Reclaiming Visibility, Power, and Presence for Women Over 50 with Barbara Brooks and Julie Ciardi

Is midlife a diminishing season or an ignition point?

In this powerful double-feature conversation, Kelly talks with Barbara Brooks and Julie Ciardi about age, reinvention, visibility, ambition, and the deeper call many women feel in the second half of life. Barbara shares how ageism at 51 led her to build a movement around experience as power, while Julie reflects on leaving IBM to pursue work that felt more aligned with who she was meant to be.

Together, they challenge the narrative that women become less relevant with age. They explore why experience is a business asset, why visibility should match your goals rather than social media trends, how ambition evolves in midlife, and why caring for the body becomes part of the work. At the heart of the episode is a clear message: you are not finished, your voice matters, and it may be time to stop waiting.

Key Takeaways:

• Why age is an asset, not a disadvantage
• “Middlescence,” the gold age, and reframing the second half of life
• How visibility changes when you start leading from substance
• Why owning your value is essential before others can value it
• The evolution of ambition from proving yourself to serving something bigger
• The physical realities of midlife and the need to care for the body alongside the mission
• Fear, conformity, and the courage to use your voice anyway
• Why legacy work often begins when you stop waiting

Chapters

00:00 | Introduction to Empowering Women in Middlescence

03:25 | Barbara Brooks: The Birth of a Mission

05:09 | Julie Ciardi: A Transformational Moment

07:35 | Redefining Midlife: Middlescence

11:20 | Visibility Differently: How to do it Right

19:15 | The Evolution of Ambition

23:54 | The Responsibility of Legacy Work

24:24 | Facing the Challenges of New Beginnings

26:00 | The Importance of Self-Care

27:17 | Listening to Our Bodies

30:03 | Emerging Convictions and Niche Drama

31:04 | The Power of Female Voices

33:32 | Age as an Asset

35:12 | Valuing Our Experience

36:34 | Embracing Uniqueness and Overcoming Fear

37:50 | Taking Action and Living Fully

Guests

Barbara Brooks is a nationally recognized entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and founder of SecondActWomen. Through her Experience Is Power platform, she helps organizations unlock the business value of experienced talent across a five-generation workforce. A bold advocate for age inclusion and workforce performance, Barbara has been featured by Forbes, Fast Company, CBS Colorado, PBS Next Avenue, and NBC 9News. She believes beauty knows no age, value has no expiration date, and experience is power.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbaralbrooks/

barbarabrooks.com and secondactwomen.com

https://barbarabrooks.substack.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@BarbaraBrooks

Julie Ciardi is the author of 50 Not Finished, a former IBM exec turned 7-figure founder & a mom of three. She is navigating midlife & the adult-children phase of motherhood. There is a big gap in the current menopause conversation - all health, all aesthetics, no “what’s next?” Julie believes that midlife is the start of the Gold Age - not Old Age. She is an advocate for women near or over 50 ready to do their legacy work. Julie rewrote the entire Human Design system by a woman for women to help them get clarity in their midlife calling. She is a Substack Best Seller & runs a global mentorship company for midlife women.

https://www.julieciardi.com/

https://substack.com/@julieciardi

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/substack-by-design/id1882801640

https://www.instagram.com/julieciardi/

Host

Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach, facilitator, and host of Life from Within, a podcast exploring the inner work of leadership, growth, and career transition. She works with thoughtful leaders, founders, and seasoned professionals who are navigating complexity, change, and meaningful inflection points in their work. Through her coaching, facilitation, and podcast conversations, Kelly helps people find clarity, strengthen self-trust, and move forward with greater intention and grounded conviction.

https://kellydwyer.co

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IG – @kd_lifefromwithin

LinkedIn – /in/kellydwyer

Change isn't just about new software or updated protocols; it’s about people. Today I am speaking with Chris Bower, President and CEO of Endurance Federal Credit Union. He is a veteran of the credit union industry with 30+ years of experience. Chris shares how he has modernized the organization over his 18-year tenure as CEO through technology and culture change. We talk about the importance of trust building and why it is so important to allow space for employees to share concerns.

Whether you are leading a small team or a major institution, Chris’s insights on leadership are an essential roadmap in organizational transformation.

Key Takeaways for Leaders:

• Communication is Currency: You cannot over-communicate during times of transition.
• Invite Collaboration: If you want buy-in, you must empower middle management.
• Building the Foundation: Why you can't rush culture change - trust must be earned through transparency and consistency.
• Be Intentional: Change should never be impulsive. A methodical approach reduces anxiety across the board.
• Focus on Trust: Trust isn't a byproduct of success; it’s the prerequisite for it.

Chapters

00:00 | Introduction to Leadership and Communication

04:28 | Implementing Technology and Cultural Shifts

08:42 | Embracing AI in Financial Services

10:30 | Fostering Openness and Transparency in Culture

16:17 | Navigating Communication Challenges

20:25 | Learning from Missteps

25:00 | Future Growth and Community Engagement

Guest

Chris is the CEO of Endurance Federal Credit Union. He is a strategic and growth-focused financial services executive with more than 25 years of progressive leadership experience in community and federal credit unions ranging from $11 million to $195 million in assets. He has a proven record of accelerating loan and deposit growth, expanding membership, enhancing profitability, and leading high-performing teams through transformation and change.

Chris is recognized for building strong organizational cultures, improving operational efficiency, driving digital modernization, and delivering exceptional member experiences. He is a collaborative leader and persuasive communicator who thrives in dynamic, evolving environments.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-bower-93b181157/

Endurance Federal Credit Union: https://www.endurancefcu.org/

Host

Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach and facilitator. Through her podcast Life from Within, she opens up real conversations about personal growth, career crossroads, and the inner work of leadership. She created the show to explore the moments of courage and clarity that spark inner shifts and lead to meaningful outer progress.

In her coaching and facilitation practice, Kelly partners with thoughtful, influential leaders, including founders, C-suite executives, and rising leaders who shoulder significant responsibility and want to lead with grounded clarity and self-trust. She helps them return to what matters most, cut through the noise, and navigate inflection points with aligned conviction.

Kelly is a graduate of the University of Colorado and holds an MBA from Cornell University.

Coaching and facilitation: https://kellydwyer.co

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In this solo episode, I reflect on surrender, resistance, and the moments of clarity that energize the path ahead. Whether it’s pivoting to a new career or launching a creative project, we often find ourselves stuck in seeking mode, paralyzed by the need to guarantee an outcome before we even begin.

I share two pivotal stories from my own life - transitioning into full-time coaching and launching this very podcast. Surrender is about letting go of the illusion of control so that momentum can finally take over.

• How to Identify Your Authentic Desire: A genuine spark or idea arises.
• Ask the big questions (e.g., "What is my next right step?").
• What is the Wall of Resistance? Fear-based questions like "Will it work financially?" or "What if I quit?"
• How to shift perspectives to make the resistance crumble.

Chapters

00:00 | The Essence of Surrender

01:11 | Personal Journey: Surrendering to Coaching

05:03 | Personal Journey: Surrendering to the Podcast

08:45 | Connecting the Dots: Common Themes in Surrender

09:31 | Universal Experience: Desire and Resistance

Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach and facilitator. Through her podcast Life from Within, she opens up real conversations about personal growth, career crossroads, and the inner work of leadership. She created the show to explore the moments of courage and clarity that spark inner shifts and lead to meaningful outer progress.

In her coaching and facilitation practice, Kelly partners with thoughtful, influential leaders, including founders, C-suite executives, and rising leaders who shoulder significant responsibility and want to lead with grounded clarity and self-trust. She helps them return to what matters most, cut through the noise, and navigate inflection points with aligned conviction.

Kelly is a graduate of the University of Colorado and holds an MBA from Cornell University.

Coaching and facilitation: https://kellydwyer.co

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Have you ever told yourself, "I’m just not the creative type"? In this episode, Vika Nikitina Chala, founder of Rising Heart Coaching and Studio and author of Mother Monster Mystery, dismantles the myth that creativity is reserved for professional artists.

Vika shares her incredible journey from a 20-year career as a process engineer and pharmaceutical services professional to becoming a creative wellness entrepreneur. We discuss the pivotal moments that led Vika to embrace the title of Artist. Vika also opens up about the entrepreneurial burnout she faced after opening her physical studio and how she used her own creative wellness tools to navigate insomnia and anxiety. If you are standing at a career crossroads or feeling the weight of hustle culture, this episode offers a soulful, practical guide to coming back to yourself.

• The science behind creative wellness and how you can incorporate it into your life.
• Art as a tool for neuroplasticity, problem-solving, and nervous system regulation.
• The importance of speaking your truth after the creative process.
• How voicing who you want to become will help bring your vision to life.
• How to avoid burnout when you are starting a business.

Chapters

00:00 | Introduction to Vika Nikitina Chala

02:07 | The Belief in Universal Creativity

06:42 | Creative Wellness as a Pathway to Well-Being

09:25 | Personal Journey: From Corporate to Creative

13:47 | The Pivotal Moment of Change

16:59 | Launching the Creative Arts Studio

20:34 | Navigating Grief with Past Identities

22:24 | The Importance of Pacing and Pausing

27:18 | How to Work with Vika 

Guest

Vika is an artist, expressive arts practitioner, and certified professional life coach who helps people reconnect with themselves through creativity, reflection, and honest conversation. After nearly 20 years in a pharmaceutical services career, a persistent creative calling pushed Vika to reimagine achievement and belonging on her own terms.

Her pivot into creative wellness came after realizing she could not fake being successful if she could not be herself. Over the past decade, Vika has delivered hundreds of hours of creative facilitation, helping people reframe their relationship with creativity as an internal resource rather than a performance. She has developed multiple comprehensive creative wellness programs that support connection with creativity from within, in conversation with others, and in relationship with society as a whole. 

Vika is a mother of two, the founder of Rising Heart Coaching, and the owner of Rising Heart Studio in Metuchen, New Jersey. She is the author of Mother Monster Mystery and is currently working on a children’s book. Vika believes that creativity is for everyone and is an essential component of human life. 

Website: https://www.risingheartcoach.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risingheartcoach/

Host

Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach and facilitator. Through her podcast Life from Within, she opens up real conversations about personal growth, career crossroads, and the inner work of leadership. She created the show to explore the moments of courage and clarity that spark inner shifts and lead to meaningful outer progress.

In her coaching and facilitation practice, Kelly partners with thoughtful, influential leaders including founders, C-suite executives, and rising leaders who shoulder significant responsibility and want to lead with grounded clarity and self-trust. She helps them return to what matters most, cut through the noise, and navigate inflection points with aligned conviction.

Kelly is a graduate of the University of Colorado and holds an MBA from Cornell University.

Coaching and facilitation: https://kellydwyer.co

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Welcome back to Life from Within. In this episode, I chat with Lara O'Connor Hodgson, the CEO of ROXWrite. We talk about her journey as a contrarian thinker and how her background in aerospace engineering shaped her unique approach to solving complex problems in startups.

We also discuss how to foster innovation, the importance of doing something different and how she is currently using AI to revolutionize risk assessment in the lending world. If you’ve ever wanted to challenge the status quo in your organization, this episode is for you.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• How to navigate business challenges that feel overwhelming.
• How to create a safe space for teams to experiment and ideate without fear.
• How ROXWrite is leading the lending industry by using AI to look at risk through a completely different lens.
• How to build the muscle for navigating uncertainty in your own career.

Chapters

00:00 | Introduction to Engineering Mindset and Liberal Arts Personality

04:40 | The Strengths and Weaknesses of Compassionate Leadership

06:34 | Hiring for Mindsets vs. Skill Sets

11:55 | Navigating Team Dynamics and Cultural Fit

18:05 | Developing Comfort with Conflict in Leadership

24:09 | The Importance of Intentional Culture

26:09 | The Difference Between the Collective Person and Individuals

31:40 | Introducing ROX Write: A New Venture

38:30 | The Role of a CEO in Team Building

Guest

Lara Hodgson currently serves as the CEO of RoxWrite, an innovative, AI-enabled underwriting platform to enable lenders and businesses to assess the risk of their customers.  She is a rocket scientist, a contrarian and a serial entrepreneur with an engineering mind and a liberal arts personality, having founded 3 companies, Insomnia LLC, Nourish and NowAccount, prior to Rox. Before starting her first company, she worked at startups such as Dunk.net, founded with Shaquille O'Neal and at iXL where she learned she thrived in the ambiguity of start-ups.  Lara is co-author of the best-selling book, "Level Up: Rise Above the Hidden Forces Holding your Business Back" and has served as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Harvard Business School.  She serves as a Trustee at Georgia Tech where she studied Aerospace Engineering and was a member of the Varsity Track and Field Team.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larahodgson

X: @laraohodgson

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/level.up.2day/

Level Up Book: https://www.amazon.com/Level-Up-Hidden-Holding-Business/dp/0593539826

Host

Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach and facilitator. Through her podcast Life from Within, she opens up real conversations about personal growth, career crossroads, and the inner work of leadership. She created the show to explore the moments of courage and clarity that spark inner shifts and lead to meaningful outer progress.

In her coaching and facilitation practice, Kelly partners with thoughtful, influential leaders, including founders, C-suite executives, and rising leaders who shoulder significant responsibility and want to lead with grounded clarity and self-trust. She helps them return to what matters most, cut through the noise, and navigate inflection points with aligned conviction.

Kelly is a graduate of the University of Colorado and holds an MBA from Cornell University.

Coaching and facilitation: https://kellydwyer.co

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Welcome back to Life from Within. How do you transition to the next version of yourself when you achieve everything you thought was impossible, only to find a hollow feeling inside? In this episode, I am joined with Beck Sydow, a self-described "business geek with Buddhist roots." Beck shares their journey from a 20-year corporate career at UPS to leading Sticker Giant as COO through a period of massive growth and an eventual private equity sale.

Beck discusses the heartbreak in leadership, the difference between effort-based burnout and values-based burnout, and why the most precious times in our lives are often the transitions we try to rush through.

• How the practice of meditation translates to how you respond to conflict in your daily life.
• Why networking is a marathon, not a sprint.
• How to have honest, human conversations with employees when they are struggling to meet new expectations.
• How they managed 30%+ growth plans during a global pandemic and the eventual sale of Sticker Giant to Private Equity (PE).
• How to stop rushing through life’s transitions
• How to recognize fear disguises and what is behind them

Chapters

00:00 | Exploring Buddhist Roots and Personal Journey

06:28 | Navigating Corporate Leadership and Growth Challenges

12:40 | The Heartbreak of Leadership and Human Connection

16:29 | Personal Identity and Transitioning

20:41 | Uncovering Hidden Challenges in Business Purchases

22:41 | The Different Levels of Burnout

24:50 | The Pain and Beauty of Transition

28:11 | Understanding Fear with Compromising

29:50 | The Journey of Remaking Yourself

35:45 | Befriending Your Experience

Guest

Founder, Business Advisor & Leadership Coach

Beck Sydow (they/them) works with leaders who are brilliant, overloaded, and tired of losing themselves under pressure. A business geek with Buddhist roots, Beck teaches founders, entrepreneurs, and senior leaders to recognize fear in real time, steady their nervous system, and return to clarity when it matters most.

With four decades of experience as a CEO/COO, therapist, and mindfulness teacher, Beck moves easily between business strategy and the inner workings of a leader’s nervous system. This dual fluency is what clients call “magic”—the moment when reactivity quiets, insight returns, and leadership feels spacious again.

Beck’s work offers a way of leading where results and humanity can finally coexist. They are the Founder of HumanKind Business Leaders and the creator of the People-Hearted & Business-Minded™ framework.

Beck’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becksydow/

Human KindBusiness Leaders: https://www.humankindbusinessleaders.com/

Brene Brown’s New Book: https://brenebrown.com/book/strong-ground/

Host

Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach and facilitator. Through her podcast Life from Within, she opens up real conversations about personal growth, career crossroads, and the inner work of leadership. She created the show to explore the moments of courage and clarity that spark inner shifts and lead to meaningful outer progress.

In her coaching and facilitation practice, Kelly partners with thoughtful, influential leaders including founders, C-suite executives, and rising leaders who shoulder significant responsibility and want to lead with grounded clarity and self-trust. She helps them return to what matters most, cut through the noise, and navigate inflection points with aligned conviction.

Kelly is a graduate of the University of Colorado and holds an MBA from Cornell University.

Coaching and facilitation: https://kellydwyer.co

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How do you move from a $19,000-a-year entry-level recruiter to the CEO of a private equity-backed IT staffing firm? In this episode, Matthew Ripaldi, CEO of Talent Groups, shares his 26-year journey through the technical staffing industry.

Matthew shares his motivation behind recruiting, the isolating pressure of the CEO chair, and the high-speed execution required in the world of Private Equity (PE). We discuss his startup experience, the challenge of integrating five companies into one brand, and the humbling experience of receiving a 12-page 360 review. Matthew’s insights on trust, delegation, and being open to learning can benefit you whether you are an aspiring leader or a seasoned executive. 

• Matthew recalls the moment he found his why—helping a candidate land a life-changing job that allowed him to buy his first home. This core passion for putting people to work has fueled his 26-year career.
• After promising his mother he would try a startup, Matthew realized he thrived in high-energy environments. He discusses the importance of self-awareness in knowing where you do your best work.
• Operating a PE-backed company involves a unique speed of execution, especially when working in a leveraged environment with debt obligations and clear exit targets.
• As a CEO, Matthew views himself as reporting to his employees rather than the other way around.
• Matthew opens up about his 360 review. He explains why leaders must create a culture where teams feel safe telling them what they need to hear, not what they want to hear.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Talent Groups and Career Journey

07:35 Transitioning to CEO Role and Responsibilities

12:29 Decision-Making as a CEO

18:16 Challenges in a Changing Industry

21:35 Integration and Operating in a Leveraged Environment

22:28 Navigating the Challenges of First-Time CEO

25:56 The Importance of Delegation and Trust

30:23 Building Trust Through Feedback and Reflection

33:23 Focusing on Execution and Delivering Results

37:05 The Role of Project Management in Execution

38:11 Finding Passion in Your Career

Guest

Matthew James Ripaldi is an accomplished staffing industry veteran with over 20 years of experience. During his first 18 years in the industry Matthew worked for The Adecco Group, a Global Fortune 500 Company and the world’s second largest staffing firm. Starting off as a Technical Recruiter and quickly finding his passion for the business. This passion combined with a strong work ethic and consistent high-performance helped him excel to seven (7) consecutive promotional opportunities, holding executive leadership roles across eight (8) different industry leading brands; TAD Technical, Adecco Technical, Ajilon ICT, Ajilon Consulting, VendorPass, Modis IT, Modis Engineering and Modis Managed Solutions. Matthew’s vast early experience led to extensive knowledge across contract staffing, direct hire, managed services, project based solutions, onsite MSP programs, payrolling, training and development, and global client solutions.

Matthew then joined Collabera as Executive Vice President in September of 2017 reporting directly to the Founder, Chairman and CEO of this fast growing and industry leading IT Staffing and Consulting Firm. While with Collabera he was part of the Executive Management Team, supported their managed services business unit and launched Collabera’s stand-alone Direct Hire Practice. This role provided him with extensive experience in direct hire, executive search, and global delivery. Closing in on 20 years and learning directly from some of the industry's legendary leaders, Matthew then co-founded and launched Simon+James Group, a boutique firm that provided services to start-ups on up to the Fortune 500.

As CEO of Talent Groups, Matthew helps set the strategic direction, continually looks to improve every aspect of the organization, works to drive scalable growth, operates with a collaborative and servant-based leadership approach with this team, and continues to run his own full desk. Matthew resides in Houston, Texas, with his wife and son.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewripaldi/

Talent Groups LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/talentgroups-connections/

Host

Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach and facilitator. Through her podcast Life from Within, she opens up real conversations about personal growth, career crossroads, and the inner work of leadership. She created the show to explore the moments of courage and clarity that spark inner shifts and lead to meaningful outer progress.

In her coaching and facilitation practice, Kelly partners with thoughtful, influential leaders, including founders, C-suite executives, and rising leaders who shoulder significant responsibility and want to lead with grounded clarity and self-trust. She helps them return to what matters most, cut through the noise, and navigate inflection points with aligned conviction.

Kelly is a graduate of the University of Colorado and holds an MBA from Cornell University.

Coaching and facilitation: https://kellydwyer.co

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The Power of a Million Little Things: Persistence in Work and Life with Bill Nolan

What does it take to leave a secure, prestigious position to build something from scratch? In this episode, I chat with Bill Nolan, the founding managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg’s Columbus office.

Bill shares the unflashy reality of leadership from his days as the Mayor of Powell and the persistence required to put a new law office on the map. This conversation explores the power of a million little things, the art of developing talent in business services, and the grace required to navigate identity shifts when handing over the reins of leadership.

🔑 Key Takeaways for Leadership & Personal Growth

• 95% of his graduating class ended up in a different place than they imagined—and that’s okay.
• The tactical socialization needed to get a national firm to remember and utilize a new local branch.
• Success is rooted in the ability to perceive how your actions affect others—whether they are clients, judges, or colleagues.
• Looking for personal strengths (marketing, client service, or event planning) creates a culture of growth and loyalty.
• The importance of planning for a successor and finding fulfillment in community rather than just the title.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Bill Nolan and His Background

02:01 Experiences as Mayor of Powell

05:22 Transitioning to Barnes & Thornburg

07:30 Building the Columbus Office

10:07 Strategies for Success in a New Market

12:06 Personal Growth and Leadership Evolution

14:25 Understanding Client Relationships and Communication

16:35 Building a Thriving Legal Team

20:45 Navigating Challenges in Office Management

22:37 Transitioning Leadership Roles

27:04 The Long View

29:48 Looking Ahead: Future Aspirations

Guest

Bill Nolan brings clarity and closure to employment, contract and business disputes. Passionate about helping employers build strong teams, policies and processes, Bill’s proactive advice minimizes the frequency, cost and severity of employment disputes. Bill also works with clients to design systems and practices to manage the many challenges of complex employer-employee relationships.

An experienced trial lawyer, Bill handles covenant not-to-compete and trade secret cases in many states. He also regularly defends employers in discrimination and discharge cases, administrative claims, arbitrations and mediations. Bill helps clients maneuver shifting legal mandates and has distinct experience handling complicated employee health and leave issues. Admired for his calm and thoughtful approach to resolving disputes, Bill also acts as a neutral.

In his role as employment counselor, Bill advises clients on a range of workplace issues. He is called upon to conduct manager and workplace trainings that ensure legal compliance on the front lines. He was an early leader in tracking how employers and legislatures respond to discrimination in the workplace, advocating for changes in training models to better address persistent workplace behaviors.

Bill is not one to back down from a challenge. Opening the firm’s Columbus office in 2009 during the Great Recession, he built and ran a notable team for over 15 years. Also, as a former two-term councilman and Powell, Ohio, mayor, Bill brings contagious energy to community affairs, focusing on furthering inclusion in the legal profession.

Website: https://btlaw.com/en/people/william-nolan

Host

Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach and facilitator. Through her podcast Life from Within, she opens up real conversations about personal growth, career crossroads, and the inner work of leadership. She created the show to explore the moments of courage and clarity that spark inner shifts and lead to meaningful outer progress.

In her coaching and facilitation practice, Kelly partners with thoughtful, influential leaders including founders, C-suite executives, and rising leaders who shoulder significant responsibility and want to lead with grounded clarity and self-trust. She helps them return to what matters most, cut through the noise, and navigate inflection points with aligned conviction.

Kelly is a graduate of the University of Colorado and holds an MBA from Cornell University.

Coaching and facilitation: https://kellydwyer.co

Book mentioned

Buckeye: A Novel 

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How Confidence Is Built in the Stretch: From White-Knuckling to Grounded Leadership with Kate Tansey Chevlen

Episode 9

Welcome back to Life from Within. This is the final episode of the year, and I am so grateful for all of my guests and listeners who made this podcast possible.

What happens when you land your dream promotion and realize on day one that you don’t speak the technical "language" of the room? In today’s episode, I am joined by Kate Tansey Chevlen, a Vice President at Amgen with a 17-year tenure at the company.

Kate shares the raw, honest story of a career transition - moving from a marketing director to a franchise leader overseeing multi-billion dollar contracts. She opens up about the white-knuckle months, the physical toll of trying to be a different kind of leader, and the specific steps she took to reclaim her authenticity and empower her team.

🔑 Key Takeaways for Leadership & Personal Growth

• To master her new domain, Kate sought out trusted partners for intensive deep dives into their mastered skill.
• Kate initially tried to copy the boisterous, high-energy style of her predecessor. This led to white-knuckling, physical stress, and a team that felt unsupported.
• A moment of exhaustion during a business trip forced Kate to stop performing and start advising authentically. The result was immediate clarity for her team and liberation for herself.
• Kate discusses her "Trust but Verify" framework - knowing when to delegate and empower experts through full delegation.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background of Kate Tansey Chevlen

02:07 Transitioning to Different Leadership Roles at Amgen

04:35 Navigating Leadership and Multi-billion Dollar Contracts

07:18 Building Trusting Relationships in Decision Making

09:51 The Impact of Leadership Style on Team Dynamics

11:07 Finding Your Authentic Self in Leadership Roles

13:00 Embracing Personal Leadership Style

17:49 The Journey to Self-Discovery

20:23 How to Find Your Own Way to Manage Stress

22:45 Building Confidence Through Challenges

24:22 Applying Confidence in Leadership

26:19 The Art of Delegation and Trust

30:03 The Importance of Authenticity in Leadership

31:17 Outro

Guest

Kate Tansey Chevlen has been a commercial leader at Amgen for 17 years and is currently serving as the Vice President, Global Marketing and Therapeutic Area Head of Inflammation. 

Prior to joining the Global Inflammation team, Kate led the US Patient Access and Reimbursement team, where she oversaw efforts to help patients start and stay on Amgen medications. 

Kate’s prior experience at Amgen spans across marketing, sales, and market access leadership. Kate has worked across the US and global side of Amgen’s commercial business, and across all major therapeutic areas, including oncology, nephrology, cardiovascular, bone, neurology, and inflammation. She has led multiple franchises at Amgen, including the nephrology and respiratory businesses in the US. 

Prior to joining Amgen, Kate served as a gubernatorial appointee for the State of California, where she managed healthcare and economic development public policy. She also worked in local government in California, managing economic development public policies.

Kate holds a BA in Politics and French from Brandeis University, an MBA from the Johnson School at Cornell University, and an executive coach certification from the Hudson Institute of Coaching.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-tansey-chevlen-4953391/

Host

Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach and facilitator. Through her podcast Life from Within, she opens up real conversations about personal growth, career crossroads, and the inner work of leadership. She created the show to explore the moments of courage and clarity that spark inner shifts and lead to meaningful outer progress.

In her coaching and facilitation practice, Kelly partners with thoughtful, influential leaders, including founders, C-suite executives, and rising leaders who shoulder significant responsibility and want to lead with grounded clarity and self-trust. She helps them return to what matters most, cut through the noise, and navigate inflection points with aligned conviction.

Kelly is a graduate of the University of Colorado and holds an MBA from Cornell University.

Coaching and facilitation: https://kellydwyer.co

Book mentioned

Buckeye: A Novel 

Listen and subscribe

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Follow Kelly

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LinkedIn – /in/kellydwyer

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Join us for a deeply honest and inspiring conversation with Rashida Bradley, an accomplished Operational Strategist, as she shares her journey in navigating career pivots and family balance. Rashida opens up about the many challenges she faced—from balancing graduate school and a surprise pregnancy to managing the impact of grief and joy on the same day.

Rashida highlights the importance of community support and advocates passionately for vulnerability in leadership as a pathway to building deeper trust and connection. We discuss the importance of striving for excellence over the pursuit of perfection, and the freedom found in embracing authenticity in all professional spaces. This episode is packed with essential advice on prioritizing mental health, practicing self-care, and continuously fostering personal growth in life and career.

🔑 Key Takeaways for Leadership & Personal Growth

• Surround yourself with a strong network.
• Honest vulnerability is the key to genuine connection and building a high-trust team.
• Pursue excellence, not perfection.
• Authenticity in professional settings is a form of leadership.
• Prioritize mental health and self-care practices for sustained personal growth and high performance.
• View your career as a journey of continuous evolution.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Rashida Bradley

01:45 Career Pivots, Applying for Graduate School and Personal Growth

04:03 Balancing Family and Education

07:07 Choosing A Career AND A Family

07:37 Navigating Grief and Joy on the Same Day

11:17 Being Vulnerable and Building Community

14:33 The Importance of Helpability and Support

18:03 Mental and Physical Health Management

19:23 Pursuing Excellence Over Perfection

21:44 Navigating How to Show up Authenticity When You Feel Left Out

27:20 Charting Your Own Course in Career and Life

Guest

Rashida is a seasoned healthcare leader and operational strategist with over 15 years of experience driving financial and operational transformations for Fortune 50 companies like CVS Health. As a Lead Director supporting Health Services, she oversees financial strategy and operational execution across pharmacy benefit management. Drawing on her background in investment banking (Lehman Brothers, Citi, J.P. Morgan), Rashida brings deep expertise in financial strategy and enterprise change management to complex, regulated healthcare environments. She is an alum of Babson College and a dual Master's recipient from Cornell University (MBA & MS in Healthcare Policy).

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rashidabradley

Host

Kelly Dwyer is an executive coach and facilitator. Through her podcast Life from Within, she opens up real conversations about personal growth, career crossroads, and the inner work of leadership. She created the show to explore the moments of courage and clarity that spark inner shifts and lead to meaningful outer progress.

In her coaching and facilitation practice, Kelly partners with thoughtful, influential leaders including founders, C-suite executives, and rising leaders who shoulder significant responsibility and want to lead with grounded clarity and self-trust. She helps them return to what matters most, cut through the noise, and navigate inflection points with aligned conviction.

Kelly is a graduate of the University of Colorado and holds an MBA from Cornell University.

Coaching and facilitation: https://kellydwyer.co

Resources mentioned

Drive by Daniel Pink: https://www.danpink.com/books/drive/

Listen and subscribe

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Follow Kelly

Instagram – @kd_lifefromwithin

LinkedIn – /in/kellydwyer

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