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.
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.
His doctoral dissertation, “What CEO Practices Help Rural Hospitals Engage Constituents in Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous Times?” has been presented to leadership groups from all industries across the United States, Canada and Ireland.
Dr. Schreiner is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (one of only 8,700 in the world!) and certified by Harvard Business School in growing as a purposeful leader.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 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 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 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.
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 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.
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.
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 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, 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 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, 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 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 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.
Watch this interview to see why John is wildly enthusiastic about the art of successful aging and empowering seniors to live energetic lives.
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?”
Watch this interview to understand why Kevin is on a crusade to achieve his extraordinary “why” – to irradicate meaninglessness from the planet.
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.
Hear more about how she discovered her calling early in life
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.
Valerie wasn’t always full of confidence. She brings a unique perspective to the importance of helping her clients feel comfortable in their own skin. Her insight brings out the best in them and/or their businesses to help them be seen for who they are and what they have to offer…to flourish.
Find out more about why Valerie does what she does