In this episode of 'Sh*t I Just Quit My Job,' host Maricella Herrera dives into a candid conversation with Megan Senese, a legal marketing and business development expert who co-founded the company Stage. Maricella and Megan discuss the challenges of navigating career shifts, dealing with corporate burnout, and the importance of authenticity in business. They explore Megan's transition from the corporate legal world to entrepreneurship, the strategies she used to build her business from the ground up, and the vital role of relationship building in professional success. Megan also shares valuable insights on personal branding, navigating layoffs, and the significance of doing things differently in a crowded market. The episode ends with Megan's advice to her younger self: just hold on, it will be over soon.

About Megan Senese:

Megan Senese is a legal marketing and business-development entrepreneur and co-founder of Stage, where she helps lawyers grow their practices through authentic relationship-building and strategy. She is especially admired for her ability to bring empathy and genuine human connection into an industry often driven purely by numbers.

Show Notes

00:00 Podcast Introduction

04:30 Childhood Dreams vs. Reality

21:06 The Big Quit

23:36 Pandemic Burnout and the 2% Raise

32:25 Unlearning Corporate Toxicity

35:47 The Leap to Entrepreneurship

42:04 The Thousand Meetings Strategy

49:23 Business Development Advice

51:21 Going Unhinged on LinkedIn

55:06 The So Much to Say Podcast

58:43 Final Advice: Hold On

Takeaways:

1. The podcast delves into the complexities of personal reinvention, particularly after quitting a job that was once deemed defining.
2. Listeners are encouraged to embrace the chaotic journey of self-discovery and the uncertainties therein, recognizing that it is a universal experience.
3. A significant theme discussed is the importance of authenticity in business, suggesting that one can still be themselves while building a successful enterprise.
4. The speakers emphasize the necessity of building genuine relationships and connections rather than relying solely on traditional networking methods.
5. The conversation highlights the emotional and psychological challenges faced during career transitions, particularly in acknowledging and navigating grief associated with leaving a familiar job.
6. Insights are shared on the evolution of personal branding and visibility in a digital age, stressing the need for uniqueness in content to stand out.

In this conversation, Denis Keane shares his journey from a corporate career to entrepreneurship, highlighting the challenges and lessons learned along the way. He discusses his experiences in the nightlife and restaurant industries, the importance of people skills, and the role of adaptability in navigating the ever-changing landscape of startups and technology. Denis emphasizes the need for risk-taking and the value of understanding business fundamentals, while also reflecting on personal growth and self-worth.

Show Notes

This episode presents a profound exploration of career transitions, personal growth, and the entrepreneurial spirit through the lenses of Maricela Herrera and her guest, Denis Keane. The narrative begins with Maricella's honest reflection on her struggles with motivation and the emotional toll of returning to her routine after a significant hiatus. Her vulnerability lays the groundwork for a rich discussion with Denis, whose dynamic background as an entrepreneur in the nightlife and technology sectors illustrates the multifaceted nature of career journeys. Denis recounts his experiences navigating the challenges of establishing a successful nightclub in a gentrifying neighborhood, offering insights into the importance of risk-taking and seizing opportunities. The conversation further delves into the lessons learned from both industries, emphasizing the value of people skills and the necessity of adaptability in the face of uncertainty. As the episode unfolds, listeners are invited to reconsider their definitions of success and the paths they choose, ultimately reinforcing the idea that both personal and professional growth often emerge from embracing chaos and uncertainty.

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Takeaways:

1. In the podcast episode, Dennis Keane discusses the necessity of adaptability in business, emphasizing that the ability to pivot is crucial for success in rapidly changing environments.
2. A significant theme addressed in the interview is the importance of understanding financial metrics, which is essential for running any business effectively, including restaurants and startups.
3. Dennis highlights that personal connections and people skills are indispensable, as they enhance communication and foster a productive workplace culture in both the restaurant and tech industries.
4. The conversation reveals that fear of failure often inhibits individuals from pursuing their passions, and Dennis advocates for embracing risk as an integral part of the entrepreneurial journey.
5. Dennis's journey illustrates how experiences in the restaurant industry can provide transferable skills that are extremely beneficial in the tech startup world, particularly in managing teams and understanding customer dynamics.
6. The episode also touches upon the evolving role of AI in business, suggesting that those who adapt and learn to leverage technology will thrive, while those who resist will likely fall behind.

About Denis Keane:

Denis Keane is an entrepreneur and investor who has founded multiple businesses, backed early-stage startups, and advised companies on growth and business development. Most recently, he served as COO and investor in an AI startup that successfully exited through acquisition. Denis now works with founders and leadership teams to help scale operations and unlock new growth opportunities.

Two weeks before the Chicago Marathon, Maricella was terrified. Not just about the race—about what it would mean if she finished and felt destroyed, ashamed of her pace, not wanting to run again.

In this deeply personal episode, she shares what it's like to show up to something hard while feeling like a fraud. She reads her raw journal entries about training anxiety, works through shame about being "too slow," and tells the story of race day—including the sign that changed everything.

This isn't a story about hitting a time goal (she didn't). It's about discovering you're stronger than you thought. About the tools and reminders we need when we forget we're capable. About hope, shame, and doing hard things scared.

Maricella shares a tattoo on her leg that says "Braver, Stronger, Smarter"—from Winnie the Pooh, gotten after the hardest moments of her life. She talks about the bracelets she wore during the race, her partner who believed in her when she didn't believe in herself, and what it means to find your strength not in the outcome, but in showing up.

This is the final episode of 2025.

In this episode:

- Pre-race anxiety and the bonking pattern during training

- Working through shame about pace and performance

- Reading unfiltered journal entries from two weeks before the race

- The difference between facts and fears

- Hope as fuel vs. tying self-worth to outcomes

- Race day: the sign, the nausea, the finish

- Feeling strong instead of destroyed

- The anchors we carry (bracelets, tattoos, people)

- Feeling like a fraud even after accomplishing hard things

- Using tools (therapy, journaling, friends, AI) to see clearly

- Showing up scared and doing it anyway

Mentioned in this episode:

Win the Inside Game by Steve Magness

SAFE methodology (created by guest Jaqueline Oliveira-Cella)

In this special episode, host Maricella Herrera introduces listener calls to the podcast for the first time. She sits down with Jaqueline Oliveira-Cella to test SAFE—an AI-powered emotional awareness tool—on two real workplace scenarios submitted by listeners.

SAFE is a methodology that helps people pause and reframe in high-stakes emotional moments at work and in life. The framework stands for Set intentions, Acknowledge facts vs emotions, Frame and reframe, and Execute.

In this episode, Maricella and Jackie work through two common workplace challenges:

Scenario 1: Navigating a Company ReorgA listener shares their anxiety about job security after their group is acquired by a larger team. They're unsure whether to update their resume, network with the new team, or wait to see how leadership decisions unfold. Using SAFE, they separate facts from feelings, identify what's within their control, and develop concrete micro-actions like "building bridges, not safety nets."

Scenario 2: Managing Uncertainty with a New BossAnother listener describes the discomfort of having a new manager who meets with the team before direct reports. They want to make a good first impression but don't know how to introduce themselves without overloading or being absent. SAFE helps them reframe the situation, consider the manager's perspective, and create a thoughtful introduction strategy.

Throughout both scenarios, Maricella and Jackie discuss the importance of distinguishing facts from emotions, finding hope and agency in uncertain situations, and taking small, strategic actions rather than waiting passively. They also explore how AI tools like SAFE can augment critical thinking and emotional awareness—not replace human connection.

This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Next week, Maricella shares her own experience using SAFE to navigate anxiety before running the Chicago Marathon in October 2024.

Topics covered in this episode:

Emotional awareness and workplace stress

AI-powered tools for mental health and emotional regulation

Company reorganizations and job security anxiety

Managing relationships with new managers

Separating facts from feelings in high-stakes situations

Design thinking and AI as augmentation

Evidence-based journaling and reflective practices

Building resilience during workplace uncertainty

TIMESTAMPS:

[00:00] Cold open: The "fuck you" moment[01:00] Thanksgiving intro and gratitude[12:30] Conversation with Jackie begins[15:30] What is SAFE? The framework explained[20:30] Why Jackie created SAFE: personal experiences with workplace challenges[26:00] AI as augmentation vs. shortcut: critical thinking and design thinking[28:00] The future of emotional intelligence in an AI world[33:00] Listener Scenario #1: Company reorg and job security anxiety[35:00] Breaking down facts vs. emotions in the reorg scenario[39:00] Hope and agency: what the listener didn't mention[41:00] Micro-actions: Building bridges, not safety nets[46:00] Listener Scenario #2: New manager meeting the team first[48:00] Setting intentions for a first impression[50:00] Reframing: Could this be about fairness, not hierarchy?[52:00] Micro-actions: Draft an intro note, observe and listen[57:00] Asking SAFE about talking to the team[59:00] What's next for SAFE and closing thoughts

LINKS & RESOURCES:

Try SAFE for yourself (free on ChatGPT): https://chatgpt.com/g/g-68c2e478cba88191b31bf8e906de103f-s-a-f-e-leadership-daily-reflections

Connect with Jaqueline Oliveira-Cella on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaquelineoc/

Previous episode with Jackie:

After 20 years in public child welfare, Angel Rodriguez thought she’d retire there. She was trying to revolutionize the system from the inside—building new programs, fighting bureaucracy, making change however she could. Then, at 40, an epilepsy diagnosis forced a different question: could she even keep going?

In this conversation, we talk about what it’s like to go from trying to fix a broken system to realizing you first have to take care of yourself—and what it takes to start over when you thought you had it all figured out.

Some highlights:

* Her first thought after a grand mal seizure at 40: “I thought I was gonna go back to work the next week”

* The realization that changed everything after applying to many jobs with no luck: “Maybe I’m not getting these jobs because there’s something else. I’m an expert. I should just say that.”

* On untethering from her title after 23 years: “I am me whether I work for someone else, whether I work for myself, whether I am not working at all. I’m just me.”

* What she’d tell herself looking back: “Be kind to yourself. You’re gonna be okay. And this is not everything about who you are.”

✨ About Angel Rodriguez:

Angel Rodriguez, MSSA Co-Founder & CEO, rfc21 Angel Rodriguez is an Expert Social Worker and Innovator with over 20 years of experience transforming public child welfare systems. As Co-Founder and CEO of rfc21, she leads with heart and strategy – offering leadership coaching, curriculum design, grant management support, and expert witness services. A proud Latina and fierce advocate for equity in communities of color, Angel also serves as the Vice President on a nonprofit board in Los Angeles. She is the Director of Circles for Lean In Latinas and finds great joy in serving her community by being a changemaker. Outside of work, she loves practicing Pilates, exploring new cities, eating local cuisine, and cheering on her favorite hockey team. She lives in Los Angeles with her wife and their two adorable dogs.

In this minisode, host Maricella Herrera explores the emotional aftermath of completing the Chicago Marathon and discusses the 'post-marathon blues'—a period of feeling lost and empty after achieving a big goal. She reflects on how training for the marathon served as an excuse to avoid various life decisions and commitments. As she questions her future and the direction of her career, Maricella turns to the book 'The Alchemist' by Paolo Coelho for inspiration on finding one's life purpose. She shares her inner conflict about multiple job roles, particularly her involvement with a startup, and how a pivotal decision sparked a realization about self-trust. Ultimately, Maricella emphasizes the importance of tuning into one's intuition and emotions as a guide for future decisions, encouraging listeners to do the same.

00:00 Introduction: Rethinking Life Choices

01:03 Post-Marathon Blues

04:05 The Alchemist and Personal Legends

07:15 Struggling with Busyness and Overwhelm

12:22 Deciding on the Startup

16:55 Trusting Your Intuition

25:13 Conclusion: Listening to Your Heart

This week I’m back with my first repeat guest, author, speaker, and DEI advocate Hady Mendez. We’re talking about her new book Calladita No More. The title flips the saying “calladita te ves más bonita” (you’re prettier when you’re quiet), and so does our conversation.

We get into Hady’s journey from leading DEI inside corporate America to carving her own entrepreneurial path, what it really means to advocate for yourself, and why ERGs and cultural identity matter more than ever. Hady also pulls back the curtain on writing and hybrid publishing her book, building a Latina-powered team to make it happen, and the refranes and stories that shaped her voice.

With personal anecdotes, refranes, and heartfelt conversations, this episode offers a deep dive into rethinking identity and the power of speaking out.

00:00 Intro clip

01:03 Introducing Hady Menez

01:36 Hady's Book: Calladita No More

04:16 Understanding DEI and ERGs

06:23 Cultural Reflections and Personal Growth

10:50 Hady's Journey as an Author

16:40 Entrepreneurial Challenges and Lessons

17:32 The Evolution of DEI and ERGs

21:43 Navigating Business and Personal Identity

26:39 Power Sessions for Mujeres

30:30 The Book: Calladita No More

31:09 Sharing Stories and Wisdom

32:00 Cultural Identity and Refranes

32:41 The Book's Structure and Purpose

35:35 Navigating Naysayers and Staying True

42:56 Hybrid Publishing Journey

48:09 Building a Supportive Team

50:46 Personal Reflections and Challenges

53:29 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

About Hady Mendez:Hady Mendez is a NY-based bestselling author, Latina speaker, and ERG coach. She currently serves as the Director of Programs for Lean In Latinas. She is also the founder and CEO of Boldly Speaking LLC, a company that is transforming the professional experiences of underestimated professionals by providing them with the skills to rise and thrive in the corporate world or in whatever path they choose. With a diverse career spanning over twenty-five years, Hady has served as head of equality for a major tech firm, held multiple customer-facing roles in high tech and financial services, served as a leader and advisor across various ERGs, dedicated two years to working with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women internationally, and served as Community School Director at an elementary school in the South Bronx. Hady’s essays have been featured in Business Insider and #WeAllGrow Latina and her thought leadership has been leveraged by organizations such as Lean In Latinas, Power To Fly, Prospanica, and many others. Hady is a Latinas in Tech Luminarias 2022 honoree, a Women of ALPFA 2023 Latinas to Watch, a 2024 LinkedIn Top Coaching & Mentoring Voice, and the recipient of HACE’s 2025 Mujer Maravilla Award.

Is your self-worth tied to the job you hold, the craft you practice, or the results you deliver?

In this episode, Maricella Herrera sits down with Kira Shishkin, serial entrepreneur and founder of informed, to explore how we measure who we are through our work, why outcomes don’t always equal worth, and what happens in the messy middle of building something new. We also dive into the mental health cost of “trigger news” and how informed is rethinking the way we consume information.

Key Topics:

* The difference between a “job” and a “craft,” and why that distinction matters for self-worth

* How growing up in Ukraine, Israel, and the US shaped Kira’s perspective on truth, trust, and information warfare

* The journey from high finance to entrepreneurship, and the lessons learned along the way

* Frameworks for thinking about identity, self-worth, and the risks of tying them to career outcomes

* The “messy middle” of building a company: pivots, doubt, and the blackout moments no one talks about

* The origin story of Informed: why Kira set out to create a bias-free, minimalist news service

* The impact of “trigger news” and clickbait on mental health and polarization

* How Informed curates world-shaping news for everyday people, and the philosophy behind their editorial choices

* The evolution of success: from personal achievement to empowering others

Notable Quotes:

* “You date the solution, you marry the problem.”

* “It’s not about you. It’s about your end customer, your end user, and how you can make their life better.”

* “Trigger news corrupts the mind. It’s not just about information, it’s about how it’s delivered.”

Connect with Us:

* Instagram: @quitmyjobpod

* Email: quitmyjobpod@gmail.com

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