Season 4: Play = Freedom

Play can bring an incredible sense of freedom - no constraints, a degree of purposelessness, a space without shoulds. That freedom is something Maricella Herrera comes back to again and again, for herself, for her students, and for her professional journey. It doesn't mean you can't accomplish serious things, but how we do them - how we engage with others in community while we do them - matters.

Guest: Maricella Herrera

Maricella Herrera Avila is a consultant, educator, and former CEO with expertise in innovation, purpose-driven business, and leadership. She spent more than a decade at Ellevate Network, where she led operations and strategy, grew the largest global community for women, and ultimately served as CEO during a pivotal transition. After leaving that role, she created the podcast Sh*t I Just Quit My Job, where she explores the human side of work, well-being, and change. Today, Maricella teaches Design Thinking and Innovation at St. Francis College and helps organizations bring values-driven approaches to problem solving and growth through her unique blend of strategic insight and deep focus on human experience.

Maricella earned a BA in Financial Management from ITESM in Mexico and an MBA from Columbia Business School. Originally from El Salvador, Maricella is also an avid runner (currently training for the Chicago Marathon) and cat mom to Toffee.

Substack: https://maricellaherrera.substack.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maricellaherreraa/

Podcast: https://www.quitmyjobpod.com/

Actual extra cheesy music video from the 90s so you can dance along to Fey's first hit: https://youtu.be/mduVi6XnZbA?si=NJ4C5vbSmSiA4kGu