Zibby Owens has so many cool jobs that all started from her love of connecting people to books. She's an author, podcaster, publisher, indie bookstore owner, CEO, and mother of four. She was a stay at home mom for 11 years before starting the podcast “Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books” in 2018. Since then, she's gone on to create a book-filled empire, including becoming a(n): Publisher at Zibby Books - 12 books a year in fiction and memoirAuthor of the novel Blank, that comes out March 1, 2024, and several other books, including a memoir and a children’s bookOwner of Zibby’s Book Shop in Santa Monica, CACEO of Zibby Media Contact Info:Zibby Owens - GuestZibby's Instagram accountZibby's websiteJulie Berman - Hostwww.womenwithcooljobs.com@womencooljobs (Instagram)Julie Berman's LinkedIn Profile ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wishing you had your own cool job?? Not sure what you want to be when you grow up?In a time of transition or reinvention?Are you so busy that you’ve put yourself on the backburner for awhile? Get Sparked! Understand yourself better and learn what feels exciting and fulfilling for you. Not sure where to start? Julie can help you figure out what lights you up and fulfills you, so you can do a cool job, too! Schedule HERE to do a free, quick debrief to see how you can add more of what sparks you to life and work. Julie Berman is a Sparkologist in addition to being the Podcast Host & Producer of "Women with Cool Jobs".

Emmy® Award winner Cynthia Summers is a costumer designer who brings characters to life on TV and film through artfully and skillfully creating their costumes and accessories. With more than 60 credits (a.k.a projects) to Cynthia's name that range from fantasy to modern day and fashion-driven,  her cool job allows her to take a concept or dream and make it a reality on the screen.  While helping create the characters and building the worlds they live in, she collaborates and works with many different people on each project, including the actors, producers, set design team, and many more.  Her most recent work is on the scary new series “Goosebumps” that’s inspired by R.L. Stine’s bestselling books and is now available on Disney+ and Hulu.  When working on projects that are based on existing books, games, or other creative works (such as the “Goosebumps” series), she goes back to the source and does a lot of research to stay true to the core of the work and what connects it with the audience . When it's something that hasn’t existed before, she follows her intuition, experience, leans into research, and also is highly collaborative with other key stakeholders.  We talk about:  The realities of balancing budget, time constraints, weather and filming conditions, and differing visions/expectations The exciting details of her cool job, How she approaches costume design for diverse characters  Some of her incredible awards and achievements include:  Daytime Emmy Award in the Outstanding Costume Design category for her work on the first season of “The Baby-Sitters Club.” 5 CAFTCAD Awards for the second and third seasons of the Emmy Award-nominated “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” starring Neil Patrick Harris, Won and nominated for 2019 and 2020 Costume Designers Guild Awards, 2 Primetime Emmy Awards (2018 and 2019) in the Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes category. Nominated for a 2021 Costume Designers Guild Award for Excellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Television for season one of “Snowpiercer,” starring Jennifer Connelly and Daveed DiggsContact Info:Cynthia Summers - GuestCynthia's Instagram accountCynthia's websiteGoosebumps trailerJulie Berman - Hostwww.womenwithcooljobs.com@womencooljobs (Instagram)Julie Berman's LinkedIn Profile  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wishing you had your own cool job?? Not sure what you want to be when you grow up?In a time of transition or reinvention?Are you so busy that you’ve put yourself on the backburner for awhile? Get Sparked! Understand yourself better and learn what feels exciting and fulfilling for you. Not sure where to start? Julie can help you figure out what lights you up and fulfills you, so you can do a cool job, too! Schedule HERE to do a free, quick debrief to see how you can add more of what sparks you to life and work. Julie Berman is a Sparkologist in addition to being the Podcast Host & Producer of "Women with Cool Jobs".

Ati Williams and Jessica Banks are multi-talented and multi-passionate women in the trades and STEM...and also 2 of 4 cohosts of "Hack My Home" on Netflix.. They show us why it's important to NOT be defined by the "lower third," which in TV terms means the lower part of the screen where they include your title or job description. We can be multi-faceted and multi-talented women, which is exactly what they are. Ati Williams is a licensed general contractor and  renowned design-builder, owner of  Honeycomb – a renovation and design business, real estate developer, TV personality, speaker, and philanthropist.  Jessica Banks is an inventor, roboticist,  systems engineer, designer, entrepreneur, owner of kinetic furniture company RockPaperRobot (RPR), and TV personality.   In this episode, we talk about: their winding career paths (dream jobs were astronaut & nonprofit hero)the importance of creating more opportunities for women by transparently sharing your experiences, salary, and more why approaching new situations with curiosity can lead to opportunities  why being a woman in male-dominated field gives you an advantage With over two decades in real estate and construction, Ati has revitalized numerous spaces, tackling everything from subtle makeovers to extensive rehabs. As one of the few black women in the construction realm, she's passionate about inspiring the next generation of female builders and entrepreneurs.  Ati was born and raised in Kenya and later ventured to Canada, attending York University in Toronto, followed by pursuing her MBA at McGill University. She now resides in the United States.Jess also consults as a strategic and technical advisor to agencies, corporations, and designers and as a space optimizer to individual clients. Jess is a vocal proponent of female representation in STEM. She speaks publicly on topics ranging from science to entrepreneurship to manufacturing  and has degrees in both Engineering (MIT) and Physics (UofM). Contact Info:Ati Williams - GuestAti Williams LinkedIn ProfileAti Williams websiteJessica Banks - GuestJessica Banks LinkedIn ProfileRockPaperRobot websiteJulie Berman - Hostwww.womenwithcooljobs.com@womencooljobs (Instagram)Julie Berman's LinkedIn Profile ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wishing you had your own cool job?? Not sure what you want to be when you grow up?In a time of transition or reinvention?Are you so busy that you’ve put yourself on the backburner for awhile? Get Sparked! Understand yourself better and learn what feels exciting and fulfilling for you. Not sure where to start? Julie can help you figure out what lights you up and fulfills you, so you can do a cool job, too! Schedule HERE to do a free, quick debrief to see how you can add more of what sparks you to life and work. Julie Berman is a Sparkologist in addition to being the Podcast Host & Producer of "Women with Cool Jobs".

The representation of women has remained stagnant in the National Security field at about 20% across the board.Lauren Buitta, a national security expert, is on a mission to get more women into this field. She is the founder and CEO of Girl Security – the only organization dedicated to advancing girls, women, and gender minorities in national security through supportive pathways. There's a lot more to protecting America's interests at home than just considering intelligence and the military. There's the federal government, think tanks, and even the private sector that all play a part and make up over 160 million people in the national security industry.Her goal is to bring more diversity into the national security workforce. This will also help shift ideological constructs to include a broader and more inclusive understanding of the factors that affect our safety and well-being in this country.  Lauren began her career in national security in Chicago, IL, in 2003 as a policy analyst with the National Strategy Forum, a nonpartisan national security think tank. In 2009 while attending law school, Lauren launched her consulting firm, Stele Consulting, which provided support to clients on local policy issues, including exclusionary land use policies and racial segregation in Chicago. When she considered what was needed in 2016 (and what was the beginning of Girl Security), Lauren recognized both the continued underrepresentation of women in national security and the need for a more intersectional approach to security.  ResourcesGirl SecurityContact Info:Lauren Bean Buitta - GuestLauren Bean Buitta's LinkedIn Profilecontact@girlsecurity.org (Email)Julie Berman - Hostwww.womenwithcooljobs.com@womencooljobs (Instagram) Julie Berman's LinkedIn Profile------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wishing you had your own cool job?? Not sure what you want to be when you grow up?In a time of transition or reinvention?Are you so busy that you’ve put yourself on the backburner for awhile? Get Sparked! Understand yourself better and learn what feels exciting and fulfilling for you. Not sure where to start? Julie can help you figure out what lights you up and fulfills you, so you can do a cool job, too! Schedule HERE to do a free, quick debrief to see how you can add more of what sparks you to life and work. Julie Berman is a Sparkologist in addition to being the Podcast Host & Producer of "Women with Cool Jobs".

It's the 3rd Podversary episode, and Julie is so excited to celebrate the 3rd anniversary of "Women with Cool Jobs"!!  To celebrate this milestone, Julie asked the award-winning filmmaker and musician, Jillian Speece, to cohost this episode with her. ( She also helped Julie co-host her 50th episode.) To celebrate this occasion, you can also join Julie for the first in-person, live event on Saturday, October 7th, from 10:30 AM to 12:00 noon in Scottsdale, Arizona. The amazing Dr. Nika Gueci, who is the Executive Director of ASU’s Center for Mindfulness, Compassion & Resilience, is our special guest. You can find the details here:  https://womenwithcooljobs.eventbrite.comJillian Speece is a woman with heart and vision, and Julie is so glad to call her a friend. Jillian is one part of a duo with partner Nathaniel Paul Hoff  in a band called "The Bergamot." Together, they created an incredible film called “State of the Unity” -- an 8 year journey that meant traveling to all 50 states and inviting thousands of people to write their messages of unity on the Unity car. (Julie met them while they were in Phoenix in 2016, and she got to sign the car.) State of the Unity was selected and screened at 36 prestigious film festivals worldwide and garnered 20 awards, including the Grand Jury and Best Documentary Feature awards at the Las Cruces International Film Festival in New Mexico (2023). In this episode, we talk about: what it takes to go from an idea, a whisper, or an inner knowing  to starting a journey where you don't know exactly where the path will take you or how it will look at the end what is needed to get through those in between moments when following your dreams what it's like to be an independent creator and some of the lifestyle implications and sacrifices it takes the unexpected joys and miracles along the way how to approach a moment where you will be reaching new heights and have new experiences; your rocket ship is about to launch You can support Jillian by purchasing “State of the Unity” starting October 6th on Apple TV, Amazon prime, and many other video-on-demand services.   Contact Info:Jillian Speece"State of the Unity" on Apple TVthebergamot.com@jillianspeece (Instagram)@thebergamot (Instagram) Julie Berman - Hostwww.womenwithcooljobs.com@womencooljobs (Instagram)Julie Berman (Lin------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wishing you had your own cool job?? Not sure what you want to be when you grow up?In a time of transition or reinvention?Are you so busy that you’ve put yourself on the backburner for awhile? Get Sparked! Understand yourself better and learn what feels exciting and fulfilling for you. Not sure where to start? Julie can help you figure out what lights you up and fulfills you, so you can do a cool job, too! Schedule HERE to do a free, quick debrief to see how you can add more of what sparks you to life and work. Julie Berman is a Sparkologist in addition to being the Podcast Host & Producer of "Women with Cool Jobs".

What does it take to build a franchise with nearly 2,000 class locations, 1,850 instructors, and over 250 franchise owners across the United States?Lisa Druxman built a fitness empire that meets moms where they’re at, literally in their neighborhoods and physically to create health and wellness!  She is the Founder and CEO of FIT4MOM, which is the largest fitness program for moms in the United States. Plus, she's a noted speaker, author, and podcaster. She initially created Stroller Strides in response to wanting to use her time during maternity leave  in a way that would allow her to be with her brand new baby while also being active and healthy. She ended up sharing what she was doing with her community in a short TV segment, and the rest is history.We talk about: What is it like to build the business while having young children?  What are some of the details and nuances of building a franchise? What's the difference between being a franchisee and an entrepreneur building your own business? What are some specific techniques she uses to manage her time and mindset? How do you decide what ideas to pursue?How to lessen the learning curve for yourself and others------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wishing you had your own cool job?? Not sure what you want to be when you grow up?In a time of transition or reinvention?Are you so busy that you’ve put yourself on the backburner for awhile? Get Sparked! Understand yourself better and learn what feels exciting and fulfilling for you. Not sure where to start? Julie can help you figure out what lights you up and fulfills you, so you can do a cool job, too! Schedule HERE to do a free, quick debrief to see how you can add more of what sparks you to life and work. Julie Berman is a Sparkologist in addition to being the Podcast Host & Producer of "Women with Cool Jobs".

How do people make decisions? Is it based on facts, logic, emotions, or other factors? Jen Clinehens, a behavioral marketer, helps organizations large and small better understand the psychology and science behind customer decisions and opinions. Jen has worked with brands like AT&T, McDonald's, Adidas, and Starbucks and is the Founder and Managing Director of Choice Hacking, a customer experience (CX) agency.Whether it's understanding why a customer is buying one brand's product over their own or why the customer is putting less product in their cart than before, Jen helps individuals and organizations dive deep into the brains of their customers. She uses a combination of behavioral science, AI, & psychology  to increase customer growth and engagement. We talk about her career path starting at age 16 as a classical violist to how watching "Mad Men" allowed her to consider a career that involved creativity and business. She also shares how running her own business since 2020 takes her back to entrepreneurial roots where she wears many hats.You can find her podcast "Choice Hacking", newsletter, blogs and more by going to her website.Contact Info:Jen Clinehens  - Guestjen@choicehacking.com (email)ChoiceHacking.comJulie Berman - Hostwww.womenwithcooljobs.com@womencooljobs (Instagram)Julie Berman (LinkedIn) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wishing you had your own cool job?? Not sure what you want to be when you grow up?In a time of transition or reinvention?Are you so busy that you’ve put yourself on the backburner for awhile? Get Sparked! Understand yourself better and learn what feels exciting and fulfilling for you. Not sure where to start? Julie can help you figure out what lights you up and fulfills you, so you can do a cool job, too! Schedule HERE to do a free, quick debrief to see how you can add more of what sparks you to life and work. Julie Berman is a Sparkologist in addition to being the Podcast Host & Producer of "Women with Cool Jobs".

It's back to school for kids and parents! It's a time of renewal, change, and getting back into a groove. If you're a mom whose child has gone back to school and you're wondering about your next steps and if it's time to find full-time work,  it's essential to know about “returnships”. Returnships are an on-ramp for caregivers to get back into the workforce and find a full-time job.In this replay, Tami Forman, the former Executive Director of Path Forward shares her mission to bring talent back into the workforce and to identify future talent through returnships.  Returnships are like the cousin of internships. For internships, you're a young adult who is in or who has just graduated from college. For returnships, you're an adult who already worked for at least 5 years, took time off to care for a child or an adult, and you're now wanting to return to the workforce. As of the time of original recording,  Path Forward had worked with more than 80 employers, including Amazon, Netflix, Walmart, Apple, Verizon, and more. We discuss topics such as: What's a returnship?Who's a good fit for a returnship? How does the process work?How do you get one?Tami also discuss her career path and what it's like to be a visionary and a nonprofit executive who wears many hats.  Resources50 Ways to Get a Job , a book by Dev Aujla Path ForwardContact Info:Tami Forman - GuestTami Forman's LinkedIn ProfileJulie Berman - Hostwww.womenwithcooljobs.com@womencooljobs (Instagram) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wishing you had your own cool job?? Not sure what you want to be when you grow up?In a time of transition or reinvention?Are you so busy that you’ve put yourself on the backburner for awhile? Get Sparked! Understand yourself better and learn what feels exciting and fulfilling for you. Not sure where to start? Julie can help you figure out what lights you up and fulfills you, so you can do a cool job, too! Schedule HERE to do a free, quick debrief to see how you can add more of what sparks you to life and work. Julie Berman is a Sparkologist in addition to being the Podcast Host & Producer of "Women with Cool Jobs".

If there’s someone you want to connect with, whether for podcasting, networking, or to make a new friend, there are some easy steps you can follow to initiate the connection. In this episode, I share my process and tips that I've learned over the past 3+ years for how I've been able to connect with some of the coolest people. From the beginning, I have had a really great success rate for people responding to me.You'll get insight on how to write an email or direct message (DM) that shows: You are authentically interested in who they are and what they’re bringing into the world. You’ve made it easy to connect by providing some different options with a scheduling link or where they can share their availability.You’ve been specific about why you are reaching out. You're very respectful and understand that we all live very busy lives. You always try to give people the benefit of the doubt! (This helps you be optimistic for the future response of "Yes!")------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wishing you had your own cool job?? Not sure what you want to be when you grow up?In a time of transition or reinvention?Are you so busy that you’ve put yourself on the backburner for awhile? Get Sparked! Understand yourself better and learn what feels exciting and fulfilling for you. Not sure where to start? Julie can help you figure out what lights you up and fulfills you, so you can do a cool job, too! Schedule HERE to do a free, quick debrief to see how you can add more of what sparks you to life and work. Julie Berman is a Sparkologist in addition to being the Podcast Host & Producer of "Women with Cool Jobs".

Dr. Nika Gueci is the inaugural Executive Director of ASU’s Center for Mindfulness, Compassion & Resilience where the mission is “to change the world into a more compassionate and inclusive place by creating a mindful, welcoming culture of caring and belonging."Learn about how Nika found a job that lights her up, where she can be authentically herself, and that enables her to be a leader who is nurturing, supportive, and collaborative. Hear how her career path includes several very diverse and different degrees, a restart and redirect, plus a super supportive friend who saw her potential. (We all need those cheerleaders in our lives!)Nika explains what it means to be mindful and that mindfulness is a skillset; it is not related to religion and is a research-based practice. Mindfulness offers a set of tools that you can use to enhance your everyday well-being. It benefits your life as an individual, as a leader,  as part of a community, and more. She shares some awesome, actionable tips for adding more mindfulness to your every-day life and ways to change your habits or coping skills through being present in the moment.In addition to being the Executive Director, she is also a Senior Fellow at ASU's Learning Enterprise that offers personal development opportunities for lifelong learners. Resources Arizona State University’s Center for Mindfulness, Compassion and Resilience (“Center”) Inside Higher EdThe Chronicle of Higher EducationContact Info:Nika Gueci  - GuestNika@asu.edu (email)Nika Gueci (LinkedIn)Nika Gueci's websiteJulie Berman - Hostwww.womenwithcooljobs.com@womencooljobs (Instagram)Julie Berman (LinkedIn) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wishing you had your own cool job?? Not sure what you want to be when you grow up?In a time of transition or reinvention?Are you so busy that you’ve put yourself on the backburner for awhile? Get Sparked! Understand yourself better and learn what feels exciting and fulfilling for you. Not sure where to start? Julie can help you figure out what lights you up and fulfills you, so you can do a cool job, too! Schedule HERE to do a free, quick debrief to see how you can add more of what sparks you to life and work. Julie Berman is a Sparkologist in addition to being the Podcast Host & Producer of "Women with Cool Jobs".

What if you could leverage the WISDOM OF YOUR FUTURE SELF to guide your present choices? What would your older self say to your "young" self?  It's my birthday, and I'm reflecting! I'm going to be 39 this year, and it dawned on me that this is the last year of my 30s... a decade in which I've been growing a family, a podcast, a business. It's the end of an era. What's the next phase going to be like? What if you could USE YOUR OWN WISDOM from your future wise, experienced older self (cuz let’s not say “old”!) to help you make decisions about:What do you want in your future? What risks do you want to take? Who do you want to connect with and surround yourself with? I share a story about my awesome grandma, her “young” friends, and my birthday thoughts. I talk about how I’m thinking about this next phase of life as I head towards my 40s! I talk about the power we have now -- in the present moment (when we’re actually LIVING LIFE) -- to make intentional choices that will lead to a life filled with more joy, fulfillment, and purpose.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wishing you had your own cool job?? Not sure what you want to be when you grow up?In a time of transition or reinvention?Are you so busy that you’ve put yourself on the backburner for awhile? Get Sparked! Understand yourself better and learn what feels exciting and fulfilling for you. Not sure where to start? Julie can help you figure out what lights you up and fulfills you, so you can do a cool job, too! Schedule HERE to do a free, quick debrief to see how you can add more of what sparks you to life and work. Julie Berman is a Sparkologist in addition to being the Podcast Host & Producer of "Women with Cool Jobs".

Are you considering a new career, but you're not sure how to figure out what to look for or what's next? Julie shares how to get more clarity on what you love and what you want for your career and life.  Better navigate career changes by understanding what lights you up and fulfills you, and on the flip side, what drains and stifles you. Not sure how? Start by taking the free Sparketype assessment at sparketype.comDid you know Julie is a Certified Sparketype Advisor (aka SPARKologist!!)? In this episode Julie shares how discovering Sparketypes not only lead to so many ah-ha moments and clarity in her own life, it lead to wanting to create a business to help people understand what lights you up and how to add more of it to work and life. She also shares an awareness exercise and some questions to ask yourself to gain clarity.We all deserve to have our own cool job!Resources www.sparketype.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wishing you had your own cool job?? Not sure what you want to be when you grow up?In a time of transition or reinvention?Are you so busy that you’ve put yourself on the backburner for awhile? Get Sparked! Understand yourself better and learn what feels exciting and fulfilling for you. Not sure where to start? Julie can help you figure out what lights you up and fulfills you, so you can do a cool job, too! Schedule HERE to do a free, quick debrief to see how you can add more of what sparks you to life and work. Julie Berman is a Sparkologist in addition to being the Podcast Host & Producer of "Women with Cool Jobs".

Lindsay Cordova, a site manager at UPS Integrad, is responsible for the overall operation of the McKinney, TX, facility that trains both new and experienced truck drivers who deliver and pick up UPS packages. The overarching goal of the training is to keep drivers and communities safe.  From overseeing the overall operations and logistics at the facility, to cultivating strong relationships with peers and colleagues, to rapping about safety, get a glimpse of what it's like to have a leadership role in a male-dominated industry.Lindsay has been with the company for 20 years and has held a variety of positions, including: driver, supervisor, and trainer.  The McKinney, TX, site  is one of 11 Integrad sites across the United States where they incorporate cutting-edge tools (like simulators and virtual reality) and techniques (to accommodate different learning styles) to train individuals.We also explore Lindsay's passion for training, how she earned her undergrad degree in counseling, and how she balances her work and family life as a mom of three. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wishing you had your own cool job?? Not sure what you want to be when you grow up?In a time of transition or reinvention?Are you so busy that you’ve put yourself on the backburner for awhile? Get Sparked! Understand yourself better and learn what feels exciting and fulfilling for you. Not sure where to start? Julie can help you figure out what lights you up and fulfills you, so you can do a cool job, too! Schedule HERE to do a free, quick debrief to see how you can add more of what sparks you to life and work. Julie Berman is a Sparkologist in addition to being the Podcast Host & Producer of "Women with Cool Jobs".

Karen Graci is a story editor working on an animated TV show at Disney Television Animation. As the story editor, she's the head of the writing department where she oversees the writers’ room, plus she works with the showrunners. In addition to editing, Karen also is actively writing. People often think of "grammar, punctuation, and spelling" when it comes to being an editor, but Karen gets to use her editing skills in such a creative, fun environment. Karen is currently working on an animated comedy-adventure series called "Hailey's On It!" that is out in June 2023 and that she got hired to begin in early 2021. This show is about Hailey, a risk-averse but resourceful teenager, who must finish her long list of challenging (and sometimes impractical) tasks to save the world.She works with incredibly talented and skilled people, such as the showrunners, other writers, animators, and voice actors. One awesome part of her job is that she gets to sit in on the live reads and recordings, meaning that she's there when Auli'i Cravalho (who was Moana!!) voices the main character, Hailey, and Manny Jacinto (who was incredible in The Good Place) voices Scott, the main male character and Hailey's best friend.Karen took an untraditional path to her cool job, including majoring in international relations and  touring with Chicago's famed Second City National Touring Company as a professional improviser. Contact Info:Karen Graci  - Guest@thatgirlKarenGraci (Instagram)Hailey's On It - Official Trailer (YouTube)Julie Berman - Hostwww.womenwithcooljobs.com@womencooljobs (Instagram)Julie Berman (LinkedIn) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wishing you had your own cool job?? Not sure what you want to be when you grow up?In a time of transition or reinvention?Are you so busy that you’ve put yourself on the backburner for awhile? Get Sparked! Understand yourself better and learn what feels exciting and fulfilling for you. Not sure where to start? Julie can help you figure out what lights you up and fulfills you, so you can do a cool job, too! Schedule HERE to do a free, quick debrief to see how you can add more of what sparks you to life and work. Julie Berman is a Sparkologist in addition to being the Podcast Host & Producer of "Women with Cool Jobs".

Aastha Gaur is the Director of User Experience at Google. She leads the experience design team that transforms customer engagement with Artificial Intelligence (AI). Her team has 120 people who design what solutions should look like and how they should act; Google's largest business is advertisers.Aastha says that you don’t need a tech degree to be a successful female leader in tech.  She says, "So many women, especially those who might not have a STEM background think they can’t work with technical men and engineers. And that’s simply not true! We can do it. They need us.” Aastha has a bachelor's degree in industrial design and a master's degree in fine arts (graphic design). She is from India and did her undergrad there and did her grad degree in the United States. She believes in having a “healthy disregard for the impossible” and shares how that mindset can lead to more possibilities. She talks about what it's like to be a woman of color, from a different country, with a fine arts degree working in the tech industry and loving it! She brings diverse perspectives and strengths to her leadership role, where she works with designers, researchers, conversation designers, UX engineers, and more.  Contact Info:Aastha Gaur  - Guest@asthahearts (Instagram)Aastha Gaur (LinkedIn)Aastha Gaur's websiteJulie Berman - Hostwww.womenwithcooljobs.com@womencooljobs (Instagram)Julie Berman (LinkedIn) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wishing you had your own cool job?? Not sure what you want to be when you grow up?In a time of transition or reinvention?Are you so busy that you’ve put yourself on the backburner for awhile? Get Sparked! Understand yourself better and learn what feels exciting and fulfilling for you. Not sure where to start? Julie can help you figure out what lights you up and fulfills you, so you can do a cool job, too! Schedule HERE to do a free, quick debrief to see how you can add more of what sparks you to life and work. Julie Berman is a Sparkologist in addition to being the Podcast Host & Producer of "Women with Cool Jobs".

Anna Petchell is a woman with not just one, but many cool jobs, including as a Sport Outside Broadcast Camera Operator & Super Yacht Crew Career Coach. The steps she has taken were often seldom paved by women in fields traditionally done by men.As a Freelance Sport Outside Broadcast Camera Operator, she films the big outside sports events, such as football, rugby, tennis, Formula One, lacrosse, hockey, and cricket. She especially loves women's football (a.k.a soccer here in the U.S.)She also was an officer on a superyacht, where girls often are not captains, engineers or officers. Now she helps yacht crew discover their inner compass so they can leave the industry and be successful and confident in finding a new career afterwards. Anna shares what she does in both the broadcast and yachting fields. She enlightens us with some coaching insights such as “If you know who you are, then you can navigate through life.”  And she provides us with some incredible networking  and connection tips for how to find opportunities and connect with people in an authentic, purposeful way.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wishing you had your own cool job?? Not sure what you want to be when you grow up?In a time of transition or reinvention?Are you so busy that you’ve put yourself on the backburner for awhile? Get Sparked! Understand yourself better and learn what feels exciting and fulfilling for you. Not sure where to start? Julie can help you figure out what lights you up and fulfills you, so you can do a cool job, too! Schedule HERE to do a free, quick debrief to see how you can add more of what sparks you to life and work. Julie Berman is a Sparkologist in addition to being the Podcast Host & Producer of "Women with Cool Jobs".

Emily Soloby is on a mission to advocate for and support women — physically with her safety boot company, Juno Jones, and in general — by normalizing the idea of women in nontraditional fields. From a high schooler known for her boots to now creating her own footwear company, Emily's varied career path has always included helping women. She’s the co-owner of AAA School of Trucking, a trade school, and also the host of the Hazard Girls Podcast and Face Book community that helps move the conversation forward on women’s issues in hazardous and male-populated industries. While growing a small truck and heavy equipment safety training firm into a national business with her husband, she noticed that there was no women's safety boots, especially ones that she'd actually want to wear. In 2020, the Kickstarter campaign for Juno Jones was fully funded in only 29 hours, and she began her mission to pair safety with style. Emily has a BA in Women's Studies and worked as a domestic violence victim advocate while in school. During law school she served as Legal Intern at the National Organization for Women in DC, which solidified her passion for advocacy work. Following law school, Emily worked as a trial attorney with Legal Aid, helping women and children in family law and domestic violence cases. She went on to receive her master’s degree in Broadcasting and is now using those skills as a podcaster and storyteller. In all of her current and past roles and jobs, the consistent part has always been advocating for women.  Contact Info:Emily Soloby  - Guest@emilysoloby (Instagram)Emily Soloby (LinkedIn)Juno Jones websiteJulie Berman - Hostwww.womenwithcooljobs.com@womencooljobs (Instagram)Julie Berman (LinkedIn) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wishing you had your own cool job?? Not sure what you want to be when you grow up?In a time of transition or reinvention?Are you so busy that you’ve put yourself on the backburner for awhile? Get Sparked! Understand yourself better and learn what feels exciting and fulfilling for you. Not sure where to start? Julie can help you figure out what lights you up and fulfills you, so you can do a cool job, too! Schedule HERE to do a free, quick debrief to see how you can add more of what sparks you to life and work. Julie Berman is a Sparkologist in addition to being the Podcast Host & Producer of "Women with Cool Jobs".

Alisha Fernandez Miranda is an expert and leader in corporate philanthropy and social impact (a former CEO and current chair of a consultancy) who helps large companies and organizations spend their money well and in a way that aligns with their mission and goals. On the flip side, she helps nonprofits successfully raise more money so they can further their mission and make a greater impact in the world. Alisha’s also the author of My What If Year, an epic adventure during the pandemic of 4 different internship experiences while managing life as a mom, wife, and chief executive!  In 2019, Alisha had checked her life boxes of a Harvard degree, a successful career, a beautiful family, and a nice home. Yet as she approached her 40th birthday, she was questioning whether things felt right. Was she happy? The result was Alicia temporarily stepping away from her job as CEO and doing 4 internships that took her to Broadway, a retro fitness brand, the London art scene, and a Scottish luxury hotel.  In this episode, we talk about: What it was like growing her business, career, and family and having the courage to take a break and make space for something new?  What's it like to go from being CEO to being a beginner again? What is "corporate philanthropy" and "social impact"? What does a consultant do in this field? Why is it a dream job for many people? How can you take your own “What If?” moments? How can you explor some ways to bring joy into your life?Alisha helped found I.G. Advisors, an award-winning consultancy that works with organizations and individuals and specializes in philanthropy, corporate impact, and fundraising advice. I.G.'s clients include many incredible organizations, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Oxfam, Adobe, DLA Piper, The Old Vic, UN Women, Primark and many others.  Alisha is a Cuban-American, born and raised in Miami, who has spent her adult life in New York and London. She is currently based in Scotland with her twins and husband.  Resources:iRelaunchEvolveMeHayThereSocialMediaContact Info: Alisha Fernandez Miranda  - Guest@alishafmiranda (Instagram)Alisha Fernandez Miranda (LinkedIn)Alisha's websiteJulie Berman - Hostwww.womenwithcooljobs.com@womencooljobs (Instagram)Julie Berman (LinkedIn) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wishing you had your own cool job?? Not sure what you want to be when you grow up?In a time of transition or reinvention?Are you so busy that you’ve put yourself on the backburner for awhile? Get Sparked! Understand yourself better and learn what feels exciting and fulfilling for you. Not sure where to start? Julie can help you figure out what lights you up and fulfills you, so you can do a cool job, too! Schedule HERE to do a free, quick debrief to see how you can add more of what sparks you to life and work. Julie Berman is a Sparkologist in addition to being the Podcast Host & Producer of "Women with Cool Jobs".

Karen Santucci is a veteran court reporter who is now the Director of the Court Reporting Program at Plaza College in Forest Hills, New York. Court reporters play an essential and required role in judicial proceedings, plus they do captioning work when requested in relation to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA.) It’s a cool way to get into the courtroom without being a lawyer or judge, or it allows you to learn about all sorts of things while doing captioning! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Court reporters have a critical role in legal proceedings, which require an exact record of what occurred. These workers are responsible for producing a complete, accurate, and secure transcript of depositions, trials, and other legal proceedings." In regards to captioning work, this is closed captioning on televisions, and also with college students, business meetings, or anyone that requests to have a court reporter to take down the meeting, lesson, or event on the steno machine.Karen Santucci began her court reporting career right after high school. After graduating Stenotype Institute in Manhattan , she started working at the Queens County Grand Jury where she eventually became the Assistant Supervisor of the Grand Jury Reporters. After many years, she left to raise her 3 children. In 2001, she returned to the field as a court reporting instructor and realized her true calling was teaching and encouraging people to enter this great profession. Now, she's helping the next generation of court reporters through her role as an educator.We discuss how diverse and flexible this career path is (so it's awesome for moms looking for jobs with flexible schedules) and how they need more people now. Demand is high, and people just don't know about this job and how many opportunities there are in the courts, classrooms, or even at the Grammy's!ResourcesNational Court Reporters Association (NCRA) Plaza College -- School of Court ReportingContact Info:Karen Santucci  - Guestksantucci@plazacollege.eduJulie Berman - Hostwww.womenwithcooljobs.com@womencooljobs (Instagram)Julie Berman (LinkedIn)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wishing you had your own cool job?? Not sure what you want to be when you grow up?In a time of transition or reinvention?Are you so busy that you’ve put yourself on the backburner for awhile? Get Sparked! Understand yourself better and learn what feels exciting and fulfilling for you. Not sure where to start? Julie can help you figure out what lights you up and fulfills you, so you can do a cool job, too! Schedule HERE to do a free, quick debrief to see how you can add more of what sparks you to life and work. Julie Berman is a Sparkologist in addition to being the Podcast Host & Producer of "Women with Cool Jobs".

Ayse Birsel is one of the world’s leading industrial designers. She's designed everything from kitchen gadgets, to toilets, office furniture, concept cars, and so much more. (You’ve probably held or sat on something she has designed for Miller Knoll, Target, TOTO, Toyota, or IKEA, among many others.) She's earned awesome nicknames: Queen of Toilets, Queen Bee (for offices), and Design Evangelista. Plus, she's an author and her most recent book is called Design the Long Life You Love: A Step-by-Step Guide to Love, Purpose, Well-Being, and Friendship. Her most recent book teaches us use industrial design principles -- optimism, empathy, collaboration, open-mindedness, and holistic thinking -- so we can purposefully design a long, wonderful life based on the insights she learned after 1 year of research and collaboration with older adults on the pioneering frontiers of long life.We talk about:What is an industrial designer?Why she loves designHer design-thinking process called Deconstruction: Reconstruction (DE:RE) The role of play and optimism, plus bringing new solutions to old problemsHow to design a long life you loveHow to learn about and explore a career in industrial designAmong Ayse's many accomplishments and accolades, she is one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People In Business and Interior Design Magazine recognized her as the Best Of Year Product Designer of 2020. Her work can be found in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Contact Info:Ayse Birsel - Guestaysebirsel.com @designthelifeyoulove (Instagram)Ayse Birsel (LinkedIn)Julie Berman - Hostwww.womenwithcooljobs.com@womencooljobs (Instagram)Julie Berman (LinkedIn) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wishing you had your own cool job?? Not sure what you want to be when you grow up?In a time of transition or reinvention?Are you so busy that you’ve put yourself on the backburner for awhile? Get Sparked! Understand yourself better and learn what feels exciting and fulfilling for you. Not sure where to start? Julie can help you figure out what lights you up and fulfills you, so you can do a cool job, too! Schedule HERE to do a free, quick debrief to see how you can add more of what sparks you to life and work. Julie Berman is a Sparkologist in addition to being the Podcast Host & Producer of "Women with Cool Jobs".