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
How to use mindfulness to create a better life and career with Mona Tashroudian, Founding Partner of Tashroudian Law Group (Ep. 146)
Do you feel overwhelmed? You know you need to make a change, but you’re not sure where to start? We do a deep dive into: - How mindfulness can help you find calm in chaos. - How mindfulness ca…
Why self care and mental health is vital with Aya Miyashita, Co-Director to the UCLA Hub for Health Intervention (Ep. 145)
Do you or someone you know struggle with mental health? In this episode, we do a deep dive on:
- How having a mental illness like bipolar requires you to prioritize her mental and physical wel…
How to capture authentic moments with leading political figures with Jim Block, Bay Area Photographer capturing VP Kamala Harris and President Barack Obama (Ep. 144)
Are you wondering how you can prepare to meet with the most powerful leaders in the world? Jim shares: - How to be true to yourself and find your vocation when the world tells you it’s not pos…
How to manage your mental health with Lauren Tetenbaum, Psychotherapist (Ep. 143)
The job search can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. In this episode with Lauren Tetenbaum (Psychotherapist and Lawyer), we dive deep into:
- How you can give yourself more grace. - How to fin…
How to find a fulfilling career, stop energy leaks, and shift from scarcity to abundance with Elena Deutsch, Founder and CEO of WILL (Ep. 142)
Are you feeling lost in your career? And you want to find a fulfilling career again? In this episode, we do a deep dive into:
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How loss can redirect us to find purpose.
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What to do when yo…
How to get promoted into leadership as a woman of color and not be trapped by the golden handcuffs with Christina Yang, General Counsel & Pro Bono Director at Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles (Ep. 141)
Do you want to quit your high paying job? But you’re afraid you won’t be able to make ends meet? Christina shares: - How to manage graduating during a challenging economy and job market. - Wh…
How to put yourself out there and ask for the job you want even when it’s uncomfortable with Rupa Bhandari, VP of Legal Operations at Silicon Legal Strategy (Ep. 140)
Do you know that you’re supposed to ask your network to help you? But you don’t want to feel icky doing it? In this episode, we do a deep dive with Rupa on: - How to share you're interested in…
Fighting for marriage equality and having life unicorn adventures with Stuart Gaffney - marriage equality activist, filmmaker, and public health researcher (Ep. 139)
The Supreme Court rulings against the LGBTQAI2+ community is heartbreaking. During these dark times, it’s important to remind ourselves that we still have a voice and can fight for social justice…
Managing the job search when you have been laid off, feel burnt out, or struggle with mental health with Samorn Selim, CEO of Career Unicorns - career coach for BIPOC, women, and first generation professionals (Ep. 138)
Have you been struggling with your job search? And you want to stop feeling stuck and frustrated, and land your dream job in the next 3 months? In this episode, Samorn shares: - Answers to the …
Happy Lao New year and connecting with our bodies to reduce anxiety and be more calm with Samorn Selim, Career Coach for BIPOC, women & first generation professionals (Ep. 137)
Sabai dee pii mai - Happy Lao New Year. I've been hearing from friends and clients that they're feeling more stressed, anxious, and sometimes depressed.
Given what's going on in the world, it'…
Being intentional with your career, making big career changes, and bouncing back from the techsession with Stephanie Kiman, Sr. Marketing Programs Manager at SAP (Ep. 136)
In this episode, we’re doing a deep dive with Stephanie Kiman (Sr. Marketing Programs Manager at SAP). We discuss: - Why winging it in your career can work for a while, but ultimately will not…
Healing generational trauma as a Cambodian-American and finding courage to pursue your passion with Chhunny Chhean, Supervisory Attorney at Federal Aviation Administration (Ep. 135)
Do you want to be happy? But you’re afraid of making career changes? In this episode, we discuss: - How to find happiness even in a career that is known to be soul sucking like law. - What coo…
Building your dream career in 90 days even when Corporate America wasn't designed for you with Adunola Adeshola, Career strategist and founder of employeeREDEFINED.com (Ep. 134)
Do you identify as BIPOC, and feel like the odds are stacked against you in Corporate America? In this episode with Adunola Adeshola, we discuss: - What to do when your dream job becomes your n…
Letting go of toxic narratives, healing generational trauma, and celebrating Asian women leaders with Sheena Yap Chan, Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of The Tao of Self-Confidence (Ep. 133)
Did you grow up wishing you looked different? Because there was a lack of representation in leadership and in the media. In this episode with Sheena Yap Chan, we discuss: - Why she is an Asia…
Finding Purpose and creating a nonprofit with Adrian Tirtanadi, Founder and Executive Director of Open Door Legal (Ep. 132)
Are you looking for your purpose? Or you’ve found it, but you’re not sure how to pursue it? In this episode, we discuss: - How to create conditions so that the only path forward is to follow y…
Healing Generational Trauma, Embracing Your Story & Landing Your Dream Job with Danae Hendrickson, Chief of Mission Advancement and Communications at Legacies of War (Ep. 131)
Many grapple with generational trauma and mental health challenges, impacting career paths. This episode explores:
- Lao American Identity & Trauma: The U.S. "Secret War" in Laos and its lasting e…
Dr. Melissa Chan on Chinese Burmese American, Identity, Representation & Data-Driven Change (Ep. 130)
Do you identify as Asian American? And you’re finding it challenging to figure out what parts make you whole? Melissa shares: - Feeling Culturally Misunderstood? Dr. Melissa Chan, PhD (East Asi…
From Refugee to Founder: How Leang Chung Shifted Mindsets & Launched a Thriving Career (Ep. 129 Repost)
Feeling Stuck in Your Career? Learn how Leang Chung, a former Khmer refugee and founder of Pelora Stack, overcame limiting beliefs and built a fulfilling career path. This episode is packed with a…
Ep. 128: Repost: How to bounce back from the pandemic and rebuild your dream career with Winnie Yee-Lakhani (Founder & Chef of Smoke Queen Barbeque)
Struggling to find purpose after the pandemic's disruptions? You're not alone. In this episode, Winnie Yee-Lakhani, Founder & Chef of Smoke Queen Barbeque, shares her inspiring story of resilience…
Ep. 127: Repost: From Trauma to Triumph: Building a Business & Healing as a Black Woman Lawyer & Entrepreneur with Danielle McMillian (Founder of Pretty Petsitting and Embody Vegan)
Do you dream of being your own boss, but fear holding you back? In this inspiring episode, lawyer and entrepreneur Danielle McMillian shares her remarkable journey of overcoming adversity and buil…