• Shattering Glass Ceilings + Learning From the Loss with Chrishon Lampley

    In today’s episode, Michaela is joined by a highly accomplished entrepreneur and owner of Love Cork Screw, Chrishon Lampley. Chrishon is bold, resilient, tenacious, and a natural-born innovator. Her road to success has not been an easy one, but to Chrishon, success is inspiring at least one person to follow and reach their dreams. She learned early on that in order for her to achieve her dreams, she would have to overcome limitations and challenges. Since then, she has built an extremely successful career and shattered every glass ceiling imaginable. Did you know that less than 1% of wine industry negociants are black women? Lampley is not only an experienced negociant, but she is also a wine enthusiast and founder of LCS Entertainment, LLC. She has an infectious energy and this conversation is a powerful way to kick off 2022. 


     

    In this episode of Per My Last Email: 

    • How Chrishon shatters glass ceilings in the wine industry as a female, minority business owner
    • The inspirational story behind Love Cork Screw’s beginning 
    • The intersection of sales and entrepreneurship 
    • The many ways Chrishon built an unbreakable foundation after learning from loss and remaining optimistic about her purpose 



    Connect with Michaela:


    Connect with Chrishon: 


    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    S1E19 - 47m - Jan 5, 2022
  • Humanity’s Desire to Be Seen

    Do you remember seeing “I wuz here” carved into the desks at school? Did you ever stop to think about what was beneath the 12-year-old student boredom that drove them to take their pencil to the desk in the first place? Well, Michaela has and she beautifully weaves the answer throughout this solo episode. As humans, we long to make a mark, and everyone has their own unique way of doing so. Whether it is a lifetime dedicated to creating like the late designer, Virgil Abloh, crocheting, baking pies, or hey - maybe even cultivating a community rooted around a podcast (I see you, Per My Last Email Fam) - it all comes down to the desire of leaving a mark on the world. So before we rush into another new year, let’s take a look at what we have done throughout this one and all that it cost us to get to where we are today. 

     


    In this episode of Per My Last Email: 

    • Paying tribute to the designer, Virgil Abloh 
    • Speaking to humanity’s desire to leave their mark in life 
    • Honoring life’s duality + the power of creation
    • Why you should hold space for the evolution of self and continuous unbecoming 


     

    Connect with Michaela:



    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    S1E18 - 16m - Dec 29, 2021
  • Taking a Leap: Career Change, Relocation + Hustle with Jessica Levi

    In today’s episode, Michaela is joined by Chicago wedding planner, Jessica Levi. Jessica is the Lead Planner at Clover Events and Productions, and was just published in the #1 multicultural bridal magazine, MunaLuchi Bride, and is the perfect example of what it looks like to live a self-made journey no matter how many detours it takes. In addition to her successful wedding planning career, she is also the fundraising director for the non-profit Chicago chapter of Wish Upon a Wedding and worked for many years with Madam President Camp, where she taught young girls about women in leadership, politics and helped inspire them to make their community a better place. Jessica has a beautiful heart and takes wedding planning to the next level by infusing her background in social work and serving as a calming and positive force to her client’s magical day. 

     


    In this episode of Per My Last Email: 

    • How Jessica went from social work to event planning 
    • Finding your own way outside of the white picket fence predestined fairytale 
    • The importance of networking, hustle, and never giving up on your dreams
    • Perspective on what it is like to work in a female-dominated industry 


     

    Connect with Michaela:


    Connect with Jessica: 


    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    S1E17 - 55m - Dec 22, 2021
  • Self-Advocacy and Following Your Dreams with Salima Lalani

    In today’s episode, Michaela is joined by her very first hometown guest and childhood friend, Salima Lalani. She is a naturally curious, data nerd on a journey to understand how best to take a brilliant spark from ideation to commercialization using analytics, insights, and powerful stories. She is the daughter of immigrant parents, a fiercely loyal partner, teammate, and friend who goes to bat for her inner circle in a heartbeat. In addition to her unbelievably successful career in brand management, she is also a travel and food enthusiast, taking every opportunity to see and experience all corners of the world. This conversation will leave you feeling seen, (especially if you have Virgo in your astrological chart), motivated to never give up on your dreams, and a new perspective on life’s checklist. 



    In this episode of Per My Last Email: 

    • Finding flexibility and grace while following your life's blueprint 
    • Discussing the pressures that come with having immigrant parents 
    • The importance of self-advocacy in business and your personal life
    • How to assess risks in life and make the best decision for your future 



     

    Connect with Michaela:


    Connect with Salima: 



    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    S1E16 - 44m - Dec 15, 2021
  • Entrepreneurial Effort Comes Full Circle with Anna Hovet Dias

    In today’s episode, Michaela is joined by fashion designer, entrepreneur, and educator, Anna Hovet Dias. Anna has 16 years in corporate and small business fashion, and had her own athleisure fashion line, HØVET Apparel, for 10 years before she transitioned her business to Hovet Fashion Studio. As Executive Director of the Chicago Fashion Incubator, Anna continues to be a leader in Chicago fashion. And, as if that wasn’t impressive enough, she also owns and operates a private tutoring company, Sophic Standard Private Tutoring, and teaches at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Anna is the perfect example of what can happen when your entrepreneurial effort comes full circle and you honor the multifaceted passions and skillsets you possess in life. 



    In this episode of Per My Last Email: 

    • How Anna went from growing up on a North Dakota farm to following her passion in the world of fashion
    • Unpacking the impact of the 2009 recession and how unemployment sparked her entrepreneurial fire 
    • Finding success and learned balance in a multi-passionate career venture
    • Normalizing using multiple income streams and side-hustles to fund your big dream 



    Connect with Michaela:


    Connect with Anna: 




    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    S1E15 - 57m - Dec 8, 2021
  • Navigating Life's What Ifs

    Have you ever stopped to think about how you got to where you are today, and what your life would be like if you had made different decisions? Like, what if you had said yes, to the man who asked you to move across the country with him? What if you had taken that job opportunity in another state? What if you had chased your childhood dream? What if everything was different? On the same token, what if it was all still the same? Let’s ditch the public happy hour, grab a glass of wine (the bottle works too), get into your favorite pajamas, and have a good old girl’s night chat exploring life’s greatest question - what if?  


    In this episode of Per My Last Email: 

    • How “Ordinary Joe” caused Michaela to question her life decisions 
    • Deep dive into life’s greatest question - ‘what if’ 
    • Understanding you can’t predict what you know in retrospect 
    • The gift of realizing the journey is the reward   


    Connect with Michaela:




    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    S1E13 - 20m - Oct 13, 2021
  • Balance for Working Moms with KC Gutierrez

    You’ve heard Michaela say this before and it won’t be the last time, it is impossible to have a podcast featuring businesswomen without also discussing the often impossible work-life, mom-life balance. Let’s be real for a second, it is very rare that you hear about a man choosing between work and starting a family but for many women, those thoughts begin crossing their minds in grade school. Today Michaela has her bestie, KC Gutierrez on the show to talk all about that. In third grade, KC knew she wanted a family and a career and she shares the journey that led her to have both today. She is the perfect example of a modern-day woman looking to hold onto a career, identity, passion, and be the best partner to her husband, Mom to her daughter, and advocate for herself. 



    In this episode of Per My Last Email: 

    • KC’s personal journey from college student to Mother, Wife, and Registered Nurse
    • The importance of boundaries and effective communication as a working-Mom
    • The power of not allowing your occupation to become your identity 
    • The impossible task of finding a balance between work and home as a Mom 



    Connect with Michaela:




    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    S1E12 - 48m - Sep 22, 2021
  • Retirement at 30, Now What? with Olympian Emily Brydon

    Today is a special episode because it is part two, of the Emily Brydon series. If you haven’t listened to part one yet, go back to episode 10 to hear all about Emily’s experience as a three-time Olympian on the Canada ski team before you drop into today’s conversation. Today, they explore how Emily got into the oil and gas industry after hanging up her professional skis and entering the corporate world, what it takes to build a whole new identity in life, and the unexpected skillsets, lessons, and strengths that transferred seamlessly into her new world. 


    In this episode of Per My Last Email: 

    • Finding purpose, identity, and passion post-retirement
    • How Emily made her way into the oil and gas industry 
    • Reflections on the power of education and a woman’s role in the corporate world 
    • Identifying the wave of change upon us in the professional world 



    Connect with Michaela:




    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    S1E11 - 35m - Sep 8, 2021
  • Olympic Athletes Burn Out Too with Emily Brydon

    Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an Olympic athlete? Have you ever really thought about the level of dedication, sacrifice, and focus it would take? Have you ever thought about what happens when you decide to retire and are then faced with recreating your entire identity and purpose at age 30? I have one more for you - have you ever thought about what it is like to do all of that, as a woman? Today’s guest is Canadian, three-time Alpine Olympic skier, Emily Brydon. She is a change seeker with a passion for continuous improvement and someone who thrives under challenging and dynamic environments. It is her goal to leave this planet better off than she entered it and as someone who gets to call her a friend, I can attest that she is doing just that. Hit play on this two-part series to hear how Emily became an Olympian and what is up next for her. 



    In this episode of Per My Last Email: 

    • Emily’s journey from a small mountain town to the Olympic slopes 
    • Navigating the pressures that come with being an Olympian athlete 
    • How do identify burnout vs being ready to retire
    • How to make life decisions based on purpose instead of exhaustion



    Connect with Michaela:



    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    S1E10 - 40m - Sep 1, 2021
  • The Magic of Saying Yes with Dr. Marcie Claybon

    Are you someone who thrives off of the checklists in life? Do you make a plan and stick to it regardless of how hard the path might become? Or are you someone who says yes to the opportunities sent your way, even if it doesn’t look anything like what you envisioned? Dr. Marcie Claybon has a unique story. She knew she wanted to be a doctor and live in Chicago since age eight but the rest was up to the Universe. Dr. Marcie Claybon, MD is a board-certified Internal Medicine doctor, concierge physician, and Medical Director at Chicago’s newest and most stunning wellness club, BIÂN. Listen as Marcie and Michaela talk about the professional space, the woo-woo, and everything in between. 


    In this episode of Per My Last Email: 

    • Dr. Marcie Claybon's story and how she ended up at BIÂN
    • Normalizing a non-traditional path in life as a woman 
    • Finding the magic in spontaneity 
    • The intersection of medicine and woo



    Connect with Michaela:



    Connect with Dr. Marcie Claybon: 



    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    S1E9 - 57m - Aug 18, 2021
  • Becoming Your Own Person with The Sanchez Sisters

    Have you ever felt you were living in the shadow of someone else? Maybe it was their name or their success or maybe it was a dream they chose and then projected onto you. So many of us have been there and honestly, so many of us still are. But, not Samantha and Korina Sanchez. They broke out of the shadows and have made a name for themselves in Chicago and I couldn’t be more proud of them. In this episode, you will get to know these two restaurant industry entrepreneurs, who I have known since I was 22 years old when I started working at one of their Dad’s restaurants. So much has changed for all of us and this conversation highlights the importance of following your own intuition and dreams in order to become your own person. And how at the end of the day, you never know where life will take you.  


    In this episode of Per My Last Email: 

    • Hear the story of how Samantha and Korina Sanchez discovered their passion for the restaurant industry 
    • Finding passion in and outside of the family business
    • How to become your own person and build a name for yourself in life
    • The unexpected intersection of law, design, and hospitality 
    • Reflections on being a business owner in Chicago during the pandemic, riots, and protests



    Connect with Michaela:


    Connect with Samantha and Korina Sanchez: 



    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    S1E8 - 38m - Jul 30, 2021
  • Don’t Call me Strong

    Have you ever been pushing through hard things in life only to be met with someone saying how strong you are? Doesn’t it somehow leave you feeling even more overwhelmed, unseen and tempted to pull your hair out? I don’t know about you but, I hate that. Because I’m not strong, I am BRAVE. In today’s solo episode I recount my RV trip that left social media aghast and me remembering that I am brave. Be sure to stay until the very end so you can get a glimpse into what podcast life is really like.


    In this episode of Per My Last Email:

    • Michaela’s history with people calling her strong
    • Why you should replace the word strong with brave
    • A recap of Michaela’s solo RV trip to Tennessee and why the internet had strong feelings about it
    • A reminder that women can do brave things


    Connect with Michaela:



    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    S1E7 - 27m - Jul 14, 2021
  • Tech Bros and New Cities with Hillary Fortin

    Have you ever caught yourself thinking about how random it is for you to have a career in your current industry? Have you ever told someone that you “sort of just fell into it?” Have you wondered if maybe you should leave it all and move to a cabin in the woods instead? Well, you are not alone. In today’s episode, Hillary Fortin finds herself on Michaela’s dining room bench sharing it all from how she fell into the land of “Tech Bros”, to her experiences from living in LA, NYC, San Francisco, Boston, and most recently Chicago. This will leave you laughing, feeling understood, and inspired to get out there and live a little.  


    In this episode of Per My Last Email: 

    • Hillary’s real-life experience from living in NYC versus Michaela’s fantasy
    • How Hillary fell into a career in the tech industry 
    • Hillary’s take on the reality of “tech bros” and equal pay 
    • The freedom found in moving cities, working remote and working to support your lifestyle



    Connect with Michaela:


    Connect with Hillary: 



    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    S1E6 - 38m - Jun 30, 2021
  • Creating a Brand That Stands the Test of Time with Renee Silverman

    In today’s episode, Michaela is joined by Irv’s Luggage business owner, Renee Silverman. Renee shares her beautiful story of the progression from working at her family’s business to voyaging the world of e-marketing, the internet, and social media, to eventually taking it on as her own business in partnership with her husband, Pete. Irv’s luggage is more than a brick-and-mortar store selling luggage, it has become a brand built to honor their love for travel, a pinnacle point in their local community, and proof that when you follow your gut and believe in your vision anything is possible. 


    In this episode of Per My Last Email: 

    • Hear Renee Silverman’s story of employee to business owner 
    • Learn how to create a brand that stands the test of time 
    • Why following your gut + trusting your vision is the ultimate foundation for success 
    • The importance of human interaction and relationship building in business



    Connect with Michaela


    Connect with Renee Silverman: 





    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    S1E5 - 42m - Jun 16, 2021
  • Perfect Timing with Michaela Gordon

    In today’s episode, Michaela has the microphone and is getting honest because life is not a highlight reel. This podcast was created to be a place for everyone to chat, share experiences, and hear each other’s successes, failures, and ridiculous stories. So it was time for Michaela to own the mic and share the raw, vulnerable, and totally relatable place she finds herself in lately - stuck and questioning it all. Grab a glass of wine, hit play, and come feel seen for a while. 



    In this episode of Per My Last Email: 

    • Dropping the act and getting honest with the seasons of life 
    • Michaela’s experience with perfect timing 
    • Advice for those who feel stuck in life 
    • Tips and tricks for how to navigate the current real estate market


    Connect with Michaela




    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    S1E4 - 25m - Jun 2, 2021
  • Stepping Stones with Ashley Louise

    Ashley Louise is a Chicago-based co-owner and Aesthetic Physician Assistant at Natural Beauty Medspa and owner of Injections by Ashley Louise. She just made Allergan top 500 accounts in the country as a single provider and did over two million dollars in sales this past year during a global pandemic. One thing is for sure, Ashley has paved the way to success in her career and sheds a light on all of the stepping stones that led her to this moment in today’s episode with Michaela. 

     



    In this episode of Per My Last Email

    • Speaking to the strengths that come from being a people pleaser  
    • Following your heart and making a career pivot 
    • Reframing opportunities that don’t work out as stepping stones to a brighter future 
    • Serendipitous moments and taking a risk in order to be fulfilled 



    Connect with Michaela


    Connect with Ashley



    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    S1E3 - 30m - May 19, 2021
  • The Namaste Filter with Laura Holloway

    Laura Holloway is a former athlete turned entrepreneur. She uses her intuition to guide her in creating an activated life, focusing on both the goal line and the soul line. Michaela and Laura discuss the need for feminine values in business culture and how creating sustainable success requires a greater connection to humanity.


    In this episode of Per My Last Email

    • Getting beyond the athlete identity
    • Intuition and entrepreneurship
    • The differences in masculine feminine values in business 
    • Burnout is real and what to do about it


    Connect with Michaela


    Connect with Laura


    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    S1E2 - 40m - May 5, 2021
  • Leverage What Your Mama Gave Ya with Chelsea Jenkins

    Chelsea lives by the motto, “For the highest good of all.” In this episode, she shares her experience going after her goals, no matter what stands in the way. There is a deep need for taking action against the underrepresentation of women and women of color in the workplace. Chelsea shares how we can use the tools we have to speak up, speak out, and how she uses her platform to be a voice for the voiceless.


    In this episode of Per My Last Email:

    • Diversity and segregation: being the only one
    • Purpose, passion, and the 40 hour work week 
    • How 2020 reshaped systemic oppression 
    • Inauthentic authenticity vs genuine care


    Follow Chelsea:


    Express Dream Big Video


    Connect with Michaela:





    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    S1E1 - 43m - Apr 21, 2021
  • Per My Last Email - The Trailer

    Being a woman building a business or trying to break out in an industry can feel more like you’re hitting your head against a brick wall, on repeat, daily. Have you ever written an email starting with, “Per my Last Email, Karen”? People don’t listen. Or read. Oh, and what ever happened to feeling empowered?! Should we just stop trying? Absolutely F-ing NOT. This podcast is a place for us all to chat, share experiences and hear each other’s successes, failures and ridiculous stories wherever you create your best professional self.


    Grab a glass of ANYTHING, unwind with us girls and join the happy hour. We’ve earned it! Hosted by Michaela Gordon. Owner of MG Home Chicago, a real estate and design business servicing the city and suburbs of Chicago.

    1m - Apr 13, 2021
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