I'm Samorn Selim. Welcome to the Career Unicorns - Spark Your Joy Podcast. I'm a lawyer turned career coach on a mission for us to take our careers from dread to joy. Growing up as the daughter of poor Lao refugees, I was the underdog. Against all odds, I made it to a top 10 law school and landed a job in Big Law. As an outsider, I was told that I was lucky to even be there and that I had to pay my dues. After coaching over 1,000 clients, I now realize that the idea that you have to pay your dues and work in a toxic place is a myth. We can face our challenges head on, do work we are passionate about, and work with good people to make a big impact. So even as we struggle, we can find a sense of belonging.
The Secret To Success For First-Gen Professionals With Dr. Latonya Rees-Miles & Career Unicorns (Ep. 203)
Are you the first in your family to navigate the corporate world? For many first-gen professionals, it feels like everyone else was handed a "secret playbook" that you never received. You're told to "work hard and you'll be rewarded," but what happens when meritocracy is a myth?
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Latonya Rees-Miles, a champion for the first-generation community and founder of the Black First-Gen Collective. We're breaking down the "First-Gen Cheat Sheet"—the unspoken rules of professionalism, the danger of generic career advice, and how to reclaim your joy in a system that wasn't built for you.
In This Episode, We Cover:
The Meritocracy Myth: Why hard work isn't always enough and how to quantify your actual impact.
The "Safety Net" Gap: Why general career advice is dangerous for first-gen professionals and what to do instead.
Negotiating Beyond the Baseline: How to overcome the "salary guilt" of making more than your parents.
Rewriting the Script: Moving from "surviving" to "thriving" and finding ordinary joy.
The Hidden Rules: Navigating corporate America, and the systemic barriers that first-gens face.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro: The First-Gen Identity
03:32 – Common Myths & The "Model Minority" Trap
04:44 – Debunking the Myth of Meritocracy
07:11 – Why Dr. Latonya Founded the Black First-Gen Collective
13:25 – Why Generic Advice is Dangerous for Us
15:39 – Expanding the Table: Power vs. Representation
23:49 – Mental Health, Stability, and the Value of "Ordinary Joy"
27:19 – The Hidden Rules of Professionalism
29:14 – Why Your Ancestors Already Paid Your Debt
41:39 – Final Thoughts: Choosing Rest and Resilience
Connect with us:
▪️Learn more about our guest, Dr. La'Tonya Rease Miles, at https://www.latonyareasemiles.com/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/latonyareasemiles/, or https://www.smartgirlbook.com/.
▪️Follow our host, Samorn Selim, on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/samornselim/.
Recommended Books:
▪️Career Unicorns™ 90-Day 5-Minute Gratitude Journal: An Easy & Proven Way To Cultivate Mindfulness, Beat Burnout & Find Career Joy: https://tinyurl.com/49xdxrz8.
▪️Career Unicorns™ 90-Day 5-Minute Self-Reflection Journal: An Easy & Proven Way To Find Career Clarity, Purpose & Fulfillment: https://tinyurl.com/nnu8k5rd.
▪️Belonging: Self Love Lessons From A Workaholic Depressed Insomniac Lawyer: https://tinyurl.com/4z6erw7v
Career Coaching, Trainings & Keynotes
▪️Schedule a free consult by sending a message at https://www.careerunicorns.com/.
28 Mar 2026
I Lost My Son to Suicide: What Every Parent Needs to Ask Their Child With Deep Lam (Ep. 202)
"I didn't care about my job. I didn't care about my career. I cared about my son."
In this deeply personal and courageous episode, we sit down with Deep Lam to discuss the heartbreaking reality of losing her son to suicide. Deep shares the "unthinkable" experience of loss and reveals the subtle signs of isolation that can hide behind high achievement, good grades, and academic success.
If you are a parent, leader, or friend, this conversation is a must-watch to understand how to bridge the gap between "I'm fine" and the truth.
Key Chapters:
00:00 - Deep's Story: How I Lost My Son
04:15 - The Signs I Missed (And What To Look For)
12:30 - The One Question Every Parent Must Ask
18:45 - Breaking the Stigma: Mental Health in the Workplace
25:00 - Advice for Leaders Supporting Grieving Employees
32:00 - How to Build a "Help Chain" at Home and Work
🆘 Mental Health Resources (Help is Available 24/7)
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 | https://988lifeline.org/
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 | https://www.crisistextline.org/
The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ Youth): Call 866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678 | https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
Connect with us:
Learn more about our guest, Deep Lam, on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/deep-lam-737aa321/.
Follow our host, Samorn Selim, on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/samornselim/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/samornselim/).
Recommended Books:
Career Unicorns™ 90-Day 5-Minute Gratitude Journal: An Easy & Proven Way To Cultivate Mindfulness, Beat Burnout & Find Career Joy: https://tinyurl.com/49xdxrz8.
Career Unicorns™ 90-Day 5-Minute Self-Reflection Journal: An Easy & Proven Way To Find Career Clarity, Purpose & Fulfillment: https://tinyurl.com/nnu8k5rd.
Belonging: Self Love Lessons From A Workaholic Depressed Insomniac Lawyer: https://tinyurl.com/4z6erw7v
Career Coaching, Trainings & Keynotes
Schedule a free consult by sending a message at https://www.careerunicorns.com/.
21 Mar 2026
The Truth About Psychological Safety & Ethical AI For BIPOC | Dr. Janice Gassam Asare & Career Unicorns (Ep. 201)
How do we maintain our authenticity in a workplace that often demands conformity? In this episode, organizational psychologist Janice Gassam Asare, Ph.D., joins us to discuss the strategies for fostering psychological safety, and ethical AI in the workplace.
From the weaponization of "professionalism" to the risks and opportunities of Ethical AI, Janice provides a roadmap for driving societal change while protecting your own well-being.
We dive deep into:
The Conformity Trap: How "professionalism" is often used against underrepresented groups.
Covert Equity: Practical advice for building effective equity strategies even when facing organizational pushback
AI & Equity: A look at the risks AI poses to marginalized groups and how to advocate for responsible tech.
Collective Action: Why community and patience are the secret ingredients to long-term activism.
Connect with us:
Learn more about our guest, Janice Gassam Asare, on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/janicegassamphd/ and instagram at janicejnice
Follow our host, Samorn Selim, on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/samornselim/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/samornselim/).
Books:
Career Unicorns™ 90-Day 5-Minute Gratitude Journal: An Easy & Proven Way To Cultivate Mindfulness, Beat Burnout & Find Career Joy: https://tinyurl.com/49xdxrz8.
Career Unicorns™ 90-Day 5-Minute Self-Reflection Journal: An Easy & Proven Way To Find Career Clarity, Purpose & Fulfillment: https://tinyurl.com/nnu8k5rd.
Belonging: Self Love Lessons From A Workaholic Depressed Insomniac Lawyer: https://tinyurl.com/4z6erw7v
Career Coaching, Trainings & Keynotes
Schedule a free consult by sending a message at www.careerunicorns.com.
Who has been a guest on Career Unicorns - Spark Your Joy
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Irene Liu
Susan Britton
Dr Grace Poon Ghaffari
Ann Sheu
Dr Sheila Gujrathi
Podcast Authority Score: 48 / 100
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