HERo Stories
Episode 10- Dr. Lori Noga: Leading Beyond the Bardo
Navigating Transitions: Lori Noga's Journey Through the Bardo of Life and Business In this episode, Lori Noga shares her deeply personal journey through career change, loss, identity reconstruction, and the power of community. Her insights on vulnerability, resilience, and finding purpose in life's in-between moments offer a compelling guide for anyone facing their own transitions. Key Topics: Lori's military background and how leadership lessons from the Navy shaped her entrepreneurial journey The concept of the "Bardo" and how it captures liminal spaces in life between who we were and who we are becoming Building Tranquility Dental Wellness: creating a practice centered on human connection and convenience for busy families Navigating life changes, including selling her business and dealing with the death of her father The importance of self-awareness, therapy, journaling, and meditation in healing and growth Challenges of scaling a business while managing family and personal transitions The desire to build communities and mentorship programs for women, adolescents, and entrepreneurs Embracing uncertainty, surrender, and taking one day at a time Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and long-standing friendship 02:00 - Reflections on 20 years since Officer Candidate School 02:43 - Lori’s early life and professional background before Navy service 03:35 - The influence of perfectionism and upbringing on Lori’s development 04:35 - How therapy and self-awareness shed light on her perfectionist tendencies 05:31 - The struggles with her mother’s ongoing depression 06:11 - What prompted Lori to switch from actuarial work to dentistry 07:06 - The significance of Navy scholarship programs in her career transition 08:11 - Building Tranquility Dental Wellness: filling gaps in patient care and convenience 09:11 - Lessons from military leadership applicable to entrepreneurial growth 10:04 - Navigating starting a practice from scratch and the challenges faced 12:41 - Key experiences in military dental service and patient volume in the Marines 13:38 - How military service instilled lessons on leadership at every level 14:05 - Challenges of conforming in a hierarchical system and questioning in the military 15:28 - Building deep connections through military service versus civilian life 16:35 - The impact of the military on her leadership style and community building 18:35 - Transitioning out of the Navy and relocating for family and career 19:16 - Insights on opening her first practice amidst family growth and economic challenges 20:46 - Developing her dream practice as a wellness center focused on women and busy families 23:03 - Evolving ideas around accessible, luxurious dental care 24:49 - The rapid growth of her practice and balancing motherhood with entrepreneurship 28:48 - Challenges and sacrifices in scaling the business and personal life 34:26 - Deciding to sell her practices and the emotional journey of letting go 37:52 - Reflections on identity after selling her business and the loss of purpose 39:36 - Facing the death of her father and lessons on acceptance and impermanence 41:20 - The ongoing process of untangling personal worth from professional achievement 43:23 - Daily practices of meditation, journaling, yoga, and discipline for mental clarity 46:08 - Exploring "Beyond the Bardo" — life as a series of liminal transitions 47:34 - Envisioning support for others navigating their own bardos and life chapters 50:28 - The importance of community for women and adolescents in transition 52:07 - Mentorship, leadership, and the need for authentic connection and guidance 55:07 - Sharing vulnerably through writing and the impact of storytelling 65:03 - The empowering story women need to tell themselves: "You are enough" 66:24 - Moving forward with discipline, hope, and acceptance of life's uncertainties 67:00 - Closing remarks: embracing life's transitions with courage and community Resources & Links: Beyond the Bardo – Lori's website exploring life's liminal spaces Substack Profile – Lori’s writings on transition and healing Connect with Lori: LinkedIn Note: This episode offers valuable reflections on vulnerability, growth, and resilience for those in transition, emphasizing that life's most profound change often takes place in between the chapters—the liminal spaces that shape us. @herostories2025
