BoostHER: conversations designed to inspire you, me, & her

Today is both the end of ChangeMakers Month, and also marks our Season 2 finale, with Senior Apparel Designer for adidas Basketball, Kat Chen, joining us in the BoostHER Club to round out our season. Kat talks to us about the duality of growing up in a traditional Taiwanese household, and growing up in the bustling borough of Queens, NY - the Mecca of hip-hop, rebellious basketball (cc: the 90s-era NY Knicks), as well as a cornerstone for fashion and art. Kat talks to us about the difficulties that duality posed, and also details the path/risks she took that led her to find, and wholeheartedly walk in, her purpose - with Kat’s undying love for basketball and its culture as her guiding force. Lastly, we discuss Kat’s excitement for her next chapter as her time at adidas comes to an end, and the limitless possibilities that stand in front of her.

We continue to celebrate Changemakers throughout Women's History Month with Ciara Iglehart, creator of Your Pace Matters and a Brand Ambassador for Black Girls Run. Ciara talks to us about how joining a running club has led to so many positive changes - from encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle for women, to facilitating positive conversations to bring women from various backgrounds together in sisterhood. Ciara also details how YPM and BGR have empowered long-term and positive changes on her communities, not just locally, but nationwide. Lastly, we learn about Ciara's "rock bottom" moment: what led to it, what helped pull her out, and how it has had a lasting effect on Ciara prioritizing her mental health.

We kick off our episodes with Women's History Month as we champion women who are Changemakers in their own right, be it within their careers, side hustles, or simply through their perspectives. Hilary LaRose joins us today to talk about her stance as a Changemaker as it relates to sustainability, and making sure she is always positioning herself in a role that drives us towards better global environmental health. Hilary talks to us about her role, how and why sustainability is a passion so deeply engrained in her, and even helps us with our own ways that we can keep the planet healthy. Hilary talks to us about trusting her gut, the lows around her mental health postpartum, and the benefits of asking for help, and not being ashamed of it. We also learn about the successes within Hilary's career that will only propel her to continue breaking the mold for cultivating a sustainable, environmentally-friendly world.

Julia Bennett-Jean joins us in the BoostHER Club to talk us through her role as a lawyer, specifically within Commercial Litigation. Julia explains to us that what we might see on film and tv doesn’t necessarily equate to what the reality of the law profession is, and all that her journey entailed in order to get to where she is now along her path within Law. Julia talks about the importance in shattering generational curses and workplace stereotypes in order to be able to show up each day authentically as herself, and pave the way for black women coming after her to do the same. Lastly, Julia talks about the magic she feels as a black woman and feels in seeing her community of black people around her, paying homage to the women before her, allowing Julia to stand on their shoulders to further not just her own greatness, but Black greatness overall.

As Black History Month continues in the BoostHER Club, Lisa C. Willis joins us in the BoostHER Club to discuss her 9-5 corporate role at Nike, as well as her 5-9 side hustles as a public speaker, trainer, author (When the Buzzer Sounds), among many other entrepreneurial ventures. Lisa talks about the importance of finding what work is energy-giving, and using that energy in a way to amplify life overall. We also learn about how Lisa's experiences in college, the WNBA, as a Team USA gold medalist, and also within the New York Knicks organization have dealt a significant hand in how she approaches people, career, and life overall. Lastly, we learn that Lisa's Black History celebration is never-ending, as she dives into her love for black history and black culture, and the way it fuels her as a black woman.

As we keep our party going for Black History Month, Jessica Onyepunuka joins in on the celebration here in the BoostHER Club. As the Associate Athletic Director for Marketing and Fan Experience at the University of Southern California, Jessica talks to us about all that comes with her role within marketing around collegiate athletics, and how it differs from any of the other facets of marketing. As a daughter of Nigerian immigrants, Jessica's upbringing informed her early childhood ambitions to be both a Track & Field Olympian and a lawyer, before an internship at USC changed her vision in a way she could not ignore. We discuss the notion of choosing each day the path for your life -- career ambitions, personal relationships and everything in between -- through instituting an honest and personal check-in to take stock of your life's goals. Lastly, we discuss the difficulties black women sometimes face with celebrating themselves, the steps Jessica is undertaking to practice celebrating herself more often, right before she gives gratitude for the blessings that come with the magic of her blackness.

We are kicking off Black History Month here in the BoostHER Club and joining to help us begin our celebrations is Ashley Booker, Technical Recruiter for Stripe, a technology company centered around building economic infrastructure for the internet. As a Facebook and Google alum in the realm of technical recruiting as well, Ashley details for us all that goes into the role both as a member of global tech giants, and now currently as she works for a hyper-growth start-up company. Ashley talks to us about navigating the predominantly white, male space as a Black woman, and how she welcomes the challenge to counter any and all preconceived notions that may arise as it relates to Black women, noting the responsibility to not just represent for her community, but to also lead the charge in uplifting and promoting an environment that includes more diversity hires within the world of tech. Ashley takes us to school surrounding the topic of salary negotiation, right before she talks to us about the pride she feels in being a Black woman, noting the rarity of the Black experience as something she values and appreciates the most. 

University of Oregon Women’s Basketball assistant coach Jackie Nared-Hairston joins us in the BoostHER Club today to conclude our month of conversations centered around ‘new beginnings’. In her return to Oregon, Jackie is also returning to her home state, and to where early career days began as video coordinator for the UO program. Returning now as an assistant coach, Jackie notes how the move back to Oregon felt right in terms of wanting to settle down both personally and professionally. We learn that Jackie loves the role she plays in the lives of her athletes and within this program, and because of that, her job rarely feels like work. We discuss representation, family, and the period of time where Jackie questioned if this was actually a career she wanted to pursue, right before discussing her baby boy due in March, and her plans to not only be a great coach, but a stellar mom as well.

Today, Brenda Zullo, Director of Product Development Sport for Tory Burch, joins us in the BoostHER Club to discuss her New Beginning, departing from adidas, it’s global/North America headquarters, plus its sport culture, and diving more into the fashion realm with Tory Burch. Brenda details all that entails her role and also the windy path it took to reach this role. We discuss with Brenda the ups and downs of working in a corporate space, and also the ups and downs that can come within personal relationships from being an ambitious, smart, and strong woman. Lastly, Brenda pays gratitude to one of her lowest moments, as it has helped her to find absolute joy in her current role and stage in life.

Gold medal Olympian Kim Hill joins us in the BoostHER Club to celebrate our month of January centered around New Beginnings. Kim talks to us about her experience as a volleyball player collegiately, overseas, and with USA Volleyball: the highs and the humility associated with being a part of such dominant and successful programs, and all that she’s gained from her years of experience in the sport. Kim also talks to us about the overwhelming feelings retirement brings, how she is deciphering what’s next for her, and the gratitude she has for the skills volleyball has taught her, that will ultimately prepare for whatever exciting new adventure she has next.