I Guess I’m an Adult Now...

Text us and share your adulting stories!
What does it really take to walk away from Google at 26 and take a bet on yourself as an entrepreneur?

In Episode 19 of I Guess I’m an Adult Now, I sat with Caitlyn Kumi — ex-Google Marketing Manager, Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, founder of Miss Empower Her, and a finance-focused creator to unpack a career pivot most people are too afraid to make.

From leveraging content to land a role at Google, to building a brand that empowers thousands of women to take control of their money, Caitlyn breaks down the strategy behind every move.

We talk about first-gen upbringing, immigrant work ethic, elite spaces, and how early exposure shaped her standards around wealth, relationships, and long-term security. 

She shares her honest take on dating as a high-earning woman, having real conversations about credit scores and debt, planning for kids before engagement, and building generational wealth with intention.

If you have ever felt torn between ambition and stability…
If you’re navigating your 20’s while building career, money, and identity at the same time…
If you’re trying to grow without shrinking yourself…

This episode is for you.

Watch / Listen and don't forget to subscribe for more honest conversations on adulthood.

Connect w/ Caitlyn Kumi ➟ 
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/caitlynkumi/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@caitlynkumi?lang=en 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlynkumi/

Follow Miss EmpowHer ➟ 
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/missempowher/?hl=en 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/missempowher
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@missempowher?lang=en
Newsletter - https://missempowher.beehiiv.com/ 

____________________

You can also listen on:
Apple: 
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-guess-im-an-adult-now/id1810057948 

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/6RTnICKr8KoafopcFoOLqR?si=ef446f1c3802432e 

Catch up on:
The very first episode of Season 1 ⬇️
I’m Starting Life Over at 29 - Ep 01 
https://youtu.be/rucAJBDkc3c

You might like the Previous Episode ⬇️
I was Diagnosed with ADHD at 29: My Experience - Ep 18 - https://youtu.be/LJw2Hsg_GgQ?si=XVZiqZuZ0jfafcWS 

She was Fired, Found God, and made $150k in 30 days. Meet Cedoni Francis - Ep 17 - https://youtu.be/3H8G-9qcRJA?si=mR5VS-j96uVuJ3FX

Abstinence, Sexuality, & Dating At 30 as a Christian - Ep 16 https://youtu.be/9ZiruNLbnq8?si=NUOwA_zNB5GU0ZTB

There's more for Season 2⬇️
An Honest Conversation with my African Dad on Addiction - Ep09
https://youtu.be/_j8TtWodLcc

Am I still Christian? Navigating Religion as an Adult - Ep 12
https://youtu.be/ahU5uaDd7DM?si=PNVY2iRoYlYmFn_d

Should you be a Content Creator in 2025? - S2 Ep 11
https://youtu.be/xymT216OLOE?si=cjGS2QQXJjPBkB5-

Let's Be Friends!
Instagram➟ 
https://www.instagram.com/chiziduru
https://www.instagram.com/iguessimanadultnowpod

Tiktok➟ https://www.tiktok.com/@chiziduru
Pinterest ➟ https://www.pinterest.com/chiziduru/
TheDuruFamily TikTok ➟ https://www.tiktok.com/@thedurufamily?lang=en
The DuruFamily IG ➟ https://www.instagram.com/thedurufamily_/

Business Inquiries? Music Submissions? 
[email protected] (SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY)
Subscribe now and join our community as we figure out this adulting thing together, one conversation at a time.

Watch Video Podcasts
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ChiziDuru

Follow 'Chizi Duru'
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/p/DIwi7l0PwfZ/

Text us and share your adulting stories!
At 29 years old, I was diagnosed with ADHD.

As a high-achieving Black woman, entrepreneur, and Christian, ADHD was never something I thought applied to me. I did well in school. I built a business. I was “fine.” But behind the scenes, I struggled with focus, organization, finishing projects, and constantly feeling like I just wasn’t living up to my full potential.

In Episode 18 of I Guess I’m an Adult Now, I open up about being diagnosed with inattentive ADHD at 29 — the signs I missed as a child, how depression and anxiety masked it for years, and what finally pushed me to get tested.

Watch / Listen now and don’t forget to subscribe.

CHAPTERS
00:00 – I Was Diagnosed with ADHD at 29
01:05 – What ADHD Actually Is (Inattentive Type)
05:30 – Why Women Are Often Underdiagnosed
06:35 – Childhood Signs I Didn’t Recognize
09:40 – Entrepreneurship, Burnout & Losing Confidence
12:50 – Hitting a Depressive Low
14:25 – Therapy & Getting Tested
17:30 – My Official Diagnosis Results
19:50 – Starting Medication (Adderall Experience)
21:30 – Dopamine, Hyperfixation & Creativity
22:30 – The Grief of a Late Diagnosis
26:20 – “This Podcast Exists Because I’m on Meds.”
27:25 – Telling My Nigerian Mom
29:00 – Religion, Prayer & Mental Health
31:10 – Medication Crashes & Drug Holidays
32:15 – Renewed Hope & Confidence
33:00 – You’re Not Lazy. You Might Need Support.

You can also listen on:
Apple: 
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-guess-im-an-adult-now/id1810057948 

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/6RTnICKr8KoafopcFoOLqR?si=ef446f1c3802432e 

Catch up on:
The very first episode of Season 1 ⬇️
I’m Starting Life Over at 29 - Ep 01 
https://youtu.be/rucAJBDkc3c

You might like ⬇️
An Honest Conversation with my African Dad on Addiction - Ep09
https://youtu.be/_j8TtWodLcc

There's more for Season 2⬇️
Am I still Christian? Navigating Religion as an Adult - Ep 12
https://youtu.be/ahU5uaDd7DM?si=PNVY2iRoYlYmFn_d

Should you be a Content Creator in 2025? - S2 Ep 11
https://youtu.be/xymT216OLOE?si=cjGS2QQXJjPBkB5-

Let's Be Friends!
Instagram➟ 
https://www.instagram.com/chiziduru
https://www.instagram.com/iguessimanadultnowpod

Tiktok➟ https://www.tiktok.com/@chiziduru
Pinterest ➟ https://www.pinterest.com/chiziduru/
TheDuruFamily TikTok ➟ https://www.tiktok.com/@thedurufamily?lang=en
The DuruFamily IG ➟ https://www.instagram.com/thedurufamily_/

Business Inquiries? Music Submissions? 
[email protected] (SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY)
Subscribe now and join our community as we figure out this adulting thing together, one conversation at a time.

Watch Video Podcasts
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ChiziDuru

Follow 'Chizi Duru'
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/p/DIwi7l0PwfZ/

Text us and share your adulting stories!
Let BetterHelp connect you with a therapist who can support you - all from the comfort of your own home. 

Visit my sponsor https://betterhelp.com/chizi and enjoy a special discount on the first month!

If you have any questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are licensed, their privacy policy, or the therapist compensation model, check out this FAQ: https://www.betterhelp.com/faq 

_________________________

How does a Trinidad-born, NYC-raised child go from a Political Science major at Vanderbilt to a Marketing manager at Google, to  Culture shifting Influencer with over 300k followers, to Mba at Columbia Business School.  

In Episode 17 of I Guess I’m an Adult Now, we sit down with Cedoni Francis — ex-Google employee, Columbia Business School MBA student, and content creator — to unpack a journey that doesn’t follow the usual creator playbook.

This conversation also dives deep into upbringing, education, immigrant parents, elite schools, scholarships, and how early exposure and discipline shaped her mindset around success, money, and independence.

If you’ve ever felt caught between ambition, stability, and purpose — this episode is for you

Watch / Listen now and don’t forget to subscribe.

Episode Chapters 
00:00 – Intro
Welcome to Episode 17 + meeting Cedoni Francis

03:40 – Who Cedoni Is
Ex-Google employee, creator, and Columbia MBA student

06:30 – Creating While Working at Google
How content creation started inside corporate life

10:45 – Corporate Burnout & Workplace Reality
Overwork, HR issues, and being stretched too thin

15:20 – Finding Out You’re Laid Off via TikTok
The moment Cedoni realized she was laid off from Google

20:30 – Choosing Not to Rush Into Full-Time Influencing
Why business school made more sense than chasing virality

25:40 – How Her TikTok Career Actually Began
Campus brand reps, early TikTok programs, and consistency

32:10 – Going Viral After Graduation
The Vanderbilt graduation video that changed everything

38:45 – “If You Want to Be an Influencer, Don’t Try to Be One”
Why organic growth beats chasing algorithms

45:30 – Growing Up Caribbean in NYC
Identity, culture, and navigating different worlds

52:20 – Education, Immigrant Parents & Expectations
Why college was the bare minimum in her household

1:00:40 – Private School vs Public School Experiences
How environment shaped confidence and work ethic

1:12:30 – Scholarships, Posse Foundation & Vanderbilt
How she secured a debt-free college education

1:22:10 – Career Strategy From a Young Age
Targeting high-paying jobs and long-term thinking

1:30:45 – Lessons on Ambition, Stability & Purpose
What adulthood really looks like when plans change

1:35:30 – Final Thoughts & Takeaways
Betting on yourself without losing your footing

____________________

You can also listen on:
Apple: 
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-guess-im-an-adult-now/id1810057948 

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/6RTnICKr8KoafopcFoOLqR?si=ef446f1c3802432e 

Catch up on:
The very first episode of Season 1 ⬇️
I’m Starting Life Over at 29 - Ep 01 
https://youtu.be/rucAJBDkc3c

You might like the Previous Episode ⬇️
Abstinence, Sexuality, & Dating At 30 as a Christian - Ep 16 https://youtu.b
Subscribe now and join our community as we figure out this adulting thing together, one conversation at a time.

Watch Video Podcasts
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ChiziDuru

Follow 'Chizi Duru'
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/p/DIwi7l0PwfZ/

Text us and share your adulting stories!
Dating at 30 as a Christian comes with its own set of challenges, especially when abstinence, desire, and faith collide.
In this episode, I open up about breaking a three-year abstinence pact, the lessons I learned from dating again, and why knowing your values matters more than chemistry. This is an honest, vulnerable conversation about sexuality, faith, alignment, and learning to trust yourself again.

CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Dating Again at 30 & Breaking Abstinence
1:00 Why I’m Sharing This Story
2:00 My Dating History & Patterns
4:30 2020, Self-Worth & Slowing Down
7:00 My Spiritual Shift in 2022
8:30 Lust, Sexuality & Being Honest as a Woman
11:30 Why Abstinence Wasn’t Just Religious
14:00 Sex, Biology & Healthy Sexual Mindsets
16:00 Dating Again as a Christian Woman
17:30 Hormones, Ovulation & Real Struggles
18:30 Meeting Him & Immediate Chemistry
20:00 Values vs. Boundaries Explained
21:30 Why Misalignment Always Shows Up
23:00 Shame, Grace & Running Back to God
25:00 Lesson #1: Your Values Are Everything
27:30 Actions vs. Words
29:00 Communication & Emotional Maturity
30:30 Standards, Solitude & Singleness
31:30 Final Reflections on Dating at 30

Watch Video Podcasts
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ChiziDuru

You can also listen on:
Apple: 
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-guess-im-an-adult-now/id1810057948 

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/6RTnICKr8KoafopcFoOLqR?si=ef446f1c3802432e 

Catch up on:
The very first episode of Season 1 ⬇️
I’m Starting Life Over at 29 - Ep 01 
https://youtu.be/rucAJBDkc3c

You might like ⬇️
An Honest Conversation with my African Dad on Addiction - Ep09
https://youtu.be/_j8TtWodLcc

There's more for Season 2⬇️
Am I still Christian? Navigating Religion as an Adult - Ep 12
https://youtu.be/ahU5uaDd7DM?si=PNVY2iRoYlYmFn_d

Should you be a Content Creator in 2025? - S2 Ep 11
https://youtu.be/xymT216OLOE?si=cjGS2QQXJjPBkB5-

Let's Be Friends!
Instagram➟ 
https://www.instagram.com/chiziduru
https://www.instagram.com/iguessimanadultnowpod

Tiktok➟ https://www.tiktok.com/@chiziduru
Pinterest ➟ https://www.pinterest.com/chiziduru/
TheDuruFamily TikTok ➟ https://www.tiktok.com/@thedurufamily?lang=en
The DuruFamily IG ➟ https://www.instagram.com/thedurufamily_/

Business Inquiries? Music Submissions? 
[email protected] (SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY)
Subscribe now and join our community as we figure out this adulting thing together, one conversation at a time.

Watch Video Podcasts
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ChiziDuru

Follow 'Chizi Duru'
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/p/DIwi7l0PwfZ/

Text us and share your adulting stories!
My African dad is BACK — and this time we’re talking dating, relationships, marriage, culture, red flags, green flags, and everything in between. 😂
We unpack the conversations immigrant kids never have with their parents, including why he never asked about boyfriends, his evolving views on interracial dating, and what he believes women (and men!) should look for in a serious partner.
This episode is honest, funny, and surprisingly vulnerable. Get ready to take notes.

CHAPTERS
1:00 Growing Up African & Avoiding Dating Conversations
5:10 Cultural Expectations Around Marriage
8:00 Would Dad Accept a Non-Nigerian Partner?
12:50 Black Women & Marriage Statistics
16:00 Are Men Falling Behind? Masculinity Today
18:20 Successful Women & Men’s Insecurity
21:00 What Women Need to Know About Men
23:45 Dad’s Advice to Successful Women
26:30 Do Men Need to Work Harder?
27:30 When I Started Dating (Dad Is SHOCKED)
29:50 My Dating Experiences Now
32:00 The “Pick You Up In My Heart” Disaster
35:30 Standards, Initiative & Red Flags
37:00 What My Dad Thinks I Should Work On
39:30 Understanding My Anger & Communication Style
41:00 Should Women Date Multiple Men?
43:00 Green Flags in a Serious Partner
45:30 Financial Support & Intentionality
47:40 Men: How to Pursue a Successful Woman
48:40 Women: Watch His Actions, Not His Words
49:40 Red Flags You Should Never Ignore
51:00 What Men Should Look for in Women
52:20 How Fast Should Marriage Be Discussed?
54:00 Love Bombing & Moving Too Fast
55:10 Why Your Gut Matters in Dating

You can also listen on:
Apple: 
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-guess-im-an-adult-now/id1810057948 

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/6RTnICKr8KoafopcFoOLqR?si=ef446f1c3802432e 

Catch up on:
The very first episode of Season 1 ⬇️
I’m Starting Life Over at 29 - Ep 01 
https://youtu.be/rucAJBDkc3c

You might like ⬇️
An Honest Conversation with my African Dad on Addiction - Ep09
https://youtu.be/_j8TtWodLcc

There's more for Season 2⬇️
Am I still Christian? Navigating Religion as an Adult - Ep 12
https://youtu.be/ahU5uaDd7DM?si=PNVY2iRoYlYmFn_d

Should you be a Content Creator in 2025? - S2 Ep 11
https://youtu.be/xymT216OLOE?si=cjGS2QQXJjPBkB5-

Let's Be Friends!
Instagram➟ 
https://www.instagram.com/chiziduru
https://www.instagram.com/iguessimanadultnowpod

Tiktok➟ https://www.tiktok.com/@chiziduru
Pinterest ➟ https://www.pinterest.com/chiziduru/
TheDuruFamily TikTok ➟ https://www.tiktok.com/@thedurufamily?lang=en
The DuruFamily IG ➟ https://www.instagram.com/thedurufamily_/

Business Inquiries? Music Submissions? 
[email protected] (SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY)
Subscribe now and join our community as we figure out this adulting thing together, one conversation at a time.

Watch Video Podcasts
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ChiziDuru

Follow 'Chizi Duru'
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/p/DIwi7l0PwfZ/
Subscribe now and join our community as we figure out this adulting thing together, one conversation at a time.

Watch Video Podcasts
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ChiziDuru

Follow 'Chizi Duru'
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/p/DIwi7l0PwfZ/