iNNOVATION Insights Podcast

In this episode of iNNOVATION Insights, host Dr. Eulanda Sanders sits down with Dr. Dede Hamm, a respected leader in hospitality education and industry engagement. Dr. Hamm shares insights from her career working at the intersection of higher education, leadership development, and hospitality innovation. Drawing from her extensive experience in academic leadership and industry collaboration, she r...

In this episode of iNNOVATION Insights, host Dr. Eulanda Sanders sits down with Sarah Ortegon HighWalking, an accomplished Native American artist, cultural bearer, educator, performer, and storyteller. Sarah shares her journey as an Eastern Shoshone tribal member with Northern Arapaho heritage, reflecting on how art, culture, and community shape her creative practice and leadership. Raised in Denv...

In this episode of iNNOVATION Insights, host Dr. Eulanda Sanders sits down with Ingrid Lilligren, MFA, an accomplished artist, educator, and creative leader whose work bridges design, art, education, and community engagement. Ingrid shares her journey as a creative professional and educator, reflecting on how artistic practice, leadership, and innovation intersect in both academic and professional...

In this episode of iNNOVATION Insights, Dr. Eulanda Sanders sits down with Barbara Salopek, MBA, MS — Innovation Strategist, TEDx Speaker, Founder of Vinco Innovation, and author of Future-Fit Innovation. Barbara shares why most AI and innovation initiatives fail — and it is not because of technology. It is because of people, culture, and leadership. Drawing from 20+ years of international innovat...

In this episode of iNNOVATION Insights, host Dr. Eulanda Sanders sits down with Marie Bukowski, MFA, Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Wichita State University and internationally recognized artist and printmaker, to explore the intersection of creative practice, arts leadership, and innovation in higher education. Marie shares her journey from practicing artist to academic leader, reflecting on...

In this episode of iNNOVATION Insights, host Dr. Eulanda Sanders sits down with Dr. Michelle Burton, Assistant Professor of Fashion Merchandising at Montclair State University and former retail industry leader, to explore the intersection of fashion, sustainability, innovation, and well-being. Dr. Burton shares her journey from corporate retail roles at major brands to academia, offering powerful...

What does innovation look like when it is grounded in human connection, cultural intelligence, and hospitality-driven leadership? In this episode of iNNOVATION Insights, host Dr. Eulanda Sanders sits down with Dr. Arlene Garrick, published researcher and poet, and internationally recognized leadership mentor. Arlene shares her global journey from Jamaica to the United States and Canada, and how li...

What does innovation in higher education look like when it centers community, access, and learning for the common good? In this episode of iNNOVATION Insights, host Dr. Eulanda Sanders speaks with Dr. Lance Bennett, President and Founder of The People’s Institute for the Common Good, Visiting Scholar at Rutgers University, and higher education leader. Dr. Bennett shares his journey from community...

In this powerful episode of iNNOVATION Insights , host Dr. Eulanda Sanders sits down with Kwame Sarfo-Mensah , founder of Identity Talk Consulting, educator, author, and global leader in culturally responsive, identity-affirming education . Kwame shares his journey from middle school math teacher to international consultant supporting educators across the United States and African countries. This...

How do gender policy, culture, and the global apparel supply chain intersect—and what does innovation look like inside that complexity? In this episode of iNNOVATION Insights, host Dr. Eulanda Sanders sits down with Dr. Cydni Robertson, scholar, storyteller, and global researcher whose work explores gender inequality, political change, and labor conditions within the global fashion and apparel ind...

What does innovation look like in food science, dairy research, and mentorship? In this episode of iNNOVATION Insights, host Dr. Eulanda Sanders interviews Dr. Stephanie Clark, a nationally recognized food scientist and dairy researcher with over 30 years of experience in dairy chemistry, microbiology, processing, and sensory evaluation. Dr. Clark shares her journey from growing up in 4-H on a sma...

In this episode of iNNOVATION Insights, Dr. Eulanda Sanders welcomes Bridgette Johnson, MS—transformational higher education leader, equity strategist, and founder of "That Bridge." Bridgette shares her inspiring journey from first-generation student to national leader in higher education, and why she is committed to creating equity-centered career pathways that prepare students not only to be “ca...

How does a fashion program bring together students, faculty, and community to create a show that celebrates innovation, artistry, and collaboration? In this episode of INNOVATION Insights, host Dr. Eulanda Sanders spotlights the team behind Kirkwood Community College’s 2025 “Flourish” Fashion Show: ◾Dr. Elisha Stanley – Program Director and Professor of Apparel Merchandising and Design ◾Stacy Me...

How can higher education better prepare students for the fast-paced, people-centered world of hospitality? In this inspiring episode of iNNOVATION Insights, host Dr. Eulanda Sanders speaks with Dr. Valerie Salter—Department Chair, educator, and consultant—about her career journey from working in guest service and fine dining to leading a hospitality program through accreditation and launching inno...

How can financial education heal generational trauma and build wealth for future generations? In this powerful episode of iNNOVATION Insights, host Dr. Eulanda Sanders speaks with Ray’Chel Wilson — nationally recognized solutionist, financial therapist, educator, and founder of For Our Last Names. Ray’Chel shares her inspiring journey from public health and Teach for America to launching an innova...

What does it take to create over 1,000 products, sell a company, and keep innovating across multiple industries? In this episode of iNNOVATION Insights, host Dr. Eulanda Sanders sits down with Tiffany Bressan Corbett, an entrepreneur, inventor, photographer, and author whose career spans apparel design, product innovation, photography, and business consulting. From selling earthworms as a child to...

How can our wardrobes tell stories about who we are—and shape the future of fashion? In this episode of iNNOVATION Insights, host Dr. Eulanda Sanders sits down with Colin Behr, founder of The Wardrobe Theory Project and former Nike footwear and color designer, to explore how systems thinking, storytelling, and sustainability intersect in personal style. Colin shares his journey from small-town Iow...

Join host Dr. Eulanda Sanders on Innovation Insights for an inspiring conversation with Dr. Amy Shane-Nichols, an educator, leader, and innovator with over three decades of experience in retail, brand management, and academia. From her early career in department stores and Harley-Davidson retail leadership to her current role at the University of Wyoming, Dr. Nichols shares how her journey shaped...

What does it mean to create art in the “middle of nowhere”? In this captivating episode of iNNOVATION Insights, host Dr. Eulanda Sanders reconnects with Jennifer Rife, a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans fiber art, basketry, photography, and site-specific land installations. Jennifer shares her winding creative journey—from her childhood in Lamar, Colorado, to her years as a graphic design...

How can diverse career experiences shape a leader’s approach to innovation and mentorship? In this episode of iNNOVATION Insights, host Dr. Eulanda Sanders speaks with Adeola Sokunbi, a visionary program manager, educator, and entrepreneur whose career spans hospitality, sports, entertainment, technology, and law. From her Nigerian upbringing to working with Coca-Cola during the London 2012 Olympi...

Dr. Nicole Yeldell Butts, a leader in organizational transformation with over 25 years of experience in diversity, equity, inclusion, human resources, and organizational change, discusses the motivations and pivotal moments leading her to a career in HR, the challenges HR professionals face, particularly during seismic events like the 2020 pandemic and racial reckoning, and how these experiences s...

Dr. Jokima Hiller, a distinguished figure in the hospitality industry with an MBA and CHE certification, shares her incredible journey from her early fascination with hotels as an 'army brat' to becoming a general manager, moving into academia, and ultimately becoming an innovator in hospitality education. Jokima also discusses her personal transformation after becoming an amputee and how she foun...

Welcome to another insightful episode of Innovation Insights! Join host Dr. Eulanda Sanders as she sits down with Richard Blank, CEO of Costa Rica's Call Center and a division of Cheyenne Consultants. Richard's journey from Northeast Philadelphia to leading a thriving call center in Costa Rica is dynamic and inspiring. Tune in to hear about his early ventures, his passion for linguistics, and his...

Dr. Asia Lyons, the founder and lead designer of Lyons Educational Consulting, shares her journey from aspiring chemical engineer to impactful educator and consultant. She discusses her research on racial battle fatigue, her efforts to support Black educator wellness, and the importance of creating inclusive environments. Dr. Lyons also emphasizes the need for community, self-care, and systemic ch...

Jim Simon, a visionary in 3D design and digital fashion technology, shares his beginnings as a traditional artist to becoming an academic lead at CLO Jim discusses his journey, insights, and the transformative impact of 3D technology on the fashion industry. This episode covers the importance of blending traditional artistry with digital innovation, the environmental benefits of CLO 3D, and strate...