Episode 101 The Woman Behind 80+ Events a Year Talks Career Pivots, Connection, and Having It All with Amanda DePalma of the Business Council of Westchester

Amanda DePalma didn't plan on a detour. She had a self-designed college major, a passion for events, and a clear vision for her career — until 2008 arrived and the bottom fell out.Getting laid off early in her career was a blow to her Type-A perfectionist soul. But that "stop" on the way to somewhere else led to her husband, her master's degree, and ultimately, her role as Senior Vice President of Events and Development at the Business Council of Westchester — the county's largest and most influential business membership organization.Now she orchestrates 80+ events a year, launched a podcast network with over 40,000 listens, and is bringing an AI upskilling program to Westchester in partnership with Google.In this episode, we talk about playing the long game, why every job is a footprint in the world, and how the connections you almost didn't make end up changing everything.Plus — can you really have it all? Amanda's answer is honest, a little nuanced, and exactly what you need to hear.Episode recorded December 2, 2025. Show notes available at thebalancedilemma.com/episode-101