The InPursuit Podcast: A Spherical Look at Today's Workplace

Claudia Miller is a sought-after Career Coach and she's helped her clients land fulfilling jobs in less than 90-days all while getting on average a 54% in salary increases ($30k-$140k). She also partners with companies and organizations in identifying rising stars within their organizations and providing strategic insights and support in developing a leadership and talent pipeline with a focus on Women and Women of Color. Due to her efforts, she's worked with Top Fortune 500 Clients and has been featured multiple times in Forbes, MSNBC, Thrive Global, and Business Insider put her in their top global list of Top Innovative Career Coaches. Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudiatmiller/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudiatmiller/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@careercoachforwit?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Product & Services: Proven-Winning Resume 90-Day Job Offer Career Coaching Program Free Giveaway: $10k Salary Negotiation Script: https://keap.page/fxp705/10k-salary-negotiation-script.html

Ruben currently serves as the Capacity Development Advisor for ADRA International. Where his focus is on the growth and the leadership development of ADRA’s global staff. As a certified Emotional Intelligence coach, (EQi) through coaching and trainings, his focus has been on developing a framework for everyone to embrace the importance of emotional intelligence and its foundation to become a great leader. Ruben has trained staff in different parts of the US as well as in Asia and Europe. His hope is that emotional intelligence becomes the common thread that connects all leaders. Contact him: Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruben-covarrubias-mba-8a6781123/

International best-selling author of the book Heaven Within Restoring Wholeness for Better Leadership, Candace Mae, knows that to achieve and exceed goals, we must communicate and collaborate at a world-class level. An MSIT graduate with decades of corporate experience and inexhaustible love for life and the Lord, Candace Mae spends her time now asa consultant, mentor, executive coach, workshop facilitator, and keynote speaker. Her passion for guiding people to discover, maximize and lead with their strengths is palpable, and her experience and education only outmatch her energy. After 20+ years as a Senior Project Manager for corporate and higher educational institutions, she has developed expert cross-functional leadership, administrative, and teaching skills in a broad base of business industries. Candace Mae is the founder of Candace Mae Leadership Development Training and Services and has also pursued a prestigious certification as a Maxwell Leadership Executive Program Certified Team Member, adding proven Leadership strategies for her client's needs. Candace Mae uses her personal and professional life experiences to relate to her clients and audiences in heartwarming, humorous, and human ways. A mother, grandmother, trainer, author, and professional 'liver-of-life,' Candace Mae has the experience, education, and energy to help individuals and teams better their best. She lives on a working ranch in North San Diego County near her two daughters and three grandchildren, and in her free time, you can find her singing, dancing, and always sporting her favorite color, purple. Find her book on Amazon  https://www.amazon.com/Heaven-Within-Restoring-Wholeness-Leadership/dp/1913206424/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1EPLW0B4M8OZC&keywords=candace+mae&qid=1673460954&sprefix=candace+mae%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-1

Steffi August is the founder of Your Mindset Challenge – The Action Blueprint dedicated to supporting women over 40 to fulfil their potential and achieve extraordinary results, both professionally and personally. Using 12 years coaching experience and 57 years life experience, cutting-edge tools, The Three Principles, and powerful Action Blueprint strategies, her clients start focusing on building new habits while challenging their Mindset. Creating winning strategies, her clients gain clarity, confidence and consistency to achieve self-mastery in their lives. They learn a new way how they think about themselves, how they think about their circumstances and change the way how they respond to challenges in life. Transforming challenges into opportunities are the norm, and results are guaranteed. Steffi is known for being an energetic, determined and highly motivated individual. Known as The German Pocket Rocket and Self-Leadership Coach. Steffi inspires and challenges individuals and teams to dig deep inside themselves to unfold the keys to their real potential and breakthrough solutions to breakout. Passion, Belief & Determination is in her DNA, and her philosophy is, ‘long-term success is achieved by taking consistent small steps,’ and her motto is, ‘Every challenge in life is another opportunity. Never, ever, ever give up on yourself.’ Immigrating from East to West Germany before the wall came down and moving to NZ have been very challenging. Leaving a challenging relationship literally overnight, finding the love of her life, her soulmate was a life safer. Experiencing her husband, man of her dreams as killed in a tragic truck accident. She just survived for the last 3 years, started thriving again and found her spark and purpose in life. Now she’s passionate to help women 40+ to find their spar, their ultimate you again. Contact her www.steffiaugust.com

You won’t want to miss this week’s episode where we discuss harnessing your passions, strengths, and leaning into your inner genius. Global business educator and author, Catherine Mattiske, is the founder of TPC — The Performance Company, a leading training and consulting organization that has worked with Fortune100 companies worldwide. Established in 1994, TPC has offices in Sydney, Los Angeles, New York, London, Singapore, and Basel (Switzerland). The author of more than 30 books, her latest is “Unlock Inner Genius: Power Your Path to Extraordinary Success” (September 2021). Learn more about Inner Genius here: https://innergenius.onlinepresskit247.com/

In this week's episode, we dive into the choices we have as women and how to bravely and unapologetically embrace those decisions and the beautiful fluidity of life's chapters.  Melissa is a top-tier finance professional, business owner, podcast host, author, mother, and the creator of Efficiency Bitch - a name she coined during an argument with her mom as a sassy teenager. It has since become a term of endearment, a podcast, and a book. MELISSA'S MESSAGE: Don't let them tell you can't have your cake and eat it too. You can, you just have to adjust your recipe. Melissa teaches how to efficiently take inventory of tasks, both professional and personal, and one by one begin to automate, delegate and eliminate until you are left with just the ones that you love. Have it all, don't do it all. DO LESS. BE MORE. Contact her: IG @efficiencyb FB @efficiencyb melissa@twosenseconsulting.com

Join me this week as my guest Don Colliver and I explore a life of passions, connectivity, and all the things we can learn from clowns.  Don Colliver is a teacher, speaker, writer, and comedian with over twenty-five years of experience passionately engaging audiences and helping them engage with one another. Don’s mission is to help every speaker profoundly impact their audience through the power of courageous vulnerability, confident authenticity, and the joy of connection. Thanks to his popular public speaking courses delivered internally at Google and around the world, hundreds of nervous speakers have transformed into more effective and joyful communicators, reaching a deeper level of audience connection than they ever thought possible. In addition to teaching, Don can be found on the trade show floor, where he writes and delivers presentations for companies including Adobe, Cisco, and Medtronic. On the screen, Don has written and directed hundreds of hours of nonfiction television for shows including House Hunters, $40 a Day with Rachael Ray, and Roker on the Road. Before teaching others to confidently take the spotlight, Don toured internationally as a theatrical Clown for contemporary circus company Spiegelworld and performed briefly with the Blue Man Group and he is listed in the Cirque du Soleil performer database. He is a founding member of the award-winning sketch and clown groups DJ Faucet and the Innocents. His troupes have received awards, including the Improv Olympic Del Close Award for Best Sketch Comedy Troupe and the Hollywood Fringe Award for Best Physical Theater, and Don won the 2017 Toastmasters International District One Tall Tales Speech Championship. Don graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BS in Communications from Boston University. He holds certifications in Design Thinking, Applied Improvisation, and Instructional Design. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and when he’s not helping speakers engage with their audiences more deeply, he can be found hiking through the redwoods. You can connect with Don at www.doncolliver.com.

I am honored to have a real changemaker on the show today. Justin Black and his wife Alexis have built a powerhouse movement helping youth and adults alike move past their childhood experiences and trauma to build a better future and life they deserve. It is my pleasure to amplify their story in my chat with Justin this week.  Justin Black created the Rising Over Societal Expectations (ROSE) Empowerment Group with a vision to close the information gap for today’s generation of Black and Brown young adults after his experiences as a Black male in the foster care system. He has also developed policy recommendations while working with the National Black Child Development Institute resulting in a publication titled The State of the Black Child Report Card: Washington State. Black studied urban and community development as well as a political and economic philosophy in countries such as Rwanda, Uganda, Senegal, and South Korea. In his spare time, Justin loves watching sports and enjoys hot wings. He aspires to challenge and expand the ideologies of how to build prosperous communities through interdependence and entrepreneurship. Alexis Black is a proud foster care alumni. She founded The Scholarship Expert where she authored The Scholarship Blueprint book and workbook along with an online course to assist students in graduating from college debt-free. She is also a foster care advocate working for the National Youth and Transition Database Reviewer. Alexis helps fundraise for programs supporting foster youth such as Hope Pkgs, the Seita Scholars program, and The Nsoro Foundation. She’s studied abroad eight times during her undergraduate career in countries such as Hong Kong, South Korea, and South Africa. She also co-developed two study abroad programs. Alexis aspires to be a positive example for foster youth. Alexis loves to travel or sleep on her downtime. Find them, their books, and their merchandise at: www.re-definingnormal.com Tik Tok @re.definingnormal IG @re.definingnormal FB redefiningnormalmovement

Today's episode was an enlightening conversation on the human side of work and how that is playing out in the current work environment. You will NOT want to miss this one. It is chock full of applicable tips for employers looking to navigate the workplace of today and the future.  M David Stonger is a consulting psychologist specializing in helping small companies. He trained in clinical psychology but transitioned to business consulting to have a larger impact on the community. Prior to founding M. David Consulting, he served in the Unites States Air Force as a medical officer. After completing his term of service, he returned to graduate school for a Master's Degree in Anthropology while also working as a contractor for the military. For fun, David loves reading fiction and watching University of Kansas basketball. He and his wife Amanda also love international travel and Sunday brunch. mdavidconsulting.com mdavidconsulting@protonmail.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/m-david-stonger-phd-a5b1b2217/

In this week's episode, I met my kindred spirit; a woman as in love with travel and writing as I am. Listen in for inspiration on your next adventure.  Ruksana Hussain is an award-winning journalist with 20+ years of experience working with local, national and international print and digital media for consumer and trade markets. As a magazine editor and features writer, she has contributed to publications covering diverse beats and topics, including but not limited to lifestyle, travel, cuisine, culture, business, technology, education, construction, and more. Her bylines have appeared in Delta Sky Lines, Cuisine Noir, Detour, USA Today, Stanford Social Innovation Review and several other outlets. Ruksana is also the publisher of Traveler and Tourist, a monthly subscriber-only digital magazine covering travel and lifestyle, which received funding via a journalism grant this year. She is the recipient of several awards and diversity fellowships for her journalistic and editorial work. http://www.travelerandtourist.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruksanahussain/ Twitter: @RuksanaWrites www.ruksanawrites.com

Ready for a deep dive into marketing your brick-and-mortar business? Join in as Mark Newsome gives us a long list of instant strategies to drive business and cash flow.  Mark Newsome (aka) Mr.Marketing is a cash flow generation specialist. He routinely helps cash-strapped small business owners and service providers discover previously hidden profit centers within their business by strategically maximizing non-traditional assets and or resources. 

Calling all women business owners...are you eating only the broken cookies? In other words, are you holding onto self-limiting beliefs that are keeping you from scaling your revenue? Tune in to hear how Patty helps women overcome these challenges and grow their business income.  Patty Block teaches women business owners who are experts in their fields how to turn up their power to price, sell and run their business on their own terms. This means fine-tuning their operations and scaling their revenue for strategic growth. Patty has approached each step in her career with an entrepreneurial spirit: from successfully operating a business as a lobbyist and political consultant, to serving as the Charitable Foundation Director for First Interstate Bank of Texas, to gaining years of experience as Director of Operations at a leading international school. Her experience comes full-circle with The Block Group, turning roadblocks into building blocks for women-owned businesses. Patty raised three fantastic kids, all of whom are business owners and also work in Patty’s company (she essentially raised her own workforce!) ********** Free Quiz: myrevenuereoadblocks.com Your Hidden Advantage Accelerator Program starting Sept. 2022 ********** Patty Block The Block Group Inc. 713-826-0302 pwblock@theblockgroup.net www.theblockgroup.net

Ever feel like life is just too cluttered - too many meetings, too many obligations on your time, too many physical possessions? Join Dr. Regina Lark as we forge a clear path to an uncluttered life.  In 2008, Dr. Regina Lark founded A Clear Path: Professional Organizing and Productivity. Regina is a featured speaker and educator on issues ranging from productivity, hoarding, and women’s leadership. This past October, Regina published her third book, Emotional Labor: Why A Woman’s Work is Never Done and What To Do About It. As a Certified Professional Organizer CPO®, Regina is a specialist in boomer and senior downsizing, residential organizing, and life transitions. With an additional Certification in Chronic Disorganization, she works with clients who are challenged by ADHD and other brain-based conditions. Dr. Lark is a current Board member of OPICA Adult Day Care Center. She earned her Ph.D. in history from the University of Southern California, writing a dissertation on interracial marriages between Japanese women and American GIs after World War 2. www.reginalark.com www.aclearpath.com

Who better to inspire current and future entrepreneurs to continue their journey than world traveler and inventor/founder of the Hydro Flask®? Join us this week as we learn how to stay the course and succeed with grace from this serial entrepreneur.   Capt. Rosbach has spent the last three decades enhancing his entrepreneurial skills. Throughout the years, Mr. Rosbach has been proud to invent and found Hydro Flask®, work as a business broker, fly as an Airline Pilot, is an active Professional Speaker, and start The Tumalo Group, providing sourcing, advising, and consulting. His clients include various industries, celebrities, individuals, and even countries. He not only shares his tradecraft with others but also practices it in the many startups in which he is currently involved. Besides Entrepreneurship, Mr. Rosbach's Experience Includes: - SCUBA Dive Master/Instructor (PADI 158190) - US Merchant Marine Boat Captain (50 Tons) - Commercial Airline Pilot (ATP) - Oregon Contractors License - Hawai'ian REALTORS License - Yoga Instructor (500 Hour Hatha and Kundalini (NOT 3HO) - Reiki Master - Member of The Explorers Club - Fellow at the Royal Geographical Society

Anyone looking for a career refresh? You won't want to miss this week's episode with career expert Leah Stallone.  Leah Stallone is an experienced Career Search Strategist and Coach with roots in Human Resource. 15+ years of talent management, professional development, and learning & development experience in industries such as consulting, finance, technology, and healthcare influences her hands-on approach. Professional certifications include ATD Facilitation, Purpose-driven Leader, SPHR and SHRM-SCP human resource certifications. Leah is the founder of The Career Edit LLC, a full-service career strategy firm partnering with those ready to write, or rewrite, their career stories. As a life-long career junkie, Leah uses an intuitive approach to build customized programs to educate clients on key job search strategies and skills, help clients demystify the complicated, and find their professional sparkle. As “The Career Editor,” Leah shares the power of storytelling to help clients communicate their meaningful career moments. Specialties: Career transitions, mid-level career climbers, job search marketing and branding, job search skills (networking, interviewing, offer negotiation), exploratory work to answer the question, “what’s next?” Contact information: www.thecareereditllc.com coach@thecareereditllc.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-stallone/

Embracing change, prioritizing healing, and overcoming fear are all themes in this week's episode with Crystal Whiteaker. Join us as Crystal and I explore values, authenticity, and the importance of having a sense of belonging. Crystal Whiteaker (pronouns: she/her/hers) is a Leadership Development and DEIB* Consultant specializing in inclusive coaching and consulting for brands and leaders that care deeply about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.  Crystal brings over 15 years of creative, relational, process driven experience across multiple industries.  She is a self-described "corporate trained, creative hippie” who puts a strong focus on core values to help people elevate their community connections to communicate and lead with clarity and confidence. Crystal is an advocate for leaders and organizations that provide resources and support for healing, particularly in relation to trauma and sexual assault survivors, and previously served on the Board of Survivor Lit. When she's not working, Crystal enjoys spending time at the beach, connecting with people, and exploring new places. Fun fact: Crystal LOVES animals and will stop to show them affection any chance she gets. She is that person who will always ask to pet your fur-baby. When you choose to work with Crystal Lily Creative, you’re helping to support organizations that provide resources for women and the LGBTQ+ community, as a portion of profits and services are donated annually. (*DEIB: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging)

The intersection of technology and education is truly the key to our brightest education future. Join me this week as Sandro Olivieri and I dissect the potentials and aspirations of the sector.  Sandro is the CEO and Co-Founder of Project FoundED - a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring equitable learning outcomes for all learners by removing the barriers to EdTech innovation and adoption. He comes to this work after 8 years working to support EdTech entrepreneurs in the earliest stages of development. He designed and ran the AT&T Aspire EdTech Accelerator, and worked with several other impact organizations to create impactful investment and awards programs. Sandro is the son of Chilean political refugees living in Mexico when he was born. He immigrated to the United States at 6 years old and was brought up through the public education system as an English Language Learner. He credits an early interest in technology as the main motivator for learning English and dedicated his studies to technology, receiving a BS in Computer Science and an MBA. His first job was in EdTech 20 years ago - developing online higher education courses, mostly for troops deployed in Iraq - and has developed an undying love for the Education sector and the potential technology has to improve its outcomes.

This week we take on a serious topic of trauma and healing. Note: This could be a trigger warning for anyone who has experienced sexual trauma.  Joyce Aubrey entered life on a small Kansas farm. Her education from a one-room school to University Degrees prepared her for careers of teaching, counseling, and retail store owner/manager. In mid-life, flashbacks to incest and family trafficking invaded her stable life. Three years later, Joyce found herself divorced, unemployed, and exiled from birth family. In Colorado Springs she sought healing through traditional and alternative modalities. She shares her journey from trauma to triumph in an award-winning memoir: Beyond Aftershocks. Process painting along with traditional and complementary healing modalities helped transform incest from a painful past to an empowered present as painted images revealed abuse that had been trapped in cellular memory. Joyce founded and for more than a decade has led the non-profit: Finding Our Voices that empowers survivors of sexual violence through art workshops and other activities. As a motivational speaker, Joyce uses her art to advocate for support of survivors and for prevention of sexual violence. For fun she plays piano, writes prose and poetry, facilitates process painting…and she actually enjoys cooking her own healthy meals. Contact her: www.findingourvoicescs.org info@findingourvoicescs.org

Peri Bolts founded Eclectic CO. in 2018 after a decade of feeling unfulfilled in corporate America. She saw a need for a collaborative retail concept that would support artisanal and creative small business, with a specific focus on women-owned businesses. Since then, the Eclectic brand has grown, with the help of now co-owner Ani Barrington, to two stores and an online store supporting over 100 artists local to the Front Range of Colorado. In 2021, Eclectic CO. was awarded the Social Impact Startup of the Year by the National Institute for Social Impact which is something that we are very proud of! Peri is passionate about small business, social and environmental justice, and helping every person she meets become the truest version of themselves. Ani Trejo Barrington started at Eclectic CO as a vendor with her vintage business, transitioned to a managerial position and found her fit with Peri Bolts and they joined forces in a partnership together. Coming from a background of ministry in large church settings, she found herself with an array of skills, but feeling burnt out from the grind, she started a new journey when she arrived in Colorado Springs in 2016. She stepped into motherhood in 2017 and has been able to strike a beautiful balance of being a working mother over the last 5 years. Her passion for small businesses and supporting artists paired perfectly with the larger vision of Eclectic CO and through this company, she's been able to watch her own small business thrive alongside friends and family. Her own joys are found in music, fashion and being outdoors in this beautiful state! Contact them: ani@shopeclecticco.com  peri@shopeclecticco.com

The light and laughter that is Dr. Cori Wong is undeniable. This week's episode inspires in a whole new way.  Dr. Cori Wong is a passionate speaker, writer, educator, and consultant with over 15 years of training and leadership experience related to intersectional feminism, antiracism, social justice, and inclusive culture change. Dr. Wong is committed to helping others develop necessary skills for creating more equitable and inclusive realities by clarifying how and why their leadership matters. With strengths in systems-thinking, vision, strategy, and facilitating difficult dialogues, she is a thought leader on how to connect everyday choices, behaviors, and practices to movements for systemic change. Her approach is rooted in feminist theory and liberatory praxis and fosters conditions for transformation by cultivating authentic relationships across differences. Values of love, creativity, and freedom inform the means and ends for her work, while support, truth-telling, care, humor, and playfulness are among the essential ingredients. Dr. Wong developed concepts such as feminist friendship, positive philosophy, and honest confidence, and began publicly sharing her reflections through her own YouTube channel and blog over a decade ago. You can learn more by listening to her podcast, Meta Level Love, or read her writing on her Buy Me a Coffee page. She also just launched a substack newsletter that blends insights around dating and creating inclusive workplaces called, Working Relationships. Over the years, her work has been featured in TEDx talks, journals, independent presses, podcasts and Oprah’s Spring 2021 Issue of O Quarterly Magazine. Prior to launching Positive Philosophy Consulting, Dr. Wong led diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at Colorado State University. She earned a dual-title PhD in Philosophy and Women’s Studies from the Pennsylvania State University and a BA in Philosophy and Religious Studies from Colorado State University.  More of Cori's work can be found across many platforms!  Cori's Website and Blog: coriwong.com  Working Relationships Newsletter: workingrelationships.substack.com  More Personal Writing on Buy Me a Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/coriwong  Meta Level Love Podcast: anchor.fm/coriwong  Cori's YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/coriwong  Positive Philosophy Consulting: coriwong.com/consulting

As is a subject matter expert and recognized thought leader in the area of workplace relationships Tony has devoted his adult life to understanding what makes people tick, how to bring out the best in people (including ourselves), and how to pass this information on in simple, yet practical terms. Whether addressing our hidden biases, helping navigate disruption and change or providing leaders with skills that make them indispensable, Tony provides practical solutions that aligns with people’s real world experiences. Tony has worked with hundreds of corporations and government agencies including the U.S. Secret Service, The Department of Homeland Security, Chase Bank, Estee Lauder, and N.A.S.A., to help people reach new heights of effectiveness by understanding themselves and others better. Tony was only the second African American to receive a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University’s prestigious Paper Science and Technology School. Upon completion of his degree, Tony worked for a number of years as a chemical engineer for a Fortune 500 company. It was during this phase of his life that he had a life changing interaction with an at-risk youth. This moment left such profound impression on him that he left both his corporate career (while nearing the completion of his first patent) and his graduate studies at the University of Chicago to work in the non-profit sector with the desire to make an impact on the communities around him. It was this work, which often included counseling groups and individuals that led Tony to begin studying human behavior with the intent or understanding what makes people tick, excel, and change. Tony Chatman delivers presentations that are an entertaining and impassioned balance of both science and practical insight. Tony breaks down tough topics such as unconscious bias, change management and leadership. He creates a new, stronger foundation for true leadership. Audiences leave focused and motivated to turn individual differences into business advantages. Currently, Tony serves as a board member for the Captain Phillips Lane Kirkland Maritime Trust. Tony recently completed his first book: The Force Multiplier: How to Lead Teams Where Everyone Wins and in 2018 he delivered his first TEDx talk – How to Stop Settling for Less Contact him: Tony Chatman, CSP Author of: The Force Multiplier: How to Lead Teams Where Everyone Wins Chatman Enterprises Inc. www.tonychatman.com 630-400-5365

Join me this week as I speak with a nonprofit and entrepreneurial trend setter.  Kristen Faith is a nonprofit thought leader and the Founder and Former CEO of Break The Silence Against Domestic Violence, one of the most successful domestic violence brands on the Internet. Kristen redefined the nonprofit industry after creating sustainable fundraising methods and marketing strategies to reach a vast donor network online before and during the pandemic. Kristen’s influence on domestic violence advocacy helped millions of men and women leave abusive relationships. She’s been featured on Yahoo!, HuffPost, Glamour, ESPN, Money, Bustle, and dozens of other media outlets as an expert in social justice advocacy. Contact her: hello@kristenfaith.com www.kristinfaith.com https://linktr.ee/iamKristenfaith

Whittney RoJo is a Money Healer from Boulder, CO. She is all about... Love, Money and Liberation. RoJo and her team focus on values alignment for a holistic experience to create generational wealth and collective liberation. After receiving a dual bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado in Spanish Literature and Psychology, RoJo had a career in education as an educator and administrator for 17 years. As a multi-cultural, woman owned and operated practice since 2017, RoJo has a unique perspective to co-create successful results and relationships that create health and wealth in our community. Holding space for leaders, warriors and healers who share a vision of an equitable world, and take action in our community is how RoJo honors those before us and those after us. Contact her on social media or at whittney.rojo@nm.com

This week we explore options for educators to use their skills inside and outside the classroom. Whether you are looking to permanently leave the classroom or just develop a "loving side-hustle", Deborah can help you find the right match for your unique talents.  Deborah Osorno Teacher Career Coach & Business Strategist Founder/CEO of The Purposeful Educator What she does: As a Teacher Career Coach, Deborah works to help K - 12th-grade teachers find clarity, maximize productivity and upgrade professionally to boost their careers inside and outside of the classroom. Deborah is the founder of The Purposeful Educator (TPE) which is a teacher coaching platform that provides a wide range of teacherspecific services and resources. TPE also focuses on helping teachers and edupreneurs develop wide ranges of progressive habits as well as build their professional profiles and businesses so they can remain versatile, relevant, and impactful. The Purposeful Educator: The Purposeful Educator (TPE), exists to provide teacher coaching services using quality and appropriate teacher preparation content, professional development resources, and personalized systems. Deborah leverages online technology and inperson services to avail teachers anywhere to benefit from the resources offered. Her goal is to enable teachers to become effective catalysts in knowledge dissemination and equip them to independently build successful professional careers within the classroom and beyond. Offers: Deborah's signature 1:1 coaching program, "The Purpose-Driven Academy" is now open for registration! Within this program, Deborah uses her detailed framework to help teachers build up solid structures that will guide their teaching career and equip them to be much more effective. Deborah is also launching the "The Purpose-Driven Edupreneur Membership." If you are an educator and you have been desiring to build up your own business/project, then this program is for you! Within this membership, you'll be guided through all the steps you need to structure, build, and launch a strong and rewarding venture. Contact her:  Instagram Handle: https://www.instagram.com/thepurposefuleducator/ Free Masterclass for teachers who want to become edupreneurs: https://bit.ly/3s7zp8I

Nathaniel Provencio has worked in the public education field for over 20 years as a classroom teacher, building administrator, and associate superintendent. During his tenure as a principal, he assisted his school in becoming a national model professional learning community and was the winner of the 2019 Richard DuFour Model PLC school of the year. Nathaniel has been honored as the 2017 Prince William County, Virginia principal of the year, the 2017 Washington Post Principal of the Year and the 2019 Virginia National Distinguished Principal of the Year. Nathaniel is the author of Community Connections and Your PLC at Work, which focuses on how schools can utilize the professional learning community framework to enhance family and community engagement. Nathaniel currently is a national educational leadership consultant and works with school leaders and teacher teams across the country implementing practices and frameworks that ensure all students and families are learning at high levels. Contact Nathaniel: Twitter @ProvenPrincipal Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathaniel-provencio-236b711a8/ www.provenprincipalllc.com Consulting through Solution Tree

Allison Dillard is a math professor at Irvine Valley College, where she teaches Statistics and remedial math. She is the host of the Allison Loves Math Podcast, where she interviews trailblazers in math education about how to set our students up for success in math, STEM, school, and life. And, she is the author of multiple Amazon bestselling books, including: Crush Hypothesis Testing, a best-selling statistics book that details her and Professor Jennifer Flenner’s 5-Step Method for teaching Hypothesis Testing Crush Math Now, a best-selling Amazon book packed with all the advice Allison has given students over the years on math mindset, study skills, and test-taking strategies. Love Math Journal: A growth mindset journal with prompts, affirmations and reflections to help 4th-8th grade students to build confidence in and love math. Allison has a Master’s in Mathematics from Claremont Graduate University, where she was the recipient of fellowships from the National Science Foundation, Boeing, and Los Alamos National Lab. She has a B.A. in English and a B.A. in Mathematics from Scripps College, where she received the Reed Institute’s award for “Excellence in Problem Analysis and Problem Solving in Decision Science.” When she is not teaching, writing, or podcasting, you’ll find Allison playing board games with her husband, coaching her kids’ soccer teams and dreaming up new ways to convince the world that math is awesome. Her love for math is legendary. Contact Info: Email: allison@allisonlovesmath.com Website: www.allisonlovesmath.com Phone: 626-824-7609 Freebie: You can get a free copy of Allison's open educational resource, Raise Your Math Grade, at www.allisonlovesmath.com/freebook. Social Media Links: Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Allison-Dillard/e/B07PV43V59 Twitter @AllisonLuvsMath Instagram @allisonlovesmath Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AllisonLovesMath LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisondillard/

Dr. Stacy Hawthorne is the Director of Online Programs for the Davidson Academy and an experienced educational strategist having implemented blended and online learning programs in public, parochial, and independent schools in California, Illinois, New Jersey, Texas, Nevada, Ohio Virginia, and Georgia. Several of the school districts with which she has worked are members of the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools and one district was profiled by the U.S. Department of Education’s Future Ready campaign. Stacy began her consulting career with Evergreen Education Group, authors of Keeping Pace with Digital Learning. Previously, As the technology coordinator for a public school district, Stacy authored and implemented an Ohio Board of Regents Blended Learning Grant which created a transformative rotational blended model. Stacy also has several years of gifted education teaching experience which led her to her role today. Contact her: stacy@hawthorneeducation.com

Jeremy is the Chief executive of PerformanceWorks International (PWI), a company that helps organisations, executive boards, leaders, and teams succeed in the digital climate amidst disruption, opportunity, and uncertainty. Jeremy combines business transformation expertise, leadership knowledge and commercial success as an international CEO and executive board officer in the UK and Asia, with his experience as a corporate and human capital professional of over 30 years. He has operated on an international basis to launch successful businesses and to turn underperformance into excellence. This has included a 7-year period as CEO for an international consultancy company based in Singapore, operating from India to the Pacific. Jeremy is proven at all stages of the business lifecycle, from start-up to internationalisation, raising profiles and profits throughout. Jeremy helps leaders and managers define strategies to implement digital and human transformations for the modern workplace, through consulting, modern training techniques and operational coaching. He and his team engage executive boards, senior leaders, and management, to develop fit for purpose plans that drive culture change at operational level, to embed the required skills for successful modernisation across the organisation. Jeremy has been recognised for the third consecutive year by his industry peers and customers, being named International GameChanger© of the year for 2019, 2020 and 2021 in the ACQ5 Global Awards for his work on #digitaltransformation #leadershiptransformation, #HR4.0 and #workforcetransformation. Jeremy is a regular keynote speaker, researcher, and author of over thirty industry white papers. He is also a regular media commentator and has received coverage in high profile publications including Forbes, CEO Today, Medium, The Times of London, Dialogue by DUKE CE, BusinessMatters, HRM, HR Online, and more. Jeremy holds a BA (hons.) from Sheffield University, UK; and a Master of Management in International Business (MMgt) from the Australian Institute of Business, Adelaide, Australia; and is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors in London, U.K. (FIoD) “Jeremy’s focus has always been to cascade global best practice at local level and vice-versa. He is the kind of driven manager that everyone values for his ability to commit to delivering results. At the same time, he is humble and keen to learn from others. I’d strongly refer to Jeremy anyone involved in digital and human transformation of their organisation, business and people.” Executive Board member, Multinational b2b organisation. See more and connect here: www.performanceworks.global | info@performanceworks.global  www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyblain/ | https://twitter.com/learntheplanet

Amanda is a Business Growth Accelerator and Fractional COO. She focuses on uncovering and resolving operational inefficiencies and people performance breakdowns, in order to help increase the speed of execution toward business goals. With a focus on strategy, people, and process her collaborations result in increased customer satisfaction, a fulfilling work environment, and rises in revenue. She helps organizations confidently progress toward their visions with best success and greatest ease, so they can experience business growth with excellence. Contact her: LinkedIn: Amanda HarNess www.kinetic-spark.com

Brenda Boyd currently serves as senior academic director, program services, for the international quality assurance non-profit organization Quality Matters. She leads the professional development team, oversees the quality assurance and K-12 departments, and is responsible for the regular updating of the higher education Quality Matters rubrics. Her background includes experience in both community college and university settings. Brenda has devoted her career to supporting faculty and institutions to move to quality digital teaching and learning. QM Resource Links: Upcoming QM Events (Virtual and In-Person) QM Professional Development QM Teaching Online Certificate Become a K-12 Reviewer QM Course and Program Reviews Free QM Resources: Free QM Webinars Accessibility and Usability Resource Site Bridge to Quality Online Course Design Guides for HE and K-12 QM Research Library

Karen Gross is an educator, author and artist. A former professor, college president and senior policy advisor to the US Dept. of Education, she currently teaches at Rutgers School of Social Work. She specializes in trauma and its impact on individuals and organizations with an emphasis on student success and crisis leadership. She writes a children's book series titled Lady Lucy's Quest that is trauma sensitive; to date, she has read to more than 3500 children across the globe. Karen Gross www.karengrosseducation.com karengrosscooper@gmail.com Twitter: @KarenGrossEdu

Nathan Gorsch is the founding principal of Village High School in Academy School District 20 in Colorado Springs.  He became principal of a completely online program and worked with a team to develop a blended/hybrid approach that saw the school grow from 25 students to over 400 students in 6 years. Nathan has a passion for school redesign and creating meaningful learning experiences for students. Prior to The Village, Nathan served as a teacher, coach, middle school assistant principal, high school assistant principal and has served on numerous district, state and national committees. Nathan holds Bachelor’s Degrees from Lincoln (Illinois) Christian University and Illinois State University.  He has a Masters of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from Colorado Christian University and completed his principal licensure program at the University of Denver.

Welcome to the InPursuit Podcast where we aim to Inspire, Inform & Entertain. In this first episode, Melanie and Rachel kick things off with a discussion about the intention and focus for this new initiative.  Our guests hail from the fields of education, nonprofit and small business. We amplify their inspiring stories of personal and societal impact, while also providing a platform for them to share their unique expertise and important lessons in leadership, strategy and operations. New episodes are released every Thursday, anywhere you listen to your podcasts. You can support us by hitting subscribe, providing a rating/review or sharing this podcast with a friend. Learn more about InPursuit... Website:  https://inpursuitresearch.org Instagram:  @inpursuitresearch Facebook:  InPursuit Research LinkedIn:  Follow the InPursuit page and connect with your host, Melanie Hicks, PhD   

We recorded this episode on Thanksgiving week, which had both Rachel and our guest, Brent Coley, in a mindset of gratitude. Tune in to hear how Brent is leading his school "back to better" after the pandemic and his perspective on why we remember our favorite teachers.  You won't want to miss this one!  Brent Coley began his career in education in 1996, teaching grades four and five for 15 years before transitioning into administration. He is currently in his ninth year as the principal of Alta Murrieta Elementary School in Murrieta, California. Passionate about educational technology, Brent is always looking for new ways tech can engage students and families while increasing student achievement. While in the classroom, he promoted 24/7 learning through his math review videos and iPod flash cards, and his students shared their learning with the world through their daily blog and classroom podcast. In his leadership role, Brent strives to support teachers as they pursue excellence by integrating technology and taking risks in their classrooms. A firm believer in the power of collaboration, Brent shares what he learns through Twitter (@brentcoley), his website at BrentColey.com, and at educational technology conferences. He is the author of the book Stories of EduInfluence and host of “Teaching Tales,” a podcast giving educators a platform to share their stories and experiences.

Take a trip around the world with Kristin Montgomery, as we explore education and the impact that international experiences bring to classroom teachers and their students. Kristin Montgomery is an international educator originally from Wisconsin.  She decided to get her teaching license after spending a year working as an English assistant in a bilingual school in Madrid.  License in hand, she jetted off to teach French and Spanish at a boarding school in Switzerland and later in Singapore.  Kristin came back to Wisconsin to teach Spanish Dual Language Immersion in public schools for six years and is currently on a year leave from that job to teach in Medellín, Colombia.  She is an advocate for language learning and language learners.  Kristin has visited all 50 states and over 50 countries and counting! Contact Kristin:  www.growingglobalcitizens.com Instagram: GrowingGlobalCitizens Facebook: Growing.Global.Citizens

Join our conversation with EdTech Expert Holly Owens as we talk all things technology and the learning experience.  Holly Owens is a Senior Instructional Designer with Academic Partnerships. She has over 15 years of experience in education in various roles, including high school educator, instructional technologist, and podcast host. Holly has taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in education, and instructional design. She has a B.A. in American Studies from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, two master's degrees, one in Instructional Technology, and another in Distance Learning from the University of Maryland, Global Campus. Holly is currently pursuing her doctorate in Education Administration and Leadership with Touro University Nevada and hopes to graduate in Spring 2022. She has a passion for online learning and the opportunities this modality brings to students around the world. Holly is also a small business owner & podcast host. Her business, Jolly Holly Ed Services, offers professional services for those that want to transition to a career in instructional design as well as providing higher education institutions with support in developing online courses and programs. Her podcast, EdUp EdTech is a go-to resource to stay updated with the latest and greatest Ed Tech tools that are disturbing (in a good way) education. Holly has interviewed CEOs, Founders, and EdTech innovators who are changing the landscape of education by making learning more accessible, fun, and engaging. She lives in Myrtle Beach, SC with her two furbabies, Kolton and Lola. Contact Holly:  LinkedIn Facebook Twitter: @ihollyo Instagram: @edup_edtech

Workforce development has continued to evolve to meet students where they are, wherever they are. Micaela shares how her team at Career Edge continuously refines their approach to ensure the students they serve are receiving the best possible guidance and coaching. Students are equipped with the essential skills, tools and practice they need to secure the careers of their dreams. #lifechanging  As Chief Business Officer of Career EDGE, LLC, Micaela brings a background in higher education, coaching, and career development to the workforce development industry. Micaela strongly believes that education is a gateway to empowerment, confidence, and most of all - choice! As a result, what excites her the most about her role is sharing Career Team’s 20 + years of Workforce Development experience with partner institutions and, ultimately, with graduates. Prior to CTL, she served as National Director of Sales for McGraw Hill Education. Micaela completed the Accomplishment Coaching leadership and coaches training program in 2013 and she is also a certified trainer in the Aha! Process, Bridges Out Of Poverty program. Micaela is a Cum Laude graduate from San Diego State University with a BA in International Business, and she lives in Denver CO. careerteam.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/492839 https://www.linkedin.com/in/micaelaalpers/

You won't want to miss this week's chat on EdTech and Human Connection with Dr. Sam Fecich, author of EduMagic.  Fueled by pumpkin spice lattes and a passion for raising up the next generation of teachers, Dr. Sam Fecich uses her EduMagic to train future  educators of excellence. Her goal is to help students become an excellent educator during college and beyond! She empower aspiring educators to take the lead in their learning through her books, podcast, speaking, and courses. Follow her at: Instagram & Twitter @SFecich Find her book EduMagic: A Guide for Preservice Teachers on Amazon 

We often use Professional Learning Communities to set collective goals, review data and support overall student growth and success. But what if we took PLC's a step further? Could we shift the way we approach student learning? In this episode, Rachel chats with Chad Dumas about his experience and expertise using PLC's to make significant changes.  Chad Dumas is a Solution Tree associate and international educational consultant, presenter, and award-winning researcher whose primary focus is collaborating to develop capacity for continuous improvement. With over two decades of successful leadership experience, Chad has led significant improvements for both students and staff.  He shares his research and knowledge in his new books, Let’s Put the C in PLC and An Action Guide to Put the C in PLC, and consulting that includes research, stories, hands-on tools, useful knowledge, and practical skills.  Contact Him: For more information, or to reach Chad, visit www.NextLearningSolutions.com

In this episode, Melanie and Rachel elicit Robert Andrew Wagner's perspective on education through his lens as a teacher and counselor for at-risk teens. He shares his views on providing students with self-directed experiences versus what a traditional classroom may look like.  Robert is a writer, teacher and performer, teaching through stories, telling stories through songs. As frontman and chief songwriter/lyricist for The Little Wretches, Wagner rode a wave of notoriety that led the band to the forefront of the underground music scene in Western Pennsylvania and current international success. Wagner is a survivor of cancer, holds a Master’s Degree in Instruction and Learning, and is an advocate for self-directed learning, democratic schooling, homeschooling and unschooling. Robert teaches and counsels at-risk teens in the Philadelphia-area. Contact him: www.littlewretches.com

In this episode, Dr. Katie Nall provides us with an insight into how she designed a career around helping people overcome their fears and trauma...and it all started with math.  Although Dr. Katie Nall's degrees are in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science and Mathematics Education, her passion is showing others how to dissolve their WAFFLES - worry, anxiety, fear, frustration, exhaustion and stress. She is a TEDx Speaker and has practiced Emotional Freedom Technique since 2010. She is also a Master Trainer and Advanced Certified Practitioner with training in trauma and Quantum Tapping.  Contact her at: www.NallEdgeCo.com hello@drnall.com IG: katienallphd FB: ktnall LinkedIn: Katie Nall PhD

In addition to her impressive nail polish collection and impeccable style, Nicole has a passion for public health and serving her community. In this episode, she describes the "always learning" mentality that has allowed her to step into spaces with an open mind and open heart, and she pays it forward by sharing her knowledge and expertise, as well as opening doors for others behind her.  Nicole Vick is a public health advocate, educator, civic leader, and fashion and beauty aficionado. For the last fifteen years, she has worked with stakeholders, community organizations, and residents to improve health and prevent disease in some of Los Angeles County’s most underserved communities. She is also a professor and loves to infuse her lived experience and work experience into her lectures. She is a proud resident of South Central Los Angeles! From the Board Room to her backyard, her love of community manifests in many ways. She has opened her home to the community by hosting pop-up shops to support local businesses owned by black women and create awareness of the benefits of shopping local. She also helps women embrace their bodies and find their sense of style without breaking the bank. Check out her books: Pushing Through: Finding the Light in Every Lesson (2020) Also, check out her workbook...coming soon!  Contact her: https://www.nicoledvick.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-d-vick/

In this week's episode, Brittany Hale shares how she applies her litigation background and unique experiences to make a positive impact on the students she serves as Board President of Rahway Board of Education. Brittany S. Hale is the founder and CEO of BND Consulting Group. After graduating from Boston University School of Law, Brittany worked as a Securities Litigation Analyst at Bloomberg LP and eventually began to develop legal marketing strategies for her clients. Her results-oriented approach led her into trial work representing a Fortune 500 company where she obtained a 100% trial success rate in superior and appellate courts. In 2016, Brittany used her skills as a former Obama Organizing Fellow to run for office and became one of the youngest black women to hold office in her state. She distilled her experience in litigation, politics, and marketing to develop BND Consulting Group, which helps companies codify, clarify, and elevate core values as an operational framework for decision making to establish a competitive advantage. She provides cultural assessments, equity, and board alignment strategies, and employee engagement workshops for enterprise, government, and startup clients alike. Brittany is the Vice-Chair of The Gem Project, a non-profit which provides leadership and educational workshops for students in economically depressed communities. She also serves as the youngest woman ever on the Rahway Redevelopment Agency, where she evaluates developers looking to launch development projects in the city. In August 2020, she developed the first municipal Social Justice Commission in New Jersey and currently serves as an Executive Director. She is a 2021 New Leaders Council Fellow, serves on the Rutgers University Dean’s Cabinet, and is one of the top 20 Millennials on InsiderNJ’s 2021 Top 100 Millennials List. Contact her:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittanyshale/ https://www.bndconsultinggroup.com/about-brittany-s-hale

It is not everyday that you engage with a person for the first time and realize you hold nearly identical shared values. It not only leads to great conversation but meaningful connection. Join me on that discovery in this week's episode with Michael Glazer.  Michael Glazer is a leadership coach, organizational development consultant and corporate trainer whose client work spans 15 countries across four continents. He speaks English and Japanese and has worked with leaders at companies including Johnson & Johnson, Bayer, Dyson, Mitsubishi and Hitachi. Michael has also guest lectured at Kyoto University and at the United States Air Force Academy. Michael’s coaching focuses on working with next-generation senior leaders in Japan and Asia-Pacific. He has led leadership and coaching skills workshops for thousands of Fortune 500 professionals in the healthcare, IT, manufacturing, luxury brand, automotive, financial services, CPG and trading industries. People First is his mantra. It guides how he collaborates with others to help them create their own paths to success and growth – and to inspire them to help others to grow and succeed. Michael has broad experiences as a commercial and global functional head at leading firms including Morgan Stanley, public relations firm Burson-Marsteller (now BCW) and Dell. Michael earned a BA from the University of North Carolina, an MA from the University of Colorado and an external coaching certificate from the Teachers College Columbia University (C3P). He is a Coach AcceleratorTM Enhanced Practitioner and was trained by the former global head of executive coaching at Google. Michael holds Saville Consulting and Lumina Practitioner accreditations, and he is a Ken Blanchard Companies certified trainer in SLII and Leading People Through Change. Michael is also an active member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan. Conversation References: NYT Article on Languishing by Adam Grant: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/19/well/mind/covid-mental-health-languishing.html Contact him at:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/learningpro/ https://www.peoplefocusconsulting.com/en/ https://glazercoaching.com/podcast/

In this week's episode we find out how being an equestrian has influence in more than just the saddle.  Dr. Amanda Lynne Smith has 20 years of experience in curriculum and instruction, education management, and online program development in elementary, secondary and postsecondary settings.  Her work with Academic Partnerships as Chief Academic Officer has given her the opportunity to apply nearly two decades of best practices, subject matter expertise and professional passion to AP's mission of expanding access to high quality, affordable, workforce relevant education. Contact her: amanda.smith@academicpartnerships.com

What would it take to truly disrupt and change the future of education? We discuss this and other thoughtful questions on this week's episode with Dr. Walter Balsar.  Walter is a leadership instructor at the University of South Florida and the University of Denver. His scholarship seeks to help organizational leaders adapt to a rapidly evolving information ecosystem, specifically applying open source mindsets and systems to learning-based organizations. He is the founder of the Open Partnership Education Network (learnopen.org), a community-based learning platform, and Radschools.org, a collaborative supporting K-12 schools and agencies. His ideas have been featured in academic journals, popular media, and a recent book chapter in Media, Technology and Education in a Post-Truth Society: From Fake News, Datafication and Mass Surveillance to the Death of Trust. Contact Walter: wbalser@mail.usf.edu https://www.linkedin.com/in/wbalser/

How can the elephant in the room can be a valuable learning tool? Find out more in my conversation with Jessica Katz.  Jessica Katz is a trainer, mentor and coach through Liberated Elephant. Jessica is passionate about working with individuals, teams, leaders, and organizations to help people discover and nurture their authentic selves. With this new knowledge, Jessica helps them uncover solutions that move them forward on their journey. Her methodology is informed by Agile values, principles, and practices - creating a safe space for clients to be wholly themselves without judgement. 5 years of experience in Agile coaching including: teaching and mentoring a team or individual towards embracing agile mindsets, coaching individuals and teams to emerge on their own solutions, providing conflict mediation, and encouraging increased emotional intelligence with the intent to provide greater personal engagement and team cohesion. 9 years of experience implementing Agile methodologies with a focus on Scrum and Kanban. Skilled at breaking down complex high-level management goals into discrete steps to be integrated into the continuous improvement process while maintaining alignment with existing and new corporate goals. Ability to manage creative talent under evolving management demands to help deliver a quality product. Capable of identifying likely risks and trade-off decisions, communicating both to relevant stakeholders and working with them to define how those will be addressed. Contact Jessica: Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeskatz/ www.liberatedelephant.com

Join Rachel and I as we gain insights and inspirations from Dr. Amelia Parnell on the current state of Higher Education and the value of inclusivity with our teams.  Amelia Parnell is vice president for research and policy at NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, where she and leads many of the Association’s scholarly and advocacy-focused activities. Amelia’s policy and practitioner experiences include prior roles in association management, legislative policy analysis, internal audit, and TRIO programs. Amelia writes and speaks frequently about topics related to student affairs, college affordability, student learning outcomes, leadership in higher education, and institutions’ use of data and analytics. She is the author of the forthcoming book, You Are a Data Person: Strategies for Using Analytics on Campus and host of the new podcast, Speaking of College. Amelia currently serves on the board of directors for EDUCAUSE and is an advisor to several other higher education organizations. She holds a Ph.D. in higher education from Florida State University and masters and bachelor’s degrees in business administration from Florida A & M University. Contact her on Linked in at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amelia-parnell-0913735b/

Dr. Otis Smallwood is the Superintendent of the Bertie County School District in North Carolina. Dr. Smallwood has personally experienced education from every angle. He began his career as a high school mathematics teacher in my former high school, taught a year of first grade (disastrous), drove a school bus, then taught on the middle school level. He later became District-wide lead teacher math/science and a Middle School Administrator. From there, Dr. Smallwood went on to serve at the district level in IT, Testing/Accountability then went on to serve as an Asst Superintendent in Human Resources/Auxiliary Services for 11 years in a district in southeast NC Dr. Smallwood is a servant leader who believes in democratic leadership practices and the power of positive relationships. Most importantly he believe educators practice heart work and not hard work! Contact him: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-otis-smallwood-b63809a3/

A deep dive into campus culture and the differences that generational intentions play in fundraising and our relationship to the college experience.  Greg Caprara is the Owner of Certantum Strategies, providing fractional work as a C-level executive at the intersection of technology, Medicine, and education. Greg uses his unique experience in higher ed, K-12 education, and technology entrepreneurship to help companies navigate the ecosystems of higher education accelerators and private enterprise. Certantum clients reside in the Fintech and Medtech spaces with a focus on building strategic and tactical plans for SaaS products to improve fundraising effectiveness and medical care efficiency. Greg also provides connectivity for seed stage and advanced round start up funding. Greg holds a Master of Strategic Leadership from the University Charleston. He frequently lectures and moderates discussions at Duquesne University, California University of Pennsylvania and West Virginia Universities Vantage Ventures program. Contact him at: Greg Caprara Certantum Strategies 724-987-8400 https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-caprara-mssl-8a53b354/

Join Brian and I as we dive into the way education can be affected by our social, emotional and mental health and felt in our physical bodies.  Brian Trzaskos PT LMT CSCS CMP MI-C is a somatic intelligence expert and co-creator of Sensation-Based Motivation coaching. He is a nationally recognized expert for his work in coaching, training, and mentoring leaders of health and wellness service organizations as well as human development professionals in holistic, somatic coaching practices and the science of trauma-informed motivation. Initially educated as a physical therapist at the State University of New York at Buffalo and the world-renowned Craig Hospital in Denver CO, Brian has experience in neurophysiology, somatic psychology, and energy medicine practices. Currently, Brian serves as both President of Motivation Beyond Measure and Director of the Institute for Rehabilitative Qigong & Tai Chi. Contact Brian on Linked in or at: https://motivationbeyondmeasure.com https://instituteforrehabilitativeqigongandtaichi.org

Join us for a hilarious walk into the power of laughter; for our students; for ourselves; for our souls.  Andrew Tarvin is the CEO of Humor That Works, a leadership development company that teaches professionals how to use humor to achieve better business results. He has partnered with top organizations–including IBM, the UN, and the FBI–to solve human challenges with humor solutions. A best-selling author, Andrew has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Inc, and FastCompany, and was named a ‘Visionary Under 40’ by the P&G Alumni Network. His TEDx talk on the skill of humor has been viewed more than nine million times, only half of which were his mother. He loves chocolate and tweeting puns.  Find him at www.humorthatworks.org  Or on Instagram @DrewTarvin

In our final episode of the season, President Pumariega from Miami Dade College enlightens us on her experience as the first woman and Latino in more than one career role. We also explore the meaning of "all access education". You don't want to miss this one.  Madeline Pumariega President, Miami Dade College Breaking through barriers and making history, Madeline Pumariega is the first female president to lead Miami Dade College (MDC), the institution she attended decades earlier as a student-athlete. Her passion for innovation in higher education was born out of her own experiences, first as student and then as a longtime administrator at MDC. President Pumariega prioritizes working with business partners to identify the skills needed in key industries and tailoring higher education programs to match those needs. Her transformative approach accelerates the ability of graduates to enter the workforce immediately upon the completion of their coursework. Prior to becoming MDC’s President, Pumariega was appointed the first female and Hispanic chancellor of the Florida College System (FCS). In that role, she designed and implemented strategies to keep college accessible and affordable for Floridians especially in high-demand job fields. During President Pumariega’s tenure, several of the FCS’s 28 colleges––which serve 800,000 students––rose in the rankings of US News & World Report as well as other national measures. Florida was also named number one in higher education by US News Report. In 2019, she became the executive vice president and provost of Tallahassee Community College, where her innovative approaches advanced the College’s three core divisions: academic affairs, student affairs and workforce development. President Pumariega helped lead the school during the unprecedented response to the COVID-19 pandemic and pivoted the college’s infrastructure to support virtual classroom instruction and student-teacher interaction. She also serves as Affiliate Professor of Leadership at the NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. She also previously served as president of Take Stock in Children, a statewide non-profit focused on breaking the cycle of poverty by helping students complete their high school education and advance into post-secondary education and careers. President Pumariega has a passion for ensuring that students have a path toward upward economic mobility through educational opportunities. President Pumariega's love for academics and service excellence began as a student at Miami Dade College. This led into her 20 years of service at the College in positions of ascending responsibility, culminating in her role as Wolfson Campus President. She views her new role as MDC’s president as the opportunity of a lifetime, because it presents her with the greatest ability to serve students who were just like her –– looking for a chance to realize their dreams and succeed in the community they love and call home, Miami.

"Its not about what you can do, its how you get things done." You won't want to miss this episode with the charismatic David Mantica of Soft Ed as we discuss the power of being a linchpin player and the need to learn to unlearn. Come be inspired!  David has 25 years of business-to-business services, consulting, coaching, and training industry experience in roles from operations, service delivery, marketing, product management and executive management. Just recently he successfully sold his business-to-business training firm having taken it from $1.2m to $13m in seven years all done organically. Currently David is the VP and General Manager for SoftEd US, a leading provider of transformational training services, working to support companies embrace agile methods for achieving business results. Along with his work at SoftEd, David provides business owner coaching services to several companies in the Raleigh-Durham area through DTM Services. He also provides pro bono career coaching services and presentations to individuals and organizations throughout the US. Contact him on Linked in at David Mantica or at www.softed.com

Join Dr. Gonzalez and I as we discuss education as liberation, the power of saying yes and the magic elixir of empathy mixed with high expectations. A truly inspiring look at modern higher education.  Dr. Beatriz González serves as the Wolfson Campus President for Miami Dade College (MDC). Previous to her work at MDC, she served as Chief Diversity Officer, Vice Provost, and Professor of Counseling at the University of La Verne in California. As Vice Provost, she led initiatives supporting teaching and learning, with responsibility for sponsored research & IRB, community-based learning, faculty development, student affairs, advisement & registration, interfaith dialogue, career services, and tutoring services. As Chief Diversity Officer, Dr. González led advocacy, education, and policy development for an inclusive, equitable and enriched campus experience. Dr. González taught in the University’s graduate education program, bi-national leadership courses, and was selected as inaugural faculty of the Terrence E. Deal Leadership Institute. Prior to La Verne, Dr. González served as the Vice President for Planning and Enrollment at St. Thomas University (STU) in Miami Gardens, FL. While at STU, she also served as an academic dean, a presidential chief of staff, and faculty member for graduate counseling programs. As Vice President, Dr. González was responsible for institutional research and strategic planning, enrollment, marketing and communications, student affairs, and athletics. Dr. González is an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow, an E. Kika De La Garza Fellow (USDA), and was the recipient of the 2017 Woman of Distinction Award for California’s 41st Assembly District for her efforts in promoting educational access and quality. Dr. González is a member of the National Advisory Council for the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE). Dr. González’s expertise has been sought by the Metropolitan Universities Journal as guest editor, by The Campaign for College Opportunity as technical report reviewer, by Ellucian as a leadership and strategy speaker, and by the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators (AHSIE) and the American Academic Leadership Institute as a presidential panelist. With published works related to cultural competence, diversity, equity, and leadership, Dr. González is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the State of Florida. She holds a Bachelor’s in English, a Master’s in Counseling, and a Ph.D. in Leadership and Education, with a concentration in Counseling. Prior to her work in higher education, Dr. González was a certified teacher and counselor, serving Miami Dade County Public Schools for a decade. Contact her at: bgonzo6@mdc.edu or www.mdc.edu Referenced McKinsey Report: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/public-and-social-sector/our-insights/covid-19-and-learning-loss-disparities-grow-and-students-need-help#

In this outstanding episode, Ama shares with us her unique upbringing and even more unique path to changing the lives of many through her work and children's book series.  Ama Karikari-Yawson earned a BA from Harvard University, an MBA from the Wharton School and a JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.  Her unique understanding of social issues, business and the law has enabled her to become a relevant voice on issues as varied as diversity, sexual violence, and personal empowerment.  She is a frequent contributor to publications such as The Huffington Post and The Atlantic.  In 2013, a painful experience with  bullying inspired  her to write her best-selling fable about difference, Sunne's Gift. Ms. Yawson became so personally invested in spreading the book's message of healing and harmony, that she quit her six-figure job as a securities lawyer to become a full-time, author, storyteller, speaker, and edutainer.  Her life-changing workshops and training sessions incorporate storytelling, drama, dance, history, cutting edge psychological research and legal analysis in order to truly propel participants towards healthier and more successful lives. Purchase Sunne's Gift, The Talk and Earthe's Gift as well as her future books on Amazon.  Contact her at 347-886-2026 or Ama@milestales.com

Join us as we explore a new option in higher education funding, the 2021 version of income share agreements. Opening doors for underserved populations around the country.  Darius Goldman created Meratas to help democratize access to continued education by providing a better ISA solution to schools and skills training programs. Prior to founding Meratas, Darius was a partner and head of the Distressed Debt & Claims Trading legal practice group, at the international law firm Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, where he provided legal guidance surrounding investments in special situations and unique asset classes such as Income Share Agreements. During his legal tenure, Darius was one of the earliest professionals to specialize in ISAs, helping clients identify risks and understand opportunities involving ISAs. As an early pioneer in ISAs, Darius recognized a need for better tools to efficiently manage ISA programs at scale. Meratas helps institutions launch thoughtful ISA programs designed to promote student accessibility and increase enrollment. Our ISA programs are structured to incentivize students, schools, employers and capital providers to work together to promote and finance only the best educational programs that lead to great careers. Outside of the office, you'll find Darius spending time with his three kids, splitting wood, and making the frequent Costco-run. Darius Goldman Founder, CEO Contact info: Darius@meratas.com www.meratas.com

Join us this week to hear the pandemic lessons from Lindenhurst School District. My guest Dr. Lisa Omeis shares her passion for literacy and kindness for all students.  Dr. Lisa Omeis is the Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Curriculum & Instruction at Lindenhurst UFSD. With more than twenty years with the District, she has served as Principal, Assistant Principal an da teacher in multiple disciplines.  She holds a Doctor of Education Degree from St. John’s University where she specialized in Leadership and Accountability and is the Author of the Children's Book, Henry Has No Manners.  Contact her via Linked in at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-omeis-a015b635/

Tune in as we deep dive into some of the most important but controversial challenges in today's Higher Education environment.  Mary Elizabeth “M. E.” Yancosek Gamble is the chair of the Performing Arts Department at Fairmont State University and an associate professor, School of Business. Immediately before she was chair of the Communications and Media Arts Department at Bethany College. She was named Bethany College’s 2018 nominee to the Faculty Merit Foundation's annual Professor of the Year, named "Educator of the Year" in 2015, by the West Virginia Public Relations Society of American (WVPRSA) and the Department won the coveted "Chapter of the Year" for 2012. In 2014, Bethany College won "Chapter of the Year" by Society for Collegiate Journalists. She is the 2013 winner of the President's Award for Excellence in Performance, "Faculty Member of the Year" from the Bethany College Service Learning Center. She was one of fourteen finalists in the 2013 T. A. Abbott Award for Faculty Excellence and was nominated by Bethany College to the U.S. Professor of the Year sponsored by CASE, and the Carnegie Foundation. In 2017, she was the Scripts Howard Fellow for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Arizona. Before teaching at Bethany she was the state director of the Small Business Division of the West Virginia Development Office. Before being named state director, she was the Small Business Developer for Loudoun County, Virginia. A native of Washington, Pennsylvania, she has a BA from California University of Pennsylvania, an MA from Marshall University (WV), both in communication studies, and post-graduate work in organizational communication from Bowling Green State University (OH).

Jonathan Shanin excelled in many careers before founding Benjamin Franklin Experience—naval architecture, online marketing, and scaling the work of charities solving dire problems in the world. His passion for finding meaning in his own life—and his insistence on excellence—is reflected in every element of Benjamin Franklin Experience. Along with this endeavor, Jonathan is the Co-Founder and CEO of Humanry, devoted to helping leaders and companies optimize performance in remote environments, and in the process, create happier, more collaborative teams. He is also a former member of the U.S. National Team in kayaking, Jonathan brings an unyielding determination and discipline to his work. The Benjamin Franklin Experience delivers social-emotional learning curriculum that increases students’ EQ (emotional intelligence quotient) while introducing them to aspirational careers.  90% of participants increased their EQ through the program (validated by third-party testing).  100% of participants were given hands-on experiences in careers they had never before considered. Participating companies and supporters: Mike Rowe Works Foundation, Best Buy, GE, Prisma Health Simulation Center, Carolina Power, Eldeco, Walmart and others.   Learn more at:  www.franklinexperience.org https://www.franklinexperience.org/exp/construction/The Next Generation of Construction Workers, Narrated by Mike Rowe  Contact Jonathan at: jonathan@franklinexperience.org

Join my conversation with Dr. Jerry Luftman, CEO and Founder of the Global Institute for IT Management, as we discuss how IT and non-IT leaders are coming together to utilize technology for greater return on investment and greater impact.  Dr. Jerry Luftman is the CEO and Founder of the Global Institute for IT Management and an international authority on IT business alignment and IT Trends. His experience combines the strengths of CIO/practitioner, consultant, and academic. His proficiency in business-IT alignment and global IT trends, 18 books, published research, consulting, mentoring, and teaching/speaking engagements exemplify Dr. Luftman’s expertise and leadership. After a distinguished 22 year career with IBM, he had an exemplary career for 20 years as Professor, Founder and Associate Dean of the Stevens Institute of Technology Information Systems Programs. Find out more at: www.globaliim.com

Social rabble rouser, turnaround strategist and fighter of the status quo in K-12 education, Amy Valentine, Executive Director of Future of Schools dives deep into the power of learning and of failure.  Connect with Amy at: avalentine@futureof.school www.futureof.school 

An award winning Assistant Principal and Educator, Amy and I explore fulfilling student's basic needs, connecting with the broader community and how equity begins with all of us. 

Dr. Bob Schwartz enlightens us with his journey from single dad to leading women's studies professor and ultimate champion of students. 

Dr. Maureen O'Neil discusses all things Early Education. Of particular note the pay differential between teachers and the research supporting early education's role in future societal success. 

Helping students and parents unlock the maze of the college experience. 

A delightful discussion on the value and challenges of the Community College system in America. We dive into topics as complex as Dr. Long's research on racial inequities and highlight big wins such as the Tallahassee Community College CARES program. Its a lively discussion you will not want to miss.