Meet Helene Amster Kopel | Product Manager and Host of The Agile Self-Development Podcast

We had the good fortune of connecting with Helene Amster Kopel and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Helene, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
For so many years, I didn’t identify as artistic or creative. As a kid, I sucked at art projects and couldn’t stay in the lines when coloring. As the daughter of an accountant and bookkeeper, I was amazing at math and highly analytical.
After a teacher complimented my speaking voice in high school, I went on to study radio and TV though I never pursued it professionally. In my 30s, I began journaling and doing a bit of writing and even got published in a Chicken Soup for the Soul. This was when I first realized I had “artistic” talent.
When my daughter left for school and emptied my nest, a friend invited me to an Improv class and I had a blast. It led to stand-up comedy and local theater, and I found I loved performing and making people laugh. It felt awesome! At this point, I fully owned it…I was an artist, I was creative.
My “day job” is as a software product manager and most people would NOT consider that creative but more analytical. However, what I love most about it is that I get to use both my analytical and creative talents to design software that solves problems and has a great user experience.
During the pandemic, I lost not one but two jobs. Being unemployed was difficult, I’m not one to just sit still. I had a drive and calling to help people solve and entertain, in the process. This was when The Agile Self-Development Podcast was born, which supports personal growth and achieving goals through an adaptation of agile software development methodology.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a product manager, I’m responsible for guiding the success of software products on both the strategic and tactical sides.
It was not a straight line to this field. I spent the first 10 years of my career in administrative roles, the next 10 in online marketing and ecommerce management, and the most recent ten in technology product management.
As a result of COVID, I’d been unemployed for five months searching for a new role and exploring other endeavors that would be more in alignment with what lights me up. This is when The Agile Self-Development Podcast was born. For many years, I thought about creating a podcast but never took action. Wanting, hoping, and dreaming are a start but nothing happens without action. I took a podcast course to guide me in a step-by-step process and got it launched within a couple months. Here’s a lesson – it doesn’t matter how smart or independent you are, people are out there and available to help you. Let them.
I recently began a new “day job” and am happier than I’ve been in a long time. My colleagues treat me with respect, let me know I’m appreciated, and welcome my input and feedback.
Here’s what I’ve learned in my professional career: If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will either. It took me many years to leave one of my previous positions because I didn’t believe anyone else would want me. I took a position with another company I knew was wrong for me because I was too afraid to be unemployed. I let people treat me poorly and with disrespect because I thought I had no choice. You are worthy, so believe in yourself and go for it!
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My best friend Michelle and I have lived in different cities for 30 years. Until COVID, we had annual visits and we usually turned them into mini-retreats. Michelle had introduced me to yoga as a healing modality nearly 10 years ago, and now we’re both certified teachers and avid yogiss. I love to take her to yoga at the beach and share my favorite studios and events with her, like Yoga Expo. She’s an amazing cook and her forte is healthy dishes and salads, so while we do eat out, we also eat in where I can watch her show off her skills in my kitchen.
Neither of us are big drinkers so we’re more likely to hit up a coffee shop like Lady and The Mug in Coral Springs than any bars. One really fun thing we did was seeing Snatam Kaur perform down in Miami, since Michelle was the one who’d introduced me to her music.
During the past year, I fell in love with Butterfly World. A friend bought me a ticket for my birthday and I upgraded to an annual membership. I can’t wait to share this with her when she comes back!
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’ve had some amazing friends encouraging me on my journey.
Shoutout to Michelle Kloian, who’s been my best friend since I was 17 years old. I don’t know how I would’ve survived this life without her. We all need that one person we could trust with our lives, who will listen without judgment, who gets me and lets me cry and whine when I need to and tells me to suck it up when I need to do that, too. And she’s been doing this for nearly 35 years!
Since we’re on the topic of creativity and artists, I’ve got to recognize Leslie Vincent who has not only been incredibly supportive personally and professionally for nearly 20 years, but I want to be just like her when I grow up. Leslie is the Creative Director for the company I spent 14 years with, but she grew into so much more than a colleague. Together, we’ve taken Yoga Teacher Training and led a yoga retreat, have explored spirituality and reiki, gone on Zen-themed cruises and a European one, and shared must laughter and tears. She’s not only an incredibly talented artist, but an incredibly open-minded and compassionate person. She’s been a friend and mentor and I owe her a world of thanks.
Carolina Lieberman is my local bestie and another friend who supports and encourages me in all I do. She totally gets me and I’m so grateful for her love and friendship, and the open heart and ears she’s got readily available whenever I call.
I’d also like to thank my friend Rob who guided me on the mushroom trip which led to The Agile Self-Development Podcast.
Of course, I can’t forget my family for supporting and encouraging my creative endeavors and bragging about them to anyone who’ll listen.
Website: http://www.agileselfdevelopment.com
Instagram: @heleneamsterkopel, @agileselfdevelopment
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenekopel
Twitter: @agileselfdev
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/THEqueenhelene/