Creating a Shared Humanity through Authentic Storytelling with Polina Pompliano

Polina Marinova Pompliano is the author of “Hiden Genius” and the founder of The Profile, a media organization that studies successful people and companies. Previously, she spent five years at FORTUNE where she covered technology and venture capital. As the author and editor of Term Sheet, FORTUNE’s industry-leading dealmaking newsletter, Polina interviewed the industry’s most influential dealmakers, including Melinda Gates, Steve Schwarzman, Richard Branson, and more.

This week, Barrett talks with Polina about her career as a storyteller, personal growth, and the sacrifices required to pursue one's passion. Polina reflects on immigrating to the US from Bulgaria, her career in journalism, and the influence of marriage and motherhood on her ambitions. Together, they discuss building the resilience required to handle life's challenges, the importance of humanizing stories, and the pursuit of meaningful work.

In this episode:

00:00 - Intro
02:48 - What it’s like to publish a very personal book
05:43 - How Polina's book impacted her relationships
08:44 - Communication emotion in different languages
13:58 - How Polina’s early experiences have shaped her
23:00 - Polina’s fullest version of herself
25:42 - How becoming a parent changes you
31:24 - The transition from curator to profiler
39:31 - The value in sharing personal stories
49:42 - Polina’s and Barrett’s experiences at UGA
56:08 - Can ambitious people have successful relationships?
01:03:37 - How Polina and her husband remain humble and connected
01:10:26 - Why resilience is so important
01:21:08 - On dealing with grief
01:26:40 - When success becomes the obstacle
01:31:06 - Making the right career decisions
01:35:02 - Find something and become the best at it
01:39:01 - Polina’s advice to her younger self
01:41:19 - The future Polina is trying to create
01:43:25 - Who Polina is becoming

Key Takeaways

Career transitions, especially during uncertain times, are often an invitation to prioritize true passions over perceived security.
The sacrifices made by family can play a significant role in shaping our personal and professional choices, providing a clarifying lens for understanding our true priorities.
True resilience involves not only enduring hardships but also having the ability to process and release emotional burdens.
Maintaining genuine human connection with people who matter to you is foundational for professional and personal growth.

Quotes

“The most dangerous type of person is a person with no purpose, no meaning behind what they're doing, because they'll find meaning in anything and they'll attach themselves to something that is not a good thing.” ~ Polina Pompliano

“What I want to model for [future generations] is what I would have liked to have modeled for me, which is that very few things can shake you. Like, really, really shake you.” ~ Polina Pompliano

“The darkest moments in my life when I've been really, really sad about something have been my most creative. I'm able to get in this crazy flow where I don't think about anything outside of what I am doing right now.” ~ Polina Pompliano

“So few people take the time to truly take something and become the best at it. Because of the discipline and the work and the time required, people don't even try.” ~ Polina Pompliano

Links