Episode 11: Bernadette Castaneda

In this episode, we chat with Bernadette, a Director of Risk who brings a unique perspective to the table. Despite spending the majority of her career outside the tech industry, she has embraced the challenges and opportunities of the field for the past 7 years. Bernadette shares the distinctive challenges of balancing work and family life, particularly the perpetual feeling that more could be done on both fronts. However, she offers a reassuring insight—nobody expects perfection all the time. Bernadette reflects on the struggle of accepting that it's okay for both work and family to have their demands without the expectation of always giving 100%. A significant aspect of the discussion revolves around Bernadette's experience as a parent to a 24-year-old son. She delves into the complexities of allowing him to make his own mistakes and learn from them, acknowledging the inherent difficulty in stepping back and letting the learning process unfold naturally. Bernadette provides a practical tip on maintaining a healthy work-life balance. She emphasizes the importance of intentional disconnection when taking time away from work. By setting clear boundaries and being fully present during family time, she believes it's possible to create a more fulfilling and harmonious balance between professional and personal life.