B Student Podcast

Stephanie Bowman survived severe domestic violence, battled addiction, experienced homelessness with her two kids, and eventually lost custody of her children. But her story didn't end there. Today, she is the Founder and CEO of One Heart for Women and Children, an organization that feeds and supports over 20,000 people in Central Florida every single month. In this episode of the B Student podcas...

If you've taken a break from the workforce, you’ve probably worried about how to explain the empty space on your resume.  But do career gaps actually hurt your chances of getting hired, or could they be the exact thing that makes you stand out? In this episode of  B Student: Summer School , Ashley Billings hosts a live panel discussion with Central Florida employers - including The Mayflower at Wi...

Tracy Liffey spent years helping launch some of the most iconic retail brands in the world, including Old Navy and PINK by Victoria's Secret, eventually overseeing creative teams of more than 100 people. But despite a highly successful corporate career, she chose to make a major pivot. Today, she is the founder of New General Café, a beloved clean food and coffee brand in Winter Park, Florida. In...

In this episode of the B Student podcast, RK Kelley shares her incredible career journey from spending more than 25 years in leadership roles at Disney to becoming a driving force behind the Central Florida Pledge, a community initiative dedicated to fostering dignity, respect, and civil discourse across Central Florida. RK discusses career transitions, purpose-driven leadership, mentorship, women...

How do you pivot careers from higher ed to real estate while managing motherhood and a family business? Courtney Pelfrey (Miller Grant & Company) joins Ashley Billings on the B Student Podcast to reveal the reality of building a relationship-based business in Winter Park, FL. In this episode, we go past the transaction to discuss the emotional side of home buying, the truth about career transi...

Thinking about returning to work after a career break — but not sure where to start? In this episode, Ashley Billings interviews Betsy Gardner, CEO of Evermore Advisory and former President & CEO of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce. After her own 13-year career break, Betsy created the Relaunch program — a proven return-to-work program now helping professional women confidently reenter the...

Today on the B-Student Podcast, Ashley Billings interviews Jennifer Deery, Executive Director of the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, about her journey from corporate banking leadership to nonprofit arts and culture leadership in Winter Park, Florida. Jennifer shares how growing up moving frequently helped shape her adaptability, curiosity, and leadership style. She opens up about ear...

Lindsay Kiley did it twice. She stepped away from law to raise her kids, went back to try again as a lawyer, and still something didn't feel right. It wasn't until she invented the Swelly water scooter that she finally built something that felt in alignment. In this episode, host Ashley Billings talks with Lindsay about what those in-between years looked like: the failed ventures, the slow realiza...

This is more than a farewell episode… it’s a leadership blueprint for the future of work. In this powerful final episode as host of the B Student Podcast, Betsy Gardner reflects on the biggest lessons learned from interviewing top leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers across the globe. From navigating business challenges to building meaningful relationships, this episode dives deep into what tr...

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer sits down with Betsy Gardner for one of the most candid conversations he's ever had on camera. Before he became Orlando's longest-serving mayor, Buddy Dyer lost his first election, felt out of his depth at Brown University, and spent time selling industrial sealant door-to-door. This is the story he doesn't usually tell - and the lessons that shaped his leadership. In this...

On this episode of the  B Student  podcast, host Betsy Gardner sits down with Brooke Barnett, the 16th President of Rollins College, for a powerful conversation at the intersection of leadership, higher education, and the future of work. Just months into her role, Brooke offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it truly means to lead a modern institution in a time of rapid change, where AI, shiftin...

In this episode of the B-Student Podcast, we sit down with David Collins, CEO of Aeras Technologies and Aeras Foundation, a 26-year veteran of the software and telecom industry and a former Apple executive who helped launch the original iPhone into the carrier market. David shares the behind-the-scenes story of leaving a successful corporate career to start his own company—only to launch it three...

In this episode of the  B Student p odcast, Betsy Gardner sits down with  Kelly Nierstedt , President of Orlando Regional Medical Center and Senior Vice President of Orlando Health, Orlando Region, to explore what modern leadership really looks like in today’s healthcare environment. Kelly’s journey to executive leadership was anything but traditional. A  first-generation college graduate and form...

What makes an event truly unforgettable? In this episode of the  B Student Podcast , Betsy welcomes  Laura Lawton , founder of  BASH Orlando , for a conversation about  event planning, leadership, creativity, hospitality, entrepreneurship, personal branding, and building memorable experiences  that go far beyond what shows up on Instagram. Laura shares how her identity as a  seventh-generation Tex...

In this episode of the  B-Student Podcast , Betsy sits down with  Ryan DeVos , Managing Director of the  Orlando Magic , for a candid conversation about legacy, leadership, and building something new without abandoning what came before. Ryan opens up about what it was like to grow up carrying the DeVos name, why he chose Orlando to “spread his wings,” and how he learned to lead with humility while...

Preorder Betsy ’ s book  Human in the Room  now! Use code  BSTUDENT  for 10% off your order at HumanInTheRoomBook.com. In this special episode of the  B Student Podcast , we turn the tables. Betsy interviews newly-hired Chief Marketing Officer Jason Lederman (who has a background in podcasting) to unpack what makes a podcast successful, where the medium is headed, and how leaders can leverage podc...

What does it mean to be truly human in a workplace dominated by AI, algorithms, and automation? In this special episode of the B-Student Podcast, Betsy Gardner flips the script and steps into the guest seat as she’s interviewed by Addison Kersey about her new book, Human in the Room. After announcing her transition from CEO of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce to launch Evermore Advisory, Betsy...

Only  1% of people on LinkedIn are posting  — and your competitive advantage is simply to share your thoughts with your network. Today on the B-Student Podcast , we sit down with  Katie Lopus , founder of Klo Marketing, former Fortune 100 social media leader for  Marriott Hotels, Sheraton Hotels, Universal Studios, and St. Regis Doha , to unpack the real strategy behind building a powerful persona...

Dr. Keith Whittingham joins Betsy Gardner for a masterclass on sharpening your curiosity muscle, building a life of learning, and leading with purpose. Keith is an Associate Professor at the Rollins College Crummer Graduate School of Business, the owner of Artifx Cafe, and the 2026 Chair of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce Board. In this conversation, he shares how his work in corporate sustain...

Luxury travel, leadership, and culture collide in a powerful conversation with Katie Bean, founder of Katie Bean Travels, on the B Student Podcast. Born and raised in England and now leading a boutique luxury travel agency in the U.S., Katie shares how cultural differences around work, rest, and travel shaped her belief that luxury is the absence of worry. This conversation explores why true luxur...

What is luxury really — and who gets to participate in it? In this episode of the B Student Podcast, we sit down with Emily Williams, entrepreneur, tastemaker, and owner of Be on Park and co-owner of Z Properties to explore a modern, more human definition of luxury — one rooted in belonging, craftsmanship, meaning, and personal milestones. Emily has built an extraordinary career spanning fine jewe...

Welcome back to the B-Student Podcast, where we sit down with Arnaldo Oliveras, CEO of 180 Commercial Real Estate Advisors, to unpack the real superpower behind sustainable success in business: relationships, family, and playing the long game. Recognized by the U.S. Congress as a distinguished leader during Hispanic Heritage Month, Arnaldo shares how loyalty, ethics, and service-first thinking tur...

Collaboration isn’t a soft skill. It’s a growth strategy. In this episode of the B-Student Podcast, Betsy sits down with Jill Vaughan, President & CEO of the Downtown Orlando Partnership, for a powerful conversation about partnership, leadership, and why choosing collaboration over competition changes everything. What begins as a discussion about working across organizations becomes a mastercl...

Season Two of the B-Student Podcast is officially here — and this episode marks a major milestone. In this powerful and reflective conversation, Betsy is joined by Addison Cursey, longtime collaborator, former Chief Marketing Officer of the Winter Park Chamber, and now the podcast’s resident correspondent on the mindset of young professionals in today’s workplace. Together, they unpack why the B-S...

In this special year-end episode of the B-Student Podcast, Betsy sits down with the producers behind the show, Carlos and Carolina Flores, founders of Hi Hello Labs, to unpack the power of podcasting, branding, and clear messaging in a noisy digital world. 2025 has been the “year of millions” for the B-Student Podcast. Together, the team crossed a huge milestone of 1 million YouTube views in under...