Digital Artisans

In a business landscape where AI and automation are reshaping how brands understand consumers, the craft of human-centered innovation is becoming both rarer and more valuable. Companies are seeking leaders who blend strong analytical thinking with an interest in real human behavior, helping them make sense of new trends and create products that connect with their audience. As research firms note, the global innovation consulting market continues its rapid growth, driven by organizations seeking to stand out in an increasingly crowded marketplace.

How do today’s innovators merge data, anthropology, and instinct to create ideas that resonate? And more importantly—what does it take to build a career at the intersection of creativity and strategy?

The latest episode of Crafted Journey features host Suzy DeLine and guest host Alexa Low in conversation with Kim Lopez-Walters, consultant, contractor, and fractional leader at KLW Marketing & Innovation Consulting, for a conversation spanning career pivots, product breakthroughs, personal reinvention, and the art of asking better questions.

Key highlights from the conversation…

• How Kim evolved from accounting at PepsiCo to becoming a global product innovator, leading work on major launches including Nestlé’s packaging transformation and Starbucks’ worldwide Frappuccino expansion.

• Why curiosity—and sometimes being “the one who asks too many questions”—became her superpower and opened doors into new product development, consumer anthropology, and trend analysis.

• The pivotal mentors and leadership lessons that shaped her journey, from early guidance at PepsiCo to collaborative consulting partnerships later in her career.

Kim Lopez-Walters is a senior innovation and marketing leader with deep expertise in the food and beverage and broader CPG industries, specializing in consumer insights, trend analysis, and product strategy. She has spent more than 15 years running her own consulting practice, where she has built product pipelines, developed new products, and guided brands ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies. Known for blending corporate discipline with an entrepreneurial mindset, Kim helps companies translate emerging trends into successful, market-ready innovations.

Burnout among faith leaders has surged in recent years, fueled by heavier workloads, complex community needs, and the quiet exhaustion many pastors carry—sparking urgent conversations about resilience, calling, and sustainable leadership. A survey found that roughly four in ten pastors considered leaving full-time ministry in a single year, citing reasons like stress and loneliness—making guidance from those who’ve walked the same paths especially timely. Against this backdrop, today’s episode turns toward the intersection of vocation, wellbeing, and purpose.

How does someone maintain passion, presence, and spiritual grounding while serving others—often during their hardest moments? And what does it look like to craft a meaningful, sustainable life when your callings are many?

Welcome to Crafted Journey, brought to you by Digital Artisans. In the latest episode, host Suzy DeLine sits down with Arthur James, author, speaker, and Lead Pastor of The Transparent Church. Their conversation spans Arthur’s early beginnings in hospitality, his evolution into ministry and education, his journey through adversity, and the new chapter he’s ushering in as a mentor to other bivocational pastors.

The main topics of conversation…

• A lifelong foundation in service: From growing up as child #9 of 10 to entering Skyline High School’s groundbreaking hospitality magnet program, Arthur shares how serving others became his DNA and shaped decades of work in hotels, ministry, and education.

• Leading through adversity: Arthur discusses writing his book, Preaching Through Pain, after navigating divorce while pastoring, outlining the framework that helped him continue showing up with “polish, power, and presence.”

• A new mission for a new season: Now focused on helping bivocational pastors avoid burnout, Arthur explains why leaders need sustainable systems—and how community, mentorship, and even AI tools can support modern ministry.

Arthur James is a bivocational pastor, speaker, and author based in the Dallas area. Raised in Dallas, he began his career in hospitality before earning his degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the University of North Texas and later a master’s degree from Texas Tech University. He spent over 30 years in service-oriented roles, including a decade as a hospitality professor and later as a dean overseeing multiple community college campuses. Presently, he is the author of Preaching Through Pain, an Amazon bestseller in church administration, and the founder of King Arthur Public Speaking, a public-speaking and coaching practice supporting bivocational pastors in sustaining their ministry without burnout.

As the business landscape grows faster and more unpredictable, marketing leaders who can balance the discipline of big-company strategy with the scrappiness of startups are redefining what modern leadership looks like. Brian Fravel’s journey from global tech giant Intel to high-growth SaaS and cybersecurity companies highlights how adaptability, curiosity, and hands-on execution drive success across any environment. His path offers a look at how seasoned leaders translate corporate lessons into startup momentum — and how that blend of experience fuels innovation and growth.

How does a marketing executive transition from global brands to growth-stage startups — and find their “sweet spot” in between?

Welcome to Crafted Journey, brought to you by Digital Artisans. In the latest episode, host Suzy DeLine sits down with Brian Fravel, Vice President of Marketing at AskNicely, to talk about his evolution from early IT roots to leading go-to-market strategy for fast-moving SaaS companies. Together, they unpack the art of scaling brands, the power of networking, and the joy of mentoring the next generation of talent.

Key takeaways from the conversation…

• From Intel to Innovation: Brian reflects on his 17-year career at Intel, including the backstory behind the now-iconic Thunderbolt name — a branding moment influenced by Steve Jobs himself.

• Startup Synergy: After years in corporate life, Brian shares how he found fulfillment in startup environments where agility, creativity, and grit drive success.

• Mentorship as a Superpower: As both a marketing leader and youth sports coach, Brian draws parallels between leading teams and nurturing growth, describing mentorship as his defining professional trait.

Brian Fravel is a global marketing executive with extensive experience leading B2B SaaS and cybersecurity companies through growth and transformation. He has held senior marketing roles at Intel, Vade, Wing Security, and AskNicely, driving brand strategy, demand generation, and digital transformation initiatives that delivered measurable revenue growth and successful exits. Known for his data-driven, hands-on leadership, Fravel specializes in scaling marketing teams, repositioning brands, and executing go-to-market strategies for both startups and enterprise organizations.

Silicon Valley’s story has always been about people as much as technology — the engineers, entrepreneurs, and dreamers who turn abstract science into world-changing innovations. Now, as the semiconductor industry drives a new wave of growth through renewable energy and AI, its roots in human ingenuity are more relevant than ever. According to the Semiconductor Industry Association, America’s chip resurgence has surpassed $600 billion in announced supply-chain investments across 28 states over the past five years — fueling more than half a million U.S. jobs and marking one of the most significant manufacturing revivals in modern history.

So what does it take to thrive through decades of relentless change — from managing yield at National Semiconductor, to championing solar innovation, to guiding the next generation of entrepreneurs?

In this episode of Crafted Journeys, brought to you by Digital Artisans, host Suzy DeLine sits down with John Giddings, Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University. Together, they trace his unconventional career path — from biomedical engineering to semiconductor manufacturing to founding a startup later acquired by Google. Along the way, Giddings shares insights about mentorship, ethics, and teaching the art of translating between the languages of technology and business.

Top insights…

• Cross-disciplinary fluency as a superpower: How blending engineering with business and communication helped Giddings bridge the gap between technical teams and customers.

• The evolution of Silicon Valley culture: From semiconductor fabs to solar energy startups, Giddings recounts how collaboration, mentorship, and risk-taking shaped his career.

• Teaching entrepreneurship with empathy: Why his classes at Santa Clara University focus on inclusion, curiosity, and learning from real-world innovation across global contexts.

John Giddings is an experienced engineering and business leader with more than 20 years in semiconductor technology, entrepreneurship, and strategic growth. He has served in senior roles at National Semiconductor, Amkor, TSMC, and TeleLumen, driving global business development, product strategy, and high-tech innovation. Now an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University, Giddings shares his blend of technical insight and business acumen to mentor future founders, focusing on the balance between innovation, strategy, and ethics.

As the modern workforce continues to evolve, conversations around balance, fulfillment, and flexibility are taking center stage. With hybrid work redefining expectations and career paths becoming less linear, professionals are asking deeper questions about what “success” really means. According to Gallup’s latest data, only 31% of U.S. employees were engaged at work in 2024, the lowest level in a decade — underscoring how many Americans are reassessing how their careers align with their lives.

So, how can you build a meaningful career while staying adaptable and true to yourself? How do you know when to pivot, when to lead, and when to take a well-deserved step back?

In this episode of Crafted Journey, host Suzy DeLine sits down with Debbie Crouse, Partner at CW Training & Consulting, to trace the arcs of a career built on program management, process improvement, and people-first leadership. Together, they unpack Debbie’s early experiences—from studying international relations at Berkeley to helping factories modernize their systems—and the mentors and moments that shaped her path.

Key takeaways from this episode…

How curiosity and adaptability can turn unexpected opportunities into long-term career success.

The importance of mentorship and human connection in professional growth.

Why following your heart—personally and professionally—leads to more authentic success.

Debbie Crouse is a Partner at CW Training & Consulting, where she specializes in training and skills development. With a background spanning program management, process improvement, and business systems analysis, Debbie has worked with organizations from manufacturing to technology, including notable roles at Webvan and Intuit. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, she holds a degree in International Political Economy. Debbie’s career is defined by her versatility, leadership, and passion for helping teams “get stuff done.”

In an era when artificial intelligence is reshaping entire industries and the pace of software innovation feels almost unmanageable, the question of leadership—what it looks like, how it adapts, and who embodies it—has never been more vital. The technology sector is confronting one of the fastest paradigm shifts in decades, and with that change comes a demand for leaders who can inspire resilience, adaptability, and purpose amid uncertainty.

So, how does a modern leader guide technical teams through seismic transformation without losing sight of human connection?

Welcome to Crafted Journeys, brought to you by Digital Artisans. In the latest episode, host Suzy DeLine sits down with Gregory Gorman, ESEP, Director of Developer Relations at PayPal, to explore a career that spans fighter jets, fintech, and the frontier of AI. Together, they unpack Gorman’s evolution from electrical engineer at McDonnell Douglas to developer advocate and executive leader—revealing the craftsmanship behind decades of technological and personal growth.

Highlights from the conversation…

• Resilience as a leadership skill: Gorman explains why adaptability—honed through decades of change from defense tech to digital payments—is a leader’s greatest tool.

• Engineering precision meets human empathy: From cockpit systems to PayPal’s developer relations, he draws parallels between software reliability and trust in people.

• AI and influence: Gorman shares PayPal’s pioneering efforts to ensure AI systems like ChatGPT accurately represent company data—showing how influence and integrity intertwine in the age of large language models.

Gregory Gorman, ESEP, is a seasoned technology executive and systems engineer with more than three decades of global experience across aerospace, enterprise software, and fintech. As Director of Developer Relations at PayPal, he leads initiatives that connect developers with innovation at scale. Before joining PayPal, Gorman spent 14 years at IBM, where he guided developer ecosystem strategy, oversaw site infrastructure and security, and helped launch the pioneering Watson IoT business unit. His earlier career included leadership roles at Telelogic, Honeywell, and McDonnell Aircraft, where he directed teams building mission-critical software for commercial and defense aviation systems.

Sometimes life changes us in ways we never expected. Moments of loss, challenge, or transition can leave us wondering who we are now and what comes next. This episode of Crafted Journeys is about that quiet, powerful process of finding our way back to joy—one thoughtful step at a time.

How do we begin again when life doesn’t look like it used to? What does it mean to rebuild with intention, courage, and compassion for ourselves?

In this episode of Crafted Journeys, host Suzy DeLine sits down with Linda Shively, Founder and Chief Joy Officer at lindashively.com. Together, they explore how Linda transformed her own personal tragedy into a mission to help others find healing and rediscover joy. Their conversation touches on emotional alignment, gratitude, and the small daily choices that help us return to a sense of meaning.

Key takeaways…

• Gratitude helps shift perspective by focusing attention on what’s working rather than what’s missing. Even small daily reflections can create powerful momentum toward healing and renewal.

• Community and support remind us that we don’t have to navigate change alone. Sharing our experiences with others helps build resilience and restores a sense of belonging.

• Joy is a practice that requires intention and awareness. Choosing it daily helps us stay grounded and connected to the people and values that matter most.

Linda Shively is a professional speaker, Master Executive Coach, and Master NLP Practitioner who helps individuals and organizations move from hope to action through neuroscience-based mindset and communication strategies. A best-selling author and international award-winning speaker, she has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and appeared on major media outlets including ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX, presenting at venues such as the Harvard Club of Boston, Nasdaq, and Carnegie Hall. With over 30 years of study in brain and mind function and a psychobiology degree from UCLA, Linda blends science, coaching expertise, and personal resilience to guide clients toward sustainable performance and authentic joy.

With new AI marketing tools appearing almost daily, it’s no wonder teams feel stretched thin. Yet beneath the constant buzz of automation and algorithms, the real drivers of growth haven’t changed: data fluency and thoughtful strategy – built on a foundation of accurate information. A recent Adobe study found that nearly half of marketers—a whopping 48%—say their biggest obstacle is ensuring data accuracy. This means that even as AI dominates the conversation, many organizations still wrestle with the basics—making sense of the data they already have.

So, what does it take to thrive as a marketing leader when the landscape shifts so fast? How can professionals balance innovation with grounded strategy—and avoid chasing every shiny new tool?

In this episode of Crafted Journeys, brought to you by Digital Artisans, host Suzy DeLine sits down with Joe Bresler, startup CMO, to explore how a lifelong marketer bridges the human and analytical sides of modern marketing. From early-career pivots in PR to leadership roles at Oracle, Adobe, AWS, and high-growth startups, Joe shares how data, storytelling, and adaptability form the real through-line in a successful marketing career.

What you’ll learn…

• Data Is the Real Differentiator: Despite AI’s rise, companies still struggle with foundational data fluency and accuracy—cleaning, connecting, and learning from their information effectively.

• Career Agility Matters: Joe’s path—from PR intern to VP of Digital Strategy and Demand Generation, agency owner, and startup CMO—illustrates how diverse experiences across corporate, agency, and startup environments foster adaptability, innovation, and leadership resilience in fast-changing industries.

• Culture and Collaboration Drive Success: Whether at major enterprises or small startups, Joe emphasizes that curiosity, openness, and teamwork remain the heartbeat of meaningful innovation.

Joe Bresler is an accomplished marketing executive with more than 20 years of experience leading digital strategy, demand generation, and growth initiatives for global enterprises and high-growth startups. He’s delivered standout results—including $134 million ARR growth at AWS, over $100 million in pipeline gains at Informatica, and a four-fold ARR increase at Clumio—by blending data-driven insights with creative execution and strong team leadership. Renowned for uniting strategy, analytics, and storytelling, Joe has built transformative marketing programs across AI, SaaS, data, and enterprise technology sectors in more than 30 countries.

In today’s evolving professional world, the ability to adapt — to pivot careers, countries, and identities — is not just an advantage; it’s essential. With workforce shifts, layoffs, and global mobility reshaping how we think about career stability, adaptability has become the cornerstone of success. According to Indeed’s Hiring Lab, between 2022 and 2024, about 2.6% of Indeed users switched jobs each month, and 64% of those job switchers also moved into a different occupation—suggesting many job changes today involve full career pivots, not just lateral moves.

So, how do you turn unexpected transitions into growth? What does it mean to truly craft a career when life keeps reshaping the blueprint?

On this episode of Crafted Journeys, host Suzy DeLine sits down with Alison Ball, Chief Consultant of B dot All Consulting, to explore the story behind her multi-country, multi-career evolution — from her beginnings in psychology to her rise as a respected voice in accounting technology and consulting. Together, they unpack lessons learned from reinvention, risk-taking, and resilience across decades of professional transformation.

Key Highlights from the Conversation…

• Alison reflects on her early life as a multi-time immigrant — and how living across Canada, the U.K., and the U.S. shaped her worldview and leadership style.

• She discusses career pivots from psychology to accounting and later to marketing and consulting, revealing the importance of curiosity and openness to change.

• Suzy and Alison revisit their shared time at Intuit, diving into the culture of innovation, laughter, and risk-taking that defined their careers — and why embracing failure as a form of learning remains so powerful.

Alison Ball is the Chief Consultant at B dot All Consulting, where she advises firms and professionals in the accounting and financial services industries on strategic growth and innovation. With over two decades of experience spanning Intuit, Sage Intacct, and multiple marketing leadership roles, Alison is recognized for her thought leadership in fintech and professional development. A psychology graduate turned accounting and marketing executive, she exemplifies the art of career reinvention.

The rise of the “fractional” executive—leaders who lend their expertise to multiple organizations on a part-time or project basis—marks a major shift in how top talent engages with growing companies. As businesses seek agility without sacrificing expertise, fractional roles are becoming a powerful alternative to full-time hires. In fact, a report found that temporary business management positions, such as fractional executive roles, have surged an astonishing 57% since 2020—a clear signal that the future of leadership is being rewritten.

But what does it actually mean to build a fractional career? How do professionals navigate the freedom and uncertainty that come with redefining traditional corporate paths?

In this episode of Crafted Journeys, brought to you by Digital Artisans, host Suzy DeLine sits down with Katie Walter, CEO of the Fractional Conference and a seasoned Fractional Chief Marketing Officer based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Together, they explore Katie’s remarkable transition from corporate marketing at Thomson Reuters to independent leadership, the rise of the fractional economy, and what it means to “find your people” in a career built on flexibility and connection.

Highlights from the conversation…

• Redefining career success: Katie reflects on leaving a 16-year corporate career to pursue more autonomy and balance through fractional leadership.

• The power of experience sharing: She discusses how small businesses benefit from seasoned executives who bring structure, strategy, and perspective—without the full-time price tag.

• Building community: As founder of the Fractional Conference, Katie explains how the event creates belonging for professionals who often work solo, helping them connect and grow together.

Katie Walter is a seasoned fractional Chief Marketing Officer and leadership coach who specializes in helping B2B technology and professional services companies build trust-first marketing strategies that connect directly to revenue growth. With over two decades of experience—including 16 years at Thomson Reuters leading communications, brand strategy, and marketing—she’s known for translating business goals into high-performing marketing programs and developing strong, capable teams. As CEO of the Fractional Conference and founder of Trellis LLC, Katie combines her strategic marketing expertise with executive coaching to empower leaders, strengthen brands, and shape the evolving future of fractional work.