Season 5 Ep 16: Embracing the Non-Linear Path with Michelle Cherian

Season 5 Ep 16: Embracing the Non-Linear Path with Michelle Cherian

Author: Lisa Kuzman July 8, 2021 Duration: 46:16

My guest this week is two-time entrepreneur and fellow podcaster Michelle Cherian. With 15 years of experience working with startups and Fortune 500 companies, Michelle knows what it takes to create a profitable app that makes your customers' lives better. On her podcast, Art of the App, she interviews trailblazing women startup founders, investors and other top minds to discuss their journey and role as agents of change.

But today, she's on my show, which means it's her turn in the hot seat! I was so jazzed to talk all about:

  • her winding path, and the beautiful disasters along the way
  • self-trust in decision making and shrugging off "should"s
  • the process of visibility (especially as podcasters!)
  • leaving perfectionism behind us — and embracing joy

"You make a decision and then you move on. The past is the past, you can't change it. It's a good practice to understand how you operate so that you can navigate making your decisions on your terms and not on someone else's or the way you think it 'should' be made."

Michelle, thanks so much for coming onto the show this week! I really enjoyed our conversation and I know the listeners will, too. Go check out her podcast, Art of the App:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/art-of-the-app/id1558538397
And visit her website: https://www.michellecherian.com/

Have you joined my trauma sensitive leadership group yet? We'd love to have you join our conversations! Head on over to my trauma sensitive leadership group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/764082764458292/
If you're in search of a more one-on-one experience, you can always book a call with me! https://lisakuzman.com/


There's a quiet shift happening in how we think about authority and influence, and New Wave Leadership Podcast is right at the heart of it. Host Lisa Kuzman believes traditional, top-down leadership models have run their course, proving ineffective for today's complex world. Instead, this movement champions a much broader, more inclusive vision. Each episode digs into the real, often unspoken challenges that come with stepping into a role of influence, whether you're in a corner office, a community group, or simply leading your own life. The conversations here actively work to expand our definition of who gets to be a leader, arguing passionately for the necessity of diverse identities, perspectives, and lived experiences at the helm. You'll hear frank discussions about authenticity, the personal hurdles leaders navigate behind closed doors, and practical ideas for cultivating your own unique leadership identity without conforming to outdated standards. Tuning into this podcast feels like joining a necessary dialogue-one that moves beyond theory to explore what it genuinely means to show up and make an impact on your own terms.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

New Wave Leadership Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Season 6 Ep 9: Creating a New Wave in Business [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:40
When I first entered the business owner space eight years ago, I noticed a trend: old school vs. new school. And we've talked about this on the podcast before — how I wanted to lead from a place that felt authentic and a…
Season 6 Ep 8: A Journey of Unfolding with The Brittany Williams [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:40
My guest this week is your conduit for all things transformation, embodiment, and leadership: The Brittany R. Williams, Transformational Embodiment Coach and Sex Doula. Brittany supports leaders and highly ambitious folk…
Season 6 Ep 7: Do You Know How to Be Happy? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:21
Spoiler: I almost didn't release this episode. If you've been listening to my podcast for any length of time, it shouldn't surprise you that generally speaking? I'm a happy, positive person. I don't just get excited abou…
Season 6 Ep 6: Ashley Kay on Space, Grace, and Making Mistakes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:39
If you've ever thought "Wow, Lisa really does ALL the things!" then this is the episode where you'll learn... I really, really don't. That's because I have Ashley Kay in my corner: the CEO and Founder of AK Virtual Assis…
Season 6 Ep 5: Visibility, Vulnerability, Victory! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:01
Question for my fellow entrepreneurs out there: how do you feel about photoshoots? Before I took up my leadership mantle, the only time I'd had professional photos was the first time I got married. Now, though? I do phot…
Season 6 Ep 4: Navigating a "Stretchy" Year with Vangile Makwakwa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:21
This is a longer interview than usual, but I have a feeling you're going to love every minute of it — I know I sure did! My guest this week is Vangile Makwakwa, who helps women of color heal ancestral money trauma so the…
Season 6 Ep 3: Examining Your Trauma Responses [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:39
Let's connect some more dots this week, shall we? My goal here is to offer you something to consider the next time you're in a stressful situation, feeling activated, or in conflict. When you have more awareness and unde…