In this episode, best friends and coworkers Brooke Wheeldon-Reece and Ashley Hunt sit down to reflect on Brooke’s 12-year journey with The SPARK Initiative. As President and CEO, Brooke has helped shape SPARK’s vision, programs, and impact from the ground up — guiding its growth while staying rooted in the mission of helping people understand the power of their own minds.

Together, Brooke and Ashley share an honest conversation about what twelve years inside an organization like SPARK really looks like: the lessons in leadership, the challenges and growth along the way, and the moments that have made it all worthwhile. From building programs and partnerships to watching the impact unfold in classrooms and communities, Brooke reflects on the experiences that have shaped both her leadership and SPARK’s evolution.

It’s a candid look at purpose-driven work, long-term commitment to a mission, and what it means to grow alongside an organization you believe in.