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

Today I discuss my personal journey of leaving prior jobs in search of greater fulfillment. I compare my experience to what I learned in 'Job Moves' by Bob Moesta, Ethan Bernstein, and Michael B. Horn, highlighting how people's motivations for staying in or leaving jobs often go beyond compensation and job features. This book deftly expands to the role of employers in fostering employee growth and satisfaction, the potential for flexible role designs in the workplace, and the benefits of understanding what truly excites and motivates employees.

00:09 Personal Career Reflections
02:53 Features vs. Experiences in Job Descriptions
03:58 Common Beneath-the-Surface Push and Pull Factors
05:38 The Importance of People Development
07:30 Crafting a Role That Fits
09:45 Building a Team Your Employees Want to Rehire
13:40 Flexible Role Designs and the Future of Work
16:38 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

In this episode, I delve into the emerging concept of the “Great Detachment.” We discuss the impact of team dynamics, job longevity, and fulfillment on employee engagement and performance. Referencing recent Gallup surveys, I highlight issues like disruptive changes in organizations, hybrid and remote work challenges, and declining employee engagement. I ponder how I may shift the podcast's focus towards research on organizational changes, team morale, and building trust within companies to foster long-term employee commitment and growth.

00:00 Introduction
00:56 Shifting Focus: Job Longevity and Fulfillment
01:56 The Great Detachment: Employee Disengagement
02:45 Impact of Disruptive Changes
03:44 Challenges of Hybrid and Remote Work
04:54 Performance Management Issues
06:24 Decline in Employee Engagement
09:08 Addressing Employee Fulfillment and Growth
11:00 Future Directions for the Podcast

Articles referenced in the episode:

https://www.gallup.com/workplace/653711/great-detachment-why-employees-feel-stuck.aspx

https://www.gallup.com/workplace/654911/employee-engagement-sinks-year-low.aspx

In this episode of the Push Pull podcast, we continue our conversation with Omar Dinar, diving deeper into his career journey. Omar shares his experiences transitioning from aerospace engineering to finance, joining Lehman Brothers during the financial crisis, and later getting integrated into Barclays post-acquisition. He details his ascent into a management role, his pivot back to an individual contributor role to stay connected with markets, and his eventual leap into wealth management. Omar reflects on the importance of aligning work with personal values, the complexities of managerial roles, and the impact of setbacks like being passed over for a promotion. He also discusses the challenges and rewards of building a client base in wealth management and emphasizes the significance of long-term planning, taking well-calibrated risks, and finding work-life balance.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
00:22 Omar Dinar's Transition to Barclays
01:58 Challenges and Growth at Barclays
03:45 Management Insights and Hiring Philosophy
14:45 Transition to MUFG
20:56 Setbacks and New Beginnings
26:44 Pivot to Wealth Management
36:01 Reflections and Advice
39:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Today I interview Annalyn Cruz, a dream life and embodiment coach and the CEO of Grounded in Wisdom, LLC.

We discuss Annalyn’s career journey from higher education in student affairs to learning and development in the corporate world, and back to higher education. With each transition, we revisit her commitment to empowering others, and the role of strong personal relationships in building trust and self-confidence.

00:00 Introduction
03:09 Interview Begins
05:05 Early Career and College Experience
08:17 Discovering a Career in Higher Education
18:17 Graduate School Experience
20:26 First Job in Higher Education
22:46 Challenges and Growth at San Jose State
26:55 Exploring New Paths: Recruiting, Bartending, and Makeup Artistry
33:25 Returning to Higher Education at UC Berkeley
38:46 Career Progression and New Challenges
39:14 Inherited Team Dynamics and Struggles
41:20 Emotional Vulnerability and Team Shift
47:10 Transition to Semester at Sea
48:28 Pivot to Learning and Development
50:32 Taking a Step Back for Future Growth
58:59 Corporate Experience at EA
01:03:22 Starting a Business and Balancing Roles
01:10:59 Coaching Focus and Final Advice

In this episode of the Push Pull podcast, we explore the fascinating career journey of Omar Dinar, currently a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch. Omar transitioned from an engineer working on military helicopters to working in financial services, starting his finance career in the aftermath of the subprime mortgage crisis at Lehman Brothers. Omar shares insights into the challenges he faced, the impact of the macroeconomic environment on his career path, and how he leveraged his education and networking opportunities to pivot successfully. Omar's story of resilience, adaptability, and relationship-building offers valuable takeaways for anyone navigating career transitions.

00:00 Introduction to the Push Pull Podcast
00:38 Meet Omar Dinar: From Engineering to Finance
01:55 Navigating the Financial Crisis
04:47 Early Career and Mentorship
09:49 Transitioning to Finance
19:52 Pursuing an MBA for Career Growth
24:51 Navigating Multiple Internships
25:41 Philosophy Behind the MBA Program
28:27 Choosing the Right MBA Program
30:19 Final Internship Experience
30:36 Joining Lehman Brothers
32:15 The 2008 Financial Crisis Unfolds
38:50 Life After Lehman: Transition to Barclays
41:05 Understanding Risk Management
44:09 Settling into Barclays
45:02 Conclusion and Future Insights