Arrivals: Stories from first-generation immigrant women

From the U.S. to the Netherlands: Building a life and business in The Hague

Kristen grew up in California. Michael is from the Netherlands. After meeting in Washington, D.C., they decided to leave the U.S. during the pandemic and build a new life together in The Hague. In this episode, we talk about navigating a bicultural marriage, changing careers, launching their storytelling and communications studio, The Other West Coast, and Michael's work restoring historic buildings. Kristen also shares the story behind her podcast, Beb & Bob: Collateral Damage, which uncovers a surprising connection between her grandfather, an American World War II pilot, and a bombing in the Netherlands. Links mentioned in this episode: The Other West Coast: https://www.otherwestcoast.nl/ [https://www.otherwestcoast.nl/] Beb & Bob: Collateral Damage: https://bebbob.nl/ [https://bebbob.nl/] Superfeed: https://superfeed.fm/ [https://superfeed.fm/] The historic restoration project Michael discusses: https://www.binnenhofrenovatie.nl/ [https://www.binnenhofrenovatie.nl/]

From Iran to the US: Helen Fagan on Why Leadership Begins Within

Dr. Helen Fagan has spent decades helping leaders better understand themselves and the impact they have on others. A transformational leadership scholar, executive coach, author, speaker, and founder of Helen Fagan & Associates, her work sits at the intersection of emotional intelligence, neuroscience, and human-centered leadership. Born in Iran and raised between cultures, Helen immigrated to the US as a teenager during a period of political upheaval. In this episode, she reflects on building a life in the US, the pressure to fit in, and the years she spent hiding parts of her identity to belong. Helen shares why self-awareness is the foundation of effective leadership, how belonging begins within, and what it means to lead with authenticity, courage, and compassion. We also discuss her transition from healthcare to academia and entrepreneurship, the lessons behind her book Lead Like People Matter, and why she believes the way we treat people ultimately shapes what we can accomplish together. Dr. Fagan is a former faculty member at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where she taught for a decade, and currently teaches in the graduate leadership program at Doane University. She is a board-certified executive coach, TEDx speaker, podcast host, and award-winning educator whose work has influenced leaders and organizations worldwide. In this conversation, we explore identity, belonging, leadership, resilience, and the lifelong work of becoming more fully ourselves. Where to find Helen:  * https://helenfagan.com/ [https://helenfagan.com/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drhelenfagan/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drhelenfagan/] * Book: Lead Like People Matter: https://www.amazon.com/Lead-Like-People-Matter-Intelligence/dp/B0FM9SD4QP [https://www.amazon.com/Lead-Like-People-Matter-Intelligence/dp/B0FM9SD4QP] * Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7jxZvgKwVt8dUwyU2Mfutu?si=08916fce2495460b [https://open.spotify.com/show/7jxZvgKwVt8dUwyU2Mfutu?si=08916fce2495460b] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drhelenfagan/ [https://www.instagram.com/drhelenfagan/] * Latest TED talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PANSXqq75HU&t=622s [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PANSXqq75HU&t=622s] * TED talk from 13 years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCrZimA5bKs [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCrZimA5bKs]

"El mundo es para valientes": Una vida entre Argentina, Dublín y México con Laura Sánchez | Episodio en español

En este primer episodio en español de Arrivals, María Laura Sánchez, emprendedora argentina y fundadora de una startup que utiliza inteligencia artificial para impulsar la economía circular en América Latina, comparte cómo una vida guiada por la curiosidad la llevó de Argentina a la India, después a Dublín y, finalmente, a la Ciudad de México, donde decidió dejar atrás la seguridad del mundo corporativo para construir algo propio. Hablamos sobre migración, maternidad, identidad, sostenibilidad y el desafío de reinventarse una y otra vez. También conversamos sobre cómo la llegada de sus hijos transformó su forma de ver la ciudad donde vive, su trabajo y las diferencias culturales entre Europa y Latinoamérica. Esta es una conversación sobre muchos cambios, sobre estar lejos y cerca de la familia, sobre el emprendimiento y la valentía de seguir tu propia curiosidad. In this first episode in Spanish, María Laura Sánchez, an entrepreneur from Argentina and founder of a startup that uses AI to advance the circular economy across Latin America, shares how a life guided by curiosity took her from Argentina to India, then to Dublin, and eventually to Mexico City, where she chose to leave the security of the corporate world to build something of her own. We talk about immigration, motherhood, identity, sustainability, and the challenge of reinventing yourself again and again. We also discuss how becoming a mother transformed the way she sees the city she lives in, her work, and the cultural differences between Europe and Latin America. This is a conversation about change, about being both far from and close to family, about entrepreneurship, and about the courage to follow your own curiosity.

From Brazil to Québec: Starting over, changing careers, and refusing to fit into one box

When she was little, Rubia wanted to be an astronomer and study the universe. Years later, she became a journalist and learned to tell stories. Today, she works in data, following a path that made sense for her, even when it didn’t look traditional from the outside. Starting over in a new country wasn’t easy, but she kept going, building a career she cared about and a life abroad she dreamed of. She’s now in a place where she no longer feels the need to hide parts of who she is. In this episode, we talk about career changes, immigration, and what it means to keep going without shrinking yourself to fit expectations.

Returning home after 20 years abroad: A more intentional life in France

Cecile Eskenazi is a French-American product leader and mom of three who spent over 20 years living abroad, building her career across Germany, the UK, and the U.S., including roles at Meta and LinkedIn in Silicon Valley. In this episode, we talk about what it means to return home after decades as an expat, moving back to France, navigating identity, and adjusting to a place that feels both familiar and completely new. We also talk about the emotional cost of living far from family, raising kids between cultures, and that moving back doesn’t always mean what you expect. Cecile also shares how burnout, health challenges, and the pressure of working in tech led her to rethink her priorities and step away from the pace of Silicon Valley. She’s recently launched Live Well with Cecile, a knowledge hub that helps people improve their health through simple, realistic habits. Her first resource is a free Sleep Playbook with practical strategies to get better rest. Where to find Cecile: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecileeskenazi/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecileeskenazi/] More about her work and the Sleep Playbook here: http://livewellwithcecile.com [http://livewellwithcecile.com]