(un)conversations: Leadership lessons from the pivotal moments of global CEOs, founders and execs
Not just another leadership podcast — we explore the turning points, failures, and unexpected decisions that shaped today’s most influential leaders. Hosted by Dr. Alison Schmidt, (un)conversations delivers unfiltered talks with CEOs, founders, executives, and global business leaders. Each week, we dive into pivotal moments, defining choices, and unconventional moves that drive real growth. Learn what works, how disruption fuels success, and the three words shaping each leader’s evolution. 🎧 Follow (un)conversations for weekly actionable leadership insights and join the (un)movement.
Episodes
Why Most Leaders Fail: The (Un)Conventional Truth About Reinvention | Erika Hanafin Austria (S2.E11)
What is the reality of being a female founder and startup CEO? In this episode of the (un)conversations podcast, Dr. Alison sits down with Erika Hanafin Austria—the creator of MOMumental Reinvention, Co-Founder of Neon ID, and former CEO of HeyMama.
Erika shares the brutal truth of what it actually takes to succeed as a serial entrepr...
"Sometimes you have to jump before you get pushed."
In this episode of the (un)conversations podcast (S2.E10), Dr. Alison Schmidt sits down with Dr. Felicia White, Director of Operations at Askar Management Group, to discuss the brutal reality of career pivots, professional resilience, and the power of radical authenticity.
Dr. White shares the personal philosophy that guided her through a "performance review from hell...
Show Notes: Can Business Astrology Predict Your Next Career Move?
“What got you here won’t get you there.” For most CEOs, the reality of that shift is a silent, internal crisis.
In this episode of (un)conversations, Dr. Alison Schmidt sits down with Barbara Alexander, a former IBM executive turned Business Astrologer and Strategy Advisor. Barbara spent 25 years climbing the Fortune 500 ladder before walking away without a plan to red...
Stop the Brain Fog: The Truth About HRT & Menopause with Dr. Z. Colette Edwards
Stop suffering through brain fog and medical gaslighting. In this episode, Dr. Z. Colette Edwards joins Dr. Alison to explain why your doctor might be wrong about HRT and how to regain control of your health in your 40s and 50s.
Whether you’re managing perimenopause symptoms or seeking workplace wellness strategies, this is the unconventional val...
What happens when a Disney-trained producer and Holocaust historian starts coaching elite leaders?
In this episode, Bryan Yates joins Dr. Alison to pull back the curtain on "The Unword Effect" and why the world’s most capable leaders often feel buried by their own brilliance. We dive deep into the mechanics of high-performance leadership, the reality of workaholism recovery, and why your perspective is your most valuable p...
I Loud Quit: Why Artist Lisa Congdon Stopped Being “Nice”
Are you stuck on the "hamster wheel" of obligation? In S2 | E6, world-class artist Lisa Congdon joins Dr. Alison Schmidt to discuss "Loud Quitting," the secret to avoiding burnout, and why "half-assing" is a creative superpower.
In this episode, we explore:
The "Loud Quit": Why Lisa stopped performing for others to find her true v...
Stop waiting until you’re "ready." Bevin Mahon (CEO of Dentaltech Group) did the opposite—and built Ireland’s largest dental provider for nursing homes.
In this episode of (un)conversations (S2 | E5), Dr. Alison sits down with Bevin to discuss her journey from "winging it" to leading a digital transformation that turned 4-hour technical headaches into 3-minute wins.
🔔 Follow (un)conversations on Spotify t...
Is the "Scaling Trap" destroying your returns—and your purpose? 📉
Former Nike VP Dirk Van Onsem reveals why the traditional corporate growth model is failing and how a single question from his daughter forced him to walk away from a 25-year executive career to pursue regenerative leadership.
In this episode of (un)conversations (S2 | E4), Dr. Alison sits down with the founder of Beyonders Collective to explore &quo...
What does it cost to lead at the highest level? 💼
Jess Bass Bolander (SVP at Lockton) joins Dr. Alison to peel back the curtain on the mental load of high-stakes leadership. From a "scrappy" start in the insurance industry to the C-suite, Jess reveals why your childhood survival triggers (the "Unhealed 8-Year-Old") might be sitting at the boardroom table with you—and how to manage them.
In this episode of (un)con...
Tariffs, supply chain chaos, and global manufacturing shifts nearly shut Bivo down overnight. 🚲
In this episode of (un)conversations (S2 | E2), Dr. Alison sits down with Carina Hamel, co-founder of Bivo, to unpack the raw reality of disrupting a $300M industry. Carina reveals how her team engineered a high-flow stainless steel bike bottle to solve the "plastic taste" problem—only to face COVID-era supply chain collapses a...
AI, 3D denim design, and sustainable leadership are no longer the "future"—they are the present. 👖
In this Season 2 premiere of (un)conversations (S2 | E1), Dr. Alison sits down with Kirsten Lee, CMO of One Jeanswear Group. Kirsten has shaped iconic American brands like Ralph Lauren, Gloria Vanderbilt, and Jessica Simpson. Today, she’s leading the charge on AI-powered product development and 3D digital denim.
If you ar...
How do leaders use energy—not strategy—to gain a true competitive edge?
Dr. Alison sits down with energy strategist Faryl Moore to explore emotional capacity, boundaries, and embodied leadership in high-pressure environments.
In this episode of the (un)conversations® podcast, Faryl shares insights from more than 20 years of guiding corporate executives through burnout, misalignment, and energetic overwhelm. Together, they unpack ...
🎙️ What Does It Really Mean to Have Power—and Use It Ethically?
With Shana Francesca | Cult Survivor, CEO & Leadership Scholar
What happens when you break free from a high-control environment—and rebuild your identity from the inside out?
In this powerful episode of (un)conversations®, Dr. Alison sits down with Shanna Francesca, a cult survivor turned CEO, leadership scholar, and change-maker. Together, they explore how unlea...
💥 Ready to Stop Playing Small? Step Into Your Most Powerful Chapter (with Cathy Derksen)
What if your most life-changing chapter begins after everything seems to fall apart?
In this inspiring episode of (un)conversations®, Dr. Alison sits down with Cathy Derksen, Founder of Inspired Tenacity, international speaker, publisher, and bestselling author who empowers midlife women to find unstoppable confidence and reinvent their lives on...
What Happens When You Mix a Pro Triathlete, Rock Musician & Rebel Brand Builder? (with Michael Marckx)
What do you get when a pro triathlete, rock musician, and boundary-breaking brand strategist—who has survived seven car accidents—refuses to quit?
You get Michael Marckx: Chief Branding Officer at Digital Union Marketing, creator of the world-famous Belgian Waffle Ride, and the mind behind some of the most iconic brand trans...
Could Financial Freedom Actually Begin With Emotional Freedom? (with Diana Greshtchuk)
What if the key to financial freedom isn’t just about numbers — but about emotional freedom, self-worth, and rewriting the way you see yourself?
In this empowering episode of (un)conversations®, Dr. Alison L. Schmidt sits down with Diana Greshtchuk, CEO of Fan Your Flame, financial empowerment coach, CPA, and your new financial best friend. Aft...
What if the most game-changing innovations don’t come from executives at the top—but from the people doing the work every day?
In this powerful episode of (un)conversations®, Dr. Alison Schmidt sits down with Michael Bergmann, Founder of IncubatorU, former Nike leader, and author of Innovation from the Ground Up. With more than 30 years at Nike, Michael reveals how real innovation happens when doers are empowered, creativity is dece...
Leadership, Legacy & Giving with Intention | Deborah Goldstein’s Uncommon Philanthropy Journey
What does it really mean to give with intention—and how can generosity become a conscious practice that shapes your legacy?
In this episode of (un)conversations®, Dr. Alison Schmidt sits down with Deborah Goldstein, Founder of Enlightened Philanthropy, to unpack the mindset, meaning, and magic behind purpose-driven giving. With more...
From Aerospace Engineer to Unapologetic Changemaker | Adriana Ocampo Senior’s (UN)scripted Journey
What happens when a Latina aerospace engineer climbs to the top of a global defense company—then makes the bold, (UN)CONVENTIONAL decision to walk away?
In this must-listen episode of (un)conversations®, Dr. Alison sits down with Adriana Ocampo Senior, founder of Transcend Influence Ascend (T.I.A.), to explore her extraordinary 30-year ...
The Wine Heir Changing a 150-Year Legacy | Cristina Torres
In this episode, Dr. Alison sits down with Cristina Torres — general manager of Marimar Estate and daughter of a legendary California winemaker — for an inspiring conversation about legacy, leadership, and innovation in the wine industry.
Cristina shares how she's honoring her family's rich winemaking heritage while forging her own path and modernizing one of Califor...
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