What happens when life throws multiple pivots at you simultaneously? Jessica Porter found herself facing this exact scenario when she moved from Texas to Portland, transitioned from the automotive industry to financial services, and became a stepmother to an eight-year-old. All at the same time.

Jessica's journey begins with the challenges of relocating to rainy Portland in January, knowing virtually no one except her partner who worked long hours. At 27, she discovered the difficulty of making adult friendships, pushing herself as an introvert to join Meetup groups and networking events. "Making friends as an adult is a lot harder than you think," she shares, describing her evolution from networking novice to confident professional through persistence and authenticity.

Eleven years later, Jessica has transformed these simultaneous pivots into a life she "could never have seen" for herself - a thriving career as a partner and co-founder of the 401k Girls, a strong marriage, and a meaningful relationship with her now 19-year-old stepdaughter. Her story reminds us that sometimes the most rewarding paths forward come when we say yes to multiple changes at once.

Guest Bio:

As one of three children of a plumber and a homemaker, Jessica grew up never knowing what a financial advisor was. Once immersing herself in the industry and learning the incredible ways advisors can help people, she focused her practice on providing the education and planning that helps her clients gain a handle on their finances and not only avoid making mistakes that so many do, but strategically plan for their futures.

In 2025, Jessica and a colleague founded The 401(k) Girls with the goal to make financial education approachable, relatable, and actually fun. Whether you’re a young professional just getting started or a seasoned exec gearing up for retirement, they can help you avoid common pitfalls, plan strategically, and take control of your financial future.

Connect with Jessica:

LinkedIn

Connect with Theresa and Ivana:

Theresa, True Strategy Consultants: tsc-consultants.com
LinkedIn @treeconti, Insta @tscconsultants

Ivana, Courageous Being: courageousbeing.com
LinkedIn @ivipol, Insta @courbeing

SITP team, Step Into The Pivot: stepintothepivot.com
LinkedIn @step-into-the-pivot, YouTube @StepIntoThePivot

A new child, a global pandemic, and an unexpected two-year isolation—Yolanda Reyes White's journey into motherhood was nothing like she planned. Just weeks after welcoming her daughter in February 2020, the world shut down, transforming what was supposed to be a brief parental leave before returning to daycare and office life into an extended period of family bonding that changed everything.

"I had to go back to places within myself I didn't even know existed," Yolanda shares, reflecting on the simultaneous challenges of first-time motherhood and pandemic uncertainty. While acknowledging the tremendous hardships many faced during this period, she candidly discusses the unexpected gift of extended time with her baby, something virtually impossible to achieve in typical American work culture.

Whether you're navigating parenthood, career transitions, or simply seeking greater alignment between your actions and values, Yolanda's experience offers valuable insights on stepping into pivotal moments with courage and emerging more grounded, present, and authentic. Listen now and discover how unexpected challenges might just reveal your path to reinvention.

Guest Bio:

Yolanda is a relationship manager responsible for building and retaining relationships with prospective and existing clients directly and through consultants, platforms, TPAs and advisors. Yolanda has 19 years of financial service experience, including 14 years in stable value. Prior to joining Principal Morley in 2010, she was a Senior Account Manager for Standard Insurance Company. She has served as Co-Chair of WIPN Oregon and President of the Western Pension & Benefits Council Portland Chapter. She is a committee member for the Stable Value Investment Association and Retirement Advisory Council and holds designations with the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries. Yolanda received a master’s degree from University of Oregon and a bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University.

Connect with Yolanda:

LinkedIn

Connect with Theresa and Ivana:

Theresa, True Strategy Consultants: tsc-consultants.com
LinkedIn @treeconti, Insta @tscconsultants

Ivana, Courageous Being: courageousbeing.com
LinkedIn @ivipol, Insta @courbeing

SITP team, Step Into The Pivot: stepintothepivot.com
LinkedIn @step-into-the-pivot, YouTube @StepIntoThePivot

Have you ever experienced a moment when everything you thought you knew suddenly changed? When Stephanie Neault was 15 years old, her parents sat her down and revealed they were actually her grandparents. This single conversation set off a cascade of questions about identity, belonging, and trust that would shape her life for decades to come.

After years of "white-knuckling" through life, experiencing dramatic work performance swings from exceptional productivity to complete overwhelm, Stephanie finally received diagnoses of PTSD and bipolar II disorder. This medical truth, while initially shocking, provided a framework for understanding her experiences and accessing appropriate treatment.

Listen now to discover how stepping into uncomfortable truths can become the foundation for authentic healing and personal transformation. And remember, if you have a pivot in your life, don't hesitate to step into it.

Guest Bio:

Stephanie Neault’s career began in special education and took a winding path through the world of finance before landing in the retirement industry. Since 2019, she’s been part of Pension Assurance LLP, where she started as an auditor and now also leads as the firm’s Recruiting Manager. Stephanie thrives on being part of projects that help others—whether in the thick of multiple 401(k) audits or guiding future accountants through their next big step. Her mission remains constant: to bring transparency, integrity, and standout communication to every role she takes on.

If she wanted to brag, she could say that she holds an MBA from California Lutheran University and is a board member of Western Pension and Benefits Council—Portland Chapter. In 2018, she finished the L.A marathon. Voted “best wife” by her husband in 2023 and 2024. Overall, actions speak louder than anything that goes on your resume.

Off the clock, Stephanie is an adventure-loving traveler, always planning the next trip with her husband (already checked off 24 countries). She lives for new memories, unfamiliar cities, and food that tells a story. Equal parts grounded and whimsical, she can crush a deadline, plan a flawless spreadsheet, and host a dreamy tea party all in the same week. Most at home when surrounded by great books, dogs, and her favorite people, Stephanie believes life gets slightly easier when you reach outside your comfort zone, ignore your fears, and try a new solution to an old problem.

Connect with Stephanie:

LinkedIn

Connect with Theresa and Ivana:

Theresa, True Strategy Consultants: tsc-consultants.com
LinkedIn @treeconti, Insta @tscconsultants

Ivana, Courageous Being: courageousbeing.com
LinkedIn @ivipol, Insta @courbeing

SITP team, Step Into The Pivot: stepintothepivot.com
LinkedIn @step-into-the-pivot, YouTube @StepIntoThePivot

Purpose-driven nonprofit leader Alison Nakamura takes us on her journey of transformation, sharing the pivotal moment at age 30 when she abandoned her successful Manhattan PR career to pursue social work—a decision that seemed financially risky but spiritually essential. With remarkable candor, she reveals how growing up between two parental influences, her nurse mother's service-oriented values and her father's traditional success metrics created an internal tug-of-war that eventually led to her breaking point.

"I remember going to Ann Taylor and putting on this weird gray suit and going to interviews in the city when I was like 19. And I was like, this could not be farther from who I am," Alison confesses. That disconnect eventually became too powerful to ignore, leading to a career pivot that would completely reshape her life's trajectory.

For anyone standing at the crossroads of comfort and calling, security and purpose, or expectation and authenticity, this conversation offers both permission and practical wisdom. Listen in and discover how stepping into your pivot, however frightening, might be the most expansive move you'll ever make.

Guest Bio:

Alison Nakamura Netter is a purpose-driven nonprofit leader with a proven track record in advancing gender equity and reproductive health and rights. She currently serves as Executive Director of ZanaAfrica Foundation, an organization that supports girls in Kenya from adolescence to adulthood—ensuring they have the knowledge, resources, and agency to shape their own futures.

With 18 years of experience across domestic and international causes, Alison has led initiatives to combat sex trafficking in Cambodia, address food insecurity, and promote diversity and inclusion in the arts in New York City. Her multifaceted background in fundraising, nonprofit management, strategic communications, and social work equips her with a unique skill set to lead sustainable, community-driven change.

Alison’s commitment to service started early, teaching English to Haitian immigrants preparing for their U.S. citizenship exams and volunteering at a hospital providing companionship to marginalized patients. Those experiences shaped her values and continue to guide her leadership today.

She holds a BA in Sociology from Northeastern University and a Master’s in Social Work from Hunter College’s Silberman School of Social Work. Alison is deeply committed to supporting organizations and solutions that create lasting, sustainable impact.

She lives in New York with her husband, son, and their goldendoodle, Molly. When she’s not working, you’ll find her spending time with friends and family, exercising, and spending time in nature.

Connect with Alison:

LinkedIn

Connect with Theresa and Ivana:

Theresa, True Strategy Consultants: tsc-consultants.com
LinkedIn @treeconti, Insta @tscconsultants

Ivana, Courageous Being: courageousbeing.com
LinkedIn @ivipol, Insta @courbeing

SITP team, Step Into The Pivot: stepintothepivot.com
LinkedIn @step-into-the-pivot, YouTube @StepIntoThePivot

When Anne Tankersley decided to make 2023 her "self-care year," she had no idea how profoundly that decision would change her life. A mammogram revealed triple-negative breast cancer, launching her into an intense journey of treatments, career transitions, and personal transformation.

With remarkable candor, she describes attempting to maintain her professional momentum through 20 weeks of chemotherapy, only gradually learning to adjust her expectations and accept support. Her story powerfully illustrates the delicate balancing act many face when serious health challenges collide with career ambitions.

Whether you're personally affected by breast cancer or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers both practical guidance and emotional resonance. And the message remains clear: early detection through regular mammograms saves lives, perhaps even yours.

Guest Bio:

Anne completed her bachelor’s degree in economics and French studies. For the first few years of her career, Anne worked for a small family-owned construction company. During that time, she found her love for accounting and decided to move into public accounting to get exposure to a variety of industries and clients. Anne started with Geffen Mesher in 2008 and worked in both tax and assurance departments until finally deciding to focus on the assurance practice. Over the last 15 years, she has worked with a variety of clients, primarily focusing on real estate, hospitality, investment companies and employee benefit plans (EBPs). She found her passion in auditing EBPs. Anne enjoys working with clients to navigate the complex regulatory environment and being part of our client’s benefit process by helping plan sponsors meet their fiduciary responsibilities, providing guidance on best practices for operating a plan and knowing at the end of the day, participants are able to retire.

Connect with Anne:

LinkedIn

Connect with Theresa and Ivana:

Theresa, True Strategy Consultants: tsc-consultants.com
LinkedIn @treeconti, Insta @tscconsultants

Ivana, Courageous Being: courageousbeing.com
LinkedIn @ivipol, Insta @courbeing

SITP team, Step Into The Pivot: stepintothepivot.com
LinkedIn @step-into-the-pivot, YouTube @StepIntoThePivot

Despite having regular mammograms and being previously told she had benign fibrocystic breast tissue, Kim received news that would change everything. The confusion of conflicting test results and constantly changing treatment plans taught her what would become her mantra: "Prepare for the plan to change." This wisdom carried her through surgery, chemotherapy, and the difficult decisions that followed. Kim's transformation was ‘pivoted’ into an opportunity learning to prioritize her own needs and desires after a lifetime of people-pleasing.

The ripple effects of this mindset shift have touched every area of Kim's life. At 58, she joined a business partnership, embracing uncertainty and opportunity with newfound confidence. She's developed a passion for health and wellness, researching mitochondrial function and metabolic health with the awareness that none of us is invincible. Most importantly, she's learned to put herself first – to do what brings her joy before tackling obligations.

Guest Bio:

Kim Kelleher is a Luminary at Luma Accounting, a bookkeeping/accounting firm (no tax!) committed to helping small- and medium-sized businesses gain clarity around their finances. Luma’s “secret sauce” is the blending of accounting, technology and process - this gives clients not only the accounting support they need, but also helps identify opportunities for innovation through technology and processes changes. The firm was born from the merger between Kim and her business partner Heather Deibele - they found they shared the same values and both craved collaboration. Together, they built a 100% remote, work-on-your-own-time and highly collaborative model designed to support US-based women seeking flexible but meaningful work.

Now at Luma, Kim is focused on ensuring the firm’s mission of BEST. EXPERIENCE. EVER., both for clients and for team members.

Connect with Kim:

LinkedIn

Connect with Theresa and Ivana:

Theresa, True Strategy Consultants: tsc-consultants.com
LinkedIn @treeconti, Insta @tscconsultants

Ivana, Courageous Being: courageousbeing.com
LinkedIn @ivipol, Insta @courbeing

SITP team, Step Into The Pivot: stepintothepivot.com
LinkedIn @step-into-the-pivot, YouTube @StepIntoThePivot

This episode covers extremely sensitive topics, including violence. Listener discretion is advised. Please prioritize your well-being while listening.

How do you move forward when the foundation of your life story crumbles beneath you? Claudia St John returns to share the aftermath of her father's shocking confession to murdering her grandmother 26 years earlier.

The moment Claudia learned the truth, she knew she would turn her father in to authorities. Yet she took a month to carefully consider the consequences of this decision—a period she describes as "one of the loneliest times of my life." Friends and family offered no guidance until after she'd already acted, when suddenly everyone agreed she'd done the right thing. When prosecutors ultimately decided not to pursue the case against her elderly father, Claudia felt relief that the final decision hadn't rested solely on her shoulders.

Claudia's story is a powerful reminder that vulnerability can be our greatest strength. By sharing our most difficult truths, we not only free ourselves but potentially help others navigate their own impossible situations. As she powerfully states, "In these days of anger and tribalism... forgiveness is an underpinning of everything that we do." Her journey shows us that even in our darkest moments, there remains the possibility of finding peace, meaning, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Guest Bio:

Claudia St. John, SHRM-SCP, SPHR is the Founder and CEO of The Workplace Advisors™, a leading HR consulting and training firm specializing in equipping businesses with the consulting support and people skills they need to grow.

She is an SPHR (Senior Professional in HR), SHRM-SCP (SHRM Senior Certified Professional), and Certified Professional Behavioral Analyst who empowers organizations with evidence-backed insights, so they can navigate the evolving landscape of talent acquisition, engagement, and retention with confidence and foresight. Known as The Workplace Advisor™, she helps organizations zoom out, shift their mindset, and build businesses that lead their industry.

A frequent keynote speaker, Claudia is a regular media contributor on the topic of HR. She wrote the book, Transforming Teams: Tips For Improving Collaboration and Building Trust, a book for leaders that addresses why fundamental breakdowns happen within organizations, and what they can do to correct them.

Claudia holds an Undergraduate degree in Employee Benefits & Labor Relations from The American University and a Master’s degree in Business & Public Administration from The George Washington University, in addition to numerous HR and behavioral science certifications.

Connect with Claudia:

LinkedIn

Connect with Theresa and Ivana:

Theresa, True Strategy Consultants: tsc-consultants.com
LinkedIn @treeconti, Insta @tscconsultants

Ivana, Courageous Being: courageousbeing.com
LinkedIn @ivipol, Insta @courbeing

SITP team, Step Into The Pivot: stepintothepivot.com
LinkedIn @step-into-the-pivot, YouTube @StepIntoThePivot

This episode covers extremely sensitive topics, including violence. Listener discretion is advised. Please prioritize your well-being while listening.

What would you do if someone you loved confessed to an unthinkable crime? Claudia St. John faced this impossible question when her father casually admitted to murdering her grandmother – 26 years after the fact.

With raw honesty, Claudia shares the month-long moral crisis that followed – consulting doctors, prosecutors, priests, and even the brother of the Unabomber as she grappled with an impossible choice. Should she protect her father or report him? The decision she and her sister ultimately made speaks to profound questions about family loyalty, moral responsibility, and personal integrity.

This powerful testimony isn't just about trauma. it's about resilience in the face of unimaginable betrayal. While few will face circumstances as extreme as Claudia's, her story offers profound insights for anyone confronting difficult truths or painful choices. Listen and discover how even the darkest experiences can ultimately lead to growth, wisdom, and healing.

Guest Bio:

Claudia St. John, SHRM-SCP, SPHR is the Founder and CEO of The Workplace Advisors™, a leading HR consulting and training firm specializing in equipping businesses with the consulting support and people skills they need to grow.

She is an SPHR (Senior Professional in HR), SHRM-SCP (SHRM Senior Certified Professional), and Certified Professional Behavioral Analyst who empowers organizations with evidence-backed insights, so they can navigate the evolving landscape of talent acquisition, engagement, and retention with confidence and foresight. Known as The Workplace Advisor™, she helps organizations zoom out, shift their mindset, and build businesses that lead their industry.

A frequent keynote speaker, Claudia is a regular media contributor on the topic of HR. She wrote the book, Transforming Teams: Tips For Improving Collaboration and Building Trust, a book for leaders that addresses why fundamental breakdowns happen within organizations, and what they can do to correct them.

Claudia holds an Undergraduate degree in Employee Benefits & Labor Relations from The American University and a Master’s degree in Business & Public Administration from The George Washington University, in addition to numerous HR and behavioral science certifications.

Connect with Claudia:

LinkedIn

Connect with Theresa and Ivana:

Theresa, True Strategy Consultants: tsc-consultants.com
LinkedIn @treeconti, Insta @tscconsultants

Ivana, Courageous Being: courageousbeing.com
LinkedIn @ivipol, Insta @courbeing

SITP team, Step Into The Pivot: stepintothepivot.com
LinkedIn @step-into-the-pivot, YouTube @StepIntoThePivot