In this episode of This Kaleidoscope Career, host HelenJonsen interviews Catarina Dolsten, a medical doctor turned management consultant, Catarina shares her journey from practicing medicine in Sweden to her work in maternal and child health in Sub-Saharan Africa and Bangladesh,and eventually founding the Aktum Group in the United States.

Learn More about Catarina Dolstenon Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/crdolsten/

And at Aktum Group https://www.aktumgroup.com/

Throughout the conversation, Catarina emphasizes theimportance of curiosity and adaptability in navigating career changes. She also discusses her experiences moving a family to a new country, the cultural differences she observes, and howher throughline in diagnostics, analytics, and a love for people has propelled her into organizational management.

This insightful conversation highlights how one can blenddiverse skills and experiences into a fulfilling and dynamic career.

00:00 The Importance of Curiosity

00:30 Introduction to Kaleidoscope Career

01:26 Meet Catarina Dolsten

02:07 Early Career in Sweden

04:15 Transition to the United States

07:37 Working in Nonprofits

13:48 Founding the Aktum Group

21:57 Navigating the Pandemic as an Entrepreneur

26:29 The Problem with Long Meetings

27:53 Speed Round: Fun and Interests

29:28 Dream Destinations and Food Adventures

31:05 Hobbies and Cultural Interests

34:46 Reflections on Career and Life Lessons

42:27 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Favorite Book: The Slave (a classic from 1962) https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-slave-isaac-bashevis-singer/1102949794

In this episode of 'This Kaleidoscope Career,'host Helen Jonsen is joined by Kym McNicholas, CEO of the Global PAD Association. Kym shares her remarkable career journey that spans from being ashy college student aspiring to become an athletic trainer, to becoming aprofessional water skier, sports, tech and business journalist, and now anadvocate for Peripheral Artery Disease awareness.

Global PAD Association

www.thewaytomyheart.org

The conversation delves deep into Kym’sexperiences in journalism, her pivotal moments, and the profound impact she ismaking in the field of global health. Listeners will be inspired by Kym’sunwavering passion, her bold transitions throughout her career, and hercommitment to saving lives through early diagnosis and awareness of PAD.

The episode also touches upon Kym’s personalanecdotes, including her transformative moments in broadcasting, her innovativeapproaches in healthcare advocacy, and her relentless drive to createmeaningful change in the world.

Kym McNicholas https://www.linkedin.com/in/kymmcnicholas/

00:00 Introduction to the Kaleidoscope Career

01:37 Meet Kym McNicholas: A Journey fromShyness to Broadcasting

02:32 Kym's Early Career: From Athletic Trainingto Radio

05:12 Breaking into Sports Journalism andBroadcasting

09:16 Transition to Business and TechnologyReporting

12:02 The Energy News Live Experience

16:56 From Local TV to Silicon Valley

21:45 Advocacy and the Global PAD Association

36:43 Personal Reflections and FutureAspirations

44:19Conclusion and Farewell

Navigating This Kaleidoscope Career with FranHauser

In this episode of 'This Kaleidoscope Career,'host Helen Jonsen converses with Fran Hauser, a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and bookstore owner.

She is passionate about helping women acceleratein their careers by writing, speaking, investing in women’s start-up ventures, and in book consulting.

Fran discusses her diverse trajectory, startingfrom her early days in accounting and evolving through various corporate roles at companies like Coca-Cola and Time Inc. where she was in the C-suite as head of digital.

She delves into her transition to startupinvesting, driven by a desire to support female entrepreneurs, and later becoming an author. Her first book 'The Myth of The Nice Girl' became a best seller and is still fueling conversations about women at work. Her third is expected later in 2025.

Fran also talks about her latest venture as abookstore owner and the importance of storytelling, community and family.

Helen and Fran explore the common themes andthrough lines that have guided Fran's journey, focusing on her advocacy for women and her passion for storytelling.

Find Fran here

Find Bedford Books here

Podcast timeline:

00:00 Introduction and Mission

00:27 Welcome to This Kaleidoscope Career

01:22 Meet Fran Hauser

01:44 Fran's Career Journey

03:23 Transition to Startup Investing

04:17 Writing and Advocacy

16:19 The Myth of The Nice Girl

22:13 Balancing Leadership and Authenticity

24:43 Book Bound Podcast and Bookstore

26:10 Reading Like Writers

26:41 Workshops and Bookstore Dreams

27:40 Opening the Bookstore in Record Time

29:42 Building Community and Author Networks

30:52 Navigating the Challenges of BookstoreOperations

34:41 Publishing Workshops and Programs

38:13 Speed Round: Fun and Personal Insights

41:17 Family and Personal Life

44:52 Advice for Women with Kaleidoscope Careers

47:30Conclusion and Final Thoughts