BEYOND BARRIERS

Change has a way of forcing clarity, even when it arrives through uncertainty, loss, or exhaustion. In this reflective year-end episode, you're invited to pause and take stock of what it really took to keep going. Through honest stories from senior leaders who navigated layoffs, reinvention, and rapid transformation, you'll hear how resilience isn't something you either have or don't, it's somethi...

What if the most important part of leadership begins after your biggest win? In this episode, Chip Conley, Founder & Executive Chair of Modern Elder Academy, shares the arc of his 30+ year career from founding 52 boutique hotels through culture-led hospitality, to mentoring Airbnb founders while shaping global travel strategy, to building one first wisdom schools in Baja dedicated to relevance thr...

Leadership isn't a destination, it's a continual act of becoming. In this episode, Janet Foutty, former CEO of Deloitte Consulting and U.S. Board Chair, shares how her three-decade career shaped her understanding of courage, authenticity, and reinvention. From leading one of the world's largest consulting firms through transformation and crisis to redefining her own path after corporate life, Jane...

True balance isn't found. It's designed, line by line, through faith and focus. In this episode, luxury calligrapher and engraver Kristin Andrews shares how she transformed a creative spark into a thriving business built on faith, discipline, and intention. From her start sketching rainbows on her mother's walls to founding Kreative Blends Calligraphy Studio, Kristin's story is one of balance and...

The most powerful innovations often begin with a personal struggle, a moment when the system fails you, and you decide to build something better. In this episode, Dr. Amy Divaraniya, Founder & CEO of Oova, shares how she transformed her own challenges into a platform redefining women's health. With a Ph. D. in genetics and genomics and years in data science, she built Oova to give women the data t...

Resilience isn't built in moments of ease, it's forged through challenge, curiosity, and the courage to grow. In this episode, Heather Brilliant, CEO of Diamond Hill Capital Management, shares how 38 rejection letters early in her career became the foundation for a life of resilience, curiosity, and courageous leadership. With experience spanning Bank of America, Morningstar, and now Diamond Hill,...

Leadership doesn't come with instructions, it's created piece by piece. In this episode, Chastity Lord, President & CEO of the Jeremiah Program, reveals how she has built a career by embracing uncertainty, dismantling inequities, and leading with courage. From her early years as a first-generation college graduate raised by a single mom, to leadership roles at The Posse Foundation, Achievement Fir...

The strongest leaders aren't defined by their titles—they're defined by their ability to adapt, listen, and lead with humanity.  In this episode, Michele Smith, CEO of the Museum of Pop Culture, reveals how she built a career on resilience, authenticity, and courage. From her start in contract negotiation to international business development, to helping the Woodland Park Zoo weather the storm of...

Building confidence, navigating career detours, and leading with care takes more than ambition—it takes resilience, clarity, and heart. In this episode, Claire O'Keefe, Partner and Head of Partner Development at Cerity Partners, shares how resilience, intuition, and care have shaped her unconventional journey from the classroom in Ireland to leadership in one of the fastest-growing independent wea...

Balancing leadership, motherhood, and startup life takes more than time management—it takes clarity of purpose and the courage to lead differently. In this episode, Amanda DeLuca, Founder & CEO of Riley, shares how clarity, empathy, and lived experience have shaped her journey from leadership roles at Google, Eventbrite, NerdWallet, and Etsy to launching a parenting platform that meets families wh...

Leadership growth doesn't happen by accident—it happens when you shift from doing the work to empowering others, building trust, and leading with heart. In this episode, Emily Portney shares lessons from her 30-year career in financial services—from starting as a rotational analyst at J.P. Morgan to becoming CFO of Barclays International, CFO of BNY Mellon, and now Global Head of Asset Servicing a...

What if the parts of yourself you've been told to hide are actually your greatest leadership advantages? In this episode, Becca Chambers—Chief Marketing Officer at Scale Venture Partners—shares how embracing neurodiversity and authenticity has shaped her journey from tech leader to one of LinkedIn's most influential voices. With ADHD as her superpower, Becca has built award-winning brands, advised...

Career growth doesn't happen by accident—it happens when you take the stretch role, nurture your network, and build resilience along the way. In this episode, Ann Bordelon shares how she went from advising Fortune 100 companies to leading finance at Sam's Club and Walmart Asia, and now guides the University of Arkansas as Executive Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration. Ann opens up about...

What if the key to lasting success isn't going faster—but knowing when to slow down? In this episode, Melanie Steinbach—Chief People Officer at MasterClass—shares how courage, clarity, and career pacing have shaped her journey across executive roles at McDonald's, Cameo, and now one of the world's leading learning platforms. You'll hear how Melanie's career has been marked by bold leaps, personal...

Success isn't always about going bigger—it's about getting clearer. In this episode, internationally recognized yoga instructor, author, and creative visionary Alanna Zabel shares her remarkable journey from leading retreats and teaching yoga to building a global lifestyle brand—only to walk away from it all when it no longer aligned with her values. You'll hear how Alanna transformed unexpected o...

What would it take to build a global movement that empowers millions of girls to change the world through technology?  In this episode, you'll meet Tara Chklovski, the powerhouse behind Technovation—the world's largest tech entrepreneurship program for girls. Born in India and raised by women who shattered expectations, Tara shares how self-reliance, vision, and the courage to walk away from a PhD...

What does it take to turn technical expertise into transformational leadership? In this episode, you'll meet Judy Toland, Vice President of Global Audience Marketing at Meta, whose journey from chemical engineer to executive leader proves that blending STEM smarts with people-first leadership is a powerful formula for success. Judy opens up about her unconventional career path, sharing how curiosi...

Leadership isn't just about making decisions—it's about listening deeply, building trust, and having the courage to grow through challenges. In this episode, Carrie Hansen, President and COO of AssetMark, shares her remarkable journey from a field hockey scholarship at Berkeley to leading global operations, scaling teams, and shaping the culture of a $130B investment platform. Carrie opens up abou...

What if the real key to success isn't in following the path—but in rewriting it entirely? In this episode, Salma Gottfried shares how she built a remarkable, multi-decade career by choosing authenticity over approval at every turn. From her early days as a modern dancer in Mexico City to leading high-profile marketing campaigns for global brands like Procter & Gamble and Gatorade, Salma has made b...

Confidence isn't something you're born with—it's built through effort, resilience, and a relentless commitment to growth. In this episode, you'll hear how Leah Emkin, Chief Client Officer at Wilshire, went from not knowing what an RFP writer was to leading client teams at one of the most respected financial firms. Her story is proof that when you show up, stay curious, and do the hard work, you do...

Success isn't a solo journey—it's built through relationships, opportunities, and the courage to show up for others. In this episode, Corinne Milien, Founder & CEO of WRK, shares how she built a career rooted in impact, connection, and leadership. A first-generation American, military veteran, and four-time founder, Corinne's journey has taken her from the Air Force to working with legendary coach...

For decades, venture capital has been built around financial returns and rapid growth—but what if the true measure of success was the strength of the community behind it? In this episode, KT McBratney, General Partner and Head of Community at Renew Venture Capital, shares how they are challenging the traditional VC model and proving that impact and investment can go hand in hand. KT's career has b...

In this episode, you'll hear the extraordinary journey of Jenni Lewis, a trailblazing leader in diversity, equity and inclusion, who turned every setback into a stepping stone. From starting her career in the mailroom at J.P. Morgan to becoming the Global Inclusion and Diversity Lead at Block, Jenni has built a career defined by bold moves, reinvention, and an unwavering commitment to authenticity...

In this episode, explore the transformative power of embracing change with Trisha Daho, founder of Empowered Leadership Cultivation. Trisha opens up about leaving the security of a corporate leadership role to pursue her passion for building equitable and inclusive workplaces. Learn how self-reflection, mindset shifts, and courage can help you move beyond the limits of traditional career paths to...

In this episode of Beyond Barriers, you'll discover the transformative power of values-based leadership with Jackie Edmundson. Jackie shares her inspiring journey from selling sodas as a child entrepreneur to leading a cutting-edge performance marketing company. Guided by loyalty, genuine relationships, accountability, fun, and winning, Jackie has built a leadership philosophy rooted in empathy an...