From Failure to Launch

Radney Wood — lawyer, entrepreneur, and seasoned world traveler — joins us to reflect on two decades in the legal field and a lifetime of lessons. One of six kids raised with little but surrounded by love, Radney shares how grit, curiosity, and humility shaped his path to success. In this episode, we talk about learning through mistakes, gaining perspective with time, and the value of being open t...

In this episode, we sit down with Brandi Beasley — principal consultant, operator, and former higher education and talent acquisition leader — to talk about what it really takes to grow and sustain a business from the inside out. Brandi shares her journey from higher education to people ops to advising small businesses and scaling startups, bringing wisdom and warmth to the conversation. We dive i...

Kiera chats with Sandy Mathews, a seasoned tech industry professional with 15 years of experience at Microsoft, Deloitte, and AWS. Sandy shares how each role built on the last, shaping her ability to navigate ambiguity, advocate for herself, and embrace lifelong learning. As a former software development course instructor and mentor at Code2College, she also highlights the power of mentorship, rep...

In this inspiring episode, Keira catches up with Sapphire Hunter, a Code2College alum and Northwestern University student majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Legal Studies. Sapphire reflects on her journey from a Code2College high school student to navigating college classes and the professional world, including her internship with Keira at Yeti last summer. Their conversation dives deep...

In this episode, Keira sits down with Seth Weiss, software engineer at Yeti and 2x Mentor of the Year nominee for the Code2College IDEA Awards, to explore the intersection of technical talent and people skills. As Keira's mentor during her summer internship at Yeti, Seth shares insights on the importance of perception, marketing your personal brand, and how vulnerability can break through the illu...

Join us as we sit down with Kevin Nguyen, Senior Manager of Platform Development Engineering at Cirrus Logic and Mentor of the Year nominee for the 5th Annual Code2College IDEA Awards. Kevin shares his inspiring journey from engineer to manager, the skills that make a great leader, and his philosophy of building a strong foundation early in your career to enjoy the rewards of a more balanced and f...

Join us as we sit down with Melissa Granados, Director of Administration and Facilities at FloSports, to discuss her incredible 10-year journey with the company. In this inspiring episode, Melissa shares her insights on building confidence in the workplace, the power of believing in yourself, and why saying "yes" to new challenges can transform your career. She also highlights the vital role of te...

In this inaugural episode of From Failure to Launch, Kamilla Yunusova, a senior product manager at RBCx, shares her remarkable journey from making her mark at OJO Labs and IBM to co-founding the nonprofit Rise First. Kamilla opens up about overcoming imposter syndrome, the power of mentorship, and the lessons she's learned through failure and success. Join us for an inspiring conversation about re...