A painful corporate workforce reduction after two decades in tech became the unexpected catalyst for Reena Miglani's beautiful reinvention. When her long career at a major Silicon Valley company ended abruptly in late 2023, she found her way to an entirely new path - joining her husband's restaurant business to create Amara, a breathtaking Mediterranean fusion restaurant in Belmont, California.

What makes Reena's story so compelling is her discovery of creative talents she never knew she possessed. Despite no formal design background, she personally curated every aspect of Amara's aesthetic - from custom scents to textiles, lighting, and atmosphere. The result is a sensory sanctuary where hurried Silicon Valley professionals can experience the relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle, even if just for a few hours.

"We have this notion where we save our best China, best silverware for what, one day?" Reena explains. Her mission is to change that mindset, encouraging people to enjoy life's finest experiences daily. This philosophy guides everything from the restaurant's design to its food presentation, where plates overflow with abundance rather than being strictly coursed in traditional fine dining style.

I love how Reena's corporate leadership expertise enhances rather than conflicts with the hospitality industry. She's reimagined traditional roles (hostesses are now "customer experience officers"), implemented sophisticated CRM technology, and focused on building a culture where transactions become personalized meaningful interactions. "This is not just about cuisine or ambience," she emphasizes. "It's about bringing that Mediterranean way of living here."

Join us for this inspiring conversation about embracing change, discovering hidden talents, and creating community through food and hospitality. Whether you're contemplating your own reinvention or simply appreciate stories of creative transformation, Rena's journey from tech executive to restaurant owner offers a beautiful blueprint for turning life's unexpected turns into opportunities for growth.

CONNECT WITH REENA 🍽️

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reenamiglani/

• Restaurant Website: https://www.amararestaurants.com/

CONNECT WITH RESET 🎙️

• Podcast: https://reset-podcast.com

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tonyajlong-RESET

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reset-with-tonya

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• Email: tonya@reset-podcast.com

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• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyajlong

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Check out my bestselling book, "AI and the New Oz: Leadership’s Journey to the Future of Work" [https://a.co/d/10u3wGf] available on Amazon. Go to the "AI and the New Oz" website to learn more at https://www.ai-and-the-new-oz.com/!

In a world defined by constant change, finding solid ground can feel increasingly challenging. Yet, for Anna Krasnykh, transitions have become not just inevitable disruptions but authentic opportunities for growth and self-discovery.

Anna's remarkable journey begins in a "closed city" in Russia, a place so secretive it remained unmarked on maps until the 2000s due to its military and scientific significance. At just fourteen, she experienced her first major reset when her family moved to America. This early transition instilled a resilience that would serve as her foundation through future changes.

While building an impressive career at Amazon Web Services, Anna climbed the corporate ladder rapidly, doubling her pay in just three years. She embodied the high-performance culture that defines tech giants, working nights and weekends to achieve recognition. But when her role was unexpectedly eliminated — her computer screen literally going dark as she prepared for a major client meeting — she confronted a pivotal moment of reckoning."I felt betrayed," Anna reveals with striking candor. "But then I asked myself: what does it really mean to be a winner?" This question led to a stark realization that while chasing accolades and titles, she had lost sight of her deeper purpose. The corporate hamster wheel had taken its toll.

Now an entrepreneur who recently relocated her family from Austin to the Bay Area, Anna approaches leadership with transformed priorities. Her children describe her superpower as "super love" — a reflection of how motherhood has enhanced her professional approach with greater patience and empathy. She advocates for environments where people can bring their whole selves to work, believing that embracing individual needs ultimately yields greater innovation and impact.

For listeners contemplating their own transitions, whether geographical moves or career pivots, Anna offers liberating advice: "You don't have to know the how. You'll figure it out along the way." Her story reminds us that our greatest setbacks often reveal our truest paths, and that purpose emerges not despite our challenges, but because of them.

CONNECT WITH ANNA 🌺

• LinkedIn: anna-krasnykh-mba/

• Website: https://technweb.com/

CONNECT WITH RESET 🎙️

• Podcast: https://reset-podcast.com

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tonyajlong-RESET

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reset-with-tonya

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resetwithtonya

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570923056203#

• Email: tonya@reset-podcast.com

• Text us: https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2446338/open_sms

CONNECT WITH TONYA 🚊

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyajlong

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyajlong

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonya.j.long

Check out my bestselling book, "AI and the New Oz: Leadership’s Journey to the Future of Work" [https://a.co/d/10u3wGf] available on Amazon. Go to the "AI and the New Oz" website to learn more at https://www.ai-and-the-new-oz.com/!