CHANGEMAKERS Podcast

If ever a woman was at the forefront of an industry and a true trailblazer, it is retired Vice Admiral Sandra Stosz. While she chose to attend the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, she rose up the ranks in the wholly male dominated military of the USCG. Sandy served with distinction, traveled the world and led from the front for 40 years. Listen in to her awe-inspiring journey and the lessons learned that can be applied in the boardroom as well as on an icebreaker in Antarctica.

Life and careers are fluid and constantly changing. As changemakers, we pivot and adapt. That’s exactly what today’s CHANGEMAKERS spotlight Lisa Linkowsky has done so elegantly, moving from employee to entrepreneur.  

Listen in as Lisa and I discuss her transition, lessons learned and how all women professionals can truly create the career of their dreams by charting their own course

To look at Debbie, one would see a beautiful, composed and self-assured woman, with high-achieving in her bones. To look a bit deeper, one may see a vulnerable woman fighting to slay the mental bullies, well hidden from observers. Until, she drew a line in the sand and said “no more”. Now, she leads her clients to slay the mental bullies and bust the self-sabotaging behaviors that hold them back.

Listen in as Chief Changemaker Kimberly Rice and Team Fireball’s Debbie Pickus identify and discuss how women professionals truly can create the career of their dreams by charting their own course while they keep those mental bullies at bay. Careers and businesses are built and destroyed on slaying the mental bullies.

An entrepreneur at the ripe age of 11, Jolene tells a story of innovation, re-creation and resilience that has served her well. She is a “make lemonade out of lemons” kind of woman who makes change by shining the spotlight on other entrepreneurs and their accomplishments.  

Listen in for inspiration and to learn the steps to make positive change in our careers and lives.

A former private practicing employment lawyer, Sejal learned through her journey that she is more of a conflict resolution woman than a litigator. In short, she’s a positive changemaker in the sense that she guides companies and individuals to find common ground rather than to hammer it out in court.

Listen in to hear how Sejal pivoted from a senior compliance officer role at UC San Francisco to Chief Civility Officer of TrainXtra, a professional training and coaching company. This is positive change making, at its best…transforming leaders’ and employees’ lives, one by one.

Leaving the life of a private practicing lawyer behind to pursue an executive coaching business via The Lawyer’s Edge, Elise Holtzman draws from her own life and legal experiences to guide lawyers to identify opportunities and challenges to achieve professional and personal success. Listen in as Elise and Chief Changemaker Kimberly Rice discuss how to leverage the valuable intersection of mindset + action for maximum professional success and positive changemaking.

Emphatic changemakers have often triumphed over tragedies in their lives that propel them to uplift and inspire others to do likewise. Our latest guest Sari Barrowes began her life with no tangible prospects and has risen to be a global leader, earning an MBA from MIT Sloan, and transforming corporate professionals into high performers. She is the creator of the 5 Secrets To Leveling Up in Your Career bootcamp that helps people feel confident and teaches them how to become effective & highly skilled at doing their jobs, leading initiatives and getting results.  

Listen in to hear Savi’s compelling story which includes leading high-level initiatives that have reached the White House level.

Changemakers are characterized by their resilience, steadfastness and "never give up" attitude. Yet, experiencing trauma can knock anyone back on their heels. Through her own journey of recovering from post betrayal syndrome and intense study, Dr. Debi Silber discovered a predictable and proven process that moves willing individuals from betrayal to breakthrough. This process, coupled with many years of health, mindset and personal development training and coaching, enabled Debi to create a multi-pronged approach to help people heal from the trauma of betrayal.

Listen in to our conversation and learn how to identify the symptoms of post betrayal syndrome and, more importantly, the path for recovery and making positive change.

Effectively moving through life with a “can do” attitude and growth mindset can be the difference between joy and misery. Research shows over and again that the more positive our mindset, the more likely we will be prosperous and fulfilled.  

Listen in as Mindful Matters CEO Nikki Gangemi and I discuss the steps everyone can take to live a “glass full” life, even in challenging times (especially in challenging times).

A true test of a changemaker is how well we can, in fact, adapt to and lead change. With formal training in improvisation (via The Second City Chicago Training Center) and background in organizational psychology, JD Gershbein’s career personifies that of a changemaker and positive change agent. While he has worn a number of professional hats, the constant theme has been and continues to be helping others connect, in a quickly changing world. Listen in to learn how JD has leveraged his Second City background with progressive strategies to leverage personal branding and social networking to meet real-world business challenges.

All of us are in sales. All day, every day, whether we are selling our ideas, products or services. Dr. Cindy McGovern brings the “service to others” mindset to the sales process with her strong yet feminine energy approach. Listen in as Dr. Cindy and I discuss how to adapt the “service to others” approach to the sales process and how, especially as strong women professionals, we can stay integrous to our core values and mission.

Through a storied career in TV directing and producing live national events, Bill Dolan experienced the ultimate re-set. He literally died on a plane to Nashville. 

Listen in on how Bill has leveraged his death experience to transform his career and life, and what words of advice he has for us all.

When corporations are viewed as living organisms, entire organizations, leadership and every employee can experience unprecedented growth via positive change. 

  Listen in as Norman and I discuss the untimely change impact of the COVID-19 on organizations and how they can pivot to successfully navigate themselves to growth when the fog lifts.

In good and not so good times, connecting with others to foster relationships is always important…for our businesses, job and lives. No one I’ve ever met does it quite so effortlessly as Marc Halpert. As a multipreneur and man who wears many hats, Marc is in constant in service to connecting people for the greatest good of all. 

  Listen in as I interview super energetic LinkedIn branding expert Marc Halpert to be entertained and learn how to leverage digital tools to drive positive change in your business, job and overall life.

Through the long and winding road of Louise’s industrious HR career and end of a 25-year marriage, Louise designed an intentional life and career. Grieving the passing of a mentor, Louise leveraged her pain, along with her education, experience and passions, to arrive at her purpose: to awaken women to their own lives and to help organizations increase their profits AND elevate their people.

In just a few short years, the American workforce will completely turn over and land us in unchartered waters. Millennials (the oldest of whom are close to turning 40) represent the largest workplace population and the way they think and regard work is different from any generation before them. The vast implications of this upcoming sea change represents the work of corporate gender strategist Jeffery Tobias Halter. He is on a mission to engage more men as advocates and changemakers to help women advance into leadership roles in companies across the globe. Listen in as we discuss this fascinating topic and how every woman and man will be impacted, directly and indirectly.

We all need an Avery Neal. As a practicing psychotherapist, international author and speaker, Avery focuses her practice on counseling and supporting women in their times of distress – addressing stress and anxiety, postpartum depression, navigating divorce and even balancing those high-powered corporate roles. She is a perennial supporter of women and understands deeply how women take care of themselves last, as is too often the case. Listen in as we discuss action steps women can take to seize the opportunities and challenges that they face.

Regardless of your career choice or position, cultivating and nurturing meaningful relationships remains one of the clearest paths to success - - to develop referral networks, for support in your growth and development and so much more. Listen in as Breakthrough Champion’s Matt Ward and I discuss how to break down taking action every single day to build a powerful network of champions.

While corporate America rewards sacrificial hard work, not so much with maintaining health and wellbeing. Listen in as workplace well-being strategist Mari Ryan and I explore the critical steps that each woman can take to maintain positive wellbeing in the workplace and to live their best lives.

We all have a desire, a wanting for something more. Often, that requires a transition and certainly change, which may create fear of the unknown. Listen in as transition changemaker Tonia Morris and I discuss how to discover your “what’s next”, how to navigate through the fear to find grace over grind and so much more meaning along the way.

Janet’s story begins as many of ours…following the corporate career path of proving oneself, climbing up the ladder to positions of authority and influence. Then, comes the shift. Whether it happens involuntarily via a layoff, an illness that sidelines us for a time, or some other “rumble”, we shift our focus, priorities and professional path. Listen in as Janet and I discuss that changemaking looks like from this vantage point.

At every stage of our careers and lives, we are susceptible to self-sabotaging behavior and self-limiting beliefs, AND not even know it. Our special guest and executive coach Changemaker Teressa Moore Griffin who has taught hundreds of clients how to succeed by recognizing and acknowledging their unique gifts, identifying their personal goals and eliminating beliefs that limit their success and satisfaction. Join us to learn how this may show up in your professional journey and practical steps to move forward. Changemaking at its best.

Through her vast and varied education and career, Pam Mulligan has always been a changemaker - - a couragous, trailblazing a path to improvement, fulfillment and prosperity. She had a lucrative New York marketing position, put herself through law school at night, practiced law for 10 years yet she was not living her purpose. She was restless. Through her service to one of her alma mater committees, Pam landed in her dream job, which combines experiences from her years as a marketer, business executive, lawyer and die hard orange nation. Listen in to hear how Pam's professional journey zigged and zagged before coming full circle.

Changemakers' featured guest, Founder of Selling in a Skirt and leadership expert Judy Hoberman is deeply familiar with working in male-dominated industries as she has spent the majority of her career in them, finding her own way. Now, Judy shares her experiences and lessons learned with women in leadership and the men that champion them through executive coaching, training and keynote speaking. Listen in for an uplifting and fascinating conversation on how to walk ON the glass floor and avoid hitting it altogether. 

Amber embodies the changemaker mindset by fighting for justice for individuals whom have suffered life-altering injuries due to the neglect of others. She positively impacts the lives of young lawyers and teenagers who are considering a career in the law. Recognized for her changemaking ways, Amber volunteers in a variety of public service capacities, establishing herself as a leader in the legal community. Join us to learn how Amber successfully navigates challenges, triumphs and milestones of working in a male-dominated industry.

Organizational efficiency changemaker Dina Eisenberg works with professional services firms to guide

them to adopt modern hiring practices by first creating fail-proof systems of onboarding and delegating.

Bringing a growth mindset to her clients’ greatest employment challenges, Dina enlightens and teaches

business owners how to hire a dream team to run their business while enabling them to focus on what’s

important for growing their business. Join us for a riveting conversation about the changes that Dina has

made and helps her clients make.

Focused on promoting equality in the workplace, Julie works to help her clients adapt growth mindsets for a more diverse and inclusive professional experience. Recognizing that change does not happen in a vacuum, Julie and I discuss how inviting supportive male allies to join the conversation of why there must be gender equality in the workplace for everyone to thrive. Listen in to learn concrete steps to take to propel the conversation forward.

As an aspiring lawyer, Alicia followed the prescribed path for reaching what others may consider the top rung of the professional ladder. What they did not see, however, was the toll that the life of a practicing lawyer took on Alicia’s body. For several years, Alicia was sidelined by physical illness, which eventually led her career in a different direction. Listen in to this powerful story of how Alicia’s changemaker journey opened an unexpected door and how she has now turned her pain into a great purpose of helping others.

From an early age, Elena had a first-hand view into the demanding careers of professional services as she often visited her father’s office who was a solo practitioner. She helped with various aspects of his business operations. As she pursued a career in public health training and coaching, Elena’s path often collided with those of women lawyers who were disillusioned with their career choices. Eventually, Elena recognized an opportunity to leverage her early professional services experience with her training and coaching practice to launch a new business WILL (Women Interested in Leaving (big) Law). Listen in as Elena shares how she helps women discover their passion and to go for it. Elena embodies a courageous changemaker by supporting life transformations.

Nicole is a former BigLaw attorney who saw a better way to deliver litigation services outside the nagging billable hour fee structure. Thus, bloomed her first company, Valorem Law Group. Formed with a small group of “BigLaw refugees”, the firm was a new model law boutique when founded in 2008 and was recognized nationally. Based upon its success, Nicole again stepped out to collaborate and adjoin Valorem with ElevateNext to provide a one-stop shop for clients needing legal representation using the Valorem model, supported by the cutting-edge technology, consulting and operational support of Elevate, which helps companies substantially reduce legal spend and make their law departments more efficient in doing so. Listen in to learn how Nicole has leveraged the various aspects of her career to propel her forward. You do not want to miss this episode for a glimpse into how one powerful woman has created the career of her dreams.

A sheer force of positive energy and legal expert, Catherine has founded and co-founded numerous enterprises to help law firms, law schools, lawyers, law students and legal organizations to improve their delivery systems, among other strategic initiatives. Moreover, Catherine has authored and co-authored more than a half dozen publications that exemplify her thought leadership in the legal process improvement and business development spaces. She knows firsthand how to lead and make change as this is what drives her incredible energy and ambition. Listen in as we discuss what drives Catherine to advance her successful serial entrepreneurship path and how giving to others has proven transformational for all.

After spending the majority of her legal career practicing employment law for an international law firm, Pat leveraged her deep knowledge in gender diversity and equality in the workplace to become an outspoken advocate for women’s issues in business. Listen in to our lively discussion to learn about The Mansfield Rule (in which Pat was an integral architect) and how professional services firms can productively address gender and diversity equally into their business practices.