Past the Profile

Host Liz Sweigart connected with Dr. Jenn Serlin only a month before this conversation was recorded through a Society of Consulting Psychology (APA Diviosn 13 / SCP) listserv thread. And yet, their first Zoom felt like two long-time friends resuming an endless conversation. That instant rapport shapes this episode of Past the Profile, where Jenn — performance psychologist, executive coach, lifelong learner, and unapologetic information junkie — explains why she’s pivoting her practice to serve pro-democracy candidates and causes.
Highlights:
How two consulting psychologists smashed the “impostor override” button to forge a fast partnership.
Jenn's mantra of “What’s next?” — from private practice to sports psychology and now political psychology.
The link between playing hockey at 40 and coaching leaders to skate past fear.
Why she calls herself a “broker of reality” and how that skill helps campaigns combat disinformation.
The shared thread among data sovereignty, democracy protection, and showing up with radical curiosity.
What Jenn is looking for now: allies ready to meet this political moment with evidence, empathy, and action.

Host Liz Sweigart first spotted Dr. Annette Kramer in a Zoom “salon” led by their mutual friend and editor, Art Kleiner. Kramer — a dancer-turned-long-18th-century scholar and self-described “fixer” — immediately stood out for her mix of scholarly rigor and playful curiosity.
In this episode of Past the Profile, Liz and Annette trace that first virtual meeting into a far-ranging conversation on authentic leadership, designing accelerator programs that actually fit researchers’ needs, and why the emerging space economy feels like the early internet all over again.
Highlights:
How theatre training (making something from nothing to a deadline) maps perfectly onto entrepreneurial leadership.
Annette's core operating premise — play — and how laughter unlocks resources serious meetings miss.
A five-week accelerator model that moved African and UK researchers from idea to business pitch by teaching one evolving frame instead of 18 disjointed tools.
Why she loves the “messy middle” of projects and prefers long-term advisory roles that keep teams honest.
The power of embodied knowledge: standing up, collaborating, and “using your whole self” to solve supposedly intractable problems.
Who she hopes to collaborate with next — especially curious, bright minds in London and Toronto.
Connect with Annette
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/annettethefixer/
Substack → https://annettekramerphd.substack.com/p/stay-curious
Website → https://www.annettekramer.co.uk/
 

Host Liz Sweigart first met community strategist Limari Navarrete in the Redwoods of Northern California at DWeb Camp 2023, when they were placed in the same nightly “weaver group”. In this episode of Past the Profile they trace that serendipitous meeting to today, covering Limari's work with the Decentralized Identity Foundation, her passion for tech-for-good open-source projects, and a parallel journey into 500-hour yoga and Ayurveda training.
Highlights:
How introvert–extrovert chemistry turned a random campsite pairing into an enduring professional friendship.
What Limari learned about belonging while managing global open-source communities and why “people decide if it’s a community, not the brand.”
Why artistic outlets (drawing, music, ukulele) keep her creative engine running in tech spaces.
Practical tips for “translating community” to CEOs, marketers, and finance leaders who speak different success languages.

The professional paths of host Liz Sweigart and guest Stuart Gibson first crossed at the inaugural NYU Tax Controversy Forum reception, back when Stu was Special Trial Counsel for the US Department of Justice Tax Division and Liz was a mid-career Big 4 tax advisor. Two decades, multiple career pivots, and a trans-Atlantic author-recruiting adventure later, Stu remains a plain-spoken mentor whose insights elevate every room he enters. In this episode of Past the Profile, the conversation traces his journey from landmark courtroom victories to leading a global tax newsroom and launching Actual Intelligence LLC, exploring how curiosity, integrity, and humor power a career that never stops evolving.
Highlights:
How one cocktail-hour conversation sparked an “anchor” mentorship that still shapes both careers.
Why Stu traded federal courtrooms for tax journalism and back again, and what he learned guiding a newsroom through COVID lockdowns.
The origin story of Simple 720, a cloud platform that files excise-tax returns in minutes starting at less than $40 a form.
How his new venture Actual Intelligence is helping taxpayers fight algorithmic ERC refund denials.
A choral singer’s take on keeping work fun, staying curious, and holding the line on integrity, regardless of which side he argues.

Immediately after recording their first conversation, host Liz Sweigart realized she had held back a key question about the family story behind Dr. Tondi Mondoloka’s dissertation finish line. Rather than let that curiosity go, the two hit “record” again.
In this short bonus episode of Past the Profile, Tondi recounts the spring 2023 crunch to defend her dissertation in time to walk at commencement—while her aunt, the very woman who first told a five-year-old Tondi she would one day earn a degree, visited from Zambia. The discussion unpacks the weight of arbitrary deadlines, the pressure high achievers place on themselves, and the healing power of reframing “I must” into “What else is possible?”
Highlights:
How an aunt’s early encouragement—and a late-stage campus visit—became a symbolic relay between generations.
Why Tondi nearly drove herself to exhaustion chasing an external deadline, and how Liz's “breathe and zoom out” advice helped her reclaim perspective.
A reflection on artificial binaries, option-generation, and valuing progress over perfection.
The photograph Tondi treasures most: her three-year-old son gazing up at “Dr. Mommy” after commencement.
A reminder that celebrating each step honors the people who carried us there.

Back in our PhD days at The Chicago School, (now Dr.) Tondi Mondoloka and I first crossed paths in lively online discussion boards, then cemented the connection during our program’s inaugural weekend residency. That spark ignited a friendship still shaping both of our journeys. In this episode of Past the Profile we retrace that journey from late-night data coding marathons to career pivots and bold creative leaps, exploring how to honor a legacy, reconcile past and present, and move with courage when everything feels in flux.
In this episode you’ll hear:
How two doctoral students became “anchor friends” who cheered each other across the finish line then and continue to support each other years later.
Tondi’s take on showing vulnerability at work and online, and why she’s doubling down on LinkedIn and launching a Substack.
Lessons from the historic Mann Gulch fire on decision-making under pressure and why hindsight bias still trips us up.
How systems thinking, risk management, and a “curiosity first” mindset (thanks, Mom!) guide Tondi’s consulting lens.
Practical advice for professionals and organizations navigating layoffs, flux, and the fast-arriving future of work.
Connect with Tondi
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/tondi-mondoloka/
Substack → https://tondimondoloka.substack.com/
Speaking & consulting → http://www.tondimondoloka.com/

Join Dr. Tracey Benson and Dr. Liz Sweigart as they reflect on their serendipitous meeting at a conference in Brisbane — where being a little lost led to finding an unexpected and enduring connection.
In this episode, Tracey and Liz explore the richness of perception, memory, and what it means to co-create meaning over time. Tracey opens up about the values that guide her beyond the professional bio: a deep commitment to community, environmental stewardship, and respectful partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and culture.
They also dive into Tracey’s latest creative project, Baggage — a playful, layered exploration of identity, consumption, and the emotional weight we carry (often in secondhand handbags).
This conversation is a celebration of friendship, curiosity, and creative courage. It’s about leadership without pretense, and the joy of saying yes to wacky, beautiful ideas.
If Baggage sparked something in you, Tracey would love to hear your story.
You’re invited to contribute:
In person: Drop by the Treecreate studio on Bribie Island and share your story (or your actual bag).
From afar: Send a photo of a bag and a short personal reflection to Tracey via email at baggage.story@gmail.com.
Every contribution becomes part of an evolving installation about identity, memory, and what we carry—by choice or by habit.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bytetime/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bytetime/
More about Tracey and her work: https://linktr.ee/bytetime
 

Join Dr. Virginia Whitlock and Dr. Liz Sweigart for a heartfelt conversation about legacy, leadership, and the relationships that shape us.
What began in an online classroom has grown into a friendship rooted in respect, vulnerability, and a shared commitment to equity. In this episode, they reflect on their personal and professional journeys—navigating academia, allyship, and the often unseen labor of building spaces where others can thrive.
Together, they explore what it means to plant seeds you may never benefit from, the power of storytelling in healing generational patterns, and the courage it takes to ask uncomfortable questions in pursuit of a better, more inclusive future.
Whether you're in academia, leadership, or simply working to create change in your corner of the world, this conversation will move you to reflect on the legacy you're building and the doors you’re opening for others.
 
Connect with Dr. Virginia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-virginia-l-whitlock-doctorate-in-organizational-leadership-psychology-80b20a24/
Read her dissertation here: https://www.proquest.com/docview/3047954221

Join Dr. Lata Dhir as she unravels the nuances of creating genuine human connections, drawing upon her personal experiences and passions in cultivating safe spaces. Delve into the transformative power of positive psychology, leadership development, and the importance of leveraging strengths over weaknesses.
In this episode, Dr. Dhir shares her journey as an educator, a woman, a mother, and a wife, revealing the struggles and triumphs behind her impressive professional profile. Explore her insights on shaping minds, nurturing trust, and the pivotal role of optimism and possibilities in personal growth.
Discover her fervor for designing impactful experiences in leadership labs, where individuals explore their vulnerabilities and forge lasting bonds. This conversation illuminates Dr. Dhir's mission to create meaningful change and foster a collective spirit of empathy and purpose.
Connect with Dr. Dhir on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lata-dhir-00956916/

Mark Curtis is the CEO of HiveWise, Board Chair at Washi, Inc., and a lifelong builder of tools that help teams think better together.
In this premiere episode of Past the Profile, Mark answers five (not-so-fast) questions that reveal what really drives him. We go beyond the bio to explore participative leadership, ancient artifacts, and why real leadership begins after the decision is made.
Connect with Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markacurtis/