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.

What if the secret to PR success wasn't found in a boardroom, but on a baseball diamond? Adam Cormier, a seasoned PR executive with over 15 years of strategic communications experience, reveals how a teenage lesson about "keeping an even keel" became his compass for navigating everything from crisis communications to career transitions. Could the mindset that helped him survive 60 grueling games in a summer transform how you handle your professional wins and losses?

Guest Bio

Adam Cormier is a seasoned public relations executive and principal consultant with JAC Comm, specializing in strategic business and technology communications. With over 15 years of experience, Adam has built a reputation for translating complex technical concepts into compelling narratives through data-driven storytelling. His career spans prominent organizations including Remitly, PAN Communications, Racepoint Global, and Weber Shandwick, where he consistently delivered impactful results for clients in tech, cybersecurity, and SaaS sectors.

Content Sample:

Adam shares three revolutionary insights that separate successful PR professionals from the pack. First, he reveals the "17-second rule" - a legendary reporter's test that taught him to distill complex pitches into laser-focused value propositions. Second, Adam unveils his "three breakdown theory" - predicting exactly when PR professionals will face their biggest career challenges and how to transform these moments into catapults for growth. Finally, he exposes the coming AI revolution in PR that will fundamentally reshape how we create content, reach audiences, and measure success.

Key Takeaways

[2:00-4:00] The "Even Keel Philosophy": Why maintaining emotional equilibrium after wins and losses is crucial for sustained PR success and how a teenage baseball lesson became a career-defining mindset.

[13:00-15:00] The Fear-to-Voice Pipeline: How embracing failure and pushing past imposter syndrome directly correlates to finding your authentic professional voice and becoming a confident leader.

[16:00-18:00] The Three Career Breakdown Theory: Adam's prediction of exactly when PR professionals will face their biggest challenges - junior level overwhelm, management transition struggles, and senior-level revenue pressure.

[24:00-27:00] The Knowledge Advantage: Why PR professionals must become subject matter experts, not just communicators, and how deep knowledge transforms you from order-taker to strategic partner.

[28:00-32:00] AI's Double-Edged Impact: How artificial intelligence will revolutionize both the tools we use and the media landscape we navigate, fundamentally changing the PR game within two years.

Call to Action

Ready to transform your approach to career growth? Subscribe to the Career Wanderlust podcast for more insights from industry leaders who've mastered the art of authentic success.

Connect with Adam Cormier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamcormier/

If you're looking to add top-tier talent to your public relations, marketing, communications, sales, or business development team quickly and efficiently, explore our services at paradigmstaffing.com.

Host and Platform Information

This insightful session was hosted by Jolie Downs with Paradigm, a voice in career evolution and growth. Jolie is an Executive Recruiter and co-owner of Paradigm Staffing, author of "Thriving After 40," podcast host, and certified life coach. You can connect with Jolie here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joliedowns/

Meet Alan Dunton, a 25-year communications industry veteran who has navigated everything from the pre-internet era to today's AI-powered future, and discovered that curiosity, authenticity, and strategic relationship-building are the true currencies of career success. This episode will transform how you approach professional growth and redefine what it means to build lasting influence in an ever-changing industry.

Guest Bio

Alan Dunton is an SVP and Partner in the Technology Division at FleishmanHillard, bringing over two decades of expertise from both agency and client-side positions. Named one of Business Insider's top PR professionals in technology in 2020, Alan has held leadership roles at prestigious agencies including Shift Communications, Grayling, and Triple Point, as well as in-house positions with Multiverse and Big Point. Beyond his corporate achievements, Alan serves on the global communications team for The Ocean Cleanup, a Dutch nonprofit technology company dedicated to eliminating plastic waste from our oceans. His unique perspective combines the artistry of storytelling with the precision of data-driven strategy, making him a sought-after voice in the evolution of modern communications.

Connect with Alan:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alandunton/
• FleishmanHillard: https://fleishmanhillard.com/
• The Ocean Cleanup: https://theoceancleanup.com/

Content Sample:

Alan shares three revolutionary insights that challenge conventional career wisdom.

First, he reveals the transformative power of strategic vulnerability in leadership -explaining how his early struggles with interpersonal dynamics became his greatest teacher and why reflecting on professional failures is the fastest path to executive presence.

Second, discover Alan's synthetic audience methodology - a cutting-edge AI application that's revolutionizing how communications professionals test and refine messaging before it reaches the market.

Finally, Alan unpacks his "Never Work for Free" philosophy - a college lesson that shaped his entire career trajectory.

Key Takeaways

[04:00] The Curiosity Advantage: Never stop asking questions, especially when you don't know something.

[06:00] Reading the Room Mastery: Success requires understanding not just the immediate moment, but the broader context of your industry, economy, and sector.

[08:00] The "Never Work for Free" Philosophy: Know your worth and ensure every opportunity provides meaningful growth, compensation, or skill development.

[10:00] Learning from Interpersonal Friction: The most impactful career lessons come from moments when relationships don't work smoothly. Take time to reflect.

[21:00] AI as an Amplifier: Embrace AI tools like synthetic audience creation to enhance your strategic capabilities.

Suggestions:

Ready to transform your career with key insights? Subscribe to the Career Wanderlust Podcast for more transformative conversations with industry leaders who've mastered the art of professional evolution. Please give us a like and share with a friend.

If you're building a world-class communications, public relations, marketing, or sales team, discover how Paradigm Staffing connects ambitious companies with exceptional talent at paradigmstaffing.com.

Host Information

This insightful session was hosted by Jolie Downs with Paradigm, a voice in career evolution and growth.

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

Jeff Koo is a senior communications professional and VP of Technology at Shift Communications, with over 18 years of experience building high-performing teams and developing programs that empower the world's most innovative tech companies. His impressive client roster spans from early-stage startups like Dropcam to growth companies such as Shopify, to global enterprises including SAP, OnePlus, and Intel.

Previously, Jeff ran his own successful consultancy and held leading roles at top agencies including WE Communications, Spark PR, and Bateman Agency. His unconventional path from Berkeley psychology major to tech PR expert demonstrates the power of following your authentic interests and turning personal challenges into professional strengths.

This episode will challenge everything you think you know about networking, feedback, and turning your unique identity into your greatest professional superpower.

Connect with Jeff:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffkoo/
• Company: Shift Communications - https://www.shiftcomm.com/

Content Sample:

Jeff shares three game-changing insights that most career advice completely misses:

The "Cold Approach" Formula That Actually Works

The Revolutionary Feedback Framework

The "Say Yes to Fear" Philosophy

Jeff's storytelling is both vulnerable and empowering, sharing personal struggles with the kind of honesty that makes you feel less alone in your own career challenges while providing concrete strategies you can implement immediately.

Key Takeaways

[2:00] The Career Pivot Strategy: Use unemployment as strategic thinking time instead of panic-applying for any available job.

[6:00] The Authentic Networking Approach: Network within your community and genuine interests.

[20:00] The Feedback Transformation Method: Separate the person from the performance by viewing feedback as work guidance rather than personal criticism.

[29:00] The "Remember Your Value" Job Search Strategy: Spend 20-30 minutes daily reaching out to former colleagues for genuine catch-up conversations. Plant seeds everywhere instead of searching alone.

[35:00] The Fear-as-Compass Principle: When you're scared of something, that might be exactly what you need to do.

Suggestions:

Ready to transform your own career story? Subscribe to the Career Wanderlust podcast for more inspiring conversations with professionals who've turned their challenges into superpowers.

If you're looking to add exceptional talent to your public relations, marketing, communications, sales, or business development team, discover how Paradigm Staffing can help you find the best candidates quickly at paradigmstaffing.com.

Host and Platform Information

This transformational conversation was hosted by Jolie Downs with Paradigm, a passionate voice in career evolution and growth. Jolie brings over 20 years of experience helping professionals discover their true potential and create careers that align with their authentic selves.

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

What bold step will you take today? Jeff's story reminds us that our biggest breakthroughs often come from the decisions that scare us most. Whether it's reaching out to that contact you've been meaning to call, asking for the feedback you've been avoiding, or saying yes to the opportunity that makes your heart race - your next chapter is waiting for you to be brave enough to write it.

Remember: You were born with a mouth—use it.

What if the very challenges threatening to derail your career are actually the golden opportunities you've been waiting for? Today's guest, Noah Dye, transformed 25 years of agency experience, into launching his own successful PR agency. His journey reveals how embracing uncertainty and viewing setbacks as stepping stones can unlock extraordinary career transformation.

Guest Bio

Noah Dye is a senior communications and business development executive with over 25 years of experience driving agency growth across B2B and B2C industries. After an impressive rise at Team Lewis from account executive to head of United States operations (overseeing six offices), Noah founded Spoken Voice PR, specializing in media relations, crisis management, executive positioning, and content strategy. His agency focuses on meaningful storytelling and genuine connection.

Connect with Noah:

• Website: https://www.thespokenvoice.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noahdye/

Content Sample:

Noah shares three transformative insights that challenge conventional career wisdom:

The "Front Row Principle": A pivotal moment when his CEO pulled him from the back of conference rooms forever changed his trajectory, revealing how physical positioning reflects professional confidence and engagement.

The New Business Paradox: Discover why the most "intimidating" aspect of agency work—new business development—is actually identical to client service, just with prospects instead of existing clients.

The Selective Success Strategy: Learn Noah's controversial approach to RFPs and why saying "no" to certain opportunities became his competitive advantage in building a boutique agency.

Key Takeaways

[00:02:00] Opportunity Recognition Over Perfection: Noah emphasizes jumping at opportunities even without complete preparation—"I had none of them [the required experiences], but I jumped at that opportunity."

[00:08:00] The Front Row Transformation: His CEO's simple directive to "sit up front" instilled confidence that lasted 25 years, proving how physical presence impacts professional perception.

[00:17:00] Strategic Selectivity in Growth: "Don't do every RFP"—Noah's philosophy of choosing quality relationships over quantity leads to sustainable agency success.

[00:26:00] Culture Over Metrics: Focusing on people and culture first allows revenue and profits to follow naturally, rather than the reverse approach.

Memorable Quotes

"If you can't tell a story, social media's not gonna matter. Media relations isn't gonna matter... None of the tools are gonna matter if you don't have a voice."

Suggestions:

Ready to transform your communications career or find top talent for your team? Whether you're looking to make your next career move or need to build a world-class communications team, we're here to help. Connect with us at paradigmstaffing.com

Subscribe to Career Wanderlust for more insights from industry leaders who've navigated successful career transformations.

Host Information

Hosted by Jolie Downs with Paradigm, a voice in career evolution and growth. Jolie brings over 20 years of executive recruiting experience, helping professionals navigate career transitions and companies build exceptional teams.

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

Ending Note

Noah's journey reminds us that sometimes the most rewarding career moves come from stepping into the unknown. As you reflect on your own career trajectory, consider this: What opportunities are you currently viewing as challenges? How might shifting that perspective open doors you never knew existed?

Intimidated in the boardroom? Learn how this senior communications strategist overcame imposter syndrome to climb the ranks at Fortune 500 tech companies, and discover the game-changing advice that can transform your career trajectory today.

Guest Bio

Meet Sylvie Tongco, VP of Corporate Communications and senior-level communication strategist with nearly two decades of experience navigating the tech landscape. From guiding billion-dollar companies through transformative communications strategies to building trusted C-Suite relationships at companies such as Genesis and Five9, Sylvie has established herself as a transformational leader in corporate communications. Her journey spans both agency excellence at Atomic PR and in-house innovation, offering unique insights into how authentic messaging drives business impact. Connect with Sylvie at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stongco/

Content sample:

· a powerful mentorship experience that redefined her approach to knowledge gaps

· the "opera incident" that taught her everything about professional boundaries

· the negotiation that nearly doubled her pre-30 salary

· transforming intimidation into opportunity

· why the art of asking "stupid questions" became her secret weapon in tech leadership

· compelling framework for making confident career decisions offers actionable wisdom that challenges conventional thinking about what it means to "know enough."

Key Takeaways

• [02:00] - The Knowledge Gap Revelation: "They're not smarter than you - they simply had more information about a specific topic"

• [08:00] - The Opera Boundary: Why a senior executive's refusal to work late became a powerful lesson in professional priorities

• [23:00] - The Six-Figure Conversation: How honest dialogue with her manager resulted in a salary increase beyond what she imagined possible

• [31:00] - The Certainty Principle: "The only thing I'm certain of is that things will change - you can only be sure of yourself"

Memorable Quotes

"Don't let anybody intimidate you... They simply had more information about a specific topic of what we were talking about. Learn to ask questions."

"No opportunity is worth compromising your overall health and mental wellbeing."

"Being vocal about what you want and where you want to go - half the time we tend to underestimate just being vocal about what you need."

Suggestions:

Ready to transform imposter syndrome into career confidence? Subscribe to Career Wanderlust Podcast for more insights on authentic career advancement.

Looking to build your dream communications, PR, marketing, or sales team? Connect with Paradigm Staffing at paradigmstaffing.com - where we match world-class talent with transformative opportunities.

Host and Platform Information

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

If you enjoy learning from others, please give us a like, subscribe, and share with a friend.

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

Ending Note

As Sylvie reminds us, change is the only certainty. What will you choose to change in your career approach today?