Something Extra

In this heartfelt episode of the Something Extra podcast, Matt and Maria Granados, founders of the Take Part Foundation, explore how faith and intentionality shape their lives and leadership. From their unique beginnings at Eagle U—a program dedicated to equipping young people with real-world success skills—to their entrepreneurial journeys and service-driven careers, Matt and Maria share how list...

Daniela Linero, Chief Customer Officer at Ontop, explores her inspiring journey from Santa Marta, Colombia, to becoming a trailblazing entrepreneur and leader. She recounts pivotal moments, such as moving to Barcelona for an exchange program and founding her first company, Licify, at just 21 years old in the male-dominated construction industry. In this episode, Daniela reflects on lessons in lead...

In this week’s episode, Jeff Brittain, Managing Director at FedEx Institute of Technology, University of Memphis, and seasoned global IT leader, shares his journey into leadership, his career path from engineering to IT leadership, and the life lessons he's gained along the way. He emphasizes the importance of communication, adaptability, and maintaining positivity in leadership roles, w...

In this episode, Lisa sits down with Dave Peacock, CEO of Advantage Solutions, for an inspiring conversation about leadership, faith, and intentionality. Dave shares his journey from humble beginnings to leading major organizations like Anheuser-Busch and Schnucks, emphasizing how pivotal life moments shaped his leadership style. Together, they explore the importance of building meaningful connect...

What happens when you leave a successful 20-year career as a managing partner at a national CPA firm with no clear plan? Vonna Laue, author of "Glad I Didn't Know: Lessons Learned Through Life's Challenges And Unexpected Blessings" shares her remarkable journey from small-town South Dakota to partner at a national CPA firm to board chair at World Vision USA. Tune in as she reflects on lessons of t...

This week, we honor Danny Ludeman, who recently passed away after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. A visionary leader, Danny made everyone feel seen and valued. Though not a St. Louis native, he embraced the city with unmatched passion. His episode was #18 of the Something Extra podcast, which aired in February of 2019. More than 300 episodes later, his message still resonates. Greg and...

Join Lisa Nichols as she interviews Pallavi Chandak, CIO at Axia Women's Health, about leveraging technology to improve women's healthcare. Pallavi shares her journey from electrical engineering in India to becoming a healthcare technology executive, emphasizing the importance of data-driven decision-making and innovative AI solutions. Discover how Axia Women's Health is using technology to provid...

Lisa Nichols interviews Harsha Bellur, CIO of James Avery Jewelry, revealing the secrets to his success in tech and leadership. Harsha shares how growing up in India and working in his father's iron and steel business from a young age shaped his entrepreneurial mindset and approach to customer relationships. This episode is a masterclass in turning timeless business principles into a thriving care...

In this episode, Dr. Margie Warrell discusses her new book, "The Courage Gap: Five Steps to Braver Action," which is inspired by her experiences during the pandemic. Margie shares insights on the importance of focusing on what you most want, not on what you fear, and emphasizes that courage isn't about eradicating fear, but managing it. She encourages listeners to identify their personal courage g...

Many leaders excel in their careers but struggle to maintain the same level of success at home. Cory Carlson, Executive Coach, Keynote Speaker, and Co-Founder of RISE Community, knows this challenge well—and he’s on a mission to change it. With years of experience coaching business leaders, Cory helps them overcome burnout, develop their teams, and lead with greater purpose in both their professio...

Meet three incredible leaders from Commerce Bank on this week's episode of the Something Extra podcast. Beth Feuring, Susan Kalist, and Becki Feldmann bring a wealth of experience across culture, commercial banking, and brand management. Tune in as they discuss the role of company culture in banking, how to balance innovation with customer relationships, and the something extra that fuels their le...

Yvonne Carlson, CTO of Global Media Outreach, is on a mission to share Jesus with the world—one digital connection at a time. As a leader at the forefront of faith-based technology, Yvonne leverages cutting-edge tools to reach people across the globe, nurture their faith, and connect them to Christian communities. In this episode, she shares how emerging tech is shaping global evangelism, the powe...

What happens when collaboration becomes your superpower? Tom Muccio, a seasoned leader with over three decades at Procter & Gamble and the visionary behind Muccio Consulting, joins Lisa to share his insights on leadership, relationship building, and the art of "Collaborative Disruption." From his groundbreaking work with Walmart to advising top executives worldwide, Tom has mastered the abilit...

Fresh off being named the Global Recipient of the 2024 St. Louis CIO ORBIE Award, Amanda McClerren joins the podcast to share her insights on leading digital transformation at Bayer Crop Science. As CIO, Amanda drives innovation that empowers farmers and supports Bayer’s mission of "health for all, hunger for none." In this episode, she reflects on her journey, from pioneering digital platforms to...

Jae Chung, Managing Partner at Bespoke Compass, shares his powerful journey from feeling lost and isolated at the height of his career to becoming an executive coach dedicated to helping leaders find purpose and fulfillment. With a unique background spanning molecular biology, theology, intellectual history, and two decades of ministry across the globe, Jae brings a rich perspective to the challen...

Join us for a special highlight reel in this episode of Something Extra. We’ve handpicked standout moments and compelling insights from our incredible guests throughout 2024. Reflect on the stories that inspired us, the lessons that shaped us, and the wisdom that continues to light the way forward. Let their advice and vision pave the way for your journey into what we hope will be your most impact...

Join us for a special highlight reel in this episode of Something Extra. We’ve handpicked standout moments and compelling insights from our incredible guests throughout 2024. Reflect on the stories that inspired us, the lessons that shaped us, and the wisdom that continues to light the way forward. Let their advice and vision pave the way for your journey into what we hope will be your most impact...

What does it take to lead with authenticity and integrity? Randy Gravitt, renowned business coach, author, and speaker, joins us on this episode of the Something Extra podcast to share his insights on cultivating integrity-driven leadership. With over a decade of experience at Lead Every Day, Randy has dedicated his career to helping leaders create clarity, expand their capacity, and achieve growt...

Ken Somogyi, a 2024 St. Louis ORBIE CIO of the Year winner and VP of IT at Spinrite, joins the Something Extra podcast to share his journey as a transformative IT leader. With over two decades of experience spanning retail, insurance, manufacturing, and non-profits, Ken has a track record of aligning technology with organizational goals to drive results. From implementing metrics-based service mod...

John Coleman, Managing Partner at Sovereign’s Capital and Harvard Business Review contributor, shares his passion for leadership, investing, and helping others build meaningful lives. With experience at McKinsey & Company, Invesco, and as the author of Passion & Purpose and How to Argue Like Jesus, John reflects on lessons from working with thousands of founders and leaders. He dives into...

Following last week's episode on the great work being done by the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis, check out the inspiring father-son duo behind John’s Crazy Socks, Mark X. Cronin and his son, John. Together, they share their extraordinary journey of building a multi-million-dollar social enterprise with heart. John, who has Down syndrome, never let it hold him back. From starting t...

Sit back and enjoy listening to two remarkable guests, Erin Suelmann, Executive Director of the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis, and Susan Conrad, an experienced consultant. Together, they dive into the collaborative journey of shaping the Down Syndrome Association’s strategic vision. As members of the Strategic Planning Committee, Lisa, Erin, and Susan share insights on impactful l...

In this powerful episode of Something Extra, we sit down with Frank DeAngelis, retired principal of Columbine High School and a dedicated voice in education and school safety. As a founding member of the Principal’s Recovery Network and author of "They Call Me Mr. De: The Story of Columbine's Heart, Resilience, and Recovery," Frank shares his journey of leading a community through unimaginable tra...

Dive into the journey of Pratik Patel, a longtime Mastercard procurement leader, who brings a lifetime of resilience and adaptability to his work in global sourcing. Growing up in a world of constant change, Pratik learned early on how to adapt to new environments and challenges, a skill that has shaped his career in transformative ways. Join us as Pratik shares how his childhood experiences taugh...

Get to know Tommy Martin, the visionary CEO of The Tebow Group and founder of Mammoth. As a husband, father, and Harvard Business School alum, Tommy shares his journey of faith-driven leadership while building the future across multiple sectors, including wealthtech, family offices, life sciences, healthtech, and talent management. In this episode, Tommy also reflects on his work with The Tebow Fo...