Lift Up Connections: Reimagining Life, Growth, and Reinvention Together

What happens when the career path you’ve built no longer aligns with the life you want? In this episode, Christine sits down with Abby Covert, information architecture expert, author, and founder of the Sense Makers Club, to explore what it means to walk away from traditional definitions of success and build something new. After years of working in tech and teaching information architecture around the world, Abby made the decision in 2020 to leave her corporate role and create space to figure out what was next. What emerged was the Sensemakers Club, an evolving, community-driven experiment in learning, curiosity, and connection. Christine and Abby discuss: Why “making sense” is an ongoing process, not a fixed outcome How community creates confidence, not just connection The reality of leaving (or staying in) tech in today’s market The tension between values-driven work and financial sustainability Why many mid-career professionals may need to build beyond a single job What it means to redefine success on your own terms This conversation is deeply relevant for anyone questioning their path, navigating uncertainty, or trying to design a more expansive and aligned life.

In mid-career, many of us reach a moment where the old definition of success no longer fits. but the next one isn’t fully clear yet. In this conversation, I sit down with Kenyetta Hall, product leader, professor at UNC Chapel Hill, advisor to founders, and creator of The Katalyst Effect to talk about what it really takes to pivot with clarity and confidence. We explore: Why “the vision was given to you” and doesn’t require outside validation The difference between taking reckless risks and managing risk strategically How to meet your organization’s definition of success without overextending yourself Kenyetta's Six M Framework (Mindset, Mission, Motivation, Movement, Money, and Management) Why baseline financial clarity matters before you can think expansively The power of a tactical pause to reflect, reset, and reimagine what’s next This is not a conversation about quitting your job overnight. It’s about building your own table thoughtfully.

In this deeply honest episode, Christine Perfetti sits down with Mugdha Kulkarni to explore what happens when your body finally says enough. A former Amazon engineering leader, Mugdha shares her journey through burnout, a life-altering panic attack, the healing power of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, and the brave decision to walk away from corporate life to rebuild a life rooted in health, creativity, and meaning. If you’re standing at the edge of change, this conversation will meet you there.You can learn more about Mugdha's new business, Thyme for Something Sweet on Instagram.

Six months ago, UX leader and educator Amanda Stockwell said yes to a cup of coffee, never imagining that one conversation would lead her into founding a nonprofit, joining a social enterprise accelerator, and reshaping her entire career path. In this inspiring episode, Amanda returns to The Reimagining Lab to share what she’s learned in the messy middle of building The Seed List, a nonprofit designed to create equitable internship pathways for students entering the tech and startup world. We explore: What the messy middle really feels like Why her UX research career uniquely prepared her for nonprofit leadership The power of a little naïveté when starting something new Redefining success when the external markers don’t match the impact How community, connection, and authentic networks open unexpected doors Why taking the smallest step, showing up, saying yes, often becomes the big turning point Amanda’s story is a reminder that reinvention doesn’t require certainty. It requires alignment, courage, curiosity, and a willingness to walk through the “yellow door” when life shows you a path you never expected.

After 20 years at Custom Ink, Kristin Florin never imagined she’d be laid off. The company wasn't just a workplace. It was the place where she grew up professionally and had helped define her identity and community. In this powerful conversation, Kristin shares what it’s really like to lose the only professional home you have ever known and how she found her way back to confidence and purpose. She opens up about the grief of the layoff, the uncomfortable quiet that followed, and the mindset shifts that helped her reimagine what’s possible and find her new leadership position at BreakingT. You’ll hear Kristin’s reflections on: Why your career isn’t a box you have to stay in The difference between loyalty and identity How pausing after a loss can open unexpected doors And what it means to bet on yourself when everything feels uncertain Her story is a reminder that sometimes leaving the box isn’t the end of your story. It’s the start of a truer one.

If you have ever wondered what HBS alumni learn about reinvention after graduation, Kristen Fitzpatrick has the inside view. In this conversation, I sit down with Kristen, Senior Managing Director of Alumni Relations and Career & Professional Development at Harvard Business School, who has spent over two decades guiding students and alumni through pivotal career moments. Kristen brings brilliant wisdom on reinvention, resilience, and building lives that truly reflect our values. In our conversation, we explore the reality of inflection points, those moments when we’re called to pause, reassess, and sometimes radically shift course. Kristen shares her own personal journey, the lessons she’s drawn from working with thousands of HBS alumni, and her perspective on how to embrace bravery, banish perfectionism, and see yourself through the eyes of someone who believes in you unconditionally. If you are navigating uncertainty, questioning your next step, or simply craving inspiration from one of the sharpest minds in career development, this episode is for you. In this episode, you’ll learn: Kristen’s winding journey from chemical engineer to career development leader at HBS Why so many career pivots happen through “happy accidents” rather than careful planning The surprising truth about Harvard alumni: even “the best of the best” wrestle with uncertainty, layoffs, and reinvention Why portfolio careers may be the future for mid-to-senior professionals in their 50s and 60s The four elements of career decision-making developed by HBS psychologist Dr. Tim Butler Kristen’s biggest advice: see yourself through the eyes of someone who already believes you can do anything Resources Mentioned The Portfolio Life by Christina Wallace Dr. Tim Butler’s Four Elements of Career & Life Decision-Making Jeremy Schifeling’s “The LinkedIn Guys” Masterclass Lovable AI for presentations

In this episode, Christine sits down with Nicole Yankelovich, a technologist, startup founder, photographer, and teacher whose career has been shaped by a series of “happy accidents.” Nicole shares her journey from cofounding a research institute at Brown, to leading research at Sun Microsystems, to creating her own startup, and ultimately finding a new calling in photography and instruction. Along the way, she reflects on the lessons of raising your hand, seizing opportunities, and the role mentors play in shaping our paths. Nicole’s story will inspire you to take action, trust your instincts, and find joy in the unexpected twists and turns.

This week, I sit down with Bosky Mukherjee, CEO and founder of SheTrailblazes to get real about what actually moves careers forward in this market. Bosky shares why “saying yes to more work” and “just speaking up” are outdated scripts, and replaces them with narrative authority (communicating impact in C-suite language), commercial fluency (knowing how money moves in your company), and a practical path to achieving sponsorship, not just collecting mentors. We also chat about how to think on your feet without over-explaining, ways to role play your way to confidence with stakeholders, and make smart choices if you are in you 50s or 60s and facing ageism. whether that means optimizing for joy, for financial freedom, or building something of your own. Expect tough love, smart tactics, and immediate next steps you can use this week. About Bosky Mukherjee Bosky Mukherjee started her career at the bottom as a tech support associate. Overqualified, underpaid, and underestimated, she refused to stay stuck. She rose to the C-suite as a company president, then built two profitable businesses without a dollar of VC funding. Today, she coaches thousands of women to step into senior leadership or grow profitable businesses when corporate no longer fits. Her approach blends behavioral psychology with real C-suite experience in hiring, promotion, and power decisions. She’s the founder of SheTrailblazes, with two flagship programs: Leadership Edge for women who want to get promoted faster without overworking Founders Edge for women who want to grow their business when they've outgrown corporate Bosky’s belief is simple: Success isn’t about working more; it’s about knowing how decisions are made, and leading them with power. Connect with Bosky: LinkedIn: [Mention you heard her on the Lift Up podcast] Bosky's Website: SheTrailBlazes Programs Mentioned: Leadership Edge Program (for career advancement) Founder's Edge Program (for entrepreneurship) If You Enjoyed This Episode Subscribe to the Lift Up Podcast so you don’t miss future episodes Leave a review: it helps us reach and support more listeners navigating their own messy middles

In this episode, Christine Perfetti sits down with Meena Kothandaraman, co-founder of Twig + Fish Research Practice and a pioneer in UX research to explore why the most valuable thing researchers is connection, not just answers to study questions.Meena shares her journey including human factors work, motherhood, and leading a micro-agency focused on the power, positioning, and practice of qualitative research.She discusses how alignment unlocks better outcomes, why patience and confidence are essential for researchers, and how she is inspiring high school students through work with Boston Public Schools.Meena’s message for researchers: Your superpower is connecting people: to ideas, to each other, and to a deeper sense of purpose."You have the power to bring people together, not to push them apart."

In this special episode, the mic gets flipped. Christine Perfetti, founder of Lift Up and longtime UX leader, is interviewed by her son, Ben Perfetti. What follows is a deeply personal and heartfelt conversation about curiosity, career pivots, fear, growth and what it really means to build a meaningful life and career. Ben asks thoughtful questions about Christine’s childhood goals, why she didn’t become a therapist, how she discovered the world of UX, and what led her to create Lift Up. Christine opens up about the scary moments, the sparks of inspiration, and the power of simply starting even when you don’t know where it will lead. What You’ll Hear: Why Christine almost became a therapist The winding path to UX and product research How Lift Up was born out of uncertainty and community Why taking action even when you’re scared is important to reinvention Ben’s reflections on what he’s learned watching his mom build something from scratch Find Christine at Lift Up Connections

In this solo episode, I am sharing the most personal talk I have ever given. Two years ago, my consulting work disappeared almost overnight. After years of leading product and design teams and advising organizations like GoFundMe, Penn Medicine, and Harvard Business Review, I suddenly found myself lost and unsure of what came next. This was my messy middle. It turned out it was also the beginning of everything, including my own reinvention and the start of Lift Up Connections. In this talk, I present a teaser of the tools and framework I teach to help others navigate inflection points: how to reconnect with your spark, make sense of your career capital, and design a future AI can’t replace. I also highlight the real stories of three professionals who used their low points to chart bold new paths. Show Notes: In this episode, I cover: Why your “stuck” moment may actually be an inflection point How to reimagine your career without throwing everything out Stories of everyday reinvention: from laid-off product leaders to web designers-turned-political podcasters Three exercises I use in my Lift Up cohort: Your Spark Map (what energizes you, Visioning your future (without fear or limits), Small experiments to start moving forward The one thing that helped me find my way back: Community Learn more about my Career Reinvention Cohort: liftupconnections.com “Feeling stuck doesn’t mean you’re stuck. It’s just the moment before everything starts to change.” — Christine Perfetti

In this episode of Lift Up Connections, Christine sits down with Melissa Appel, product leader, author of Aligned: Stakeholder Management for Product Leaders, and a longtime supporter of women forging their own paths in tech and life. Christine and Melissa first connected as mothers navigating demanding careers, and their relationship has evolved through shared vulnerability, values, and vision.They explore what it means to reimagine your career from the inside out, and how to navigate transitions with clarity and courage. Melissa opens up about her decision to step away from traditional product leadership roles, why writing Aligned helped her process her own growth, and how her time in the Reimagine Your Career cohort shifted her perspective. "Being in a safe space with like-minded women was key to me believing in myself." Tune in to hear Melissa’s perspective on career growth, self-advocacy, and why letting go of conventional definitions of success is sometimes the boldest move a leader can make.Show NotesLearn more about Melissa and Bruce McCarthy's book, Aligned: Stakeholder Management for Product LeadersMelissa's websiteLift Up Connections website

In this episode, Christine Perfetti chats with Shanae Chapman, founder of Nerdy Diva, civic tech leader, AI innovator, and advocate for inclusive design and equity in tech. Shanae shares her journey from growing up in North St. Louis to building an impressive career in public service, UX, and entrepreneurship. Christine and Shanae discuss the power of role models and mentors, and how Shanae's navigating challenging industry shifts with resilience. Shanae shares why she built Mocha Mama, an AI tool designed to support maternal health for black women and how she’s pushing for equity through human-centered innovation. Interview Highlights: If you're not learning or earning, it's time to move on, and women especially must get comfortable advocating for both AI isn't inclusive by default: designing for equity requires intentionality, critical thinking, and diverse lived experience Build your safety nets, multiple revenue streams create freedom You don’t have to wait to be perfect to start: see the problem, be brave and iterate as you go Resources and Links: Nerdy Diva Mocha Mama on ChatGPT Shanae on LinkedIn