Leadership Lowdown

Teaching is more than delivering information — it’s a craft that shapes lives and communities. On this week’s episode of Leadership Lowdown , Lloyd Hopkins , Founder and Executive Director of the Million Dollar Teacher Project , shares why truly effective teaching requires a rare combination of skill, connection, and purpose. Lloyd explains the difference between simply presenting material and cre...

Leadership starts with clarity, knowing who you want to be, trusting yourself, and pursuing your goals with confidence. In this week’s episode of Leadership Lowdown, Ladonna Weaver , Senior Vice President at Northern Trust Company , shares powerful insight on why self-belief is essential to effective leadership. Ladonna discusses the importance of tuning out limiting voices, staying grounded in yo...

Some conversations stick with you—and this one is exactly that. This week on the Leadership Lowdown podcast, Jodi Low talks with Kimberly Blair , Owner of The Guides Holistic Therapies , about healing, empowerment, and what it means to truly support someone as they move toward emotional freedom. Kimberly shares her heartfelt approach to helping clients reach a place of wholeness, where they don’t...

This week on Leadership Lowdown, Joe Ducey , Business and Consumer Specialist at BBB Serving the Pacific Southwest, shares practical advice on how to spot and avoid modern scams. From fake invoices targeting businesses to convincing emails and texts, Joe explains why it is critical to go directly to the source, your bank, your account, or the official website, before responding to anything suspici...

This week on Leadership Lowdown, Jennifer Barnes, CEO of Optima Office Inc., shares why entrepreneurship can become a calling you cannot ignore. Jennifer talks about the rollercoaster of building a company, why the right fit matters more than comfort, and what it means to embrace being “unemployable” in the best possible way. It’s an inspiring conversation about purpose, resilience, and choosing t...

This week on Leadership Lowdown, Dr. Aaron Blocher-Rubin, Founder and CEO of AZ Autism United, shares how a personal mission became a statewide movement for better care. After seeing firsthand the impact of quality autism support, Aaron set out to make those same services accessible to families everywhere, turning passion into purpose and purpose into progress. It’s a motivating conversation about...

This week on Leadership Lowdown, James Floros , Founder and CEO of Floros & Associates , shares why maintaining a positive attitude is the key to effective leadership and a fulfilling life. James believes that no matter the situation, you can choose optimism, look for the good in others, and make the best of where you are. Positivity not only shapes perspective, it inspires those around you. I...

This week on Leadership Lowdown, Patrick Ware and Jonathan Buford of Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company talk about the power of bringing people together in real life. From their vibrant beer garden to a culture that welcomes everyone, they share how creating space for connection builds community, diversity, and shared experience in a world that’s increasingly digital. It’s an intriguing conversati...

This week on Leadership Lowdown, Talena Handley, Owner of Girlie Garage, opens up about the importance of valuing your own worth in business. She shares how too often women underprice their work, leading to burnout, and why learning to charge fairly is not just about making money—it is about creating the capacity to care for others without draining yourself. It’s a motivating conversation about co...

This week on Leadership Lowdown, Eric Newton , Shop Manager of Curt’s Auto Repair, talks about the challenges and rewards of leading a team that feels like family. From the tough moments of making business decisions about friends to the joy of sharing life inside and outside the shop, Eric shares what it takes to balance camaraderie with accountability. It’s an inspiring conversation about leaders...

This week on Leadership Lowdown, Desiree Doubrox , CEO and Founder of HomWork , shares her perspective on decision-making and trusting your instincts. For Desiree, indecision is never productive. Clarity comes from saying yes or no and moving forward with confidence, even if the outcome proves different than expected. It’s an enlightening conversation about self-awareness, courage, and the power o...

This week on Leadership Lowdown, Susan Anable, Phoenix Market Vice President at Cox Communications, shares how Cox is helping prepare the next generation to use technology in safe and productive ways. From surveys on kids’ tech habits to partnerships with local organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs, Susan highlights how investments in technology labs are inspiring new opportunities for stu...

This week on Leadership Lowdown , Treger Strasberg , Founder of Humble Design , opens up about the power of dignity and the realities facing those working to make ends meet. Treger shares how her path from graphic designer to leading a 60-person team inspired her to step back, earn her master’s, and return with renewed purpose to grow Humble Design’s impact. It’s a motivating conversation about di...

This week on Leadership Lowdown, Amber Tarrac , CEO of FounderFuego , dives into the power of collaboration and the impact of building community through entrepreneurship. From her work with BBB’s Breakthrough Accelerator to supporting events across the region, Amber shares how generosity, shared learning, and vision fuel growth for business owners. It’s a motivating conversation about connection,...

This week on Leadership Lowdown, JW Rayhons , President and Financial Advisor at Rayhons Financial Solutions , shares his belief that when you look for the good in someone, you will find it. By helping people recognize strengths they may not see in themselves, JW shows how leadership can spark confidence, growth, and transformation. It’s a motivating conversation about seeing potential, building o...

This week on Leadership Lowdown, Bob Dalton , Founder of Sackcloth & Ashes , challenges us to look deeper at one of society’s toughest issues. While many see addiction as the problem, Bob believes the real crisis may be a lack of true community. He shares how meaningful connection, belonging, and support can be some of the most powerful antidotes to struggle. It’s an eye-opening discussion abo...

This week on Leadership Lowdown, Diana Vowels , Co-Founder and COO of Pet Ortho Braces in Scottsdale, Arizona, reflects on the power of embracing generational differences in the workplace. While her generation was taught to wait years before speaking up, Diana highlights the unique strength younger professionals bring by contributing ideas from day one, reminding us that fresh perspectives can be...

This week on Leadership Lowdown, Staci Reidinger, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Cause San Diego, shares her unique experience of raising children 24 years apart. From becoming a mom at 19 to welcoming another child at 41, Staci reflects on the dramatic shift in perspective, resources, and life experience that came with parenting across different seasons of life – including the twist of havi...

This week on Leadership Lowdown , Jacquelyn Keenan, Director of IT Business Applications at Salt River Project, reminds us that leadership isn’t just titles and tasks—it’s about seeing and feeling the people around you. For Jacquelyn, one word says it all: Joy 💛 — blending fun, happiness, and connection into both work and life. 🎙️ It’s an uplifting conversation about authenticity, humanity, and t...

This week, we're with the incredible Tahera Christy—a force of nature who's a CEO, chemist, author, and coach—and she’s on a mission to bottle self-love through her business, Amour Propre. 💥 "You can't pour from an empty cup." Tahera and host Jodi Low talk about her journey from a single bottle of hand sanitizer to a full-blown brand that has sold over 10,000 bottles of products. This episode is...

This week, we’re diving deep with Aaron Velky —CEO, coach, and founder of Get Out of Your Own Way —who’s flipping the script on leadership. 💥 “If your team is stuck, you probably are too.” Aaron and host Jodi Low get real about what it means to lead from the front—with self-awareness, accountability, and the guts to grow before asking others to. It’s raw, reflective, and packed with takeaways eve...

This week on Leadership Lowdown, Joshua Plummer, Co-Owner of Destination Baby Co., shares how his business turned into something more than just a service—it became a bridge for families to stay connected. From single moms to parents with four kids, Joshua recalls the heartfelt gratitude he’s received from families who wouldn’t have been able to travel or see loved ones without the support his comp...

This week on Leadership Lowdown, Ryan Flook, General Manager at FASTSIGNS On Central, shares how taking ownership of your mistakes isn’t just good leadership, it’s good business. Ryan explains why accountability and transparency matter, especially when dealing with customers, and how owning the problem, fixing it, and moving forward builds lasting trust. It’s an honest conversation about lead...

This week on Leadership Lowdown , Mark Baraghimian, CEO of First Impression Ironworks , shares his belief that in business and life, you’re either growing or you’re decaying—there’s no in-between. Mark talks about how this mindset drives him to keep evolving, push his team forward, and never settle for comfort. It’s a motivating conversation about staying hungry, embracing change, and choosing gro...

This week on Leadership Lowdown, Dave Martin, Owner of Dave’s Auto Repair, joins Jodi for an inspiring conversation about the importance of community and support. In this clip, Jodi reflects on how the right people can help you rise, and why surrounding yourself with those who believe in you changes everything. It’s a reminder that no one succeeds alone—and that locking arms with the right people...