Bonus: Heart of the Story - Anti-Striving

Content Warning: This episode deals with sensitive topics like suicide, PTSD, divorce, and poor mental health.  

On the surface, Tereson Dupuy has led a pretty good life.  

She successfully ran her business FuzziBunz Diapers for almost two decades and kickstarted the modern cloth diapering movement. All in all, she sold $32 million dollars worth of product.  

But beneath the surface, it’s a different story. Tereson’s dealt with trauma ever since she was little: trauma which bled into her entrepreneurial life. She’s battled abandonment and lost her son to suicide during the pandemic.  

But Tereson's traumas have actually unlocked her ability to lead with love, both for herself and those around her. The death of her son Eden in particular spurred her upcoming memoir titled "The Return of Eden", which details how he has guided Tereson along her healing journey…from beyond the veil.

In this special Women's History Month episode, Tereson talks about:

• Making sense of suicide and loss
• How prolonged trauma impacted her business
• Dealing with betrayal from predatory business partners
• How her son's diaper rash led inspired a $30,000,000 company
• The unforgettable quote from a Shark Tank shark that changed her life

We have a new website!
Visit andsosheleft.com for full episodes, transcripts, an application form to be on the show, a list of upcoming guests and more.

Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.
Music by © Correspondence and © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP). 

Songs used in this episode include: 

• Chris Zabriskie - "Air Hockey Saloon," "It Takes a Lot to Keep a Figure Like This," "Perhaps It Was Not Properly Manufactured," "The Lower Third Hall of Fame,"  "Cylinder Nine," "Cylinder Four," "CGI Snake," "I'm About to Do the Second Hardest Thing I've Ever Done," "Stories About the World That Once Was," "We Were Never Meant to Live Here," "Short Song 011823," "Short Song 021723," "Short Song 030223," "The House Glows (With Almost No Help)," "I Can't Imagine Where I'd Be Without It."

Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License

In her previous life as a corporate recruiter, Maisha Cannon put on what she describes as a kind of “mask.” 

She wasn’t fully herself. Often, she’d fade into the background to try and get ahead as a black woman in corporate America. But for Maisha, getting into entrepreneurship meant putting aside those incidents where she experienced bias. It meant stepping into herself and building the confidence she needed to start The Collab Lab, which helps Talent Acquisition professionals and Recruiters to grow their skills and careers.

In this episode, Maisha talks about how to bring your full self to work. How did she respond to experiencing racial bias in the workplace? How did she develop the confidence to start The Collab Lab, especially as an introvert? And what’s the biggest trend affecting job recruitment right now?

Maisha talks about:

• Getting hired at (and leaving) companies like Google and LinkedIn
• Embracing imperfection and the importance of launching early
• The secrets to overcoming bias in the workplace
• How AI is being used to disrupt recruiting
• Shedding her corporate "mask"

We have a new website!
Visit andsosheleft.com for full episodes, transcripts, an application form to be on the show, a list of upcoming guests and more.

Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.
Music by © Correspondence and © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP). 

Songs used in this episode include: 

• Chris Zabriskie - "Air Hockey Saloon," "Candlepower," "CGI Snake" "Wonder Cycle,"  "Readers! Do You Read?," "Is That You Or Are You You?" "Short Song 021423," "Everybody's Got Problems That Aren't Mine," "Another Version of You."

Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License

At first glance, you probably couldn’t tell that Mallory Greene is in the funeral industry.  

She’s not an older, stuffy man in a dark suit…she’s a young woman who got her start as a member of Wealthsimple’s founding team. Today, she’s the CEO and Co-Founder of Eirene, a funeral service provider that’s disrupting the industry with their affordable prices and tech-driven approach.  

Much like Mallory herself, Eirene isn’t your typical funeral company. They’re incredibly transparent with the families they serve, educating them while prioritizing their comfort to guide them through a simplified arrangements process.

On this episode, Mallory answers questions like: how does she navigate being an outsider in the funeral industry? How do her views on mortality allow her to create strong bonds with customers? And how has she scaled her business in a highly regulated, traditional industry?

Mallory talks about:

• What she learned as an early Wealthsimple team member
• How a regulatory battle nearly cost her her business
• Distinguishing herself in an antiquated industry
• Why choice and availability always wins
• Stepping into a new leadership role

We have a new website!
Visit andsosheleft.com for full episodes, transcripts, an application form to be on the show, a list of upcoming guests and more.

Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.
Music by © Correspondence and © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP). 

Songs used in this episode include: 

• Chris Zabriskie - "Air Hockey Saloon," "The Sun is Scheduled to Come Out Tomorrow," "I Am Running a Marathon with Thousands of Other Highly Qualified People Who Are All Trying to Defeat Me," "Short Song 022123,"  "Short Song 022823," "Short Song 030623," "We Always Thought the Future Would Be Kind of Fun," "Another Version of You," "I Can't Imagine Where I'd Be Without It," "Rewound."
• Correspondence - "On Again."

Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License

Alina Kravchenko has always loved inventing. 

Alina defines her entrepreneurial success based on one simple factor: how much creativity she’s able to express as a founder. But being raised by a single mom in Ukraine and eventually becoming a single mom herself meant there was no shortage of people who looked down on them both. 

When she drained her 401K and secured a patent for SwipenSnap, her one-hand applicator for baby ointment, people laughed at her. Until the product landed Alina a spot on Shark Tank and propelled her to launch TonerBum, an ergonomic weight designed specifically for glute workouts.

In this conversation, Alina answers questions like: why does she feel so driven to constantly create? How did she persist during times of immense stress as a single mom? And how can we determine our own versions of success as entrepreneurs? 

Alina talks about:

• Growing up in Ukraine
• Overcoming immense self-doubt
• Defining success as a creative person
• Embracing falls instead of giving in to failure
• Why pursuing wealth will never make you happy 
• How she created both SwipenSnap and TonerBum

We have a new website!
Visit andsosheleft.com for full episodes, transcripts, an application form to be on the show, a list of upcoming guests and more.

Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.
Music by © Correspondence and © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP). 

Songs used in this episode include: 

• Chris Zabriskie - "Air Hockey Saloon," "There Are Days That I Don't," "The Lower Third Hall of Fame," "Does It Exist or Do I Have to Create It?"  "Cylinder Six," "Wonder Cycle," "I Am Running with Temporary Success from a Monstrous Vacuum in Pursuit," "I'm About to Do the Second Hardest Thing I've Ever Done," "Short Song 010923," "Another Version of You." 
• Correspondence - "Harp Routine."

Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License

Bisila Bokoko says that our purpose is not defined by what we do...but by who we are.

Growing up in Valencia, Spain with mixed Spanish-African heritage came with a heavy dose of discomfort. But these experiences drove her to learn more about her heritage…to become what she calls “culturally intelligent.”

Cultural intelligence has been the key to Bisila’s success as a founder. By becoming culturally intelligent, she’s learned how relationship building can scale businesses like Mango and Zara through her company Bisila Bokoko Embassy International (BBES). 

She’s landed monumental jobs like Executive Director of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce and the Director of Valencia’s foreign exchange in New York. She’s been featured in Vogue, Forbes, Harper’s Bazaar and Vanity Fair. And today, she’s Chair of the Executive Board of the United Nation’s EMPRETEC Women in Business Awards. She even has her own Spanish wine brand.

In this episode, we answer questions like: how do you become culturally intelligent? What’s the overlap between building relationships and building big businesses? And how can I discover my unique value proposition as a person, and communicate that value to others?

Bisila talks about:

• How to go from local to global
• Helping other women to climb ladders
• Growing up visibly different in Valencia
• The trip to Africa that changed her worldview
• Why she has no employees (but plenty of collaborators)
• Getting hired (and fired) as Director of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce

We have a new website!
Visit andsosheleft.com for full episodes, transcripts, an application form to be on the show, a list of upcoming guests and more.

Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.
Music by © Correspondence and © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP). 

Songs used in this episode include: 

• Chris Zabriskie - "Air Hockey Saloon," "I Am Running Down the Long Hallway of Viewmont Elementary," "Your Mother's Daughter," "Is That You or Are You You?"  "Short Song 011723," "Short Song 020323," "Land On the Golden Gate," "Everybody's Got Problems That Aren't Mine."
• Correspondence - "On Again (version)," "Expanding Cycle," "On + On," "On Again," "In Copenhagen," "Longshore Drift (fragments)."

Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License

**Use code AndSoSheLeftPod to get $150 off your WNORTH Conference Pass!**

In 2015, Heather Odendaal founded the WNORTH conference.

The aim of WNORTH is simple: create more pathways for women to become business leaders through networking and collaboration. For the first 8 years, Heather worked as a solopreneur. Today, she's built a small but mighty team and together, they have grown WNORTH to seven chapter cities and launched a membership program with 1300 leaders from companies like Google, Lululemon, Aritzia, and Cisco. The conference has also won a half-dozen awards and been held at swanky venues like the Four Seasons. 

In this episode, Heather talks about how to effectively motivate your team, build time off into your packed schedule, and adapt to unforeseen challenges through constant reflection and course correction.

Heather talks about:

• How to take time off strategically
• Doing everything herself for 8 years
• The importance of paying it forward
• Taking time to step away and recharge
• Recognizing her customers' biggest needs
• Enduring the pandemic as an events-based business

We have a new website!
Visit andsosheleft.com for full episodes, transcripts, an application form to be on the show, a list of upcoming guests and more.

Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.
Music by © Correspondence and © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP). 

Songs used in this episode include: 

• Chris Zabriskie - "Air Hockey Saloon," "CGI Snake," "Everyone Will Notice, No One Will Say Anything," "What True Self? Feels Bogus, Let's Watch Jason X,"  "Another Version of You," "The Theatrical Poster for Poltergeist III."
• Correspondence - "On Again (version)," "The North Sea (version)," "Chime Hour (edit)," "Up + Up (reprise/arise)."

Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License

Urbander CEO Samí Haiman-Marrero describes herself as an armadillo.  

She’s got thick skin, she’s scrappy, and she can smell insincerity from a mile away.  

Samí spent almost her entire life in Puerto Rico, but you can tell right away that she has roots in the Bronx. When she came back to New York to work in media and publishing, she soon found herself grappling with some harsh realities, dealing with cultural and social environments that were completely different from the ones she grew up with.  

To kick off 2024, Samí shares her best advice on self-advocacy, why communication is the most useful skill for any entrepreneur, and how her business thrived during two major economic downturns.

Samí talks about:

• Why she sees herself as an "armadillo"
• Learning through observing her coworkers
• Why establishing a sense of community is a must
• Recognizing familiarities in an unfamiliar environment
• How her cultural background has been the key to her success
• Her journey to finding identity in New York's media & publishing industry

We have a new website!
Visit andsosheleft.com for full episodes, transcripts, an application form to be on the show, a list of upcoming guests and more.

Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.
Music by © Correspondence and © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP). 

Songs used in this episode include: 

• Chris Zabriskie - "Air Hockey Saloon," "I Refuse to Accept That There's Nothing I Can Do About It," "Candlepower," "Wonder Cycle,"  "I Am Running Down the Long Hallway of Viewmont Elementary," " Short Song 020923," "The House Glows (With Almost No Help."
• Correspondence - "Playing Field," "Longshore Drift (fragments)," "In Copenhagen," "The North Sea (version)," "New Year's Loops," "Expanding Cycle."  

Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License

And So, She Left returns January 24.  

New episodes every Wednesday.

We'd love to hear your feedback! 
Here's a quick 5-question survey. Your answers will help us to make the show even better: https://forms.gle/5JnfCUWbgLRw1NTa8 

Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.
Music by © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP). 

Songs used in this episode include: "Short Song 020923."

Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License

Entrepreneurs love to set lofty, ambitious goals for ourselves…after all, it’s in our nature. But what separates those of us who reach our goals from those who don’t are the skills we obtain and use to get there.  

Leah Carr’s approach to entrepreneurship is a highly grounded one. She’s the CEO of a learning and development company called TILR (that’s T.I.L.R.). They help HR teams and people leaders to hone in on the proficiencies their employees need. Her work philosophy is simple: she chases opportunities, no matter where they crop up, over hyper-defined goals.  

Leah shares her best learning and development advice. If you’re looking to future-proof your career or your company through a skills-first approach, then this episode is essential listening.

Leah talks about:

• Going "rogue" as a bank employee
• Providing opportunities for skills  development
• Absolutely essential advice for skills acquisition
• The most important skills employees need right now
• Developing a hyper-rational approach to entrepreneurship
• Developing upskilling solutions for entrepreneurs and businesses

We'd love to hear your feedback! 
Here's a quick 5-question survey. Your answers will help us to make the show even better: https://forms.gle/5JnfCUWbgLRw1NTa8 

Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.
Music by © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP). 

Songs used in this episode include: "Air Hockey Saloon," "Everyone Will Notice, No One Will Say Anything," "Hitchcock Would Have F___ed Up Charades," "What True Self? Feels Bogus, Let's Watch Jason X,"  " Short Song 022123."

Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License

Every once in a while, we hear a story that floors us. Christelle Biiga’s story is one of them.

Today, she gets clients in front of the right podcast audiences to grow their businesses. Her company is called Exposure Maven. 

As a young girl in Cameroon, she bought into the American Dream. She knew no one in the states. Had no family or friends stateside. And could barely speak English at the time. But she still bought a one-way ticket to LAX.  

What Christelle couldn’t know was that the next few years would stretch her resilience, patience, and spirit to their absolute limits. She would find herself coping with stress, trauma, and self-doubt. And she would discover just how much she was capable of as an entrepreneur. 

Christelle talks about:

• Being illegally detained at LAX
• Spending 9 months in a detention center
• Persistence in the face of doubt and obstacles
• How her trauma resurfaced in the middle of a shift
• Sharing her traumatic story and overcoming shame
• The importance of staying busy and embracing unpredictability 

We'd love to hear your feedback! 
Here's a quick 5-question survey. Your answers will help us to make the show even better: https://forms.gle/5JnfCUWbgLRw1NTa8 

Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.

Music by © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP). 

Songs used in this episode include: "Air Hockey Saloon," "And It Is There, in Those Depths," "They Call It Nature," "Short Song 011223,"  " Short Song 020523," "Short Song 030923," "There's a Special Place for Some People." 

Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License