Caroline Wanga on the Career Path No One Tells You About

Pride is more than a celebration, it’s a call to action, especially for queer families navigating today’s uncertain political landscape. This week on Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with Darra Gordon, CEO of Family Equality, to talk about protecting LGBTQ+ families, raising resilient kids, and why visibility and community are more vital than ever. Darra is a longtime advocate and nonprofit leader who works every day to ensure all families, especially those with LGBTQ+ parents, have equal rights and protections. She’s also a working mom, navigating the same daily chaos as many of us: career, childcare, dinner plans, and existential anxiety about the future. Jessi and Darra discuss: • How LGBTQ+ families can stay safe and visible in uncertain times • How to raise kids who are proud of their identity and inclusive of others • The joy and strength of queer families, and the role of community in liberation • Why allyship is more than a rainbow flag during June • How everyone, queer or not, can support family equality year-round Whether you're part of the LGBTQ+ community, love someone who is, or just want to build a more inclusive world — this episode is for you. Join us for Hello Monday Office Hours, live on the LinkedIn News page this Wednesday at 3PM ET. It’s a welcoming space to keep the conversation going.

What does it take to make a bold career pivot after decades of doing the expected? This week, we’re resurfacing our conversation with the multi-talented Anna Kendrick, whose journey from acclaimed actor to first-time director offers invaluable insights for anyone thinking about making the leap into something new.  Anna shares the story behind her directorial debut with Netflix’s Woman of the Hour, a true-crime drama. Far removed from the lighthearted films that Anna is known for, Woman of the Hour chronicles the stranger-than-fiction story of a 1970s aspiring actor and a serial killer whose lives collide when they're cast on a dating game show. Together, Jessi and Anna discuss: The courage it takes to step out of your comfort zone How to follow your intuition when making creative decisions Dealing with imposter syndrome Learning to lead What good feedback truly looks like This episode offers not just a behind-the-scenes look at Anna's latest project but also inspiration for anyone seeking to reinvent their own career. Watch Woman of the Hour on Netflix now, and tune in to hear how Anna Kendrick is embracing the next chapter of her career. Continue the conversation with us at Hello Monday Office Hours! RSVP here to join us on the LinkedIn News page this Wednesday at 3 PM EST.

Debbie Millman and Roxane Gay know a thing or two about building creative lives. Debbie is a legendary designer, writer, and podcast host. Roxane is a bestselling author and cultural critic. Together, they’ve built a partnership rooted in discipline, love, and slow growth. On this week’s episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel welcomes the couple back to the studio to talk about their new book, and what it really takes to live a meaningful creative life. Their book, Love Letter to a Garden, is both literal and metaphorical. It’s about vegetables, sure. But it’s also about how we learn, how we fail, and how we grow. Debbie shares stories of her journey from struggling gardener to seasoned grower, an arc that mirrors her creative life. Roxane contributes recipes she’s crafted using the produce Debbie grows.  Jessi, Debbie, and Roxane dig into the kind of growth that takes time, and the work required to nurture it. They discuss: • The invisible years behind every “overnight” success • How to keep going when you fail again and again • Why your hope must be slightly bigger than your shame • What it means to save your best energy for what matters most • The difference between meaningful work and making work your meaning Continue the conversation with us at Hello Monday Office Hours! Join us here, on the LinkedIn News page, this Wednesday at 3 PM EST.

In this special Thursday bonus episode, we’re returning to Jessi Hempel’s conversation with Suzy Welch, a professor at NYU Stern School of Business, business advisor, and three-time NYT bestselling author. Suzy’s latest book, Becoming You, came out this week, in which she synthesizes her wildly popular NYU course of the same name. In conversation with Jessi, Suzy shares her insights on the importance of values, authenticity, and personal growth. She emphasizes the need to align our professional lives with our deepest values and aptitudes to achieve true satisfaction and happiness. Suzy and Jessi discuss: The importance of living an authentic life How values shape our career decisions The role of authenticity in finding career satisfaction Navigating the tension between personal and professional values This episode is a must-listen for anyone trying to find fulfillment and live authentically at work and beyond.

How do you live well when life falls apart? Suleika Jaouad has a powerful answer. In this deeply moving episode of Hello Monday, host Jessi Hempel sits down with Suleika Jaouad, bestselling author, speaker, and cancer survivor, to uncover what it truly means to live well in the face of uncertainty. From her fight with leukemia to her remarkable creative journey, Suleika has learned to turn adversity into art, and pain into purpose. Her latest work, The Book of Alchemy, is a soulful invitation to embrace creative practices that help build resilience, joy, and connection, even in our darkest moments. Jessi and Suleika dive into topics that challenge conventional ideas of success and encourage listeners to live more intentionally.  They discuss: Why curiosity and play can be powerful daily rituals How a 100-day journaling challenge sparked a creative breakthrough What it means to redefine productivity through values like kindness and bravery The healing power of deep friendships and chosen family How creativity helps us process adversity and transform it Continue the conversation with us at Hello Monday Office Hours! Join us here, on the LinkedIn News page, this Wednesday at 3 PM EST.