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:
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How two doctoral students became “anchor friends” who cheered each other across the finish line then and continue to support each other years later.
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Tondi’s take on showing vulnerability at work and online, and why she’s doubling down on LinkedIn and launching a Substack.
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Lessons from the historic Mann Gulch fire on decision-making under pressure and why hindsight bias still trips us up.
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How systems thinking, risk management, and a “curiosity first” mindset (thanks, Mom!) guide Tondi’s consulting lens.
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Practical advice for professionals and organizations navigating layoffs, flux, and the fast-arriving future of work.
Connect with Tondi
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LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/tondi-mondoloka/
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Substack → https://tondimondoloka.substack.com/
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Speaking & consulting → http://www.tondimondoloka.com/
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