Leaders of Today: From Teens to Titans

Description: Join us in this powerful episode of Leaders of Today as we dive into the inspiring journey of Naomi Andrick, founder of Thrive Meals. From a challenging childhood to becoming a successful entrepreneur and coach, Naomi shares her story of resilience, transformation, and the power of vulnerability. Discover how food, movement, and mindset can create lasting change and why finding your "why" is crucial for a fulfilled life.

Key Takeaways:

Naomi's early struggles and how they shaped her work today. The importance of vulnerability and self-acceptance. How to transform challenges into opportunities for growth.

Connect with Naomi:

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: Thrive

Instagram: @ThriveMeals1

Location: Rawlinsford, NH

Hashtags: #Resilience #ThriveMeals #Vulnerability #Transformation

What if the very things you’re most ashamed of are actually your superpowers?

In this powerful conversation, business coach and podcast host Katie Grimes opens up about growing up in a home impacted by alcoholism, being relentlessly bullied, hating her body, and surviving sexual assault, and how she turned all of it into fuel for the life and business she has now.

Katie now helps entrepreneurs (especially those with ADHD) build businesses that feel safe, spacious, and wildly successful, without burning themselves out or abandoning their needs. Together, we explore how the patterns we learn as teens, people pleasing, perfectionism, hyper-independence, and hiding our feelings, quietly shape our leadership as adults… and how we can change the story.

If you’re a teen, parent, educator, or leader who’s ever felt “too much,” “not enough,” or like your past disqualifies you from leadership, this episode will hit home in the best way.

In this episode, we talk about:

How bullying, body image struggles, and growing up around addiction shaped Katie’s self-worth

The moment she realized perfectionism is not a flex, it’s a survival response

What no one tells teens about nervous systems, freeze/people-pleasing, and why we pretend everything is “fine”

How Katie rebuilt her life after sexual assault, grief, and being let go from corporate

The shift from “I’m a burden” to “I’m allowed to ask for help”

Finding safe and trusted adults, and what that actually looks and feels like

Why the things that come easiest to you are your greatest leadership gifts

How Katie went from all of this… to building a $550k+ coaching business and helping 100,000+ people

Connect with Katie Grimes

Instagram & TikTok: @kg.katiegrimes

Podcast – Anything for Love: https://www.katiegrimes.com/podcast

Website & Coaching: https://www.katiegrimes.com/

If something in this episode resonated and you’d like a free coaching session with Katie, email [email protected] and mention this episode of Leaders of Today: Teens to Titans.

In this episode of Leaders of Today: Teens to Titans, Lorraine Connell welcomes Olivia, co-founder and CEO of Fresh Starts Registry, for an insightful conversation on transitions, leadership, and the impact of past experiences on personal growth.

Lorraine opens up about a stressful morning, juggling her child’s school application process while ensuring leadership in her own commitments. This sets the stage for a deeper discussion with Olivia about navigating life’s transitions, both in school and beyond.

Olivia shares her journey from feeling like an outsider in a private school to finding purpose through mentorship, art, and leadership. She reflects on the power of supportive teachers, the role of empathy in school transitions, and the importance of redefining popularity. Together, Lorraine and Olivia explore how connection and mentorship shape young leaders, and how parents and educators can foster spaces where every student feels seen.

The conversation takes a deeper dive into Olivia’s mission with Fresh Starts Registry, a platform designed to support individuals through major life changes. She shares how her personal experiences with transition and resilience inspired her to build a community of support, and why staying true to oneself is key to navigating change.

Join us for this powerful discussion on embracing fresh starts, shedding negative labels, and leading with authenticity.

🎧 Listen now and be inspired to navigate your own transitions with confidence!

Fresh Starte Website

Olivia on Istagram

#FreshStarts #Leadership #TeenLeadership #Empowerment #StudentSuccess #Authenticity #Mentorship #SchoolTransitions

Podcast – Breaking Bullying:

Show Notes:

In this special episode of Leaders of Today: Teens to Titans, we switch things up, Courtney, Director of the Center for New Americans, steps into the interviewer role and sits down with Lorraine Connell for a powerful conversation about mentorship, leadership, and the experiences of immigrant youth.

Courtney brings her unique perspective as someone who was once a high school mentee, then a peer leader, and now a program director supporting newcomer students. As she interviews Lorraine, their dialogue explores the transformational impact of mentorship and what it takes to create supportive spaces where young leaders can thrive.

Together, they dive into:

🌟 Key Themes & Takeaways

They also share exciting updates about expanding middle school mentorship programs and a possible collaboration with the Choose Love curriculum.

This conversational, interviewer-style episode highlights how connection, belonging, and guided leadership can transform a young person’s entire trajectory.

#LeadersOfToday #YouthEmpowerment #MentorshipMatters #TeenLeadership #ImmigrantVoices #ChooseLove #FutureLeaders #Confidence #GrowthMindset

Community builder and Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston President and CEO Robert Lewis Jr. shares how growing up in East Boston public housing, surviving a firebombing during the busing crisis, and being lifted by mentors shaped his life’s mission to unite people and invest in youth as Boston’s future talent. We talk assets over deficits, redefining “poor,” belonging, narrative, and how adults can listen, love, and create real opportunity.

Key takeaways

Belonging beats scarcity. Community, friendships, and safety redefine what “poor” feels like.

Lead with assets. Stop deficit language. See young people as talent and invest accordingly.

Turn pain into purpose. Robert’s 16-year-old promise fuels a lifetime of bridge-building.

Adults must shift. Listen more, partner more, and stop “fixing” kids.

Define your narrative. Do not let others write your story.

Connect with Robert

Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston: https://www.bgcb.org/

BGCB waives membership fees for 2025–2026: https://www.bgcb.org/blog/boys-girls-clubs-of-boston-waives-membership-fees-for-2025-2026-school-year/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-lewis-jr-0bb0931a2/

In this episode, Lorraine sits down with trauma-informed mentor, speaker, and The Survivors Chair host Kim Russell to explore how growing up in foster care and being adopted shaped her leadership, resilience, and calling to create safe spaces for healing. Kim opens up about the realities of substance use as a teen, why behavior is communication, and how consistent, caring adults can change a young person’s life. Together, they discuss how to build trust with youth, what educators and mentors can do in real classrooms, and how self-healing helps us lead with empathy and self-trust. 

Behavior communicates unmet needs.

Consistency and care build trust.

Offer help without judgment.

Let youth share at their own pace.

Regulate yourself to lead with empathy.

In this episode, Lorraine sits down with career strategist and JobTalk founder Krystal Hicks to explore how early challenges, from growing up fast and navigating divorced parents to overcoming bullying shaped her empathy, leadership, and purpose-driven work. Krystal shares how she found her voice through journalism, learned to transform hardship into power, and now helps others reclaim agency, confidence, and belonging in their careers. Together, they unpack how childhood experiences shape our professional identities, why emotional awareness matters at work, and what it really means to lead with compassion and courage.

Key Takeaways:

How early life struggles can evolve into strengths that define your leadership style

The power of storytelling and self-advocacy in shaping your career

Why setting boundaries at work is an act of self-respect, not rebellion

How to handle workplace “bullies” with curiosity instead of fear

Why taking time to explore before choosing a career path can change everything

Connect with Krystal:

TikTok / Instagram: @jobtalk.llc

Facebook: /jobtalkllc

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/krystalhicks

In this episode, Lorraine Connell interviews Winnie da Silva, an executive coach and leadership strategist, about her journey and insights into leadership and resilience. Winnie shares personal stories from her teenage years, her career path from social work to executive coaching, and the importance of resilience and trying new things. The conversation also touches on parenting, the power of reframing challenges, and the role of confidence in personal growth.

Winnie da Silva, leadership, resilience, executive coaching, personal growth, parenting, confidence, reframing challenges

Contact Winne here: