Made for Impact

Lara Heimann’s childhood aspirations of becoming a surgeon led her on an unexpected journey of self-discovery, inspiring her to empower others to prioritize movement and their own well-being. "No matter where we go, we are at home in our body, but we have to take care of it.” Lara Heimann is an international yoga pioneer and Physical Therapist focused on evolving the practice of yoga to empower mo...

When Sharon Price John, CEO of Build-A-Bear, found herself in the daunting task of leading a founder-led company in decline, she had to rely on her emotional intelligence and a psychological shift to create change, while navigating the universal truths that come with being a business leader. "An organization is nothing more than a collection of people attempting to hopefully achieve the same goals...

"You never know the impact you're making today. Something you might think is insignificant, something you might think is not a big deal, but you can change people's hearts, their minds, their souls. We underestimate our own abilities to make an impact."   With an unwavering mission to help others overcome adversity, Travis Brown , Founder and CEO of Mojo Up Marketing and Media, embarks on an inspi...

"We can make tiny positive ripples throughout life...we don't know where they will go, but we pray and hope that those ripples make a positive impact through others and with others…." Stephanie DiBlasio has created award-winning cultures throughout her career. How has she done it? Through a passion for empowerment, focusing on the little things, and focusing on human-to-human connections.  Stephan...

"Hollowed out spaces from tragedies can become places for others to rest in.” After experiencing the tragic death of her daughter, Liesel Mertes discovers a newfound empathy that transforms her—not only into what will become her future career, but also into something much deeper: a hollowed space for others to rest in. In this special episode, you will learn how to switch your mindset to become mo...

“Healthy teams get smarter. But smart teams don’t get healthier.” Many leaders believe that in order to see success, we have to become smarter. But becoming smarter doesn’t happen if your team isn’t healthy. So how do we get there? Enter Kevin Twomey—the principal consultant for Table Group, a purpose-driven firm that works to change the world of work so that people can be more fulfilled. In this...

To make an impact and lead the life you want, give up your selfish ways and surround yourself with people, energy, and motivators that inspire you to become the best version of yourself. Lin Behnken, the president of CertaPro Painters of Dayton, Ohio, is an impressive leader who drives others to see more in themselves than they thought possible. In this episode, Lin shares tips on building a cultu...

Driven by positivity, JoDee Curtis, the owner of Purple Inc. and author of the Joypowered series of books, sets out to create a joy-powered culture through her HR consulting firm but faces the challenge of finding the balance between achieving her goals and managing her time and priorities. In this episode, JoDee shares her secrets to effective time management and setting your priorities straight...

Gretchen shares a touching realization in this holiday heart-to-heart. Listen in to hear her reflect on the first few months of Made for Impact, and express her gratitude towards the opportunities that the show has given her.   And, Gretchen provides space for you to reflect on your own impact in the past year—a perfect way to close out the holiday on a note of gratitude. She shares why we need to...

Redemptive entrepreneurship is here to solve society’s challenges.   At least that’s what Andy Crouch thinks. He’s an author, speaker, business builder, and Partner for Theology & Culture at Praxis Labs .   And he claims redemptive entrepreneurs pursue big outcomes in an “I sacrifice, we win” approach – despite risky environments.   In this episode of Made for Impact, he reveals why big moments co...

As an entrepreneur or driven leader, it’s hard to take stock of your progress. Especially if you’re already looking forward to the next step. But, brain science shows it’s healthy to recognize where you’ve come from and what you’ve accomplished. The key? Having a community of peers to support you. In this episode of Made for Impact, Leslie Bailey joins us to reveal her advice for building a networ...

Leadership isn’t free. In fact, it costs a lot. You can’t be a great leader without sacrificing your energy, time and will for the greater good of your team. But that’s what makes the end result so sweet. Jon Gordon is President of the Jon Gordon Companies and author of the bestselling Energy Bus and The Power of Positive Leadership. He joins Gretchen in the Made for Impact booth to reveal how to...

Not only does California Closets design homes. They design better lives. From their employees to their customers, they have taken it upon themselves to lead intentionally. And President Marcus Hall leads by example. He preaches (and practices) what he calls “productive paranoia.” While there may be a lot going on in the economy and world, what you can control is your reaction to it and your result...

John D. Rockefeller was one of the most successful businessmen in human history. His work fueled the industrialist revolution that changed the world forever. Cultures That Work founder Dr. Craig Overmyer is a Scaling Up-certified coach and helps leaders adopt the same habits that allowed Rockefeller to rise to the top of the business world. He takes notoriously complex topics and simplifies them....

”Every job is a different expression of connecting to human beings.” In this masterclass episode, Gretchen sits down with Lindsay Boccardo, renowned speaker, coach, and career strategist, to dive into how connection—in any career—is what drives true fulfillment and success. In today’s world, it’s hard to find both of those things in one career, and Lindsay is here to help you understand how to sta...

“The necessity of you comes from the idea that there is someone who needs you to meet them at your peak of success and performance.” Creating change in the world is difficult to do without first understanding your purpose and role. Don Golden is the founder of business impact consulting firm Just Capital Quotient and Chief Impact Officer at Threefold Private Equity . He sits down with Gretchen to...

Where is your time going? Is it aligned with your goals? In this Masterclass episode, Gretchen sits down with Tiffany Sauder – wife, mom, podcaster, investor, and CEO of Element Three – to discuss how to overcome fear, navigate work and home responsibilities, and ultimately build a life you love. Tiffany shares how she uses lightweight structure to make time for what matters most in the season she...

Your effort determines your impact, so why not give your all? Stephanie Bothun is Vice President and Co-Founder of Ascend Indiana , the talent initiative of  CICP that connects people to careers. A personal career path impasse led Stephanie to find her purpose and passion for people through education. Through her journey, she’s developed three mantras for creating impact.

To create impact, you don’t have to be headed down one particular path. You don’t even have to fit perfectly onto the path you’re currently walking. Tanorria Askew is a multi-hyphenate—chef, author, speaker, DEI consultant, and entrepreneur. Her journey from corporate America to living into her multiple passions and callings is nothing less than inspirational, but not entirely aspirational. She’s...

Joel Bell makes bringing your whole self to work a staple of his company’s culture. Joel is the President of White Hat Industrial. He would say that when your employees bring their full selves to work, you see the magic happen. From raising 3 kids to empowering his employees to serve others, Joel is full of insights on how to lead with impacting others as the main goal. Listen in for how he has em...

Stories create impact–especially yours. Do you know how to effectively tell it? In this Masterclass episode, Gretchen sits down with author, speaker, and executive coach Rebecca Fleetwood Hession—giving you exclusive access to a masterclass on the impact that storytelling can have on your life and business. Listen in to hear how to tell your own story for maximum impact, foster connection with oth...

To create an impact as a leader, you must first create the opportunity for your people to create impact. Matt Rolfsen creates these opportunities for his people at work, in the community, and all around the world. Matt Rolfsen is the President of Renovia , a commercial construction company that specializes in complex commercial painting, caulking, and concrete repairs. Under Matt’s leadership, Ren...

There are leaders in the world who are made for impact. You are one of them.  This is the show for you–a leader who wants to leave a lasting impact on your organization, your team, and your life.  Host Gretchen Schott invites real leaders into conversation with her, creating space for them to reflect on the impact they’ve left in their world. With her, they’re sharing what it truly looks like to l...