Career Unicorns - Spark Your Joy
I’m Samorn Selim. Welcome to the Career Unicorns - Spark Your Joy Podcast. I’m a lawyer turned career coach on a mission for us to take our careers from dread to joy. Growing up as the daughter of poor Lao refugees, I was the underdog. Against all odds, I made it to a top 10 law school and landed a job in Big Law. As an outsider, I was told that I was lucky to even be there and that I had to pay my dues. After coaching over 1,000 clients, I now realize that the idea that you have to pay your dues and work in a toxic place is a myth. We can face our challenges head on, do work we are passionate about, and work with good people to make a big impact. So even as we struggle, we can find a sense of belonging.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 45 minutes
- Episodes
- 101
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
The Confidence Blueprint: Key Strategies for Women in Leadership with Sheena Yap Chan, Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author (Ep. 186)
In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Sheena Yap Chan, a keynote speaker, an award-winning podcast host, and author of the Wall Street Journal Bestselling author of The Tao Of Self Confidenc…
Thriving in corporate America as a Black man and first-generation college grad with Jaymon Ballew, Senior Counsel at The Major League Soccer (Ep. 185)
This week, I’m so excited to share a podcast with one of my former clients, Jaymon Ballew. Jaymon is Senior Counsel for The Major League Soccer and a first-generation college and professional gra…
AANHPI Mental Wellness: Unpacking Workplace Microaggressions, Healing Racial Trauma, and Building Self Worth with Dr. Noel Ramirez, Founder & Director of Mango Tree Counseling & Consulting (Ep. 184)
In honor of AANHPI Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, join us for an inspiring conversation with Dr. Noel Ramirez, Founder & Director of Mango Tree Counseling & Consulting, an AAPI …
Protecting LGBTQ+ rights, marriage equality, and civil rights with Stuart Gaffney (Ep. 183)
Join Stuart Gaffney, a leading activist and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and social justice, in an illuminating conversation that traces his journey into activism. This episode explores the vital in…
Unlearning Silence: Effective strategies for women and BIPOC leaders to find their voice, negotiate healthy boundaries, and build inclusive workplaces with Elaine Lin Hering (Ep. 182)
Feeling unheard in the workplace? Join Elaine Lin Hering, a world renowned author, speaker, and coach for women and people of color in executive leadership within majority white spaces, as she unp…
Asian American Empowerment: Fighting anti-Asian hate, creating representation, and building community with Dave Lu, Taiwanese American Entrepreneur, Venture Capitalist, and Activist (Ep. 181)
In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, we chat with the inspiring Dave Lu. Dave is a Taiwanese American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and a…
Title: Secrets to thriving in a challenging job market with Tammy Dain, Founder of Rabble (Ep. 180)
Tammy Dain has over 10+ years of experience in the talent acquisition and human resources space from the tech, legal and higher education industries. Tammy is the Co-Founder of a boutique staffin…
Breaking the glass ceiling in finance and tech with Constance Sng, Chief of Capital Formation and Investor Relations at Alphemy Capital (Ep. 179)
Join us for an insightful conversation with Constance Sng, Chief of Capital Formation and Investor Relations at Alphemy Capital, as she shares her remarkable journey navigating the intersection of…
America’s Secret War in Laos: U.S. role in UXO contamination and responsibility for humanitarian aid with Danae Hendrickson, Chief of Mission Advancement and Communications at Legacies of War (Ep. 178)
In honor of Lao New year, we have a special episode featuring Danae Hendrickson, Chief of Mission Advancement and Communications at Legacies of War. Danae shares her journey as a Lao American and…
Navigating Ethical Tech & Career Integrity With Jeanne Sheahan, Ex-Meta Senior Director of Global Legal Privacy Compliance and Executive Career Coach (Ep. 177)
Are you wrestling with ethical dilemmas in your job? Feeling misaligned with your company's values?
In this powerful episode, we speak with Jeanne Sheahan, the Founder of Jeanne Sheahan Executive…
Black Representation, Employment Discrimination, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) with Tiffany Obeng, Lawyer, Change-maker and Children's Book Author (Ep. 176)
Disclaimer: Tiffany Obeng would like our listeners to know that the views expressed in this podcast are her own and my own views, and not that of any referenced organizations. This content is fo…
Know your employment law rights: navigating layoffs, firings, and job insecurity with Bill Jhaveri-Weeks, Employment Lawyer and Founder of The Jhaveri-Weeks Firm, P.C. (Ep. 175)
William (“Bill”) Jhaveri-Weeks is the founder of The Jhaveri-Weeks Firm, P.C., a law firm in San Francisco that focuses on representing employees in employment disputes. The firm handles both ind…
Building Inclusive Democracy: Generational Trauma, Civil Rights & Legal Advocacy with Christopher Punongbayan, Executive Director of California ChangeLawyers (Ep. 174)
Join us for a profound conversation with Christopher Punongbayan, Executive Director of California ChangeLawyers, as he shares his compelling journey from navigating generational trauma and Asian …
Embracing Afro-Latina identity and implementing effective DEI strategies with Dr. Sofia B. Pertuz, PhD, Founder of Mainstream Insight (Ep. 173)
In this powerful episode, Dr. Sofia B. Pertuz, a leading workplace culture strategist and expert in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), shares her insightful experiences as an Afro-Latina woma…
Toxic workplace survival: Using DEI to combat gaslighting & betrayal with Jaya Mallik (Ep. 172)
Given the mass layoffs and firings by both the government and corporations, we speak with Jaya Mallik, the founder of Jaya Mallik Coaching & Consulting and. She formerly led DEI efforts at Meta, …
Litigating for educational equity and civil rights with Antonio Ingram, Senior Counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (Ep. 171)
In honor of Black History Month, we speak with Antonio Lavalle Ingram II, Senior Counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and descendant of enslaved African Americans. Antonio's work focuses on vit…
From adversity to advocacy: A biracial Black and White adoptee's journey to social justice leadership with Luke Liss Pro Bono Partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (Ep. 170)
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are solely those of Luke Liss and the host, and do not represent the views of any referenced organizations.
Join us for a powerful conversation with…
Breaking Barriers: A Black & Vietnamese Woman's Journey to Chief Legal Counsel with Michelle Trong Perrin-Steinberg, Chief Legal Counsel of Export Control | Sanctions, Americas at SAP America (Ep. 169)
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Michelle Trong Perrin-Steinberg, Chief Legal Counsel of Export Control | Sanctions, Americas at SAP America. Michelle shares her remarkable journey as a …
Universal Legal Representation: Fighting Poverty, Homelessness, & Injustice with Adrian Tirtanadi, Founder and Executive Director of Open Door Legal (Ep. 168)
Join us for a powerful conversation with Adrian Tirtanadi, Founder and Executive Director of Open Door Legal, as we explore the transformative impact of universal legal representation on poverty, …
Empowering Asian American voices through storytelling with Jerry Won, Founder & CEO of Just Like Media and Host of Dear Asian Americans Podcast (Ep. 167)
Jerry is the Founder & CEO of Just Like Media, an innovative storytelling company home to the award winning Dear Asian Americans Podcast, whose guests include Vice President Kamala Harris, the Asi…