The Ambition Trap: How to Stop Living for Approval and Start Living for You
Hello Monday with Jessi HempelShow Notes
Ambition. Is it a dirty word? Do you love the term, or hate it? In this Hello Monday episode from the archives, Jessi Hempel sits down with two incredible colleagues at LinkedIn, Hayley Saltzman and Ahyiana Angel, to explore how our understanding of ambition evolves, and what it means to chase personal growth rather than external validation.
Hayley Saltzman is an Editor at Large at LinkedIn, focusing on vertical video strategy. Ahyiana Angel was the Podcast Ad Ops Producer at LinkedIn and the host of her own podcast called Switch, Pivot, or Quit. Together, they reflect on how ambition is often shaped by external expectations and how true fulfillment comes when we start living for ourselves.
In this episode, Jessi, Ahyiana, and Hayley discuss:
The tension between extrinsic and intrinsic ambition
Our gendered notions of ambition, and how society’s definition of ambition is often limiting for women
What happens when you quit a dream job to pursue something more aligned with personal growth
The relationship between fear and ambition
Practical tips for reconnecting with your own ambitions and self-worth
If you've ever questioned what success and ambition truly mean for you, this episode is for you. Whether you're navigating career transitions or redefining what ambition looks like in your life, we hope this conversation will inspire you to live and work authentically.
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