GSD Factor Podcast: Recent Episodes
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GSD Factor Podcast features conversations with leaders and experts in various fields and industries ranging from insurance and diversity in the workplace to technology and everything in between.
2025 has truly been a year for the books! Over the last four years, the GSD Factor Podcast has brought you 129 incredible conversations with GSDers from around the world, visionaries, entrepreneurs, and innovators across every industry who are doing the work and getting shit done.
We’ve shared laughter and tears. We’ve unpacked resilience, creativity, and leadership. And through every story, our guests have shown up with transparency and authenticity, reminding us that getting shit done isn’t just about achievement; it’s about growth, grace, and grit.
This year, we took Stepping Into Your Extraordinary to new heights and launched our mini-series, Get Shit Done in a Flash. Both series captured the essence of what the GSD Factor Life is all about, confidence, inquisitiveness, imagination, presence, resilience, and influence.
When I look back at 2025, I’m inspired by every guest who shared their journey. From founders and authors to educators and change-makers, each conversation reminded us that our extraordinary isn’t found in the easy moments, it’s found in how we powerfully choose to keep showing up.
So as we wrap up this season and this incredible year, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for being part of this journey, whether you’ve listened from day one or just found us this season.
Keep dreaming big.
Keep stepping into your extraordinary.
And as always, keep getting shit done.
Connect with Misha on LinkedIn
Azin van Alebeek is a co-founder and general partner at Emmeline Ventures, an early-stage fund investing in businesses that empower women to manage their health, build their wealth, and live in a cleaner, safer world. With over 30 years of experience as an executive and board-level advisor, she leverages her strategic planning and coaching skills to help entrepreneurs scale their businesses, achieve their goals, and create returns for investors.
Azin is passionate about empowering women to be financially sovereign and to make a positive impact in the world. She volunteers regularly to mentor other women on financial literacy, angel investing, and playing big. She draws on her out-of-the-box thinking, compassion, bravery, and candor to inspire and challenge others to reach their full potential.
Connect with Azin on LinkedIn
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
Azin van Alebeek is a co-founder and general partner at Emmeline Ventures, an early-stage fund investing in businesses that empower women to manage their health, build their wealth, and live in a cleaner, safer world. With over 30 years of experience as an executive and board-level advisor, she leverages her strategic planning and coaching skills to help entrepreneurs scale their businesses, achieve their goals, and create returns for investors.
Azin is passionate about empowering women to be financially sovereign and to make a positive impact in the world. She volunteers regularly to mentor other women on financial literacy, angel investing, and playing big. She draws on her out-of-the-box thinking, compassion, bravery, and candor to inspire and challenge others to reach their full potential.
Connect with Azin on LinkedIn
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
Joy Kolin, founder of Giving Joy, a nonprofit supporting women entrepreneurs worldwide through micro-grants and mentorship.
She is a multilingual international development leader with over two decades of experience managing projects across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. She’s worked with global organizations to strengthen institutions, develop leaders, and build cross-sector partnerships and is driven by a deep belief in women’s power to change communities and reshape futures.
website: https://givingjoygrants.org/
Instagram: @givingjoygrants
LinkedIn: Giving Joy
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
Joy Kolin, founder of Giving Joy, a nonprofit supporting women entrepreneurs worldwide through micro-grants and mentorship. She is a multilingual international development leader with over two decades of experience managing projects across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. She’s worked with global organizations to strengthen institutions, develop leaders, and build cross-sector partnerships and is driven by a deep belief in women’s power to change communities and reshape futures.
website: https://givingjoygrants.org/
Instagram: @givingjoygrants
LinkedIn: Giving Joy
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
Abigail “Abbie” Goddard is a 16-year-old entrepreneur, storyteller, and changemaker on a mission to make the world safer — one drink at a time. She’s the founder of Spikey, a discreet keychain that can detect common date-rape drugs in seconds. The idea was born from a deeply personal experience when her family member was drugged in college.
Since launching Spikey less than a year ago, Abbie has grown it from a 3D-printed prototype to a product now in the hands of students, bartenders, and safety advocates nationwide. She’s won over $40,000 in funding through national and international pitch competitions, generated more than $30,000 in sales, and partnered with universities, nonprofits, and soon—law enforcement. Her story has been featured by multiple news outlets, and her TikToks have reached hundreds of thousands of viewers.
Abbie is also the founder of Film For a Cause, a nonprofit producing promotional videos for other nonprofits, and she’s an accomplished public speaker, competitive pianist, and aspiring business major. She’s fascinated by the intersection of marketing, consumer psychology, and film, and dreams of using her ideas to build brands that create real social change.
Abbie believes you don’t have to wait until you’re “old enough” or “experienced enough” to make a difference. If you see something that needs fixing, you roll up your sleeves and GSD.
Spikey website: https://spikeyfirst.com/
Abigail LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailgoddard/
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
Kavya Sharman, PhD is a data scientist and founder of Phase Capital, with a unique edge at the intersection of biotech, data, and early-stage investing. She is passionate about equipping scientific founders with the strategic skills and capital to scale transformative technologies.
With over a decade in Nashville’s growing life sciences ecosystem, she has played a catalytic role in connecting founders, investors, and strategic partners through curated biotech summits and investor-based events.
Her background includes a PhD in data science with research in neuroscience, fractional analyst work, and strategic consulting for VC and PE firms. She has supported dozens of startups in refining their go-to-market strategies, raising capital, and preparing for investor diligence — often helping them secure an additional runway through her network alone.
Dr. Kavya Sharman LinkedIn
Frontiers 2026 by Phase Capital
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
Kavya Sharman, PhD is a data scientist and founder of Phase Capital, with a unique edge at the intersection of biotech, data, and early-stage investing. She is passionate about equipping scientific founders with the strategic skills and capital to scale transformative technologies.
Her background includes a PhD in data science with research in neuroscience, fractional analyst work, and strategic consulting for VC and PE firms. She has supported dozens of startups in refining their go-to-market strategies, raising capital, and preparing for investor diligence.
Dr. Kavya Sharman LinkedIn
Frontiers 2026 by Phase Capital
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
Lynn Reckamp is the Executive Director of Holiday Heroes, where she channels her passion into bringing joy and comfort to pediatric patients—work that truly lights her up. For Lynn, life is about spreading happiness, staying connected, and making the most of every moment.
The mission of Holiday Heroes is to provide joy and improved quality of life to pediatric patients through a combination of in-person and virtual programs in Chicagoland and Nashville. Holiday Heroes uses its experience, creativity, resources, and passion to inspire long-lasting joy and happy memories for pediatric patients and their families, thereby making a positive impact in their recoveries and their lives.
Reach out to lynn@holiday-heroes.org to learn how your team, organization, neighborhood can help with the packing parties or how you can get involved to support this mission of serving these tiny humans and their families.
Holiday Heroes
Lynn LinkedIn
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
Lynn Reckamp is the Executive Director of Holiday Heroes, where she channels her passion into bringing joy and comfort to pediatric patients.
The mission of Holiday Heroes is to provide joy and improved quality of life to pediatric patients through a combination of in-person and virtual programs in Chicagoland and Nashville.
Reach out to lynn@holiday-heroes.org to learn how you can get involved to support this mission of serving these tiny humans and their families.
Holiday Heroes
Lynn LinkedIn
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
Steve Ramona is a unique super-connector specializing in building impactful partnerships through personalized introductions. With a remarkable portfolio involving $5 billion in projects and over $125 million in partner deals, showcasing the incredible value he brings to every partnership.
In addition to his partnership work, Steve hosts the popular podcast, Doing Business with a Servant's Heart, which reaches an audience of over 50,000 people per episode and continues to grow! He also produces the TV show Together We Serve, boasting a remarkable monthly audience of 1.2 million viewers. Featuring inspiring CEOs, founders, presidents, and entrepreneurs with incredible stories, Steve uses his platforms to forge powerful collaborations and partnerships.
Steve on LinkedIn
Podcast Doing Business with a Servants Heart
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
My daughter and fellow author, R.C. Farrish is joining me on this special Get Stuff Done episode to talk about L.E.A.D. and what is means.
Tune in with your tiny humans and learn about listening, engaging, achieving, and demonstrating.
Also be sure to check out R.C.’s book and coloring book: https://a.co/d/95ZsvRr
Have you thought about your second act? Are you in your relentless era?
Ann Kimmel is a wife, mom, and Gram loving her second act in sports media. Ann is a writer and radio co-host for Penalty Box Radio and co-host of the Locked on Predators podcast covering the Nashville Predators hockey team. Over her reporting career she has written for Sports Illustrated and The Hockey News.
On today’s episode we touch on the tough season that the Nashville Predators have been experiencing and discuss how they have had to tap into their resilience and confidence. Only now are we starting to see the fruits of continuing to do the hard things and showing up with their recent comeback that was the greatest in franchise history. What’s ironic is the lessons they are learning are so applicable to entrepreneurs and the mindset that is needed.
Follow Ann on X: @AnnK_MamaOnIce
Locked on Predators Podcast
Penalty Box Radio
Let’s talk menopause.
Sally Mueller is the Co-Founder and CEO of Womaness, the brand changing the conversation around aging and menopause. Recognized as an industry leader, Sally is renowned for her business acumen in the fashion, beauty and lifestyle sectors.
Sally and her team are helping us navigate the changes in our bodies and they are keeping us unstoppable, helping us get shit done during this stage in our lives.
Sally Mueller LinkedIn
Womaness
Misha’s favorite Womaness product
Let’s talk about how women can and should embrace AI especially to stay ahead in this world.
Our guest today, Grace Francisco, is a seasoned tech executive with over 20 years of experience in software across enterprise, small business, fintech, consumer, and gaming. Grace is a sought out thought leader on APIs, AI, cybersecurity, developer trends and leadership.
Grace Francisco LinkedIn
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
Annika Lundström, a woman who wears many hats: youth olympian, entrepreneur, Nordic Women in Tech Awards Rising Star of the Year winner, TEDx speaker, successfully led a pre-seed round of half a million, and the list goes on. With her background in molecular biosciences, she is trailblazing how mental health can be measured and assessed through her MedTech startup company, Reminded, as Founder and CEO.
Links:
ReMinded Website
ReMinded LinkedIn
Annika LinkedIn
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
Susan Springsteen is an entrepreneur who has pitched on a world stage, has co-founded multiple companies that hold 60 patents worldwide that are based on revenue-generating inventions, is a mentor and influential leader within her revitalized community, and that’s just to name a few things.
Susan LinkedIn
Are you an influential leader who has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
“I believe that everyone has an innovative idea that can be fostered with the right support.”
Destanē Garrett uses her skills in biology, educational entrepreneurship, and innovation as a whole to assist everyone that has an innovative idea.
She has been doing scientific research for over a decade and has harnessed that experience to assist the thought processes of others to innovate on their technologies.
Destanē LinkedIn
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
Téa Phillips witnessed her grandmother struggle with arthritis and wasn’t satisfied with doing nothing. She wanted to do something, anything to help provide relief.
When she couldn’t find a product that would help she decided to invent it. Téa founded ATS Innovations and is the inventor of the MedTech product MetaFlex, a grip-strengthening compression glove that’s helping her grandmother and many more people.
Téa LinkedIn
ATS Innovations LinkedIn
Are you ready to start your GSD Factor journey but perhaps you’re unsure where to start? We recommend you start by taking our quick online survey to help you understand what GSD Factor persona you are.
Speaking with power while stepping into your extraordinary.
Celeste Leon is on a mission to help people increase their confidence, develop their communication skills and live an empowered life by using the power of their voice. She has worked with brands like Goya, Valley Bank, Inca Cola, Miss World Peru USA, NBC and more.
Connect with Celeste Leon:
www.celesteleon.co
www.linkedin.com/in/celesteleon
https://www.instagram.com/celesteleon.co/
https://www.instagram.com/nashbookandsipclub/
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
Joy Hoover, an unapologetic innovator powered by delusion, passion, and the deeply held belief that bold ideas can change the world as we get shit done. She is revolutionizing safety with her patented tech enabled lipstick.
Esōes Cosmetics (pronounced S-O-S) is beauty with a purpose. Their lipstick doesn’t just make you look amazing—it’s designed to keep you safe. With built-in drink test strips and a Bluetooth help button, this is the ultimate accessory for anyone who wants to feel confident and protected, wherever they are. It’s beauty that’s smart, bold, and ready for anything—just like you.
Joy LinkedIn
Esōes
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
Yesenia Sevilla, a TEDx speaker, has 20+ years of experience in leadership roles across varying global biotech and healthcare industries, consulting, and higher education.
She is now the CEO of CHALK Coaching, an EdTech startup that is the first ever teacher development platform driven by real, in-classroom data and is improving early-education outcomes.
Yesi LinkedIn
CHALK
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality
We are exploring mentorship with father/son team Eric Nordhoff and Kaden Nordhoff.
After 10 years in Christian music, both in the corporate world and running an International music distribution and licensing company, Eric Nordhoff began creating podcasts around his interests, expertise, and passions. These podcasts resulted in 7-figures of revenue. Several of these podcasts had enough listeners to create conferences and conventions that have impacted hundreds of thousands.
Now, Eric helps people create podcasts around their personal brand with simple marketing funnels that allow them to generate automated income streams and have a meaningful influence on others. Connect with Eric: ericnordhoff.com.
Kaden Nordhoff, former student-athlete at Trevecca Nazarene University. Graduated in the spring of 2024 with a BS degree in Entrepreneurship and a focus in Small Business Management. Connect with Kaden: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaden-nordhoff/
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
Today we are talking about how to step into your extraordinary through marketing and F.O.C.U.S. which stands for “Fix One Clearly Urgent Struggle.”
Michael "Buzz" Buzinski has built several small businesses (two multi-million dollar ventures), and marketed for over 1200 companies. Dubbed a “marketing visionary” by the American Marketing Association, Michael is on a mission to eradicate entrepreneurial poverty by simplifying marketing strategies for B2B businesses.
Michael Buzinski LinkedIn
Buzzworthy Marketing Show
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
Steve Ramona is a unique super-connector specializing in building impactful partnerships through personalized introductions. Steve has a remarkable portfolio involving $5 billion in projects and over $125 million in partner deals.
Steve hosts the popular podcast, Doing Business with a Servant's Heart, which reaches an audience of over 50,000 people per episode and continues to grow! He also produces the TV show Together We Serve, boasting a remarkable monthly audience of 1.2 million viewers.
Steve on LinkedIn
Podcast Doing Business with a Servants Heart
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
We are better together. Tony Lew, co-founder of InsurTech NY, the largest InsurTech community in North America, brings together traditional insurers, insurtechs, startups, investors, solution providers, and mentors to drive innovation within one unique ecosystem. InsurTech NY has run several accelerators since 2020 and graduated 200+ portfolio companies.
InsurTech NY
Tony Lew on LinkedIn
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
Erynn Petersen is moving fast, fixing things, and getting shit done! Throughout her career she has worn multiple hats as a successful serial technology entrepreneur and an angel investor.
Erynn is a seasoned technology executive with over two decades of experience leading teams at top companies. She currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer at Emme, a healthcare technology company, where she and her team are making healthcare access transparent and affordable.
Her extensive background showcases a commitment to leveraging technology to drive impactful change across various industries and building value for the common good.
Erynn Linked
Emme
Erynn’s Full Episode
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
Do you network? Today we learn that networking takes practice. Rachel Rozen is known for turning “icky” networking into “sticky,” lasting relationships; she helps individuals and teams grow their “net worth” network.
Rachel Rozen, a former Chief Customer Officer, transformed her career by connecting with 300 individuals in a year, leading to the founding of Connection Catalyst. Through group coaching, she teaches professionals to overcome networking challenges and build meaningful connections. Connection Catalyst also empowers teams with communication and relationship-building skills, fostering collaboration and workplace satisfaction.
Rachel Rozen on LinkedIn
Connection Catalyst Website
Free Networking Webinar
Rachel’s Full Episode
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
Johari Matthews embodies what it means to #beinfluential as an ambassador for transformation within Nashville and surrounding communities.
She is getting shit done in an intentional way with her lens and perspective of community and bringing them along in their transformational journey.
Vice President and Executive Director of ONE Community and the Tennessee Titans Foundation - The ONE Community initiative aims to promote generational change through strategic partnerships and outcome-based programs in the areas of opportunity, neighborhoods, and education.
Johari LinkedIn
Tennessee Titans ONE Community
Johari’s Full Episode
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
Welcome to our new GSD Factor mini series, Get Shit Done in a Flash, where our conversations are no longer than 7 minutes long.
Brian Lofrumento believes that innovation, learning, community, and opportunities happen by getting shit done through entrepreneurship.
He’s the host of one of the top business podcasts in the world – the Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Podcast, with over 1,000 episodes and counting.
He has recently founded Through Entrepreneurship, a nonprofit that makes entrepreneurship more accessible for everyone so that more solutions, more innovation, more growth, and more opportunities can happen for individuals, communities, and society through entrepreneurship.
Brian’s LinkedIn
Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Show
Brian’s Full Episode
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
Welcome to our new GSD Factor mini series, Get Shit Done in a Flash, where our conversations are no longer than 7 minutes long.
Sokhiba Mukhitdinova is a trailblazer, an advocate, mentoring and investing in female minority founders and investors around the world and helping them get shit done.
Sokhiba brings a wealth of experience in venture capital, having invested in mission-driven InsurTech and Climate-Tech startups globally.
Sokhiba LinkedIn
Sokhiba’s Full Episode
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
Let’s talk menopause.
Sally Mueller is the Co-Founder and CEO of Womaness, the brand changing the conversation around aging and menopause. Recognized as an industry leader, Sally is renowned for her business acumen in the fashion, beauty and lifestyle sectors.
Sally and her team are helping us navigate the changes in our bodies and they are keeping us unstoppable, helping us get shit done during this stage in our lives.
Sally Mueller LinkedIn
Womaness
Misha’s favorite Womaness product
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
Let’s talk about how women can and should embrace AI especially to stay ahead in this world.
Our guest today, Grace Francisco, is a seasoned tech executive with over 20 years of experience in software across enterprise, small business, fintech, consumer, and gaming. Grace is a sought out thought leader on APIs, AI, cybersecurity, developer trends and leadership.
We will discuss practical applications in both your personal and professional life. We cover key questions around the importance of prompts, security, and privacy.
As children we are inquisitive and willing to try new things. If there is only one thing you walk away from this AI conversation is that it’s important to take that childlike approach to AI, be curious, just start playing and trying it, there is no wrong answer. The worst decision would be to not try it at all.
Grace Francisco LinkedIn
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
Today we are talking about how to step into your extraordinary through marketing and F.O.C.U.S. which stands for “Fix One Clearly Urgent Struggle.”
US Air Force veteran Michael "Buzz" Buzinski is a serial entrepreneur, B2B marketing thought leader, international speaker, best-selling author and host of the top 50 marketing podcast in the US, the Buzzworthy Marketing Podcast.
Buzz has built several small businesses (two multi-million dollar ventures), and marketed for over 1200 companies. Dubbed a “marketing visionary” by the American Marketing Association, Michael is on a mission to eradicate entrepreneurial poverty by simplifying marketing strategies for B2B businesses.
Michael Buzinski LinkedIn
Buzzworthy Marketing Show
Are you an influential leader that has a dream to write a book and put your words out into the world? Reach out to us today at info@gsdfactor.com so we can help make your book dream a reality.
Susan Springsteen is #gettingstuffdone as an entrepreneur who has pitched on a world stage, has co-founded multiple companies that hold 60 patents worldwide that are based on revenue-generating inventions, is a mentor and influential leader within her revitalized community, and that’s just to name a few things.
Susan has an incredible resume:
- 25 years in wealth management and corporate finance before becoming an entrepreneur
- Co-founder and CEO of H2O Connected, LLC, a company whose multi-patented LeakAlertor® product line helps nearly everyone with a toilet to save water and save money.
- Co-founder of nth Solutions LLC, a vertically integrated product development, business incubation, and manufacturing company that advances innovation from concept to commercialization with “Made in America” products that save lives, save money, and preserve natural resources.
- Her companies have 60 worldwide revenue generating invention patents
- Won the TechOvation Award at the Hospitality Show and the People’s Choice Award at HITEC
- Won the TiE Women’s pitch competition for the Philadelphia Region
- Was one of 44 finalists from 14 nations to compete in the TiE Women Global Final in Bangalore, India.
- Susan and her companies are well known for their multi-year paid high school engineering and marketing internships that are offered across 9 high schools in Coatsville, PA for the last 10 years.
- Leads the Qualified Opportunity Zone (QOZ) initiatives and is part of a team that renovated and expanded a vacant historic Lukens Steel office building – the first QOZ real estate project in Chester County, PA.
- This building is now designated as a Keystone Innovative Zone and is home to the nth Innovation Center, serving the entrepreneur community.
- Susan and her companies are influential leaders in Coatesville’s revitalization project.
Susan LinkedIn
Are you ready to start your GSD Factor journey but perhaps you’re unsure where to start? We recommend you start by taking our quick online survey to help you understand what GSD Factor persona you are.
Let’s talk about how we #getshitdone in the midst of a pivot with our guest Yesenia Sevilla.
Yesi is a TEDx speaker, has 20+ years of experience in leadership roles across varying global biotech and healthcare industries, consulting, and higher education.
Her diverse industry background, global business acumen, dedication to inclusive innovation and multilingual skills make her an invaluable resource in innovating, collaborating, building, and leading.
She is now the CEO of CHALK Coaching, an EdTech startup that is the first ever teacher development platform driven by real, in-classroom data and is improving early-education outcomes.
Yesi LinkedIn
CHALK
Are you ready to start your GSD Factor journey but perhaps you’re unsure where to start? We recommend you start by taking our quick online survey to help you understand what GSD Factor persona you are.
“Entrepreneurship changed my life.”
Brian Lofrumento believes that innovation, learning, community, and opportunities happen by getting shit done through entrepreneurship.
He’s the host of one of the top business podcasts in the world – the Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Podcast, with over 1,000 episodes and counting.
Brian is a lifelong entrepreneur, having started his first business at the age of 19. Since then, he's launched, grown, sold, closed, advised, and invested in businesses across industries and with all different business models.
He has recently founded Through Entrepreneurship, a nonprofit that makes entrepreneurship more accessible for everyone so that more solutions, more innovation, more growth, and more opportunities can happen for individuals, communities, and society through entrepreneurship.
Brian’s LinkedIn
Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Show
Are you ready to start your GSD Factor journey but perhaps you’re unsure where to start? We recommend you start by taking our quick online survey to help you understand what GSD Factor persona you are.
Sokhiba Mukhitdinova is a trailblazer, an advocate, mentoring and investing in female minority founders and investors around the world and helping them get shit done.
She is a VC Principal at InsurTech NY and Angel investor in the UK.
Sokhiba brings a wealth of experience in venture capital, having invested in mission-driven InsurTech and Climate-Tech startups globally. She is VC Principal at InsurTech NY, where she focuses on capturing climate opportunities within the insurance industry.
Sokhiba is passionate about supporting innovative insurance startups, technology related to predicting and addressing climate-related risks (such as wildfires) and advancing ESG-focused financial solutions.
Beyond her work in VC, Sokhiba is an active Mentor and Business Angel, investing in FinTech and Climate-Tech startups across the UK, Spain, and Portugal. She is a member of several Angel syndicates and the UK Business Angel Association. Being from a diverse background herself, she is a long-time mentor and advocate supporting female founders and underrepresented founders in areas such as fundraising and strategy.
With an MBA in M&A and Private Equity and an Executive Certificate in Venture Finance from Oxford University, Sokhiba combines deep financial expertise with a passion for empowering diverse founders.
Sokhiba's impressive background includes over 14 years in investment banking, covering M&A and corporate finance across the EMEA and CIS/CEE regions, specializing in energy and renewables. She is a sought-after speaker and panel moderator, known for her insights into startup fundraising, ESG impact, and the evolving fintech landscape.
Sokhiba LinkedIn
Are you ready to start your GSD Factor journey but perhaps you’re unsure where to start? We recommend you start by taking our quick online survey to help you understand what GSD Factor persona you are.
Johari Matthews embodies what it means to #beinfluential as an ambassador for transformation within Nashville and surrounding communities.
She is getting shit done in an intentional way with her lens and perspective of community and bringing them along in their transformational journey.
Johari’s expertise in enhancing private and public partnerships has been a cornerstone of her career. She has successfully brought together diverse stakeholders to drive impactful community initiatives, including forging collaborations between corporate sponsors, nonprofit organizations, and government entities to create sustainable and inclusive programs. Her ability to align the interests of private and public sectors has resulted in meaningful projects that deliver long-term benefits to the community including:
Vice President and Executive Director of ONE Community and the Tennessee Titans Foundation - The ONE Community initiative aims to serve Middle Tennessee’s most underserved and historically marginalized communities, addressing societal barriers and promoting generational change through strategic partnerships and outcome-based programs in the areas of opportunity, neighborhoods, and education.
Additional accolades:
- Nashville’s Top 40 Under 40
- A 2024 ‘Ten People to Watch’
- Women’s Empowerment Innovator award
Johari LinkedIn
Are you ready to start your GSD Factor journey but perhaps you’re unsure where to start? We recommend you start by taking our quick online survey to help you understand what GSD Factor persona you are.
We are better together. Tony Lew, co-founder of InsurTech NY, the largest InsurTech community in North America, brings together traditional insurers, insurtechs, startups, investors, solution providers, and mentors to drive innovation within one unique ecosystem. InsurTech NY has run several accelerators since 2020 and graduated 200+ portfolio companies.
InsurTech is an industry typically known for being behind or antiquated but is being infused with an energy and intentionality to bring about change that allows anyone to plug and play.
Tony is also managing partner of InsurTech Fund, a seed-stage VC fund focused on InsurTech and InsurTech adjacencies with a portfolio of 16 companies as of Feb 2025.
Spring Conference April 2-3, New York
InsurTech NY
Tony Lew on LinkedIn
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Joy Hoover, an unapologetic innovator powered by delusion, passion, and the deeply held belief that bold ideas can change the world as we get shit done.
- 13+ years of Entrepreneurship
- $7.5M+ raised
- 3X Founder in Women's Safety Space
- Accomplished TEDx Public Speaker
- 2024 Top Tech of the Year Award
- 2022 WODA Entrepreneur of the Year
She is revolutionizing safety with her patented tech enabled lipstick.
Esōes Cosmetics (pronounced S-O-S) is beauty with a purpose. Their lipstick doesn’t just make you look amazing—it’s designed to keep you safe. With built-in drink test strips and a Bluetooth help button, this is the ultimate accessory for anyone who wants to feel confident and protected, wherever they are. It’s beauty that’s smart, bold, and ready for anything—just like you.
Joy LinkedIn
Esōes
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“Move fast and fix things.”
Erynn Petersen is moving fast, fixing things, and getting shit done! Throughout her career she has worn multiple hats as a successful serial technology entrepreneur and an angel investor.
Erynn is a seasoned technology executive with over two decades of experience leading teams at top companies. She currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer at Emme, a healthcare technology company, where she and her team are making healthcare access transparent and affordable. She has also held the position of Chief Technology Officer at SimpleHealth, the USAF, and Drizly, in addition to her work at Microsoft, Amazon, AOL, and Time, Inc.
Her extensive background showcases a commitment to leveraging technology to drive impactful change across various industries and building value for the common good.
Erynn Linked
Emme
Are you ready to start your GSD Factor journey but perhaps you’re unsure where to start? We recommend you start by taking our quick online survey to help you understand what GSD Factor persona you are.
Special Get STUFF Done episode:
“I believe that everyone has an innovative idea that can be fostered with the right support.”
Destanē Garrett uses her skills in biology, educational entrepreneurship, and innovation as a whole to assist everyone that has an innovative idea through her role at Vanderbilt University's entrepreneur and innovation center the Wond’ry where she is the Program Coordinator for Biomedical Innovation.
She has been doing scientific research for over a decade and has harnessed that experience to now assist the thought processes of others to innovate on their technologies.
Connect with Destanē Garrett on LinkedIn
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Speaking with power while stepping into your extraordinary. The energy of that sentence excites us to share this powerhouse of an episode with you today with our guest Celeste Leon.
Celeste Leon is a dynamic public speaking coach, a professional emcee and a bilingual speaker. She is the TV Host for Telemundo Tennessee for the program, Aceso Total, and the founder of the Nashville Book and Sip Club.
Celeste is on a mission to help people increase their confidence, develop their communication skills and live an empowered life by using the power of their voice. She has worked with brands like Goya, Valley Bank, Inca Cola, Miss World Peru USA, NBC and more.
Connect with Celeste Leon:
www.celesteleon.co
www.linkedin.com/in/celesteleon
https://www.instagram.com/celesteleon.co/
https://www.instagram.com/nashbookandsipclub/
Are you ready to start your GSD Factor journey but perhaps you’re unsure where to start? We recommend you start by taking our quick online survey to help you understand what GSD Factor persona you are.
Special Get STUFF Done episode:
Do you network? Today we learn that networking takes practice. Rachel Rozen is known for turning “icky” networking into “sticky,” lasting relationships, she helps individuals and teams grow their “net worth” network.
Just like athletes train and singers rehearse, networking takes role play and repetition. In order for a networking event to be effective you must formulate a plan and execute with intentionality. Rachel has created a formula that teaches you how to do just that. Tune in to hear some of her fantastic guidelines to help anyone improve and elevate their networking game.
Rachel Rozen, a former Chief Customer Officer, transformed her career by connecting with 300 individuals in a year, leading to the founding of Connection Catalyst. Through group coaching, she teaches professionals to overcome networking challenges and build meaningful connections. Connection Catalyst also empowers teams with communication and relationship-building skills, fostering collaboration and workplace satisfaction.
Connect with Rachel Rozen on LinkedIn
Connection Catalyst Website
Free Networking Webinar
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Téa Phillips witnessed her grandmother struggle with arthritis and wasn’t satisfied with doing nothing. She wanted to do something, anything to help provide relief.
When she couldn’t find a product that would help she decided to invent it. Téa founded ATS Innovations and is the inventor of the MedTech product MetaFlex, a grip-strengthening compression glove that’s helping her grandmother and many more people.
Téa LinkedIn
ATS Innovations LinkedIn
MetaFlex Website
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Have you thought about your second act? Are you in your relentless era?
Ann Kimmel is a wife, mom, and Gram loving her second act in sports media. Ann is a writer and radio co-host for Penalty Box Radio and co-host of the Locked on Predators podcast covering the Nashville Predators hockey team. Over her reporting career she has written for Sports Illustrated and The Hockey News.
On today’s episode we touch on the tough season that the Nashville Predators have been experiencing and discuss how they have had to tap into their resilience and confidence. Only now are we starting to see the fruits of continuing to do the hard things and showing up with their recent comeback that was the greatest in franchise history. What’s ironic is the lessons they are learning are so applicable to entrepreneurs and the mindset that is needed.
Follow Ann on X: @AnnK_MamaOnIce
Locked on Predators Podcast
Penalty Box Radio
Annika Lundström, a woman who wears many hats: youth Olympian, entrepreneur, Nordic Women in Tech Awards Rising Star of the Year winner, TEDx speaker, she successfully led a pre-seed round of half a million, and the list goes on.
Also with her background in molecular biosciences, she is trailblazing how mental health can be measured and assessed through her MedTech startup company Reminded as Founder and CEO.
Annika drives ReMinded forward with her resilient mindset and willingness to navigate the complex field of healthcare innovations through a ‘doing what is required’ approach. Her dedication to improving behavioral healthcare stems from her personal experiences while enrolled in high-performance sports, alongside a passion for making a powerful contribution to a cause that is close to her heart. Here are some of the remarkable highlights in 2024:
- Successfully completed Pre-Seed round of approximately $500,000.
- Rapid saliva-based cortisol sensor development is ready for integration in clinical settings.
- Secured a partnership with a well-known hospital to conduct a clinical trial in Q2 2025.
- On track with regulatory requirements and expected FDA approval by Summer/Fall 2025.
- 2nd place at the Wearable Technologies Innovation World Cup Finals.
- Annika won the ‘Rising Star of the Year’ award at the Nordic Women in Tech Awards 2024.
- Annika Gave a TED Talk on her athlete/scientist MedTech founder journey.
Links:
Reminded Website
ReMinded LinkedIn
Annika LinkedIn
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Season 4 of the GSD Factor podcast is here and we’re exploring what it means to step into your extraordinary as entrepreneurs, individuals, and organizations.
Our first episode explores mentorship with father/son team Eric Nordhoff and Kaden Nordhoff.
After 10 years in Christian music, both in the corporate world and running an International music distribution and licensing company, Eric Nordhoff began creating podcasts around his interests, expertise, and passions. These podcasts resulted in 7-figures of revenue. Several of these podcasts had enough listeners to create conferences and conventions that have impacted hundreds of thousands.
Now, Eric helps people create podcasts around their personal brand with simple marketing funnels that allow them to generate automated income streams and have a meaningful influence on others. Connect with Eric: ericnordhoff.com.
Kaden Nordhoff, former student-athlete at Trevecca Nazarene University. Graduated in the spring of 2024 with a BS degree in Entrepreneurship and a focus in Small Business Management. Passionate and caring friend, brother, son, and associate. Connect with Kaden: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaden-nordhoff/
Are you ready to start your GSD Factor journey but perhaps you’re unsure where to start? We recommend you start by taking our quick online survey to help you understand what GSD Factor persona you are:
https://gsdfactor.com/product-category/gsd-factor-adults/#survey
Season 3 brought us 37 incredible episodes that showed up as their true authentic selves, sharing their stories and their lessons of what to do and what not to do.
Here is part 2 of 2 of our best of season 3 where we take you back to our favorite moments from each episode.
Find an episode that you want to hear the entire podcast, the show notes have links to each one.
Thank you to all our guests for powerfully choosing to join us this season on the GSD Factor podcast:
Rachel Joy Baribeau
Catherine Traffis
Powerhouse Panel: Renee Bruns, Brooke Eby, Stacie King
Sydney Dozier
Emma Miele
Christy Smallwood
Angela Billings
Bailey Hancock
Britt Tucker
Rosa Castaño
Danny Pippin
Chelsie Tamms
Dr. Alessandria Polizzi
R.C. Farrish
Chris Rollins
Stacey Saunders
Tissa Richards
Raya Whitlock
Steve Lomas
Visit us at GSD Factor https://gsdfactor.com/
Purchase the GSD Factor Life book series: https://linktr.ee/GSDFactorLifeBooks
Season 3 brought us 37 incredible episodes and guests that showed up as their true authentic selves, sharing their stories and their lessons of what to do and what not to do. Thank you to all our guests for powerfully choosing to join us this season on the GSD Factor podcast.
Here is part 1 of 2 of our best of season 3 where we take you back to our favorite moments from each episode.
Find an episode that you want to hear the entire podcast, click below:
Alexander Ostojic
Kristie Crenshaw
Jody LaVoie
Kaylyn Harris
Anthony Beckett
Renee Bruns
Nora DiNuzzo
Yesenia Sevilla
Layne Cagle
Brooke Eby
Tracy Borreson
Ashley Brooke James
Kellie Geisel
Meredith Patrick
Michael Davis
Qualia Hendrickson
Nick Woodard
Deanna Meador
Visit us at GSD Factor https://gsdfactor.com/
Purchase the GSD Factor Life book series: https://linktr.ee/GSDFactorLifeBooks
If each of us has a superpower, Steve Lomas' is pulling together the best possible team to bring an idea to life. That process of turning a promising concept into something exciting and valuable – making it real – is still magical to him.
Accomplished entrepreneur and CEO, Steve Lomas leads two Nashville-based firms: MojoMediaPros, a digital marketing agency, and The Roster Agency, a creative talent staffing company.
Benefiting from his background as a Fortune500 innovator, serial startup founder, and former EdTech executive, Lomas excels at harnessing emerging technologies for the creative development, promotion, and marketing of products and services.
His extensive experience includes collaborations with Dreamworks, Philips, Xerox, Panasonic, EA Games, ACT, Discovery Channel, ABC, NBC, WorldBook, College Board, Sesame Learning, and the Southern Poverty Law Center. A life long advocate for the freelance economy, Lomas has employed hundreds of freelancers throughout his career.
Drawing on his experience in the Los Angeles film and television industry, Lomas contributed to talent acquisition at lynda.com (now LinkedIn Learning), where he successfully recruited top authors to the platform. He now leverages these skills to cultivate a robust freelance network for The Roster.
Connect with Steve Lomas on LinkedIn
The Roster
Visit us at GSD Factor https://gsdfactor.com/
Purchase the GSD Factor Life book series: https://linktr.ee/GSDFactorLifeBooks
Meet 18-year-old-young entrepreneur, Raya Whitlock as she shares her passion for organization and design and how that became the driving force of her launching her successful business, Written By Raya while still in high school.
Also this episode was edited and produced by a Juniors in high school as part of mentorship program through Williamson County Schools Entrepreneur and Innovation Center.
Written by Raya
Follow Written by Raya on Instagram
Visit us at GSD Factor https://gsdfactor.com/
Purchase the GSD Factor Life book series: https://linktr.ee/GSDFactorLifeBooks
Tissa Richards unlocks the power of “So what?” to help streamline how you work, achieve organizational alignment, and set and exceed your goals.
As a serial Silicon Valley tech startup founder, Tissa raised millions of dollars in funding, secured multiple patents for complex cybersecurity products, and won awards for innovation from both HPE and Dell.
Today, she operates as a sought-after keynote speaker, trusted executive advisor, and corporate facilitator to Fortune 1000 and growth-stage organizations—helping them connect strategy to execution, so they can unlock the key to consistent growth.
Connect with Tissa Richards on LinkedIn
Tissa Richards Website
Visit us at GSD Factor https://gsdfactor.com/
Purchase the GSD Factor Life book series: https://linktr.ee/GSDFactorLifeBooks
"You deserve to make money doing what lights you up without feeling tied 24/7 to your biz. But that’ll only happen if you stop being “busy” and start being productive."
Stacey Saunders helps entrepreneurs and business owners feel more productive, accomplished, and calm at the end of the day by coaching them on how to go from busyness to business. Stacey is known for training professionals on purposeful productivity and for relationship-building that helps others establish successful strategic partnerships.
Stacey has been a leader, manager, and trainer in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors for more than 20 years. As a coach, she helps professionals examine their operations and find ways to be more efficient, productive, and impactful. She is a facilitator. This work has helped Stacey, her clients and her students focus on how their individuality impacts their business success and interpersonal communications.
Stacey is an advocate for women and girls and volunteers at a variety of Chicago community organizations.
Connect with Stacey Saunders on LinkedIn
Stacey Saunders Website
Visit us at GSD Factor https://gsdfactor.com/
Purchase the GSD Factor Life book series: https://linktr.ee/GSDFactorLifeBooks
Leaders today do not fully appreciate the ripple effects of their decisions, and it’s eroding trust in organizations. In our highly interconnected world, a top-down, siloed approach to leadership is not only ineffective, it’s a culture killer. As a result, collaboration is suffering and organizations are struggling to retain top talent.
After skyrocketing through corporate America to become a top HR exec by the age of 30, Chris Rollins learned that human-centric skills are at the heart of great leadership and business success. He also learned that trust is built and broken through the powerful ripple effects of seemingly insignificant moments.
His programs have helped organizations like Walmart, SAP, Clorox and others embrace a Ripple Effect Mindset - activating a wave of human-centered leaders across all levels of their business. The result is an inspired, empowered and engaged workforce that moves forward faster and brings everyone along.
His talks have garnered a 98% rating with diverse audiences ranging from local auto repair shop owners to global Fortune 50 executives.
Chris lives in Tampa with his husband, rescue dog and serves on the board of several local organizations.
Connect with Chris Rollins on LinkedIn
Chris Rollins website
Visit us at GSD Factor https://gsdfactor.com/
Purchase the GSD Factor Life book series: https://linktr.ee/GSDFactorLifeBooks
Today's episode is special for many reasons as our host, Misha Bleymaier-Farrish has her daughter R.C. Farrish on as a special guest. Today is her birthday and the launch of their new co-authored children's book GSD Factor Juniors!
Together with her daughter, R.C. Farrish, Misha is bringing the GSD Factor to the youngest generation with GSD Factor Juniors. GSD Factor Juniors is derived from The GSD Factor and is comprised of six attributes: confidence, inquisitiveness, imagination, presence, resilience, and influence.
GSD Factor Juniors incorporates six stories from her point of view, including various scenarios she has encountered with her peers during elementary school. She wanted to share her personal stories in hopes of helping others develop their confidence and sense of authentic self, both during their childhood and into their adulthood.
Get your copy of the GSD Factor Juniors book and coloring book on our Kickstarter campaign.
Today's conversation introduces Dr. Alessandria Polizzi, a global leader in psychological health and safety, who will discuss strategies for building resilience based on medical research and various resources. The focus will be on shifting self-criticism to self-coaching, the importance of understanding one's purpose and values, and the significance of setting boundaries.
Dr. Allessandria Polizzi is a former HR executive who is now the CEO of Verdant Consulting, a Start-Up Boston People-First Organization Runner-Up for 2024., and a top 20 Workplace Wellness provider and top 10 Emerging Organizational Change company for 2022 that supports mental health in the workplace through resiliency and psychological health and safety programs.
Her first book, The Workplace Mental Health Strategy Workbook, was published in 2024 and provides guidance on proactive approaches for creating healthy and thriving workplaces. She is also the ISO Global Liaison for Occupational Health and Safety and has served as an expert on psychological health and safety for professional associations, media, and the National Safety Council.
Connect with Dr. Allessandria Polizzi on LinkedIn
Website
Chelsie Tamms, an entrepreneur for the past eight years, transformed her life after a medical incident in eighth grade, which ignited her passion for art, graphics, and branding. She helps organizations translate their personal values into professional success, with her work appearing in various retail outlets.
On this episode Chelsie will share her entrepreneurial journey, including challenges and strategies for balancing work, life, and health, highlighting the importance of choosing a path that aligns with personal needs and values.
Chelsie Tamms is an artist, educator, and entrepreneur. She founded Lettering Works in 2016, combining her love of hand-lettering with her expertise in marketing. Since then, she’s grown her business to offer custom branding packages, courses for artists, and wholesale products and merchandise—all with the mission to bring more creativity into her community and beyond. She is especially drawn to cause-driven projects surrounding mental health, chronic illness, and underrepresented communities.
Website
Freebie (5-Day Brand Challenge)
Connect with Chelsie Tamms on LinkedIn
We all want to have a sense of energy, joy, and fulfillment in what we do. But how do we do that? Today's guest shares his foundational steps to achieving it all.
About the Guest:
In 2001, Danny Pippin sat in a packed arena and heard Zig Ziglar say “You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want” and felt as though he was speaking directly to him. Since that day, he has dedicated himself to personal growth and professional developments because as his friend and mentor, John Maxwell says “You cannot give what you do not have.”
Danny spent 18 years leading over 70 highly profitable multimillion-dollar businesses and building leadership and sales teams across the country during his Telecom & Corporate Retail career working with brands like Buckle, PacSun, Lucky Brand, and Billy Reid. In addition, he served as Head of Stores & Ecom for a Fashion Retailer, Creative Director for an Apparel Brand, and Chief Operating Officer for a Branding Agency and a Fashion Technology Company.
From that experience, he has developed a 4-Part Framework to help entrepreneurs, business leaders, and organizations optimize people, operations, and sales strategies for better results through consulting, coaching, and workshops.
Learn More: https://www.dannypippin.com/
Connect with Danny Pippin on LinkedIn
You’ve heard of fear of failure. But have you heard of fear of success? It’s real.
Our guest today shares how to tap into your seasons of growth to overcome any fear of success you might be having.
About today's guest:
Rosa Castaño, a Keynote speaker & founder of Workplace Stress Solutions, merges her vast workplace experience with her passion for helping companies and employees support their mental health and emotional well being.
She educates individuals on practical stress management techniques, empowering them to pursue, create, and accomplish their life's aspirations and goals.
Connect with Rosa Castaño on LinkedIn
Nashville based Brittany Tucker is a dynamic keynote speaker and coach experienced in speaking to over 350 businesses globally over the past 13 years. Her passion is motivating individuals to live a life true to who they are.
Britt earned her undergrad from Auburn University where she was a collegiate cheerleader, in addition to a Masters at Georgia Southern University. Furthermore, she is a Disney Institute graduate, John Maxwell speaker, and has completed continuing education at Emory and Berkeley. She also earned a certification in entrepreneurship from Harvard HBX and was honored to be named a recipient to 40 Under 40 class.
As a domestic violence survivor Britt is an advocate for awareness + education.
Connect with Brittany Tucker on LinkedIn
Baily Hancock is a Connection Strategist and “Professional Friend-Maker” who teaches people how to intentionally build, nurture, and leverage relationships to achieve their goals. She speaks about harnessing the power of Connection-Centered Thought Leadership™ to increase awareness, inspire action, and create impact in the world through workshop facilitation, panel conversations, and as a guest on podcasts. A natural-born connector, Baily has spent her life curating her community and nurturing her network, priding herself on being only a degree or two of separation from just about anyone (including Kevin Bacon). Throughout the past decade, she’s worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs, creatives, and executives teaching them how to gain credibility through collaboration and amplify their influence through connection. Connect with Baily Hancock on LinkedIn
Are you ready for the inevitable?
Angela Billings, U.S. Air Force veteran, strategist, entrepreneur, speaker, and author is a master communicator who has coached military officers and executives and performed in many high-profile positions while serving in the Air Force for over twenty years.
Her approach is to engage early and often in public spaces. In her view, it is better to manage the narrative than have someone else tell your story. This active yet measured approach has helped Angela weather the toughest of public relations storms.
Join us for this episode to hear some of her incredible stories and how this influential GSDer navigates crises.
Connect with Angela Billings on LinkedIn
Get her book on Amazon today
Are you ready to be a Wonderwoman?
Whether on stage or online, Christy Smallwood is an engaging and energetic keynote speaker who makes her audiences think different to do different.
Christy’s keynote and workshop on the BEING SUPER method blends humor and storytelling to help people understand themselves, be inspired to see their potential, understand their place in the world a little more, and empowered to take steps forward through their battles.
https://christysmallwood.com/
Connect with Christy Smallwood on LinkedIn
What better way to be present than to kick off today's episode with a guided meditation with Emma Miele.
Emma is an ICF-accredited coach, with a Master's degree in Transformational Coaching and Leadership, and over seven years of experience in the coaching field. After spending a decade in the corporate financial space, Emma began to understand that in our hectic lives, it's all too easy to lose touch with our true desires and motivations.
Bringing together the skills she developed in the first part of her career, she founded The Breathing Room LLC, Coaching and Facilitating with the vision of creating a space for her clients to slow down, reflect, and connect with their inner wisdom.
Through her coaching, Emma supports work teams to collaborate more efficiently, aspiring managers to develop valuable communication skills, entrepreneurs to realize the ROI of authenticity, and individuals to discover their unique paths toward success and fulfillment.
Connect with Emma Miele on LinkedIn
Website
Schedule time with Emma!
Are you ready for your Renaissance? Sydney Dozier, CEO and Founder of the Nashville-based social media agency Renaissance Marketing Group and The Renaissance Women's Summit, has made it her life's mission to help ignite the Renaissance in female entrepreneurs.
Sydney is not only a business dynamo but also the host of The Renaissance Podcast, aimed at empowering entrepreneurs. Her dedication to supporting women entrepreneurs led to The Mona Lisa Foundation, offering mentorship, grants, education, and a vibrant community.
Learn More: Renaissance Marketing Group
Connect with Sydney on LinkedIn
Introducing our powerhouse panel for 2024: Renee Bruns, Brook Eby, and Stacie King. Each one of these incredible GSD women are influential leaders living a life of confidence and resilience. They utilize their voices for good and impact around the world. They are advocates for those with disabilities and continue to push the boundaries for what individuals with disabilities can do.
Guinness World Record Holder Renee Bruns is a former insurance executive who left her role at a Fortune 500 on a mission to see the world and reshape her views of humanity. After a life of living with an undiagnosed physical disability that caused her to use a wheelchair full-time, she set out on a solo trip to find her place in this world. Through her travels to 124 countries, all 7 continents, and all 50 states, she became a Guinness World Record Holder of the most countries visited in one year. She is a life coach helping those who are looking to restructure their lives and helps guide and advocate for those navigating undiagnosed medical conditions.
Brooke Eby was diagnosed with ALS, a terminal, debilitating disease with no cure, at the age of 33 after four years of confusing symptoms. She’s spent the last year sharing her story through outlets like The Today Show, as well as on social media with her over 100,000 followers. She’s fundraised nearly $1 million for ALS research. With the support of her friends and family, she’s been able to laugh in the face of ALS.
Stacie King is Senior Vice President of NowCerts, in addition to being the Founder & CEO of Stacie King & Company, LLC, a boutique digital marketing agency, and Culture is King, a digital publication that focuses on sharing the expertise and stories of leaders to create diverse and inclusive organizations & communities. Stacie has always been very open about her life as a disabled woman, and she shares her story about life as a self-proclaimed “Wobbly Girl” in her personal podcast called “This Wobbly Life.” She also works tirelessly to raise awareness for people with disabilities.
Connect:
Renee Bruns on LinkedIn
Brooke Eby on LinkedIn
Stacie King on LinkedIn
As a writer with 20+ years of experience, Catherine Traffis is a champion of economical expression. She is currently one of the busiest writers in the content studio of an influential software company. Writing about cutting-edge technology gives her the perfect outlet to express her infectious optimism for the future.
Catherine is a Canadian content writer and editor who currently works in the Writers Studio at Microsoft. In 2011, a distracted driver caused an accident that left her with a serious spinal injury called a “Hangman’s Fracture.” Devastated and in agony, Catherine knew she had to get well for the sake of her three young boys. When her neurosurgeon told her she would never work again, she quietly resisted.
After a year of convalescence and with the support of her husband, Ray, Catherine began taking back her career. While she still manages chronic pain, she has recovered to an extent that her doctors call “miraculous.” Catherine credits remote work and flexible hours as keys to her success and is always happy to trade strategies with others who need modified environments to thrive.
Connect on LinkedIn with Catherine Traffis
Rachel Joy Baribeau joins us on the GSD Factor podcast to talk about how she is powerfully choosing JOY to change the narrative. She is an award-winning Storyteller, Inspirational Speaker, Author, Changing the Narrative Founder, Transformative Coach, Host of the Joystarters™ Podcast, First Female SiriusXM ESPNU Host (College Sports Nation), and Former National Sportscaster.
Rachel developed the #ImChangingtheNarrative movement with lost souls and student-athletes in mind and a belief that one crooked course made straight is everything. Rachel uses powerful stories with refreshingly raw vulnerability from her own personal journey to show others they have the power to change the narrative and find their purpose in life.
When she's not speaking or on tour promoting her most recent book, Relentless Joy: Finding Freedom, Passion and Happiness (Even When You Have to Fight for It), she enjoys working to help others find their own Passion, Purpose, Platform & Freedom to change the narrative and life a life of Relentless JOY!
Visit: https://www.rachelbaribeau.com/
Meet one of my shero's, Deanna Meador, CEO of tech company Couture Technologies and apparel brand Freedom Company, as well as the co-founder and CEO of Chalk Coaching.
She began Couture Technologies to empower apparel companies with virtual fitting technology, 3D garment creation services, and enhanced data analytics designed to reduce returns. Couture Technologies was recognized as one of the Top 9 tech startups in the world during the Olympics of Tech, the 2023 Most Innovative Apparel E-Commerce Tech Solution, 2022 Most Innovative Apparel Sales Software Company in the World, and one of the Top 3D Companies in Tennessee.
Deanna is a successful serial tech entrepreneur that describes herself as never meeting a challenge she didn’t like. She started her first company during graduate school and grew it to multiple locations until it was acquired by a larger company. After selling this company, she developed a paperless data collection system for collecting assessment and observational data. This system was adopted by universities across the U.S., South Africa, Portugal, Australia and Sweden. In 2017, she joined 3 other inventors to develop Chalk Coaching, a tool for improving classroom experiences for preschool and kindergarten children through collaborative, data-driven coaching.
On March 8th, 2023, International Women’s Day, Deanna made history when she became the first woman to raise $1.5M in 8 hours. She intentionally structured her raise in this way to start to change the narrative around the lack of funding for women-owned companies.
Deanna was the recipient of the Unsung Hero award for her work with underserved youth, as well as the Young Alumni Achievement Award from her undergraduate university for her innovations (the highest honor the university bestows on alumni under the age of 40, out of over 400 nominees).
Deanna was part of the founding team that started the Wond’ry, Vanderbilt University’s Innovation Center. Through her role as the former Deputy Director, she taught over 17 cohorts of aspiring entrepreneurs and mentored over 600 teams as they evaluated new technologies and launched new ventures. She is a certified national instructor for the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps program and in this role, she leads entrepreneurial training cohorts for teams from across the country. Deanna really enjoys working with creators, inventors, and entrepreneurs that dedicate their lives and talents to making a positive impact in the world.
Connect with Deanna Meador on LinkedIn
What you see is what you get… a hard working, forward thinking, experienced 15 year veteran realtor that genuinely cares for his clients. Nick Woodard is genuine and authentic.
Growing up in the Nashville area has provided him a vast knowledge and love for “The 615.” Understanding that he was extremely fortunate to be raised in such an incredible area, he has made it his passion to help others call Middle Tennessee “home.” Nick is married to his beautiful wife Kathryn and is the proud father of 3.
Nick specializes in assisting individuals and families transition between homes. Whether that is purchasing or selling, Nick has 20 years of experience and a vast knowledge of helping his clients on both sides of the equation. Customer service is his top priority. That is why you see many of his clients come back to him multiple times in their lifetime.
When he is not helping clients, you can find Nick on the sideline coaching youth football or kayak fishing on one of our many beautiful Middle Tennessee streams.
IG: @nickwoodardrealtorYoutube: www.youtube.com/@nickwoodardrealtorLinkedIn: Nick Woodardwww.nickwoodard.com
What does it take to dream big? Sometimes our dream big requires patience. Knowing when to DO and when to BE, that's what it means to be a GSDer.
Qualia C. Hendrickson, Esq., known creatively as Q, is an attorney, writer, and book publishing coach. In 2021, she started Q Writes A Book to document her journey with writing and publishing her first book and to help other writers learn about the publishing industry. Having earned degrees in Creative Writing, Economics, Publishing, and Law, Q's approach to writing is holistic - taking into account a writer's personal and professional goals to provide education and guidance on the journey to publishing and the many avenues one can take to achieve their dream.
Q is part of my team, my dream big team. As my book Coach and Editor-In-Chief across all my writing projects she challenged me, encouraged me, and helped me to see my dream big become a reality.
Connect with Qualia Hendrickson on LinkedIn
Michael Davis works with speakers and business leaders to increase their influence and impact with more meaningful presentations, stories, and speeches.
He is passionate about creating effective communication, but that wasn’t always the case. His journey started with a humiliating experience in front of his first-grade class. That kept him from voluntarily speaking in front of groups of any size for the next 25 years.
Then a threatened job loss motivated Michael to deal with his fear.
So, he received help from world-class speakers who taught him the skills and tools to become an influential speaker, trainer, and coach.
Michael has helped speakers, business leaders and TEDx speakers on five continents deliver presentations that have been viewed over five million times. He’s the author of seven books on storytelling and speaking, and is the founder of Speaking CPR.
Connect with Michael Davis on LinkedIn
Meredith Patrick's version of B.A.M.F. is bold, authentic, magnetic, flourishing. She does this through her work of supporting female solopreneurs as they get shit done.
After 15 years of working as an operational and administrative specialist for top-ranked companies like Mayo Clinic, Meredith kept wondering, "Is this all there is?" and finally ditched the traditional track to create her dream career as an entrepreneur.
Now she helps female business owners conquer their to-do list, providing efficient backend relief by taking projects they've been putting off for months and getting them to the finish line ahead of schedule. She is passionate about helping her clients achieve their dreams through collaboration and inclusion—being the exact support they need, exactly when they need it most.
Connect with Meredith Patrick on LinkedIn
Learn more about Vinsko Jacobs
On this special Get STUFF Done episode, meet my mentee through the Wond'ry, Vanderbilt's Entrepreneur and Innovation Center, Kellie Geisel, female founder multiple times who is confidently leading this next generation of female entrepreneurs with innovating solutionists ideas that will help new working moms and beyond.
Our hope is that this raw and authentic conversation will provide inspiration and encouragement to fellow female entrepreneurs listening.
Connect with Kellie Geisel on LinkedIn
Ashley Brooke James kicks off our episode with a breathing and mindfulness meditation, a first for the GSD Factor podcast, but totally in alignment as we discuss the importance of stillness in our busy lives.
Ashley Brooke James, a distinguished leader in Nashville's Black business community, serves as the Co-Founder of TRILUNA while also making her mark as a dynamic public speaker and a certified yoga instructor with 300 hours of training. Known for her captivating speaking style, Ashley Brooke addresses a range of topics, including Intentional Mindfulness, Business/Entrepreneurship, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Her notable achievements include serving as the emcee for the TEDx Nashville Women's Conference in 2023. Ashley Brooke has also been featured as a keynote speaker for the Good American Pop experience, where she presented "Intentionally 'Good': Diversity in Wellness.
Connect with Ashley Brooke James on LinkedIn
Tracy Borreson is all about authenticity, specifically in the digital space. In a world where it’s easy to hide and follow someone else’s path, Tracy endeavors to lead with her personal brand, as well as encourage others to find, own and show up with their personal brand leading the way. Tracy strives to bring more uniqueness to the world for individuals AND businesses, because THAT’S what actually stands out in a crowded marketplace.
On today's episode of The GSD Factor Podcast we tackle be inquisitive while remaining true to our authentic selves.
Connect with Tracy on LinkedIn
May is ALS awareness month so what better way than to kickoff this month with the conversation between Misha Bleymaier-Farrish who lost her father Ted Bleymaier to ALS and Brooke Eby who is determined to laugh in the face of her ALS diagnosis. They talk about resiliency, confidence, and how humor is sometimes the best medicine.
Brooke Eby was diagnosed with ALS, a terminal, debilitating disease with no cure, at the age of 33 after four years of confusing symptoms. She’s spent the last year sharing her story through outlets like The Today Show, as well as on social media with her over 100,000 followers. She’s fundraised nearly $1 million dollars for ALS research. With the support of her friends and family, she’s been able to laugh in the face of ALS.
Connect with Brooke Eby on LinkedIn
Follow Brooke Eby on Instagram
Make a donation to Brooke's fundraiser
Layne Cagle has an impressive career spanning decades in recruiting and staffing, where she poured into her candidates and clients consistently, seeing something that wasn't there yet and then helping develop it. This skillset allowed her to become one of the top producers of the year for several years for the Nashville based global firm.
Through her career, she's tapped into her intuition to connect candidates to the right positions for them to thrive both professionally and personally, helping countless people advance their careers. Even today, she's a rapid connector to those who need help in some area and others who have skills, mentorship, and influence to offer.
Layne embodies all 6 GSD Factor attributes, but she consistently exemplifies Resilience from her core. She's lived an incredible life with grace while she's struggled with Parkinson's disease for over 25 years, only recently retiring.
Personally, Layne has been an advocate of Misha Bleymaier-Farrish through her early career. She's even featured in The GSD Factor book. Listen to this reunion between Misha and Layne to get a peek into Layne's infectious optimism and her words of wisdom for everyone.
Yesenia Sevilla is the Director of Strategic Engagement & Ecosystem Development at the Wond’ry at Vanderbilt University. She’s a TEDx speaker, has 20+ years of experience in leadership roles across varying global biotech and healthcare industries, consulting, and higher education. Her diverse industry background, global business acumen, dedication to inclusive innovation and multilingual skills make her an invaluable resource in innovating, collaborating, building, and leading.
Her background makes her the ideal moderator for the recent panel at the "Renaissance Men's Panel: Architects of Change, Champions of Equality, Leaders in Innovation and Purpose" at the Renaissance Women's Entrepreneurial Summit in Nashville, TN. Yesi led speakers Esteban Mezquiriz, Michael Oher, and Jason Wahler in an engaging conversation about committing to driving positive change and gender equality in business. Tune in to hear how this dynamic panel shared their compelling stories.
Connect with Yesenia Sevilla on LinkedIn
Learn more about the Wond'ry
Nora DiNuzzo spent the first 15 years of her career working for independent advertising agencies, pitching hundreds of brands from startups to Fortune 500 as a business development lead.
In 2021, she took everything she learned in the ad world and combined it with her passion for working directly with founders to start Pitcher - a brand strategy and growth consultancy for small businesses (<$25mm) that are ready to make a big impact.
Less than two years into her entrepreneur experience, Nora co-founded Blood Sweat & Tears (BS&T) with partner Eric Brown. BS&T is a committed partner to ambitious agencies frustrated by inconsistent growth.
BS&T develops and implements custom growth strategies for agencies that are ready to grow - whether the goal is to stabilize, sustain, scale or sell the agency.
Get ready to take notes as Nora drops some epic nuggets of wisdom around storytelling, branding, what to do and what not to do.
Connect with Nora on LinkedIn
Guinness World Record Holder Renee Bruns is a former insurance executive who left her role at a Fortune 500 on a mission to see the world and reshape her views of humanity. After a life of living with an undiagnosed physical disability that caused her to use a wheelchair full-time, she set out on a solo trip to find her place in this world.
Through her travels to 124 countries, all 7 continents, and all 50 states, she became a Guinness World Record Holder of the most countries visited in one year and has been featured on numerous media sites.
Her confident and resilient journey allowed her to let go of society’s expectations and she found a community of people who accepted her and her disability and encouraged her to experience the world in a way that she never allowed herself to do before.
Website: https://reneebruns.net/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-bruns/
Our first GSD Factor "Get STUFF Done" episode of season 3 with High School Senior Anthony Beckett.
Anthony Beckett is a driven senior at Brentwood Public High School in Brentwood, Tennessee, who has a passion for technology and entrepreneurship. He is also part of Williamson County Schools Entrepreneur and Innovation Center that serves all 11 high schools in the county and their students with opportunities to gain hands-on experience in entrepreneurship and innovation by starting a business, launching a product, or offering a service.
With a keen eye for identifying needs and a knack for problem-solving, Anthony has made significant strides in the tech industry even before graduating.
At the forefront of his achievements is the development of two platforms: Photop and Markify. Markify, an education technology platform, reflects Anthony's commitment to being influential and enhancing learning experiences through cutting-edge technology.
Driven by his passion for technology and a desire to make a tangible impact, Anthony continues to push the boundaries of innovation. His journey exemplifies the power of youthful ambition combined with technical expertise, and he serves as an inspiration and influence to his peers and aspiring entrepreneurs alike.
As Anthony prepares to embark on the next phase of his journey, he remains committed to leveraging technology for positive change and shaping the future of the digital landscape.
Connect with Anthony Beckett on LinkedIn
Learn more about Markify
Kaylyn Harris is a 2024 Middle TN Woman of Impact for the American Heart Association. She is one of nine nominees and the only African American woman. She strongly believes that losing even one woman to cardiovascular disease is too many, and education is vital to changing these statistics.
Kaylyn, the Manager of Marketing and Communications for Nashville General Hospital, is a trailblazer in the field of Graphic Design and Marketing and is the first in the hospital’s 134-year history to occupy this role.
This GSD woman lives the life of confidence and influence as an advocate for the Nashville community advancement and volunteerism, Kaylyn currently serves as a member of various organizations. With her dedicated involvement to the American Heart Association and her experience working in the healthcare industry, she is committed to using her platform to give a voice to the voiceless. She believes that together, we can change the narrative surrounding cardiovascular disease and commit ourselves to having healthy “Happy Hearts.”
Support Kaylyn's American Heart Association Campaign through 04-04-24
Connect with Kaylyn Harris on LinkedIn
As a young widow 10 years ago, Jody LaVoie powerfully chose to keep living, not just for herself, but her daughters, and the family business. Hear her incredible story of how she activated not one but all six attributes on her own transformative journey.
Jody LaVoie is a widow, mom and ICF certified coach for Widows In The Workplace. She never expected to become a widow when she did. Then at age 47, the unthinkable happened when her husband was shot at work by a disgruntled employee. Overnight, she was running a business, solo parenting three teenage daughters, and grieving. She was able to not only survive but thrive. She found it very difficult to find resources and support for widows that wanted to still excel in their careers and manage all of the new responsibilities of widowhood. What widow has the time for researching while you are trying to juggle it all?
She wanted to change that experience for widows. She is the founder and CEO of Widows In The Workplace and The Grief Company. Through a transformative journey, Jody empowers widows in the workplace, offering tailored coaching services to guide them toward rediscovering joy and falling in love with life again.
Connect with Jody LaVoie on LinkedIn
Kristie Crenshaw is powerfully choosing to be insanely successful in 2024! Join our host Misha Bleymaier-Farrish and her fellow National Speakers Association colleague as they dive into how Kristie is going to get shit done this year.
Coach & Keynote Speaker Kristie Crenshaw is working with women to reclaim their power to move through life with purpose, direction and accountability, creating more joy and fulfillment and impacting their families and businesses in ways they never thought possible.
With over 20 years of experience in communications, media, sales, and marketing fields, Kristie has developed a passion and skill for helping women achieve deeper relationships, career fulfillment, and personal growth.
Using the Five Pillars of her signature framework, RESOLUTE WOMEN are rising up in their lives and showing up like never before…in relationships, in careers and on stages. And they’re doing so unapologetically grounded in their faith. Kristie has fine-tuned her ability to read rooms and communicate with authenticity, brevity, and effective humor.
Connect with Kristie Crenshaw on LinkedIn
Visit www.kristiecrenshaw.com
“I would urge people to remove intentional and unintentional biases about individuals with disabilities especially in the interview and recruiting process. Corporate America should focus on providing employees with educational and informational opportunities about individuals with diverse abilities.” – Alexander Ostojic
In our first episode of the GSD Factor Podcast Season 3 we talk with Alexander Ostojic about his journey of ensuring inclusivity for himself and others.
Alexander Ostojic was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Risk Management and insurance in 2019 from Illinois State University, where he was an active member of Gamma Iota Sigma and the Katie School of Insurance and Risk Management. In 2020, Alex completed the Collegiate Studies for CPCU designation. In January 2010, Alex was diagnosed with a learning disability and later diagnosed with additional medical conditions, including fibromyalgia, chronic pain, and small fiber neuropathy. Alex is accompanied by his service dog, Laney, and in 2022, they became a certified service dog team.
Today, Alex is passionate about diversity and inclusion, professional development, insurance industry, claims transformation, innovation, and robotic process automation. Alex is currently completing coursework toward the Associate in General Insurance (AINS) and additional CPCU designations. Outside the workplace, Alex and Laney are known to be at a bowling alley, pizzeria, ice cream parlor, or on a United airplane.
Connect with Alex on LinkedIn
This is our annual Best of Podcast Season 2 which highlights a few of our listeners favorite nuggets and lessons throughout this 2023 year.
Thank you to each guest for joining us and sharing your perspectives and thoughts on how to live the very best GSD Factor Life. We hope these stories are encouraging and inspiring as you embark on your own transformational journey.
Be sure to catch the previous season wherever you stream your podcasts.
Thank you for listening to the GSD Factor Podcast. Please visit us at gsdfactor.com where you can explore tools and resources to help you ignite that transformation in your professional and personal life. We appreciate you listening and look forward to helping you get shit done in 2024!
One year. Three books.
First ever GSD Factor podcast takeover special host Randy Ford brings together author Misha Bleymaier-Farrish and some of her publishing team to share how it came to be, the ups and downs, and some things that aspiring authors can consider.
Connect with Randy Ford on LinkedIn
Connect with Qualia Hendrickson on LinkedIn
Connect with Alacia Reynolds on LinkedIn
Juliette Foster joins us for an encore guest appearance and we are so delighted! Her first podcast appearance we tackled the topic of A Life Beautifully Paired with Confidence and Resilience. Now we are tackling the journey of Navigating the Professional Pivot which most of us have or will face.
Juliette Foster is a radio/television journalist and founder of the media services company Magnus Communications. As Managing Director, she brings more than 30 years experience gathered in news, documentaries, and current affairs. Juliette has worked for some of the leading names in UK and international broadcasting including Sky News, Bloomberg Radio & Business Television, BBC Radio, BBC News Channel, BBC World Service Television and Share Radio, the UK’s first national radio station dedicated to business, finance and money matters. As a conference moderator, Juliette has worked with many high-level organisations including The Organisation for Economic Co-Operation & Development (OECD), The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the multi-national professional services company PWC, Swift International Banking Operations Seminar (SIBOS) and King Salman Relief. Juliette is a Fellow of the RSA (Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce).
Connect with Juliette Foster on LinkedIn.
Vaco understands the significance of drawing the circle wider to broaden our perspective, to connect on a deeper level, and to be a force for positive change in our world. This aligns beautifully with the GSD Factor attribute of Be Influential.
On today’s episode of The GSD Factor podcast we are honored to have the co-chairs of Vaco’s Working Mother’s Collective, Taryn Dicken and Kelly Maxwell. They will share the why behind this important ESG initiative and provide insights into how other organizations can enhance their own efforts.
Taryn Dicken
Taryn Dicken joined Vaco in 2019 and currently leads Vaco New York’s accounting and finance practice. Taryn began her career at Goldman Sachs and spent over 5 years working in the finance division. After Goldman, Taryn spent over 2 years working at a New York-based hedge fund in investor relations. In 2015, she transitioned to the staffing industry marrying her accounting/finance experience with her passion for client service. Taryn is also a Co-Chair of the Working Mother’s Collective at Vaco. Taryn graduated from Villanova University in 2007 with a BS in Finance and International Business and a minor in French. In her free time, Taryn enjoys working out, traveling to new places and spending time with her two children, family and friends.
Kelly Maxwell
Kelly Maxwell is the Managing Director of the Accounting & Finance Direct Hire practice for Vaco Dallas, as well as the Global Line of Business Leader for the Financial Perm Division at Vaco LLC. She leads a dynamic team that provides talent solutions, client engagement and recruiting in order to creatively solve problems for professionals and companies across DFW. Additionally, she serves as the co-chair for the Working Mother’s Collective ERG. She earned her MBA from Southern Methodist University and her BBA in Human Resources/Organizational Behavior from University of North Texas. Kelly serves as Board President for the Bridge Breast Network, where she has volunteered since 2017. In her free time, she enjoys reading, embroidery, running and spending time with her family and 2 pups named Bailey and Harley.
Connect with Vaco on LinkedIn
Connect with Taryn Dicken on LinkedIn
Connect with Kelly Maxwell on LinkedIn
Asia is not only rising but actively redefining the insurance landscape and trailblazer Theresa Blissing has been front row capturing the lessons and amplifying the stories with the world in her new book, The Future of Insurance, Volume IV. Asia Rising.
Her journey in the insurance landscape began in 2004 with Generali in Frankfurt, Germany. Fast-forward to 2015, intrigued by technological advancements reshaping the industry, Theresa pursued an intensive master's program with a research component. Her research, concentrated on the adoption of big data in Southeast Asian insurance sectors, paved her transition to management consulting. Here, she collaborated with multiple firms and later founded the consulting and research practice, Accelerating Insurance.
In 2019, recognizing the transformative narratives in Asia's insurance sector, Theresa co-launched the Asia InsurTech Podcast. As of 2023, it ranks among the world's top-tier InsurTech podcasts, boasting listeners from over 160 countries.
In 2023, Theresa has unveiled a fresh show, the global podcast, InsurTech Amplified, reiterating her commitment to spotlighting insurance innovation worldwide.
Connect with Theresa Blissing on LinkedIn
The GSD Factor's first and possibly most important attribute is Be Confident. Activating this attribute when connecting and building your network are keys to success.
Raghu Sundara got his first taste of business networking while working in management in the insurance industry where he was exposed to over 15 chambers of commerce. After spending nearly 20 years working in corporate America, Raghu decided to open his own insurance agency business in 2018. Raghu immediately started attending as many chamber networking events as possible and saw a trend where too many people cared more about getting referrals and instant gratification rather than building relationships and being a giver. He realized that networking is a marathon and not a sprint and people should not be expecting instant returns on their time invested in networking. It also taught him to focus on being a problem solver for people even if it had nothing to do with his occupation. Before long, Raghu wanted to be known as a connector who happened to own an insurance agency instead of an insurance agent. To learn more about the people he met, Raghu started organizing 20 meet-ups per month with business owners in his local networking community and met with over 1,000 people in 4 years. As a result, Raghu was inspired to open Always Be Connecting to assist business owners in growing their networks in a more organic and sustainable way.
Connect with Raghu on LinkedIn
Be sure to check out episode 6 which was Christine's first appearance on our GSD Factor Podcast where she shared her story of courage, resiliency, and becoming a Mom. This has been our most popular and most downloaded episode of all time!
Now that her tiny human is 1 years old, we are excited to have her back as we have real talk for working moms!
Christine is a corporate finance professional learning to balance her career with navigating new motherhood. With that comes a wide range of complex feelings, from trusting daycare, staying present in her marriage, becoming more secure in the decision to have one child, and discovering her new identity as a mother. These feelings are made even more nuanced because her journey to this point has involved an early loss as well as delivery and postpartum complications. She is passionate about sharing her joys and struggles openly in the hope that it can help other moms feel less alone.
Connect with Christine on LinkedIn or Instagram
The GSD Factor attribute of Be Inquisitive is looking at intellectual curiosity with an industry expert in the learning space.
Sean Stowers is the founder, Chief Learning Officer and CEO of WeLearn. Sean started WeLearn with two things in mind – the first to build better humans through learning and the second – to get up every day and work with people he loved to work with and do really cool things.
Sean aims to be a thought partner to all of the clients he has worked with. He is adept at identifying the dots that need to be connected – and helping those around him to see that as well.
WeLearn is the recent winner of SEVEN Brandon Hall Group Awards for the work we did together with our partners!
Connect with Sean on LinkedIn
Learn more about WeLearn
The GSD Factor attribute of Be Inquisitive boils down to always be learning. Sometimes we know that our Point A is and what we want our Point B to be but need to figure out how to get there.
Chrisanthi is multilingual and enjoys travelling, learning languages and exploring new cultures. Her passion for languages translated into pursuing a degree in French and Russian, followed by a master's degree in International Management. The thread connecting Chrisanthi's past throughout was her growing interest in technology and collaborating with people from all over the world. This is at the heart of her career today, where she is now a Salesforce Consultant for a multinational company!
Connect with Chrisanthi on LinkedIn
What is a GSD Factor Leader? A leader that knows when to lead, when to follow, when to push, when to support and regularly utilizes all six attributes of the GSD Factor life. Join us as we talk with author of Brave Leadership is a Choice Crystal Whiteaker about the synergies of a GSD Factor Leader and a Brave Leader.
Crystal Whiteaker (pronouns: she/her) is the Founder and CEO of Crystal Lily Creative, and Author of Brave Leadership is a Choice: An Inclusive Guide to Creating Belonging. Crystal is an Inclusive Branding and Leadership Development Consultant who helps mission driven brands and leaders create human-focused messaging and environments rooted in core values. 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 connect, communicate and lead with belonging in mind.
Connect with Crystal on LinkedIn
Visit Crystal's website
Building DEIB with a purpose and intentionality is so important across all our industries and we tackle this topic with Dr. Jim Kanichirayil.
Dr. Jim is a talent nerd. He's been in and around the talent space for longer than he'd care to admit. He's currently the VP of Growth for EngageRocket, a leadership effectiveness and employee engagement platform. Most of his career has been spent helping organizations build elite teams by attracting, developing, and retaining top talent. He has his doctorate in organizational leadership and his study was on employee retention and turnover. He's the co-founder and co-host of Cascading Leadership.
Connect with Dr. Jim on LinkedIn
A mosaic is a collection of small pieces that, when put together, create a whole picture, in the same way when the GSD Factor life is activated across all six of the attributes it ignites a transformation in your professional and personal life.
Laura Wagenknecht, President and Owner of Mosaic Business Consulting, is an experienced Business Consultant, Planner, and Executive Coach. With more than 30 years of professional experience and 20+ years of executive experience, she is able to draw on these experiences to help others.
Her superpower is seeing the big picture within the many pieces that comprise a business and determining where the gaps are that could help your coaching business grow more quickly and successfully.
With compassion, wisdom, and expertise, she helps her clients create the business and the success they have envisioned.
Connect with Laura on LinkedIn
Learn more about Mosaic Business Consulting
The GSD Factor life talks about "using your voice" and "your voice is your strongest weapon". In order for GSDers to do this they must speak with strength and who better to discuss with than Marianna Swallow, The Speak Easy Coach.
She is a dynamic and engaging speaker who helps her clients speak with confidence and calm. She utilizes her improv background in her workshops and executive coaching for maximum results. Her clients have gone on to wow in the boardroom and earn promotions.
She has been a speaker for over 20 years, presenting to audiences worldwide, and has been an adjunct professor at Loyola University’s School of Communication since 2020.
She is the author of "21 Ways to Engage Your Audience" - a quick and easy guide to level up your meetings and presentations. She performs stand up and storytelling in Chicago. She splits her time between Chicago and Charlotte.
Connect with Marianna on LinkedIn or learn more at mariannaswallow.com
Join us for an absolutely delightful conversation with Juliette Foster as we hear her beautiful life story of confidence and resilience and how she has leveraged these GSD Factor attributes throughout her media career in radio, television, and journalism.
Juliette Foster is a radio/television journalist and founder of the media services company Magnus Communications. As Managing Director, she brings more than 30 years experience gathered in news, documentaries, and current affairs. Juliette has worked for some of the leading names in UK and international broadcasting including Sky News, Bloomberg Radio & Business Television, BBC Radio, BBC News Channel, BBC World Service Television and Share Radio, the UK’s first national radio station dedicated to business, finance and money matters. As a conference moderator, Juliette has worked with many high-level organisations including The Organisation for Economic Co-Operation & Development (OECD), The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the multi-national professional services company PWC, Swift International Banking Operations Seminar (SIBOS) and King Salman Relief. Juliette is a Fellow of the RSA (Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce).
Connect with Juliette Foster on LinkedIn.
On this Father's Day Edition we have a conversation with Jase DuRard who is a biological, adoptive, and foster dad. He shares his meaningful perspectives and insights on fatherhood.
Jase DuRard has 28 years of experience in healthcare revenue cycle technology and he is currently the Chief Revenue Officer at Vantagehealth.ai Jase believes in the “butterfly effect” stating that one small problem upstream can cause tremendous damage downstream. Conversely, one solution upstream can positively impact the entire organization. He and his family live out a mission to “Share Joy”. They are foster parents and have several “chosen children” whom they have fostered, mentored and even adopted throughout the years. Jase and his wife co-founded Jonathan’s Path which serves teenagers in foster care in Middle Tennessee.
Connect with Jase on LinkedIn
Learn more about Jonathan’s Path
Tiny Human Friendly
Welcome to our Teenager Edition of the GSD Factor Podcast where we discuss our Rising Leaders and equip them to Get STUFF Done with school counselor Ms. Sarah Thrash.
Ms. Sarah Thrash is a dedicated High School, College, Career, and Military Preparation Educator. She work with middle and high school students and their families to help them prepare for their future endeavors. With her passion for assisting students, she provides them with the necessary tools and resources to gain clarity and confidence as they navigate the application process.
As the founder of CCMR with Ms. Thrash LLC, she takes pride in equipping students with the knowledge to construct a plan that works for them. Additionally, she is a high school counselor with over 6 years of experience supporting students as they prepare for their post-high school plans. She is also a 504 Coordinator, ensuring that each student receives the individualized support they need to succeed.
Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn
Website: CCMR with Ms. Thrash
We explore how we live our GSD Factor life with DEIB intention with Angel Guerra-Chagolla. Angel provides individuals and organizations with actionable steps they can take.
Angel’s career and business is built on the foundation of 4 pillars: Education, Advocacy, Empowerment and Connection. With a Master's in Corporate Leadership and over a decade of experience in Claims, Program Creation and Risk Management, she utilizes her skillsets to support others in their career development.
Her mission of positive impact on the business world as she teaches Diversity, People Equity, Inclusion and Belonging has grown by creating a welcoming community for professionals. This mission compliments both her National Educational Events as well as her Corporate Consulting businesses (3B National Consulting Group and Beauty and Beast in Business).
Connect with Angel on LinkedIn
3B National Consulting Group
Beauty and Beast in Business
We explore the GSD Factor attribute Be Influential with Dr. Michelle Morkert.
The connection to Be Influential - you lead by example as an actionable leader, you look to the future and also bring along the next generation alongside you and mentor them so they can stand on your shoulders.
Dr. Michelle Morkert partners with women leaders around the world to level-up their careers, have an impact on their professional field, and work with joy. She is a women’s leadership coach and strategist with a Ph.D. Because she spent nearly 20 years investigating the ways patriarchy operates in the lives of women around the world, she has also witnessed powerful feminist disruptions to those systems.
From interviewing war widows in the Western Highlands of Guatemala and researching militarism, gender-based violence, and peace studies to consulting with trailblazing non-profit leaders in Poland, and teaching in Croatia as a Fulbright Scholar with the U.S. State Department, she has seen women leaders in action. She has synthesized her academic research, obtained her advanced certification in confidence coaching, and incorporated her own lived experiences into individualized leadership coaching so that you can show up, stand up, and speak up in any room.
Michelle's Website
Michelle's LinkedIn
One of the foundations for the GSD Factor is knowing who you are and how to share your story. We explore this concept of The Art of Storytelling ME: Who Am I and How Do I Share My Story? with Jenny Emerson, Integrative Therapist and Randy Ford, Strategic Storyteller.
Jenny Emerson has over a decade of experience assisting clients heal and find peace from trauma, loss, anxiety, and depression. Her background in the healing industry includes a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy and a Certification as a Licensed Massage Therapist. Jenny works from the belief that what has happened in your life is part of your story, but it is not what defines you.
Connect with Jenny Emerson
Writer & Storytelling Strategist Randy Ford helps nonprofits, membership associations and individuals use storytelling to talk about the impact they have on the people around them. He began his career as a journalist and then spent 10 years as a senior aide to a member of Congress. He later served as Vice President of Strategic Communications for LRG Public Affairs before starting First Story Strategies in 2016. Randy also performs in live storytelling shows across the Chicago area.
Connect with Randy Ford
We explore the GSD Factor attribute Be Resilient with Suzanne Coker.
The choice to Be Resilient - the stamina, grit, and perseverance to acknowledge that life can be shit but how do we learn and grow and turn the negatives into positives.
Suzanne is a self-motivated and progress-driven Sr. Sales Executive with an extensive background in the insurance industry. With a long-standing record of initiative and innovation, she has developed and executed strategies that bring value to her Agent and Carrier Partners. Suzanne balances her insurance career in Rockwall, TX as a Wife, Mom, and Nana. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, volunteering at church, and shepherding one of eight butterfly gardens in Rockwall.
Connect with Suzanne on LinkedIn
We explore the GSD Factor attributes of Be Confident and Be Resilient with Henry Martin + Edwin Moreno as we dive into their stories about how they each approached the workforce with their culture heritage.
Be Confident - The power in knowing your true authentic self. You lead by example with confident assertiveness.
Be Resilient - The choice to persevere, to dig deep, and turn life’s negatives into positives.
Father and husband, Henry Martin worked most of my life in the hospitality industry before successfully pivoting into an insurance marketing position in corporate America. Solo traveling to 30 countries before he was 30 years old, he learned how to be comfortable with himself and confident in his decisions. He is a faithful believer that new experiences broaden the mind and new places grow the heart. Henry has had addresses in Tennessee, Guatemala, Spain, and Denmark, all in order to spend his life being part of another culture, learning something new every day, and living through experience.
Connect with Henry Martin on LinkedIn
Edwin Moreno is a producer for LR Windsor, an independent insurance brokerage in Chicago. He is dedicated to his personal and professional development. Edwin is currently a student and volunteer with the Wright Foundation to discover more about social and emotional intelligence. His 13+ years of experience in the insurance industry drove him to discover new skills and find ways he can express and connect more in a historically rigid industry. Edwin is fluent in Spanish, happily married and has a daughter, who is an amazing student and teacher. He is passionate about cooking, family, music and gaining/spreading knowledge.
Connect with Edwin Moreno on LinkedIn
We explore the GSD Factor attribute Be Present with Meg McKeen.
The ability to Be Present - to keep showing up, even if for a moment, it’s the art of starting to do something, anything, and trusting that process even when it seems that there are more pivots than plans and we live with the attitude of progress not perfection.
With roots in both underwriting and sales, through Adjunct Advisors, Meg McKeen holds space, at the crossroads of personal and professional development, for insurance professionals as they grow their confidence - and careers - through private coaching, consulting engagements, and the podcast she hosts, Bound & Determined℠.
Connect with Meg McKeen on LinkedIn
A story of courage, resiliency, and becoming a Mom. Christine is a corporate finance professional learning to balance her career with navigating new motherhood. With that comes a wide range of complex feelings, from trusting daycare, staying present in her marriage, becoming more secure in the decision to have one child, and discovering her new identity as a mother. These feelings are made even more nuanced because her journey to this point has involved an early loss as well as delivery and postpartum complications. She is passionate about sharing her joys and struggles openly in the hope that it can help other moms feel less alone.
Connect with Christine on LinkedIn or Instagram
Meet the RGirls who GSD! Bobbie Shrivastav, Laurel Jordan, Jes Vargas, Meg Duty, Kelly King, and Misha Bleymaier-Farrish.
That's right, our group was brought together because of our common love of Rothy's shoes, encouraging and empowering one another in the insurance and technology industries.
We met at a conference, noticed that we were all wearing our Rothy's shoes and it was an instant connection now turned friendships and the rest is history as they say. We now have a book club, connect at conferences throughout the year and the list goes on.
When living the GSD Factor life we talk about surrounding ourselves with two groups of people, your GSD Factor Clan which is for more of your personal growth and your Insiders Board which is for more of your professional growth.
We hope by sharing our story you remember to always be present in the moment and be open to who you may CONNECT to. It may surprise you!
We explore the GSD Factor attribute Be Imaginative with Lori Pon.
The determination to Be Imaginative - To dream big, never be satisfied with the status quo, be the innovating solutionist, to continue to break down barriers and say I’m here, what can we improve, what is impossible that we can make possible.
Lori Pon is the Assistant Vice President of Claims Transformation at The Hanover Insurance Group, where she oversees innovation, business case development, program management, organizational change management, and post-implementation evaluation. She is an insurance industry veteran of more than 20 years, and over the course of her career, she has successfully led the building and implementation of core platforms and integrations. Before joining The Hanover Insurance Group, she served in multiple leadership positions with The Auto Club Group, where she developed a holistic vision and roadmap for seamless service delivery leveraging innovation and process redesign.
Connect with Lori Pon on LinkedIn.
We explore the GSD Factor attribute Be Inquisitive with Melanie Husk.
The capacity to Be Inquisitive - We are always learning, always students of life. To walk in humility knowing that you are not the smartest person in the room but know how to mobilize the right team and people ensures that you are open to the fullness of life.
Melanie A. Husk, AAMS™, AWMA™ is the founder of MEL Consulting Co., a boutique fee-only financial planning and investment management practice. Her focus is on educating and empowering bada$$ GenXY women. She believes in acting in her client's best interests ahead of her own. She's also the founder of the Women In Tech & Their $ Stories Series. When she's not working, you can find her sailing around the world.
Connect with Melanie Husk on LinkedIn
Reference Lisa Wardlaw's LinkedIn Post:
Today, I overheard someone say this exact phrase “she’s a bit much” and I was disappointed. To think that this one statement can unravel of all of the decades of progress towards understanding, amplifying and embracing differences, including those women who are strong. I also reflected in that moment of how many women also heard the same statement yet few stepped up and ensure that we do not sit silently by. We all have a duty to change the narrative.
We invited Lisa to lean into this experience and conversation so that we may all learn what to do and in this case what not to do. We have made great improvements, but we can do better.
Lisa Wardlaw is an innovative, highly-experienced insurance executive who combines her deep decades of experience serving as CXO, CFO, COO, CSO for some of the largest insurance institutions (MunichRe, Famers, ING, Voya) with her entrepreneurial drive to rapidly help your start up succeed in the insurance industry. Lisa supports companies that she believes have a unique perspective and want to authentically usher in innovation insurance marketplace. Her thought leadership, ability to create innovative and ingenuitive insurance solutions across P&C, life and health insurance marketplace is leveraged to provide innovative guidance and solutions for all insurtechs across North America and globally.
Connect with Lisa Wardlaw on LinkedIn
We explore the GSD Factor attribute Be Confident with Precious Norman-Walton.
The power to Be Confident - The confidence to know your true authentic self, to know your voice, to speak your truth so that you are heard. You lead by example with assertiveness giving you a sense of empowerment and confidence.
Precious Norman-Walton is the Co-Founder and President of Lovejoy Risk Management Corp in Dallas, Texas. With almost 20 years of insurance industry experience, she has served in Personal Lines Claims, Commercial Underwriting, and Agency Management. Her commitment to lifelong learning has motivated her to obtain several highly recognized Insurance Designations, such as the CPCU (Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter), AIC (Associate in Claims), AIS (Associate in Insurance Services) and AINS (Associate in General Insurance). I am also a Human Resource professional with the SHRM-CP designation.
Connect with Precious on LinkedIn
Author and speaker Monica Wisdom has been carving her own path for many years. Traveling to over 19 countries and 34 states she has created opportunities through meeting and talking to some amazing people. Monica realized her passion was to interview people and so she Created the Black Female Factor to provide a platform for Black Women to have a voice and share their opinions. More recently she has launched her blog, Black Women Amplified, which has now progressed into a thriving Podcast.
Learn about the power of storytelling from a GSD woman that has been embracing this mantra her whole life. Monica Wisdom has forged a career from elevating the voices of Black Women around the world, creating a platform from which they can be heard and providing a beacon of light to guide people from their dark places within.
Monica Wisdom LinkedIn
Host Misha Bleymaier-Farrish
GSD Factor Website
The world is now taking DEI seriously, but this wasn’t always the case. Sometimes the best lessons are learned by looking back and understanding why change was needed in the first place, reflecting on why things were ever that way. When it comes to equality we can never sit back and say it's “Job Done.” So please join us with author of Undiscovered Voices, Sarah Muniz, as we discuss equality within our society and culture, to understand where it all began and to reflect on the impact of previous behaviors so we can continue to bring about meaningful change and unlock human potential.
Sarah Muniz LinkedIn
GSD Factor Website
Host Misha Bleymaier-Farrish
Episode 11 is the continuation of our panel guests. Theresa, Jennifer, and Vinita join host Misha Bleymaier-Farrish to discuss ways you can advocate for under-represented voices in insurance and tech.
Vinita Jajware-Beatty is President of the Toronto Insurance Women’s Association (TIWA), a not-for-profit trade association and serves as co-chair of Dive In Canada Linkedin
Theresa Blissing is the Founder of the Asia InsurTech Podcast and the Head of TDI Connect at The Digital Insurer, with extensive knowledge of the insurance industry in Europe and Asia Pacific. LinkedIn
Jennifer Wilson has over 28 years of experience in the insurance industry, primarily in the cyber, specialty claims and risk management sector. LinkedIn
GSD Factor Website
Host Misha Bleymaier-Farrish
Episode 10 features three special guests, all leaders in the insurance industry from around the globe. These thought leaders address the stigma of being a leader in a traditionally male-dominated space. This casual conversation will bring you solidarity in knowing – you are not alone.
Theresa is the Founder of the Asia InsurTech Podcast and the Head of TDI Connect at The Digital Insurer, with extensive knowledge of the insurance industry in Europe and Asia Pacific.
Jennifer has over 28 years of experience in the insurance industry, primarily in the cyber, specialty claims and risk management sector.
Vinita Jajware-Beatty is President of the Toronto Insurance Women’s Association (TIWA), a not-for-profit trade association and serves as co-chair of Dive In Canada
Do you really have the time to do everything that you need to do on a daily basis to grow your business? And the answer is simple. The answer is no. Join us with podcast guest Monica Adwani as we discuss – how do you know when you need to ask for help? How can you get sh!t done when you know you need to take a step back, to move forward?
Monica Adwani is a young and dynamic leader committed to growth, innovation, and transformation. It's her focus to drive impact by changing the way people think and perform within the Insurance Industry.
Transcend with M Podcast
GSD Factor
Melissa Blatt has over 20 + years of business development and marketing experience. She has found success in executing innovative campaigns, strengthening the customer base and expanding market reach in New York, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and Phoenix.
When she left the corporate world to go out on her own, she was desperate for quality affordable healthcare. Knowing she wasn't alone and part of a growing economy of 57 million, she learned self-employed people pay over 3x the rates or go without healthcare. In 2019, she took her biggest leap and created indipop, a healthcare marketplace for the Independent Population of self-employed professionals. Curating high value plans with stellar reviews to fit individual, family or small business budgets and needs. lndipop is now in its second year and expanding services, resources and health plan options.
www.indipop.co www.instagram.com/theindipop
Stacie Marlowe has spent over a decade in the non-profit world, from front-line worker to Director of Development. As Stacie embodies the GSD Factor of being an Innovative Solutionist, she brings her passion for changing her corner of the world in all her endeavors.
Does your client base know you well enough to tell your story for you? Well, they should. Creating ambassadors and building community is what it’s all about. But how can you do that in today’s world? By innovating, learning, building new tools, constantly stretching, and growing. Join us to learn from Stacie Marlow as she spotlights what it’s like to be a non-profit leader!
staciemarlowe.com
Lauren Ruth Martin is a ‘woo girl,’ turned licensed professional counselor speaker and host of The 9toKind Podcast. Her primary clinical focuses are maladaptive perfectionism, chronic depression, and over-control burnout. She is dedicated to assisting people in unlearning the hustle culture and living a life that is guided by their values.
She joins us to discuss “burnout” and offer tips on creating minor adjustments that can significantly impact your work and home life.
The 9toKind Podcast
www.laurenruthmartin.com
Melissa Unsell-Smith is a company founder three times over, an automation expert, and a data privacy leader. She joins us to chat about Catalytic Icon, a platform for female founders to collaborate, grow, and gain proximity to role models.
Catalytic Icon
Rectify
Elisa Stampf is a passionate advocate for improving workplace culture and ensuring that everyone feels welcome. She spent over 13 years in financial and insurance industries feeling out of place. In 2021 Elisa co-founded Insure Equality to change the displacement she felt in an industry that is about taking care of people. She loves art (making it and viewing it), and board games with friends. You can find her curled up on her couch or traveling (no in-between).
https://insureequality.org
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisa-stampf-she-her/
Awais Farooq is the US Insurance Practice Lead at ActiveOps, responsible for helping industry leaders drive measurable results in their organizations through innovative technology and management process automation. Awais has over fourteen years of insurance industry experience, both operationally and including serving as a trusted leader at organizations including State Farm, Chubb and Berkshire Hathaway Guard Insurance Companies.
Awais holds a Master’s degree in Insurance Management from Boston University. He holds numerous designations and is an active member of the insurance community where he serves as a mentor to professionals in various areas.
Awais.Farooq@activeops.com
Guests Emilio Goldenhersch and Luciano Lopatin from Mind Cotine join us to discuss their ground-breaking technology that has achieved unprecedented results. MindCo is changing the game on care delivery in behavioral health, by improving adoption and efficacy directly from home to close the gap of access, by providing an outpatient/remote immersive cognitive training platform to help millions of people.
Mind Co Website https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindcotine/
Emilio Goldenhersch https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilio-goldenhersch-909394119/
Luciano Lopatin https://www.linkedin.com/in/luciano-lopatin/
www.gsdfactor.com
Misha Bleymaier-Farrish is the founder of GSD Factor. She is highly organized and can get a lot of sh*t done by talking and acting fast. She believes that every single one of us has the GSD factor inside of us and desires to help you realize that you are the key to changing your outcomes.
Misha is an entrepreneur, CEO, career coach, speaker, technology strategist, insurance expert, program management specialist, military family member, board member of a non-profit organization, mentor, wife and mother.
Welcome to the GSD Factor Podcast.
GSD Podcast features conversations with leaders and experts in various fields and industries ranging from insurance and diversity in the workplace to technology and everything in between.