Today I speak to Julia Levina about her multifaceted career journey. Julia shares her experiences as a counseling psychologist in Ukraine, a CFO of a family-owned pharmacy chain, a business consultant, and now a behavioral scientist and business intelligence analyst at Headversity in Canada. She delves into the challenges she faced during the war in Ukraine and how she transitioned her career multiple times, ultimately finding her place in Canada. Julia discusses her approach to workplace mental health, blending business acumen with psychological insights to help organizations and individuals thrive. Her story is a compelling narrative of resilience, adaptability, and the importance of understanding internal motivations in professional and personal life.

00:00 Introduction to Julia Levina's Multifaceted Career
01:01 Julia's Early Exposure to Psychotherapy
01:15 Challenges of Running a Family Business During War
01:46 Transitioning to a New Life in Canada
02:03 Insights on Workplace Psychology and Longevity
02:54 Julia's Journey from Ukraine to Canada
03:32 Balancing Business and Psychology
04:58 Early Career and Family Business Involvement
11:39 Impact of War on Business Operations
22:22 Navigating Economic Challenges and Business Closure
31:51 From Business Consulting to Psychology
36:07 Developing Training Programs for Companies
39:28 One-on-One Counseling and Client Stories
44:52 Struggles with New Responsibilities
45:51 Identifying the Core Issue
47:53 Impact of the War in Ukraine
49:00 Volunteering and Helping Refugees
51:39 Relocating to Canada
53:33 Starting a New Life in Canada
01:01:47 Joining Headversity
01:05:23 Role and Impact at Headversity
01:13:16 Cultural Differences in Mental Health
01:20:02 Communication and Feedback in Organizations
01:25:37 Final Thoughts on Resilience and Leadership
00:00 From War Zones to Work Culture: Julia Levina’s Journey of Resilience and Renewal

Today I discuss my thoughts on the concept of “fit” between employer and employee. Gallup found in 2023 that disengaged employees cost the world $8.8 trillion in lost productivity annually. I introduce Andre Martin's book 'Wrong Fit, Right Fit,' which emphasizes the importance of finding the right fit at the point of hire rather than adjusting organizational culture post-hire. I elaborate on reciprocity in the workplace and the significance of going beyond a transactional relationship between employer and employee. I also talk through Martin’s focus on trends in workplace branding and the potential pitfalls of focusing too much on employer brand rather than actual job fit. Finally, I reflect on my own values: fun, evangelism, discretion, value/impact, and relationships, and how they have influenced my career.

00:00 Introduction to the Push Pull Podcast
00:32 Exploring 'Wrong Fit, Right Fit' by Andre Martin
02:14 The Concept of Reciprocity in the Workplace
03:48 The Rise of Workplace Branding
06:50 Understanding Cognitive Dissonance at Work
07:23 Reflecting on Personal Workplace Values
13:47 Conclusion and Future Insights

In this episode, I reconnect with Ashwin Aravind, Head of Operations at Lightyear. Ashwin has been a high-octane performer all his life, spanning school and career. Starting with his undergrad years at UC Berkeley, where Ashwin majored in Molecular and Cell Biology as well as Business Administration, we follow his forays into consulting and law school before ultimately transitioning to the tech sector. Ashwin reflects on the proactive and strategic nature of his career decisions, consulting mentors, and evaluating trade-offs, only to recognize in retrospect how some choices didn't align with his true motivations.

We wrap this conversation with him finishing law school, foregoing the bar, and returning to consulting. Stay tuned after this discussion for Part 2, where we discuss his transition to tech and operations.

00:00 Introduction to the Push-Pull Podcast
02:27 Meet Ashwin Aravind: A Journey Through Education and Career
14:11 Early Career Decisions and Consulting
15:31 The Law School Decision
29:35 Experiences at Stanford Law School
35:38 Questioning the Law School Grind
38:07 Exploring Other Interests at Stanford
41:01 Internships and Realizations
46:05 The Consulting Pivot
51:13 Navigating Post-Law School Decisions
01:00:16 Final Decision: Consulting Over Law