Working Your Way

When your first instinct is to seek possibility, stay stimulated, and move toward joy, what might that reveal about how you protect yourself from pain?In this episode, I sit down with Aaron Fung, a learning, leadership development, and inclusion practitioner, career coach, father of two, and aspiring stand-up comic, for a nuanced conversation about Enneagram Type 7 and the core patterns of possibility, stimulation, joy, and avoidance. Together, we unpack how those traits show up in Aaron’s life, from his love of novelty and connection to his directness, intensity, humor, and deep commitment to fairness.Aaron brings a rare mix of candor, humor, and self-awareness to this conversation. Across three separate discussions, we sort through two possible Enneagram types, Type 7 and Type 8, and explore the deeper motivations underneath his behavior: his drive for autonomy, his resistance to feeling trapped, his relationship with anger and justice, his need for stimulation, and the role comedy has played in helping him process difficult experiences.This conversation became a fascinating look at what it means to move through life by seeking possibility. We talk about joy, distraction, gluttony, vulnerability, power, and what happens when staying busy becomes both a strength and a shield. Aaron also shares openly about major life changes and how those experiences shaped the way he understands himself now.If you’ve ever wondered why you keep chasing the next idea, plan, experience, or source of joy, this episode offers a nuanced and very human window into those patterns. And, if you’re 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 SandhyaConnect with me:InstagramLinkedInYouTubeselfatwork.comProduced by NOVA

What does it look like to prepare for opportunity before it arrives?In this episode, I talk all about this with Leah Haselhorst, VP of Marketing at Seed Talent, an employee enablement and brand training platform in the cannabis industry. Leah’s career began in music journalism, concerts, and large-scale events in Chicago before eventually leading her into cannabis marketing, where she found a powerful connection between her skills, her values, and the impact of the work.We talk about what Leah learned from high-pressure event environments, including how to set the tone in a room, manage other people’s energy without absorbing it, and move from perfectionism and people-pleasing toward a more grounded version of leadership.Leah also shares what happened after she was laid off and how she rebuilt her confidence, visibility, and direction with intention. She talks about using LinkedIn to build real relationships, reconnecting with mentors, sharing her work more openly, and creating the conditions for her next opportunity to find her.We also get into self-directed learning and how Leah created her own “YouTube University” to grow into a broader marketing leadership role, from SEO and product marketing to leadership and marketing metrics.This conversation explores career reinvention, personal branding, burnout, thought work, cannabis marketing, and what it means to build the rooms you want to be part of.Resources:Learn more about Seed Talent: https://seedtalent.com/Connect with Leah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-haselhorstEpisode 61. How do I define my personal brand? | Career QuestionsEpisode 91. Learning Your Way Into the Future with Amie NinhConnect with me:InstagramLinkedInYouTubeselfatwork.comProduced by NOVA

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