The Route to Success

Host Sara Orellana sits down with coach, strategist, and AI visibility expert Pamela de la Flor to discuss rebuilding life after immigration, divorce, and burnout. Pamela shares how she moved from Peru to Canada, navigated single motherhood and anxiety, and eventually built a career helping women reclaim energy, confidence, and visibility—including how she uses AI tools authentically to grow her b...

Host Sara sits down with Stephanie Brown, founder of the Rosie Network and the Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce, for a raw conversation about growing up in a military family, becoming a military spouse, and surviving the loss of her husband Tom, a retired Navy SEAL. Stephanie shares how personal grief and systemic barriers facing military spouses and veterans inspired her to build nationwide en...

Host Sara Orellana talks with Sheridan Hall, co-founder of Operation Hired, about the persistent gap between military talent and civilian hiring systems. Drawing on his 25+ years in corporate recruiting, Sheridan explains why veteran resumes get overlooked, how AI-powered tools can translate military experience into corporate language, and what both veterans and hiring managers can do to close the...

Retired police captain Kirk Driver, a 34-year law enforcement veteran, joins Route to Success to discuss his transition into keynote speaking on leadership and community impact. Kirk shares how earning an MBA reshaped his perspective, how he built a groundbreaking nonprofit task force (LVT Rise) to break silos between social services, and offers practical frameworks for leadership, meeting people...

Host Sara welcomes George Carter, a strategy and operations leader with deep roots in vertical farming and food systems, for a conversation that blends personal resilience with systems-level thinking. George shares how stepping away from a misaligned role protected his mental health and reshaped his leadership style, then dives deep into the structural problems in America's food system—from food d...

Retired Army Ranger officer Larry Perino, who survived the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu depicted in Black Hawk Down, joins host Sara to discuss leadership under extreme pressure, rebuilding purpose after military transition, and his current mission leading commercial and small business banking for veteran-owned businesses at Navy Federal Credit Union. The conversation blends combat stories with practi...

Host Sara welcomes Ashley, a finance industry veteran and business builder, for a candid conversation about dismantling hustle culture and redefining success. Ashley shares her journey of recognizing burnout beneath outward success, grieving the "old model" of achievement she inherited, and shifting from chasing balance to living in alignment with her core values. They also dig into the power of a...

Sara sits down with Teva Thompson, founder of a branding and operations company serving women-led businesses and nonprofits, to explore how she built her company slowly and intentionally while working full time and raising a family. They dig into the shift from surface-level branding to deep operational systems, the power of Lean Six Sigma thinking, and why creating supportive, women-centered busi...

Richard Halter, often called the "unknown father of ecommerce" and creator of the first omnichannel point-of-sale architecture, joins The Route to Success to share stories from decades of retail technology innovation. He and the host dig into how standards solve retail's biggest scaling problems, why AI should be thought of like a learning toddler rather than an application, and why he's now build...

Attorney, business strategist, and nonprofit founder Arnettia Wyre joins host Sara to discuss reclaiming her authentic voice after years of being told her natural way of thinking and asking questions made others uncomfortable. Arnetta shares how she moved from silencing herself for two decades to fully embracing her identity, and details her work through OmniQuest Youth Empowerment Initiative and...

Summary Scott Torrin, an operational excellence and continuous improvement professional, joins Route to Success to talk openly about the pain of feeling stuck between his current job title and the career he knows he's capable of. He and the host dig into how mismatched job titles create real barriers in the job search, how AI-driven hiring has flooded the process with applicants, and how family, f...

Sarah Jackal, founder of the national nonprofit, Democrashe, shares how being told she'd never work again after a chronic illness diagnosis led her to study brain science and resilience, eventually building tools like the "inner best friend" and "inner champion." She discusses how these tools carried her into national political leadership roles and now power her program, which operates in 42 state...

Summary Erin Treacy — former TV producer, nonprofit leader, and restaurant owner — shares how a decade of high-performance leadership led to a physical breakdown from compressed spinal discs and full-blown burnout. She and the host unpack how burnout actually shows up in the body and mind, why people miss the warning signs, and how to rebuild identity, leadership style, and support systems after b...

Samir Abukhodair shares his winding journey from engineering and corporate tech into teaching and eventually founding Creatures of, a business rooted in helping people rather than chasing sales. He and host Sara dig into finding courage to walk away from misaligned careers, building systems that balance strategy with human connection, and practical steps for anyone feeling stuck in their career. S...

In this powerful conversation, DeeDee Fisher explores the growing communication crisis in leadership and shares practical strategies to create clearer, more compassionate, and more effective dialogue in today’s workplace. Using her CPL Framework — Compassion, Process, and Learning — Dee Dee explains how leaders can improve communication, reduce meeting fatigue, build stronger organizational cultur...

In this inspiring episode, Bree Carriglio shares her powerful journey from corporate marketing to nonprofit leadership, dedicating her life to supporting vulnerable communities in Armenia. We explore what it truly means to lead under pressure, build resilient teams, and support people through humanitarian crises. Brie opens up about emotional intelligence in leadership, the importance of listening...

In this conversation, Neil Marshall and Kurt Mosley discuss the critical first 90 days of leadership, emphasizing the importance of understanding organizational culture, building trust, and making strategic decisions. They share real-world examples and actionable insights for leaders to navigate their initial period effectively, highlighting the balance between quick action and thoughtful decision...

In this conversation, Neil Marshall and Kurt Mosley discuss the critical first 90 days of leadership, emphasizing the importance of understanding organizational culture, building trust, and making strategic decisions. They share real-world examples and actionable insights for leaders to navigate their initial period effectively, highlighting the balance between quick action and thoughtful decision...

Discover the transformative power of Pranic Healing with Bianca Riemer in this insightful conversation about energy healing, stress management, emotional wellness, and personal growth. Bianca shares her inspiring journey from a high-pressure finance career to becoming a healer, helping people unlock resilience, balance, and inner peace through energy work. Learn how Pranic Healing works, the scien...

Discover the transformative power of Pranic Healing with Bianca Riemer in this insightful conversation about energy healing, stress management, emotional wellness, and personal growth. Bianca shares her inspiring journey from a high-pressure finance career to becoming a healer, helping people unlock resilience, balance, and inner peace through energy work. Learn how Pranic Healing works, the scien...

In this episode of Route to Success, host Sara engages with Roger Devine, a business leader dedicated to supporting volunteer-driven organizations through innovative fundraising tools. Roger shares his journey from publishing to finding purpose in helping communities, emphasizing the importance of resilience, sustainability, and listening in leadership. The conversation explores how organizational...

In this enlightening conversation, Patrice Brown shares her unique journey into leadership, emphasizing the importance of resilience, joy, and self-care. She discusses how small moments of joy can help navigate stress and uncertainty, the role of faith in maintaining hope, and practical rituals for resetting the mind. The dialogue also explores the significance of building connections in leadershi...

In this conversation, Renee Hastings, president and CEO of Executive Help Now, shares her insights on leadership, resilience, and the importance of operational clarity in business. With over 20 years of experience, she discusses the lessons learned from both good and bad leaders, the significance of hiring for values, and the challenges of delegation. The conversation emphasizes the role of faith...

What if leadership challenges inside your organization are not caused by people but by broken systems? In this episode of The Route To Success, Sara Orellana speaks with organizational psychologist and nonprofit leader Inga James about how leaders can build healthier organizations by focusing on systems, culture, and trauma informed leadership. Inga James explains why organizations should be seen...

In this conversation, Nikki Hamilton shares practical self-advocacy tools for victims and families, emphasizing the importance of knowing options, asking for clarity, and documenting conversations. She discusses building a nonprofit resource navigation network, highlighting the significance of partnerships and understanding community needs. The conversation also covers the selection of a high-cali...