In this transformative episode, we sit down with Amina Salami, founder and CEO of Good Apparel - a Los Angeles-based modest fashion brand for the cute, the covered, and the curvy. Amina's journey from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship is a masterclass in staying true to yourself while building something meaningful.

Guest Bio

Amina Salami is the visionary behind Good Apparel, creating timeless, high-quality modest fashion for women who want to look good, feel good, and stay true to their values. With a background in leadership and administration, Amina spent years guiding teams before betting on herself to turn her lifelong passion for fashion into a thriving business. What started as a small reselling venture has evolved into a brand solving a real problem: stylish, modest fitness wear for women who refuse to compromise on comfort or confidence.

Connect with Amina and shop Good Apparel:

• Website: goodapparella.com
• Instagram: @goodapparella

What Makes This Episode Essential

Amina shares raw, honest insights about navigating corporate America as a Muslim woman who chose to wear hijab, the courage it takes to start your own business, and how faith became her anchor through every challenge. Her storytelling is authentic, vulnerable, and empowering - she doesn't sugarcoat the struggles but shows you how to overcome them with grace and determination.

You'll discover:

• How to handle doubt - both from yourself and others - when you're breaking barriers
• Why representing your values unapologetically creates respect (even in unexpected places)
• The surprising connection between pitching clients and pitching to God

Key Takeaways

[00:03:00] - On Making the Transition to Covering
Amina shares her powerful decision to wear hijab in college and corporate America, navigating judgment from women bosses who called an "intervention" to question her choice - and how she stayed grounded in her faith and identity.

[00:15:00] - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome Through Community
The antidote to self-doubt? Writing down your accomplishments and surrounding yourself with women who reflect back your greatness. Amina explains how even Tina Knowles battles imposter syndrome - and how that revelation changed everything.

[00:22:00] - The Power of Baby Steps Over Perfection
Inspired by Julie Andrews' autobiography, Amina discovered that discipline doesn't mean killing yourself. Small, consistent steps - without the self-punishment - are what actually move you forward in business and life.

[00:28:00] - Finding Your Purpose is a Process
Amina gets emotional describing the moment she became sure of her purpose: "God takes you through tests, ups and downs, friends, relationships, work - it's a journey. But once you get there, it's the most liberating feeling."

Take Action

• Shop Good Apparel: goodapparella.com
• Follow Amina on Instagram @goodapparella
• Subscribe to Career Wanderlust Podcast for more impactful conversations about how to succeed in you career

About Your Host

This session was hosted by Jolie Downs with Paradigm, a voice in career evolution and growth. You can connect with Jolie here: linkedin.com/in/joliedowns

If you are looking to add talent to your public relations, marketing, communications, advertising, sales, or business development team with the best talent - and quickly - check us out at paradigmstaffing.com.

Cat Colella Graham didn't just secure the first and only trademark for "employee experience" in 2005 - she built an entire career philosophy around turning uncertainty into opportunity, transforming organizational cultures through the power of strategic communication, and proving that the most fulfilling professional journeys rarely follow a straight line.

Guest Bio

Cat Colella Graham is an adjunct professor, internal communications consultant and coach, and a recognized trailblazer who secured the first and only trademark for "employee experience" in 2005. Known as a trusted changemaker with a proven track record of driving meaningful transformation through strategic communications, Cat founded the Employee Experience Agency Cheer Partners, which she successfully built and sold to Lippy Taylor Group. She's worked with industry giants including Amazon Alexa, Elastic, Ernst & Young, and Work Human, serving as what she calls "the internal comms nanny" - stepping in to fill critical gaps and deliver immediate value. Cat is also a TED Fellow and translator, bringing global perspectives to everything she creates. Her expertise spans change management, organizational culture, employee engagement, and the intersection of AI and human-centered communication.

Connect with Cat:

• LinkedIn: Cat Colella Graham - https://www.linkedin.com/in/catgraham/

Content Sample:

Cat delivers three game-changing insights that challenge conventional career wisdom:

1. The Patchwork Quilt Philosophy: Cat reimagines career success not as climbing a ladder but as creating a "patchwork quilt of the good you want to put in the universe."

2. The Manager-Employee Nexus: Cat reveals that "the smallest unit of culture is between manager and employee." Leadership can proclaim values from the mountaintop, but transformation lives or dies in daily manager interactions.

3. AI as Your Creative Partner, Not Your Replacement: Cat offers an electrifying perspective on artificial intelligence that goes beyond the typical fear or hype.

Key Takeaways

[07:00] – Making Change Stick in Organizations Leaders must equip managers with FAQ documents, clear talking points, and permission to communicate "fast and often" with their teams.

[14:00] – Building Successful Team Cultures High-performing teams share two critical characteristics.

[23:00] – Recognizing When to Leave Cat's experience with a bullying boss taught her an invaluable lesson: not all failures are yours to own.

[35:00] – The $2.99 Superpower Tool For anyone in career transition, Cat recommends downloading the SY Partners "Superpower Cards" app—a game that identifies your unique professional superpower.

[38:00] – Reframing "Fake It Till You Make It" Cat distinguishes between authentic confidence and false expertise.

Suggestions:

Subscribe to Career Wanderlust Podcast to hear more transformative career stories. Give us a like, share this episode with someone navigating career transition, and leave a review sharing which insight resonated most with you.

Ready to build your team with exceptional communications, marketing, PR, sales, or business development talent? Paradigm Staffing specializes in connecting you with professionals who bring both expertise and cultural fit. Visit paradigmstaffing.com to submit your request and experience the difference of working with a team that understands the human element of hiring.

Host Information:

This insightful session was hosted by Jolie Downs with Paradigm.

Connect with Jolie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joliedowns/

What if the very career setback that feels like your biggest failure is actually the launching pad for your greatest success? Keith Willis, Executive Coach and Leadership Development Expert, reveals how embracing feedback, swallowing your pride, and viewing "failures" as feedback can transform your career trajectory in ways you never imagined.

Guest Bio

Keith Willis, President of Core Management Training, is a seasoned Executive Coach, Leadership Development Expert, and former pharmaceutical industry leader who has spent decades mastering the art of resilience and helping others do the same. After working with companies such as Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson, he launched his own coaching practice, helping managers and teams play "the infinite game" by focusing on long-term people development rather than short-term wins.

Keith specializes in transforming career setbacks into career breakthroughs, teaching professionals how to take feedback, embrace change, and build sustainable success. His philosophy centers on understanding that life's ups and downs are inevitable, but our response to them determines our trajectory.

Connect with Keith:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithawillis/
• https://coremanagementtraining.com/

Content Sample:

[00:23:00-00:26:00] Transforming Career Setbacks into Launch Pads The lesson? Sometimes your worst moments become your best credentials.

[00:26:00-00:28:00] The Rollercoaster Reality Check You've already proven your resilience; it's time to trust that pattern.

[00:28:00-00:30:00] Playing the Infinite Game vs. the Finite Game Keeping talent, investing in people's growth, and thinking long-term actually improves the bottom line and creates unstoppable teams.

[00:31:00-00:33:00] Managing for the Long View When you focus on helping people reach their life goals, not just quarterly targets, everyone wins.

[00:33:00] The Ultimate Truth: You Are the Captain Keith's closing wisdom: "I am the captain of my own destiny." You control your response to every situation, and that response shapes your future.

Memorable Quotes

"Sometimes the worst things that happen are the best things that can happen - they become launchpads."

"Nobody wants to worry about whether they're gonna have a job or not. Companies expect loyalty, but they're playing the finite game."

"When people know that you care about them, they're gonna give you a lot more and they're gonna be more open with you because it's not just about you, it's about them."

Call to Action

Ready to transform your career setbacks into breakthroughs? Subscribe to the Career Wanderlust Podcast so you never miss an episode filled with golden nuggets like these.

If you are looking to add talent to your marketing, communications, public relations, public affairs, or sales/bus dev team, contact paradigmstaffing.com.

Host and Platform Information

Jolie Downs is the co-owner and Executive Recruiter with Paradigm Staffing, a recruiting firm specializing in public relations, marketing, and communications. For more career related insights, connect with Jolie at: linkedin.com/in/joliedowns

Ending Note

Here's something to sit with: Every single difficulty you've ever faced, you've overcome. Every challenge that once felt impossible is now behind you. So why would this current moment be any different?

Keith reminds us that we are the captains of our own destiny, not because life stops throwing storms our way, but because we choose how to navigate them.