Expressions of Leadership

Ellie Shapiro has spent her career bringing imagination to life for iconic brands like Barbie and Disney Princess, but her most powerful story is about the life she chose to build. In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, host Michele Kawamoto Perry speaks with Ellie to explore her journey from corporate marketing to independent toy inventor, including the moment she took on a multi-billion-d...

What does love have to do with leadership? For Dr. Kerry Neal, everything. In this episode, Michele Kawamoto Perry traces the arc of a remarkable journey, from hospital orderly to Doctor of Education, from a devastating personal moment to the founding of Black Love Reimagined, a movement that has been quietly transforming how communities talk about love, accountability, and connection for 15 years...

In this episode, Michele Kawamoto Perry speaks with Erica Rife, Executive Director of the Architecture Foundation of Oregon, about her journey from the startup world to nonprofit leadership, and how design literacy can expand who has a voice in shaping the built environment. They explore Erica’s path into design-focused work, her decision to return to school to deepen her understanding of equity a...

Host Michele Kawamoto Perry speaks with Michelle Bacharach, CEO and Board Chairman of FindMine, about her journey from UC Berkeley to acting, product leadership, and ultimately founding an AI platform that helps brands translate their creative expertise into inspiring, shoppable experiences for consumers. Michelle shares how burnout led her to step back and rethink what she wanted to build, the le...

Host Michele Kawamoto Perry interviews Cathy Derksen, founder of Inspired Tenacity, to explore her remarkable journey from medical genetics and financial planning to becoming a publisher, international speaker, and 23-time #1 bestselling author. Cathy shares how a midlife reinvention led her to discover the power of authorship and community as catalysts for leadership, visibility, and purpose. In...

Host Michele Kawamoto Perry speaks with Dr. Sarah Zappe, Assistant Dean for Teaching and Learning and Director of the Leonhard Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Education at Penn State, about what it means to lead with authenticity at the intersection of engineering, innovation, and the arts. As the first non-engineer to serve in her role within the College of Engineering, Dr. Sarah Zappe...

Host Michele Kawamoto Perry interviews David Silverstein, founder and CEO of Amaze Health, former nuclear submarine officer, strategist, entrepreneur, and healthcare reform advocate, about his 25+ year journey leading organizations, challenging broken systems, and driving meaningful change in healthcare. From military discipline to helping advance federal healthcare price transparency rules, David...

On this episode of Expressions of Leadership, host Michele Kawamoto Perry sits down with award-winning filmmaker and SheTV Media founder Meredith Yinger to explore how storytelling becomes a powerful act of leadership. Through documentaries like Scars Unseen, now used in hundreds of educational institutions nationwide, Meredith spotlights domestic violence survivorship, resilience, and the power o...

Host Michele Kawamoto Perry welcomes serial entrepreneur and technologist Chad Patterson to Expressions of Leadership for a conversation on leadership rooted in humility, service, and trust. Chad shares how his upbringing influenced his commitment to creating access and dignity for overlooked talent, and how he builds systems that support small businesses around the world. Together, they explore t...

Host Michele Kawamoto Perry sits down with Amy Christine, Master of Wine and winemaker, to explore her unexpected journey from performer to winery co-owner, and how leadership can emerge through curiosity, creativity, and courage. In this episode, Amy reflects on how acting, wine sales, and the rigorous Master of Wine program shaped her leadership style, from listening deeply and reading the room...

In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, host Michele Kawamoto Perry speaks with Holly Uber, a human-centered technologist, product leader, and innovation catalyst whose career spans education, AR/VR, and healthcare technology. From her early days as a teacher to launching products in highly regulated environments, Holly reflects on how curiosity, systems thinking, and inclusive design have s...

In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, host Michele Kawamoto Perry explores leadership through storytelling, trust, and creative courage with Jeremiah D. Higgins—radio host, executive producer, and director of programming at Radio Evolve Santa Barbara. With more than 20 seasons behind the microphone and a global audience through Radio Evolve Santa Barbara and the Evolve Entertainment Networ...

In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, Michele Kawamoto Perry sits down with artist Flora Kao to explore a nontraditional leadership journey shaped by courage, persistence, and creative risk. From studying environmental science and public policy to working in strategy consulting—and ultimately choosing a life rooted in art—Flora reflects on redefining success, navigating rejection and perso...

In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, host Michele Kawamoto Perry sits down with Dr. Diana Hoppe, board-certified OB/GYN, founder of Amazing Over 40, breast cancer survivor, and women’s health advocate, for a powerful conversation about leadership, self-care, and reinvention at midlife. Drawing from nearly 30 years in medicine — and a personal wake-up call that reshaped how she lives and l...

In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, host Michele Kawamoto Perry talks with Edie Higby, Scientist of Happiness Health, author of Joy by Design, and founder of Practicing Joy, to explore where joy and leadership intersect. Edie shares her powerful journey from profound personal loss to resilience, reframing happiness not as a fleeting feeling, but as serious, intentional work. She introduc...

In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, host Michele Kawamoto Perry is joined by educator, author, and storyteller Michael Hernandez to explore what learning can, and should, look like in an AI-driven world. Drawing on his background in film, journalism, and media arts, Michael challenges traditional systems built on control, standardization, and “right answers,” and offers a more human-cent...

Host Michele Kawamoto Perry sits down with Marian Kopp, CEO of Lauffener Weingärtner eG, to reflect on his three decades of leadership across the international wine and FMCG industries. Together, they dive into what it takes to lead authentically across cultures, balance heritage with innovation, and steer teams through disruption with empathy and resilience. From empowering local expertise to emb...

Host Michele Kawamoto Perry speaks with Daniel Kebede, co-founder of Abstract, in a conversation centered on leadership in complex systems. Together, they explore how reimagining airports requires not only good design but the ability to lead through ambiguity—aligning dozens of stakeholders, creating shared rituals, and using storytelling and empathy to move people toward a common vision. Daniel r...

In this episode, host Michele Kawamoto Perry welcomes Julie Hurwitz, Founder and CEO of Songbird Creative, to explore her journey from early record-label roles to building a boutique music licensing and strategy firm. Julie reflects on what it takes to hire well, build scalable systems, embrace automation, and pivot into new opportunities — including launching a recruiting arm to meet emerging ind...

In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, host Michele Kawamoto Perry interviews Heidi Ridley, a 35-year veteran of the financial services industry who has redefined what leadership looks like in finance. From pioneering ESG integration to co-founding Radiant Global Investors, Heidi has led global teams with integrity, vision, and a deep commitment to mentoring others and advancing inclusion a...

In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, host Michele Kawamoto Perry is joined by California Deputy Treasurer Khaim Morton, who traces his path from a file clerk at Warner Brothers to a seasoned public servant and strategist. Khaim shares the leadership lessons he’s learned across politics, coaching, and community-building — lessons rooted in curiosity, adaptability, and connection. He discus...

Host Michele Kawamoto Perry sits down with Marc Engel — comedian, qualitative researcher, facilitator, and creative strategist — for a lively and insightful conversation about how improv, humor, and play can transform the way we lead and connect. Marc shares his unconventional career journey, from comedy stages to corporate boardrooms, and how his Out of Focus Groups® and Blocks + Clay methods hel...

In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, host Michele Kawamoto Perry talks with Christopher Fielden — award-winning author, drummer, and entrepreneur — about leading with empathy, adaptability, and creativity across music, business, and publishing. Chris shares how respect, deep listening, and composure under pressure have guided his leadership, from navigating change to mentoring thousands o...

In this conversation, host Michele Kawamoto Perry talks with Kara Demirjian Huss — Founder and President of DCC Marketing, Sr. Vice President and Global Marketing Director of TCCI Manufacturing, and President of DemirCo Properties and Real Estate Portfolios — about leading at the intersection of business, policy, and innovation. Kara discusses taking on a $20M downtown revitalization at 27, turnin...

In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, Michele Kawamoto Perry sits down with Sucharita Kodali, retail analyst, civic innovator, and the driving force behind The Election Hub, a SEED20 initiative designed to help voters make informed choices in local elections. Sucharita shares her journey from shaping consumer insights in the private sector to championing data-driven civic engagement. She o...