Thriving in Intersectionality

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with leadership consultants, podcast hosts, and co-founders of ASQ Empowerment, Dr. Jessie Ferreira and Omar Ferreira , for a thoughtful conversation about identity, leadership, organizational culture, and the experiences that shape the way we lead. The conversation begins where every episode of Thriving in Intersectiona...

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with leadership researcher, executive coach, and bestselling author Dr. Elizabeth Pritchard for a conversation about identity, authenticity, confidence, and what it truly means to lead from the inside out. The conversation begins with an honest reflection on intersectionality itself. Elizabeth shares why she has a compli...

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with entrepreneur, immigration strategist, technologist, and human rights advocate Vas Ramakrishnan for a conversation about identity, visibility, opportunity, and navigating systems that were not always designed with everyone in mind. The conversation begins with an exploration of intersectionality through Vas's own...

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Russell Van Brocklen, dyslexia educator, researcher, and advocate, for a conversation about learning differences, identity, confidence, and human potential. The conversation begins with a reminder that intersectionality extends beyond the identities we immediately see. Learning differences, educational experiences,...

What happens when the career you've always dreamed of no longer fits the life you're trying to build? In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Shannon Russell, Strategic Leadership and Team Facilitator, entrepreneur, author, speaker, and host of the Build Better Teams podcast. Shannon shares her journey from a 16-year career in television product...

  In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Amy Lenius for a conversation about identity, self-worth, personal growth, and the many layers that shape how we define success. Amy shares how the different roles she has held throughout her life—from daughter, partner, entrepreneur, speaker, coach, and leader—have influenced how she sees herself and the work she...

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Nicole Johnston for a thoughtful conversation on her intersections and key insights on invisible labor, workplace expectations, leadership, and the hidden experiences that shape how women navigate work and life. Nicole shares how growing up with two educator parents—working at opposite ends of the educational spectr...

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Hanna Curman to explore how identity, lived experience, biology, and leadership intersect—especially under pressure. Hanna shares how her own journey was shaped by family history, entrepreneurship, creativity, motherhood, and years of working in male-dominated corporate environments. She reflects on what it meant to...

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Rachel Edmondson Clark to explore how identity, lived experience, and internal patterns shape how we lead—especially under pressure. Rachel shares a deeply personal journey, from growing up observing human behavior in her mother’s salon to quickly rising through corporate leadership roles—and eventually experiencing...

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Yosi Kossowsky to explore how identity, lived experience, and internal belief systems shape how we lead. Yosi shares a deeply personal journey—one shaped by early experiences of being labeled as “not enough,” navigating limiting beliefs, and ultimately transforming those experiences into a foundation for curiosity a...

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , host Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Dr. Julie Pham to explore how identity, lived experience, and leadership are shaped across cultures, systems, and personal history. Julie shares her journey as a Vietnamese-born refugee raised in the United States, and how that experience continues to shape how she understands belonging, communication, and oppo...

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Daniel Hodges to explore how leadership is shaped through layers of identity that are often unseen—and frequently misunderstood. Daniel shares his journey growing up with limited socioeconomic resources, navigating life as someone who is blind, and managing invisible disabilities including chronic pain and mental he...

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo  sits down with Natalie Holder —employment lawyer, executive coach, and founder of QUEST Employment Initiatives—to explore how workplace experiences, identity, and power dynamics shape the way we navigate and lead in our careers. Natalie shares her journey as a first-generation professional, a Caribbean African American woman, and...

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , host Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Sabrina Parsons to explore how leadership is shaped through identity, lived experience, and the moments that challenge how we see ourselves in the workplace. Sabrina shares her journey from growing up between Mexico and the United States to leading as CEO of Palo Alto Software, reflecting on how her bicultural...

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Adriana Vaccaro  to explore how her leadership has been shaped across identity, culture, and the systems she has navigated over time. Adriana shares her journey from Bogotá, Colombia, to U.S. corporate spaces and how those early experiences shaped how she learned to communicate, show up, and make sense of the unspok...

Leadership journeys are rarely linear. They are shaped by identity, experience, opportunity, and sometimes the courage to step forward when others hesitate. In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Julia C. Rock — keynote speaker, leadership consultant, and executive coach — to explore how layered identities influence leadership journeys and workplace dyna...

What does it take to move from technical expert to strategic leader — especially in industries where leadership paths are not always clearly defined? In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo welcomes Limor Bergman Gross , a former Director of Engineering with over 20 years of experience in the tech industry and host of the podcast From a Woman to a Leader . Limor shares...

What does it take to lead at the highest levels — without losing yourself in the process? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Victoria Pelletier — corporate executive, board director, author, and public speaker — to explore what it truly means to lead as your whole self. Nicknamed the “Turnaround Queen” and “CEO Whisperer,” Victoria has spent more than two decades drivin...

What does ambition look like when you’re navigating identity, immigration, and leadership — all at once? In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with award-winning author, tech leader, and podcast host Sheekha Singh to explore immigrant ambition, women in tech, burnout, and redefining success beyond hustle culture. Born and raised in India, educated in the Uni...

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Oksana Lukash , Chief People Officer, business owner, and leadership advisor with more than 20 years of experience helping teams scale, navigate chaos, and build cultures where people can thrive. Oksana shares her powerful journey as an immigrant who grew up during the fall of the Soviet Union, spent formative years...

  What if leadership isn’t about constantly pushing forward — but about pausing long enough to reflect? In this solo episode, Dr. Lola Adeyemo shares a simple framework that has shaped how she thinks about growth, career pivots, and impact: Learn back. Lead forward. Drawing on conversations with past guests and her own journey across science, consulting, and workplace inclusion strategy, Lola expl...

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo is joined by Karen Jones , a seasoned leadership and organizational effectiveness consultant and the founder of Sacred Leadership Solutions , for a grounded and deeply human conversation about what it really takes to build workplaces where people can thrive. Karen brings more than 15 years of experience across Fortune 500 organiza...

Your voice isn’t just sound — it’s strategy. In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality , Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Olufunke Olufon — communications strategist, TEDx speaker, and founder of IWA Consulting — for a rich conversation on purpose-driven communication, leadership presence, and navigating career pivots without shrinking who you are. Olufunke’s career spans some of the world’s...

In this final Veteran & Military Family Appreciation Month spotlight, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Tahnohn and Sherry Hayes — a dual-military couple, proud parents, and the founders of NutFrusion , a San Diego–based handcrafted snack company rooted in resilience, clean ingredients, and purpose. Their story spans deployments, parenthood, medical transition, entrepreneurship, and faith — offe...

In this episode, our spotlight series continues with our veteran guests. Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Dr. Keith Dorsey — a board strategist, researcher, executive advisor, and author of The Boardroom Journey — to explore how identity, service, and intentional growth come together to form a successful and fulfilling professional journey. From the U.S. Air Force to nearly three decades in co...