In this conversation, Courtney Kaplan interviews Tina Santiago-Keenan, co-founder of Secret City, a creative design and production studio that creates immersive experiences. Tina shares her journey from working in tech at Facebook and Uber Eats to launching Secret City, which combines elements of escape rooms and immersive theater. The discussion covers the challenges of entrepreneurship, the impact of the pandemic, and the importance of community and in-person experiences. Tina also offers insights on career transitions, balancing work and family, and the future of Secret City.

Links:

Website: https://secretcity.studio/

Social Links: https://www.instagram.com/secretcityadventures/

Learn More: https://www.secretcityadventures.com/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Tina Santiago-Keenan and Secret City
05:35 Tina's Career Journey and Transition to Secret City
10:53 Challenges in the Early Days of Secret City
21:48 Navigating Challenges During COVID-19
27:08 The Importance of In-Person Connections
32:04 Advice for Career Transitions
36:29 Balancing Parenthood and Entrepreneurship
40:21 Introduction to Tina's Journey
42:53 The Importance of Patience and Testing Ideas
44:18 Leveraging Existing Skills and Collaboration

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EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan.

Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching.

Follow me on IG @iconicleadershipcoaching

Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan

Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit)

Over the years, I’ve seen how we can lead ourselves into dead ends when it comes to change. There are some ways we think about change that are actually pretty unproductive and not really useful.. and are also common patterns.

So, in this episode, I want to share a few of the ways we get blocked. Anything sound familiar? Getting to know how you sabotage or position yourself in dead ends is helpful to figure out how you're going to get out.

I’ve also seen - and experienced firsthand - how change is navigated more successfully. How we can frame changes in our lives to be less terrifying or stressful and more fun, creative and adventurous. (Really!) But that's in the next mini-episode.

I know I was squirming in my chair in recognition while recording this one.

Send us Fan Mail

EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan.

Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching.

Follow me on IG @iconicleadershipcoaching

Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan

Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit)

Today’s episode is different - it’s called: Change is here. But I don’t wanna.

I wanted to share thoughts about dealing with professional change when you’d rather freak out.

On the pod, I interview people who are choosing new paths. But many folks that didn’t make a decision, but have faced a layoff, downsizing, health crisis or other change that perhaps they didn’t plan for or expect.

Today, I share 6 things to help you reconnect, and start moving forward when parts of you really want to fall apart.

Books about change:

• Transitions, William Bridges - This is a classic. Whenever I refer this book online, I get comments that folks love it.
• The Search, Bruce Feiler - inspiring case studies of people making changes.
• The Good Enough Job, Simone Stolzoff - he has another one called How Not To Know which sounds like another helpful book that I look forward to reading.
• Mindset. The new Psychology of Success, Carol S. Dweck - counters our false ideas about how we tend to think people are “naturally” good at things.

Send us Fan Mail

EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan.

Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching.

Follow me on IG @iconicleadershipcoaching

Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan

Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit)