California Leaders

Send us Fan Mail The Port of Los Angeles is one of those places most of us only notice when something goes wrong, yet it quietly touches nearly everything we buy, build, or ship. I sat down with Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles, to get past the headlines and into the real work of leadership inside the busiest container port in North America, where global trade, local comm...

Send us Fan Mail We wanted to capture the kind of leadership talk that usually disappears the moment the check comes. So we tried a new After Hours format, poured a Negroni, and got honest about how careers actually get built: through small roles done well, relationships that last, and the daily choice to make people feel seen. Nick takes us from showing up in Los Angeles with $100 to learning the...

Send us Fan Mail A single moment of bad luck can become the best break of your career. Dr. Noel Hacegaba, CEO of the Port of Long Beach, tells the story of how his assigned seat at a major event was taken, how he ended up next to the Port’s HR director, and how that one conversation helped launch a journey that now places him at the center of global trade, goods movement, and supply chain leadersh...

Send us Fan Mail Big titles mean little if the fridge is empty. That’s Ron Frierson’s compass, and it guides a conversation that cuts through buzzwords to what economic development is supposed to do: help people work, earn, and live with dignity. From a pastor’s household in Saginaw to directing Western U.S. economic development at Amazon, Ron traces the habits and values that traveled with him—sh...

Send us Fan Mail Ready for a masterclass in leadership that outlives the leader? We sit with Dr. Thomas A. Parham—licensed psychologist, author, and the 11th president of California State University Dominguez Hills—to unpack how spirit, mentorship, and uncompromising standards fueled a campus-wide transformation. From a childhood across South, East, and West LA to steering a $250M “small city,” Dr...

Send us Fan Mail Ready for a real-time rebrand? We sat down with Goldie Chan—Warm Robots founder, LinkedIn Top Voice, creative keynote speaker, and cancer survivor—to pressure test a big shift from Los Angeles Leaders to California Leaders. Goldie unpacks how to expand a niche without losing its soul, why platform-specific strategy beats copy-paste posting, and the simple systems introverts can us...

Send us Fan Mail Terry Batch's journey from South Georgia to global trade leader will make you rethink what's possible when you embrace every opportunity that comes your way. What happens when curiosity about different cultures meets the courage to step through unfamiliar doors? Growing up in the American South during the 70s and 80s, Terry's fascination with her Korean and Mexican...

Send us Fan Mail Stephen Chung's journey from immigrant child to economic development leader offers a masterclass in resilience and coalition building. After arriving from Hong Kong at age eight and quickly facing family upheaval, Stephen found himself working alongside his mother in sweatshops, earning half a penny per shirt thread he cut. These early experiences with economic hardship funda...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to transform a 170-year-old social service organization while honoring its rich legacy? Steve Gunther knows the answer better than most. As the President and CEO of Maryvale—Los Angeles' first orphanage—Steve has masterfully guided this historic institution through its most significant evolution in over a century. What makes Steve's approach to leadersh...

Send us Fan Mail When was the last time you took a deep breath? According to Ajit Dodani, your answer might reveal why you're struggling to lead effectively in today's hyperconnected world. In this powerful conversation, Forbes Coach and Empathify You founder Ajit Dodani takes us on his remarkable journey from growing up in his family's century-old ice cream business in India to bec...

Send us Fan Mail Everett Sands transforms the lending landscape for underserved entrepreneurs through innovation, vision, and a deeply personal mission. Drawing from his grandfather's tailoring business experience—which thrived with five locations but ultimately suffered due to poor financial advice—Sands built Lendistry to provide the responsible capital small businesses desperately need. Wi...

Send us Fan Mail Rick Gibson's leadership journey spans from bagging groceries in his father's Bakersfield market to shaping Pepperdine University's presence in Los Angeles as Senior Vice Chancellor. In this riveting conversation, he reveals how seemingly small moments—like his father telling him "you always have something to do" when caught idle—planted seeds that would b...

Send us Fan Mail Joone Kim-Lopez's remarkable journey from South Korean immigrant to transformative water industry leader offers a masterclass in resilience, authentic leadership, and the profound impact of leading with compassion.  Arriving in America at age eight without speaking English, June navigated childhood poverty, cultural isolation, and family hardship before finding her path to le...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ Los Angeles Leaders Podcast – Where Visionaries Share Their Journey Welcome to the Los Angeles Leaders Podcast , hosted by Christopher Luna — a platform dedicated to spotlighting the inspiring journeys of visionary leaders shaping the future of Los Angeles and beyond. Each episode dives deep into the personal stories, defining moments, and leadership philosophies of influential...