Why I Left

Send a message to the show Brian sits down with Danielle Perlin-Good, the Soul-Aligned Ghostwriter. Danielle shares her powerful journey from being laid off at the Chicago Tribune to launching a thriving business helping leaders, executives, and visionaries craft authentic, lasting legacies through ghostwritten books. Discover how intuition, spiritual storytelling, and real-world digital marketing...

Send a message to the show Brian Aquart welcomes Walt Morgan, a retired Navy helicopter pilot turned leadership coach. Walt shares his inspiring journey from the cockpit to the classroom and the corporate world, diving into the emotional realities of military separation and the profound identity shift vets often face. Discover Walts unique insights on resilience, adaptability, and why veterans lea...

Send a message to the show Dr. Makini Chisolm-Straker visits Brian to share her powerful career journey from emergency medicine physician to national leader in public policy and reparations. Shes driven by a passion for systemic justice and community well-being. Hear how her experiences in healthcare, research, and a prestigious White House fellowship led her to champion equity for Black and Indig...

Send a message to the show Brian Aquart welcomes Diane Forster, award-winning TV host, coach, and founder of I Have Today. Diane shares her inspiring journey from a 32-year ad sales career to becoming a powerhouse entrepreneur helping women reinvent themselves, especially in their second chapter of life. Discover how Diane overcame personal struggles, embraced bold change, and built successful pro...

Send a message to the show Brian sits down with Myrto Legakileadership and well-being consultant, global keynote speaker, and founder of One Breath Mindfulness Center. Myrto shares her powerful journey from executive burnout to helping leaders and teams at global giants like Google and Microsoft flourish through neuroscience, psychology, and mindfulness practices.  Discover actionable insights on...

Send a message to the show Brian dives into the fast-paced world of sports management and brand partnerships with Nathaniel Cooke, a seasoned strategist known for his impactful work with Rucker Park, the NBA, and USA Flag. Nathaniel shares his journey from a communications grad hustling for opportunity, to brokering major deals with brands like Adidas, Lids, and the New York Knicks.  Discover the...

Send a message to the show Brian sits down with Coonoor Behal, innovation strategist, CEO of Mindhatch, and author of I Quit: The Life-Affirming Joy of Giving Up . Together, they challenge the stigma around quitting, exploring how intentional endings can spark fulfillment and growth, both professionally and personally.  Coonoor shares her journey from consulting to launching Mindhatch, the power o...

Send a message to the show In this episode of Why I Left , host Brian Aquart sits down with Cynthia Pong, award-winning executive coach, author, and founder of Embrace Change. Cynthia shares her journey from burned out public defender to empowering women of color and nonbinary professionals to claim their worth in the workplace. Discover how Cynthia navigated burnout, built career resilience, and...

Send a message to the show Ready to scale your business without sacrificing your values?  In this powerful episode of Why I Left, Brian Aquart sits down with Judy Weber, former trial lawyer, C-suite executive, and powerhouse Christian business coach. Discover how Judy left a toxic work environment and trusted her faith to launch a highly successful entrepreneurial journey, guiding Christian women...

Send a message to the show Brian Aquart sits down with Michael Dermer, a healthcare pioneer and serial entrepreneur, to explore his transformative journey from a high-stakes legal career to founding the industry-shaping company, IncentOne. Michael shares how he navigated one of the toughest economic crises in recent history, turning potential devastation into a groundbreaking mission with the Lone...

Send a message to the show Brian sits down with Rachel Franco, a learning and organizational development leader. Rachel shares her journey from a marketing executive to a change-maker in organizational innovation. Discover how she courageously left a toxic work environment without a backup plan and navigated significant career transitions. Rachel discusses the critical role of leadership quality a...

Send a message to the show Brian delves into the journey of Elena Agaragimova, a driving force in talent development and leadership. From academia to entrepreneurship, Elena shares how her career pivots have shaped her unique approach to unlocking human potential. Explore her insights into cultural dynamics across 14 countries, the evolving expectations in talent acquisition, and the pivotal momen...

Send a message to the show Selena Ng joins the show to share how she navigates change with resilience and strategic insight.  Let's uncover the secrets behind transformative career moves and the intricate world of HR leadership.   We delve deep into:  Selena's Discovery in HR : Learn how a rotational leadership program led Serena to find her true calling in HR, setting her on a path of r...

Send a message to the show In the Season 4 debut of "Why I Left," I had the pleasure of speaking with Timm Chiusano, a former high-powered marketing and branding executive who made the bold decision to leave his corporate role after over a decade at a major telecommunications company. Timm's journey is a compelling narrative of self-reflection, clarity, and the pursuit of purpose. ...

Send a message to the show New season. New stories. Same powerful mission. Why I Left is BACK with Season 4, and were diving even deeper into the real stories behind career transitions. From bold leaps of faith to unexpected pivots, our guests are redefining success on their own termsand sharing exactly how they did it. This season, expect: Raw, unfiltered career transition stories Insights from e...

Send a message to the show Inthe Season 3 finale of Why I Left, Brian Aquart sits down with MauricePhilogene, an investor, entrepreneur, coach, and philanthropist with aremarkable story. Maurice defied his parents' conventional money blueprint,leaving behind stable careers at Accenture and the police department during thepandemic.  Discover how his journey of financial freedom through real es...

Send a message to the show Brianwelcomes TJ Murphy, Owner/Partner, Hite Digital and host of the AdventurousEntrepreneurs podcast. Discover TJ's journey from a corporate job to travelingthrough Asia and ultimately founding his own marketing agency in Bend, Oregon. Learn the secrets to his success as a solopreneur, including the power ofcommunity building, mentorship, and a positive mindset. TJ...

Send a message to the show Brianwelcomes Natalie Serebrennik, founder of Natalie Serebrennik Coaching andConsulting. Natalie shares her journey from a 16-year capital markets career tobecoming a career coach. She opens up about overcoming imposter syndrome, theimportance of self-advocacy, and how the pandemic led her to reevaluate herprofessional life. Natalie emphasizes career planning, confident...

Send a message to the show BrianAquart chats with Dave Won, founder and CEO of Budget Captain, who shares hisjourney of building a successful business while maintaining a nine-to-five job. Dave's holistic approach to financial transformation has helped numerousindividuals eliminate credit card debt and achieve financial stability. Heemphasizes the importance of addressing both the psychologic...

Send a message to the show Send us a Text Message. Brian Aquart learns about the journey of Kenneth Ellington, a cybersecurity expert who left the financial services industry to establish the Ellington Cyber Academy. Kenneth shares his passion for empowering individuals, especially people of color, in cybersecurity and discusses the ever-growing demand for professionals in the field. Through his c...

Send a message to the show Send us a Text Message. Brian Aquart sits down with Abha Malpani-Naismith, a dynamic digital PR and social media communications specialist who bravely left her corporate job to redesign a life that harmonizes her career aspirations and parenthood. With over 17 years of experience, Abha shares her journey, the challenges of balancing work and family, and how she leverages...

Send a message to the show Send us a Text Message. From a seasoned industrial engineer to a dynamic management consultant, Ali Alper Celtek shares the pivotal moments and profound insights that motivated him to pursue his passion beyond the conventional corporate world. Discover how he embraced challenges and harnessed his unique strengths in multitasking and systems analysis to redefine success o...

Send a message to the show Send us a Text Message. Join Brian Aquart as he explores Dr. Sugi Subawickramas inspiring journey from a high-paying job to embracing her true passion in mental health and coaching. In this episode, Dr. Sugi shares insights on overcoming cultural stigmas, building resilience, and finding hope after personal and professional challenges. Discover how she empowers others th...

Send a message to the show Send us a Text Message. Discover how to amplify your personal brand and thrive on LinkedIn with marketing maven Rachel B. Lee. Rachel's journey from corporate brand manager to entrepreneurial luminary offers a roadmap for creating authentic connections and becoming a standout authority in your industry. Delve into her refreshing approach to personal branding, relati...

Send a message to the show Send us a Text Message. In this insightful episode, Lauren Weber of The Wall Street Journal joins host Brian Aquart to unravel the complexities of the modern workforce. Delve into a nuanced discussion on the pros and cons of gig jobs, the rising demand for sustainable work without a college degree, and the evolution of the workplace in light of AI and labor shortages. Un...