How (The Hell) Did I Get Here?

Daniella Mestyanek Young is a speaker, writer and organizational behavior specialist. Daniella works with CEOs, government, military and non-profit leaders to help them intentionally craft a workplace that balances both people and profits—creating a healthy and productive environment for everyone. Daniella has spent over 3 decades studying leadership and culture in some of the world’s largest and most extreme organizations. 

From surviving a childhood in an extreme religious cult, through the war-torn streets of Afghanistan and into the boardroom, Daniella draws from her experience working with different people in vastly different situations to illuminate how you can use cultural awareness to craft a culture that will benefit your business and employees. Daniella is a former US Army Captain, with two combat deployments, where she became one of the first women who broke the gender-barriers of deliberate ground combat in US Army history. In her signature talk, The Only Woman on the Sand: the Business Case for Diversity, Daniella illuminates lessons that changed history in one of the oldest organizations in US history and shares important insights that translate from the battlefield to the boardroom. 

Daniella’s passion is in helping large organizations, small teams, and individuals embrace innovation, overcome conflict and build collaboration. Her Cultivating T.E.A.M.S.™ seminar (amongst others) helps senior leaders to proactively engage in building high-passion/high performance teams, strong organizational culture and a place where diversity and personal strength are actively cultivated. 

Daniella is the host of the podcast, Culture Hacking with Daniella Mestyanek Young and is working on her memoir, Uncultured.

Currently I serve as the Communications Director for the Sanford Underground Research Facility, a world-leading physics laboratory, where I oversee media and community relations liaison, plan events, work on strategic planning and fundraising, write articles and manage a team of incredibly creative people.  I even got to meet one of my childhood science heroes—Buzz Aldrin, who showed up for a tour of our underground facilities. I like to say I have the best job in the world—and not only because of the Buzz Aldrin thing. It’s challenging, always exciting and I get to work with so many terrific people from all walks of life: former miners, brilliant scientists and engineers, educators, students and so many others. Going to work every day is a treat. 

In my long career, I’ve been an entertainment editor at the Lincoln Journal Star in Nebraska; the communications director for the College of Engineering at the University of Nebraska; the assistant director of the Peru State College Foundation in Peru…Nebraska; and the director of university relations at Dickinson State University. And before becoming the communications director at Sanford Lab, I operated my own marketing consulting firm, working with individuals and businesses; represented a regional entertainer; and produced concerts. 

I have a BA in English (with a minor in communication arts) and an MS in Organizational Management with an emphasis in entrepreneurship and economic development. I am a member of the Interactions Collaboration, a group of physics communicators, and an ex-officio member of Sanford Lab’s Cultural Advisory Committee. I also am participating in the Women’s Vote Centennial Celebration, serving on the Fundraising and Events Committee.  
In all my many years of living and working, I’ve had the pleasure of knowing people from all walks of life; most of them just want to be happy and do some good in the world. I like that. It gives me hope for the future.

The show is all about the journey and a pivotal moment in a person's life or career where they stopped and said "How did I get here?" either at the start or end of a significant transitional period.

Deborah “Deb” Soholt, a prominent state legislator, women’s health pioneer, award-winning registered nurse and engaging podcast/radio host, speaks nationally and internationally on issues of women’s influence, women’s health and professional development.

Deb recently left behind the corporate world to cut through the muck as a women’s influence truth-teller, harnessing her decades of hard-earned experience establishing authoritative platforms in the arenas of government, health care and business. In 2019, Deb teamed with Dr. Melody Schopp to create Influential SHE LLC, a fresh voice in an old conversation to accelerate the influence of women in the world. Deb and Mel believe that instead of constantly working harder to chase success, women should uncompromisingly embark on joyful journeys that align with their authentic selves.

As a current four-term South Dakota State Senator who co-chairs a National Council of State Legislatures (NCSL) health innovation task force, Deb uses her expertise to influence state and federal legislation. As a dreamer and a doer, she is known for rolling up her sleeves and tackling big issues.  This is evident in having co-led statewide education funding reform that resulted in historic raises for teachers.  Her diligence and leadership have improved mental health care, expanded small businesses and opened new channels for access to health care in every corner of the state.  Deb introduced a groundbreaking children’s health bill that established the Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment, charged with ending child sexual abuse. She also earned an NCSL early childhood fellowship and was selected by the Council of State Governments to attend the prestigious Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development.  Deb was part of a U.S. lawmaker’s health care advisory group, reviewing federal health legislation and providing input on such issues as Medicare reimbursement, telehealth services and the Patient Bill of Rights.

Deb’s career has taken her from the bedside to the boardroom. In her former long-term role as women’s health director for Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center, a national benchmark consultation site for organizations across the country, the service she led was named one of America’s top ten best maternity units by CHILD magazine.  With an organizational reputation as an “intrapreneur” she led the development of a next generation functional primary care clinic for women – the first in the nation imbedded in a health system.  

Deb served on the board of directors and as education chair for Women in Balance, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping women take charge of their hormone health, which has since morphed into a program under the National University of Natural Medicine. Deb has authored journal articles on women’s health and spent six years co-hosting the weekly health information show House Calls on South Dakota Public Radio.
Deb’s resume heralds the depth of her national/international speaking engagements in women’s health and professional development in the cities of Charlotte, Fort Worth, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Portland, San Antonio, Mexico City and more.  Always interested in being part of something “bigger than herself”, throughout her career Deb has served on statewide and national boards, most often in the top leadership role.

This show is all about the journey and pivotal moment in a person's life or career where they stopped and said "How did I get here?" either at the start or end of a significant transitional period.

Kristal Hamm, CPA graduated from National American University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Business Management in 2007 and joined the Ketel Thorstenson Tax Department in 2014. Hamm is a Senior Associate in the Tax Department in the Rapid City office. She is a mom, wife, active community member, and tax guru. Listen to her story of how she balances it all!

Qusi Al-Haj has an amazing array of experiences as an American who has served his country in numerous ways. Although he now lives and works in Rapid City, South Dakota, he has spent his career working and supporting activities in Washington DC and beyond.

Debbie is a COO with a diverse background. Qualified in psychology and Law, she speaks multiple languages and has lived and worked on 3 continents and traveled on 5. 

She has worked the full remit of startups to large organizations managing budgets of 100 million plus in financial services and other fascinating and strange worlds.

She found her home with Nate and Leah Kievman, at Linked Strategies and works alongside a truly extraordinary team.

It is a  conscious based marketing solution by day, and by night it is a remarkable tech solution that transforms the sales and marketing universe.

She has been a visiting lecturer at both Oxford University (UK) and Harvard University (USA) and loves learning.

She is passionate about building a better world for her 3 children.

Lisa Artz currently serves as Executive Director of Corporate Relations at Choice Bank, a $2.3 billion locally-owned community bank with 21 locations in North Dakota and Minnesota.

Lisa has been with Choice Financial since 2004, and has extensive experience in bank marketing, communications, training and project management.  She is a member of the bank’s executive leadership team, senior management committee and asset/liability committee.  She works closely with the bank’s board of directors and ownership group comprising of 350 shareholders.  

Lisa is a native of Grand Forks, N.D. She graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead with a bachelor’s degree, and became a Certified Financial Marketing Professional in 2006 – the first in the state of North Dakota.  Lisa has served in the following capacities:  

• Advertising Federation Board Member and Secretary (2003-2006)
• Independent Community Banks of ND Board Member (2007-2011)
• Independent Community Banks of ND Communications Committee (2011-2015)
• North Dakota Bankers Association Marketing Committee (2008)
• Junior Achievement Volunteer (2007-2012)
• American Institute of Banking Board Member (1995-1998)
• MSUM Student Mentor (2010)
• NDSU Foundations of Leadership Student Mentor (2015-2018)
• Named a Rising Star in Banking by NorthWestern Financial Review (2009)
• Diamond Choice Employee Recognition Award Nominee (2009-2010)
• Dale Carnegie Graduate & Recipient of the Human Relations Award (2011)
• United Way Women’s Leadership Council (2011-2017)
• Ben Franklin Middle School PTA (2016-2017)
• Legacy Children’s Foundation Board Member (2016-2019)
• Sunday school guide

Outside of work, Lisa stays busy attending her son’s sporting events and would describe herself as a developer of people and ideas, futuristic in thought, empathetic and responsible.

Dr. Melody Schopp, a nationally recognized thought leader, dutifully chaired several national professional organizations, compellingly addressed audiences from Washington, D.C. to Malawi, Africa, and served as South Dakota’s top education official. But she didn’t wait for those fancy titles before showcasing her “just get it done” tenacity.

In 2000, as an innovative school teacher with 24 years of classroom experience in the tiny, remote town of Lemmon, South Dakota (the nearest McDonald’s is 125miles away), Melody usurped a janitor’s closet, wired an unused phone line to a modem-equipped computer lab and used her own AOL account to bring the nascent internet to elementary students. The statewide wiring of South Dakota schools exposed the innovation occurring in Lemmon, prompting a CNN feature that showcased Melody’s lab and opened an opportunity for Melody to re-envision her
career.

Melody’s journey led to the state’s capital, where she took on the positions of technology integrationist, director of accreditation and teacher quality and deputy education secretary while earning her doctorate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, penning her dissertation on women’s leadership. She rose to education secretary in 2011, yet humbly told her neighbors when gathering her mail or cutting her grass that she was “just a secretary.” As head of the South Dakota Department of Education, Melody used her growing influence to spur the passage of legislation to boost teacher retention, created a new accountability system and built a statewide coalition of education groups, businesses, retailers and communities to successfully lobby to boost teacher salaries.

Now, as a women’s influence truth-teller and podcast co-host, Melody shares her vast experience and insight through Influential SHE LLC, partnering with her colleague, State Senator Deb Soholt to raise a fresh voice in an old conversation about women’s influence. Melody and Deb believe that women should uncompromisingly embark on joyful professional journeys that align with their personal values rather than constantly working harder to chase success.

Melody served as a charter member of the School Superintendents Association’s National Women’s Leadership Consortium, a mentoring program funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation designed to bring together successful women thought leaders in the education, business and nonprofit communities. Melody and her colleagues helped identify and address the barriers faced by women, leading her to personally mentor two women aspiring to top leadership positions in K-12
education across the country.

Stephanie Dowling currently leads the community affairs team at Black Hills Energy. Prior to her role with Black Hills Energy, Stephanie was appointed by the Governor of Arizona as the Deputy Director for the Arizona Office of Tourism (AOT). In her role as Deputy Director and Chief Marketing Officer, her area of focus was strategic alignment and development of AOT's branding, advertising, public relations and communications programs. She led the agency in international tourism, policy and constituent and delegate relations.

Stephanie has nearly 25 years of experience in communications, public relations and advertising. Her career started in London, England as a public relations representative for the Bank of England, and was nominated for two National Emmy Awards for work as a senior researcher and field producer with “NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw.” During her time with NBC, she interviewed world leaders and celebrities, covering breaking news, world events and politics. She then moved on to manage and direct public relations and marketing for Tommy Hilfiger-USA where she led the development of their first website www.tommy.com. 

In addition, she traveled to all fifty states to produce and manage a nationwide marketing campaigns for the Tommy Hilfiger brand. From there, she joined New York City nonprofit, The Fresh Air Fund, where she redeveloped marketing campaigns, produced celebrity galas, and handled board relations. She then joined the team at GoDaddy to build their public relations department and set the stage for worldwide brand awareness. 

She has won several awards for her professional work and has been appointed to several boards and committees throughout her career. Stephanie is a graduate of the University of South Dakota with a BA degree in Mass Communication

Rachel graduated from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in May 2017 with a degree in Geological Engineering. She currently works for Coeur Mining as a Project Manager in Northern British Columbia, Canada! She lives in Sturgis, South Dakota with her husband and 4 dogs (Winston, Copper, Leroy, and Corb). Rachel spends her time cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers and enjoys all the dog cuddles. Listen to her incredible story of finding her place in the world of Geological Engineering.