In this episode, we speak with Selina Millstam, who reflects on her career journey from social work to senior HR leadership, driven by a deep curiosity about human behavior. She explores leadership as a “human relating” challenge, the importance of transparency, inclusion, and managing biases, and shares practical insights on well-being, career transitions, and legacy. The conversation also looks ahead to generative AI, emphasizing the need to balance technological progress with a deeply human approach to leadership and organizations.

Selina Millstam is an experienced Human Resources and Talent Management executive with a strong track record across the information technology, science and technology, and consulting industries. She specializes in executive and career development, HR consulting, and coaching, helping leaders and organizations navigate growth and transformation. With a Master’s degree in Organizational Change from Ashridge Business School, she brings a practical, business-driven approach to developing talent and building effective, future-ready organizations. She is also co-host of the podcast Plain Speaking, alongside Burak Bakkaloglu.

Links from the episode:

Selina’s LinkedIn profile

Selina’s podcast ‘Plain Speaking by Selina and Burak’

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Visit our homepage at https://disrupt-your-career.com
If you like the podcast, please take a moment to rate it and leave a review in Apple Podcast

In this episode, we speak with Pauline Kiraithe, who reflects on curiosity, lifelong learning, and a passion for helping people live intentionally. She shares her journey from corporate HR to entrepreneurship, the personal crisis that sparked her search for purpose, and the realization that “the gift is in you.” Pauline discusses leadership role models, advice for early-career professionals, the importance of nurturing women leaders, and her legacy of being a catalyst for mindset shifts.

Dr. Pauline Kiraithe is a Career Transformation Strategist, Executive Leadership Coach, and Founder of Talentgurus@254, one of Kenya’s most recognized career coaching institutions. With 30+ years across banking, NGOs, telecom, retail, media, and consulting, she helps professionals and leaders re-engineer their careers for intentional impact and alignment. She is the author of Owning Your Career and has shaped thousands of careers, becoming a trusted voice on career ownership, leadership identity, and purposeful growth.

Links from the episode:

Talent Gurus 254 homepage

Pauline’s book Owning Your Career

Pauline’s LinkedIn profile

Thanks for listening!
Visit our homepage at https://disrupt-your-career.com
If you like the podcast, please take a moment to rate it and leave a review in Apple Podcast

In this episode, we speak with Neri Karra Sillaman about her journey from childhood refugee to entrepreneur and academic, and how education became her North Star. She shares how experiences of inequality shaped her values, her approach to risk and failure as redirection, and why being an outsider can be a strategic advantage. The conversation explores building businesses with limited resources, “frying in your own oil,” and redefining legacy as long-term impact on people, organizations, and society.

Neri Karra Sillaman is an immigrant entrepreneur, academic, and author. Born into a persecuted Turkish minority in communist Bulgaria, she moved to Istanbul as a child refugee, where her family later co-founded a company that has grown internationally. She holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge and is an entrepreneurship expert at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. Her work focuses on building sustainable businesses that combine purpose and long-term performance.

Links from the episode:

Neri’s book Pioneers

Neri’s personal website

Neri’s LinkedIn profile

Thanks for listening!
Visit our homepage at https://disrupt-your-career.com
If you like the podcast, please take a moment to rate it and leave a review in Apple Podcast