What happens when you’re a professional opera singer turned Verizon leader who survives multiple strokes — and comes back to work only to realize the attitudes you once held about illness were the same ones now being directed at you? Krista Hinman, disability advocate, ERG leader, yoga teacher, painter, photographer, and self-described perpetual learner, brings one of the most honest and quietly radical conversations in the Winning Wednesday catalog. Her message is simple and profound: sometimes people just get sick, there isn’t always a why — and the work of becoming a better ally starts with interrogating your own assumptions first. What You’ll Learn: Why a background in opera and musical theater actually prepared Krista for a corporate career — through rejection, resilience, and flexibility Why ERGs will never stop being relevant — because as culture shifts, new conversations always emerge What it’s really like to return to work after serious illness — and how the attitudes of colleagues (and yourself) can be the hardest part Why people search for a reason when someone gets sick — and what it means that sometimes there just isn’t one How leaders can open the door to mental health conversations without oversharing — and why that vulnerability goes further than any policy Key Focus Areas: Opera to Verizon – How years in music and theater taught Krista the flexibility, resilience, and rejection tolerance that corporate life demands Disability Is More Common Than You Think – Why once you include mental health, neurodivergence, and acquired disability, almost everyone is touched by this community at some point The Search for a Why – Why people need a cause for someone else’s illness — and how confronting that impulse is the first step to real allyship ERGs as Culture Builders – Why there will never be a finish line for diversity work — and why that’s exactly the point Who Are You on the Weekend – Krista’s framework for winning Wednesday — close the gap between who you are outside of work and who you bring into it every day Krista’s Approach: Verizon leader, disability advocate, and ERG leader whose experience surviving multiple strokes shifted her entire perspective on illness and allyship Former professional opera singer and musical theater performer — degrees in music, theater, and opera — who brings an artist’s mindset to continuous learning Teaches yoga, paints, photographs, and pursues curiosity across every medium — because personal growth has no finish line Believes the most effective leadership tool in disability advocacy is asking questions that lead people to their own conclusions rather than telling them how to think Committed to confronting her own internalized attitudes — even the uncomfortable ones — as a daily practice Perfect If You’re: A leader who wants to create psychological safety on your team but doesn’t know how to start the conversation Someone who has returned to work after illness or disability and felt the weight of other people’s assumptions An aspiring ally to the disability or neurodivergent community who wants to show up more thoughtfully Someone living a version of yourself only on weekends — and wondering how to close that gap Krista’s Philosophy: “Sometimes people just get sick — and sometimes there isn’t a why.” “Disability, mental health, neurodivergence — when you start thinking of it through that lens, you realize how common it is.” “Dip your toe in the water of vulnerability — it doesn’t have to be super in-depth, just take that first step.” “I never hit a point where I’m arrived — I’m always asking what do I need to learn next.” “Who am I on the weekend — and why can’t I be that person every day?” ABOUT KRISTA HINMAN: Disability Advocate | ERG Leader | Former Professional Opera Singer | Yoga Teacher | Painter | Photographer | Perpetual Learner | Helping workplaces shift attitudes, open conversations, and make space for every version of who people are CONNECT WITH KRISTA: LinkedIn:   / kristahinman   CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen  

What do you do when your grandfather survived the Holocaust, escaped a concentration camp, was shot eight times, and still found love on a train after the war ended? You tell the story — because stories heal. Yogi Roth, broadcaster, filmmaker, author, TEDx speaker, and former football coach, has built an entire career around seeking and uncovering humanity through sport. His mother — a refugee whose parents were both Holocaust survivors — gave him one final instruction before she passed: your only job is to heal the world and put those stories out into it. This episode is one of the most moving in the Winning Wednesday catalog, and one you won’t forget. What You’ll Learn: Why the sixth stage of grief — meaning — is the one that actually changes your life How Yogi’s documentary Life in a Walk was born from a plane ticket to Madrid and a father’s cancer diagnosis Why worry is the biggest misuse of your imagination — and how to switch wonderment back on How emotional intelligence became the most important skill Yogi ever taught to elite quarterbacks Why the only goal in life is to give everything away — and what that actually looks like in practice Key Focus Areas: Heal the World – The Hebrew phrase tattooed on Yogi’s wrist — and the mission his mother handed him as she was dying Storytelling as Medicine – Why a good story makes you feel something — and how Yogi has used film, broadcasting, and writing to surface humanity in sport Life in a Walk – The documentary born from a father-son walk across Portugal and Spain — and why dads and sons wept watching it together Worry vs. Wonderment – Why Yogi believes worry is imagination misdirected — and how he taught elite quarterbacks to become products of the process instead of prisoners of the moment Control Decisions, Release Outcomes – Why the laissez-faire approach is BS — and why the real Wednesday win is checking in on what you can and can’t control Yogi’s Approach: Broadcaster, filmmaker, author, TEDx speaker, and former football coach — driven since childhood by a mission to uncover humanity through sport Son of a Holocaust refugee and grandson of two Holocaust survivors — raised with resilience, humility, and empathy as non-negotiable family values Created Life in a Walk — a documentary about fathers, sons, and the questions we’re too afraid to ask — that reunited families who watched it Taught emotional intelligence at the Elite 11 quarterback camp — making top recruits look each other in the eye and say what they actually think Went to therapy openly during one of the hardest years of his life — and shared it publicly because he knew it would give someone else permission to do the same Perfect If You’re: Someone carrying a heavy family legacy and trying to figure out how to honor it without being crushed by it A storyteller, filmmaker, or broadcaster who believes in the power of narrative to create change Ready to stop being a prisoner of moments and start becoming a product of the process Someone who’s had a hard year and keeps saying “I’m fine” — when you’re actually not Yogi’s Philosophy: “Your only job is to heal the world and put those stories out into it.” “Man or woman are made to move — and we move through things.” “Worry is the biggest misuse of your imagination.” “The only goal in life is to give everything away.” “Without any clouds there’s no silver lining — and we have to decide what we see in the sky.” “Control decisions. Let go of outcomes.” ABOUT YOGI ROTH: Broadcaster | Filmmaker | Author | TEDx Speaker | Former Football Coach | Seeking and uncovering humanity through sport, story, and the courage to keep moving forward CONNECT WITH YOGI: LinkedIn:   / yogiroth   CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen  

Episode 50 of Winning Wednesday lands right where it should — in a conversation about mental health, with someone who has dedicated her career to helping people work through theirs. Jill Jonas, licensed social worker and private practice therapist, joins longtime friend Katrina for Mental Health Awareness Month to reframe what mental health actually means — because it’s not just about illness. It’s about the routines, the habits, the self-talk, and the grace we give ourselves every single day. In a world still finding its footing post-pandemic, Jill’s grounded, compassionate wisdom is exactly the mid-week reset we all need. What You’ll Learn: Why mental health is not just the absence of illness — and what a healthy mental health routine actually looks like How the pandemic created layers of anxiety we’re still unpacking — including the fear of returning to normal Why social anxiety actually made some people thrive in lockdown — and why re-entry is harder for them than anyone How childhood messages we never consciously received still shape the stories we tell ourselves today Why 95% of the things we worry about never actually happen — and what to do with that statistic Key Focus Areas: Mental Health vs. Mental Illness – Why the stigma is lifting — and why reframing mental health as a daily practice changes everything The Re-Entry Challenge – Why coming back to the world after COVID isn’t equally easy for everyone — and how to ease in at your own pace Limiting Beliefs from Childhood – How a well-meaning parent’s push for an A-plus can become a lifelong story of “I’m stupid” — and how therapy helps untangle it Self-Sabotage Patterns – Why people who grew up in chaos sometimes create it when things get too good — and how to recognize that cycle in yourself Progress Not Perfection – Why comparison is the thief of progress — and why finishing is always the achievement, regardless of where you place Jill’s Approach: Licensed clinical social worker in private practice — focused on making a real difference in every client’s life while accepting she can’t control every outcome Worked with companies large and small on workplace mental health — long before the pandemic made it mainstream Believes the stigma around mental health has genuinely lifted — in part because COVID sent everyone running to therapy at once Advocates for small, consistent routines as the foundation of mental health maintenance — not grand overhauls Reminds clients that most of what we worry about never happens — and even when it does, it rarely happens the way we imagined Perfect If You’re: Someone who confuses mental health with mental illness — and needs a gentler, broader framework Struggling with comparison, social anxiety, or the re-entry back into post-pandemic life A chronic worrier who needs a data point to interrupt the spiral Someone ready to trade perfection for progress — in therapy, in goals, or just in daily life Jill’s Philosophy: “Mental health is not just what’s going on that’s negative — it can be positive as well.” “People are so worried about the what-ifs that might never even happen — we don’t know minute to minute what’s going to happen.” “Ease into it at your own pace — don’t rush just because somebody else is.” “If everyone can just come to a little bit of acceptance — this world would be a better place.” “Progress not perfection — live life with no judgment, through the lens of unconditional love.” ABOUT JILL JONAS: Licensed Clinical Social Worker | Private Practice Therapist | Mental Health Advocate | Helping individuals, families, and companies build the routines, resilience, and self-awareness needed to thrive — one session at a time CONNECT WITH JILL: LinkedIn:   / jilljonas10at10ease   CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen  

What if the biggest mistake the most driven people make is forcing it? Sven Erlandson, counselor to C-suite executives and author of multiple books including his first — the original book on the spiritual but not religious movement — has spent 30 years helping people who have either lost their mojo find it again, or who have reached the pinnacle of success and realized it still feels empty. A TikTok phenomenon who amassed 200,000 followers in five weeks, a survivor of a decade of suicidal ideation, and one of the most disarmingly honest voices you’ll find anywhere — Sven doesn’t do surface level. He goes deep, fast, and believes transformation can be immediate if you go deep enough. What You’ll Learn: Why behaviors are just symptoms — and why changing them without going deeper never works long term How Sven identifies incongruence in clients — and why it almost always comes back to fear Why the soul is more powerful than the will — and what happens when driven people stop forcing it How Sven’s own decade of suicidal ideation became the most pivotal source of wisdom he now shares with others Why quitting quickly when something is off is a sign of genius — not weakness Key Focus Areas: Behaviors Are Symptoms – Why Sven ignores behavior entirely and digs for the core beliefs driving it — because that’s where real change happens The Soul vs. The Will – Why even the most successful people eventually hit a wall when they’re running on willpower alone — and what’s waiting on the other side Transformation Can Be Immediate – Why deep, fast, aggressive work produces results that years of surface-level therapy can’t — and why Sven’s sessions run three to six hours Do Less – Why forcing success is the biggest mistake driven people make — and why creating room for the universe to work is where the magic actually happens Quit as Often as Possible – Why the people who rise highest are the ones who abort quickly when something isn’t them — and why finishing what you don’t love is never a virtue Sven’s Approach: Counselor with a private practice in Manhattan and Fairfield County Connecticut — 70% of clientele are C-suite executives and business owners Spent 30 years helping people reconnect with their own authentic voice — because that’s where the genius is Requires clients to write a full autobiography before their first session — and runs sessions of three to six hours Survived a decade of suicidal ideation and a suicide attempt at the Berkeley Pier — and credits that as the most pivotal day of his life Went viral on TikTok in five weeks with 200,000 followers by saying something substantive on complex topics in 59 seconds Perfect If You’re: A high achiever who has hit every external milestone and still feels empty inside — and finally ready to figure out why Someone who has tried therapy, coaching, or religion and walked away feeling like it didn’t go deep enough A driven person who suspects they’ve been forcing life on willpower for too long — and is starting to feel it Someone sitting in something that isn’t working — a career, a relationship, a path — and needing permission to quit Sven’s Philosophy: “The soul is more powerful than the will — and eventually, no matter how much success you have, you get tired of forcing it.” “Transformation can be immediate — if you go deep enough.” “Do less — you’re probably forcing your success, and that’s where the magic stops.” “Quit as often as possible — there is no value in finishing what you don’t love.” “That was the most pivotal day of my life — the old Sven died, and what came after was everything.” ABOUT SVEN ERLANDSON: Counselor | Author | Speaker | TikTok’s Unlikely Therapist | Helping driven, successful people stop forcing life and start living it — by going deep, fast, and all the way to the soul CONNECT WITH SVEN: LinkedIn:   / sven-erlandson-aka-badass-counseling-8350b35   Website: https://www.badasscounseling.com/ CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen  

What if the reason your outreach isn’t converting isn’t your message — it’s your medium? Ashok MJ, Sales Manager at Hippo Video, makes a compelling case for why video is the most powerful tool available to sales and marketing professionals right now — and why most people still aren’t using it. In a world drowning in text, bombarded by emails, and suffering from Zoom fatigue, a personalized video cuts through everything. Ashok brings practical wisdom on content consistency, engaging other people’s posts as a business development strategy, and the three-word mantra that keeps him grounded through every challenging season: watch your thoughts. What You’ll Learn: What Hippo Video is — and how businesses are using it for sales, onboarding, training, and customer support Why transactional communication kills deals — and how video adds the human layer that changes everything Why engaging on other people’s LinkedIn posts can bring your future customers directly to you How consistency compounds — and why tracking day one to day 100 reveals what daily effort hides Why watching your thoughts is the most important habit you can build — in business and in life Key Focus Areas: Video as the Human Layer – Why personalized video breaks transactional communication and creates real connection in the sales process Zoom Fatigue vs. Video Strategy – The difference between passive video calls and intentional async video as a sales and communication tool Engaging vs. Posting – Why commenting on other people’s posts is just as powerful as creating your own content — and how it brings customers to you Consistency Compounds – Why daily effort doesn’t look like much until you track it — and why that’s exactly the point Watch Your Thoughts – The chain from thought to word to action to habit to character to destiny — and why it starts with awareness Ashok’s Approach: Sales Manager at Hippo Video — a B2B video platform helping organizations communicate through video internally and externally Believes buying behavior has fundamentally shifted — customers research independently and only need a salesperson when they need expertise or conviction Sees LinkedIn engagement as a trail that future customers follow back to you — and treats every comment as a business development touchpoint Advocates for modeling your communication style around how people actually consume information — which is increasingly video Lives by the principle that thoughts become words, words become actions, actions become habits, habits become character, and character becomes destiny Perfect If You’re: A sales or marketing professional whose outreach is getting lost in crowded inboxes and wants to stand out Someone building a personal brand on LinkedIn who focuses only on posting and underestimates the power of engaging A business leader evaluating video as a communication tool for your team — internally or externally Anyone who needs a reminder that the mental game is always the foundation Ashok’s Philosophy: “Videos have the ability to break transactional communication and bring a human layer to the selling process.” “Consistency compounds — it may not be evident every day but track day one to day 100 and you’ll see it.” “Your future customers can pick up your trail from your comments and reach out to you.” “Watch your thoughts — thoughts become words, words become actions, actions become habits, habits become character, and character becomes your destiny.” ABOUT ASHOK MJ: Sales Manager, Hippo Video | B2B Video Sales Strategist | LinkedIn Content Advocate | Helping sales and marketing teams add a human layer to every communication — one personalized video at a time CONNECT WITH ASHOK: LinkedIn:   / ashokmj   CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen  

What does it look like to graduate college right into a pandemic — and still land on your feet? Elana Little, a Management Information Systems graduate who entered the workforce during COVID-19, brings a refreshingly grounded Gen Z perspective on networking, intentional relationship building, and why virtual life actually opened more doors than it closed. In a conversation full of practical wisdom well beyond her years, Elana makes the case that how you show up in a role you don’t love matters just as much as the role you’re working toward. What You’ll Learn: Why Management Information Systems — the technical side of business — positioned Elana perfectly for a COVID-era job market How showing up fully in a role you don’t love can unlock opportunities more aligned with where you want to go Why virtual networking actually created more access — not less — to people who matter How to build a peer support structure at work using people at your level and people a few steps ahead Why intentional connection is the best use of time Elana has found so far Key Focus Areas: MIS as the Future of Business – Why Elana chose the technical side of business and how it paid off entering a COVID-era workforce Show Up Anyway – Why giving your all in a role you don’t love is exactly how you get noticed for the one you do The Virtual Silver Lining – Why pandemic-era accessibility opened doors that geography and formality used to keep closed Peer + Mentor Structure – Why finding people at your level and a few steps ahead creates the ideal professional development ecosystem Intentional Connection – How Elana shifted from accidental networking to deliberate relationship building — and why that distinction matters Elana’s Approach: Management Information Systems graduate who entered the workforce during COVID-19 — and secured employment by staying ready Believes a business degree is most powerful when you take it and make it something useful — not wait for someone to define it for you Embraced virtual networking early and found more access to meaningful connections than she expected Advocates for building peer cohorts alongside mentor relationships — both matter, and neither replaces the other Sees intentional connection as a long-term strategy, not just a pandemic workaround Perfect If You’re: A recent grad or early-career professional trying to figure out how to build relationships without an office or in-person events Someone stuck in a role that isn’t the right fit — but wondering whether to coast or commit while you look for what’s next A Gen Z professional whose perspective on technology, connection, and career is ahead of where most organizations are Elana’s Philosophy: “Everything’s more accessible now — there are so many more open doors to connect with people I wasn’t even looking for before.” “If you’re giving your all even in an environment you don’t love, someone may notice that spark and offer an opportunity more aligned with your goals.” “Building new relationships and maintaining existing ones is the best use of time I’ve found so far.” “Find people at your same level going through it together — and people a couple steps ahead who can take you where you want to go.” ABOUT ELANA LITTLE: MIS Graduate | Gen Z Workforce Entrant | Intentional Connector | Helping peers navigate the virtual-first professional world with clarity, purpose, and a whole lot of showing up CONNECT WITH ELANA: LinkedIn:   / elanalittle   CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen  

What does Women’s History Month look like when it’s a family affair — with a dad in Amsterdam, two daughters ages 7 and 11, and a mom behind the camera? This episode is one of the most heartwarming in the Winning Wednesday catalog. Mithun Hariharan, PMP and Verizon Benelux leader, joins with daughters Isha and Varsha to share their family’s contribution to NEGU — the children’s charity founded by 11-year-old Jessie Rees, who was battling cancer and asked her parents not what she needed, but what they could do for other kids who couldn’t go home. Together the family contributed 280 care cards toward Verizon’s 10,000-card goal with Equinix — and sparked a conversation about female leadership, global citizenship, and what it means to raise children who create impact for others. What You’ll Learn: The extraordinary story of Jessie Rees — the 11-year-old who founded NEGU while battling cancer because she wanted to help kids who couldn’t go home Why Mithun credits women leaders at Verizon for his own career growth — and what transformational female leadership actually looks like How raising globally minded, socially responsible children starts with the examples we set at home Why male allyship means not noticing the differences — and not asking women to change to fit a norm that was never built for them The power of “forward together” as a family mantra — and what it looks like in practice Key Focus Areas: NEGU — Never Ever Give Up – The story of Jessie Rees, the joy jars, care cards, and a family in Amsterdam who showed up for kids they’ll never meet Female Leadership Through a Male Ally’s Eyes – How Mithun’s career has been shaped by women leaders — from Anne Frank to Malala to the women of Verizon Benelux Raising Global Citizens – Why Mithun wants his daughters to be socially responsible, globally aware, and equipped to make other people’s lives better Representation Without Pressure – Why pointing out differences can send the wrong message — and why showing up as you are is always enough Forward Together – A family mantra that captures everything: collaboration, inclusion, and moving as one Mithun’s Approach: PMP-certified technology leader at Verizon based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands — covering the Benelux region (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) Hired by a woman leader at Verizon — and credits female leadership throughout his career as transformational, results-oriented, and deeply people-focused Draws inspiration from legendary women leaders including Anne Frank, Mother Teresa, and Malala Yousafzai when thinking about what to teach his daughters Believes equal opportunity is already here in many parts of the world — and that the goal is to extend that reality globally Partnered with his family to create 280 care cards for NEGU as part of Verizon’s volunteer initiative — making impact a household value Perfect If You’re: A parent looking for ways to teach your children empathy, global citizenship, and the power of showing up for strangers A male ally who wants a model for how to support women in leadership without making gender the centerpiece of every conversation Someone moved by stories of children creating extraordinary impact — Jessie Rees is one of those stories The Family’s Philosophy: “Forward together.” — Mithun “Words do matter — but it’s how you feel in the moment, and how you feel at the end of the day.” — Isha “I want them to be socially responsible and global citizens who can create an impact on other people’s lives.” “We all have different values and skills we can bring to the table — just as we are.” “There’s no better time to grow up as a woman right now.” ABOUT MITHUN HARIHARAN: PMP | Technology Leader, Verizon Benelux | Male Ally | Global Citizen | Based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands | Raising the next generation of socially responsible women — one care card at a time CONNECT WITH MITHUN: LinkedIn:   / mithunh   LEARN MORE ABOUT NEGU: www.negu.org CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen  

What does it feel like to be the only woman in a tech department — and how do you go from feeling like you shouldn’t be there to becoming someone who actively creates space for others? Jacqueline Poncedeleon, tech startup business analyst and daughter of a Colombian immigrant, brings a warm and grounded perspective on Women’s History Month, the evolution of female leadership in tech, and the personal mantra that has carried her through every hard season: no feeling is final. What You’ll Learn: Why startup culture lets you feel your impact faster — and why that matters early in your career What it’s like to be the only woman in the room — and how that experience shapes you Why representation in leadership doesn’t just inspire women — it rewrites what’s possible for everyone Why you should always apply for the job — even when you don’t feel ready The mantra “no feeling is final” — and why it applies to career, life, and everything in between Key Focus Areas: Startup vs. Corporate – Why all-hands-on-deck startup culture creates faster visibility, broader ownership, and deeper sense of impact The Only Woman in the Room – What being an anomaly in a tech department actually feels like — and the subtle ways it can make you doubt yourself Representation as Permission – Why seeing women in positions of power — in the White House, in boardrooms, in tech — rewrites what younger generations believe is possible Always Apply – The best advice Jacqueline ever received — and why your perspective might be exactly what they’re looking for No Feeling Is Final – Why emotions are indicators, not dictators — and how that reframe changes everything Jacqueline’s Approach: Tech startup business analyst focused on mortgage industry innovation — recently relocated from Michigan to Philadelphia Daughter of a Colombian immigrant who grew up in a household where aiming for VP or president wasn’t part of the conversation — until it was Started her career as the only woman in her department at an automotive tech company — and has watched the culture shift dramatically since Believes diverse panels and more women’s voices in tech make for better outcomes for everyone Lives by the philosophy that things will pass — and that pivoting is a skill the pandemic forced all of us to develop Perfect If You’re: A woman early in your tech career wondering if you belong in the room — you do Someone considering a move from a large company to a startup and wanting to know what that shift actually feels like A first-generation American or child of immigrants navigating spaces that weren’t originally built with you in mind Holding back from applying for a job because you don’t check every box — this episode is your sign Jacqueline’s Philosophy: “No feeling is final.” “Always apply for the job — what is the worst thing that can happen?” “The more diverse these panels become, the better the future for all of us.” “Sometimes a different perspective is exactly the thing that sets you apart.” “You don’t need to be in the background — you can be the main character.” ABOUT JACQUELINE PONCEDELEON: Tech Startup Business Analyst | Women in Tech Advocate | Mortgage Industry Innovator | Daughter of a Colombian Immigrant | Helping build more inclusive, innovative, and diverse tech environments — one seat at the table at a time CONNECT WITH JACQUELINE: LinkedIn:   / jpdl   CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen

What if the most powerful team-building and self-discovery tool in your office isn’t a workshop, a whiteboard, or a personality assessment — it’s a box of LEGOs? Yvonne Wen, design thinking facilitator and LEGO Serious Play certified practitioner, brings one of the most unique and genuinely fun conversations in the Winning Wednesday catalog. Starting with six bricks and a simple challenge — build a duck — she reveals how this science-backed methodology unlocks unconscious thinking, levels the playing field for every voice in the room, and surfaces perspectives that traditional brainstorming almost always misses. And when Katrina’s frustrated duck ends up stuck on a corporate ladder with someone blocking her path? The metaphor writes itself. What You’ll Learn: What LEGO Serious Play actually is — and why it’s grounded in cognitive science, not just play Why giving everyone the same six bricks produces completely different results — and what that tells you How building with your hands accesses the unconscious mind in ways that talking never can Why LEGO Serious Play ensures every voice in the room gets heard — not just the loudest ones How a frustrated duck on a corporate ladder became a metaphor for fixed mindset, fear, and the courage to go around Key Focus Areas: LEGO Serious Play Explained – How physical model-building unlocks deeper thinking than traditional brainstorming Same Bricks, Different Ducks – Why identical resources produce wildly different outcomes — and what that reveals about perspective The Unconscious Mind as Creative Resource – How flow state, metaphor, and hands-on building surface what talking keeps hidden Every Voice at the Table – Why LEGO Serious Play democratizes participation in ways design thinking alone can’t The Frustrated Duck – How Katrina’s spontaneous build became a real-time metaphor for corporate gatekeeping, fixed mindset, and finding another way up Yvonne’s Approach: Design thinking facilitator and LEGO Serious Play certified practitioner based in Hong Kong Discovered LEGO Serious Play after years of facilitation work — drawn in by its scientific grounding in cognitive flow theory Believes the model-building process accesses parts of the mind that conversation and conventional ideation leave untouched Uses LEGO not just as a prototype tool but as a storytelling and meaning-making device Sees every build as a window into how individuals and teams actually perceive challenges — with no right or wrong answers Perfect If You’re: A team leader or facilitator looking for a fresh, science-backed approach to brainstorming and ideation Someone who’s sat in workshops where only a few voices dominate and wondered how to change that dynamic Curious about design thinking and how physical prototyping can accelerate creative problem-solving A professional who’s ever felt blocked on a corporate ladder — by someone, something, or a system — and needed a new frame for it Yvonne’s Philosophy: “With LEGO Serious Play, all participants build a model — so all of them have the opportunity to talk about their stories.” “Same bricks, different results — that’s different perspectives on the table, and none of them are wrong.” “It’s not only about facilitation — it actually helps bring messages out of the unconscious mind.” “There’s no good or bad — it’s all different perspectives.” Katrina’s Duck: “There’s no room for fear — only room for collaboration, empowerment, and sharing ideas.” “You are a multi-faceted human being — you’re not just your job, you can bring different facets to business and to life.” “To let someone tell you not to be your whole self is very limiting — but it’s more a reflection on them than on you.” ABOUT YVONNE WEN: Design Thinking Facilitator | LEGO Serious Play Certified Practitioner | Innovation Coach | Helping teams unlock unconscious thinking, surface diverse perspectives, and solve problems by building with their hands — one brick at a time CONNECT WITH YVONNE: LinkedIn:   / yvonnewen   CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen  

What happens when you’re sitting in your dream job — Chief Human Resources Officer — and you’re still not happy? For Aleta Maxwell, the answer led to one of the most meaningful pivots of her career. A published author, leadership coach, and former HR executive, Aleta discovered that the parts of her role she truly loved were the one-on-ones, the coaching conversations, and the soft skills no one was teaching. Her book Uplifting Leaders was born from a 13-year-old’s bad grade and a teacher who said “just email me” — and it’s been helping emerging managers have difficult conversations ever since. What You’ll Learn: Why so many professionals feel they can’t be authentic about their struggles at work — and what to do about it How a teacher’s email-instead-of-talk response to a student inspired a leadership development book Why hard skill training dominates company budgets while soft skills quietly sink managers How gratitude practice is the fastest way out of a negativity spiral — even on the hardest days What it actually looks like to pivot from a dream role that isn’t making you happy Key Focus Areas: The Dream Role That Wasn’t – How Aleta used coaching to discover she loved the work inside her job — not the job itself Difficult Conversations as a Learnable Skill – Why emerging leaders aren’t having hard conversations and what technology has to do with it Uplifting Leaders – The book born from a son’s school project, a teacher’s cop-out, and years of watching soft skills go undeveloped Safe Spaces at Work – Why people fear vulnerability at work — and how coaching creates the confidential space to actually work through it Gratitude as a Reset – Why focusing on even the smallest thing you’re grateful for is the fastest path out of a negativity wormhole Aleta’s Approach: Former Chief Human Resources Officer turned leadership coach and published author Built and ran best-in-class training programs — and still couldn’t get soft skill development prioritized over operational training Wrote Uplifting Leaders during the pandemic — inspired by watching emerging managers struggle with conversations no one had ever taught them to have Creates confidential coaching environments where clients can be vulnerable without fear of it being used against them Believes gratitude — even for the smallest things — is a daily non-negotiable for mental resilience Perfect If You’re: A new or emerging manager who’s never been formally taught how to have a difficult conversation An HR or L&D professional frustrated that soft skills keep getting bumped by operational priorities Someone in a dream role who’s quietly unhappy and trying to figure out what that means A leader who wants to create more psychological safety and authenticity in your team culture Anyone who needs a practical, grounded reminder that gratitude is a skill — and a strategy Aleta’s Philosophy: “So many feel they don’t have an outlet at work to be super authentic to the challenges they’re facing.” “Through no fault of their own, emerging leaders aren’t given the opportunities for trial and error anymore — because of technology.” “If I can help one person more confidently approach a difficult conversation, I’ll feel very happy about writing this book.” “The quickest way to pull us out of a wormhole of negativity is to focus on gratitude.” “I need to pivot toward the things I truly loved — and leave behind the things I didn’t.” ABOUT ALETA MAXWELL: Leadership Coach | Published Author | Former CHRO | Founder of Uplifting Leaders | Helping emerging managers and professionals develop the soft skills, courageous conversations, and self-awareness needed to lead with confidence and authenticity CONNECT WITH ALETA: LinkedIn:   / aleta-maxwell   CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen