#151 From Corporate Hustle to Happy Hustle: Rahshea Cardiff’s Guide to Workplace Joy – Part One

Part One. Who wouldn’t want more joy at work? In this two-part series, we meet Rahshea Cardiff, VP of Partnerships at Happy Companies—a business on a mission to make workplaces happier and healthier. With two decades of experience at big names like Best Buy, Starbucks, and Microsoft, Rahshea knows what it takes to elevate employee experiences. But there’s more to her story than impressive titles. Rahshea has faced her share of life’s curveballs—losing her mom, navigating a divorce, and raising her first child—all while managing major career shifts. In today’s episode, she opens up about how resilience shaped her journey and what inspired her to join Happy Companies. Tune in for insights into how she’s using her life lessons to redefine workplace happiness. And don’t miss Part Two on Tuesday, where we’ll dive into her mission of merging tech with heart and her bold vision for transforming modern workplaces. Key Highlights of Our Interview: Conditioned Ambition: The Corporate Ladder Wasn’t the Life I Wanted “As we’re growing up, we go to school, we get good grades, we go to college, we get married, buy a house. Climb the corporate ladder—it’s what we’re taught, what we see. But in 2016, everything shifted—I realized I was chasing something that no longer felt right." Loss and Legacy: Realizing We’re Not Promised Tomorrow “Losing my mother and going through a divorce within a year taught me that we all fall into this trap of thinking there’s always tomorrow. I began asking myself, ‘If today were my last day, would I be at peace with how I spent it?’ Too many times, the answer was no. I knew it was time to recalibrate.” Choosing Purpose Over Position “I walked away from corporate stability and took a leap into entrepreneurship. And now, working with Happy, I’m able to stay close to my family and focus on meaningful work that aligns with my values.” The Gift of Presence: Living in the Moment “When we are able to shift our mindset and perspective to live in the present, it really is such a gift.” Connect with us: Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Rahshea Cardiff -- Chief Change Officer -- Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself. Open a World of Deep Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives, Visionary Underdogs, Transformation Gurus & Bold Hearts. 6 Million+ All-Time Downloads. Reaching 80+ Countries Daily. Global Top 3% Podcast. Top 10 US Business. Top 1 US Careers. >>> 100,000+ subscribers are outgrowing. Act Today.<<< --Chief Change Officer-- Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself. Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligence for Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep, Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts. EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist. 20 Million+ All-Time Downloads. 80+ Countries Reached Daily. Global Top 1% Podcast. Top 5 US Business. Top 1 US Careers. >>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<