From Corporate Success to Creative Freedom with Suzanne Parisi

What happens when you strip away the titles—lawyer, executive, top performer—and ask a much harder question:

Who am I without all of that?

In this deeply reflective episode, I sit down with my friend Suzanne Parisi, who spent 25 years in enterprise sales and law before making a bold pivot into the world of glass artistry.

And not casually. She took 30+ classes, explored relentlessly, and followed curiosity until something clicked.

This conversation isn’t about retirement. It’s about reinvention with intention.

🔍 What we explore:

• Why the most important question isn’t “What should I do next?” but “Who do I want to be without external definitions?”
• The surprising truth about creativity: It’s not talent—it’s learned, practiced, and earned through imperfect action
• How Suzanne reframed success from outcomes and revenue… to joy in the process and emotional connection through her work
• The mindset shift that unlocks reinvention: 👉 Let go of self-limiting beliefs 👉 Try things badly 👉 Follow what energizes your time
• And one of my favorite takeaways: “If my day isn’t great, it’s on me—because my day can be anything I want it to be.”

Suzanne Parisi is an artist in residency at the Arts of Glen Echo. You can find more of her work here.

Suzanne Parisi Artist Portfolio

Suzanne Parisi — NCAGG National Capital Art Glass Guild