Archita is on a mission to share stories of women who are defying the odds in spite of being “an only” in the workplace. She is an award winning 18 year veteran in the MedTech marketing strategy executive who has lived and worked across the globe.
She is the co-host and producer of the “Embracing Only” that she hosts with Olivia Cream. Additionally as the Chief marketing officer of the award winning non-profit Speak Out Revolution.
She uses data to speak out on workplace inclusivity and is resolutely focused on ending the silent epidemic that is workplace bullying and harassment. She is a Northwestern, WHU and Michigan Tech University graduate. She lives in Dusseldorf with her husband and three kids.
Name:
Archita Fritz
Podcast Name:
Tell us about your podcast in 3 sentences or less!
Women and particularly women of colour are constantly bombarded with societal and systemic hurdles that they face professionally with no balance in solutions.
News, media and coaching tends to focus on our differences and the obstacles but do not provide thought provoking solutions to help people regain control of their lives and find direction. With the embracing only podcast we challenge women to #killthefear, align with their highest dreams and take up space.
What’s a quote or piece of advice that you try to live by?
“Courage is more exhilarating than fear and in the long run it is easier. We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just one step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it is not as dreadful as it appeared, discovering we have the strength to stare it down.” – quote from Eleanor Roosevelt
Your Superpower:
Giving people the clarity they didn’t know they needed to get the courage to do the things they didn’t think possible
One thing on your bucket list:
Afternoon Tea with Michelle Obama
What was your first job?
Radio DJ on 91.9FM in Michigan USA
Any unusual hobbies?
Watch terrible reality TV 🙂
Biggest Pet Peeve
Lack of accountability
What inspired you to start your podcast?
At 35 weeks and 39 weeks pregnant, Meha Chiraya and myself, two corporate ergophiles were ready to birth another idea into the world! A podcast to share and give voice to “The Only’s” who are taking up space around the world. We literally birthed the original Nine Oh Six Podcast website/episodes from our hospital beds in Dusseldorf, Germany and California, USA.
I have a whole post on that here.
Tell us more about your work/life outside of your podcast.
Life has afforded me amazing opportunities to have the experiences to be raised in India and then move at the age of 17 to the US and then continue to work in the US, Canada and Germany.
I have travelled to more than 75 countries for work/pleasure. My career journey started as an electrical engineer then quality systems management and then I met marketing which I have fallen in love with and have built my career on ever since.
I also lead a non-profit based out of the UK which publishes a global insights dashboard from 39+ countries on the impact of bullying and harassment in the workplace based on the lived experiences of 1K+ individuals. I love dancing and I had a dance company called Bollywood bootyshake for about 4 years. While I am not active with it I still perform every year for the Deutsche Indische Geschellschaft. My husband and I are raising three third culture kids and navigating the always adventurous working parent world.
What is your show’s USP?
We dont just talk problems, we provide solutions for “The Only’s” of the workplace to not just survive but thrive.
What is one of the greatest challenges you have personally faced with your podcast?
Greatest challenge turning it from a hobby into a an actual business. We know it is resonating with the audience we have built and cultivated and they want so much more but we have not been able to scale it.
What was one of your favorite episodes you’ve ever done? Why does it stand out?
My favorite episode is the last episode of Season 5. It stands out because you get absolutely unfiltered Olivia and Archita tackling meaty workplace topics while addressing our own fears and vulnerability and offering some very actionable advice our listeners can go empower themselves with right after they listen to it.
What is one thing you have accomplished with your podcast thus far that you are most proud of?
We have received testimonials from 10+ women on tangible ways in which the podcast has impacted them. $50K pay raise, mid-career pivots, transitioning out of a toxic workplace and many more.
What is one major milestone that you would like to accomplish through your podcast in the next year?
Find a sponsor or two that brings in at least $20K in sponsorship dollars.
What is a trend or development in the podcast industry that you foresee happening in the next few years?
More traditional B2B medium/large companies utilizing and leveraging podcast as a critical piece of their content creation journey.
What is one of the best pieces of podcast-related advice you’ve ever received & why?
What problem are you solving for your audience, get really clear on that. If you are not clear about that you will not be able to bring in, retain, engage and grow your audience.
What is some of the worst podcasting advice you’ve received?
You need 10K or more listens per episode to get a sponsor, not true as the engagement of that audience is more important to sponsors to ensure conversion vs. just the quantity which might not be as engaged and not convert.
What are some of your favorite women-hosted podcasts (besides your own)?
Brown Table Talk, Dare to Lead, Where ideas launch, Campfire circle, Daring to, Secrets of wealthy women, I used to love Call your Girlfriend (they need to come back!)
Can you tell us about a time when you took a huge risk/did something you were scared to do, and it totally paid off?
I found out from one day to the next in my first corporate job that I couldn’t show up to work due to some visa issues. I had the choice to go back to school or to move to Quebec, Canada, learn French and help the manufacturing plant their get ready for an upcoming FDA audits. I chose the latter and it totally paid off. I got to grow my career in ways I couldn’t have imagined and got my first international marketing job after.
Are there any great podcast-related resources you love that you would like to share?
Women of Color Podcaster community hosted by Danielle Desir. Jeremy Evans (follow him on LinkedIN for great podcasting tips)
How do you feel you’re making a positive impact and generating change through your podcast?
We are sharing real stories from the corporate world with women (primarily “the only’s”) who probably didn’t come from families who had made it in the corporate world. Listening to these conversations empowers “The Only’s” to believe that their journey is a story worth sharing and an opportunity to potentially break generational limiting beliefs.
For more from Archita, check out the links below!
Instagram
Facebook
www.embracingonly.com
Listen on Apple Podcasts here!
