Tina Santiago-Keenan: Leaving tech, creating immersive experiences for people IRL

Stacey Gordon: Building dual identities. Fiction author. Tech leader.

Stacey Gordon wanted to be a novelist since she was a kid. She loved reading and writing.  However, as an adult she was juggling a demanding career in tech, parenting, work travel, and life...with nothing left over for her own creative pursuits.  Stacey shares how she gave herself the space for writing and creating without sitting down to type or put pen to paper. How she continued her path through Covid, putting down a few hundred words a day in a small shed outside her house.  In this episode, she talks about how she’s building a life of a fiction writer. And she's now working on her fourth book. (And, yes, she still has a 9 - 5 job). She reveals the power of community and the importance of protecting your creative space — especially in the early, vulnerable stages. Patience and persistence really pays off: her book The Pearl Farmers is out this fall, and she’s building her author brand and helping other writers alongside her day job. Maybe your creative dream is just an idea now — but with small steps, it can become real. Website: https://www.staceygordonauthor.com/ Her book: thepearlfarmers.com [http://thepearlfarmers.com/] IG: @staceygordonauthor Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2470775/fan_mail/new] EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan. Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching. [https://www.iconicleadershipcoaching.com/] Follow me on IG @iconic_owl [https://www.instagram.com/iconic_owl] Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-kaplan/] Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit [https://www.instagram.com/midwestgotit])

Danielle Malik: UX Leader's unexpected and gratifying path into housing solutions.

After 20 years in tech consulting and leadership, Danielle was laid off. She knew it was time for a change. But what? Tech didn't seem like a path forward anymore. She made the unexpected but extremely gratifying shift into housing, becoming a housing provider for people challenged by the Bay Area rental market. Her company, Rising Tide Residences offers room rentals for men, women and families from diverse backgrounds, looking for stability and a chance to level up. These are people who have just come out of prison, have aged out of foster care, or have another  difficult situation that makes it hard to find housing. She's found success in making buildings into stable homes.  Hear her story and what she plans to do next.  To connect, learn more about their offerings, or to apply for housing, visit www.risingtideresidences.org [http://www.risingtideresidences.org/] Link: www.risingtideresidences.org [http://www.risingtideresidences.org/] Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2470775/fan_mail/new] EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan. Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching. [https://www.iconicleadershipcoaching.com/] Follow me on IG @iconic_owl [https://www.instagram.com/iconic_owl] Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-kaplan/] Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit [https://www.instagram.com/midwestgotit])

Erin Wade: Mac and Cheese Millionaire. From lawyer to restaurant innovator and author

"I think the journey that most of us are on with work really has to do with a process of self discovery that has followed us our whole lives.” When Erin Wade was fired from her job as a lawyer, she decided it was time to take on a big project - creating a restaurant space that prioritized purpose, culture, and  hospitality. Erin is the founder of Homeroom, a restaurant with a cult following in Oakland, California, focused on delivering the absolute best mac and cheese.  She bootstrapped her restaurant, starting by investing her own money (no investors) and worked tirelessly in every corner—from building furniture to training staff. She was committed to launch a restaurant that was counter to typical dining culture. She designed systems rooted in transparency, employee engagement, and values that resonate beyond just serving mac and cheese. Our conversation unpacks some of the lessons learned as well as her advice to others hoping to build something meaningful. Erin Wade: https://www.erinwade.co/ [https://www.erinwade.co/] Erin's Book: The Mac and Cheese Millionaire [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-mac-cheese-millionaire-building-a-better-business-by-thinking-outside-the-box-erin-wade/7f3b5c4bd6b89bdc?ean=9781394264438&next=t&] Homeroom: https://www.homeroom510.com/ [https://www.homeroom510.com/] 2018 WaPo Editorial Link [https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/how-my-restaurant-successfully-dealt-with-harassment-from-customers/2018/03/29/3d9d00b8-221a-11e8-badd-7c9f29a55815_story.html]  Chapters 00:00 - From Lawyer to Mac and Cheese Entrepreneur 03:38 - Childhood Influences and Entrepreneurial Spirit 06:13 - The Journey to Homeroom: A New Vision for Restaurants 09:12 - Building a Unique Restaurant Culture 12:24 - The Financial Risks and DIY Approach 15:15 - The First Weeks of Homeroom: Success and Challenges 18:04 - Hiring and Team Building: Lessons Learned 21:04 - Creating a Transparent and Engaging Workplace 23:52 - Values-Based Decision Making in Business 27:02 - Support Systems for Entrepreneurs Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2470775/fan_mail/new] EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan. Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching. [https://www.iconicleadershipcoaching.com/] Follow me on IG @iconic_owl [https://www.instagram.com/iconic_owl] Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-kaplan/] Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit [https://www.instagram.com/midwestgotit])

Tina Santiago-Keenan: Leaving tech, creating immersive experiences for people IRL

In this conversation, Courtney Kaplan interviews Tina Santiago-Keenan, co-founder of Secret City, a creative design and production studio that creates immersive experiences. Tina shares her journey from working in tech at Facebook and Uber Eats to launching Secret City, which combines elements of escape rooms and immersive theater. The discussion covers the challenges of entrepreneurship, the impact of the pandemic, and the importance of community and in-person experiences. Tina also offers insights on career transitions, balancing work and family, and the future of Secret City. Links: Website: https://secretcity.studio/ [https://secretcity.studio/] Social Links: https://www.instagram.com/secretcityadventures/ [https://www.instagram.com/secretcityadventures/] Learn More: https://www.secretcityadventures.com/ [https://www.secretcityadventures.com/] Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Tina Santiago-Keenan and Secret City 05:35 Tina's Career Journey and Transition to Secret City 10:53 Challenges in the Early Days of Secret City 21:48 Navigating Challenges During COVID-19 27:08 The Importance of In-Person Connections 32:04 Advice for Career Transitions 36:29 Balancing Parenthood and Entrepreneurship 40:21 Introduction to Tina's Journey 42:53 The Importance of Patience and Testing Ideas 44:18 Leveraging Existing Skills and Collaboration Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2470775/fan_mail/new] EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan. Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching. [https://www.iconicleadershipcoaching.com/] Follow me on IG @iconic_owl [https://www.instagram.com/iconic_owl] Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-kaplan/] Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit [https://www.instagram.com/midwestgotit])

Bonus: Four dead end traps when we want to change

Over the years, I’ve seen how we can lead ourselves into dead ends when it comes to change. There are some ways we think about change that are actually pretty unproductive and not really useful.. and are also common patterns. So, in this episode, I want to share a few of the ways we get blocked. Anything sound familiar? Getting to know how you sabotage or position yourself in dead ends is helpful to figure out how you're going to get out. I’ve also seen - and experienced firsthand - how change is navigated more successfully. How we can frame changes in our lives to be less terrifying or stressful and more fun, creative and adventurous. (Really!) But that's in the next mini-episode. I know I was squirming in my chair in recognition while recording this one. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2470775/fan_mail/new] EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan. Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching. [https://www.iconicleadershipcoaching.com/] Follow me on IG @iconic_owl [https://www.instagram.com/iconic_owl] Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-kaplan/] Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit [https://www.instagram.com/midwestgotit])