In our latest episode of The Corporate Expat Experience Podcast, we had the honor of hosting Michael Colwell, CEO/President of Colwell & Associates, Inc.  With nearly 50 years of entrepreneurial experience under his belt, Michael shares invaluable insights and stories from his remarkable journey. Here are some highlights you won't want to miss: Making the Leap: Learn how Michael transitioned from working in a public works office to founding his own successful consulting engineering firm.The Entrepreneurial Rollercoaster: Discover the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, from the thrill of building something from scratch to navigating slow periods and overcoming challenges.Keys to Success: Michael shares his thoughts on what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur, offering practical advice and wisdom accumulated over decades in the business world. Tune into this episode for a high-voltage adventure in entrepreneurship as Michael offers a candid and illuminating perspective on what it truly takes to thrive as an entrepreneur. For more on Colwell & Associates, Inc. Consulting Engineers visit www.colwellengineering.com

In this episode of The Corporate Expat Experience, we dive into the dynamic worlds of entrepreneurship and women's golf with Corporate Expat Daniella Rosa, the innovative mind behind AIEA Golf.  Join us as we explore how Daniella is reshaping the landscape of women's golf attire, blending style, technology, and community like never before. In this episode, Daniella delves into the unique challenges and opportunities she encountered from deciding to leave her corporate job to building AIEA Golf from the ground up, sharing insights into: What it's like to be a new entrepreneurHow curiosity led to embracing technology to uplevel and distinguish her brandWhy building community is vital to your brand strategy today Whether you're an avid golfer, a fashion enthusiast, or an aspiring entrepreneur, this episode offers inspiration and wisdom from one woman's quest to revolutionize womens golf by changing the game both on and off the course.  Learn more about AIEA Golf by visiting: https://www.aieagolf.com

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of entrepreneurship and fundraising with the dynamic Kat Weaver, CEO of Power to Pitch. Join us as Kat shares her inspiring journey as a two-time accidental entrepreneur, revealing how she stumbled into the world of grants and fundraising where she discovered the invaluable skill of mastering the "power to pitch." Kat's entrepreneurial story is one of resilience, determination and a knack for turning unexpected challenges into opportunities. Tune in to hear how she navigated the complexities of raising capital for her ventures by strategically applying for (and winning!) grants. What's truly remarkable is that Kat didn't just dabble in the grant game – she emerged victorious, winning an astonishing 22 out of 23 grants in the process.  Discover the secrets behind Kat's success as she unveils the art of crafting a compelling pitch, a skill she aptly calls the "power to pitch." Learn how she harnessed this power to secure funding for her own ventures and how she now empowers other entrepreneurs to do the same. Kat has become a sought-after advisor, helping ambitious business owners raise capital, refine their messaging, and accelerate the funding process. Kat Weaver, CEO of Power to Pitch is a multi-award winning, accidental 2-time entrepreneur who works with pre-seed to seed stage founders pitch and raise capital. To learn more about Kat’s work: https://www.powertopitch.com.

Meet Corporate Expat Steven Urban - Steven was on the corporate track, working his way up the ladder reaching new heights until one day before a critical meeting it all came crashing down, with Steven literally finding himself on the hotel floor unable to move. That event set him on a new path, to find himself and a future that involved helping others to discover their strengths, rediscover themselves and define what success means to them.  In this episode, Steven shares his story that led him to entrepreneur-land and provides insights on Defining Your Success - why and how it might look differently for you and meKnowing Your Strengths - how to identify your strengths to help you become clear about who you are and how they help you to work more effectively with othersWhat’s Your Future - the questions you need to be asking yourself today that can help you break your rut and reach your next level of success Steven Urban is Founder and CEO of Build Your Alliance, CliftonStrengths Certified Coach, EQi Certified Coach. Steven works with individuals and teams to unlock their potential through self-awareness, understanding their values and strengths. Learn more about Steven’s work by visiting www.buildyouralliance.com

Baiju Solanki, Performance Psychologist, Best-Selling Author and Coach had no idea what he was in for when he responded to a LinkedIn message that started off with a confession and an ask to connect - thankfully, Baiju responded kindly and here we are!  In this episode, Baiju and Nicole discuss the surprising chance meeting and the several lessons learned from it that can help all of us to “Change Your Game” - aligning with what Baiju shares and teaches in his work as a high performance coach.  Tune in to learn from Baiju:  The formula for an impactful introductionHis journey from the halls of academia to the corporate world to becoming his own boss by changing his game and living life on his own termsThe relationship between confidence and conviction and why this is so important to understand to achieve your next level of successHow taking inspired action can lead to amazing things (like this podcast episode!) Baiju Solanki is an Award-winning businessman, TEDx speaker and CEO/Founder of EnSpirit Global: A platform that creates next generation Entrepreneurs & Business Leaders who are ready to grow personally, scale fast and build legacies. He is a best-selling author of “Change Your Game” and host of  The EnSpirit Podcast. For more details visit:  www.baijusolanki.com and www.changeyourgamebook.com/

Meet Leslee Cohen, the attorney who left Wall Street and a prominent law firm to launch her own firm - doing things her way, on her terms! Leslee’s love for law and for start-ups combined with her vision of a law firm that provides flexibility for employees with a commitment to client success culminated in a start-up of her own - ALLRise Legal Counsel.  In this episode, Leslee shares her journey from Wall Street to Entrepreneur and provides insights on the needs of start-up businesses - from a legal perspective and from an entrepreneur’s perspective with experience being in the trenches, running the business.  Leslee shares valuable start-up advice from a start-up founder’s viewpoint including: What it takes to create a business that works for you, on YOUR terms Getting your ducks in a row - why and when to engage an attorney for your businessConsiderations in your business when it comes to cap tables, raising capital and taking on partners Tune in to Episode 29 to learn more about those legal questions you didn’t see coming from the start-up attorney who’s been there and done that! Leslee Cohen is a Start-up, M&A and Corporate Attorney who combines big firm experience and expertise with a small firm rates and an entrepreneurial mindset. Learn more about ALLRise Legal Counsel by visiting https://www.allriselawyers.com/

Corporate Expat Mara Smith is a former attorney, corporate strategist and stay-at-home mom who always knew she wanted a company of her own and that entrepreneur life was in her future. Her corporate expat experience started with leaving corporate to focus on family, while continuing to envision the future running her own company. That vision came to life in February of 2022 as she set out on her journey to reimagine tequila, creating Inspiro Tequila with a goal to create a clean, smooth and sippable 100% Blue Weber Agave tequila without any of the additives often found in other tequilas, and with every detail thoughtfully crafted. Check out this episode to learn more about Mara’s journey to entrepreneur land, how she was inspired to bring “Inspiro” to life and why being a women-created, women-led tequila company is at the core of their vision for “tequila reimagined”. https://inspirotequila.com

Experiencing the best of both worlds: Becca and Justin Christiansen, founders of Portland Salt Co are maintaining dual residency living, working and thriving in the corporate world and in entrepreneur land!  This power couple launched their business Portland Salt Co in December 2021 during the global pandemic and while maintaining their demanding jobs in the tech industry and balancing family life with the kids. In this episode, learn about their journey, the challenges of launching a business and how it has become a family bonding experience with so many lessons learned along the way. Visit https://portlandsaltco.com and listen to this episode for a special discount for the Corporate Expat Experience audience.

Corporate Expat Kim Walsh Phillips decided early in her career that corporate was not for her and created a plan to build her business while keeping that steady job and pay! Early mornings, lunch breaks and evenings were dedicated to building a business that would soon overtake her corporate pay and lead her to a the freedom she desired. Kim shares her journey, best lessons learned and how year 18 of her business resulted in “The Shift” she experienced taking her from 32 clients to over 11k in less than a year!  Kim is Founder & CEO of Powerful Professionals, a business coaching and education company and is the secret weapon for clients such as Kevin O’Leary, Harley Davidson, Hilton Hotels and has shared the stage with Tony Robbins, Barbara Cocoran and Gary Vee.  Named “a must to read by those in business” by Forbes Magazine, Kim is the bestselling author of multiple books including, "The Shift: Scale Your Business and Multiply Your Wealth without Sacrificing You," with another must read on the way! Learn more at www.powerfulprofessionals.com Check out “The Shift” https://www.shiftbookbonus.com

CX Raymond Harari, former banker found his way to his Corporate Expat experience by making an investment in the cannabis space which led him to discover his skills in advising and launching businesses. Ray founded Canalis Capital, a venture capital and innovation firm focused on strategic advisory, venture building, scaling and go-public structuring for pioneering companies in high growth industries. In this episode, learn more about Ray’s journey from studying engineering to going into the world of finance to entering the family business to setting out on his own path.  Ray also shares mistakes made along the way that proved to be invaluable lessons learned, the importance of defining your values in your business and using them to make decisions in your business, and how businesses change along the way. Ray shares so many insights, great stories and business tips – this is a must listen episode no matter where you are at on your Corporate Expat journey.  Learn more about Ray and Canalis Capital by visiting https://www.canaliscapital.com

Marilynn Joyner is the Founder of Her Workplace, a newly launched career community platform for corporate women in junior to mid-level roles to exchange knowledge, share stories, and build relationships. Her passion to create Her Workplace came from her own lack of professional development, mentorship, and networking opportunities throughout her career. Marilynn has spent over 10 years as a broker in commercial real estate representing and consulting for organizations on their office leasing initiatives throughout major global and national markets. Her clients throughout her career have ranged from Fortune 500 companies and law firms to start-ups and co-working operators. In this episode, Marilyn shares how she decided that it was time to make a change from the commercial real estate world, the challenges she faced when seeking out mentorship and personal development opportunities, and how she curated a business that would combine her professional expertise and her desire face these challenges head on in an effort to better support women in the evolving workplace. Learn more about Her Workplace: https://www.herworkplace.com

CX Jac White, found success in the corporate world working for brands like Armani Exchange and The New York Times before jumping into the world of start-ups working for soon to be big names like DailyCandy and Learnvest before becoming CEO of her own venture-backed company.  In this Episode, Jac discusses not only her background and transition from Corporate to Entrepreneur but also about the benefits of incorporating alliances and partnerships into your business and when raising VC money is right for you and your business.  Ready for more from Jac? Check out her Business Development Bootcamp and use code “EXPAT” for a special discount. https://www.honeybeesgroup.co/buildbootcamp

When CX Vanessa Campos set out on her career path, she tried a few different avenues that ultimately led her to putting her love for a good read to proper use in helping others to share their stories. However, in her job she and her co-founder recognized a gap in the market – business books by and for women - and the need for doing things differently and to help bring more diverse voices to book publishing. From that realization and desire “Broad Book Group” was born, sharing the stories and insights from women thought leaders looking to make their mark and a positive impact in the world.  In this episode, Vanessa shares her journey to launching a publishing house, how writing your book can impact your brand – both company and personal and ways to get started on your writing journey. Be sure to check out this episode and learn more about how you can bring your story to life: www.broadbookgroup.com  https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessalcampos/

Women Entrepreneurs Month: Meet Dana Paskalis, a former biotech executive with a career spanning 30 years, Dana cultivated a passion for building strong client relationships and connecting teams on a meaningful level. As Founder/CEO of Life Reset Labs, Dana decided that she was ready to take the work she loved in the corporate world to the next level by starting her own company. Learn more in this episode about how you can do the same, how perceived setbacks can be leaps forward in your life and great advice from a Corporate Expat who now has the best of both world – her own business doing what she loves on her terms and also consulting for corporate clients that allows her to still tap into what she enjoyed living in the corporate world. Be sure to check out this episode to learn how to navigate a layoff, find your passion in your corporate work and take a new approach to the “choose your own adventure” stage of the Corporate Expat Experience! To learn more about Dana and her work at Life Reset Labs visit: https://www.liferesetlabs.com/ LinkedIn: (21) Dana Paskalis | LinkedIn Instagram and Facebook: liferesetlabs23 Twitter: @DanaPaskalis

For International Women’s Day we are featuring not only an incredible woman entrepreneur who has made history in so many ways, she is investing in the future with her social impact foundation WEDO – Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization, to support women around the world make history of their own through starting their own businesses providing financial security for themselves and their families. Wendy Diamond is CEO/Founder of LDP Ventures and and WEDO, Creator of Animal Fair Media, an impact investor, a best-selling author of multiple books and a television personality.  Be ready for some amazing stories, entrepreneurial advice and a few trademark “woo-hoos!!” along the way! To learn more about WEDO and how you can support the cause:  https://www.womenseday.org

Looking Back & Ahead: 2022 & Now Season Two…Join me for a peek into the past year of my corporate expat experience, how one call can change your plotted course and a preview of what to expect in upcoming episodes.

Both traditional expat and Corporate Expat, Ryan Spence shares his journey from walking out of his career in big law to finding his path forward and creating his Triple C Method. In this episode, you will learn what to do when you feel like you are losing yourself to your job; the importance of recognizing your values and what it means to level up by focusing on the three C’s. Be sure to check out Ryan’s new book “The Triple C Method” https://www.iamryanspence.com/triplec

#IWD - While today is a day of celebrating and recognizing women, our lives, our contributions and our impact on the world – it’s also a day of inclusion. In this episode, learn how men are part of the conversation and how they can be part of IWD today and every day.

What does taking a pause and deciding that there has to be a better way have to do with this podcast and the Corporate Expat Experience?  Tune in to this week’s episode to learn more about the power of pause, the first stage of corporate expatriation and where almost all change begins…

Corporate Expat Sarah Cooke loved her work in the corporate world but started to realize the impact of the fast-paced, high performance corporate lifestyle was having on her health. As a former athlete, Sarah knew that the way back to optimal health was by focusing on movement and nutrition to help her to deal with the stress, rigor and demands of her work along with implementing the much needed boundaries that are often compromised in this environment. And as an Entrepreneur, Sarah realized that the burnout did not just affect corporate professionals but entrepreneurs too. Sarah knew this was where she could make a huge impact - helping high performers optimize their health, wellness and their business. In this episode you will learn: The parallels of the expat experience to the corporate expat experience from Sarah who has experience both!How a difficult pregnancy reignited a passion for health and wellness, sparking a departure from corporate to starting a new businessThe challenges of being fully booked as an entrepreneur and the changes that Sarah made to her business to experience the freedom she desired as an entrepreneur Be sure to check out https://sarahcookemarketing.com/ for free resources, how to work with Sarah and to listen to her podcast “The Healthy Business” for more business tips to help you have a healthy business and life.