Lift Up Connections with Christine Perfetti

Designing for Equity and Responsible AI with Shanae Chapman

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.
We 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

How to Manage Your Inner Critic with Catherine Norman: From Self-Doubt to Self-Compassion

Christine interviews Catherine Norman, a renowned counselor, about managing the inner critic, one of the most common challenges facing women in business and tech.
Catherine breaks down why our brains have a negativity bias and explores how inner critics develop at different ages throughout our lives: from the emotional 5-year-old who experiences all-or-nothing thinking to the logical but rigid teenager who sees only black and white outcomes.
The conversation includes the "facts versus assumptions" exercise, strategies for talking to the different inner voices, and the importance of recognizing that many successful paths exist rather than falling into perfectionist thinking. Catherine also addresses how to navigate career uncertainty.
"Being able to notice that voice for what it is... Being able to say, 'Hey, I noticed you,' or, 'Hey, that's my negative thinking again'. That is the most powerful tool here inside your own brain. If you notice that, then that gives you the options to do something about it."
- Catherine Norman, Counselor and Therapist

Creative Careers, Bold Pivots, and Claiming Space with Marli Mesibov

In this episode, Christine chats with Marli Mesibov, the Content Strategy Director at Verily, an Alphabet company, to explore her journey from theater stage manager to content strategy leader in health tech.
Marli opens up about the twists and turns her career has taken, the creative roots of her UX strategy and content design work, and the intentional choices that helped her redefine success.
Marli shares how her background in theater sharpened her ability to organize ideas and tell stories, how she found her way into UX through curiosity and serendipity, and the lessons learned about speaking up as a woman in tech. 
“You don’t need to know what you want to do. You just need to know what you want to do next.”
Whether you’re exploring your next move, carving out your voice, or trying to claim more space in your career, this conversation will leave you feeling seen and inspired.
Resources:
Lean In
Verily
Lift Up Connections

How to Build a Momentous Life with Malaika Simmons

"You will never have more of what you want until you want what you already have.” 
Christine Perfetti chats with Malaika Simmons, TEDx speaker, founder of Momentology Media, and creator of the Momentology™ Method to explore what it means to live with intention, purpose, and authenticity. Malaika shares her story as a "facilitator of discover" where she leveraged her psychology, history, and neuroscience background to create Momentology, a trauma-informed framework for self-awareness and resilience. Christine and Malaika discuss the foundational pillars of Momentology: Awareness, Gratitude, and Expectancy. Malaika explains how these principles can empower individuals, specially women navigating inflection points in their careers or lives, to uncover their own light and map the path forward despite fear and uncertainty. 🔗 Resources: Momentology MediaMalaika’s Morning Mantra & Affirmation GuideTEDx talk: Designing a Momentous Life

Messy Middles and Meaningful Career Moves: Amanda Stockwell on Designing What’s Next

In this episode of Lift Up Connections, Christine sits down with Amanda Stockwell, a longtime UX consultant, Duke University professor, and co-founder of The List, a nonprofit connecting university students to startups.
We explore what it means to take big and brave career steps without knowing exactly where you will land. Amanda shares how she transitioned from corporate roles to consulting, then into teaching and nonprofit leadership. Each time, Amanda was driven by intuition, connection, and a desire to do meaningful work.
Christine and Amanda discuss:
Navigating burnout and seeking more purpose
Embracing the “messy middle” of career and life pivots
Taking action even when you’re afraid or unsure
Building work around your values and strengths
The power of authentic relationships and community
Whether you're figuring out your next act or feeling stuck in between, Amanda offers a grounded and optimistic look at how to keep going. And why you don’t need to have it all figured out to start!

Radical Transparency, Reinvention, and Finding Your Next Chapter with Tamara Adlin

Tamara Adlin is a pioneer in the UX and product world who is widely known for her groundbreaking work on personas and her talent for speaking truthfully about the team and personal dynamics that shape and sometimes derail our work.
Tamara's the co-author of The Persona Lifecycle, a longtime independent consultant, and the host of the new podcast, Corporate Underpants.
In our conversation, Tamara and I talk about the messy middle of our careers, including the grief of letting go of who we once were professionally, the courage to try something new, and the feelings associated with reinvention.
We get real about aging in tech, why women need to talk about money more openly, and how communities, including Never Search Alone and Lift Up Connections are providing support in uncertain times.
Resources:
🎧 Learn more about Tamara’s work at Adlin Inc. and Corporate Underpants
💡 Never Search Alone — Phyl Terry's free job search support community 

How to Survive Workplace and Collective Trauma with Alla Weinberg

In this personal and raw episode, Christine sits down with Alla Weinberg, a design leader and expert in psychological safety, to talk about trauma, something we don’t often talk about at work.We often experience trauma in many different areas of our lives, including when we are managing workplace dynamics, parenting, or dealing with systemic barriers in our jobs. Alla shares her perspective on what trauma really is and how healing can start by building deep connections.
Christine and Alla discuss the trauma many of us carry without realizing it until something cracks open, such as becoming a parent, leaving a toxic workplace, or a relationship ending. Alla shares her own story of discovering her trauma after the birth of her son, and how that realization influenced her purpose, work, and understanding of what it means to show up authentically.
If you are experiencing burnout, feeling disconnected, or questioning the systems you are operating in, this conversation is a great reminder that you are not alone. Healing doesn’t have to happen in isolation. There is a way forward that starts with compassion for ourselves.
🔗 Links & Resources
Connect with Alla on LinkedIn: Alla Weinberg
Sign up for Alla's trauma healing session

Visionary Leadership in Health, Design and the Messy Middle with Amy Heymans

Christine Perfetti is joined by Amy Heymans, founder of Beneficent and co-founder of the renowned design agency Mad*Pow.
A force for good in the healthcare and design communities, Amy shares her journey from young designer and mom to building and selling her multimillion-dollar agency. At Beneficent, she is creating dignified futures through participatory design and visionary leadership.
Christine and Amy discuss how to navigate career inflection points, the challenges of motherhood, how futures thinking can change the world for good, and why we must "stop being selfish and share our brilliance with the world."
Amy shares her perspective on building self worth, dealing with imposter syndrome, and what it really means to live and lead in alignment with your values.
Amy also shares insights into Dignified Futures, the conference she will be co-hosting in Atlanta this June, and her vision for change across health, finance, and government.
🔗 Links & Resources
Dignified Futures Conference: https://designfordignity.com (June 3–4, Atlanta)
Connect with Amy on LinkedIn: Amy Heymans
Beneficent: https://beneficent.design