Keeping Innovation Moving Forward During Change - an Interview with Bernadette Berger, Director of Innovation at Alaska Airlines
In this captivating Fearless Female Leadership interview, I sat down with Bernadette Berger, Director of Innovation at Alaska Airlines, to explore what it truly means to drive innovation in a time of massive change. From her early career rejections to becoming a leader shaping the future of air travel, Bernadette's story is a powerful reminder of the courage it takes to keep showing up—and the vision it takes to build what doesn’t exist yet.
Bernadette's path began in industrial design, not aviation, and after 29 job interview rejections, she finally broke through with Teague—Boeing’s premier aircraft design partner. There, she spent over a decade experimenting, learning new skills, and eventually helping design next-gen aircraft interiors and experiences. Her innovation philosophy? Don’t aim to fix everything at once—ask what would need to be true to solve the problem at hand.
Now at Alaska Airlines, Bernadette leads innovation across the organization, helping unify cross-functional tea...
Leading with Humility and Heart - an Interview with Kristyn Ramsey, Senior Director of Learning & Development at D. R. Horton
In the latest Fearless Female Leadership interview, I had the privilege of speaking with Kristyn Ramsey, Senior Director of Learning & Development at D.R. Horton, about the power of humility, resilience, and lifelong learning in shaping fearless leadership. Kristyn’s story is a reminder that authentic leadership starts with embracing rejection, choosing growth, and empowering others through trust and perspective.
Kristyn opened up about the early influence of her parents—her father’s goal-setting rituals and her mother’s example of managing both work and home life—that instilled a fierce work ethic and sense of vision. Her career was not without challenges. Twice rejected for roles she deeply wanted, she chose to learn and improve instead of stepping back. Her experience underscores a core truth: setbacks can shape the most powerful comebacks.
Leading with humility, Kristyn says, is not about shrinking—it’s about shifting focus from self to service. It’s a mindset that drives ROI thr...
Wondering What's Next? Do This Consistently (Part 3 of 3)...
From Seeking to Serving: The Mindset Shift That Transforms What’s Next
If you’re at a crossroads in your career—wondering what’s next, what your next big move could be, or how to make the leap into something more meaningful—you’re not alone. I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside several clients recently who were in that exact space. Each of them ultimately landed CXO or executive leadership roles, but their real transformation started long before they signed their offer letters.
It began with a mindset shift: from seeking to serving.
Flip the Script: You’re Not Just Looking—You’re Offering
When we’re in a “seeking” mindset, it can feel like we’re chasing something outside of ourselves—waiting for someone else to hand us the next opportunity. But the truth is, you have immense value to offer. You’ve got wisdom, experience, and heart. So instead of asking, “Who will hire me?” ask this instead:
- “Where can I serve at the highest level?”
- “What kind of organization would be lucky to ha...
From 'The Knot' to Everest: Embrace Your Climb - an Interview with Lisa Abbott, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer at Boston Children’s Hospital
In the latest Fearless Female Leadership interview, I had the honor of speaking with Lisa Abbott, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer at Boston Children’s Hospital, about the journey from “the knot” to Everest—both literal and metaphorical. Lisa’s story is an incredible example of how discomfort, determination, and asking for help can lead to powerful transformation.
Growing up in challenging circumstances, Lisa was influenced early on by teachers and mentors who saw her potential even before she did. That belief, along with her own courage and adaptability, helped her navigate a winding career path—starting in IT, moving into HR, and ultimately rising to the C-suite in healthcare despite not having a traditional background in the industry.
Lisa also shared a deeply personal metaphor from her childhood: the gym-class rope. As a child, she couldn’t climb past the knot. But years later, she not only found the strength to climb literal ropes, she also trekked to Everes...
Wondering What's Next? Do This Consistently (Part 2 of 3)...
My last three clients that have now recently landed CXO and executive leadership positions came to me wondering, “What is next for me?”
Some of them exited voluntarily. Some of them were exited involuntarily. And they had to take a moment and get some help through “What do I want? What is next for me? What impact do I choose to have?” And then we spent the time together to refine that clarity, put a plan in place, then help them land that next role.Â
I wanted to share some of the tips, tools, and strategies that were really successful for them.
Step 1: Be the observer not the judge of your emotions
If you're feeling stuck, feeling frustrated, maybe there's fear or worry wrapped in there. It's totally understandable. But what I want you to know is that there is wisdom in those emotions. Do not beat yourself up about those that can be very easy to do, but be the observer of them, not the judge. And so ask yourself if you are worried, or if you feel fear about what's next, or if you feel ...
Evolving HR with Purpose: From Policy to People-Centered Progress - an Interview with Lisa Coulson, SVP and Chief Human Resources Officer at Principal Financial Group
In the latest Fearless Female Leadership interview, I had the honor of sitting down with Lisa Coulson, SVP and Chief Human Resources Officer at Principal Financial Group, to explore how HR can evolve with purpose—moving from policy to people-centered progress.
Lisa’s leadership journey began with values instilled by her parents—her father, an insurance executive and team sports enthusiast, and her mother, a homemaker who created warmth and community. These early influences shaped Lisa’s love for collaboration, tradition, and working toward shared goals.
Her career path was far from linear. From starting as an underwriter to moving into HR consulting and later rising through the ranks at Principal, Lisa emphasized the importance of raising your hand for opportunities, even when they seem outside your comfort zone. A pivotal moment came when she said yes to a compensation role that leveraged her love for math and opened doors to senior leadership.
Lisa believes evolving HR requires both tec...
Wondering What's Next? Do This Consistently (Part 1 of 3) ...
If you are in a position where you are wondering what's next for you, either what's next in your current role, if you're going to exit… or even if you're going to make a major pivot… it's important to do this first.
Create some white space and to do it consistently, because I'm here to tell you that the answers—you already know them.
I know it's frustrating when you're thinking about what's next. What happens is we (especially strivers) tend to keep ourselves very busy and really distract ourselves from the pain of not knowing. So the first thing to do, if you're pondering “what's next?” is to create consistent white space.
What does that mean?
Ideally, outside or in the morning, just open your windows. Listen to the birds. You know it can be walking… it could be sitting still… but just trying to keep your mind focused on the outside (the plants, the trees, the birds, what have you). Or, if you're sitting inside, it's just listening to the sounds of the outdoors with the windows open, and ...
Understanding the Current Talent Landscape - an Interview with Kimberly Evans, Executive Vice President, Head of Corporate Sustainability, Inclusion, and Social Impact at Northern Trust
In the latest Fearless Female Leadership interview, I had the incredible opportunity to speak with Kimberly Evans, Executive Vice President, Head of Corporate Sustainability, Inclusion, and Social Impact at Northern Trust. Kimberly’s story is a powerful testament to the strength of purpose, the power of people-centered leadership, and the importance of seeking value over validation.
Rooted in humble beginnings, Kim shared how her mother’s example of selflessness and generosity shaped her entire approach to leadership. A defining childhood moment—watching her mother put groceries back at checkout—fueled her lifelong “why”: to succeed so her mom would never have to go without again. That clarity of purpose has guided Kimberly through the financial services industry, where she’s often been the only woman—and sometimes the only person of color—in the room.
Kimberly emphasized that success doesn’t require fitting a mold, but rather leveraging resilience, adaptive capacity, and emotional intel...
Two Smart Strategies to Have More Influence in Your Next Crucial Conversation
If you already have a seat at the table, but you want to have a bigger voice at the table with your peers, your leadership and possibly even your CEO or board members, then there's two simple things that are often left out.
The first one is getting very clear on your desired outcome, why it's meaningful to you, also why it's meaningful to the other person and organization or the company. So be crystal clear on that, on the desired outcome, especially rather than worried about how it might turn out, put instead focus your thoughts on how you would like it to turn out. That'll make it more likely that you're going to guide the conversation in that way. It'll help with your confidence.
The second thing is, be very, very clear on what is important to the other side, the desired outcome of the other side, why it matters to them. Be sure to connect with them on that, acknowledge and validate that first, it's always very important to connect with the other person first, because they will, t...
People First and Profitability - an Interview with Lauren Dunn, Chief People Officer at Wiss
In the latest Fearless Female Leadership interview, I had the privilege of speaking with Lauren Dunn, Chief People Officer at Wiss, about building a people-first culture that drives real profitability. With an open heart and sharp business sense, Lauren shared how empathy, flexibility, and authentic leadership create not only happier teams—but stronger bottom lines.
Lauren’s leadership journey began in male-dominated industries like restaurants and real estate, but she never let that dim her voice. Inspired by her mother’s decades-long career as a teacher, Lauren brings a service mindset to leadership—believing the best leaders know their people, listen deeply, and act with kindness.
At Wiss, Lauren has cultivated a workplace where employees are encouraged to be themselves, speak up, and thrive. From wellness programs and mentorship to flexibility for working parents, she proves that doing right by your people is not a “nice to have”—it’s a business strategy.
Key takeaways from the inte...
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