First-Gen Professional: Negotiating Identity, Power, and Belonging
Do Better with Debra
What does it really mean to be first-generation after college ends? In this episode of Do Better with Debra, Iâm joined by Dr. Bryan Rojas-AraĂșz for a powerful, deeply human conversation about what it means to be first-gen forever. Together, we explore the reality of moving through professional and leadership spaces without a blueprint, negotiating identity, belonging, and authenticity in systems that were never designed with us in mind. Bryan shares his journey from being an undocumented, first-generation college student to becoming a licensed psychologist, professor, and scholar-activist....
info_outline
The Pivots and the Boundaries: The Truth About Betting on Yourself
Do Better with Debra
In this episode, Iâm joined by two incredible women, Monica Varela, owner of The Brow Foundry in Old Pasadena, and Kalei Mahi, Chief Legacy Officer of NextGen Legacy NIL. Both of them took the leap from stability into the unknown, building businesses rooted in integrity, purpose, and a deep commitment to the people they serve. Together, we talk about the truth behind betting on yourself, the pivots you donât expect, the boundaries you learn to hold, the imposter syndrome that creeps in, the intuition that guides you, and the courage it takes to walk away from the safety of an 8-to-5 to...
info_outline
The Space Between the Dream and the Doing: A Conversation About Starting
Do Better with Debra
So many of us hold ideas we love, a script, a podcast, a book, a creative project that keeps tapping us on the shoulder but something gets in the way of actually beginning. Fear. Perfection. Comparison. Not knowing the âhow.â Or simply believing we need everything in place before we take the first step. In this episode, I sit down with Valerie FrugĂ©, an actor, audio producer, and creative who is developing a limited series rooted in history and storytelling, and Steve Moreno, a music enthusiast and host of the upcoming podcast Nostalgic Jamz, who brings a deep passion for the songs that...
info_outline
The Courage to Rest: Redefining Strength
Do Better with Debra
Jasmine Brett Stringer, MAPP, is a dynamic keynote speaker, award-winning author, television personality, and Founder & CEO of Carpe Diem with Jasmine LLC. Known for her vibrant presence and grounded wisdom, Jasmine blends the science of positive psychology with real-world experience to help individuals and organizations flourish. In this episode, Jasmine and I talk about the R.E.S.T. framework she created, born out of one of the hardest seasons of her life, while studying positive psychology and caring for her father through illness. Her framework, designed especially with Black women in...
info_outline
Trust, Generosity, and the Work That Matters
Do Better with Debra
Rodolfo âRudyâ Elizondo is an equity-driven leader who has spent more than two decades in public education and the nonprofit sector. Recently appointed Chief of Education at College Track, Rudy brings deep experience as a system-level strategist, a champion for first-generation scholars, and a leader whose philosophy centers real-world problem solving, collaboration, and trust. In this episode, Rudy and I reflect on our rare partnership as two Chiefs working side by side one grounded in data and analysis, the other in intuition and human connection. We talk about what it takes to build...
info_outline
Leading with Love: Dr. Jonathan Grady, Healing, Hope & The Helpers Story
Do Better with Debra
Dr. Jonathan Grady is an influential leader, scholar, and equity strategist whose work centers transformative justice, radical imagination, and leading with love. As Senior Associate Vice President for Equity & Belonging at Cal Poly Pomona, he brings more than 17 years of experience driving systemic equity strategies, cultivating holistic workplace cultures, and building communities where people can recognize their inner strength, brilliance, and magic. In this episode, Jonathan and I talk about what it means to lead with love inside systems that often strip away humanity, and how his...
info_outline
Truth, Power & Patriarchy
Do Better with Debra
Anna Malaika Tubbs is a bestselling storyteller and truth-teller whose work pulls back the curtain on the erasure of Black women and the systems never built for us. Her latest book, Erased: What the American Patriarchy Has Hidden From Us, is part manifesto, part mirror, helping us see the system clearly and reminding us that our stories matter. In this episode, Anna and I talk about what it means to live and lead boldly inside structures designed to silence us, and how she turns painful erasure into powerful storytelling. We talk about joy, creativity, and faith as acts of resistance, and...
info_outline
The Courage to Choose You with Maria Elena De Guevara (Part 2)
Do Better with Debra
The Courage to Choose You with Maria Elena De Guevara (Part 2) In Part 2 of our conversation, Maria Elena introduces the ACE framework a powerful tool sheâs used throughout her life and leadership journey to navigate hard choices with clarity and intention. We talk about knowing when to accept what is, when to push for change, and when to make the brave decision to walk away. Maria shares how she used this framework during one of the most demanding seasons of her life, and how it helped her hold onto her values while navigating toxic systems. We also get into salary negotiation, advocating...
info_outline
The Courage to Choose You with Maria Elena De Guevara (Part 1)
Do Better with Debra
The Courage to Choose You with Maria Elena De Guevara (Part 1) My friend and former colleague, Maria Elena De Guevara, is someone Iâve admired for years. Sheâs a brilliant HR leader whose career spans higher ed, government, and county leadership but what makes her unforgettable is how sheâs navigated those spaces with courage, heart, and honesty. In this episode, Maria shares how she learned to walk away from environments that demanded everything and gave little back. We talk about what it means to reclaim your power, protect your peace, and decide that choosing yourself isnât selfish...
info_outline
Donât Wait to Hit Empty with Lindsey Fuller Burnout, Boundaries & Microdosing Wellness
Do Better with Debra
Donât Wait to Hit Empty with Lindsey Fuller: Burnout, Boundaries & Microdosing Wellness What if you didnât wait until you were completely depleted to take care of yourself? In this episode of Do Better with Debra, Lindsey Fuller, Executive Director of Teaching Well shares why sheâs committed to healing out loud and how microdosing wellness has become her way to stay grounded, present, and whole. We talk about: The real cost of burnout â emotional, financial, and relational Why rest is not a luxury, but a daily practice The power of trusted confidants in your healing journey ...
info_outlineJasmine Brett Stringer, MAPP, is a dynamic keynote speaker, award-winning author, television personality, and Founder & CEO of Carpe Diem with Jasmine LLC. Known for her vibrant presence and grounded wisdom, Jasmine blends the science of positive psychology with real-world experience to help individuals and organizations flourish.
In this episode, Jasmine and I talk about the R.E.S.T. framework she created, born out of one of the hardest seasons of her life, while studying positive psychology and caring for her father through illness. Her framework, designed especially with Black women in mind, reframes rest not as a luxury but as a necessity for our healing and wholeness.
Together, we explore how recovery, emotional agility, support, and time can transform the way we lead and live. Jasmine shares what it means to practice emotional agility, redefine strength, and reclaim time as an act of self-preservation. This conversation is an invitation for every woman holding so much to pause, breathe, and give herself permission to rest.
đ§ Available now on Apple Podcasts & Spotify.
Key Takeaways
-
Rest is not a rewardâitâs a requirement for your well-being.
-
Emotional agility helps us feel, name, and move through emotions with awareness.
-
Support means offering whatâs in your toolkit and receiving help with grace.
-
Reclaiming your time is an act of self-love, not selfishness.
About Jasmine Brett Stringer
Jasmine Brett Stringer, MAPP, is a keynote speaker, award-winning author, television personality, and Founder & CEO of Carpe Diem with Jasmine LLC. Through her signature frameworks, A.C.I.R., R.E.S.T., and Seize Your Life. she helps people build emotional agility, overcome overwhelm, and unlock joy. Jasmineâs clients include the Federal Reserve Bank, Land OâLakes, Airbnb, General Mills, Bayer, and the University of Minnesota. Based in Minneapolis, she holds a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and brings both warmth and rigor to her work helping others flourish.
đ Connect with Jasmine on LinkedIn
đ Learn more at jasminebrettstringer.com
About Dr. Debra Griffith
Dr. Debra Griffith is an executive coach, consultant, and the voice behind the Do Better with Debra podcast. She currently serves as Chief Equity Programs Officer at Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, where she leads the networkâs equity strategy focused on college readiness, belonging, and postsecondary success across 25 schools serving more than 13,000 scholars. With over 25 years in education and leadership, Debra now supports women of color leaders navigating transitions and leading transformative change.
đ Learn more at Do Better Executive Coaching
đ Connect with Debra on LinkedIn