Natalia Sandor Steps Up to the Mic: A Gen Z Perspective on Coming Out, Connection and Impact

In this episode, Shanti welcomes her friend Natalia Sandor (she/her) - a white, cisgender woman and the first Gen Z podcast guest. Natalia speaks candidly about her coming out story and the reasons she is ready to share it more publicly now. Shanti and Natalia explore their generational differences and the ways in which they impacted - and didn’t impact - their coming out experiences. The discussion highlights the challenges many marginalized individuals face at work, including the pressure to conceal aspects of their identity for fear of judgment or rejection. Natalia explores the difficulty of separating her sexuality from her professional self, emphasizing that queerness is not just about who you love but an integral part of how you engage with the world. She encourages others to share more of their unfiltered selves at work, creating the opportunity for more connection, satisfaction and impact.

Natalia Sandor works in/with startups with a focus on innovation, ideation and supporting impact-driven social entrepreneurship. She founded Sand Bars Handcrafted at age 18, selling to over 30 locations throughout Long Island. She is currently lending her gifts to a VC-backed technology startup, Arbor, and an innovation/entrepreneurship ideaHUb at Hofstra University. 

Shanti Joy Gold is a professional coach, 30-year corporate warrior and member of the LGBTQIA+ community. She understands the unique challenges faced by those who feel like outsiders and, as an executive coach, guides underrepresented people to confidently thrive in their careers by being fully themselves.

ACCESS SHANTI’S FREE THRIVING ASSESSMENT TO GET BIG-PICTURE CLARITY ON FOCUS AREAS FOR INCREASED FULFILLMENT, JOY AND IMPACT - https://shantijoygold.com/take-the-thriving-assessment/

Natalia and I also discuss:

• Creating safe spaces at work requires open channels of communication and, most importantly, people who step up and set the tone by sharing vulnerably.
• Discussing that, more than anything (including age), people’s coming-out experiences are influenced by the specific events, people and environments that shaped them.
• Exploring how we all have things we’re hesitant to reveal - and how this awareness can help us show up with more curiosity, openness and empathy.
• Understanding how the unhealed parts of past experiences can cause underrepresented people to project fear of judgment onto current/future situations and relationships.

Thank you for listening! Be sure to tune in to all episodes to receive insights about how to navigate your career as an outsider - and learn more about the impact of allyship. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and find me below to share your key takeaways!

Learn more about Stories We Haven’t shared at https://storieswehaventshared.com 

CONNECT WITH NATALIA SANDOR
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Hofstra - Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship IdeaHUb
Instagram - Sand Bars Handcrafted
More About Sand Bars Handcrafted

CONNECT WITH SHANTI JOY GOLD
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Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction and Welcome
• 3:15 Natalia's Professional Highlights
• 3:58 Personal Interests and Background
• 6:14 Sharing Her Coming Out Story: Why Now
• 8:28 Growing Up in a Non-Diverse Neighborhood
• 10:36 College Years: Self Understanding, Struggle, Acceptance and Relief
• 14:21 Natalia and Shanti Share Coming Out Experiences Across Generations
• 18:13 Coming Out to Parents: Not As Smooth as Expected
• 20:54 Early Career Days: Energy Spent Navigating What to Share / Not Share
• 28:03 Ingredients for Feeling Safe at Work - and the Power of Showing Up Fully
• 31:32 Communicating Without Self-Editing Opens a Door to Deeper Connection
• 33:00 Gen Z and Gen X: More in Common Than We Might Think
• 35:01 Music Share: A Poetry Rap - Love What You Have
• 36:12 Where to Find and Connect With Natalia
• 37:11 Thank You and Final Thoughts