chicago, by Chicago Tribune’s Blue Sky Innovation and is a 2019 Inductee in the Chicago Innovation Hall of Fame. Dorri serves on the Board of Directors for William Blair Funds and Skyway Concession Company (Chicago Skyway), and Lifeway Foods, Inc. Dorri co-chairs the Advisory Board for First Women’s Bank (in formation). McWhorter’s civic and philanthropic leadership includes the board of directors for the Chicago Center for Arts and Technology, 1871 (Technology Business Accelerator), Civic Consulting Alliance, and the Civic Federation. Dorri is also a member of the Illinois Charitable Trust Board. McWhorter received a bachelor of business administration degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a master of business administration degree from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Lake Forest College.

Memorable Quotes:

  • You cannot separate the numbers (or budget) from the narrative (or strategy)

Useful Links and Resources:

  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorrimcwhorter/
  • https://www.ymcachicago.org/
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Oct 05, 202153:15
E39 - Interview with Gabi Klapman, Co-founder and CEO of Trvlpage

E39 - Interview with Gabi Klapman, Co-founder and CEO of Trvlpage

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women in Chicago”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

In this episode:

Gabi is Co-founder and CEO of Trvlpage, a travel based social media app where you can share your travel experiences and plan a trip with your trusted network’s recommendations. She is an avid traveler who spent 5 months post college traveling SouthEast Asia and South Africa. She studied Marketing at University of Illinois and attended Fullstack Academy where she learned software development. Before Trvlpage, she worked as a developer at Jellyvision. She has been the sole developer and CEO of Trvlpage since 2019.

**USE CODE “UNBOSSED” TO BYPASS TRVLPG WAITLIST**

Key Highlights/Tools:

  • Woman starting a Tech Company
  • Going through bootcamp
  • Travel that molds you
  • Being an entrepreneur

Timestamp:

2:00   How Gabi and I met - we go back!

5:00   Gabi’s story

9:50   Transition to Tech

16:00 What is a Dev Bootcamp

22:00 Traveling Abroad and her solo journey in Asia and Africa

27:00 Lessons Learnt while traveling

34:00 Stating Travel Page

40:00 Being the software developer and CEO of a company

47:00 Outros

Memorable Quotes:

  • Traveling can be a struggle but it can make you grow and learn like nothing else will

Useful Links and Resources:

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

This week's question is: What challenges have you faced as a woman founder?

Ask Gabi anything by leaving a question/ comment on Substack.

Follow UNBOSSED Podcast
Sep 28, 202154:25
E38 - Interview with Ellie Bahrmasel, Co-Founder & CEO at Further Faster Design

E38 - Interview with Ellie Bahrmasel, Co-Founder & CEO at Further Faster Design

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women in Chicago”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

In this episode:

I interviewed Ellie Bahrmasel. A serial strategist with a creative core, Ellie has spent her career growing and transforming organizations, programs, and products through design. Her diversity of experience - from government to Fortune 100’s to venture backed startups - has given her insights that fuel her ability to help teams maneuver around and through their biggest growth challenges.

Key Highlights/Tools:

  • Empathy and care shapes who you are
  • Ellie’s dad success with agoraphobia
  • First one to go to college
  • “The digital divide”
  • Designing Tech to matter

Memorable Quotes:

  • Digital Access Is A Civil Rights Issue

Useful Links and Resources:

  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliebahrmasel/
  • https://www.furtherfaster.design/
Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

This week's question is: What challenges have you faced as a woman founder?

Ask Ellie anything by leaving a question/ comment on Substack.

Follow UNBOSSED Podcast
Sep 21, 202101:08:21
E37 - Interview with Genevieve Custer Weeks, Founder and CEO at Tutu School Franchises

E37 - Interview with Genevieve Custer Weeks, Founder and CEO at Tutu School Franchises

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist and aquarian. ;)

UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women in Chicago”.

If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

In this episode:

I interviewed Genevieve Custer Weeks, Founder and CEO at Tutu School Franchises.Genevieve was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. She received her early ballet training there, and took part in her first dance productions in the middle of her parents' living room.

At the age of fifteen, Genevieve moved to Chicago to study at the School of Ballet Chicago, and that same year became a founding member of the Ballet Chicago Studio Company. In addition, Genevieve supplemented her training with study at the San Francisco Ballet School, American Ballet Theatre, and with Suzanne Farrell at The Kennedy Center.

A contract with the Oakland Ballet brought Genevieve to the San Francisco Bay Area. Beginning in 2006, Genevieve began performing as a freelance artist, dancing principal and soloist roles throughout North America, and started dreaming of opening her own boutique school that would celebrate the things she loved most about ballet. During a break in her performance schedule, Genevieve's husband, Andrew, finally asked, "Why wait?" and Tutu School was born.

Since the founding of that first initial studio, Tutu School has grown into a collection of more than forty boutique ballet schools all over the US and Canada, and Genevieve – who retired from performing in 2012 – now divides her time between Tutu School and her life with Andrew, a photographer, and their three adorable kids.

Memorable Quotes:

  • There is a transformative power to putting people in a space with music

Useful Links and Resources:

  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/genevieve-custer-weeks-9b8a5336/
  • https://www.tutuschool.com/chicago
Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

This week's question is: What challenges have you faced as a woman founder?

Ask Genevieve anything by leaving a question/ comment on Substack.

Follow UNBOSSED Podcast
Sep 14, 202149:47
E36 - Interview with Patricia Brown Holmes, Managing Partner at Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP

E36 - Interview with Patricia Brown Holmes, Managing Partner at Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP

Patricia Brown Holmes  is the first African-American woman to lead and have her name on the door of a major law firm that is not women- or minority-owned.

A woman of exceptional talent, intelligence and vitality, Patricia Holmes has chalked up enough accomplishments to fill three lifetimes. Over the course of her distinguished legal career, she has practiced law on both sides of the bench in courtrooms at every level, serving as Associate Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, assistant U.S. attorney, assistant state's attorney for Cook County, and Chief Assistant Corporation Counsel for Municipal Prosecutions for the city of Chicago.

By the time she ventured into private practice in 2005, Patricia’s skill and experience were firmly established and widely acknowledged. She is one of a handful of Illinois lawyers who have tried cases in state, city and federal court as well as state appellate, federal appellate, and Illinois Supreme Court. She is also co-writer of a brief that was presented before the US Supreme Court.

Over the past decade, in her role as a successful and sought-after defense attorney, she has represented a wide range of public and private corporate clients in complex commercial, regulatory and class action litigation as well as in internal investigations involving financial and accounting fraud, corporate whistleblower allegations, contract disputes, and mail and wire fraud.

Patricia practices the art of communicating with government officials by employing equal measures of conviction, clarity and tact. Her nine years on the bench and her experience teaching judicial seminars have given her valuable insight into how judges think about and analyze cases. This rare combination of judicial knowledge and trial experience make her a powerful asset, valuable partner and trusted counselor to a wide range of corporate clients in several industries, including education, transportation, manufacturing, entertainment, industrial, health care, and food and beverage industries.

Key Highlights/Tools:

  • Patricia Brown Holmes  is THE FIRST African-American woman in the Nation to lead and have her name on the door of a major law firm that is not women- or minority-owned.
  • You are your own doctor
  • Enjoy the moments more
  • Different is not better or worse, it’s just different
  • As a leader we must let people in

Memorable Quotes:

  • “Never waste an opportunity to be happy” - Patricia Brown Holmes

Useful Links and Resources:

  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-brown-holmes-4423071/
Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

This week's question is: What challenges have you faced as a woman founder?

Ask Patricia anything by leaving a question/ comment on Substack.

Follow UNBOSSED Podcast
Sep 07, 202101:01:18
E35 - Interview with Nicole Johnson-Scales, CEO & Executive Career Strategist at NJS Consulting Group

E35 - Interview with Nicole Johnson-Scales, CEO & Executive Career Strategist at NJS Consulting Group

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

In this episode:

Marina interviews Nicole Johnson-Scales, CEO & Executive Career Strategist at NJS Consulting Group.

For over 20 years, I have worked to climb the ladder in Corporate America. Throughout these years, I found the best way to thrive as an executive was to be ambitious in the climb and develop professional joy along the way. This why I created NJS Consulting Group; to help executives find courage, confidence, and a powerful strategy to lead with impact.

When working with executives, I help them get out of their own way, develop a strategy to get to their next level of success and find more purpose in their careers. Outside of my one-on-one work with executive leaders, I facilitate team leadership workshops to help the team show up as more impactful leaders and deliver positive change to their organizations. I also offer consulting services to businesses to mitigate risk, support growth initiatives, and create positive transformation with their leadership teams.

I hold an MBA from Olivet Nazarene University and am a certified coach through an International Coach Federation (ICF) accredited program. I am an Adjunct Professor at Loyola University, Chicago, and Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, where I teach courses on Values-Based Leadership, Leading Organizational Change, and Corporate Social Responsibility. I am a Founding Guide at Chief (Chicago), the social network dedicated to women’s leadership.

When I am not serving my clients, you can find me watching a movie with my husband, shopping with my daughter, or laughing on the phone with my son, who lives out of state. I love to travel and spend time with friends and family.

Key Highlights:

  • Asking the universe for what you want and getting ready for it
  • Nail the interview and the inevitable rejections
  • Leveling-up and asking for feedback
  • How is covid impacting the workplace

Useful Links and Resources:

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

This week's question is: What challenges have you faced as a woman founder?

Ask Nicole anything by leaving a question/ comment on Substack.

Follow UNBOSSED Podcast
Aug 31, 202149:25
E34 - Interview with Christine Izuakor is the CEO of Cyber Pop-up

E34 - Interview with Christine Izuakor is the CEO of Cyber Pop-up

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti

In this episode:

Dr. Christine Izuakor is the CEO of Cyber Pop-up, an on-demand cybersecurity service platform powered by vetted and highly skilled cyber freelancers. Izuakor is also the author of the “Ultimate Guide to Building a Career in Cybersecurity” available now at shop.cyberpopup.com/career-guide !

She has over a decade of experience leading cybersecurity functions within Fortune 100 companies and recently played a critical part in embedding cyber security in large enterprise DNA by training the global workforce on cyber security, supporting execution of the organizations security strategy, and developing cyber talent pipelines. Prior to this, she led numerous security functions from vulnerability management to handling legal implications of data security. Today, through Cyber Pop-up, she helps corporations of all sizes and industries solve a diverse range of strategic cybersecurity challenges on-demand.

Dr. Izuakor is also active in the diversity and inclusion community. She was a co-founder and former Vice President of Gen Trend, United Airlines’ Millennial business resource group, served a 2 year term as the Head Editor of the Illinois Diversity Council Editorial Board and volunteers as a cybersecurity mentor with Year Up. She is dedicated to increasing diversity within cybersecurity and has continually curated cybersecurity development and scholarship programs to further this agenda.

Christine is a first generation Nigerian in America, native Houstonian, Chicago resident and avid traveler. She appreciates learning about different cultures and shares her journey on social media, igniting travel curiosity in folks across the globe.

Key Highlights:

  • What is it like being a black woman in Cyber Security
  • From corporate to start-up founder
  • Daily practices of a Cyber-security CEO - Thankfulness

Timestamp:

0:00   Introductions

5:00   The early days

12:00  Getting as advanced education

17:00 Being a black woman in Cyber

23:00 What is cyber and how do we protect ourselves?

29:00 The pivotal moment - Starting Cyber Pop-up

35:00 About practicing appreciation

Memorable Quotes:

  • Attitude is everything. The smallest wins need to be celebrated. Be thankful for the ground supporting you.

Useful Links and Resources:

  • https://www.cyberpopup.com/
Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

This week's question is: What challenges have you faced as a woman founder?

Ask Christine anything by leaving a question/ comment on Substack.

Follow UNBOSSED Podcast
Aug 24, 202146:25
E33 - Interview with Debbie Reynolds, The Data Diva
Aug 17, 202152:13
E32 - Interview with Tracy Baim, Publisher at Chicago Reader

E32 - Interview with Tracy Baim, Publisher at Chicago Reader

Aug 10, 202148:40
E31 - Interview with Jennifer Clark, Senior Vice President of Operational Excellence at Cresco Labs

E31 - Interview with Jennifer Clark, Senior Vice President of Operational Excellence at Cresco Labs

Jennifer Clark is Senior Vice President of Operational Excellence at Cresco Labs.  She leads the organization’s Quality, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), and Continuous Improvement functions, ensuring that the company is delivering high quality, safe, and consistent products to customers with cost effective and efficient operations.   She is a results-driven leader who builds highly effective teams and challenges the status quo to identify new and better ways of accomplishing objectives.  Prior to Cresco Labs, she led multiple operational aspects within the healthcare industry at Abbott and AbbVie.  Jennifer graduated with a science degree from the University of Illinois, however also attended the acclaimed Kendall College of Culinary Arts, owned a personal chef business for a short time, and is pursuing her Executive MBA from the Kellogg School of Management starting in the fall of 2021.  Jennifer serves as a mentor and role model for other women leaders, hosting events focused on themes of women empowerment and giving back.  In her free time, she enjoys cooking, traveling, playing tennis, and spending time with her family and friends.

Speaking at:

The Global Cannabis Executive Summit, A Gathering of Innovators, Pioneers, and Leaders in Toronto, Canada on Nov 2-3, 2021

Oh Hey, and I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist and aquarian ;)

UNBOSSED IS… “Paths To Success of Amazing Women in Chicago”

I welcome you to ask questions, participate, and join me as we explore these topics by emailing me at info@unbossed.io or visiting www.unbossed.io.

Available on-

Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDTz6_FepG04QTs1BjFLBjw/

Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eUhfH8E

Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/e7cWtBv

Google Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/enjChPt

And others..

Aug 03, 202157:43
E30 - Interview with Maria Hadden, Alderwoman of Chicago's 49th Ward

E30 - Interview with Maria Hadden, Alderwoman of Chicago's 49th Ward

Maria Elaine Hadden is a Chicago politician and community activist. She is a member of Chicago City Council, serving as alderman for the city's 49th ward. She won election to that office after defeating 28-year incumbent Joe Moore in the 2019 aldermanic elections. The 49th ward includes most of Rogers Park and portions of West Ridge.

Hadden was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1981. She earned her bachelor's degree in International Peace and Conflict Studies from the Ohio State University, and subsequently moved to Waukegan, Illinois to begin a job with the AmeriCorps VISTA program in 2003. She moved to Chicago in 2004. She later earned a master's degree in International Public Service Management from DePaul University.

Before becoming Alderwoman, Maria Hadden was the Executive Director of Our City Our Voice, a national nonprofit organization she founded to enable communities and governments across the country to redesign democracy for more empowered and equitable participation. Her expertise in public participation is grounded in grassroots organizing efforts for social change.

Before launching her own organization, Maria was a founding board member of The Participatory Budgeting Project, where she worked for 8 years with communities and government officials in the Midwest and South to create and facilitate democratic processes around public budgets. In this role, Maria has also worked with Aldermen throughout Chicago to design participatory budgeting processes around Aldermanic menu money, school budgets and TIF funds.

Maria lives with her partner, Natalia, and their two rescue dogs in Rogers Park. She enjoys living in a place where neighbors are friends and community is family - and she is proud of her community's resilience and motivation to work together in difficult situations. In her free time Maria is a photographer and artist who leads screenprinting workshops for young people.

Recommendations:

  • The Confidence Game Book by Maria Konnikova

Oh Hey, and I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist and aquarian ;)

UNBOSSED IS… “Paths To Success of Amazing Women in Chicago”

I welcome you to ask questions, participate, and join me as we explore these topics by emailing me at info@unbossed.io or visiting www.unbossed.io.

Available on-

Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDTz6_FepG04QTs1BjFLBjw/

Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eUhfH8E

Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/e7cWtBv

Google Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/enjChPt

And others..

Jul 27, 202159:40
E29 - Interview with Emily Achler, CEO and Co-Founder at Italic Type
Jul 20, 202101:10:04