Speak In Flow

Anna Radulovski, CEO of WomenTech Network and author of Chief in Tech, went from navigating male-dominated tech conferences to creating the world’s largest platform for women in technology. In this episode of the Speak In Flow podcast with host Melinda Lee, Anna reveals how resilience, generosity, and imperfect action can dismantle barriers and why true leadership isn’t about being the smartest in...

You can’t persuade people when you’re stuck in your own head. Stephen Mar knows what it’s like to lose an audience. As Chief Legal & Administrative Officer at Odeko. But his biggest communication breakthrough didn’t happen in a courtroom. In this episode of the Speak In Flow podcast with Melinda Lee, Stephen reveals how an early-career email taught him to master persuasion and cross-department...

Kevin D. Oden, CEO of Kevin D. Oden & Associates and former head of operational risk at Wells Fargo, knows the high-stakes world of financial compliance isn’t for the faint of heart. In this episode of the Speak In Flow podcast with Melinda Lee, he reveals how to spot hollow expertise, why "big name" consultants often fail smaller institutions, and the uncomfortable truths leaders must confron...

Festivals bring joy, foster connection, and create transformative spaces, and James Weisberg learned from a young age how to harness their power to build a visionary future. As the founder of Project Vitality and co-founder of Cresci Labs, James blends entertainment, education, and community impact through festivals, startup ecosystems, and a mindset he calls “Level 12” where success defies imagin...

Jaime Lee, USC trustee, real estate CEO, and keynote speaker to thousands, once hyperventilated into a paper bag before speeches. In this vulnerable conversation with Melinda Lee, she reveals how she rewired her mindset from "I can’t say the alphabet if called on" to commanding boardrooms and commencement stages. Discover her counterintuitive secret: preparedness isn’t about perfection, it’s about...

When you start a business, it’s easy to obsess over your product- perfecting the tech, the features, the "how." But what happens when you realize no one cares how it works… unless you can make them believe in why it matters? In this episode of the Speak In Flow Podcast, Melinda Lee interviews Rohin Parkar, the CEO of Spintly, who has experienced this type of pivot firsthand. As an engineer, Parkar...

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Closing a deal has its tricks, but when you take the game overseas, you’ll quickly learn every culture has its own rules. On this episode of Speak in Flow, global consultant Jonathan Holburt joins Melinda Lee to unpack how you win buy-in across borders. From breakfast meetings in Korea (with zero business talk) to launching a Guinness campaign that starred a "Nig...

What does it take to show up fully in a room, build trust across partnerships, and be the kind of person people actually want to work with? On this episode of the Speak In Flow Podcast, Tony Zirnoon, Director of Channel and Strategic Partnerships at Actian, a true “connector” in both tech and human ecosystems. With experience bridging innovation and execution in cybersecurity, opens up about leade...

In a B2B environment, people often overlook the human side. But at the end of the day, we're all human beings running a business. In this episode of the Speak In Flow Podcast, Robin Daniels, the "Ryan Reynolds of B2B" and CMO behind 2.5 IPOs, reveals how to be emotional, authentic, and fun while telling a story that motivates your team to work like a well-oiled machine. Join Robin and Melinda to l...

Media and technology strategist Evo Heyning (CEO of Reality Craft, VP of XR Guild) sits down with Melinda Lee in this episode of the Speak in Flow Podcast to explore how AI is reshaping communication, creativity, and disaster resilience, while revealing why slowing down might be the key to wielding these tools effectively. From rebuilding homes after wildfires to crafting ethical AI policies, Evo...

Nada Nasserdeen, two-time TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and CEO of Rise Up For You, went from a $100 in her pocket and two suitcases to building a global leadership development company. In this powerful conversation with Melinda Lee, Nada shares how rock bottom became her foundation, the neuroscience behind self-confidence, and why 95% of leaders think they're self-aware, but only 10% truly ar...

When life throws you a curveball, like a sudden layoff , it takes more than just a positive mindset to turn it into something greater. It takes courage, vision, and the willingness to bet on yourself. Tom Gibbons knows this firsthand. After losing his stable corporate job, he didn’t just pivot, he built two thriving companies: Darts Only Golf, a high-end golf networking and charity business, and A...

Joshua Kitching, owner of Bay Area Piping and Equipment, went from leading military squads and construction crews to questioning his own voice as an entrepreneur. In this raw conversation with Melinda Lee, Josh shares how stress and self-doubt nearly derailed his communication, the Zoom call that became a wake-up call, and the mindset shifts that transformed his leadership.  Learn how slowing...

This world can be a hard place to live in, and staying true to yourself in the face of adversity is one of the greatest tests we face. In this raw and resonant episode, Melinda Lee sits down with Masada Ellis - poet, founder of Not Apologetic Studios, and advocate for radical authenticity - to explore how embracing your truth transforms leadership, art, and everyday life. From surviving military p...

In this powerful episode, Melinda Lee sits down with Tana Jackson, VP of Operations at Upright Labs, to unpack the unspoken challenges women face in corporate leadership. From battling micromanagement and workplace politics to fostering authentic communication under pressure, Tana shares raw insights from her journey and how she’s paving a better way for the next generation of women leaders. In Th...

What does it take to shift from transactional sales to transformative customer success? In this episode, Melinda Lee chats with Andrea Bumstead, VP of Customer Success, about her journey from marketing and sales to leading long-term customer relationships. Andrea reveals why she chose customer success over sales, and how this helped companies scale from 15M to 50M. In This Episode, You Will Learn:...

Every interaction, from conversations with friends to managing conflicts at work, is a form of negotiation and mediation. But how do we handle these conversations when emotions are running high? In this episode, Melinda Lee sits down with Jonathan Cayton, an experienced mediator, to unpack practical strategies for de-escalating tension, fostering understanding, and leading with empathy, even in th...

Changing your career from one thing to another is no easy task, but it's far from impossible. In fact, you can often take all the knowledge and skills from your past and use them to fuel your next chapter. Don't believe it? Just ask today's guest, Dr. Axel Meierhoefer. A former Air Force officer turned leadership expert, Axel has successfully navigated multiple career transitions, from leading 800...

In this episode, host Melinda Lee welcomes Jenn Pedde, VP of Customer Advocacy at PeoplePath, a seasoned expert in building and managing online communities to discuss why online communities matter now more than ever.  Jenn and Melinda dive into the evolution of online communities, from the early days of forums and message boards to the rise of massive social networks like LinkedIn and Instagr...

We did it! Our 100th episode. Can you believe it? When we reach a milestone like this, it is a time of joy but also a time to reflect on what we have learned along the way. For host Melinda, there are many wonderful lessons that these 100 episodes and all of her guests have given her, and today, she would like to share them in the form of three transformative strategies that have shaped her growth...

In this episode, host Melinda Lee welcomes Ernie Bray, a dynamic entrepreneur and CEO of AutoClaims Direct (ACD), to discuss Ernie's personal communication journey to overcome stage fright and the critical role of communication in driving sales. Ernie shares his insights on how leaders can cultivate effective communication within their teams, the importance of adaptability in sales, and why every...

Curious about the future of B2B marketing? One spoiler: Communities remain one of its pillars. In this episode, Melinda Lee sits down with Joshua Zerkel, a seasoned community-led growth leader who has helped grow companies like Asana and Evernote, to explore how companies can shift from traditional marketing to creating meaningful, human-centered communities that drive growth. Joshua shares his pr...

Do you dread the idea of becoming an "empty nester" when your kids leave home? What if this transition could be a time of joy, self-discovery, and reinvention instead? Join Melinda Lee and Hanna Bankier, founder of BirdyLauncher, as they reframe the concept of empty nesting into a powerful opportunity to launch not just your kids, but yourself into a new chapter of life. Hanna shares her unique fr...

Do you have a great idea that just won't take off and you don't know why? Before you change any aspect of your product, ask yourself: Is the problem my idea, or how am I selling it? Join Melinda and Win Cramer, CEO and founder of JLab, as they discuss the critical role of communication in entrepreneurship. Win shares his journey from running all aspects of the business solo to building a high-perf...

AI sparks a lot of controversy, but for those willing to explore its potential, it's a game-changer for communication. In Episode 95 of the Speak In Flow podcast, host Melinda Lee breaks down how artificial intelligence tools like Chatgpt and Jasper can streamline your preparation, enhance your content creation, and improve your delivery to authentically connect with any audience. In This Episode,...