Carrie, It's Not That Serious

S2 Ep. 02: The Power of Curiosity and Resilience in Leadership with Melissa Aarskaug - Part 2

Would you ever turn down a seven-figure job because it didn’t align with your values? Melissa Aarskaug shares why she walked away from lucrative offers to stay true to herself—revealing the extraordinary personal and professional rewards that came from putting integrity first. Carrie Hunter dives deep into Melissa Aarskaug’s unique leadership philosophy, why most leaders are facing a decision—not a technology—problem, and practical strategies for finding clarity in overwhelming times. Discover how embracing AI (rather than fearing it) can actually buy you back hours each week, and explore the power of intentional living, building sustainable success, and redefining what it truly means to be “in power.” Plus: learn about the Maverick Test, her Executive Connect experience, and the daily habits that help her—and other leaders—stay grounded, focused, and impactful. Timestamped Overview: [00:00] Welcome & episode introduction[00:15] Melissa Aarskaug on getting creative during tough times[01:38] Leaders don’t have a technology problem—they have a decision problem[02:19] Why most digital transformation projects fail[03:13] The critical role of the “human side” in AI and technology[04:30] Challenges of AI implementation across company divisions[06:25] Making AI less intimidating: the human connection[08:51] How technology can give you more time (and less brain fog)[11:05] Drawing parallels: technology, the Amish, and reclaiming your time[12:20] Helping leaders find clarity amid uncertainty[13:20] Melissa Aarskaug’s daily habits for focus and growth[16:33] Building self-awareness: journaling, trusted advisors, and prioritizing[20:35] Choosing integrity over short-term gain in your career[22:02] The true cost of staying where you don’t belong[27:07] Melissa Aarskaug’s current projects: podcast, Maverick Test, books, and workshops[33:44] The importance of accountability and long-term thinking[35:13] From stage fright to confident speaker: Melissa Aarskaug’s journey[40:20] What “woman in power” means to Melissa Aarskaug[42:34] Final thoughts and episode close

S2 Ep. 01: The Power of Curiosity and Resilience in Leadership with Melissa Aarskaug - Part 1

What if your biggest obstacle in leadership isn’t a technology problem—but a decision problem? Carrie Hunter sits down with executive leader and tech trailblazer Melissa Aarskaug, who built her career thriving in chaos and mastering high-stakes decisions. From starting out as a fiercely independent child to managing $500 million projects in male-dominated fields, Melissa Aarskaug unpacks how curiosity, resilience, and betting on yourself play a bigger role than you think. Discover how an engineering mindset can be your superpower across any industry, why slowing down in a crisis leads to better outcomes, and how women can—and should—ask for more at the negotiation table. Packed with real talk on learning from mistakes, navigating male-dominated workplaces, and creating lasting impact, this episode will challenge what you thought about leadership, risk, and personal growth. Episode Overview: 00:00 Who is Melissa Aarskaug? An introduction to her unique leadership journey 02:04 Childhood independence, curiosity, and early ambition 05:28 The origins of drive: Babysitting at 8 and the power of self-sufficiency 07:21 Buying her first car and learning the value of independence 11:55 Shifting from civil engineering to cybersecurity to leadership 13:39 How an engineering mindset solves big problems 18:58 Making decisions under extreme pressure 20:32 Lessons from mistakes and the importance of betting on yourself 22:07 Slowing down: The key to high-stakes decision-making 28:32 Navigating emotions and authenticity in male-dominated spaces 32:38 The power of asking for what you want and learning from successful men 33:52 Outro and preview of Part Two

S1 Ep. 16: Breaking Money Myths: Marcia Dawood on Women, Investing, and Rewriting Your Wealth Story- Part 2

What if the power to change the investing landscape—and the future of women-led innovation—starts with just $100? In this eye-opening episode, Marcia Dawood joins Carrie Hunter to shatter myths about angel investing, equity crowdfunding, and show how accessible investing can—and should—be for everyone, especially women. Discover why the biggest barrier for women in funding isn’t just outside bias, but internalized beliefs, and why women as funders are key to seeing more women founders succeed. Marcia Dawood demystifies capital stacks, shares how philanthropy is becoming a game-changing funding source, and explains innovative, low-risk ways to start investing (even if you think it isn’t for you). Plus, get actionable tips to help you and your family build lasting wealth aligned with your values—no finance degree required. Don't miss the moments that might just change your money mindset forever. 00:00 Welcome and episode introduction 00:15 Defining angel investing and how it differs from VC 01:05 Lowering the barrier to investing – equity crowdfunding explained 02:50 Why growing the number of investors changes the startup landscape 03:09 Rewards vs. donation vs. equity crowdfunding 05:47 Crowdfunding as market validation 06:29 Barriers for women as funders and founders 08:42 The importance of women being part of money conversations 10:23 Rethinking wealth: money, health, and time 11:46 Founder journey & choosing women investors 14:06 Creative ways to fund your startup, including philanthropy 17:55 Where to begin as a first-time investor 18:27 Shifting money mindsets and starting small 19:38 Family activities to demystify investing 21:28 Marcia Dawood’s platform, podcast, and books 26:16 Stepping into new identity & yoga lessons 28:59 Women in power: redefining wealth and empowerment 30:37 Closing remarks and how to connect

S1 Ep. 15: Breaking Money Myths: Marcia Dawood on Women, Investing, and Rewriting Your Wealth Story- Part 1

Did you know women receive only 2% of all early-stage investment funding—despite making up half the population? This episode will change the way you think about women, money, and investing. Join Carrie Hunter as she sits down with angel investor, author, and thought leader Marcia Dawood, whose life’s work is challenging the myths around women and money. Learn how early money conversations at home shaped Marcia Dawood’s perspective, the real reasons so few women enter investing, and why women are not risk-averse—they’ve just never been invited into the conversation. Key highlights include how emotional “money stories” hold women back, ways even small amounts of money can get you started as an investor, how equity crowdfunding is reshaping access, and why practicing risk is the game-changer for building wealth. This episode will leave you inspired, informed, and ready to rewrite your own relationship with money. Timestamped Overview: [00:00] - Introduction to Marcia Dawood: investing, women, and access to capital [01:37] - Early childhood money story and financial education [04:44] - Family influences and early money perceptions [07:55] - Journey from corporate to investing [08:54] - Discovering gender disparities in funding [11:39] - The limits of nonprofit funding and need for investing [13:43] - Moving cities and gaining perspective in angel investing [14:40] - Learning the hard way: Marcia Dawood’s early mistakes [16:44] - The invisible barrier: Women and money mindset [19:44] - Why women are excluded from money conversations [21:30] - Unpacking the myth: “Women aren’t good with money” [23:35] - From risk aversion to “risk unpracticed” [26:09] - The upside of audacity and learning from failure [28:37] - Demystifying investing: Getting started with $100 [30:37] - Closing and preview of part two

S1 Ep. 14: People-Focused Leadership: Cass Cooper on Organizational change - Part 2

Are “soft skills” really soft—or are they the secret superpower your team’s missing? In our latest episode of "Carrie, It's Not That Serious," we meet the incredible Cass Cooper—a.k.a. the Chaos Whisperer (yes, that's her real title and yes, we ALL need one of those). Cass Cooper unpacks what it actually takes to navigate messy workplaces, why people-centered leadership isn’t just “nice-to-have” but is downright strategic, and dishes out reality-checks on everything from workplace dress codes to why it’s okay to say NO (with your whole chest). Tune in to learn: * How chaos can actually be your leadership superpower (spoiler: it’s not about yelling at the storm) * Why being “people first” is the smartest business strategy out there * How Gen Z is rewriting the workplace rulebook—and why we should pay attention * Real talk on zig-zag career paths, outgrowing old-school corporate mindsets, and, of course, why nobody misses mandatory lipstick If you’ve ever tried to make sense of confusing company culture—or just wish you could order a side of calm with your next project—this episode is for you. 🎧 Catch the conversation and let’s reimagine what great leadership really looks like (hint: chaos, compassion, and a lot more honest “no's”). #Leadership #Podcast #PeopleFirst #WomenInBusiness #CareerPaths #ItsNotThatSerious 🔗 Listen here: itsnothatserious.com [http://itsnothatserious.com/] Connect with Cass Cooper LinkedIn --⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/cassrcooper⁠⁠ [http://www.linkedin.com/in/cassrcooper] Instagram & TikTok : @just_cass2.0 Check out Cass Cooper's Course:From Survival to Signal: ⁠⁠https://www.knowbetterdobetter.co/course [https://www.knowbetterdobetter.co/course]