<![CDATA[Ambition & Life]]>https://riverside.comRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Sun, 15 Nov 2026 03:56:52 GMTTue, 14 Oct 2025 03:29:54 GMT60Karis DorriganReal stories. Brave leadership. Bold change. We have an opportunity not just to optimise work but to redesign it. Hosted by Karis Dorrigan, a product and innovation leader turned systems-change advocate and coach. Ambition &amp; Life is where ambition meets humanity. Each episode explores how we can build systems that reflect real lives. Where success isn’t measured by hours or titles, but by impact, connection, and integrity. Through honest conversations with founders, leaders, and solo parents reshaping the future of work, you’ll hear stories of courage, practical tools for balance, and ideas that challenge the old rules of leadership and create new ones. We all deserve the opportunity to thrive at work and in life.episodicKaris Dorrigankaris@dorrigan.comno<![CDATA[Unseen Potential: Redesigning Work for Real Inclusion]]>In this conversation, I sit down with Nikki Tugano, Founder & CEO of SeenCulture, to talk about how work can be redesigns to open doors, not quietly close them.

We explore practical ways leaders can surface unseen potential, write inclusive role descriptions, and use positive psychology and job crafting to lift performance and wellbeing.

Nikki’s story, from feeling unseen as a child to building a company that helps individuals and teams get truly recognised offers a rare blend of evidence, empathy and action.

If you care about equity, flexible job design and building teams that deliver impact without burning people out, this one’s for you.

What we cover

  • The definition of “unseen potential” and how to make it visible
  • Writing senior role descriptions that open doors (not quietly close them)
  • Autonomy, connection, mastery: the psychology behind motivation and performance
  • How to use AI responsibly to de-bias job ads and widen candidate pools
  • Practical prompts for 1:1s that reveal strengths you’re not using yet


Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Scene Culture and Its Mission

04:50 Defining Unseen Potential

05:58 Leadership's Role in Uncovering Potential

07:49 Innovative Job Design in Recruitment

08:57 Positive Psychology in Job Design

12:24 AI and Job Design Considerations

15:10 Supporting Single Parents in Leadership

17:59 Hope for Equity and Opportunity

19:34 Key Takeaways for Leaders

21:45 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Find out more about SeenCulture

]]>74a95512-2ca4-408d-adbd-abd0e1db638bSun, 16 Nov 2025 22:00:00 GMT<p>In this conversation, I sit down with <b>Nikki Tugano</b>, Founder &amp; CEO of <i>SeenCulture</i>, to talk about how work can be redesigns to open doors, not quietly close them. </p><p></p><p>We explore practical ways leaders can <b>surface unseen potential</b>, write <b>inclusive role descriptions</b>, and use <b>positive psychology</b> and <b>job crafting</b> to lift performance <i>and</i> wellbeing.</p><p></p><p>Nikki’s story, from feeling unseen as a child to building a company that helps individuals and teams get truly recognised offers a rare blend of evidence, empathy and action. </p><p></p><p>If you care about equity, flexible job design and building teams that deliver impact without burning people out, this one’s for you.</p><p><b>What we cover</b></p><ul><li>The definition of “unseen potential” and how to make it visible</li><li>Writing senior role descriptions that <b>open doors</b> (not quietly close them)</li><li>Autonomy, connection, mastery: the psychology behind motivation and performance</li><li>How to use AI <i>responsibly</i> to de-bias job ads and widen candidate pools</li><li>Practical prompts for 1:1s that reveal strengths you’re not using yet</li></ul><p><br />Chapters</p><p>00:00 Introduction to Scene Culture and Its Mission</p><p>04:50 Defining Unseen Potential</p><p>05:58 Leadership's Role in Uncovering Potential</p><p>07:49 Innovative Job Design in Recruitment</p><p>08:57 Positive Psychology in Job Design</p><p>12:24 AI and Job Design Considerations</p><p>15:10 Supporting Single Parents in Leadership</p><p>17:59 Hope for Equity and Opportunity</p><p>19:34 Key Takeaways for Leaders</p><p>21:45 Final Thoughts and Call to Action</p><p></p><p><b>Find out more about SeenCulture</b></p><ul><li>Free individual profile to start mapping your strengths: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://seenteams.com/" target="_blank">https://seenteams.com/</a></li><li>Learn more about SeenCulture’s work: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.seenculture.com/" target="_blank">https://www.seenculture.com/</a></li></ul><p></p>no00:24:563Unseen Potential: Redesigning Work for Real Inclusionfull<![CDATA[When Work Meets Real Life: Rethinking the System with Jessica Graham]]>In this conversation, Jessica Graham, Marketing Director at The Search Experience, shares her journey of redefining ambition and work-life balance. She discusses her experience with redundancy, the importance of flexible work arrangements, and how she navigates her role in a way that allows her to prioritise family while achieving professional success.

Jessica emphasizes the need for leaders to rethink traditional work structures, particularly the concept of part-time work, and advocates for a focus on outcomes rather than hours worked.

The discussion also touches on the evolving landscape of marketing in the age of AI and the importance of trust in team dynamics.

Takeaways

  • Jessica emphasizes the importance of a four-day work week for work-life balance.
  • Redundancy can be a catalyst for positive change and new opportunities.
  • Leaders should keep an open mind when hiring and designing roles.
  • Part-time work should be reframed to focus on outcomes, not hours.
  • AI is reshaping marketing and creating new opportunities for innovation.
  • Flexibility in work arrangements can lead to higher performance and satisfaction.
  • Trusting employees to manage their own schedules can enhance productivity.
  • Work-life integration is essential for long-term career success.
  • Employers need to adapt to attract top talent by offering flexibility.
  • Creating a supportive work environment can lead to better employee retention.

Chapters

00:00Introduction to Jessica Graham

02:01 Who is JessicA

03:08 Ambition

05:16 Navigating Redundancy and Embracing Change

08:06 Establishing a New Work Rhythm

09:03 Negotiating Flexibility in Leadership Roles

14:11 Reframing Part-Time Work

15:55 The Future of Marketing in the Age of AI

18:31 Practical Strategies for Work-Life Balance

22:14 Final Thoughts on Ambition and Life

Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicagraham/

Learn more about Jessica's company The Search Experience: www.tsetalent.com

Follow Jessica's passion project - Book Trivia Podcast: https://www.booktriviapodcast.com/

]]>3adf0eb5-2c86-4a76-956d-d67c90c34ba8Sun, 02 Nov 2025 21:00:00 GMT<p>In this conversation, Jessica Graham, Marketing Director at The Search Experience, shares her journey of redefining ambition and work-life balance. She discusses her experience with redundancy, the importance of flexible work arrangements, and how she navigates her role in a way that allows her to prioritise family while achieving professional success.</p><p></p><p>Jessica emphasizes the need for leaders to rethink traditional work structures, particularly the concept of part-time work, and advocates for a focus on outcomes rather than hours worked.</p><p></p><p>The discussion also touches on the evolving landscape of marketing in the age of AI and the importance of trust in team dynamics.</p><p></p><p><b>Takeaways</b></p><ul><li>Jessica emphasizes the importance of a four-day work week for work-life balance.</li><li>Redundancy can be a catalyst for positive change and new opportunities.</li><li>Leaders should keep an open mind when hiring and designing roles.</li><li>Part-time work should be reframed to focus on outcomes, not hours.</li><li>AI is reshaping marketing and creating new opportunities for innovation.</li><li>Flexibility in work arrangements can lead to higher performance and satisfaction.</li><li>Trusting employees to manage their own schedules can enhance productivity.</li><li>Work-life integration is essential for long-term career success.</li><li>Employers need to adapt to attract top talent by offering flexibility.</li><li>Creating a supportive work environment can lead to better employee retention.</li></ul><p></p><p><b>Chapters</b></p><p><b>00:00</b>Introduction to Jessica Graham</p><p><b>02:01 </b>Who is JessicA</p><p><b>03:08 </b>Ambition</p><p><b>05:16 </b>Navigating Redundancy and Embracing Change</p><p><b>08:06 </b>Establishing a New Work Rhythm</p><p><b>09:03 </b>Negotiating Flexibility in Leadership Roles</p><p><b>14:11 </b>Reframing Part-Time Work</p><p><b>15:55 </b>The Future of Marketing in the Age of AI</p><p><b>18:31 </b>Practical Strategies for Work-Life Balance</p><p><b>22:14 </b>Final Thoughts on Ambition and Life</p><p></p><p><b>Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn:</b></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicagraham/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicagraham/</a></p><p></p><p><b>Learn more about Jessica's company The Search Experience</b>: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.tsetalent.com" target="_blank"><b>www.tsetalent.com</b></a><b> </b></p><p></p><p><b>Follow Jessica's passion project - Book Trivia Podcast: </b><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.booktriviapodcast.com/" target="_blank">https://www.booktriviapodcast.com/</a></p><p></p>no00:25:342When Work Meets Real Life: Rethinking the System with Jessica Grahamfull<![CDATA[The Story Behind Ambition & Life: Redesigning Success]]>In this deeply personal opening episode, Karis Dorrigan shares the story behind her mission. From leading billion-dollar teams to navigating solo parenthood and why she’s determined to build a world where ambition and care can thrive together.

00:00 Introduction to Ambition and Life Podcast

00:52 Karis Dorrigan's Journey and Motivation

03:01 The Challenges of Solo Parenting

05:25 The Impact of Systems on Parenting and Work

07:21 Redesigning Work for Real Lives

08:18 The Vision for the Podcast

]]>d5a62c79-aab1-4e07-9f7f-7cb295304699Mon, 20 Oct 2025 00:21:27 GMT<p>In this deeply personal opening episode, Karis Dorrigan shares the story behind her mission. From leading billion-dollar teams to navigating solo parenthood and why she’s determined to build a world where ambition and care can thrive together.</p><p></p><p>00:00 Introduction to Ambition and Life Podcast</p><p>00:52 Karis Dorrigan's Journey and Motivation</p><p>03:01 The Challenges of Solo Parenting</p><p>05:25 The Impact of Systems on Parenting and Work</p><p>07:21 Redesigning Work for Real Lives</p><p>08:18 The Vision for the Podcast</p><p></p>no00:09:591The Story Behind Ambition & Life: Redesigning Successfull