In this episode of Brave Business, Dr. Diane Dye sits down with Mina Soleymanian, Agile expert, Scrum Master, and founder of Career Sol, for a conversation that goes far beyond strategy. Together they explore the invisible weight of "supposed to" thinking: the unspoken standards, social masks, and inherited beliefs that quietly block leaders, founders, and professionals from doing their boldest, most authentic work. Mina shares the origin story of Career Sol, a community she built to create honest, judgment-free space for the messy, unglamorous reality of career growth. She shares how building it transformed her own relationship with vulnerability, rejection, and innovation. Dr. Dye introduces a powerful three-column framework to help listeners identify their "supposed to" defaults, challenge the beliefs underneath them, and take one brave action toward more aligned leadership. From serial entrepreneurship to AI adoption to the courage it takes to just ask a question, this episode is a masterclass in brave, legacy-driven leadership.
What You'll Discover in This Episode
Key Quotes
"Your body keeps the score. Your body holds the tension. So before I get curious, before I ask the question, I have to choose how I approach myself first." — Dr. Diane Dye
"There is always going to be something wrong with me for people who don't like me. And for the people who vibe with me, I'm going to be like a breath of fresh air." — Dr. Diane Dye
"Be curious, not judgmental. Once you're curious, you follow up. You ask. You try to understand." — Mina Soleymanian
"Whenever I wrote a newsletter and sent it out, I was terrified. But then people came back saying: that actually happened to me. Want to talk about it?" — Mina Soleymanian
"That's where legacy lives — in that place of service, in that place of doing something bigger than yourself." — Dr. Diane Dye
Resources Mentioned
Connect with Mina:
LinkedIn (Mina Soleymanian)
Connect with Dr. Dye:
LinkedIn: (Dr. Diane Dye) — DM her your brave business story | peopleriskconsulting.com
Grab a pen and paper. Work through these three columns:
| Column 1: Supposed To | Column 2: Because I Think… | Column 3: My Brave Action |
|---|---|---|
| List every way you're showing up in "supposed to" mode — what you do, wear, say, or avoid | For each item, write the underlying belief driving it. What standard are you holding yourself to and where did it come from? | Pick ONE item. What action can you take, or question can you ask, to experiment with a different choice? |
| Example: I wear conservative clothing to conferences even though it's not me. | I think I need to look like everyone else to be taken seriously. | I'll wear one authentic item at my next event and observe what happens. |
Bonus — Dr. Dye's Innovation Litmus Test
Before making any change, adopting new technology, or "innovating," ask yourself:
If the answer to 1 and 2 is yes, move forward boldly. If the answer is no, staying the course may be the most innovative decision you make.