The Leader Brew Podcast

Explore the inspiring journey of Dr. Julia Ivy, an extraordinary educator, and international business strategist who transformed her life from a top management consultant in Eastern Europe to an internationally recognized leader in global strategies for businesses and individuals. Julia's story of choosing to shift her comfortable life back home to unknown opportunities and navigating a new l...

Join Dr. Rick Arrowood for an engaging conversation with Matthew Coccoluto, a talented former student from Northeastern University D'Amore-McKim School of Business, as he shares his extraordinary transition from the stunning landscapes of Pepperdine University to the bustling tech scene in Boston. Matthew's journey is fascinating, as he recounts how the ocean views of Malibu seduced him...

Rachel Arditi, Senior Director at Sage Therapeutics, shares a fascinating journey of juggling her master's degree with a demanding career. Discover how her theater background has been instrumental in cultivating her leadership skills and work ethic, all while leveraging classroom lessons in the real world. Our conversation sheds light on the vibrant dynamic between academic endeavors and prac...

What happens when young leaders step out of their comfort zone and embrace the unknown? Join us for an enlightening conversation with Duc Do, a remarkable student living in the USA who is originally from Vietnam and shares his journey of growth and transformation while studying in the US. Mentorship, cultural adjustments, and the courage to explore possibilities beyond traditional expectations are...

Join Part 2 of the conversation with Jalen Gonel, the brain behind Breadcrumbs.ai, as we unravel the threads of complexity in learning and entrepreneurship. Imagine a world where the intricate becomes attainable, where AI is your ally on a transformative journey through knowledge—this is the essence of Jalen's vision. In a heartfelt discussion, we trace Jalen's personal evolution from an...

Join the conversation with Jalen Gonel, the brain behind Breadcrumbs.ai, as we unravel the threads of complexity in learning and entrepreneurship. Imagine a world where the intricate becomes attainable, where AI is your ally on a transformative journey through knowledge—this is the essence of Jalen's vision. In a heartfelt discussion, we trace Jalen's personal evolution from an introvert...

Stepping onto campus as a first-year student athlete, Jaiden Woodbey was determined to defy the odds. His journey through competitive football and rigorous academia, culminating in three degrees over five action-packed years, paints a compelling portrait of discipline and ambition. We're thrilled to welcome Jaiden Woodbey in our latest episode, where we peel back the gridiron to reveal the st...

Can you imagine returning to pursue your educational dreams after a 35 year gap? Denise Eaton, a recent Merrimack College graduate, defied the odds and did exactly that. Denise’s inspiring journey from a long hiatus to achieving her Bachelor's degree is the heart of our conversation. We explore her motivations, experiences, and the critical role of perseverance and self-confidence that transf...

Are you ready to hear a tale of extraordinary resilience? Meet Clifford Harrison, a former Foundation Year student and now an esteemed professional at the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council. Juggling the demands of early parenthood while striving academically, Clifford's narrative is an inspiring testament to the power of sheer will and determination. This episode also explores the value of...

Join Dr. Rick Arrowood and his co-host, Dr. Leslie Hitch, as they reconnect with their former student, Wei Li Wong. Originally hailing from Malaysia, Wei Li will share her personal and professional journey from being an international graduate student to achieving a Senior Consultant position at Swinburne University in Melbourne, Australia. Wei Li compares her journey and approach to leadership to...

Join Dr. Rick Arrowood and Co-Host Dr. Leslie Hitch in an engaging conversation with former student Dr. Stephen Sim. This episode revolves around a recurring theme of respect and admiration for faculty members expressed by many exceptional students in the global leadership program. Dr. Sim passionately shares his thoughts on Dr. Hitch's profound impact on his journey. Reflecting on his experi...

Dr. Rick catches up with his former student, Ricky Sucitra, from Jakarta, Indonesia, to discuss Ricky's experience from the classroom to the realworld leading multicultural teams. In their conversation, Ricky shares how he and his team practice servant leadership in building high-performing teams, prioritizing resiliency, fostering a positive workplace culture, and developing effective strate...

Accompany Dr. Rick as he reconnects with Nathan Luker, a former student from Melbourne, Australia. Nathan shares his reflections on studying leadership with American professors, which offered him a fresh perspective on his educational and professional journey. He discovered that learning goes beyond simply studying textbooks, collecting references for essays, or attaining instant gratification. In...

Dr. Arrowood is accompanied by Vi Nguyen, a former student from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in this episode. The English translation of Ho Chi Minh is "Bringer of Light." Vi, who graduated a decade ago and has since ventured into the real world, is shedding light on the benefits of studying abroad, not only for students but also for professors. She co-founded ProPath, an educational compa...

Join Dr. Rick Arrowood and guest Kristal Jericho as they explore self-discovery, motivation, and strategy. Kristal shares her personal and professional journey from the classroom to the real world, reflecting on the significance of self-belief, adaptability to change, and the courage to leave a workplace that isn't a good fit. Through her experiences, Kristal gained invaluable insight, even w...

Dr. Rick Arrowood and Dr. Leslie Hitch are joined by Ruta Kothare, a former student from India, to discuss her perspectives on the cultural nuances of living and teaching in Australia and China. During the conversation, Ruta emphasizes the importance of being aware of differences and similarities, being open to vulnerability, and acknowledging that it's okay not always to be strong. The discu...

Dr. Rick Arrowood invites you to an extraordinary conversation with guest Andrew Joycey as they explore his life journey from the classroom to the real world. Andrew shares his insightful reflections on growing up in Papua New Guinea and Australia and how these experiences profoundly impacted his outlook and fostered his curiosity. He emphasizes the importance of finding purpose during challenging...

Join Dr. Rick Arrowood and his guest Dilini Kithsiri in this fascinating discussion about how to swim with your strengths in unchartered waters.  Dilini, an aquatics athlete, shares her transition from a trained competitor to learning how to collaborate in the transportation industry.  She knew at an early age what it meant to compete and how to work on a team, but the leadership classroom and her...

Join Dr. Rick Arrowood and his guest Ivan Mootoosamy in this engaging discussion about leading others by understanding their personality and personality preferences. Ivan's departure from the small island nation of Mauritius to Australia unleashed his curiosity to learn, explore, engage, and adapt. Even when told many years ago in the classroom, his story of arriving in Australia at the age o...

Join Dr. Rick and his guests, Mohssen Owlad and Sanaz Bin, two former students from Iran who reside in Melbourne, Australia. In this episode, Mo and Sang share their stories of perseverance, tenacity, and courage in their pursuit of passion as entrepreneurs. Sanaz describes her journey of self-discovery as one that requires a positive outlook and continuous learning. Mo shares that following your...

Live from Pakistan, I sit down with former student Fazeel Tariq Mughal in the major city of Lahore for an interview discussing family business dynamics,  insights on politics, leading in a global environment, and his family's remarkable charitable work.  Fazeel's engineering background and leadership skills make him an effective director at Pakistan's largest steel-producing company...

Join Dr. Rick Arrowood and his guest Martha Marroquin as they discuss her experiences from the classroom to the real world. Martha spoke about her journey and how the global leadership classroom provided the perfect space for gaining cross-cultural skills, interacting with fellow students, and understanding different perspectives on team projects with global relevance. She found ways to leverage t...

Join today's Host Dr. Rick Arrowood as he journeys down memory lane with Dr. Leslie Hitch and Jane Edmonds. These two global leadership faculty pioneers, also known as the dynamic duo, traveled 10,000 miles to Australia to do what they do best--teach, nurture, and inspire leaders worldwide.  Both relive memories of the global classroom, share stories of travel experiences, and fondly recall t...

Join Co-Hosts Dr. Rick Arrowood and Dr. Leslie Hitch along with today's guest, Tilka Farzana. Tilka is a graduate of the global leadership program, entrepreneur, and lecturer.  She shares her remarkable story of transitioning leadership theories from the classroom to the real world . Her story is an incredible journey that spans from Bangladesh to Boston to Melbourne, Australia back to Bangla...

Join Dr. Rick Arrowood and his guest, Peter Cameron, as they catch up and talk about life, career, and the newest addition to Peter’s family, Hugh. Peter talks about his experiences after attaining a dual master’s degree in Melbourne and later working abroad in London. He shares the importance of family support for individual decisions, particularly when going to another country to work or study....