What does it look like to be an introvert in a leadership development program where 80% of your cohort are extreme extroverts — and choose to lean in anyway? Rashmi Ketha, Verizon data scientist, WAVE leader, Toastmasters member, and self-described introvert on a mission, brings one of the most quietly powerful perspectives in the Winning Wednesday catalog. From bridging the gap between data science and human communication, to using your birthday as an annual checkpoint for growth, to the one piece of advice she comes back to again and again — just press the start button. What You’ll Learn: Why data science is both an art and a science — and why translating complex data into human terms is the real skill Why STEAM matters more than STEM — and what the art layer adds to technical fields How Toastmasters helps you develop not just public speaking but digital presence, panel participation, and camera confidence Why networking now — even when you’re not looking — is how you tap into opportunities one or two years from now Why your birthday is the perfect annual checkpoint for personal growth — and why comparing yourself to others misses the point entirely Key Focus Areas: STEAM Over STEM – Why adding the arts to science, technology, engineering, and math creates more complete communicators and better outcomes Data Science as Art – How translating intricate numbers into layman’s terms is where technical professionals create their greatest impact Introvert in the Room – How Rashmi navigated leadership programs, Toastmasters, and Verizon’s WAVE to build her network without becoming someone she’s not Birthday as Benchmark – Why comparing yourself to last year’s version — not anyone else — is the only measurement that matters Press the Start Button – Why the first step is always the hardest and always the most important — and why everything gets easier from there Rashmi’s Approach: Verizon data scientist and WAVE (Women’s Association of Verizon Employees) leader who went above and beyond her day job to immerse herself in community, panels, and STEM advocacy Self-identified introvert who deliberately put herself in extrovert-heavy environments — not to become someone else, but to grow on her own terms Toastmasters member who used structured speech paths to develop digital presence, panel skills, and camera confidence Believes the art of any technical field is learning to communicate its value to people outside of it Lives present-focused — plans one to two years out rather than five, focusing on what she can do today to influence her future self Perfect If You’re: An introvert in a field or workplace that rewards extroversion — and wondering how to grow without losing yourself A technical professional who struggles to communicate your work in terms non-technical stakeholders understand Someone sitting on an idea, a project, or a first step — and waiting for the perfect moment that never comes Rashmi’s Philosophy: “Just press the start button — and get going. Things will pick up as they go.” “Data science is both an art and a science — translating the numbers into terms people understand, that’s the art.” “Be a better version of yourself year by year — don’t compare yourself to anyone.” “What can I do today to influence the future me — that’s something I have control over.” “You can learn from any person that you meet — even if that first conversation doesn’t carry on.” ABOUT RASHMI KETHA: Data Scientist | WAVE Leader | Toastmasters Member | STEAM Advocate | Introvert Building in Public | Helping technical professionals bridge the gap between data and human understanding — one conversation at a time CONNECT WITH RASHMI: LinkedIn:   / rashmiketha  

What does it take to go from the hard streets of northeast Portland to nine years in the NFL — and then choose to adopt five nieces and nephews on the spot? JJ Birden is living proof that the toughest decisions often lead to the most rewarding outcomes. Now a motivational speaker and author, JJ brings the same mental toughness he developed on the field directly into boardrooms, stages, and living rooms — helping people peel back the layers to find the real reason behind their goals. What You’ll Learn: The “peeling the onion” method for finding your true, unshakeable WHY Why coachability is the single most transferable skill from sports to business How to create opportunities where none appear to exist Why there absolutely IS an “I” in team — and why that’s a good thing How a positive mindset separates the best from the rest Key Focus Areas: Peeling the Onion – Asking “why” repeatedly until you reach the real motivation underneath Mental Gymnastics – The athlete’s mindset for navigating fear, doubt, and uncertainty in business Creating Opportunities – Oregon never recruited JJ — so he created his own path to the NFL anyway Coachability – Why the willingness to learn from veterans shortens every learning curve Staying Positive – The mantra JJ has carried since age 15 that still drives everything he does JJ’s Approach: Former NFL wide receiver — played 9 years including stints with the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs Grew up in northeast Portland, determined from childhood to break the cycle and create a different life Adopted five nieces and nephews in a single courthouse moment — merging two families in five minutes Motivational speaker and author helping athletes, executives, and teams unlock peak performance Believes leaders must lead themselves first before they can lead anyone else Perfect If You’re: An athlete transitioning into business who wants to leverage your competitive edge A leader who wants to stop talking about culture and actually build it Someone stuck on surface-level goals who needs to dig deeper to find real motivation A professional dealing with rejection and needing a framework to push through it Anyone who’s faced an unexpected life decision and had to find a way to step up JJ’s Philosophy: “Peel the onion — keep asking why until you get to the core.” “There better be an I in team — you have to lead yourself first.” “Create opportunities where it appears none exist.” “A positive mindset separates the best from the rest.” “Do the work when nobody’s watching.” ABOUT JJ BIRDEN: Former NFL Wide Receiver | Motivational Speaker | Author | Helping athletes, leaders, and teams build mental toughness, find their WHY, and create opportunities through coachability and a positive mindset CONNECT WITH JJ: LinkedIn:   / jjbirden  

What if everything your sales and marketing team is doing is actually working against you? Chris Walker, demand generation expert and founder of Refine Labs, makes a compelling case for why most B2B companies are seller-centric by default — and how removing sales intent from your content strategy paradoxically leads to more sales. From podcast-as-prospecting-tool to empowering your team to build their own brands, Chris brings a blueprint for the future of B2B go-to-market strategy. What You’ll Learn: Why adding webinar attendees to a sales cadence is killing your buyer relationships How to use a podcast to reach your top 70 target accounts — without a single cold call The inbound vs. outbound blend that actually drives revenue Why content posted with sales intent performs worse than content posted without it How empowering employees to build personal brands benefits the whole company Key Focus Areas: Buyer-Centric Marketing – Stop pretending low-intent actions equal buying signals Podcast as a B2B Prospecting Tool – Interview your ideal customers, repurpose the content, win the market Inbound-Led Growth – Building a business without a massive sales team Content Without Agenda – Why removing the outcome actually improves the outcome Employee Brand Building – Why smart leaders want their team to outgrow them Chris’s Approach: Founder of Refine Labs — a demand generation firm for B2B SaaS companies Biomedical and electrical engineering background — pivoted from devices to customers Hires experienced demand gen professionals, not entry-level placeholders Operates nearly 100% inbound — if people want to work with him, they know where to find him Vision: build the best demand gen firm in the US by empowering great people around a clear mission Perfect If You’re: A B2B marketer frustrated that your leads aren’t converting A founder trying to build pipeline without a big sales team Someone who suspects your company is seller-centric but doesn’t know how to fix it A marketing or sales leader wondering if content can actually drive real revenue Building a team and thinking about how to retain top talent long-term Chris’s Philosophy: “I’ve never posted a piece of content on LinkedIn with the thought of how this is going to get me a sale.” “Remove yourself from the outcome — you’ll actually get better outcomes.” “How do you build the job for you? The job the company hired you for probably isn’t the job you should be doing.” “Companies that adapt will emerge as winners. The ones that go back to trade shows and the same playbook will be increasingly vulnerable.” ABOUT CHRIS WALKER: Founder of Refine Labs | B2B Demand Generation Strategist | Helping SaaS companies build buyer-centric go-to-market strategies through content, community, and inbound-led growth CONNECT WITH CHRIS: LinkedIn:   / chriswalker171  

What happens when the rules of the game were written by and for someone who doesn’t look like you? Eileen Scully spent years researching exactly that question — and turned her findings into a groundbreaking book featuring women who are boldly re-architecting the most male-dominated spaces on the planet: the NFL, the Catholic Church, venture capital, and beyond. A consultant, author, and fierce advocate for sponsorship over mentorship, Eileen brings a nuanced, deeply researched perspective on what it actually takes to advance women into positions of power. What You’ll Learn: The critical difference between a mentor, sponsor, advocate, and ally — and why it matters Why women are socialized to compete instead of collaborate — and how to unlearn it How to identify who your organization is really promoting and what that says about your culture Why male allyship isn’t optional — it’s essential to lasting change How to use your own privilege intentionally to open doors for others Key Focus Areas: Sponsorship vs. Mentorship – Why advocating for someone publicly is more powerful than advising them privately Women in Male-Dominated Spaces – From the NFL to the Catholic Church to venture capital — who’s changing the game and how Scarcity Mindset – The lie women are told about leadership opportunities and how it keeps us small Allyship in Action – Why Eileen deliberately bookended her book with male voices — and what that signals Culture as Behavior – If you want to know what a company values, look at who gets promoted Eileen’s Approach: Founder of a women’s workplace consulting firm launched in 2015 Author exploring women who are transforming male-dominated industries across sectors Uses a Mentor-Sponsor-Advocate-Ally framework in corporate consulting engagements Believes sponsorship behaviors should be a requirement — not a bonus — on any leadership track Invited to the White House for a women’s leadership event; closed her book with words from President Obama Perfect If You’re: A woman in a male-dominated field wondering if the system is working against you — it might be A leader who wants to build a culture that actually reflects the values you say you have Someone who mentors others but hasn’t yet stepped into true sponsorship A man who wants to be a real ally and isn’t sure what that looks like in practice Anyone ready to stop waiting to be invited and start re-architecting the spaces they’re in Eileen’s Philosophy: “Look at who’s getting promoted from within — that’s the culture you’re promoting.” “Sponsorship and advocacy need to get rewarded so they get modeled.” “We’re taught that there’s scarcity for leadership opportunities — that’s been false, and it’s been told to us to keep us from expanding our ambitions.” “Use your strength to benefit other people.” “Find someone intentionally that you can sponsor in some aspect of their life.” ABOUT EILEEN SCULLY: Workplace Consultant | Author | Advocate for Women in Leadership | Helping organizations build equitable cultures through the Mentor-Sponsor-Advocate-Ally framework CONNECT WITH EILEEN: LinkedIn:   / eemscully  

What does it look like when two major corporations stop competing and start collaborating — not just for business, but for kids battling cancer? Renee Lem, a leader at Equinix, joins Katrina to share how Verizon and Equinix came together behind NEGU (Never Ever Give Up), the Jessie Reese Foundation, and a mission to send thousands of cards to children in hospitals who — thanks to COVID — were suddenly facing their hardest days with far fewer visitors at their side. This is what corporate social responsibility looks like when it actually means something. What You’ll Learn: How cross-company partnerships can create outsized community impact Why corporate social responsibility is no longer optional — it’s cultural The powerful perspective shift of seeing your life as a book with many chapters still to write What the Jessie Reese Foundation is doing for kids facing cancer — and how you can help Why volunteerism gives back to the giver just as much as the receiver Key Focus Areas: Cross-Industry Collaboration – How Verizon and Equinix found common ground to serve a greater mission NEGU & The Jessie Reese Foundation – Never Ever Give Up — wrapping arms around kids facing cancer Corporate Social Responsibility – Why diversity, inclusion, environment, and community aren’t just buzzwords Your Life as a Book – The perspective reframe that keeps you grounded and hopeful during hard chapters Volunteerism as a Byproduct of Goodness – You don’t go into it looking for the reward — but it always shows up Renee’s Approach: Global Communications Chair at Equinix — leading cross-company community impact initiatives Passionate advocate for corporate social responsibility rooted in people, environment, governance, and community Helped forge a partnership between Equinix and Verizon to support the NEGU Foundation with cards for hospitalized children Drew powerful parallels between post-9/11 corporate collaboration and pandemic-era partnership Believes the best business cultures are ones where making a difference is woven into the daily mission Perfect If You’re: A corporate professional who wants their company’s values to actually mean something Someone looking for a tangible way to give back — even from home with paper and markers A leader thinking about how to activate your employee base around a shared community mission Feeling overwhelmed by uncertainty and needing a grounding perspective shift Curious about what genuine cross-company partnership looks like beyond the press release Renee’s Philosophy: “This moment in COVID is just one paragraph in the book that’s yours — keep writing it.” “Perspective is everything — it’ll keep you grounded today and give you hope for the future.” “It’s not just doing business — it’s making a difference in all perspectives.” “You don’t go into volunteerism looking for the reward — but it winds up there like a wonderful surprise.” “After Jessie found out she had cancer, she was more focused on what she could do to help others.” ABOUT RENEE LEM: Global Communications Chair at Equinix | Corporate Social Responsibility Leader | Community Impact Advocate | Connecting companies and causes to create meaningful change beyond the bottom line CONNECT WITH RENEE: LinkedIn:   / reneelem  

What if the secret to growing on LinkedIn had nothing to do with posting more — and everything to do with giving more? Alex B. Sheridan left a decade in B2B sales to build Impaxs, a content and LinkedIn strategy company, on one simple principle: give, give, give, and watch it compound. From video DMs to community building, Alex breaks down exactly how he turned zero views into real relationships and real business. *What You’ll Learn:* Why engagement matters more than follower count on LinkedIn The video DM strategy that turns cold connections into warm conversations How to build a personal brand that attracts clients without cold calling Why your content is constantly telling a story about who you are How to find the intersection of what you’re good at and what you love *Key Focus Areas:* *Give Before You Receive* – Why reciprocating engagement is the foundation of LinkedIn growth *Video DMs* – A low-commitment, high-value outreach strategy most people don’t know exists *Community Over Vanity Metrics* – 2,000 engaged followers beats 40,000 silent ones every time *Content That Compounds* – Why consistency and strategy build momentum over time *B2B Sales to Entrepreneurship* – How Alex translated corporate sales skills into a thriving personal brand business *Alex’s Approach:* Founder of Impaxs — sales and LinkedIn content strategy consulting 10+ years in B2B sales building and growing underperforming territories LinkedIn-first content creator focused on video, authenticity, and community Teaches clients how to generate leads through value-driven content, not cold outreach Philosophy: invest in yourself, build your brand, and give generously — it always comes back *Perfect If You’re:* Posting on LinkedIn and wondering why no one’s engaging Tired of cold calling and looking for a smarter inbound strategy Building a personal brand alongside a corporate career Launching a business and trying to figure out where to start Someone who knows they have something to offer — but isn’t sure how to show up online *Alex’s Philosophy:* “Give, give, give — and you start to see it come back.” “You’re constantly telling a story about who you are and what you stand for.” “Find something you’re good at, love to do, and that makes business sense — it’s just a matter of time.” “The best investment you can make is in yourself.” — *ABOUT ALEX B. SHERIDAN:* Founder of Impaxs | LinkedIn Content Strategist | B2B Sales Veteran | Helping entrepreneurs and professionals grow their brand, build community, and generate leads through authentic content *CONNECT WITH ALEX:* LinkedIn:   / alexbsheridan  

What does it take to go from the hard streets of northeast Portland to nine years in the NFL — and then choose to adopt five nieces and nephews on the spot? JJ Birden is living proof that the toughest decisions often lead to the most rewarding outcomes. Now a motivational speaker and author, JJ brings the same mental toughness he developed on the field directly into boardrooms, stages, and living rooms — helping people peel back the layers to find the real reason behind their goals. What You’ll Learn: The “peeling the onion” method for finding your true, unshakeable WHY Why coachability is the single most transferable skill from sports to business How to create opportunities where none appear to exist Why there absolutely IS an “I” in team — and why that’s a good thing How a positive mindset separates the best from the rest Key Focus Areas: Peeling the Onion – Asking “why” repeatedly until you reach the real motivation underneath Mental Gymnastics – The athlete’s mindset for navigating fear, doubt, and uncertainty in business Creating Opportunities – Oregon never recruited JJ — so he created his own path to the NFL anyway Coachability – Why the willingness to learn from veterans shortens every learning curve Staying Positive – The mantra JJ has carried since age 15 that still drives everything he does JJ’s Approach: Former NFL wide receiver — played 9 years including stints with the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs Grew up in northeast Portland, determined from childhood to break the cycle and create a different life Adopted five nieces and nephews in a single courthouse moment — merging two families in five minutes Motivational speaker and author helping athletes, executives, and teams unlock peak performance Believes leaders must lead themselves first before they can lead anyone else Perfect If You’re: An athlete transitioning into business who wants to leverage your competitive edge A leader who wants to stop talking about culture and actually build it Someone stuck on surface-level goals who needs to dig deeper to find real motivation A professional dealing with rejection and needing a framework to push through it Anyone who’s faced an unexpected life decision and had to find a way to step up JJ’s Philosophy: “Peel the onion — keep asking why until you get to the core.” “There better be an I in team — you have to lead yourself first.” “Create opportunities where it appears none exist.” “A positive mindset separates the best from the rest.” “Do the work when nobody’s watching.” ABOUT JJ BIRDEN: Former NFL Wide Receiver | Motivational Speaker | Author | Helping athletes, leaders, and teams build mental toughness, find their WHY, and create opportunities through coachability and a positive mindset CONNECT WITH JJ: LinkedIn:   / jjbirden  

What do scuba diving, imposter syndrome, and AI-powered office space have in common? Philippe Bouffaut — French-born tech entrepreneur, long-term thinker, and self-described reluctant networker — connects them all in this wide-ranging conversation about soft skills, crisis as creativity, and what happens when you stop apologizing for the way your mind works. As co-founder of Breeder, a Montreal-based proptech company using AI and machine learning to reimagine commercial real estate, Philippe brings a refreshingly honest take on leadership, imposter complex, and why the best managers are the ones who put you where you need to be. What You’ll Learn: Why your soft skills — not your hard skills — are the real foundation of a lasting career pivot How Philippe went from scuba diving instructor to AI-driven real estate entrepreneur Why imposter syndrome is more common in leadership than anyone admits — and why that’s okay How crisis unlocks creativity — and why COVID forced a collective rethinking of what matters Why quality connections on LinkedIn will always outperform quantity Key Focus Areas: Soft Skills as Career Architecture – How being approachable, a simplifier, and a big-picture thinker translates across every industry Imposter Complex in Leadership – Why Philippe never felt like he was doing the hard work — and why that thinking was wrong AI in Real Estate – How Breeder uses machine learning and occupancy prediction to identify profitable office spaces before signing leases Crisis as Wake-Up Call – Why every disruption shakes your certainties and hopefully unlocks something new Quality Over Quantity Networking – Why Philippe rarely accepts connections without first shaking hands — literally Philippe’s Approach: French-born entrepreneur and co-founder of Breeder — a proptech company applying AI and machine learning to commercial real estate in Montreal Former scuba diving instructor who credits the sport with teaching him to make complex concepts approachable Self-identified long-term thinker who gets more excited by the master plan than by day-to-day execution Has lived with imposter complex throughout his career — and believes more leaders should talk about it openly Loves mental sparring and has never been intimidated debating his vision all the way to the CEO level Perfect If You’re: A professional mid-career pivot wondering if your soft skills are enough to carry you somewhere new A leader quietly struggling with imposter syndrome who needs to hear they’re not alone Curious about how AI and technology are reshaping industries as traditional as commercial real estate Someone who’s been told they’re a “big picture thinker” and wondered if that’s really a strength Ready to reframe crisis not as something that happened to you but as something that unlocked you Philippe’s Philosophy: “Every crisis is a wake-up call that shakes your certainties and hopefully unlocks your creativity.” “They didn’t know it was impossible — so they did it.” (Mark Twain) “Find your soft skills — you can build around those and shift completely from any industry.” “I value being challenged — as long as it’s rational and logical we can debate.” “I value the quality over the quantity — always.” ABOUT PHILIPPE BOUFFAUT: Entrepreneur | Proptech Innovator | Co-Founder of Breeder | Using AI and machine learning to transform commercial real estate — and building teams around the belief that the right people put you where you need to be CONNECT WITH PHILIPPE: LinkedIn:   / bophil   CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connectorqu… Website: https://katrinafuhrman.com/connector-… ABOUT WINNING WEDNESDAY: Deep conversations exploring the significant moments that shape who we become. Winning Wednesday launched in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic as a remote networking tool and mid-week inspiration. Now evolved into Becoming You — stories of transformation available to binge at your convenience. Created and hosted by Katrina Fuhrman, The ConnectorQueen. #ConnectorQueen #PropTech #AIRealEstate #SoftSkills #WinningWednesday #ImposterSyndrome #CareerPivot #Entrepreneurship #MachineLearning #Leadership #Montreal #CrisisAndCreativity #LinkedInNetworking #PersonalBranding #BecomingYou

What happens when a virus shuts down everything you’ve spent 20 years building — and you can’t even call it essential? Mark O’Donnell knows that feeling intimately. A small business veteran, former restaurant and club owner, and passionate advocate for local community commerce, Mark brings a grounded, heartfelt perspective on what COVID is doing to the small businesses we love — and why the ones with mission and passion are the ones that will find a way through. And in a conversation full of unexpected turns, he also makes a compelling case that food is your greatest remedy for pain — and that what you eat might have more to do with your performance than anything else. What You’ll Learn: Why COVID didn’t just close businesses — it shifted customer habits in ways that may never fully reverse How small brands with mission and passion compete against giants — and what makes them worth fighting for Why sometimes a forced shutdown is the universe doing you a favor — and how to reframe that The blood type diet and 21-day cleanse frameworks that transformed Mark’s relationship with food Why small business is a personal brand — and why more people should treat it that way Key Focus Areas: The Real Cost of Closure – 40 lost weekends, front-loaded ad spend, and no safety net — the math of small business vulnerability Customer Habit Disruption – Why convenience formed during a crisis can permanently redirect loyal customers away from you Mission-Driven Brands – Why Mark chooses small brands with passion over giants — and why that loyalty matters more than ever now Food as Remedy – Why what you eat affects everything from energy to skin to inflammation — and how Mark discovered his own food intolerances Personal Brand = Business Brand – Why small business owners are already personal brands — they just don’t always know it Mark’s Approach: 20-year small business veteran and former restaurant and club owner in New York City Grew up in a suburban community that deliberately chose local over big-box — and carries that value into everything he does Deep interest in nutrition, gut health, and food as medicine — discovered peanut butter intolerance through an elimination cleanse Believes faith and passion transfer from one business to the next — if this one closes, the next one gets everything you learned Praised Katrina’s professional follow-through and personal branding as a model for how small businesses should operate digitally Perfect If You’re: A small business owner navigating crisis and trying to figure out what comes next Someone curious about food sensitivity, blood type eating, or elimination cleanses as a path to better health A brand builder who wants to understand how mission-driven businesses compete and win against bigger competitors Ready to reframe a business setback as something that might be redirecting you toward something better Anyone who’s ever wondered why they feel better or worse after certain foods — and hasn’t connected the dots yet Mark’s Philosophy: “It’s essential to me to be working — even if they don’t call it essential.” “Food is your remedy for pain — food is the absolute remedy for pain.” “God might be doing you a favor by shutting this down — it wasn’t going to work anyway.” “Small business is a personal brand — you’re still selling yourself and showing your value.” “Brands that have a message and a passion are going to say so what — and people are going to choose them.” ABOUT MARK O’DONNELL: Small Business Advocate | Entrepreneur | Community Commerce Champion | Wellness Enthusiast | Helping small business owners stay resilient, stay mission-driven, and show up with the same passion on day one as day twenty years in CONNECT WITH MARK: LinkedIn:   / marksodonnell   CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connectorqu… Website: https://katrinafuhrman.com/connector-… ABOUT WINNING WEDNESDAY: Deep conversations exploring the significant moments that shape who we become. Winning Wednesday launched in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic as a remote networking tool and mid-week inspiration. Now evolved into Becoming You — stories of transformation available to binge at your convenience. Created and hosted by Katrina Fuhrman, The ConnectorQueen. #ConnectorQueen #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #COVID19Recovery #WinningWednesday #FoodAsMedicine #BloodTypeDiet #PersonalBranding #CommunityCommerce #SmallBusinessOwner #Resilience #GutHealth #Nutrition #LocalFirst #BecomingYou