Personal Loss, Career Growth, and Real Change: Rahshea Cardiff’s Happiness Journey - Part One

Part One. Who couldn’t use a bit more happiness?

In this two-part series, we dive into the journey of Rahshea Cardiff, VP of Partnerships at Happy Companies—a venture dedicated to building happier, healthier workplaces. With over 20 years of experience in people management across big names like Best Buy, Starbucks, and Microsoft, Rahshea is passionate about creating meaningful employee experiences.

But her story goes beyond the corporate world; she’s faced deep personal challenges, including the loss of her mother, a divorce, and raising her first child, all while navigating major career transitions.

In today’s episode, Rahshea shares the resilience behind her journey and what led her to join Happy Companies. We’ll explore how she’s using her life experiences to shape a fresh approach to employee wellbeing and workplace happiness.

Then, tune in for part two on Tuesday, where Rahshea delves into her role at Happy Companies, her mission to integrate technology with genuine human care, and her vision for transforming the modern workplace.

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.”

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Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Rahshea Cardiff

Chief Change Officer: Make Change Ambitiously.

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