B-Sides: The Deeper Side of Leadership

" Young people aren’t the future. They are already shaping the present. In this episode of B-Sides: The Deeper Side of Leadership, host Lorelle Atkinson sits down with Ziad Ahmed, Head of Next Gen at United Talent Agency, to explore what it really means to give Gen Z a seat at the table. From founding his first company at 16 to advising global brands, Ziad has built his career on one core belief:...

Conservation isn’t just about protecting wildlife. It’s about making it possible for people and animals to coexist. In this episode of B-Sides: The Deeper Side of Leadership, host Lorelle Atkinson speaks with Dr. Krithi Karanth, Director at the Centre for Wildlife Studies, whose work sits at this critical intersection. Growing up in the forests of India, she developed an early connection to wildli...

In this episode of B-Sides: The Deeper Side of Leadership, host Lorelle Atkinson sits down with Yemi A.D., Founder of Moonshot Platform, to explore a creative journey shaped by movement, intuition, and purpose. From dancing in communist Czechoslovakia to choreographing for global artists like Kanye West and Virgil Abloh, Yemi shares how creativity became both an outlet and a guide. He reflects on...

In this episode of B-Sides: The Deeper Side of Leadership, host Lorelle Atkinson sits down with Ciara Garcia, CEO of Social Venture Partners International, to explore how lived experience shapes the way we lead. Garcia reflects on growing up between two vastly different socioeconomic realities and how that dual perspective informs her work today. From supporting families through grief to building...

In this episode of B-Sides: The Deeper Side of Leadership, host Lorelle Atkinson sits down with Ashley Bell, Founder & CEO of Redemption Bank, to explore the deeper motivations behind his work expanding access to capital and ownership. Bell reflects on how his father’s experience with job loss shaped his belief in the importance of owning, not just participating in, the economy. From launching his...

"For Ruramiso Mashumba, agriculture was never a fallback. It was a calling shaped by family, purpose, and a commitment to community. In this episode of B-Sides: The Deeper Side of Leadership, host Lorelle Atkinson speaks with Mashumba, Founder of Mhandi Africa, about her journey into a field where women are often overlooked. From navigating barriers and challenging perceptions to building a platfo...

"What if ownership at work could change how wealth is built and shared? In this episode of B-Sides: The Deeper Side of Leadership, host Lorelle Atkinson speaks with Jack Moriarty, Executive Director of the Lafayette Square Institute, about the growing momentum behind employee ownership. Moriarty shares how his path from musical theater to healthcare policy led him to a model that sits at the inter...

In this episode of B-Sides: The Deeper Side of Leadership, host Lorelle Atkinson sits down with Benji Backer, Founder & CEO of Nature Is Nonpartisan, to explore the personal experiences that shaped his approach to leadership and conservation. From a formative childhood hike that sparked his connection to the outdoors to his work building a cross-partisan environmental movement, Backer shares why r...

“I feel like I am literally a walking example of daring to dream… never give up hope, never stop dreaming because you never, ever, ever know—if you don’t try.” Founder & CEO of We Got Us Now, Ebony Underwood, joins B-Sides: The Deeper Side of Leadership to share how her father’s journey home after 30+ years of incarceration inspired her to found We Got Us Now and advocate for families impacted by...

At nine years old, Gabe Fleisher started sending his mom an email to help her process politics. Today, Wake Up to Politics reaches tens of thousands of readers—including some of the most influential people in Washington. In this conversation, Gabe talks about growing up in the public eye, why trust in media is fraying, and how independent journalists can help repair it. He shares lessons from his...

She built a media company by accident, got it syndicated on Bloomberg, and still makes time for Saturday morning walks along the Miami River. In our latest episode, Sherrell talks about trading “proving yourself” for “being yourself,” building community with purpose, and why she believes the future of tech will be about saving lives and the planet. You’ll hear stories of early mentors, the power o...