Working Your Way

When your first instinct is to analyze, understand, and figure things out for yourself, what might that reveal about how you create safety in the world?In this episode, I sit down with my friend and podcast producer, Hayden Lyon, for a nuanced conversation about Enneagram Type 5 and the core patterns of analysis, self-sufficiency, and competency. Together, we unpack how those traits show up in Hayden’s life, from his resistance to authority to his drive to optimize, understand, and rely on himself first.Hayden shares stories from a life that has taken many forms, from punk bands and motorcycle journeys across Europe to building a podcast production business and creating a life on his own terms. As we talk, we sort through three possible Enneagram Types and unpack the deeper motivations underneath his behavior: his resistance to authority, his drive to optimize everything, his need to feel capable and competent, and his tendency to analyze rather than emote.This conversation became a fascinating look at what it means to live primarily through the mind. We talk about self-sufficiency, overthinking, and emotional detachment.. In the second half of the episode, Hayden returns after reflecting on his type, and we go deeper into what it means for him to identify as a Type 5, including the gifts of that pattern and the places where it may be keeping him stuck.If you’ve ever wondered why you rely so heavily on being capable, knowledgeable, or hyper-rational, this episode offers a nuanced and very human window into those patterns. And, if you’re just curious about the Enneagram, this episode gives you a glimpse into what exploring and understanding your type can actually sound like in real life.Want to explore this tool for yourself? Here’s my Enneagram Typing Self-Reflection Guide:I just want to download the docI want emails to guide me through the processWant to connect with Sandhya for yourself or your team? Here’s how:Set up a call with SandhyaResources:Learn more about Hayden’s work at novapodcasting.comConnect with me:InstagramLinkedInYouTubeselfatwork.comProduced by NOVA

What does it take to pivot your career—and keep doing it as the world changes?In this episode, I sit down with organizational development and AI learning expert Amie Ninh. Amie started her career as a preschool teacher before making a series of pivots into the tech world, eventually focusing her work on how organizations adopt AI and navigate the human side of change.We talk about what it really looks like to change paths—from the role of timing and network to the importance of following your curiosity and building transferable skills. Amie shares how she navigated multiple career pivots, the trade-offs she made along the way, and how she thinks about designing a career that evolves over time.We also dive into how she taught herself AI from scratch. Through a self-directed practice she calls “AI Sundays,” Amie steadily built her knowledge by experimenting with tools, learning in community, and pushing beyond what she already knew—all without a technical background.This conversation explores career pivots, continuous learning, and how to stay adaptable in a moment where AI is rapidly reshaping the workplace.Resources:Learn more from Amie on MediumRead Moving Through the AI Adoption Curve: A Practical Guide for Non-Developers | by Amie NinhRead Empire of AI by Karen HaoLearn more: Women Defining AIConnect with Amie on LinkedInConnect with me:InstagramLinkedInYouTubeselfatwork.comProduced by NOVA

What do you do when you see yourself in two Enneagram types — and can’t quite tell which one fits?In this episode, we continue our Exploring Enneagram Types series with my friend and fellow entrepreneur, Claudia Richman. What started as a typing conversation quickly evolved into a deeper exploration of identity, ambition, autonomy, and what it really means to be seen.Claudia shares her journey from high-powered leadership roles in advertising and tech to building her own businesses on her terms. We explore the tension between achievement and authenticity, the difference between success and autonomy, and how growing up in a highly controlled environment shaped her relationship with rebellion, control, and self-expression.Along the way, we pause to discern between Type 3 and Type 8 — two assertive types that can get confused. Both can be competitive, direct, and independent. But the “why” beneath those behaviors is very different. We take a nuanced look at how to tell the difference by exploring the ways major familial influences shape our behaviors and examining the “thing behind the thing” to understand our motivations. If you’ve ever identified with being the capable one, the achiever, the role model, or the person who holds it all together, this episode will resonate.Want to explore this tool for yourself? Here’s my Enneagram Typing Self-Reflection Guide:I just want to download the docI want emails to guide me through the processWant to connect with Sandhya for yourself or your team? Here’s how:Set up a call with SandhyaResources:Follow Claudia’s work at wegrowforward.comConnect with Claudia on LinkedInConnect with me:InstagramLinkedInYouTubeselfatwork.comProduced by NOVA

What happens when your sense of worth has always been tied to achievement—and you start to question whether that definition still fits?In this episode, I sit down with my longtime friend and fellow entrepreneur, Arden Evenson, for a nuanced conversation about Enneagram Type 3 and the evolution of ambition, success, and self-worth. Arden reflects on how external validation, practicality, and being “the reliable one” shaped her early career and relationships, and why she’s been intentionally reexamining those patterns as her life and priorities have shifted.We move beyond the stereotypical Type 3 narrative to explore achievement through caretaking, adaptability, and being easy to be with. I also share my own experience as a Type 3, including the tension between productivity and presence, the discomfort with stillness, and the fear that if we stop doing, we might stop belonging.If you’ve ever felt pressure to earn your place, struggled to redefine ambition, or wondered who you are without your accomplishments, this episode offers new language and permission to practice compassion, embracing a softer way forward.Want to explore this tool for yourself? Here’s my Enneagram Typing Self-Reflection Guide:I just want to download the docI want emails to guide me through the processWant to connect with Sandhya for yourself or your team? Here’s how:Set up a call with SandhyaResources:Connect with Arden on LinkedInEpisode 83. The Ambitious Person’s Guide to Working LessConnect with me:InstagramLinkedInYouTubeselfatwork.comProduced by NOVA

What if you treated the turn of the year as more than a reset button—and instead as a turning point in a much bigger cycle of your life?In this New Year’s episode, I’m joined by my dear friend, professional astrologer and attorney Julie McGill, to look back at 2025 and ahead to 2026 through both a personal and astrological lens. We reflect on the intentions I set, how they unfolded throughout the year, and how Julie navigated her own shifts in work, identity, and rhythm. Julie breaks down some of the major astrological themes that shaped 2025 and offers guidance for what we may collectively and individually experience in 2026. We explore how to set intentions in a way that matches the moment, what it looks like to stay grounded when you can’t yet see the full picture, and the value of moving into the new year with presence, curiosity, and more compassion for yourself.If you’ve felt like 2025 put you through the wringer, or if you’re sensing big change on the horizon without knowing what it is yet, this episode is meant to help you exhale. I hope it gives you language for what you’ve been experiencing, permission to be exactly where you are, and some gentle guidance for stepping into 2026 with openness instead of pressure to have it all figured out.Resources:Pull your chart at astro-seek.comLearn more at thecosmicgem.comFollow Jules on Instagram: @julesthecosmicgemListen to Episode 76. Tools to Work Your Way: AstrologyConnect with Jules on LinkedInConnect with me:InstagramLinkedInYouTubeselfatwork.comProduced by NOVA