Thriving in Intersectionality

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Yosi Kossowsky to explore how identity, lived experience, and internal belief systems shape how we lead. Yosi shares a deeply personal journey—one shaped by early experiences of being labeled as “not enough,” navigating limiting beliefs, and ultimately transforming those experiences into a foundation for curiosity a...

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , host Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Dr. Julie Pham to explore how identity, lived experience, and leadership are shaped across cultures, systems, and personal history. Julie shares her journey as a Vietnamese-born refugee raised in the United States, and how that experience continues to shape how she understands belonging, communication, and oppo...

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Daniel Hodges to explore how leadership is shaped through layers of identity that are often unseen—and frequently misunderstood. Daniel shares his journey growing up with limited socioeconomic resources, navigating life as someone who is blind, and managing invisible disabilities including chronic pain and mental he...

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo  sits down with Natalie Holder —employment lawyer, executive coach, and founder of QUEST Employment Initiatives—to explore how workplace experiences, identity, and power dynamics shape the way we navigate and lead in our careers. Natalie shares her journey as a first-generation professional, a Caribbean African American woman, and...

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , host Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Sabrina Parsons to explore how leadership is shaped through identity, lived experience, and the moments that challenge how we see ourselves in the workplace. Sabrina shares her journey from growing up between Mexico and the United States to leading as CEO of Palo Alto Software, reflecting on how her bicultural...

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Adriana Vaccaro  to explore how her leadership has been shaped across identity, culture, and the systems she has navigated over time. Adriana shares her journey from Bogotá, Colombia, to U.S. corporate spaces and how those early experiences shaped how she learned to communicate, show up, and make sense of the unspok...

Leadership journeys are rarely linear. They are shaped by identity, experience, opportunity, and sometimes the courage to step forward when others hesitate. In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Julia C. Rock — keynote speaker, leadership consultant, and executive coach — to explore how layered identities influence leadership journeys and workplace dyna...

What does it take to move from technical expert to strategic leader — especially in industries where leadership paths are not always clearly defined? In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo welcomes Limor Bergman Gross , a former Director of Engineering with over 20 years of experience in the tech industry and host of the podcast From a Woman to a Leader . Limor shares...

What does it take to lead at the highest levels — without losing yourself in the process? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Victoria Pelletier — corporate executive, board director, author, and public speaker — to explore what it truly means to lead as your whole self. Nicknamed the “Turnaround Queen” and “CEO Whisperer,” Victoria has spent more than two decades drivin...

What does ambition look like when you’re navigating identity, immigration, and leadership — all at once? In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with award-winning author, tech leader, and podcast host Sheekha Singh to explore immigrant ambition, women in tech, burnout, and redefining success beyond hustle culture. Born and raised in India, educated in the Uni...

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Oksana Lukash , Chief People Officer, business owner, and leadership advisor with more than 20 years of experience helping teams scale, navigate chaos, and build cultures where people can thrive. Oksana shares her powerful journey as an immigrant who grew up during the fall of the Soviet Union, spent formative years...

  What if leadership isn’t about constantly pushing forward — but about pausing long enough to reflect? In this solo episode, Dr. Lola Adeyemo shares a simple framework that has shaped how she thinks about growth, career pivots, and impact: Learn back. Lead forward. Drawing on conversations with past guests and her own journey across science, consulting, and workplace inclusion strategy, Lola expl...

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo is joined by Karen Jones , a seasoned leadership and organizational effectiveness consultant and the founder of Sacred Leadership Solutions , for a grounded and deeply human conversation about what it really takes to build workplaces where people can thrive. Karen brings more than 15 years of experience across Fortune 500 organiza...

Your voice isn’t just sound — it’s strategy. In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Olufunke Olufon — communications strategist, TEDx speaker, and founder of IWA Consulting — for a rich conversation on purpose-driven communication, leadership presence, and navigating career pivots without shrinking who you are. Olufunke’s career spans some of the world’s...

In this final Veteran & Military Family Appreciation Month spotlight, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Tahnohn and Sherry Hayes — a dual-military couple, proud parents, and the founders of NutFrusion , a San Diego–based handcrafted snack company rooted in resilience, clean ingredients, and purpose. Their story spans deployments, parenthood, medical transition, entrepreneurship, and faith — offe...

In this episode, our spotlight series continues with our veteran guests. Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Dr. Keith Dorsey — a board strategist, researcher, executive advisor, and author of The Boardroom Journey — to explore how identity, service, and intentional growth come together to form a successful and fulfilling professional journey. From the U.S. Air Force to nearly three decades in co...

(Veterans/Military Appreciation Month Series) In honor of Military Appreciation Month , this episode celebrates service, transition, and purpose-driven leadership through a conversation that bridges military, corporate, and public service spaces. Dr.  Lola Adeyemo  sits down with  Cinnamon Clark  — a U.S. Navy veteran, Chief Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Officer at the California Department...

In honor of Veterans Month , this episode celebrates service, transition, and purpose-driven leadership through a conversation that transcends military, corporate, and nonprofit spaces. Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Chris Thorne , a U.S. Navy veteran turned business and community leader, to explore what leadership looks like beyond the uniform. Chris shares powerful lessons from his 30-year mili...

Episode Description To close out Global Diversity Month, Thriving in Intersectionality presents a special storytelling episode — three powerful stories of courage, transition, and belonging shared live during the “Belonging Beyond Borders” virtual event on October 29, 2025 , hosted by Immigrants in Corporate Inc. In this reflective and inspiring episode, host Dr. Lola Adeyemo brings together voice...

In this honest and inspiring solo episode, Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo explores the power of recalibration — the intentional act of learning, realigning, and moving forward after the moments that didn’t go as planned. From canceled contracts to failed partnerships and unexpected career pivots, Dr. Lola opens up about her own experiences with “ false starts ” and how they’ve shaped her leadership, courag...

🎧 From Boardrooms to Brain Health  She climbed the ranks on Wall Street. Then she left it all behind to become a doctor. Dr. Manna Semby has a lot to say about reinvention, resilience, and thriving in midlife. In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo speaks with Dr. Manna Semby , founder of Aruna Personalized Medicine , functional medicine doctor, and former Vice Presid...

"Two truths can coexist: you can be proud of your career and ready for something new." In this powerful conversation, Dr. Lola Adeyemo chats with Celeste Warren—founder of Celeste Warren Consulting and co-founder of Destination STEM —to explore what it really means to lead with authenticity and create lasting change. Celeste brings her full self to leadership: Black woman, mother, wife,...

Two organizational psychologists walk into a bar in Portland, 2008. The bartender? Dr. Victoria Mattingly—though she didn't have the "Dr." yet. Fresh out of college during the Great Recession, she was pouring drinks to fund volunteer research work. That chance encounter became the pivot point of an extraordinary career—from serving drinks to earning a PhD, from corporate burnout to...

Episode Description What happens when a DJ who started spinning tracks at 16 becomes a startup advisor, college professor, and business growth expert? He is building and developing, leveraging all of his diverse skills!. Corey Hart's journey through the "entrepreneurship spectrum" spans nightclub ownership, restaurant turnarounds, food tech innovation, and mental health scaling - al...

A milestone celebration and heartfelt reflection on 100 episodes of authentic storytelling Episode Overview What started as a simple mission to capture immigrant workplace and career stories in August 2022 has blossomed into something far more profound. Join Dr. Lola Adeyemo as she reflects on the incredible journey from "Immigrants in Corporate" to "Thriving in Intersectionality&qu...