In the first episode of Connection Happens, I sit down with writer, creative director, and entrepreneur Tricia Mirchendani for a wide-ranging conversation about creativity, work, parenting, communication, and what it means to build a career that actually fits your life.

We talk about the realities of creative work under pressure, why strong client relationships matter, the winding path from copywriter to creative director, and the importance of empathy—both in storytelling and in leadership. Tricia also reflects on entrepreneurship, job satisfaction, parenting while working in a creative field, and the value of recognizing progress instead of constantly moving the goalposts.

A few ideas kept resurfacing throughout the conversation: “You can’t edit a blank page.” “We should be the best part of our clients’ day.” And perhaps most importantly, “You have to celebrate those moments.”

It’s a thoughtful, funny, and deeply human conversation about choosing the struggles that are worth having—and finding meaning in the work and people along the way.