The Great Work of Your Life™
You’ll really get to know accomplished leaders beyond surface level things like where they live now and how they spend their free time. These leaders have proven that you can do what you love despite the naysayers and one’s own limiting beliefs.
What guests have in common is they have found their True North and stayed the course as they weathered and welcomed major life transitions. They have pushed backed on societal assumptions and rewritten the discourse on what constitutes success. They are making impact, and they know what it feels like to be fulfilled in their careers.
This interview series is dedicated to the underdogs, the introverts, the C-students and those uncomfortable with self-promotion. It focuses on people who responded to the beat they drummed. They were moved and inspired to realize their true calling, their kismet, their raison d’etre, their ne plus ultra, their dharma, their ikigai.
The series is modeled after the Inside the Actors Studio hosted by the late James Lipton for 22 seasons, filmed at Pace University. The show is still running using a rotating panel of hosts. The questionnaire concept was originated by French television personality Bernard Pivot on his show Apostrophes, after the Proust questionnaire, which ran for 15 years and was one of the most watched shows on French television. Proust believed that an individual’s true nature could be revealed by answering these key questions.
We trust their work inspires you too.
Rogers Omollo
I'm beyond excited to introduce a true changemaker who is redefining social impact in Homa Bay, Kenya. Meet Rogers Omollo, a visionary leader whose work transcends traditional boundaries of community service.
As the founder of Activate Action, Rogers has:
Established two youth-friendly centers providing safe spaces for young people
Mentored countless individuals in critical life skills
Created support systems for youth facing HIV, disability, unemployment, and mental health challenges
But his impact doesn't stop there. Rogers is a: ✦ Mandela Washington Fellow ✦ National HIV Steering Committee Member ✦ Malaria Youth Army Activist ✦ ONE Champion for East Africa ✦ Global Peace Ambassador for Homa-Bay County
His mission?
To systematically address HIV, malaria, and poverty while building a more inclusive, compassionate society.
With an impressive educational background spanning community health, counseling, and international development, Rogers embodies the spirit of transformative leadership. His work challenges stigma and creates pathways for marginalized communities to access essential services and realize their full potential.
Jordan Anderson
Jordan Anderson is the president/CEO of Jordan Anderson Inc, and a masterful entrepreneur who transformed a basement startup into a $7 million advertising powerhouse and now in the autumn of his career, is now pivoting into coaching men to navigate their thorniest challenges.
Watch to learn more about:
• How his ad agency moved from the basement to Soho is a testament to his audacious vision
• How he came to found ProductYou Career Services to empower entrepreneurs through strategic personal marketing
• His multidimensional approach that blends technical expertise with creative vision
• His professional DNA, including his foundation in economics, his work as a SCORE mentor, and his many roles as a marketing expert, keynote speaker, and multi-dimensional business strategist
A Bronx native and father of five boys, Anderson embodies the multifaceted nature of true leadership. His passion for comedy and Broadway musicals hints at the creative spirit that fuels his entrepreneurial drive—a reminder that great work is as much about personal authenticity as professional achievement.
Dan Smolen
Dan Smolen, is the executive producer and host of WHAT'S YOUR WORK FIT? the first-of-its-kind interactive live show bringing together business and workplace thought leaders, hiring managers, and career seekers.
Dan invites guests who challenge the traditional notions of work and workplace and encourages his viewers to seek their own WORK FIT.
Why?
“So that work becomes a wonderful part of their day doing other wonderful things, and not the all-consuming time-suck of a day,” he says.
The average number of working hours in a year is 2,080 and, according to the US Bureau of Labor & Statistics, the average person will spend 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime!
The live show streams and is available for playback on LinkedIn and YouTube as well as being available as an audio podcast wherever people listen. A super Dad, Dan is based in the Washington, D.C., suburbs of Northern Virginia.
Lara Burnside, MHA, CEC
Lara Burnside is the co-founder of CSE Leadership, LLC. Lara shares her powerful journey of working with over 200 hospitals globally to improve healthcare systems by focusing on human-centered care and leadership. Learn how her work has led to top performance in patient experience, achieving high Net Promoter Scores, and recognition like the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award.
Lara talks about what gives her energy and fulfillment, including teaching and guiding others through transformational challenges in their careers. She also discusses what drains her and how she avoids getting bogged down by unnecessary drama or excuses. Discover the keys to success in healthcare leadership, the importance of diversity of thought, and how to unlock your highest potential.
Tune in to hear Lara's insights on finding personal fulfillment, defining success, and fostering innovative solutions. This conversation is a must-watch for healthcare professionals, leaders, and anyone interested in learning how to thrive in complex systems while making a meaningful impact.
Dr. Lili Sussman
Dr. Lili Sussman is a Harvard PhD in decision-making and Australia's 2023 Female Tech Leader of the Year. Dr. Sussman shares her incredible journey from scaling tech businesses and consulting with Boston Consulting Group to overcoming a life-changing brain injury. Discover how this experience reshaped her perspective on life, leadership, and resilience.
Join us as Dr. Sussman reveals her proven system for coaching CEOs and leadership teams, unlocking sustainable 10x growth without burnout. She dives into how emotional intelligence, brain science, and deep human connection drive true transformation and lasting success. Dr. Sussman also opens up about her personal challenges, how she found strength in vulnerability, and how this has shaped her purpose of fostering healing and growth in both business and life.
Whether you’re a business leader, entrepreneur, or someone navigating personal transformation, this conversation offers powerful insights on finding balance, connection, and purpose.
Dr. Ricardo J. Whyte
Dr. Ricardo Whyte is an extraordinary leader in psychiatry who's changing how we think about burnout and mental resilience.
Originally from Bedford-Stuyvesant Brooklyn, he has become a double board-certified psychiatrist, and his journey is nothing short of inspiring.
Current highlights:
- Founder, Master Mind Institute
- Section Chief of Psychiatry, Community Hospital of San Bernardino
- Double Board Certified in Adolescent/Adult Psychiatry and Addiction Psychiatry
- UCLA Fellowship graduate in Addiction Psychiatry
His powerful message? "If you can master your mind, you can master your life."
In this episode of The Great Work of Your Life Interview Series, Dr. Whyte unveils his groundbreaking “Killing Burnout” program, designed to enhance resilience through habit formation and routine building. His insights are both practical and profound.
Alexandra Howson PhD, CHCP, FACEhp, E-RYT
She teaches people with a clinical, academic, or science background to “write medicine”—and to run a successful business doing it.
Alexandra Howson PhD, CHCP, FACEhp, E-RYT is the director of learning for Write Medicine and host of the Write Medicine podcast. She believes continuing medical education/continuing education writing is a sweet spot ripe with opportunity.
Howson has published her own writing in peer-reviewed journals and is about to publish her fourth book, WriteCME Roadmap: How to thrive in continuing medical education with no experience, no network and no clue. Order your copy here.
Formerly a trauma OR nurse and a faculty member at the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh, Howson is now based in Snoqualmie, Washington, and teaches courses at the University of Chicago on medical writing and medical editing ethics.
She’s a writer, mentor and educator times 10! You won’t want to miss her great ideas, so be sure to tune in!
Ming Wang, MD, PhD
Dr. Ming Wang is a world-class cataract and LASIK eye surgeon, philanthropist, and community activist. He is the founding director of Wang Vision Institute and a Clinical Professor for Meharry Medical College, both in Nashville, TN.
Dr. Wang has performed over 55,000 procedures, including over 4,000 doctors. He has published over 100 papers, including one in the world-renowned journal Nature, as well as 10 ophthalmic textbooks. He was also the subject of the film, Sight.
Dr. Wang's website: https://drmingwang.com/
To stream “Sight”:
1. Click https://angel.com/sight
2. $12 (Angel guild basic membership, join the 350,000 guild members)!
3. Watch “Sight” AND all other Angel movies for FREE!
“Sight” (streamed at angel.com/sight produced by Open River Entertainment and distributed by Angel Studios (which distributed “Sound of Freedom”)), is based on the autobiography “From Darkness to Sight” of Dr. Ming Wang, Harvard & MIT (MD, magna cum laude); PhD (laser physics), co-starring Greg Kinnear. The film has won:
The top prize (Best Picture) at 50th ICVM International Christian Film Award;
A top prize (Best Narrative Feature Premiere) at Heartland International Film Festival.
To request Dr. Wang's "77 Pearls" booklet, please send Mary your info through her website: https://revealinggenius.com/contact/
Patricia DiVecchio
Patricia DiVecchio, is the CEO and founder of International Purpose LLC (internationalpurpose.com), a consulting firm and social enterprise that partners with organizations worldwide to guide leaders to evolve and modernize the mental model of how they operationalize their work.
She also leads global small business groups called Purposeful Business Circles. I’m a proud member of one!
Purposeful Business Circles are based on Patricia’s proprietary transformational methodology, ‘Seven Evolutionary ToolsTM (https://www.internationalpurpose.com/model.html), which she designed to foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth. You can find these tools in her book, “EVOLUTIONARY WORK: Unleashing Your Potential in Extraordinary Times” (https://www.internationalpurpose.com/evolutionarywork.html).
Patricia’s focus is to challenge outdated thinking and establish new behaviors and actions for dynamic change to occur. The core of her work evolves the mindset and social skills of individuals towards impacting their self-perception and worth; exponentially growing and developing their work; and becoming more effective in their journey to self-reliance.
Patricia has trained government staff throughout the U.S., and in Egypt, Afghanistan and Nigeria, and has spoken at national and international conferences.
Her 10-year goal is to develop regional Purposeful Business Incubators worldwide as a new paradigm of work that feeds both the pocketbook and soul.
Ardeshir Mehran, Ph.D.
Ardeshir Mehran, Ph.D., is the founder and principal of Human Work Studio (ardeshirmehran.com), where high achievers come to learn science-based practices that will help them restore themselves and grow.
Dr. Mehran is on a life mission to alleviate the experience of depression, anxiety and burnout to help people improve relationships with themselves and their teams, families and communities.
Dr. Mehran holds a Ph.D. in organizational psychology from Columbia University and is the author of “You Are Not Depressed, You Are Un-finished.” https://a.co/d/9i70ihl
He is also the founder of The Bill of Emotional Rights (ardeshirmehran.com/copy-of-bio).
Dani Meier, Ph.D., WSW, MA
Dani Meier Ph.D., is an iconoclastic leader who challenges settled beliefs.
Dani’s background is eclectic, with training in clinical social work and cultural geography. He’s been a therapist, school social worker, adjunct professor, college administrator and C-suite executive.
He’s also an advocate for the prevention of bullying, violence and discrimination against women, LGBTQ+ youth, and racial and ethnic minorities—and brings important ideas to the table in terms of “radical empathy.”
Currently chief clinical officer at Mid-State Health Network (midstatehealthnetwork.org) which oversees the public behavioral health system for a 21-county region in the heart of Michigan's lower peninsula, Dani talks with me in the show about the community initiatives he has directed or chaired.
The Penguin Project
Andrew Morgan, M.D., (https://penguinproject.org/our-founder/) and Nora Paine, empower children and adults with special needs through theatre shows performed throughout the US, including my hometown of Tampa, Florida!
A fellowship-trained developmental pediatrician, Dr. Morgan is the co-founder and director of The Penguin Project (https://penguinproject.org/). He’s been on the academic faculty at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria since 1981 and is currently professor emeritus of clinical pediatrics there.
A practicing clinician, Dr. Morgan has provided diagnosis and treatment for thousands of children with developmental disabilities including children with cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, genetic disorders and ADHD.
Dr. Morgan also has been actively involved in community theater for more than 30 years as a performer, choreographer, and director. Twenty years ago, he combined his professional expertise and his passion for theater to create the Penguin Project, a community theater program featuring young actors with special needs working in partnership with peer mentors.
The Penguin Project has been replicated in 60 locations in 21 states, including Tampa, Florida, where Nora Paine has been a stage manager, production manager and director for almost 50 productions at New Tampa Players since 2008.
Nick Craig
He has helped more than 25,0000 leaders discover their purpose, the unique gift they bring to the world.
Nick Craig is the president and founder of CLI, the Core Leadership Institute, a global leadership development firm committed to waking up those who will wake up the many.
In 2007, he began collaborating with Professor Bill George at Harvard Business School, which led to co-authoring Finding Your True North, a Personal Guide, which became the course book for the Harvard Business School MBA class on authentic leadership.
Nick has published many Harvard Business Review articles, including Purpose to Impact; Purpose, Meaning and Passion; and How to Lead with Purpose. I often share his articles when I facilitate courses for Cornell University.
Nick’s clients include Lego Group, Ben & Jerry’s and the US Military Academy. He wrote about this work in his 2018 book Leading with Purpose. He also hosts the Leading with Purpose podcast.
Delida Costin, JD
She's “a damn good lawyer.”
A former public company operator & five-time corporate secretary, @Delida Costin is an emerging technology veteran known for moving “first of its kind” things forward in AI, consumer technology and consumer products, cybersecurity and data governance.
Delida set industry ad standards as a corporate securities lawyer with CNET, advised Lynda.com on its $1.2B sale to LinkedIn and guided Pandora Media & Grove Collaborative through IPOs.
She now collaborates with chief legal officers to shift their teams from perceived cost centers to indispensable members of the c-suite and boardroom.
Her board affiliations include the Emmy award-winning ITVS—Independent Television Service and First Star, which is successfully helping foster children find the path to positive futures after they age out.
She’s currently the thought leader on #GenerationalInfiltration, that is, building wealth that lasts for generations, particularly for those who don’t normally get access to it. She also has an interesting perspective on imposter syndrome, which we will unpack in our conversation today, and which she’ll speak to in her TedX Santa Barbara on Aug. 7, 2024 https://tedxsantabarbara.com/?episode=delida-costin-defying-imposter-syndrome
You won’t want to miss an opportunity to hear Delida’s perspectives.
John Hsu, MD
Dr. John Hsu uses his medical training and business savvy to support healthy living through better pain and medication management.
A practicing anesthesiologist, chronic pain manager, and addiction medicine physician, John Hsu MD, is a serial entrepreneur. In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Hsu has started several companies, including Quivive Pharma, which is using a two-year, $1.9 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (one of the National Institutes on Health), to run a clinical trial in partnership with the Cleveland Clinic; Fentavive, which sells a Fentanyl patch that’s an oral drug abuse deterrent; a real estate investment trust founded in the name of his father-in-law, who helped him get through medical school; and NAOMI systems, a digital software platform integrating digital X-ray devices, practice management, EMR and RCM billing systems.
iPill Dispenser is Hsu’s most recent undertaking. The dispenser brings care to patients with opioid use disorder who have difficulty accessing care. It enables remote medication adherence monitoring, secure biometric home storage that gives access only to the person with the prescription, and destruction of unused pills.
iPill Dispenser is Hsu’s calling, his way to leave a legacy in the better treatment of opioid use disorder.
Kate Bee
Growing up in the era of Sex and the City and Bridget Jones, Kate Bee, believed her drinking was simply what successful, independent women did. After all, she was a journalist and TV producer for the BBC. Drinking after work was how people socialized.
Except, according to her professional bio, Kate was tired of feeling hungover and ashamed about what felt like more drinking than was healthy.
When she decided to get sober, she was disappointed to find the only real support was designed for full-blown alcoholics. She attended a few meetings through Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. but left feeling like she didn’t fit in because she was getting sober before her drinking had negatively impacted her work or relationships. There seemed to be no middle ground.
So, Kate founded The Sober School in Greater Manchester, UK, where she coaches women through early sobriety and helps them navigate alcohol-free living without feeling deprived or miserable.
Kristin Shroeder, MD
Let’s give any child diagnosed with cancer the same chance of cure regardless of where they live—because, it turns out, the wide access gap that currently exists can be closed.
While pediatric cancer has a survival rate of nearly 85% in many developed countries, cancer care is essentially non-existent in many hospitals across low-income countries. For nearly a decade, Kristin Schroeder, M.D., MPH, and iCCARE, https://www.i-ccare.org, which Dr. Schroeder co-founded, have worked to deliver and improve cancer care with curative therapies, as well as supportive and palliative care at Bugando Medical Centre in Mwanza, Tanzania.
Through Dr. Schroeder’s efforts, the survival rate for her patients has risen to 50% in the eight years she has spent in western Tanzania.
Dr. Schroeder is an associate professor of pediatrics, associate research professor of global health and a member of the Duke Cancer Institute at Duke University School of Medicine.
Marine Celia Hamou
Marine is a global talent expert who helps CEOs, owners and founders get clarity on where they want to go, who they need on their teams to get there, and how they can ensure they are set up for success in achieving their goals from a people and process perspective.
She is also an expert at reinvention. She has reinvented herself several times over the course of her career—and even chose, unapologetically, to take some breaks.
The bulk of Marine’s experience is in services where human capital is the “product.”
Please note: There are 10 psychiatrists in Togo for a population of 8 million and not 8 psychiatrists for 1 million as stated in this interview.
Colleen Sweeney
Colleen Sweeney is the founder and owner of Sweeney Healthcare Enterprises.
We are in a climate that calls for thinking like no one else about the patient experience. Through her speaking and consulting, Colleen aims to change the minds and behaviors of caregivers, thus positively impacting outcomes for patients and organizations.
Shary Hauer, MCC
Shary Hauer, MCC, is the founder and CEO of The Hauer Group, an executive coaching company serving over 700 leaders in over 70 global organizations for over 25 years in the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean, Latin America, Canada and Europe. Before founding her firm, Shary worked in marketing and strategic planning.
On a mission to “heal the corporate soul one leader, one organization at a time,” Shary has worked with the Ken Blanchard companies for 21 years with clients including SAP, Lexis-Nexis, ConAgra, Marriott, Nissan, Federal Reserve Bank, the US Air Force, AARP and, in the healthcare sector, Astra Zeneca, WellPoint, Wellspan York Hospital, Anthem, Baycare Health System and Cleveland Clinic.
Dr. Richard Safeer
Richard Safeer MD, is the first author to provide a step-by-step roadmap for creating a culture of well-being in the workplace.
That roadmap is described in his book, “A Cure for the Common Company: A Well-Being Prescription for a Happier, Healthier, and More Resilient Workforce,” published by Wiley. Dr. Safeer’s roadmap integrates science with practical solutions as demonstrated by the numerous real stories from successful companies.
Cathi Gillotti Nelson
She preserves and celebrates people’s life stories.
You won’t want to miss the next episode of the Great Work of Your Life Interview Series featuring Cathi Gillotti Nelson.
A Wesleyan alum, Cathi’s passion for the last 15 years has been preserving memories and legacy storytelling. She is CEO of The Photo Managers, thephotomanagers.com, which focuses on digitizing cherished memories to ensure they are passed down for generations. Her global network has turned scattered photo collections into curated legacies.
Debra Dion Krischke
Debra Dion Krischke has long applied her innovation and event planning genius to supporting worthy causes.
Pre-pandemic, Krischke’s signature events, such as Foodie Fundraising, generated millions in seed money and operating capital for women’s non-profit organizations. She also is the mastermind behind the Glass Slipper Ball, which has raised more than $2 million in cities across the nation, supporting the empowerment of women and girls.
Tina Guanting Qui, MD, Ph.D.
Tina Guanting Qui (Qui pronunciation sounds like “chew”), MD, Ph.D., president/CEO of Ophthalmic Therapeutic Innovation LLC, built teams to lead pharmacology drug delivery innovation for glaucoma and retinal diseases for Glaxo Smith-Kline, Inotek, Sucampo and Astellas. She also was chief medical officer for BetaStem Therapeutics, an executive consultant for LambdaVision and Lineage Cell Therapeutics, and has led data-driven clinical investigations on diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration.
Dr. Charu Raheja
As a Ph.D. teaching finance to MBA students and execs, Dr. Raheja thought she had found the great work of her life. But then a family tragedy triggered a major pivot into healthcare.
Now Dr. Raheja is on a very personal mission to save lives through remote healthcare services and was named a standout member of Women Business Leaders, the premiere network of female executives.
Shamit Patel
Shamit Patel, is the CEO of Alpha Nodus, the creator of Gravity Healthcare, a suite of AI-enabled scheduling solutions for diagnostic imaging centers. These solutions ensure patients get seen faster and that no appointment slot goes to waste.
A headline on the company’s website reads, “where artificial intelligence meets human brilliance.” The promise of these solutions is that “your AI sidekicks are here to ensure a seamless patient journey in outpatient diagnostic imaging.” I’ve experienced a demo on my mobile, and it’s the way of the future.
David L. Schreiner, Ph.D.
David L. Schreiner, Ph.D., served for 35 years and now is president/CEO of KSB Hospital (Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital), a voluntary, nonprofit, acute care hospital in rural Dixon, Illinois, the boyhood home of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan.
Dr. Schreiner earned a Ph.D. and a master’s in philosophy in values-driven leadership from Benedictine University. He also holds an MHA in healthcare administration from the University of St. Francis, where he teaches graduate-level healthcare administrators.
Dr. Stella Park
Stella Park, ND, has been a practicing naturopathic doctor and an energy healer. She holds a doctoral diploma from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine.
Dr. Park supports clients in overcoming significant health challenges by understanding how to heal from the inside out so they and those around them can experience the bliss and freedom of wellness in body, mind and spirit.
Dr. Park’s knowledge of the body and the right brain and left brain thought processes is vast. She shares her wisdom in 1:1 coaching and through online courses. Her clients look forward to her mindful meditations.
Her calm and assuring presence is one of her many gifts.
Nancy May
Meet Nancy May, president/CEO and founder of Board Bench Companies (boardbench.com), selected by Forbes magazine as one of the top five governance experts in America.
She is the producer of the respected Boardrooms’ Best podcast, where she talks about company board quality, continuity, succession, plus placing executives, especially women, in coveted board positions for public, private and nonprofit organizations.
Speaking of coveted board positions, May serves on the Global Advisory Board for Docusign, and is chairman of the board for Economic Ventures. She also is listed in the Who’s Who of Global Business Leaders.
Jennifer Bencie, MD
In August 2009, Dr. Bencie became the county health officer for the Florida Department of Health in Manatee County overseeing a staff of 150 and a $10 million budget.
The agency is involved in many population health initiatives, including worksite wellness, school health, environmental monitoring and, most recently, the COVID-19 response. In her 24-plus years with the Department of Health, Dr. Bencie has also served in leadership roles in the health departments in Orange, Seminole, Miami-Dade and Bay counties, as well at the state health office in Tallahassee, overseeing the Division of Emergency Medical Operations.
Andrea Stevenson Conner
She is a fierce advocate for the 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁, which demonstrates how empowering women can lead to economic growth, healthier families, and the elimination of poverty worldwide. She advocates for women's leadership, gender equality, diversity and inclusion. She is known as a thought leader on global citizenship and has held leadership roles in four different countries. She draws on her experience in nonprofit organizations and global education including her service as President of ATHENA International (USA), the World Academy for the Future of Women (China), and Bonn International School (Germany).She recently received a DEI certification from Cornell University. Meet the very inspirational and dedicated professional, Andrea Stevenson Conner.
Martha Mayhood Mertz
In 1982, ATHENA International, a non-partisan, not-profit organization was founded by this inspiring woman. ATHENA International develops, supports and honors women and girls from the classroom to the boardroom through programs based on the eight principles of the ATHENA Leadership Model (ALM): Act authentically. Learn constantly. Advocate fiercely. Act courageously. Foster collaboration. Build relationships. Give back. Celebrate. Three decades later, it has become a global movement reaching 48 states, 11 countries, 8,000 leaders in over 500 regions. She is dedicated to building a global pipeline of women leaders who create a balance in the voices of leadership worldwide and is also the author of this beautiful book, Becoming ATHENA: Eight Principles of Enlightened Leadership. May I introduce to you, Ms. Martha Mayhood Mertz.
Monica Stynchula
Monica is the CEO and Founder of Credit for Caring by REUNIONCare, Inc, a virtual social worker and e-commerce caregiver support platform. It connects those requiring care with their family members, caregivers and professional health care provide.
An SBA certified woman-owned business, she was appointed by Congress to the USA Small Business Administration National Women’s Business Council and participated in the White House Conference on Aging. On the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration Telehealth Advisory Council, she was instrumental in developing the state’s first comprehensive telehealth statute.
Rita Colwell, PhD
Dr. Colwell is a distinguished University Professor at University of Maryland, College Park and Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is a chairman emeritus at Canon US Life Sciences, Inc., and president and chairman of CosmosID, Inc. She was featured in the book Lessons Learned: Stories from Women Leaders in STEM by Dr. Deborah Shlian. Dr. Colwell's life’s work has been focused on global infectious diseases, water, and health. She developed an international network to address emerging infectious diseases and water issues, including safe drinking water for both the developed and developing world.
Rahul N. Mehra, MD
Dr. Mehra is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology as a Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist. He serves as the CEO and Chief Physician Executive of National Center for Performance Health (NCPH). He is also the founder of a ground-breaking concept called Emotional Vaccines which provides resiliency education including a library of hundreds of videos featuring proactive, evidence-based content, each designed with non-clinical messaging and simple, easy-to-follow steps to empower anyone with the knowledge and education they need to transform their lives.
Hieu Bui, MD MBA FACHE
Dr. Bui dwells at the intersection of Finance, Human Capital Management and Data Analytics. He is obsessed with employee engagement and how to ensure the good people stick. He is a board certified radiologist with a fellowship in musculoskeletal radiology from the University of Alabama Birmingham. Dr. Bui is also an entrepreneur and a Human Capital Metrics & Analytics Consultant.
Alex Skijus
Alex is the Founder of True Life Wealth Management. He works with successful families, helping them understand the truth about their wealth, the tax of it, how to optimize financial opportunities - how to make them even more successful than they are right now. He is a visionary by helping families visualize what they could and should be so they can get the most success and happiness out of their career, daily lifestyle, and retirement.
Valerie Ellis Lavin
Valerie recently received an Apogee award for her visionary leadership and her commitment to fostering entrepreneurship among military veterans and their family members. She has been recognized twice as Businesswoman of the Year. During her military service in the US Army, she received the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Veteran's of Foreign Affairs Still Serving Honoree Award. She is the CEO of Luminary Global, a company supporting the men and women who are the lifeline between preventable death and hospital care by supplying them with superior pre-hospital products and emergency preparedness supplies to military, first responders, law enforcement and citizens.
Paul Furiga
Paul is the President and Chief Storyteller of WordWrite, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's largest independent public relations agency and go-to crisis communications firm. Paul has always been passionate about storytelling and it is truly the Great Work of His Life. Paul is the author of, Finding Your Capital S Story where he shares his trademarked StoryCrafting process guaranteed to uncover the most important story of all, the one that answers these questions: Why someone should buy from you, work for you, invest in you or partner with you.
Faina Linkov, PhD
Dr. Faina Linkov holds a PhD in Epidemiology and is a Department Chair at
Duquesne University. Her grant-based research has been focused on global health, cancer prevention, obesity, inflammatory markers, educational technologies, and scientific productivity. Dr. Linkov is also an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh and is enthusiastic about the international collaborations she is building through research that will impact student populations worldwide. She has published over 70 research papers and chapters on cancer, epidemiology, and global health and has earned many awards throughout her career.
Deborah Shlian, MD, MBA
Deborah Shlian is a board certified family practitioner with more than three decades of clinical and management experience serving Kaiser Permanente and UCLA. Deborah is a healthcare consultant and author of numerous nonfiction articles and books as well as six award winning medical mystery/thrillers, three co-authored with her husband, Joel. Her most recent inspiring book, Lessons Learned: Stories from Women Leaders in STEM, profiles 29 women scientists who defied the odds to become leaders in STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics). Deborah proactively lifts up and sponsors women in healthcare management.
Aaron Cohen-Gadol, MD, MSc, MBA
Dr. Aaron Cohen-Gadol is a neurosurgeon who has made it his life's work to meticulously study and advance the art of brain surgery. He's known for taking on the most difficult surgical cases and his surgical philosophy focuses on efficient and minimally invasive surgery. He is a relentless innovator committed to technical excellence achieving the best possible outcomes for his patients. He's a surgeon, professor, researcher, author, speaker, mentor, and he is a pioneer. He is the CEO and Founder of The Atlas Enterprise and it's flagship organization, The Neurosurgical Atlas which is known as the Bible for neurosurgery.
Denise S. Brown, MD
Dr. Denise S. Brown is the CEO of Fident (formerly TeleHealth Solution), a telehealth medicine firm in Dallas, TX that specializes in rural medicine. Prior to becoming CEO, Dr. Brown was the Chief Growth Officer for Vituity (formerly CEP America), a physician-owned, multi-specialty healthcare partnership that provide integrated solutions for hospitals and health systems through a massive network. She started in CA at Sequoia Hospital where she was the first Hospitalist in the country.
Michele Young
Michele young has taught Special Education for 30 years in Hilsborough County, FL and recently made a very interesting pivot. She graduated from FSU with a degree in Visual Impairment. She has taught blind and visually impaired, multi-handicapped children for over 19 years. She served in an administrative role, and then as an Exceptional Student Education Specialist and for the remainder of her career, she has taught adults with intellectual disabilities. She has won many awards for her important work.
Liz Bryant
Liz Bryant, Founder of Liz Bryant Business Etiquette, a former award-winning television journalist grew up in a home where manners mattered. Trained and licensed by The Protocol School of Washington, she’s created a thriving business doing what she loves best. She offers training, coaching and courses on multiple topics including Zoometiquette, Job Interviewing and International business diplomacy. Her advice was recently featured in Southern Living Magazine.
Joe Polanin
Joe Polanin describes himself as “a kid from New Jersey who couldn’t swim until he was 17, yet went on to work with Navy Seals.” His guidance counselor said “no one from your high school had ever gone to the Naval Academy.” As valedictorian, even his brothers and sisters asked, “don’t you want to be a doctor, lawyer, something else?” He said that every time someone told him he couldn’t do it, it gave him more fuel. He recently retired from a 30-year career in the US Navy as one of the top 1% of senior leaders, and founded the Alaka’i Leadership Group to help organizations mobilize high performance teams, ensuring a culture of honor and humility.
Dr. Loren Isakson
Dr. Loren Isakson, physician/owner of North Star Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in Tampa, FL is also an advisor to life science startups, an entrepreneur and a musician. In his spare time, he plays the drums for a band with other doctors called Simian Theory, playing for fun and raising funds for worthy causes. He believes that patient care is clearly at the heart of the great work of his life, however, he feels he’s just hitting his stride
Jane Allen
Jane Allen says she’s passionate about certain career development assessments because one literally saved her life. She read the results and had an epiphany. It confirmed what she intuitively knew. Jane is the CEO of SmartWork Network, a company that provides executive search, talent consulting and predictive assessments based on self-management science.
John N. Wenzlau
John felt like he needed to make people feel better, operate better, and have an overall better quality of life. He says he didn’t choose this path; it chose him. He's on a mission to do something to increase the well-being and lifestyle of seniors as they age.
John is wildly enthusiastic about the art of successful aging and empowering seniors to live energetic lives.
Kevin McCarthy
The tagline for his website is Putting Purpose to Work. His genius is that he has created an online, "ingeniously fast, and forever meaningful" tool to help folks find their 2-word purpose statement. He says the essence of life is anytime you are putting your purpose to work. Kevin W. McCarthy, the "Professor of On-Purpose," has invested decades of his life answering the philosophical question, “Why do I exist?”
Paulette Green
For as long as she can remember, she has been engaged in doing something creative. Paulette Green can’t see herself doing anything else. She has 80,000+ hours behind her brand, has single-handedly created over 100 logos, and is the recipient of prestigious awards for visual communications art and graphic design. This year she hit a HUGE milestone, celebrating 20 years of being the owner of P Green Design. Her mission is Creating Lasting Imprints to Make Brands Come Alive, Thrive, Endure, and Ultimately Influence the Bottom Line.
Valerie Bogle
She has been a lifestyle model and actor throughout Florida and beyond for companies like Coca Cola, Sirata Hotel and Brighthouse Networks. She has worked with multiple ad agencies as the art director doing photo shoots and branding work for clients like Celebrity and Royal Caribbean Cruises, Toyota, Lincoln Financial, Buffalo Wild Wings, Publix and Marriott Hotels & Resorts and their sub brands. Since 2012, the talented, Valerie Bogle has been on a mission to create confidence in her clients through the art of her “magazine style photography” as the owner of Flourish.