Entrepreneurship is not for everyone. But for some, its exactly the place you need to be.

For over 18 years, Kelly Rochelle Thadison ran Simply Divine Beauty Lounge, learning the hard lessons of entrepreneurship firsthand — cash flow, financial planning, and what it really costs to keep a dream alive. If you're an entrepreneur (or just curious about what it takes), this episode will scratch that itch and leave you with lessons to institute in your business.

In this episode of Embrace the Squiggle, Colleen and Jen sit down with Kelly, speaker, author, and founder of The Kelly Rochelle Experience. Kelly shares the raw, honest story of building a business from the ground up, hitting her lowest points, and choosing growth anyways.

Kelly Rochelle Thadison is a speaker, author, and business leader with over 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur and community leader. She is the founder of The Kelly Rochelle Experience, a platform rooted in personal development, wellness, and leadership. Her self-published book, Becoming After the Breaking, is a testament to her journey of resilience and reinvention.

Follow Kelly: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekellyrochelle/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-thadison21

Becoming After Breaking Book Launch on May 31 in Western Massachusetts: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/becoming-after-the-breaking-tickets-1986717106346?aff=oddtdtcreator

🎯 Want accountability while navigating your career pivot? Maxady's coaching services help you navigate uncertainty, embrace your strengths, and build a career you love. 👉 https://www.maxady.com/coaching

Stay in Touch with Your Hosts

Colleen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/comara/

Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-pasquale/

Work with Jen: https://www.leadwithcuriosity.co/

🎙️ Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts for more conversations on squiggly career paths, mindset shifts, and the courage it takes to evolve on purpose.

Stuck in an unhappy career? Wondering if your side gig could become something bigger?

Many professionals stay in jobs that drain them because the leap into something new feels too risky. But sometimes toxic workplaces, mean bosses, and being undervalued become the very push needed to create change.

In this episode of Embrace the Squiggle, Colleen welcomes Meghan Rothschild, President of Chikmedia, a full-service marketing and PR firm focused on women entrepreneurs and nonprofits.

Meghan shares her squiggly career path—from navigating toxic workplaces, sexual harassment, and not being taken seriously, to turning a long-running side hustle into a successful full-time business.

If you’ve ever questioned whether to stay, speak up, or start over, this episode will help you think differently about change.

About Meghan Rothschild

Meghan Rothschild is the President of Chikmedia, a marketing and PR agency supporting women entrepreneurs and nonprofits. She is a business owner, advocate, and speaker known for helping others communicate boldly and build brands with purpose.

Follow Her on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghanrothschild/

Website: https://www.meghanrothschild.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outwithmeghan/

🎯 Want accountability while navigating your career pivot?

Maxady’s coaching services help you navigate uncertainty, embrace your strengths, and build a career you love.
👉 https://www.maxady.com/coaching

Stay in Touch with Your Hosts

Colleen on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/comara/

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations on squiggly career paths, mindset shifts, and turning career complexity into your competitive advantage.

What if the thing holding your career back… isn’t your ambition but your energy?

In this episode of Embrace the Squiggle, Colleen and Jen dive into a topic every high-achiever needs but often ignores: sleep, energy, and sustainable performance.

They’re joined by Tanessa Shears, a sleep and performance specialist who has spent over a decade helping entrepreneurs and leaders eliminate brain fog, prevent burnout, and build the physical and cognitive capacity to perform at a high level without running themselves into the ground.

But this conversation goes beyond optimization.

After reaching financial independence at 35, Tanessa stepped away from her business and spent 18 months traveling the world with her family. She returned not just rested—but with a completely reset nervous system, a new perspective on hustle culture, and clarity on what sustainable success actually looks like.

We unpack why so many ambitious professionals are unknowingly burning themselves out, how to recognize the early warning signs (even when everything looks “fine” on the outside), and what small shifts can dramatically improve your energy, focus, and long-term performance.

If you’ve been feeling constantly tired, stuck in brain fog, or questioning whether success has to come at the cost of your wellbeing—this episode is your permission to do things differently.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why high-achievers are especially prone to burnout (and how to spot it early)
• What’s actually happening in your body when you experience brain fog
• The hidden cost of hustle culture—and why it stops working
• What a “reset nervous system” really feels like in real life
• Simple, science-backed habits to improve your sleep, energy, and focus
• How to sustain high performance without sacrificing your health

Connect with Tanessa:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanessashears/

Follow her on Substack: https://imbecomingresilient.substack.com/

🎯 Want accountability while navigating your career pivot?

Maxady’s coaching services help you navigate uncertainty, embrace your strengths, and build a career you love.
👉 https://www.maxady.com/coaching

Stay in Touch with Your Hosts:

• Colleen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/comara/
• Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-pasquale/
• Work with Jen: https://www.leadwithcuriosity.co/

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts for more conversations that transform career complexity into your competitive advantage!

What actually counts as an “untraditional” career?

At Embrace the Squiggle, that definition is constantly evolving—and this episode is proof that there’s no one way to build a meaningful career.

This week, Colleen and Ashleigh sit down with Shawn Thornton, founder and CEO of SmartBiz IT, to explore what it really looks like to follow a non-linear path fueled by intrinsic motivation and continuous learning.

Shawn’s career isn’t built on a rigid plan—it’s driven by curiosity, growth, and a mindset he describes as simply being “wired this way.” That internal drive has shaped his journey into entrepreneurship and continues to influence how he leads and scales his business today.

From navigating career moves to launching SmartBiz IT, Shawn shares honest insights into what it takes to build something from the ground up—and why being naturally motivated to learn might be one of the most powerful (and underrated) career advantages.

Whether you’re considering entrepreneurship, pivoting careers, or questioning the traditional path, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on what it means to grow on your own terms.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What defines an “untraditional” or squiggly career path
• How intrinsic motivation can shape long-term career success
• Why continuous learning is a key driver for entrepreneurs
• The realities of starting and running a business
• How to navigate career growth without a linear plan

About Shawn & SmartBiz IT:

Shawn Thornton is the founder and CEO of SmartBiz IT https://www.smartbizit.com/ where he helps companies navigate complex challenges like SOC 2 and HIPAA readiness, enterprise security reviews, and cloud modernization. His work sits at the intersection of technology, security, and business growth—helping organizations scale with confidence.

🎯 Want accountability while navigating your career pivot?

Join the Squiggle Huddle with Colleen—a monthly accountability space designed to help you stay focused, aligned, and moving forward in 2026.
👉 https://www.maxady.com/workshops/p/the-squiggle-huddle-monthly-accountability-for-2026-goals

🤝 Stay Connected:

Colleen on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/comara/

Ashleigh on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleigh-beadle/

🎙️ Love squiggly careers, mindset shifts, and real talk about building a career on your terms?
Hit follow/subscribe and don’t miss future episodes designed to help you turn uncertainty into your competitive advantage.

What if the key to your next career move… isn’t doing more—but doing less?

In this episode, Colleen and Ashleigh sit down with Subtraction Activist Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey (aka Nell 3D) to unpack a powerful (and often overlooked) career strategy: systematic subtraction.

If you’re a high-achieving woman feeling stretched thin, stuck in a career pivot, or questioning why working harder isn’t paying off—this conversation will hit home.

Nell shares how ambitious professionals fall into the trap of overcommitment and diminishing returns—and how learning to subtract can help you reclaim your time, energy, and impact. Her framework, Systematic Subtraction, helps leaders and career pivoters step back, identify what’s draining them, and redesign their work so their efforts actually compound instead of burn them out.

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m doing everything right… so why does it feel so wrong?”—this is your sign to start subtracting.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why doing more can actually stall your career growth
• How to identify what’s draining vs. driving your energy
• A practical framework for “systematic subtraction”
• How to create more impact by doing less
• Mindset shifts for women navigating career pivots

Connect with Nell 3D:

🌐 Website: https://www.nell3d.com/

✍️ Substack: https://nell3d.substack.com/

🎯 Want accountability while navigating your career pivot?

Join the Squiggle Huddle with Colleen—a monthly accountability space designed to help you stay focused, aligned, and moving forward in 2026.
👉 https://www.maxady.com/workshops/p/the-squiggle-huddle-monthly-accountability-for-2026-goals

🤝 Stay Connected:

Colleen on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/comara/

Ashleigh on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleigh-beadle/

🎙️ Love squiggly careers, mindset shifts, and real talk about building a career on your terms?
Hit follow/subscribe and don’t miss future episodes designed to help you turn uncertainty into your competitive advantage.

What if one person believing in you early could completely change your career path?

In this episode of Embrace the Squiggle, Colleen and Ashleigh sit down with Cindy Darnell, Director of Operational Excellence for the Americas at Element, to unpack the power of sponsorship, career growth, and saying yes before you feel ready.

Cindy’s career journey didn’t follow a straight line. Starting as an executive assistant at just 19, she navigated career uncertainty, stepped into customer service leadership roles, and ultimately pivoted into Operational Excellence (OpEx) after volunteering as a 5S site champion—a decision that reshaped her entire trajectory.

A defining moment? Early in her career, a leader pulled her into executive-level conversations, giving her visibility, confidence, and access most people at her level never get. That experience became the foundation for how Cindy leads today—and how she actively creates opportunities for others.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating career obstacles, looking for alignment, or trying to grow within a company without a “perfect” plan.

Connect with Cindy on Linkedin

📚 Join the ETS Book Club — currently reading Atomic Habits
Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/3EK-BGfBRHehD2jW2bApHQ#/

🎯 Need accountability on your goals? Join the Squiggle Huddle with Colleen
Learn more and register:
https://www.maxady.com/workshops/p/the-squiggle-huddle-monthly-accountability-for-2026-goals

🤝 Stay Connected

Colleen on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/comara/

Ashleigh on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleigh-beadle/

Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts for more conversations on squiggly career paths, mindset shifts, and turning career uncertainty into your competitive advantage.

What happens when leadership stops being about authority and starts being about humanity?

In this episode of Embrace the Squiggle, Colleen and Jennifer talk with executive leader, bestselling author, and keynote speaker Victoria Pelletier about the mindset shifts that shaped her unconventional career path.

Nicknamed the “Turnaround Queen” and the “CEO Whisperer,” Victoria built a career helping organizations navigate change, rebuild culture, and drive growth. But her leadership philosophy didn’t start that way. Early in her career, she led with a command-and-control style she jokingly calls the “Iron Maiden” phase, before realizing that real leadership comes from empathy, trust, and authenticity.

Whether you’re facing burnout, workplace culture challenges, or navigating a squiggly career path, this episode offers practical insights into building trust, leading through change, and finding alignment in your professional journey.

Connect with Victoria

Website: https://victoria-pelletier.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriapelletier/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoria_pelletier_unstoppable
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@VictoriaPelletierUnstoppable

📚 Join the ETS Book Club — we're reading Atomic Habits! Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/3EK-BGfBRHehD2jW2bApHQ#/

🎯 Need accountability on your goals? Join the Squiggle Huddle with Colleen. Learn more and register here: https://www.maxady.com/workshops/p/the-squiggle-huddle-monthly-accountability-for-2026-goals

Stay in Touch with Your Hosts:

• Colleen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/comara/
• Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-pasquale/
• Work with Jen: https://www.leadwithcuriosity.co/

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts for more conversations that transform career complexity into your competitive advantage!

In this episode of Embrace the Squiggle, Colleen and Ashleigh speak with Madison Tevlin — award-winning advocate, keynote speaker, actor, and host of the 21 Questions podcast — to talk about building a life that aligns with who you really are.

Madison’s squiggly career path began early. At just 13 years old, she went viral on YouTube after posting a cover of a John Legend song. But as Madison shares, going viral was only the beginning of a much deeper journey through career uncertainty, public expectations, and finding personal alignment.

Madison’s on-screen work includes Mr. D, hosting Who Do You Think I Am, and a standout role in Champions alongside Woody Harrelson. She made history as the first person with Down syndrome nominated for Best Host at the Canadian Screen Awards, where she also hosted the red carpet.

Whether you're navigating an unhappy career, questioning your professional identity, or trying to find your place in a world of flexible careers, Madison’s story offers an inspiring reminder that success rarely follows a straight line.

Connect with Madison:

LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com/in/madison-tevlin-b28138351

Website
http://madisontevlin.com

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/madisontevlin/

TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@madisontevlin?lang=en

📚 Join the ETS Book Club — currently reading Atomic Habits!
Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/3EK-BGfBRHehD2jW2bApHQ#/

🎯 Need accountability on your goals? Join the Squiggle Huddle with Colleen.
Learn more and register here:
https://www.maxady.com/workshops/p/the-squiggle-huddle-monthly-accountability-for-2026-goals

Stay Connected with the Hosts

Colleen on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/comara/

Ashleigh on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleigh-beadle/

Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts for more conversations that turn career complexity, change, and uncertainty into your competitive advantage.