Beneath the Transaction

For years, Joslyn Beaver has worked at the intersection of philanthropy, healthcare, and leadership—helping organizations secure transformational gifts while building cultures rooted in trust, stewardship, and human connection. But this conversation isn't really about fundraising. It's about what happens when pressure, performance, and expectations tempt us to treat people like transactions. In th...

What keeps you grounded when life starts to fall apart? When the pressure builds… when you feel overwhelmed… when things feel off and you can’t quite explain why… What actually holds you? In this episode of Beneath the Transaction, we sit down with Dominic Kolleh, a trauma-informed life coach and founder of True North Solutions, whose work focuses on helping people rebuild their lives and careers...

Can you be grateful for suffering? Not just the good moments. Not just when things are going well. But for the hardest parts of your life? In this episode of Beneath the Transaction, we sit down with Kathleen Patrick—former Pediatric ICU nurse turned philanthropy executive—to explore a deeper kind of gratitude… one that most people never consider. Kathleen has spent decades leading in healthcare a...

What does it take to build something successful… and still stay grounded in who you are? In this episode of Beneath the Transaction, we sit down with Melissa Solis, CEO of Inbenta and a seasoned technology executive with over 30 years of leadership experience across insurance, fintech, fraud prevention, and AI. Melissa’s story is remarkable. As co-founder and former CEO of GIACT, she scaled the co...

Welcome back to Beneath the Transaction. This week we sit down with Alix Prassas — an organizational effectiveness leader with more than two decades of experience in People & Culture, global organizational development, DEI, and change management. But this conversation isn’t about frameworks. It’s about the moments that shape culture quietly and powerfully. Alix shares her journey from working...

What if the version of yourself you bring to work… isn’t the real you? In this episode of Beneath the Transaction, I sit down with Kendra Davenport, President and CEO of Easterseals, to talk about what it really means to lead beyond the surface. Kendra leads an organization that impacts over 1.5 million people each year, overseeing a national network of 70 affiliates and 38,000 employees across th...

When profit becomes the focus, something deeper starts to break. In this episode of Beneath the Transaction, I sit down with Brian Belliveau, Chief Growth Officer at Columbia Southern University, to talk about what leaders often miss when they’re trying to grow an organization. Brian brings over 20 years of experience leading growth at scale—but what stands out most isn’t strategy. It’s how he thi...

What does tattooing have to do with purpose? More than we think. In a lot of indigenous cultures, tattoos weren’t just something you chose—they reflected how you lived. Your identity. Your story. Your responsibility. In this episode, I sit down with Kiko San Diego, a traditional Filipino tattoo practitioner and co-founder of Tribal Korner. Kiko carries forward ancestral practices like batok, and t...

In this episode of Beneath the Transaction, Chris sits down with Arthur Soriano, a researcher exploring the Philippine and Austronesian past, present, and future. Together, they explore what modern leadership can learn from indigenous culture—long before systems, titles, and metrics defined how we lead today. Arthur shares insights into pre-colonial Filipino life, from systems of governance and co...

In this episode of Beneath the Transaction, Chris sits down with Ben Fielder, Vice President at NCF Michigan, to explore how giving can move from transactional to transformational. Ben has spent his career walking alongside individuals and families, helping them steward what they’ve been entrusted with and discover a deeper sense of purpose in how they live and give. With a background in church st...

In this episode of Beneath the Transaction, Chris sits down with Vanessa Plant, Executive Director of the Alku Foundation and an experienced leader in Boston’s nonprofit and philanthropic space. Vanessa has spent her career helping organizations move beyond traditional, transactional approaches to fundraising and into more relational, trust-based models of giving. Her work centers on building auth...

In this episode of Beneath the Transaction, Chris and Kenzie explore the role purpose plays in real transformation—both in our leadership and in our lives. Too often we focus on achievement and external success, but lasting transformation begins when we slow down long enough to ask deeper questions about who we are becoming and why we do what we do. Joining the conversation is H Hassan, who has sp...

In this episode of Beneath the Transaction, Chris sits down with Olivia Hickerson, founder of EmpowerTactics, to explore the often unseen work of creating psychologically safe organizations. Olivia has spent her career helping mission-driven organizations strengthen the systems behind their impact — from governance and organizational infrastructure to the cultures that shape how people show up at...

In this episode of Beneath the Transaction, we sit down with Kate Westerman, Senior Director of Operations Learning & Development at UNFI, to explore what truly shapes growth inside organizations. Kate has built enterprise-wide training systems across complex operational environments — but what stands out most isn’t her portfolio. It’s her posture. Together, we talk about why so much of what w...

Welcome back to Beneath the Transaction. This week we’re joined by Sean MacMillan, VP of HR for Captain D’s and a leader deeply rooted in applied organizational and behavioral science. Sean has spent years helping executive teams build leadership pipelines, strengthen employee experience, and translate culture work into measurable business outcomes — especially in high-pressure, frontline environm...

Welcome to Beneath the Transaction. This episode marks a new beginning—not just for the podcast, but for how we want to show up in these conversations moving forward. We start by naming something we’ve both been feeling for a while: how quickly life moves, and how easy it is to slip into a way of living and leading that’s driven by efficiency, outcomes, and transactions rather than relationship an...

Thank you for listening to The Rooted Leadership Podcast! Today, we are honored to have Ryan Marshall with us, an experienced school counselor and dedicated advocate for student well-being. With a deep commitment to supporting students and educators through the challenges they face, Ryan has been at the forefront of crisis response and transformational leadership in his school district. His work e...

In this conversation, Chris and Jason discuss the importance of philanthropy and the impact it can have on individuals and communities. Jason shares personal stories of how he was influenced by his parents and early experiences to care about doing good and helping others. They explore the challenge of maintaining the essence of philanthropy as it evolves over time and generations. They emphasize t...

Thanks for watching! Please help us share our message by sharing this episode with a friend. Exciting News! Our TEDx Talk on Transformational Leadership Drops This Month – Stay Tuned! The Rooted Leadership Podcast explores topics of leadership, culture, and conflict. The host, Chris, and guest, David Whippy, discuss their friendship and background in peacebuilding. They emphasize the importance of...

Join us for a captivating episode featuring Chad Ford, esteemed global mediator and bestselling author of "Dangerous Love." With unparalleled experience in resolving conflicts across the globe. We also have two new guests on the show: Jessica Otjen and Hassan Hassan who are alumni of Groundwork Leadership. Our alumni are going to have the privilege of asking Chad some interesting questions about h...

Join us on a captivating exploration of Groundwork Leadership with the incredibly talented Ron Artis II. In this inspiring episode, we delve into the unique and extraordinary journey of this rising star in the music industry. Ron Artis II is on a quest to carve his own path, and his story is a testament to the power of authenticity and resilience in the face of challenges. Discover how Ron Artis I...

Join us for an inspiring episode featuring Brian Moore and Justin Allen as they share their journey towards authentic leadership and their commitment to vision-driven growth within their company. Discover how they utilized the Groundwork Leadership Organizational Assessment to propel their organization forward exponentially. Their story serves as a testament to the transformative power of assessme...

Ellen Bennett sits down and chats with Chris Pineda about what it means to be an entrepreneur, inspirational leader, and follow your dreams. Ellen's exciting energy is exactly what you need to start your fire and chase after your dreams TODAY! Her story is motivating and full of passion. Listen to how she takes Groundwork principles to a whole new level. This is an episode you don't want to miss!

Tamra Goettsch; Director of Marion County Community Services Department, Rhonda Rhodes; CTEC Principal in the Salem Keizer School District, and Anthony Mitchell; Director of Solera Holdings, join Chris Pineda on the Rooted Leadership podcast. As Groundwork alumni, they discuss what it's like to be a part of Groundwork Leadership, the collaborative solutions they've created in the community, and co...

Evann Remington; CEO of Fresh n' Local Foods; Anthony Mitchell; Director of Solera Holdings, and Kanoe Barth; Assistant Director of Center 50+, join Chris Pineda on the Rooted Leadership podcast. They discuss what it's like to attend Groundwork's annual retreat and why it can be so transformational. Connect with Groundwork Leadership Institute: www.groundworkleadership.org