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Intentional Ambition: Redefining Your Work for Greater Joy, Freedom and Fulfilment with Rha Goddess

What if ambition didn’t have to mean striving, burnout, or compromise? What if it could be a joyful, purpose-driven expression of who you truly are?

In this inspiring conversation, Rha Goddess — entrepreneurial soul coach, author, and founder of Move The Crowd — joined Chris Cooper to explore how to align purpose, prosperity, and impact through her concept and new book Intentional Ambition.

Rha also shared how she is galvanising a movement of 3 million entrepreneurs reimagining work as a vehicle for creative expression, financial freedom, and societal transformation.

For over three decades, Rha has helped change-makers, cultural visionaries, and social entrepreneurs stay true, get paid, and do good — redefining success at the intersection of values and vitality.

In this interview, they discussed how to find joy, freedom, and fulfilment in your work, while contributing meaningfully to the world around you.

Here are some insights from the interview you won’t want to miss:

Redefining Success Beyond Money
Chris Cooper and Rha Goddess discussed how fulfillment, joy, and purpose are just as essential as financial success, if not more. Money is important, but it shouldn’t be the only measure—true success involves health, happiness, and meaningful contribution.
Personal Journey and Background Shapes Intention
Rha Goddess shared how her upbringing in a compassionate and values-driven family shaped her approach to life and work. Her experiences in activism, artistry, and coaching fuelled her passion for helping others find purpose-driven paths.
The Impact of Burnout and Grief
Rha Goddess was candid about her own burnout following her father’s passing and her tendency to “pile on” work instead of allowing space to grieve. This personal struggle led her to deeply examine her relationship with ambition and work.
Great Resignation & Renegotiation of Work
The pandemic and events like the Great Resignation highlighted how many people felt disconnected from traditional models of work. Rha Goddess examined these societal shifts, noting that people now prioritise health, happiness, and meaning in their professional lives.
Wounded Versus True Ambition
A powerful concept from Rha Goddess’s book is distinguishing between “wounded ambition” (driven by external expectations and past trauma) and “true ambition” (aligned with authentic values and joy). Many people unknowingly chase success on terms that aren’t their own.
The Three-Part Process of Renegotiation
The path to intentional ambition involves three key steps:
- Reclaim your own narrative and rewrite what success means for you,
- Realign your actions and choices with your values,
- Reimagine your work experience by putting joy and meaning at the forefront.
Using Joy as a North Star
Joy isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a practical compass for making career decisions and managing daily energy. Small rituals (like Rha Goddess’s husband’s morning coffee moment) can ground you and dramatically affect your day.
Bringing Your Whole Self to Work
The interview stressed the importance of authenticity. When you bring your true self to your work and align it with what matters, you’re more likely to thrive and contribute meaningfully.
The Possibility of Having Both Purpose and Profit
Rha Goddess emphasised that it’s entirely possible to have both a purpose-driven career and financial stability. You don’t have to trade one for the other, but it requires conscious choices and seeking out supportive environments.
Community and Role Models Matter
Surrounding yourself with others who share your values and vision can inspire and support your journey towards intentional ambition.your impact.

The quality of your life is the quality of your day to day. How you spend your days is how you spend your life. – Rha Goddess

If you’re ready to lead, create, and live with greater intention, this conversation will help you reclaim ambition as a force for good

You can listen to this Business Elevation Show interview with Rha Goddess & Chris Cooper here. Alternatively on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Tunein, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio (latter US only).

More about Rha Goddess:

Rha Goddess is the entrepreneurial soul coach behind hundreds of breakthrough changemakers, cultural visionaries, and social entrepreneurs. From New York Times bestsellers to multimillion-dollar social enterprises, her pioneering methodology has empowered a new generation of conscious entrepreneurs to stay true, get paid, and do good.

A cultural innovator, social impact strategist, and creative change agent for over 30 years, Rha has harnessed the power of creativity, culture, and community to advance issues of racial justice, equality, mental health, and women’s empowerment—impacting millions of lives worldwide.

In 2011, she founded Move The Crowd, an entrepreneurial training company helping creative and cultural leaders thrive at the intersection of values, profitability, and social impact. As CEO, she is galvanizing a movement of 3 million entrepreneurs reimagining work as a vehicle for creative expression, financial freedom, and societal transformation.

In 2020, Rha co-founded nFormation with Deepa Purushothaman—a first-of-its-kind community by and for women of color that reimagines traditional power structures to change not just who gets a seat at the table, but how the table is formed.

A sought-after speaker and acclaimed performance artist, Rha’s work has been featured in Time, Essence, Forbes, Fast Company, and Variety. Her book, The Calling (St. Martin’s Press), offers a step-by-step blueprint for discovering purpose and making your most profitable contribution.