Breakthrough Innovation

In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we talk with Rob Levin — serial entrepreneur, staffing innovator, and co-founder of Work Better Now, a platform helping U.S. SMBs hire top-tier talent from Latin America. From executive assistants to marketing and sales, Rob shares how Work Better Now is rethinking remote hiring, retention, and culture — with hundreds of SMBs scaling faster as a result....

In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we sit down with Tamara Laine — Emmy-winning journalist turned FinTech founder — now co-founder of Empower, a platform reimagining how creditworthiness is measured in a world of gig work, AI, and financial exclusion. Tamara brings a bold, justice-centered approach to innovation — not just because it’s timely, but because it’s long overdue. 🏗️ Why the U.S...

In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we sit down with Caleb Snow, CRO at UMIT Technologies — a tribally owned MSP and cybersecurity firm. Caleb’s path isn’t typical: he’s a self-taught techie with ADHD, a storyteller with grit, and a builder who now works at the intersection of innovation and Indigenous empowerment. 🧠 Why he believes boredom is more dangerous than failure ⚙️ How tribal own...

In this high-energy episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we roll into leadership and audacity with Melissa Boggs — the only roller skating keynote speaker on the planet. A former Scrum Alliance executive, Melissa blends movement and mindset to teach leaders how to shift from fear to bold action. 🛼 Why roller skating became a metaphor for innovation and risk-taking 🚫 How fear and “operational memo...

In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we speak with Danielle McCombs, a leadership coach and co-host of The Opposite of Small Talk podcast. After a successful 20-year career in commercial real estate, Danielle made the bold move to pursue coaching — and hasn’t looked back. 🎙️ Why she pivoted careers with no formal plan — and how clarity came through curiosity 🏗️ How real estate taught her st...

In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we ride through the radical journey of Dom Lévesque — CEO of NextWave, author of Avoiding Avalanches, and former punk rocker turned mountain adventurer turned HR disruptor. Dom blends business, backcountry, and bold thinking to challenge the tired status quo in how we lead transformation. 🏔️ How snowboarding and near-death shaped his model for transforma...

In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we’re joined by Giorgio Natili, VP of Engineering at Opaque Systems, and author of The AI Advantage and the upcoming The Imperfect Life of an Engineering Manager. From protecting data privacy in AI to embracing imperfection as a leadership superpower, Giorgio shares lessons learned across Amazon, Mozilla, Capital One, and beyond — all rooted in his fearl...

In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we sit down with Dr. Kelly Kinnebrew — psychologist, executive coach, and co-founder of Minerva, an AI-powered workplace coaching platform. Kelly shares what 1,100+ executive coaching engagements have taught her about leadership, burnout, bias, and the future of work — and why the next big shift in performance may come from machines working with humans,...

In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we speak with Loic Potjes, founder of Disruptive Leap and executive coach to over 40 CEOs across 17 countries. A seasoned leader himself, Loic brings clarity to the chaos of scaling — especially in a world moving faster than ever. We dive into what really stalls growth for CEOs and why “busy” is often just a trap. 🧠 The #1 killer of performance? A lack...

In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we sit down with David J. Bland, founder of Precoil, co-author of the global bestseller Testing Business Ideas, and creator of the EMT (Extract, Map, Test) framework — a practical approach that Fortune 500 teams use to run smarter experiments and reduce risk in real innovation work. David shares hard-won truths about why most innovation efforts stall, ho...

In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we sit down with Kimberly Shaw, founder of Changeify, to bust the myth that change is just “soft stuff.” With decades of experience across industries, Kimberly has built a framework that brings structure and sustainability to complex transformations. 📉 Why 75% of transformations fail — and why that stat is probably wrong 🧱 The 3 overlooked phases of ch...

In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we sit down with Matt Bowman, founder of OpenEd, bestselling author of Open Education, and former classroom teacher who's now helped over 100,000 students reclaim learning on their own terms. Matt shares why traditional schooling — built for industrial-era conformity — is no longer serving the needs of today’s students, families, or economy. 🚨 Why tradi...

In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we sit down with Jim Carlough, business strategist, speaker, and author of The Six Pillars of Effective Leadership, who’s spent over 30 years guiding high-performing teams and transformational change — from scrappy startups to healthcare giants. Jim’s message is clear: Leaders aren’t born. They’re developed. And it’s time we started treating leadership l...

In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we sit down with Andrew Poles — executive coach, leadership strategist, and ultra-endurance athlete who’s coached over 10,000 leaders to grow sustainable, high-impact businesses without burning out. Andrew unpacks the idea of "dirty fuel" — the stress, self-doubt, and fear that drives many high achievers — and offers a powerful alternative rooted in neur...

In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we’re joined by Kevin Carlson, a fractional CTO/CISO and executive coach with decades of experience helping companies overcome critical inflection points at the intersection of technology, product, and security. He shares insights from inside high-growth companies — and the moments where innovation either scales or breaks down. 🚨 What tech-led innovatio...

In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we sit down with Rachael Edmondson-Clarke, founder of Elevar and a neuroscience-based leadership strategist helping high-performing leaders avoid burnout and stay creative under pressure. After a dramatic collapse from stress in her glass-walled corner office, Rachael rebuilt her approach to leadership using science-backed strategies rooted in mood regul...

In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we speak with Marina Morgan, founder of Morgan Impact, a Silicon Valley-based organizational psychologist whose work bridges neuroscience, psychology, and business strategy. She’s led transformations for companies ranging from startups to global enterprises with 300,000+ employees — and she’s here to explain why tech isn’t what’s blocking innovation. It’...

In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we sit down with Ken Cox — president of River City Internet Group, host of the award-winning Clicks and Bricks podcast, and founder of InLink, a radically human-centered business platform designed to empower solopreneurs. Ken shares the highs, lows, and hard truths of entrepreneurship — from building data centers to launching boxing gyms, losing millions...

In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we speak with Bill Kasko, CEO of Frontline Source Group, who flipped the recruiting model on its head by offering a five-year placement warranty in an industry that barely guarantees 90 days. With a mindset rooted in “do the opposite” (yes, inspired by Seinfeld’s George Costanza), Bill built a company that thrives on trust, success, and long-term thinkin...

In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we’re joined by Victoria Pelletier, known as the “Turnaround Queen” and “CEO Whisperer” — a former COO at 24, president by 35, and CEO by 41. She’s led 40+ transformations and has the scars (and stories) to show for it. Victoria shares how healthy resilience, inclusive leadership, and “whole human” cultures drive real business outcomes. 🔥 Why “resilienc...

In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we sit down with Matt Curry, business developer and clean energy evangelist at ICE Thermal Harvesting. His team helps industrial and energy companies convert waste heat into zero-emission electricity — with no upfront cost. Matt shares how ICE’s “power as a service” model is changing the game for clients from natural gas to fisheries — even in remote Ala...

In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we talk with Astha Purohit, Director of Product at Walmart, former McKinsey consultant, and expert at the intersection of AI, product, and retail. She shares how she’s leading cutting-edge innovation across Walmart’s AI ecosystem — and how to thrive in times of exponential change. 🧠 How to apply first principles thinking across medicine, consulting, and...

In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we talk with Faith Clarke, a brilliant systems thinker, psychologist, and founder of FaithClarke.com. With deep roots in engineering, research, and inclusion strategy, Faith is reimagining work as a place of healing — not harm. 💡 What it really means to build a restorative culture (and why “healthy” isn’t enough) ⚠️ Why most organizations are unintentio...

In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we talk with Téa Phillips — founder of ATS Innovations and inventor of the Metaflex Glove — a breakthrough wearable that helps people with arthritis improve hand function, reduce pain, and regain strength. Inspired by her grandmother’s struggle, Téa shares how she turned an idea from a college pitch competition into an FDA-registered medical product. 🧠...

In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we speak with Sarena Diamond — transformational change expert and founder of Diamond Solutions Group — who shares decades of wisdom from roles at IBM, Accenture, and PepsiCo on what really makes transformation succeed. 🔥 Why three emails and a PowerPoint deck will never create real change 🧠 How Sarena's “Power of And” mindset helps leaders move from st...