Momentum Matters

In this episode of Momentum Matters , host Katie Hannah welcomes Charles Baughman, Chief Innovation Officer and Vice President of Sales at ITAC Solutions. With more than 20 years of experience in recruiting, talent strategy, and workforce development, Charles shares insights on what he calls the "purpose gap"—the disconnect between how organizations define a role and how employees ultima...

In this episode of Momentum Matters , we sit down with executive facilitator Vitali Harden to explore how perfectionism impacts leadership, trust, and team culture—and what to do about it . Vitali shares her personal journey from high-achieving perfectionist to trust-centered leader, revealing how perfectionism is often rooted in fear—and how it shows up in subtle but powerful ways like overthinki...

In this episode of Momentum Matters, we sit down with Cristy LeAnne Swint and Ryan Walker Graham, founders of RamLea Partners and creators of Connection Growth Corporate Coaching™. Cristy and Ryan share a powerful conversation on what it truly means to lead with authenticity, align with core values, and bring the human element back into today’s workplace. Drawing from their diverse backgrounds in...

What does it take to transform a city—and build spaces that bring people together? In this episode of Momentum Matters , host Katie sits down with Cathy Sloss Jones, President and CEO of Sloss Real Estate, to explore her lifelong connection to Birmingham and the role she has played in shaping the city’s revitalization. Growing up in Birmingham during the 1950s and 60s, Cathy witnessed a city navig...

In this episode of Momentum Matters , host April Benetollo welcomes Ashley Sutton for a meaningful conversation on rest, boundaries, and sustainable leadership. In a culture that often glorifies hustle and burnout, Ashley challenges leaders—especially women—to rethink productivity and embrace rest as a strategic leadership tool. She shares practical insights on recognizing burnout, creating health...

In this episode of Momentum Matters , host April Benetollo welcomes Velera Wilson , leadership expert, author, and keynote speaker, for a powerful conversation on confidence, communication, and authentic leadership. With more than 20 years of executive experience leading global teams and driving large-scale results, Velera shares how women leaders can overcome self-doubt, strengthen their mindset,...

In this episode of Momentum Matters , host April Benetollo welcomes Magie Cook , visionary entrepreneur, internationally recognized speaker, and keynote for the Momentum Leaders Annual Leadership Conference. Magie’s story is one of extraordinary resilience. After spending the first 18 years of her life in an orphanage in Mexico, she immigrated to the United States, earned a college basketball scho...

What does it mean to define your legacy while you’re still living it ? In this episode of Momentum Matters , host Raven sits down with Andrea McCaskey , former statewide director of Momentum Leaders, for a powerful conversation about leadership, purpose, and influence. Andrea shares insights from her journey through corporate leadership, nonprofit work, and personal loss—revealing how faith, conne...

 In this inspiring episode of Momentum Matters , Raven Holloway sits down with Kathy Boswell, Chief Encouragement Officer and founder of B.Intentional. Kathy shares her unique approach to leadership, focusing on the power of encouragement and leaving a lasting legacy through intentional actions. She explains how being mindful in how we show up—whether in business or personal life—can make a profou...

In this episode of Momentum Matters, host April Benetollo sits down with Maureen Zappala—former NASA propulsion engineer, award-winning speaker, and keynote for the upcoming Momentum Leadership Conference—for an inspiring conversation about imposter syndrome, confidence, and unlocking your full potential. Maureen shares the unlikely childhood moment that sparked her career in engineering, what it...

In this episode of Momentum Matters , host April Benetello sits down with Janet King , founder of The Gathering Lab , for a powerful conversation about why meaningful relationships feel harder to build today—and what we can do to change that. Janet shares how motherhood, remote work, and the pandemic shaped her passion for rebuilding authentic community. She breaks down the science of human connec...

Closing the Confidence Gap—at work and beyond. In this episode of Momentum Matters , CEO/cohost April Benetollo sits down with Kelli Thompson —award-winning author of Closing the Confidence Gap , TEDx speaker, and executive coach—to unpack how high achievers become influential leaders. Kelli shares: Her path from banking & HR to entrepreneurship and executive coaching Why confidence is a side...

Legacy. Leadership. Influence. In this episode of Momentum Matters , cohost Raven Holloway sits down with Tonya Hill Mitchell —former HR executive, founder & executive director of Diane’s Heart , and Inspire Action coach—to talk about transforming loss into purpose, building a living legacy, and why women leaders must “act brand new” to step fully into their power. Tonya shares: The origin sto...

In this episode of Momentum Matters , host Katie Hannah sits down with Dr. Kate McCombs , professor of leadership at Samford University and alumna of Momentum’s Upward Class 4. Kate shares her journey from finance to academia and dives deep into what it means to lead yourself before leading others. From defining self-leadership and emotional intelligence to discussing the changing nature of work,...

In this episode, Katie sits down with Selena Rodgers Dickerson , a trailblazing entrepreneur from Birmingham, Alabama. Selena opens up about her journey in a male-dominated field, sharing how resilience, mentorship, and purpose shaped her path. From building a company rooted in equity and community voices to balancing career and family, Selena offers powerful lessons on leadership, personal brandi...

🎙 Takeaways from 30 Years of Digital Ventures with Cindy Martin In this episode of Momentum Matters , host April Benetollo sits down with Cindy Martin , a true pioneer in digital media and entrepreneurship. With a career spanning three decades, Cindy has led transformative ventures that shaped the way we consume news and connect online. From her early work at AT&T and Magellan—one of the first...

The Momentum Matters podcast is back—with fresh voices, powerful stories, and a bold new direction. In this inaugural episode of our relaunch, CEO April Benetollo is joined by new co-hosts Katie Hannah and Raven Holloway for a heartfelt conversation about what’s ahead for the podcast and the mission behind it. You’ll hear personal reflections on leadership, legacy, and transformation—and get a beh...

Welcome to the latest episode of the Momentum Matters Podcast: Courageous Conversations. In this inspiring episode, Christine Roberts, owner and CEO of Create Your Best Life, engages in a heartfelt conversation with Momentum's April Benetollo. Christine shares her incredible journey from her humble beginnings in Rochester, New York, to becoming a successful entrepreneur in Atlanta, Georgia. D...

In this episode, April Benetollo, CEO at Momentum sits down with Clinical Psychologist and Performance Coach Josh Klapow, PhD. They explore his career journey, experiences, and invaluable insights on organizational consulting and leadership coaching. The discussion delves into the nuances of male and female leadership styles in the workplace, shedding light on communication challenges and societal...

In this episode we interview Sharon Melnick, PhD, on the topic of power. Dr. Melnick is a global authority on leadership, confidence, resilience, and power. Dr. Melnick is the premier expert at creating fast and lasting behavioral change in accomplished but overwhelmed professionals, enabling them to expand their leadership impact and become change agents across the enterprise. With her psychologi...

In this podcast, Executive Career Coach and Leadership Development Speaker Lenetra King, FACHE, shares her background and current mission with Momentum CEO April Benetollo. Lenetra is the founder and CEO of her company, Watch Me Excel, whose mission is to help organizations to engage, promote, and retain exceptional talent. Her mission's primary focus is to serve leaders in underrepresented c...

In this podcast, Momentum CEO April Benetollo interviews CBS42 Chief Meteorologist Ashley Gann in Birmingham. Ashley shares about being a woman in a dominantly male career field, her influences along the way, and what her plans for the future are. Ashley's career has spanned 3 states and 3 major cities. From Montgomery, to Atlanta, to Birmingham. Ashley has covered some of the most historic w...

PeggyLee Wright is a former US Army UH-60 Blackhawk pilot, having served at the 82d Airborne Division, Honduras Central America, and Fort Lee, Virginia. Following her military career, PeggyLee used her experience in DoD, logistics, leadership management, behavior analysis, and education to create a new approach to business development, ultimately establishing her own business development consultin...

Leslie Claybrook currently is the General Manager for the Birmingham Squadron, the G League affiliate to the NBA New Orleans Pelicans. She is one of only a small handful of women to hold that title in men’s professional sports. In her current role, she manages all aspects of business operations including corporate partnerships, ticket sales, marketing and public relations. The Birmingham Squadron...

Ulrike Seminati is a leadership and communication coach with over twenty years of experience shaping award-winning communications and leadership programs around the world. Building on her experience as C-level executive, Ulrike combines her knowledge of how to succeed in the corporate world with powerful self-development techniques to help women lead with charisma and authenticity.   Visit our web...