Ronderings

From learning differently to leading differently, Josh Feldman shares how a childhood shaped by learning disabilities became the foundation for redesigning work culture around rest, humanity, and sustainable impact. Josh Feldman is the Founder and CEO of R&R: The Rest of Our Lives, a practice dedicated to helping mission-driven organizations build cultures where people can actually thrive. Wit...

From first-generation Pakistani American immigrant to national leader in educational equity, Dr. Sana Shaikh shares her journey of using identity and lived experience to transform communities and advance opportunity for all. Sana Shaikh is a nationally recognized expert in education, policy, and economic development, currently serving as a Business Development Specialist at the Community Foundatio...

From middle school teacher to Ironman athlete and DC State Board of Education president, Jessica Sutter shares how endurance, youth voice, and values-aligned leadership can transform both systems and lives. Jessica Sutter is the founder of EdPro Consulting and a longtime education leader whose career spans classrooms, state policy, nonprofit consulting, and elected office. Beginning as a middle sc...

From educator to organizational designer and education advocate, Jenai Emmel shares how a life shaped by service, spirituality, and public education led her to reimagine leadership, storytelling, and systemic change in schools. Jenai Emmel is the founder of Byrd and the Center for Education News, where she works at the intersection of organizational design, culture, and public education advocacy....

From first-generation student to transformative education leader, Oscar Wang shares his journey of reshaping college access in Philadelphia while building a life defined by curiosity, empathy, and impact. Oscar Wang, the founder of College Together, is an Asian-American social entrepreneur dedicated to creating flexible, student-centered pathways to higher education. A graduate of Haverford Colleg...

From surviving early loss to building mission-driven strategies, Cecilia Paz Aguilar shares how turning pain into purpose shaped her leadership, creativity, and commitment to sustainable growth. Cecilia Paz Aguilar is the Founder of Rozas Rising, a business development and event strategy firm that helps leaders and organizations bring ideas to life through connection, clarity, and execution. With...

From immigrant roots to industry-leading influence, Nicole Smart shares how purpose, identity, and intentional leadership shaped her journey into DEI, executive coaching, and transformative workplace culture. Nicole Smart, Founder and Principal Consultant of Smart EDI Solutions LLC and the coaching platform Purpose Tracks, brings over a decade of cross-sector experience rooted in advancing equity,...

From journalist-in-training to nationally recognized employment strategist, Natalie Holder shares how a lifelong instinct to protect others evolved into a career dedicated to equity, courage, and transformational allyship. Natalie Holder, President and CEO of QUEST Employment Initiatives, LLC , joins Ron to share the journey that shaped her into one of today’s most respected voices in employment s...

From fourth-generation New Yorker to nationally recognized education leader, Dr. Rahesha Amon shares how her identity, heritage, and lived experiences shaped her purpose-driven journey in transforming schools and developing the next generation of teachers. In this episode, Dr. Amon reflects on her deep New York City roots, describing how Harlem, her family’s African lineage, and the energy of the...

From professional athlete to principal to purpose-driven founder, Kash Hameed shares how his journey from basketball courts to classrooms led to creating a movement that’s redefining how communities approach youth mental health and wellness. Growing up in Schenectady, New York, Kash found his way out of limited opportunity through basketball. His talent took him from Iona College, where he earned...

From immigrant daughter to hospital CEO, Helen Arteaga Landaverde shares her remarkable journey from translating her father’s leukemia diagnosis as a young girl to leading one of New York’s most vital hospitals with courage, purpose, and heart. In this deeply personal and inspiring conversation, Helen joins host Ron to reminisce about their NYU days in the 1990s, when two first-generation college...

From science classrooms to the C-suite, Shakira Petit’s journey embodies what it means to lead with purpose, humility, and strategy. A former educator turned CEO of SKP Consultants, Shakira joins Ron to unpack how organizations can identify and develop the leaders already within their walls, before crisis forces their hand. Her story bridges the worlds of education, operations, and executive leade...

From hospitality manager to leadership coach, Leslie Wade shares her extraordinary journey of transforming lessons from the classroom into a people-centered framework that redefines how leaders grow, communicate, and connect. Leslie Wade’s story begins in Brooklyn’s "Bed-Stuy" neighborhood, where an early love of learning and a fearless curiosity set her on a path of self-discovery. From being the...

From engineer to ethical luxury founder, Lola Banjo shares her extraordinary journey of building Silver & Riley, a purpose-driven brand redefining what it means to lead, create, and give back with integrity. Born in Brooklyn to Nigerian parents and raised across three continents, Lola’s path has been shaped by audacity, curiosity, and an unwavering belief in possibility. As a child in Lagos, s...

From uncovering a hidden family history to empowering a new generation of AAPI leaders, Eddie Shiomi shares how reclaiming his past reshaped his purpose and deepened his approach to leadership, storytelling, and civic engagement. In this heartfelt and historically rich conversation, Eddie joins host Ron to trace a remarkable lineage stretching from Okayama, Japan to the United States and beyond. H...

From education reformer to grassroots organizer, Justin Cohen shares how his journey from privilege to protest shaped his mission of mobilizing fathers for social change. Justin Cohen grew up in New Jersey surrounded by educators, with a teacher for a mother and a superintendent grandfather who exposed him early to the inequities baked into the school system. After building a successful career in...

From immigrant to bestselling author and global keynote speaker, Sheena Yap Chan shares her journey of reclaiming identity, building confidence, and amplifying Asian women’s voices through media, leadership, and visibility. Growing up Chinese-Filipino and moving to Toronto at just seven years old, Sheena faced cultural shame and a painful lack of representation in the media. For years she tried to...

 True leadership is the ability to bridge gaps, translate perspectives, and foster respect, ensuring that every voice—from the visible to the unseen—is valued and heard. William (Bill) Murphy is the Chief Operations Officer for Indianapolis Public Schools, where he drives operational excellence to support academic success in one of Indiana’s largest districts. He previously led Enroll Indy, served...

 It’s not about perfection out of the box—it’s about learning to learn and growing through the process. Dr. Donnell Butler is the Founder and President of Prelude, a nonprofit that partners with employers and schools to create work-based learning experiences, helping students from lower-income backgrounds gain professional skills, explore careers, and achieve economic freedom through paid internsh...

 Well-being isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. Lea Crusey is the co-founder and Head of U.S. Expansion for WOOF, a well-being tool for students and teachers. With a career in public policy, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement, she works to expand opportunities for marginalized communities. A former Teach For America corps member, Lea has focused on improving public education, founding Allies for...

 Mohan Sivaloganathan is a founder of Harmonious Leadership, a keynote speaker, consultant, and coach. He is also known as the “Batman of Social Impact” and at night he is a hip-hop artist. Throughout his career, Mohan has supported local and national organizations in orchestrating sustainable transformation and systems change across corporate social responsibility, education, civic engagement, an...

Niloy Gangopadhyay, is a passionate educator, and leader who for over 20 years has been addressing inequities in public education as a systems, school, and nonprofit leader. He began his career as a 2002 Teach For America corps member in San Jose, California, and now serves as TFA’s Vice President for the 35th Anniversary Summit. Previously, he led state-level initiatives for at-risk students at t...

  We need to create a high bar where the bar is to care about both people and performance. They are not dichotomies; they support each other . De-Lea Deane-Allen is the founder and CEO of Higher Bar Leadership LLC, dedicated to helping organizations create transformational work environments where all people can thrive. With over 20 years of experience as a teacher, school leader, and C-level execu...

True success isn’t just about individual achievement; it’s about the collective rise of our communities. Analiza Quiroz Wolf, CEO of Women of Color Rise, coaches diverse leaders, including social entrepreneurs and C-suite executives. She recently published The Myths of Success: A Woman of Color's Guide to Leadership , drawing on research and stories from her podcast, Women of Color Rise . Analiza...

Summary:   Language has the power to connect people, to move hearts, and to do good in the world. David Nungaray is a co-founder of Gente Empowerment Network but is actually a forever dual language teacher and principal at heart no matter what his current work title is. The children and families he worked with as an educator are one of his guiding forces in the work he continues to do in education...